Ask A Stylist: Commuter Cool

What to wear to work these non-halcyon days.

PHOTOGRAPH BY LARA ANGELIL STYLING BY HOLLY GORST

I've recently gone back to work as a software engineer in a tech company where the vibe is pretty casual...there are a lot of hoodies let's say! But I would love to bring more personality and a little bit more sharpness to my work wardrobe without looking like I work in sales or marketing.

This is a great question because it hits all the pain points I hear from clients on the regular. My first instinct is to take inspiration from the ubiquitous grey hoodie you mention (a true wardrobe staple that got the ‘rags to riches’ treatment on the AW23 runway thanks to Miu Miu ) as it fits with this season’s perfectly palatable grey. When clients say they want to look sharp, what I’ve really found is that they want to appear cohesive in their style and an easy way to do this is by dressing in a singular shade with a variety of tones.

Last year it was the hoodie’s turn to be given the “rags to riches” treatment, with Miu Miu leading the charge.

Varsity jackets and bombers are very much on trend for SS24 but for work I would advise something with a strong fabrication and shape to make you feel presentable. I’m a huge fan of the classic Drogo shaped jacket by Isabel Marant’s core collection for work. It pairs so easily with all types of trousers and skirts and feels directional while cosy to wear for those long hours behind a screen. This season it comes in a timeless stone grey shade that will carry through the next few years easily. Pair with wide-legged grey trousers, trainers and a tee for a really good tech-work uniform as below. My top styling tip? Add a hit of bright baby blue in your shoes or accessories and you’ll be perfectly poised for SS2024.