5 Ways to Revitalise Your Work Wardrobe

Smartening up is usually a foolproof way to ensure you’re going to be work-appropriate. If you get called into an important meeting or need to present to a client, then the armor of a slightly smarter-leaning look is a good way of making sure you feel comfortable and look like you’ve made the effort.

Smartening up, however, does not mean dulling down. More relaxed or interesting blazer shapes — like something cut from unstructured cotton or an option with a double-breasted closure — can elevate a simple staple piece of menswear to a more intentional item, which can telegraph your specific tastes and style more effectively than something classic.

Switching up your color choice to a less conventional one achieves a similar intentionality. Instead of reaching for a well-worn navy jacket, opt for a washed-out brown tone. Still versatile, it's a piece that can be worn with myriad pant options and more statement under layers, but also one that feels a bit more distinct.

A pair of worn-in, washed-out jeans might not be the first thing you think of when you’re getting dressed for an office environment, but they should be. Increasing the formality of the rest of the items in your look brings denim into the more dressed-up territory — something akin to a retro-feeling Preppy style, which is currently excellently being modernized by brands like Drake’s and Husbands Paris.

A fine-knitted jumper in a tonal color, a leather shoe option that complements other smarter leather accessories like an elegant watch and soft tote bag, all these elements make even the most well-loved jeans feel that touch smarter.

The cliché signifier of finishing a hard day's work is loosening your tie as you leave your office. While this association has meant that ties have become more a symbol of strict uniforms than an opportunity to accessorize and inject some serious personal style into your work fits, things are changing.

Once again, it's about the push and pull of smarter items with the more casual ones, like a sneaker. This combination of more unconventionally paired-up pieces shows the intentionality we’re looking for and means you can be a bit more interesting with your layering options, too. Instead of a blazer, a loose zip-up knit worn over your shirt and tie alleviates the stuffiness for which this accessory is notorious. Plus, in 2025, ties are a seemingly unstoppable returning trend, so why not embrace it where it most naturally fits?

When it comes to wanting to feel like you’re equipped to handle anything, not much can compete with a suit. Not only do you get to utilize the baked-in formality of matching your jacket to your pants — and the sleek fabrication cohesion that gives you — you also get to take advantage of the storied tradition of suiting.

The long-standing association of tailoring and the workplace gives a solid baseline to experiment. Instead of a more commonplace single-breasted suit in a classic navy or grey, choosing a more textured fabric and more interesting silhouette like a double-breasted style takes the simple formula of a suit and allows you to make it more expressive and personal. Forgoing traditional accessories will allow a more impactful contrast in your shirt choice and keep the focus on the star of the show: your better-than-ordinary suit.

Another hallmark of traditional officewear is a crisp, white shirt. When buttoned neatly, even sans suit or blazer, it’s undeniably a smarter garment — but not always the most comfortable. So why not change that if you can? A knitted polo sits nicely in a similar spot to your go-to shirting.

A pared-back, buttoned, and collared style — but one that’s cut from a soft knit fabric — will give you the dressed-up feeling of a shirt, but with added comfort that's far more laid-back. This swap works well under smart separates and would also be a perfect way to soften tailoring, offering contrast to more structured shapes like blazers.