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Last week we covered what toiletry supplies you may want to keep in your office — this week, we thought we'd give our recommendations on clothing to keep in your office. (In the coming weeks we'll also tackle foodstuffs and gadgetry.)
1. A suit. The goal of the suit is to be able to look proper if you have to run to court at the last minute, or if you have an impromptu call to meet with the CEO.
{related: what clothes to keep at your office}
Note that if you're going to keep a skirt suit, you might want to make sure you've got pantyhose and possibly a razor blade, as well. Make sure that you've got an appropriate top to wear under the suit, as well as appropriate undergarments (i.e., don't wear a sheer white blouse with a black polka dot bra). It's also handy to have another outfit on hand in the event of a severe food mishap such as a yogurt spill.
Some of our favorite mid-range suits for women (which sometimes have such frequent sales that they come down to the same range as our “budget” suits) include Ann Taylor, J.Crew, Talbots, Banana Republic, Brooks Brothers, and Antonio Melani. (Talbots and J.Crew usually have plus sizes, and the others offer petites.)
2. Extra panties (preferably ones that don't show any visible pantylines). Yes, it's kind of gross to say, but… if you have to pull an all-nighter… if you need to change into a skirt suit with pantyhose and had been wearing boyshorts… if you actually make it to the gym and need to change into a fresh pair… there are lots of different reasons to keep an extra thong or seamless pair tucked discreetly into a gym bag or in a ziplock baggy in your desk drawer.
(Why a ziplock baggy? After a while your desk drawers will get gross. We don't know what happens in there — it isn't as if ketchup packets implode — but they just get a bit gross. Take our advice and protect your drawers from your drawers.)
3. A wrap. Some days the A/C is going full blast and there is nothing you can do but wrap yourself up in a shawl.
Unlike a sweater, it's generally something you can add to any kind of outfit — a suit looks good with a wrap thrown over it, as does a dress, or even a casual sweater and pants outfit. We like the ones from Love Quotes, available at places like ShopBop in a huge array of colors for $75.
4. Gym clothes. Dare to dream! There might be some down time and you can actually make it to the gym. (Try to include a lock for the locker room, as well as any shower supplies your gym doesn't carry, such as facial moisturizer or a gentle face wash.) Also consider keeping a pair of flip-flops for showering.
5. Sneakers. These will come in handy if you make it to the gym… but they'll also come in handy on the off chance you need to leave the office on foot. (God forbid another 9/11 should happen… but it's best to be prepared.) Don't forget white socks.
6. An extra pair of pumps. We'll be honest here — we have more shoes in our office than some shoe stores do. But: if it needs to be said, bring in an extra pair of pumps that matches your spare suit. Check out our recent article on basic black pumps here.
Hunting for comfortable work heels? We've got a whole guide just for that, but some of our favorites include Marc Fisher LTD, Sam Edelman, M.M.LaFleur, and Cole Haan. On the pricier side, check out Ferragamo, Stuart Weitzman, and Sarah Flint. For comfort-first styles, look to Vionic, Sofft, and Naturalizer.
7. Comfortable pants. For some reason, that last minute call to pull an all-nighter always seems to come on the days that we're wearing a skirt and pantyhose… not the most comfortable garb to hang out in for the hours to come.
(Also, the work involved in an all-nighter may involve going through dusty file rooms, or require you to sit on the ground to review the paperwork.)
Have some comfy pants on hand to change into — make them a classic black pant, such as these simple drawstring pants from Gap, above ($24.50), and you'll always be fit to be seen in them. (Your gym clothes might fit the bill here.)
There are a bunch of great pull-on pants for the office in 2024. Some of our longstanding favorites include those from Athleta*, Everlane, Eileen Fisher*, Betabrand*, and Uniqlo. If you're looking for something a bit more polished but still ultra comfy, check out Nic & Zoe* or NYDJ*. (Brands with plus sizes are marked with asterisks.)
Some particular styles we love are below:
8. Extra nude pantyhose. If you don't already keep a pair at the office for your suit, you may want to keep a pair for general usage. Buy it at the drugstore and shove it in the back of your drawer — at worst it's $3 you've spent for no reason — but it can be a lifesaver in a pinch.
Our commenters had a ton of suggestions for favorite pantyhose (both drugstore and high end) when we ran a poll on whether nude or black pantyhose was appropriate; check those out here.
9. A black blazer. This is a great item to throw over any item — from a jersey dress to a casual sweater — if you need to look more professional in a hurry.
Some of the best blazers for women in 2024 — great for wearing as separates! — include options from Cinq à Sept, J.Crew (collarless and collared), Everlane, and Madewell. Hunting for a deal? Check out J.Crew Factory and Amazon (Cicy Bell, The Drop).
10. A winter hat. This is admittedly an extreme suggestion, but we've been thankful to have a hat in our desk drawer many times.
There are two situations where this can be helpful:
1) (Primarily in New York): You thought you'd have to work until late in the evening, and dressed for the day prepared to be driven home. But work lightens up and suddenly you can go out with friends, or subway it home — but it's absolutely freezing outside. Add a hat to your outfit and you'll be surprised how warm you are — after all, 80 percent of your heat escapes through your head.
2) The A/C is unbelievably freezing and you're sitting in your office all day shivering. Add a hat — yes, you look silly, but as long as your door is shut, who's the wiser? Again, it'll warm you up considerably, but is easy enough to take off if you need to run to the bathroom or to a meeting.
2021 updated images via Deposit Photos/ deagreez1. Originally pictured: Flickr photo via dcwriterdawn.
rosie
Good list,. I keep an umbrella too at the office.