What to Wear to Work in 2023

(Image credit: Kat Irlin / Morgan McMullen)

published 20 September 2021

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Without question, working from home has changed our minds about strict office dress codes. Still, the novelty of wearing sweats and track suits all day has worn off. According to an original Marie Claire x LinkedIn survey, almost half (47 percent) of respondents are looking forward to getting dressed up for work again and more than one third said they were shopping for a new work wardrobe. Now is the perfect time to invest in a few great pieces that will showcase your personal style. Make your back-to-work budget work smarter, not harder, by investing in items that you can mix-and-match for high-performing, down-to-business looks.

Back-to-Work Tops

Think beyond traditional suit shirts and stuffy button-downs. Instead, reach for blouses with feminine details like ruffles and blazers in unexpected fabrics and adorned with shiny hardware.

Wales Bonner Twill Blazer

Smythe Duchess Wool Blazer

St. Roche Virginia Top

Rebecca Taylor Valerie Eyelet Blouse

Back-to-Work Pants

Forty-six percent of our survey respondents are shopping for the perfect back-to-office pants. But if "no jeans" is still the policy at your office post-pandemic, don't panic. Leg elongating high-waisted trousers, stretchy slacks, and minimalist patterned pants will give your look a leg up.

Tory Burch Gingham Linen Wide Leg Pants

Chloé Stretch Wool Wide Leg Pants

Gabriela Wool Twill Flare

Victoria, Victoria Beckham Belted Straight Leg Pants

Back-to-Work Shoes

Sorry, sky-high heels. We're just not that into you anymore. Commit to a commuter shoe, like a loafer, that's both comfy and cool.

Brother Vellies Wilson Loafer in Linen

Jeffrey Campbell Sorbonne Penny Loafer

Louise et Cie Emlen Chain Loafer

Tory Burch Jessa Horse Hardware Loafer

Back-to-Work Accessories

Thirty-seven percent of our survey respondents said they want to invest in new jewelry this season. So shake up your workwear with sleek belts and baubles that will add pizzaz to any boardroom ensemble.

Kintu New York Crossbody

Doina Gemstone Huggie Earrings Set

Coco and Breezy Eyeglasses

Bottega Veneta Triangle-Buckle Leather Belt

Back-to-Work Bags

No need to settle for a backpack to get you and your gear to-and-from the office. These chic back-to-work bags fit your laptop and then some.

Telfar Large Oxblood Shopping Bag

Cuyana Classic Structured Leather Tote

Longchamp Paille Straw Tote

Gucci 1955 Tote Bag

The Future of Women and Work

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Sara Holzman is the Style Director for Marie Claire, where she's worked alongside the publication for eight years in various roles, ensuring the brand's fashion content continues to inform, inspire, and shape the conversation about fashion's ever-evolving landscape. With a degree from the Missouri School of Journalism, Sara is responsible for overseeing a diverse fashion content mix, from emerging and legacy designer profiles to reported features on the influence of social media on style and seasonal and micro trends across the world's fashion epicenters in New York, Milan, and Paris. Before joining Marie Claire, Sara held fashion roles at Conde Nast's Lucky Magazine and Self Magazine and was a style and travel contributor to Equinox's Furthermore website. Over her decade of experience in the fashion industry, Sara has helped guide each brand's style point of view, working alongside veteran photographers and stylists to bring editorial and celebrity photo shoots to fruition from start to finish. Sara currently lives in New York City. When she's not penning about fashion or travel, she’s at the farmer’s market, on a run, working to perfect her roasted chicken recipe, or spending time with her husband, dog, and cat. Follow her along at @sarajonewyork