According to Tom Ford, “Dressing well is a form of good manners,” and this maxim holds true for every woman who wants to look at her best.

Dressing well in an uber-conservative office is a common workplace issue among women. There are corporate dress codes that employees need to follow, men and women alike. While we’re not saying that dressing up is easier for men, it’s women who always fall into the dilemma of looking appropriate and fashionable at the same time.

Even worse is adjusting to the business casual setting after getting used to a conservative dress code.

As much as you want to welcome the new dress code at work, you also don’t want to waste your button-up shirts and pencil skirts.

So, to help you update your look without throwing your favorite style staples, here are some guidelines that you can follow to use your conservative wardrobe for work for a more laidback environment.

5 Ways to Repurpose Your Conservative Dress Code For Business Casual Settings

1. Button-Up Shirts

Fresh and crisp white button-down is an everyday staple in every office wardrobe. You can update the look and make it work by rolling and unbuttoning the cuffs and folding them up twice. This small move can make a big difference in the overall look of your wardrobe. Don’t forget to throw in crisp jeans for a more updated look.

Dark wash jeans give a polished-yet-relaxed look, but a pair of light-wash boyfriend jeans neutralize the stuffiness of a white button-down. Consider pairing your jeans with wedges or low-tops to add some height

2. Pencil SkirtsOf course, every office lady should have a piece or two of a well-fitted pencil skirt in her closet. It may look too formal sometimes, but if you pair it with a good shirt and a pair of sturdy heels, the look will be fashionable enough for the office or anywhere, really.

To add some twists of your rather formal look, try pairing your skirts with a modern, fun, and graphic tee or a chambray shirt, and replace your conservative heels with a stylish and durable leather sandals. Give your look a spin by using accessories that you love like stacked bracelets or an unusual statement necklace.

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3. Blazers

Fortunately, the resurgence of the classic blazer in the past few years has made it a must-have in your office wardrobe. Lucky for us, blazers blend well with just about anything in your closet.

But since the point here is retaining your traditional look without looking too serious, you need to stay away from ill-fitting ones. Bring your pieces to your tailor if they need some adjustments.

You can also give an exciting vibe to your blazers by replacing buttons with metal or gold pieces.

4. Trousers

Trousers are among the staples of a woman’s clothing, although they may be difficult to pull off in a casual setting. However, if you own a pair of trousers pants of the straight leg variety and cropped above the ankle, you’re in luck!

Straight-cut trousers are in vogue, and you can pair them nicely with classic lace up oxfords, and a casual striped tee.

Flared trousers pair well with heeled boots or high heels because flared trousers add length to the leg. Steer clear from the black heels and choose an open-toed pair of wedges instead.

In a casual setting, finish the overall look with a casual top and layer it with a denim jacket. Voila! You can now showcase a stylish look while staying conservative.

5. Heels

Similar to trousers, heels are difficult to carry into a casual look too. A classic rule of thumb is to pair heels with tomboyish clothing to avoid a dressy look.

For instance, you can wear a tee and jeans and finish the look with your heels. This creates a hippy-yet-formal look without trying to dress up. You can also try heels with a shirt and short pants.

Be sure that your heels aren’t too high because casual dress code or not, an extremely high heel is inappropriate for work.

Being fashionable does not necessarily mean showing off skin or layering excessively. You can look chic while staying work appropriate. There is no need to compromise your comfort to look stylish. Find your style and wear your confidence. These two are enough to make a fashionable persona at work while staying within your fashion comfort zone.