You know you're in good hands when your lawyer walks into a meeting wearing cashmere, a coveted leather tote from The Row, designer loafers, and an impressive jewelry curation—like Lisa Ing-Marinelli, a London-based corporate lawyer and content creator who has phenomenal office style. Her followers—including all Marie Claire fashion team members—are continually inspired by Ing-Marinelli's showing of daily winter work outfits. She masters blending personal style with professionalism during the serotonin-zapping season, pairing fine knitwear with the season's top trending coats, perfectly pressed tailored trousers, and refined work bags that are the antithesis of boring briefcases.
Come January and into the winter doldrum months, injecting personality into your cold-weather office style when all you want to wear is elastic waistbands isn't easy. Liza Belmonte, the former fashion executive behind the style newsletter Every Body Gets Dressed, says it's perhaps women's biggest pain point with winter fashion. "One of the most common questions I get from subscribers when it comes to dressing for work in the winter is, 'How do I dress for the office and still feel and look like myself?'" the writer explains over email.
Ing-Marinelli and Belmonte advise taking stock of your wardrobe and adding a few timeless items with a twist. Often, this means investing in high-quality pieces that, yes, are double the cost of fast fashion but will last quadruple as long. "Winter outfits [consisting of substantial knits and outerwear can be] expensive, but they last if you buy well," Ing-Marinelli says. The lawyer adds that most of her cold-weather items were originally purchased years ago but are still in rotation because of their top-tier craftsmanship and cost-per-wear.
What if splurging on a work wardrobe could even help you like your job a little more? "When I worked a corporate job, I noticed that how much effort I put [into what I wore to work] or how much I liked my outfit directly correlated with my job satisfaction," says Belmonte. "I began investing in better pieces for the office, like well-made blazers and tailored trousers, and they were game-changers. And it's not about the perception of others; it's about showing up as your most confident self."
It's a tale as old as time: the better you feel about what you're wearing, the better you feel about yourself—and, therefore, the better work you can do when clocking in. Ahead, ten rich-looking outfits and more insight from Belmonte and Ing-Marinelli on what to wear into the office this winter.
Strategic Neutrals
"You may be expected to stick to a neutral color palette to convey professionalism. If that's the case, sharp cuts, structured fits, and interesting design details will go a long way to give your work outfits a unique edge," says Belmonte. "Paying attention to these has led to some of my favorite outfit formulas for attending formal meetings in winter." For instance, a sculptural cape coat, barrel-leg pants, and a chunky sweater.
Tailored to a T
Belmonte says you can't go wrong with "a pair of wool trousers with a deep front crease, a blouse with slightly flared sleeves tucked into the waist, and a leather belt that's simple yet effective." Specifically, the fashion writer recommends "Anderson’s belts; they have the best price-to-quality ratio I have come across for classic belts."
Splurge on the Classics
Ing-Marinelli's topline piece of advice when building a winter work rotation is, interestingly enough, to ignore the winter trends and "invest, invest, invest" in quality classics. "Summer is much easier to wear trends in, whereas winters seem to be led by my wardrobe and current collection rather than what's trending," says the lawyer.
Belmonte's advice is similar, adding that the key to having a distinct style is often buying timeless pieces with a few choice tweaks. "Deliberately mixing and matching your existing pieces with newer ones that incorporate interesting design details will have a significant impact and keep you looking polished," says Belmonte. Interestingly enough, Ing-Marinelli also encourages you to ignore winter trends.
Strategic Layering
The key to making these—and any outfit formulas—work in the winter is to have the right base layers," says Belmonte. "Basic long-sleeved tops in natural fibers like cashmere, merino wool, or silks—like Intimissimi's—will add warmth without adding bulk. Ing-Marinelli agrees, saying she's partial to "turtlenecks layered under V-neck sweatshirts or button-ups with a pair of high-waisted denim."
A Not-So Basic Button-Down
"Belmonte doubles down on her note about classic-with-a-twist items and encourages buying "a cotton poplin shirt that isn't just your run-of-the-mill button-down shirt— like this twist-wrap front version from Lemaire. As for styling, the writer advises "a pair of cropped kick-flare jersey pants from Everlane with the pair of slingback kitten heels you thought were reserved for the mid-season. Add thin Merino wool socks that will look sophisticated and office-friendly."
Build Around a Blazer
Ing-Marinelli believes the best blazers are those that can effectively anchor your look. Blazers of all different shapes with jeans and loafers—this formula works in so many scenarios." The lawyer, ever the stickler for details, recommends paying close attention to the fit of the jacket. With an oversized blazer, for instance, you'll want to ensure the shoulders aren't outrageously boxy, or else it might swallow you whole.
Embrace Dresses
Belmonte says cute winter dresses that reflect contemporary design details—like the drop-waist dress trend, a draped shoulder detail, or an asymmetric hem—are smart additions to a workwear rotation. Top a ribbed wool maxi or cowl-neck jersey dress with your favorite blazer and slingback heels.
Boots First, Clothes Second
Break glass in case of a winter work outfit emergency: "Knee-high boots with a long coat and skirt" is a reliably polished combination that Ing-Marinelli often uses for the office. "There are so many variations of this look, from flat boots to heeled boots and trench coats and wrap coats, and it always works," says the lawyer.
Dopamine Dressing
Another option is to dress decidedly against the seasonal doom and gloom by "offsetting the long winter days and short daylight schedule with some joy-inspired dressing," says Belmonte. "Wrapping yourself in soft cashmere will feel like a treat. Be bolder in your choice of outerwear as it bookends your day, and you take it off when you get to the office anyway." Feel-good winter color trends will also work. "If you can get away with a pop of color, a sky blue sock worn with Mary Jane flats and an all-black outfit will be a dopamine hit," the writer adds.
Neo-Neutrals
When corporate gray feels too blah and you can't be bothered to wear beige, lean into what Belmote calls "the ‘fake neutrals’: also known as pieces in deep burgundy, dark burnt orange, or rich olive green and chocolate browns." The former fashion executive says the slightly punched-up shades "will carry the same sophistication as greys and blacks but are more uplifting and express a little bit of who you are behind the business attire."
