Re-Starting a Professional Wardrobe for a Post-COVID Transition

When I went back to the office in January, I had a problem.  My pre-COVID professional wardrobe was made for someone ten pounds lighter with hips 3″ smaller.  Every skirt was uncomfortably snug, every jacket had to be worn open, some blouses were unwearable.  It was a misery.

While I’m eating better and working out more, I have a ways to go before I can wear the bulk of my wardrobe comfortably again.  And judging by some of the questions sent into my e-mail and DMs over the past few weeks, many of you are facing a similar struggle as you confront returning to the office and your professional attire.

Dressing through this awkward transition phase has been tough.  I’ve had to figure out what I need to get through and replace a few staples with temporary counterparts.  Luckily, professional attire is deeply discounted right now, so I can wear these pieces now and Poshmark them later without guilt.  So I thought I would create a guide that you can reference when you head back to the office.

Where to begin?  Go to your closet and put together five professional outfits using your favorite, staple pieces.  Now try them on.  This may sting a little, but you need to know what fits and what doesn’t.

Do they zip or button?  Can you lift your arms?  How does it feel when you sit?  Really give them a good test run.

Make a List. Now, write down which pieces you may want to buy in a larger size to fill your transition wardrobe.  These pieces will be unique to you.  For some it will be new jeans.  For others it will be new business suits.

Set Aside the Budget. I gave myself $500 to buy some replacement items and $750 to pick up a few new pieces that I can tailor down a size later.  Tailor your budget to your needs.  I’m hitting great sales and working Poshmark, so I won’t need my full amount, but I wanted to set aside enough money so I would feel good about what I was buying and not be draped head to toe in Forever21.

Choose Styles That Are Affordable to Tailor.  A good tailor can rescue anything.  (My wedding dress tailor turned a size 12 Oscar de la Renta gown into a size 6.)  But some things are cheaper and easier to tailor than others.  Pencil skirts, sheath dresses, and simple blouses are simple to alter.  Pants and blazers can be tailored, but cost more.

Stick to a Color Palette.  My work wardrobe right now is mostly black and white with some navy thrown in.  Keeping to a neutral, monochromatic palette makes buying new pieces easier because everything will go together.  It also makes the process of getting dressed in the morning a cinch.

Now that we’ve covered the basics of deciding what goes in your transition wardrobe and what it should cost, let’s talk about the pieces that I purchased.

Hue Blackout Tights // One of the darker moments of my return to the office was the morning that I put on my tights, and realized that they were too tight.  Uncomfortably, sausage-casing tight.  It was time to go up a size.  These Hue Blackout Tights were my favorite <$20 pair.  They are very black, which I love.  They also have no control top, which makes life more comfortable.

If you want a better pair of black tights, Falke are my favorite upgraded tight.  They wear like iron, so you won’t need to dispose of them frequently.  Though I recommend getting a garment bag and washing them on delicate to prolong their life.

Ann Taylor Pencil Skirt // This was the piece that absolutely had to be replaced, no exceptions.  So I bought my favorite Ann Taylor Ponte Skirt and my Ann Taylor Seasonless Stretch Skirt (also in petite) in the bigger size.  I wear these multiple times over a two week period, and I needed larger ones.  The great thing about these skirts is that I can easily have them tailored down if I want, or I can donate them to Dress for Success.

Rag & Bone White Blazer // I thought my white blazer fit.  Then I tried to wear a blouse under it and lift my arms… Nope, didn’t actually fit.  Luckily, one of our interns could benefit from my loss.

Replacing my white blazer was tougher than I thought it would be.  I chose this Rag & Bone blazer (on deep discount) because it had a simple cut and a one-button style.  If you need something under-$100, this NYDJ collarless blazer and this white blazer with a ruched sleeve are both worth a look.

DvF Aleka Tie Neck Dress // I needed a black dress with a bit of color to wear under a black blazer.  These dresses make my life comfortable and easy because I love wearing dresses.  I chose the Aleka Tie Dress, but I also picked up a couple of patterned wrap dresses on Poshmark.

Finding dresses that blend black and white or are black and a color helps me wear all black without looking like I’m on my way to a funeral.  You can see one of my dress under blazer outfits under ‘My Outfits’ on Instagram.

Ann Taylor Wide Leg Pants // You know my feelings on pants, I don’t wear them.  Until I found these wide leg pants.  I love them.  Love.

The wide leg is comfortable.  The high-waist keeps shirts tucked in.  And they look very dressy, which I enjoy. They’re back in stock in a handful of sizes (also in petite).

So these are the five items that I couldn’t live without.  What your must-haves be?

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