What to Wear to Work – spruce up the office with these eye-catching outfits!

Trekking to and from the office can be a gruelling task in the full throes of Hong Kong heat! Here to help I have rounded up a few brands and looks to help you make your journey to the office and to the top a bit more fashionable. I have avoided the typical all black shift dress and brought you a range of colourful options fit for these bright sunny days. From local labels to the big brands, we have you sorted for what to wear to work!

New on the HK scene is designer Alex Black. Her capsule collection of go-to shirt dresses will have you out the door in a blink. The cotton fabrics with French stitching are all top notch and each piece has been meticulously evaluated to make sure you are getting the most well-crafted piece. These frocks are easy to dress up or down, prices start at around $1,500 and are stocked at all Inside stores. Here we take the look to work with a nude pump and belt and a sturdy satchel that adds a pop of colour. Slip on a few classic accessories like these Maiyet earrings, this Michael Kors bracelet and a Burberry watch for timeless elegance. This is a look that will look as good today as it will 15 years from now!

Another new brand to hit the HK shopping scene is Jaleo. This reasonably priced line is perfect for loose cosy dresses and makes it easy to coordinate separates. Dresses are typically under $1,000 and separates start at around $400. Here, the Crazy dress is paired with a few pale pink accessories and an arm party made of mixed stones and metals. The Nicholas Kirkwood pumps can be worn with loads of office outfit creations, but work beautifully here to up the professionalism of this look. A hearty satchel is far more glam for holding tablets and documents than a beat ol’ briefcase. Slip this personalised leather case, available from Boticca, inside to protect your iPad and your ideas!

If you really want something that fits you to a T then the choice is clear – go custom! Isabella Wren offers 3-D body scanning so every measurement is taken into account when creating your one off piece. You can build the perfect matching shift and coat or get creative and buy a range of separates to coordinate several ways. The options are endless! There are loads of samples on hand for you to try on and get an idea of the fit and style you like. You can even purchase custom shoes to match. Now no matter your size or shape you have, there’s no excuse for not having a well-fitted suit!

You may have spotted this brand in our 50 Top Local HK Designers piece here, and there is good reason why. Local label TWS is back for another season of splendor offering a range of pastel beauties sure to inspire your weekday routine. These looks are from the FW’14 line and are available both in store at Roo Market on Elgin Street and online via Shop des Createurs. It is so nice to see office attire that is not black, gray, or navy. Go on, try out a bit of colour and see if your mood doesn’t improve right along with your wardrobe!

Here we incorporate those pastel shades with some of the big brands (and big prints!) that we all know and love. The boldness of this M&S skirt is mellowed out by the ease of the Zara top, perfect for a fun take on Friday office attire. Add some pizzazz with these spotted Gianvitto Rossi pumps and a bright McQueen blackberry holder. The Chanel shopping tote is really the only bag you need so start saving up for – so start counting pennies now, ladies! This is an investment piece that only gets better with age. A piece that is easy to snatch up now is this simple gold hoop necklace from Mango. With everyone always on their smartphone and/or tablet, why not pull out a stack of quirky notebooks to jot down ideas the old school way?! Those endless meeting just got a bit more interesting thanks to you!

Hope this helps to brighten up your spirits and your office environment! There is plenty of time for the dark duds come winter, so why not wear those sunny shades now? With the help of a few local labels and the big brands you can refresh your day-to-day. Now go get ‘em!