The Results are in: Jigsaw has the Best Workwear on the High Street Right Now
Think office-appropriate dresses, linen trousers and suede mules.
Hands up if your workwear wardrobe wins the least of your attention. Everyone? I'm not surprised. Because while the fringed bags, statement sunglasses and summer-ready accessories—a silk headscarf, this season—get us excited for our lives in the sun (read: more fun, more daring and a little less covered-up), what we wear to the office each day doesn't quite drum up the same enthusiasm. Don't worry, your hatred of spreadsheets is very safe with me.
But it doesn't have to be this way. With many brands now crafting more modest, formal-fitting collections, the office dress code is actually quite easy to master without feeling like you're sacrificing your personal style to stick to strict rules. And Jigsaw's edit of new-in workwear finds only strengthens the argument.
Take a striped knit dress with a fringed hem that would fit into your suitcase as easily as it would the C-suite. A handful of cotton shirts with a playful print. A sleek suede mule that pairs with almost any outfit you can conjure together. Each one proof that office dressing can break away from the basic black trouser and scratchy starched shirt. And there are plenty more pieces proving the same point below.
Shop Jigsaw's Sleek Workwear
A blue striped cotton shirt has long been a workwear staple, but it's the subtle contrast of the patch pocket that makes this one a little more fun than most. Crafted from 100% cotton, it'll keep you cool through summer and earn its place in your wardrobe for years to come.
A classic black cigarette pant is chic, yes, but for warmer commutes, linen lands the top spot. This pleated linen-blend pair in deep chocolate will look especially sleek with creams, blush pink and baby blue shades. Plus, it comes complete with belt loops for easy accessorising.
Marie Claire's Mariko Kuo recently shared her top five tips for choosing summer workwear shoes, and her golden rule was never to bare too much toe. One solution that's as sleek but with a little more coverage? The kitten-heel mule. And this suede pair will work with a huge chunk of your wardrobe.
Granted, this light knit dress sits outside the typical confines of classic workwear, but there's nothing about it that breaks a standard office dress code. A closed-toe slingback, a black suede tote and a refined watch will have it boardroom-ready in no time. Swap in a flip flop and it's holiday-ready too.
No workwear edit would be complete without a blazer. Not only do they have the ability to make any outfit feel more formal—even a T-shirt and jeans—but they're also often just warming enough to help beat the chill from any over-active air con units. Developed in partnership with Irish linen mill Baird McNutt, this one is crafted to last a lifetime.
Last year, I started swapping my entire wardrobe over to natural fibre fabrics, and I've felt all the better for it—particularly in summer, when there's no concern about clingy clothes. These cotton-linen and 1% elastane blend trousers offer exactly that, alongside a colour combination that's far more interesting than it first appears: navy and orange stripes that give off a mauve effect.
We curated a full guide to the best work bags earlier this year, and Jigsaw's Heckfield Suede Tote deserves a special mention. It's just large enough to hold a small laptop, tablet, notebook and water bottle, has a magnetic closure to help keep valuables secure, and comes with a shoulder strap wide enough to actually bear some weight without lacerating your shoulder in the process (we've all been there). The soft, slouchy suede will carry you through every season, too.
Invest in a works-for-every-occasion dress and you'll never have to utter the words "I have nothing to wear" again. This modest round-neck cotton maxi will slot into any office environment with a simple swap of shoe, while offering a welcome break from the usual sea of black, cream and grey.
Crisp white cotton and black linen are two safe and particularly sleek options when it comes to shirts, but a bold stripe can go a long way towards adding a pop of personality to an outfit. This blue, yellow and pink 100% cotton style certainly stands out from the crowd.
If your ideal workwear wardrobe revolves around how quickly you can get out of the house, co-ords should be the cornerstone. This 100% cotton two-piece looks far more effortful than the thirty seconds it actually takes to put on.
If you work in an office that welcomes trainers—congratulations, you've cracked the code to comfortable footwear. If that's a strict no-go, the search for a shoe that's comfortable yet still polished must commence, and these tan leather ballet flats are well worth your attention.
