How to Look Polished in a Casual Office
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Casual and polished can coexist at work — you can definitely look put-together when you're not dressed up. Readers had a great comment thread recently on how to look polished in a casual office, and today we're rounding up their best advice. Your clothes, accessories, hair, makeup, and nails can all work together to create a polished overall impression.
Readers, we'd love to hear your tips! If you work in a casual office, what do you do to look polished?
{related: what to wear to a big meeting at a casual office}
How to Look Polished in a Casual Office: Reader Advice
What Does Polished Look Like?
One reader described having a polished appearance as “wearing clothes that fit you easily and convey authority, having hair that’s well-maintained and behaves, and having good skin.” (Some of those are easier to control than others, of course!)
In our post on making an outfit look put-together, we mentioned showing confidence, being mindful of clothing proportions, and adding a bit of your personality to your outfits.
{related: The Ultimate Guide to Business Casual for Women}
Tips for Clothing: What to Wear to a Casual Office
Try a monochrome outfit: One reader noted, “A column of color or black will look more put-together than various colors.” It also requires less brain power to choose an outfit on a hectic morning!
Wear a silk (or silk-like) blouse: As one commenter pointed out, “I find people respond really viscerally to expensive silk blouses. They don’t cling and work even on days when I feel puffy or uncomfortable.” Readers had TONS of recs for where to find blouses like these, which pair well with jeans: Antonio Melani at Dillard's, Elie Tahari, St. John, Emerson Fry, Alice + Olivia, Theory (Fitted Shirt in Silk Georgette, specifically), Lafayette 148 New York, and Equipment.
{related: we did a recent Hunt for stylish blouses for work}
Another couple of reader suggestions for specific pieces: a luxury coat and dark wash, trouser-style jeans. A couple of splurge-y outerwear recs from us: Fleurette and Cinzia Rocca.
Replace your clothes when they start to wear out. As one reader put it, “A slightly stretched out or faded piece of clothing seems like no big deal in your closet but looks shabbier when it’s on you.”
Pilling on your clothing, for example, doesn't give a good impression and can be easy for others to spot. If replacing your pilled pieces isn't in your budget right now, a fabric shaver can do the trick!
{related: I can't wear a suit but want to show authority}
Get your clothing tailored: There can be a huge difference between a piece that has been tailored to your body and something that's just off the rack. Of course, higher-quality brands have better tailoring from the start.
{related: reader mail: what to wear at a very casual office}
Tips for Accessories for Casual Offices
Readers had several recommendations for shoes that make an outfit look polished: Stylish flats, work-appropriate sneakers, loafers, oxfords, and pointed-toe, low block heels (for example, from LK Bennett) (see some of our favorites below).
Wear stylish jewelry: One reader shared, “I always wear real, fine-quality gems and gold to work. Nothing remotely inappropriate about it and it naturally adds a lot of polish.”
Carry a luxury bag: This can easily elevate a run-of-the-mill outfit. We've had a few conversations about designer bags over the years, including whether you HAVE to have a designer bag as a lawyer, whether you should carry a luxury bag if your boss doesn't, and designer bags and budgets.
As of 2025, some of our latest favorite luxury work bags (large enough to hold papers and a laptop!) include Bottega Veneta, Mulberry, Saint Laurent, Kaai, and DeMellier. Of course, note that a lot of our readers who are in big jobs note that they love their (more affordable) Lo & Sons bags, as well as their Tumi.
Looking for work backpacks to splurge on in 2025? Montblanc, MCM, Songmont, and Senreve (also!) are great, and readers are always huge fans of all things Tumi. Some of our favorites…
{related: what are the lower limits of business casual?}
Tips for Hair, Nails, and Makeup
Keep your nails in good shape: Ragged cuticles, for example, don't give the best impression.
One reader noted, “If you can, keep regular manicure appointments. Sometimes, on my most down days, seeing my nails, shaped and polished makes me feel like a professional even if I am not sure the rest of me is signaling that.”
Take care of your hair: Readers suggested weekly hair masks (Briogeo's Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Hair Mask is great!), keratin treatments, and Bumble and bumble Don’t Blow It for smoothing hair texture.
If your hair is curly, learn how to make it look its best. Check out our posts and look for curly-hair tutorials on TikTok.
Readers, how do you take care to look polished in your casual office? How much do you think it's about your clothing choices themselves vs. your overall look?
Some of Our Latest Favorite Shoes for Work Outfits in Casual Offices
Some of the reader-favorite flats are pictured below — you may also want to check out sneaker flats and other commuting shoes for their comfort level, as well as investment flats if you'd like to splurge, strappy flats. foldable flats, and washable flats.
Loafers
As of 2025, some of our favorite loafers for work are from Sam Edelman, Everlane, and Madewell. If you want something more classic, readers love Sperry and Ferragamo; if you want comfort, Vionic and Dr. Scholl's both have options. Meanwhile, if you want something a bit more feminine or slouchy, the Tory Burch loafers are all really highly rated at Nordstrom (especially this “ballet loafer“)!
Flats
Some of our favorite comfortable flats for work as of 2025 include AGL, M.M.LaFleur, Vivaia, and French Sole. On the more affordable side, check out Rothy's, Sam Edelman, and Rockport. We've also rounded up the best loafers for work, and our favorite sneakers for work outfits!
Investment Flats
Strappy Flats
Stylish strappy flats can be hard to find! As of 2025, these are some of our favorites — also, in general, check J.Crew, Boden, Jennifer Chamandi, Manolo Blahnik, and Valentino (on the pricier side, obviously). Nordstrom also has a surprisingly large selection!
Low Heels
Some of our favorite comfortable low heels for work as of 2025 include Sarah Flint, M.M.LaFleur, Ferragamo, CK Calvin Klein, Trotters, and Sam Edelman!
Pointy Toe Shoes for Work
Some of our latest favorite pointy-toed shoes include these options (as of 2024):
Stock photo via Pexels / Vinta Supply Co. NYC.
**Replace your clothes when they start to wear out** really resonated with me. I notice when someone’s clothes seem new (not because I know they are ‘this season,’ but because the fabric isn’t stretched or baggy or faded), and it always looks impressive to me (for better or worse).
That being said, how do you get into the habit of getting rid of ‘perfectly fine’ clothes? I have such a hard time giving away or reselling clothes that are still in excellent shape but just at the ‘midlife’ of their utility.
I think this is for two reasons: 1) frugality (I can afford new clothes, but I’d rather save the money) and 2) convenience (finding new pieces to replace those that are retired is time-consuming).
Maybe the answer is buying better things that show wear more slowly. I typically buy from Talbots and Boden, some J Crew. Are there other purveyors (even if more expensive) whose clothes are likely to look ‘new’ longer? Or wear with a patina that looks polished rather than shabby?
“Maintained hair” and “good skin” feels classist and racist. There is a wide Gulf between pilling sweaters and Brazilian blowouts or a round of Accutane. We can do better to realign expectations around what “professional” looks like, starting here.
I agree with you that the connotations of “polished” are linked to social class. Same goes for the quiet luxury vibe. The whole idea, stated or unstated, is to look wealthy–and who can do that most effectively? The people with the most money and leisure to devote to the effort.
In most workplaces looking like a member of the top of the organization’s employment hierarchy pays off professionally. So it seems to me that changing the definition of polished requires expanding who is at the top of the hierarchy.
My area of higher ed has many international women in leadership–and a much broader definition of “maintained” hair, in particular, than what I see here. Also some cross-cultural commonalities: natural fibers and genuine gold jewelry seem to be status markers for all.