S.U.I.T. Up! A Guide on How to Transition from Uniforms/Suits to an Autonomous Wardrobe for Work.
As a former Chicago Public School (CPS) student, I was required to wear a uniform at school. Thus, getting dressed for school was extremely simple and didn’t require much thought. My school mornings would start with opening my closet, and carefully thumbing through the white, light blue, and navy blue uniform items. Brands like French Toast, School Apparel, and Zemesky’s were my go-tos for school readiness, and I possessed a smug satisfaction in being able to assemble outfits that made me look distinctive without going against school policy.
My smarty-pants attitude ended abruptly when I transitioned into high school. Although my high school was also a CPS institution, there wasn’t a uniform requirement. When I received the news that I had been accepted to the high school of my choice, a metaphorical record needle scratch reverberated through my mind when the realization of having to wear regular clothes dawned on me. Gone were the days of light blue and white buttoned crewnecks, and navy blue pleated-jumper dresses. Now, not only could I wear jeans, I could wear anything of my choosing. When this sank into my consciousness, my anxiety skyrocketed and I became distraught. My simplistic, go-to school style had been snatched away from my young, innocent fingers, and I was left with…. options.
Feeling helpless, I dramatically fell to my knees, clasped my hands together, and begged God to take me to His kingdom as an effort to ditch my newfound responsibility (yes, fourteen-year-old me was intent on doing the most).
Looking back on that experience I can’t help but laugh at my dramatics. However, I believe that the authenticity of my anxiety is a legitimate feeling many people have when transitioning to an autonomous wardrobe for their careers. This anxiety is especially felt by individuals who change from a job or work environment that requires them to wear uniforms and/or a follow a strict business formal policy (e.g. like my elementary school), to a laxer dress code (e.g. my high school). So, if you are finding yourself stressed over what to wear to work, remember to S.U.I.T. up:
Simplicity is Key
The first step to dressing for work is to keep it simple. The less time you spend on getting dressed for work, means that there is more time that you could allocate to your commute or maybe a morning activity of your choosing. The easiest way to keep it simple for your work wardrobe is to invest in solid-colored dress pants, skirts, dresses, and tops. Solid-colored items provide a great assortment of choices that can be mixed and matched to create various outfits. Additionally, investing in a few multicolored or patterned cardigans and outerwear items can be game-changers for your work wardrobe! These detachable items give you the opportunity to play with patterns and colors in your look, and be able to take them off if you do not feel comfortable wearing non-solid-colored clothes throughout the day.
Upcycle Your Uniform/Suit Pieces
The best thing about a uniform or a suit is that they are comprised of multiple pieces that can be reworked into other outfits. For example, if you have a bunch of suits within your closet that you no longer wear, upcycle them by wearing them separately within your work outfits. Throw on the blazer to add a more stylish look to your ensemble, or wear the dress pants/skirt as a go-to work bottom that would complement your blouses and shirts.
If you still want to wear a suit to work, tone down its seriousness by paring it with a brightly-colored top!
Innovate with Accessories
Just because you keep it simple, doesn’t mean that you have to keep it bland. Adding accessories is an innovative way to complete your work style. Whether it is a watch, a tie, a colored belt, or show-stopping purse, accessories give you bawse energy, with applying the least amount of effort.
Turnt on the Top, Low-key on the Bottom (TTLB)
Not everyone is required to wear business casual clothes at their job. Many businesses are scraping business clothes altogether in favor for allowing their employees to wear jeans and other casual clothing. As someone who has never felt fully comfortable wearing full casual clothes to work, my tenet of “turnt on the top, low-key on the bottom (TTLB)” has been a lifesaver. TTLB means that while I wear jeans, I pair them with a more upscaled shirt, and cardigan or blazer on top. That way, I don’t look like I’m out-dressing my coworkers, and I don’t feel mortified that I may look too casual at work.
So, whether you are someone who is transitioning from retail to an office job, or someone who is working at a business that has changed its dress policy, remember to refer to S.U.I.T. so that you can dress for work with ease! If you feel that you still need a little extra guidance, my hand-curated look-books are a great way to help you!
Comment below and let me know whether you have had a similar experience transitioning to an autonomous wardrobe, or tag me @calandra_mcgee on Instagram so I can see how you S.U.I.T. up for your work needs!
I’ll see you on the stoop.
Calandra M.