There’s a lot we have missed out on since the pandemic began (casual interaction with humans, for starters), but dressing up has been pretty high on this list! However, with things starting to show some amount of normalcy lately, it’s only fair that the excitement to go outside is at its peak! But of course, you have an office job that you still need to go to that requires you to be professional and put-together. 

Here, we have put together a little guide to help you transform your dresses for office wear into an after-work outfit. But first, let’s look at a few tips to take your outfit from your 9-to-5 office environment to a fabulous evening.

Tips to Transition your Work Attire to After-Work Plans

You probably have a lot going on from maintaining a job, daily responsibilities while still trying to maintain a social life. Turn to these simple and useful tricks to get from your cubicle to some after-work cocktails with ease:

Try things on

If you’re planning on wearing your casual outfit to the office, try it on first and see how you can transition it from day to evening. Also, if your outfit and shoes are new, see how it’s going to work out by doing a test run. This means you should actually wear it for an entire day to see if it’s comfortable enough to be worn later. 

Start with basics

Consider what you’ll be wearing after work and work around the outfit. For example, if you’re going to be wearing a black dress, style it with a jacket so that most of it is concealed while you’re at the office. 

Don’t Rush

If you need to get ready at the office before you head out, set aside some time to make your transition from office to casual wear. If you rush, you’re most likely to forget something important, like changing your jewellery. 

Swap your footwear

You can’t possibly strut around in your stilettos all day, so wear professional low heels to the office and then upgrade to a pair of slingbacks, stilettos or sneakers to look “fabulous” after work!

Change your hair

If your hair is usually styled in a bun to work, switch things up and let it loose for the evening. Pack up your hair spray and comb to give it some volume. On the other hand, if you wear your hair down at work, be sure to pack up some hair accessories if you want to add some evening glamour. 

Quick makeup fix

This is one thing that you mustn’t ever forget! No matter what your outfit looks like, there’s one item that’ll instantly take it several notches higher and that’s dramatic lipstick. Be sure you have all the makeup essentials required to dial up the evening glamour. 

Your next after-work outing should be a breeze if you keep these points in mind! Now moving on to the most important part—transitioning office clothing for women to a casual event. 

Versatile Outfit Ideas to go from Work to Play

Create looks that can be quickly transformed from work to play with some of our  great outfit ideas to inspire your day-to-evening looks:

Grey it Out

A blouse in a neutral shade like grey is a good option for stylish office wear for ladies to try as you can dress it up or down according to the occasion. Look effortlessly chic by teaming it with black wide-legged pants. Play it down by sporting black leather flat sandals that you can easily carry off after work.

 

Go Classic

For a classic yet stylish hassle-free look, add a wide belt to a black button-down shirt and fold the sleeves up to your elbows while you’re leaving the office. This will bring a hint of sophistication to your look. Also, swap your pumps for some stilettos and don’t forget to accessorise! Wear some layered chains or a couple of chunky bracelets for a fun look! If you want to take it up a notch, lose the trousers and wear leggings. 

Keep it Simple

If you work in an office that follows a Business Casual dress code, then dresses are a great way to go from work to after-work socialising. Wear a striped sheath dress with a cardigan to work. Once you’re done with work, ditch the cardigan for a light-wash denim shirt, knotting it at the waist. Add a pair of lavender kitten mules, some funky jewellery and a black sling bag to keep things current. 

Dress in Layers

Work your brown pencil skirt with a sleeveless white silk blouse, and a pearl necklace along with a blazer to work. After work, lose the blazer, swap your pearls for long chunky necklaces, kick off your pumps and add metallic wedges to transform your look instantly!

Stun in a Shift Dress

Shift dresses are the perfect dresses for office wear and the best part is they can easily transition to an after-work outing or dinner attire in just a few simple steps. Here’s a look to try in the office: Pair a gingham check shift dress with a bright orange blazer. Layer with a simple necklace along with pumps and you’re ready to get work done! After work, swap the blazer for a light bomber jacket or a woollen overcoat (depending on the weather) and slip into your favourite sneakers. Add a fun scarf and a mini backpack for a super laid-back yet chic look. 

Stay Stylish Without the Stress

Your work-life-style balance can be made easy with outfits that are versatile! No matter where you’re headed after-work hours, it helps to be prepared with a few tips and tricks to make the most of your outfit with little effort. Hope our ideas have given you enough inspiration to look fabulous from 9 to 5, and beyond! Keep slaying, power woman!