Whether you love or hate working remotely, many NoVA residents won’t have a choice beginning in 2025. Amazon is requiring office workers on site at its Arlington HQ2 five days a week; The Washington Post (owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos) is mandating employees back five days a week; and as of press time, there was the possibility of an end to remote work for federal employees. For many who have been working from home since 2020, office life may seem like a distant memory. So, if you’re among those heading back this year, here are some tips for a seamless transition.
What to Wear
DMV-area stylist Naina Singla spells out the new normal for office dress codes.
What’s appropriate attire for most offices?
Dress codes are more relaxed after COVID. Comfort is the priority and women and men are no longer interested in investing heavily in work clothes. … I have so many clients coming to me because they don’t know how to dress in the office for business casual. In the past, they had specific and more formal work wardrobes that consisted of blazers, shift dresses, chic pantsuits, and high heels. The dress codes and guidelines were more defined, but now it’s challenging and the lines are a bit blurred with business casual. … Versatility is key. Appropriate attire for companies like Amazon is going to be business casual. It’s all about having a streamlined wardrobe that is still polished and put-together, but one that is also focused on simplicity and versatility.
What are some outfits you’d suggest for women now?
- A nice knit dress, matching cardigan, and tall boots
- A midi satin skirt, sleeveless tank, relaxed blazer, and heeled mules
- Tailored trousers, silk button-down shirt tucked in, loafers, and a statement belt
- Dark wash jeans, cashmere V-neck sweater, and kitten heel ankle boots
- Pull-on narrow/cigarette-style pants, oversized button-down shirt, and pointy toe flats
And what are some looks you’d suggest for men?
Business casual is all about finding the balance between professionalism and ease. You can have a little fun and inject personality through the addition of belts, watches, fun footwear, socks, and even layering. Sticking with neutrals keeps the look professional.
- Slim or tailored chinos, classic fitted button-down shirt, merino or cashmere crew-neck sweater, and minimal-style sneakers
- Dark wash jeans, crew-neck sweater, blazer, and slip-on loafers
- Black jeans, henley shirt, and suede sneakers. Add a quilted bomber jacket for added warmth and layering.
Where do you recommend women shop for work attire?
I take a lot of clients to Tysons Galleria. I love Vince for quality and versatile work pieces. … Other brand and retailer favorites with my clients include Veronica Beard, Ba&sh, Sézane, and Net-a-Porter. I also love Sophie Blake jewelry.
And for men?
Vince, and it’s also easy to pop into Bonobos and Boss, which are next door to Vince at the Galleria. Other options include Charles Tyrwhitt, Proper Cloth, Uniqlo, and Everlane. If you need to dress it up a bit [or] are looking for a suit or nice blazer, I like Suitsupply.
If you want your work clothes to be comfortable, what should you look for?
They should consist of fabrics that are breathable like cotton and linen. Having some stretch is nice … Clothes shouldn’t be too tight but also not too loose where it looks and feels frumpy and not put-together. Stretchy ponte or cotton pants or pull-on style pants is key, especially if you are sitting for long periods of time. … Adding a blazer, cardigan, or scarf can elevate an outfit, making it versatile and pulled together, while also allowing you to adjust your look throughout the day. … For varying temps, layer cardigans over tanks or sleeveless knit dresses. … Ballet flats, loafers, stylish sneakers are all great shoe options that are functional and comfortable.
How do you keep your work wardrobe from being boring?
You can inject personality through subtle details like color, unique fabrics (suede, leather, etc.), and accessories, while ensuring the overall look still feels and looks refined.
Mind Your Manners
These etiquette best practices will help you maintain peace with your colleagues.
Keep your head up in meetings. While you can just turn off your video on Zoom, try to pay attention to the speaker when you’re in the conference room. Don’t let them see you scrolling your phone, knitting a scarf, or yawning — that’s considered rude.
Keep noise to a minimum. Cubicle or open-office workers know the pain of being distracted by a colleague’s loud music or chatter. For long (or private) conversations, try to book a private room or step away. Remember, it’ll take some time for many people to get acclimated to office noises again.
Be mindful of strong scents. Go easy on the perfume or cologne. Your coworkers may be sensitive to strong fragrances. One spritz is enough. The same goes for food. Avoid microwaving fish and don’t leave your food in the fridge for too long.
Stay home when you’re sick. While you may have trudged through remote work with a cold, avoid going to the office and spreading the germs when you’re not feeling well.
Be inclusive when socializing. Your office mates can see you going to happy hour without them. If you’re making plans with one or two people from your team, try to extend the invite so nobody feels excluded.
Feature image courtesy Naina Singla
This story originally ran in our January Issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine.
