We’ve been testing women’s workwear for years and these brands are the best places to get your office wardrobe
The idea of women’s workwear used to be limited to pencil skirts, sensible slacks, and smart stacked heels. But with more and more workplaces loosening their definition of “work-appropriate attire,” the term workwear has grown to encompass a wide range of styles from myriad brands.
At Insider Reviews, we’ve tested hundreds of items from dozens of retailers, and have a handful of favorites that we toss on whenever we’re headed to our offices. From wrap sweaters to keep you warm when the office AC is blasting, to the perfect carry-all that can transition seamlessly to drinks, we’ve rounded up the best items we count as workwear — and exactly where to buy them.
For more workwear staples, check out our coverage on the best suits for women, the best white button-down shirts, the best work bags for women, and the best flats.
Our top three places to find women’s workwear:
- Everlane has remained one of our favorite places to buy workwear for years. Their high-quality professional basics are a staple of our style teams’ closets. Blazers, button-downs, comfy work pants, ballet flats, and even suits — you can find it all here.
- Quince is one of those rare places that gives you sticker shock for all the right reasons. You can get silk skirts for elevated summer office dressing for only $60 or cotton button-downs for only $40. We highly recommend their workwear for any budget-conscious shoppers.
- Eileen Fisher is the place for you if you want to create a simple, professional capsule wardrobe. They have an office-ready 12-shapes collection that allows you to create endless permutations of pieces that are meant to fit together. Plus, we love the quality of all their clothing.
Best overall: Everlane
Everlane may seem too casual for workwear, but the brand is a go-to for foundational basics for any office wardrobe.
Everlane is an internet darling, partly thanks to transparent pricing in an industry that has traditionally relied upon markups. We shop here primarily for basics that are above-average in quality and below-average in price. We like Everlane’s shoes, leather bags, cotton shirts, and $50 work pants.
In terms of footwear, we typically recommend the Day shoe family, though you’ll want to size up a half size for your order. We’re unanimously fans of the company’s $135 Day Glove and we also love the Day Heel, The Mary Jane, and The Glove Boot.
Read our full review of Everlane’s workwear collection to see more of our favorite picks.
Best budget: Quince
Quince provides your run-of-the-mill clothing essentials and makes them using organic, sustainably sourced textiles. Their success can be attributed to their fair pricing, maintained by cutting out the added expenses of the supply chain. Ever think cashmere sweaters were a luxury item out of your reach? Well, Quince has them for just $50. In addition, they also make some of the best white button-downs for women and men.
Best for creating a capsule wardrobe: Eileen Fisher
Eileen Fisher is all about easy dressing. Simple, clean shapes and great fabrics are the ethos of the brand. And thanks to the timeless styles and truly top-notch materials, you can expect to have them for decades.
The brand’s wide-legged pants and breezy blouses can be mixed and matched to create your new — surprisingly comfortable — work wardrobe. And since most of these pieces are minimal, and come in a range of complementary hues, all you need is a few to create the ultimate capsule wardrobe.
Best for work pants: Spanx
Spanx is best known for its shapewear, and — to nobody’s surprise — the same things that make its shapewear great (intuitive design, savvy understanding of women’s bodies, and high-end materials) also make the best pants we’ve tested.
We tested Spanx’s collection of Perfect Pants which includes four style iterations of the workwear staple — from flare to skinny. It is one of the best women’s workwear pieces for feeling comfortable and looking professional. We were particularly impressed with the machine-washable, smoothing fabric that’s flattering but not restrictive. Sizing options also include petite, regular, or tall inseams.
See our full review of the Spanx Perfect Black Pant to see how it looks on different body types.
Best luxury: M.M.LaFleur
Most of M.M. LaFleur’s clothes are machine-washable and wrinkle-resistant, and the brand’s design hacks are helpful rather than gimmicky — like internal clips to keep bra straps in place and adjustable pant hems for different shoes. Miyako Nakamura, former head designer for Zac Posen, is a master at flattering, easy silhouettes.
There are also plenty of options for business travelers that feature machine-washable, wrinkle-resistant, packable suiting staples like the Moreland Jacket. M.M.LaFleur also makes the ingenious Foster Pant that adjusts for different shoe heights.
