All while bringing your whole self to work
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We all spend a lot of time at work. By some estimates, up to one-third of our lives will unfold behind our desks. My fashion editor's takeaway is that finding the best stores for work clothes is a not-insignificant part of career satisfaction—at least on a day-to-day, meeting-to-meeting basis. If you’re dressing for your office that often, it had better be in high quality, highly luxurious apparel.
Ahead, I've curated the 13 best work clothes stores for a 9-to-5 wardrobe you'll want to wear for years on end. I’ve tested pieces at the Bazaar offices from every brand on this list; I’ve also consulted reviews from well-dressed women in various professions. Read on to find a career uniform you'll love enough to wear wherever your career journey takes you.
Here's an open secret direct from the Bazaar offices: All of my most stylish coworkers get their work clothes from COS. I've followed their lead and tested trousers, sweaters, blazers, and a coat from the site. Everything skews minimal, understated, and tailored—ideal to mix and match with splurges from a year-end bonus.
Another Tomorrow first caught my attention with its so-good-it-looks-custom tailoring: the precise angles on the blazers' shoulders, the crisp pleats on the pants, the draping on the semi-sheer blouses. Then I dug a little deeper, learning that Another Tomorrow is doubly committed to eco-conscious production. On its site, you can read about exactly which materials it uses and why—along with the materials you'll never find in its suits. The more time I've spent with this brand, the more I've stared to see it as the epitome of modern power dressing. The pieces have only gotten more refined since Elizabeth Giardina, an alum of Proenza Schouler, joined as creative director in 2023.
Size range: XS–L; IT 36–50
Whether you've been in your corporate girl era for a few months or several years, your work wardrobe almost definitely has J.Crew in it. Now in its fortieth year, J.Crew is still doing what it does best—trim blazers and smart trousers, rollneck sweaters, excellent office dresses—but with modern twists and improved fits. Thank womenswear director Olympia Gayot, who's ushered in a new phase that emphasizes high quality materials and collaborations with emerging womenswear brands. There's an underlying sensibility to J.Crew's workwear that feels like it will last; when I buy a piece, I know it's not just to wear in my current role.
What reviewers are saying: "Excellent quality and tailoring."
"It isn’t necessary to buy a new coat every season because the design and the fabrication hold up," Rachel Tashjian wrote in her 2022 Bazaar profile of Max Mara, "[because] the coat will live in your closet for decades." The same merging of quality and timelessness is evident across Max Mara's entire line. Wool suits in Glen plaid? Streamlined sheath dresses? Those iconic camel coats? They're all designed to elegantly carry you through whatever your career journey entails.
When I'm filling a hole in my closet that's shaped like one very specific item—say, a pleated trouser with Katharine Hepburn gravitas or a knitted dress I saw at fashion week and daydreamed about for months after—I usually turn to Net-a-Porter. It has the strongest mix of tried-and-true workwear brands and designer pieces that can behave like an office dress or a business suit if you just believe. Filtering by designer, color, and style usually leads me to those highly particular items my coworkers come to know as my favorites. The assortment is broad enough that you're not confined to a specific office aesthetic when you shop.
Size range: XXS–3XL, depending on designer
This is what I love about Argent's lineup of jewel-tone suits, silk blouses, and a recent dip into office-friendly denim with Agolde: It's smart. Not smart in a boring, beige cubicle way, but smart in the sense that the designers tackled several gripes women have with workwear while keeping things cute. Blazers come with sneaky interior pockets for stashing a phone or a notepad for meetings; suiting pants are made with performance fabrics that keep you cool when you're under pressure during a big presentation. These are suits that do the hard work, so everyone can do their best work.
What reviewers are saying: "The cut, quality and drape are all on point. They travel beautifully, never have to iron, and are seasonless. I have them on a constant rotation as they make me look like I have legs for days (which I don't!). These don't need lining as another reviewer mentioned. I have also had them dry cleaned many times and the fabric is resilient, doesn't fall apart and is also amazingly stain resistant. Seriously they are perfection."
I haven't completely abandoned the 2020 mindset of prioritizing comfort above all other virtues when getting dressed. At the same time, putting on a "real outfit" makes me feel energized and alert when I'm working from my home office. I found clothes that check both boxes when I tested Vince for the first time. The brand's California DNA infuses every piece with a relaxed vibe, whether it's a slightly oversized drop sleeve or a hammered satin skirt with a (miraculously) non-pinching waist. But crucially, each item is more than suitable to wear on a video call from home.
Size range: XS–XL; 1X-3X (select items only)
Sézane is the unicorn of laid-back workwear. Its pieces are unfussy and on the budget-friendlier side, but they possess that je ne sais quoi of a hidden gem from a vintage store in the 10th of Paris. Between the flowy printed dresses and the heaps of colorful knitwear—not to mention the leather bags and dainty jewelry—you have plenty of bright options for offices where dress codes are minimal. I recommend the Gaspard cardigan as a gateway piece to wear with denim you already own or a pleated trouser if you're feeling slightly formal. I alternate between wearing the buttons to the front and to the back—and it's so comfortable, I own it in three colors.
Size range: 0–14; XXS–XXXL (select items only)
I fell in love with Totême's fine-tuned basics overnight. One minute, I only knew it for its Instagrammable wool coats; the next, I was hitting "Order" on one of its structured T-shirt dresses and adding its embroidered cashmere sweater to my work wardrobe wish list. This label has a knack for refining the 9-to-5 fundamentals like T-shirts, trench coats, and small leather accessories, all with the intention of making them last. If your style leans more minimal, or you're refreshing the foundations of your closet, Totême's edit won't disappoint.
After an extended hiatus from the frequent flier lounge, I'm once again traveling for work. A lot. M.M.LaFleur's dresses, suiting, and miracle office hybrids like the jardigan, a jacket-cardigan combo, are a lifeline when I don't know what to pack. First, because the brand is known for simple, streamlined pieces that can translate to formal conferences and laid-back coffee meetings. Second, because most items are made with machine-washable and wrinkle-resistant materials that make organizing my carry-on suitcase a cinch.
What reviewers are saying: "Great fit, comfy outfits, and doesn’t wrinkle - traveling internationally with it as we speak and love the versatility."
There's no questioning that Mango's lineup of wool coats, button-down shirts, and mini skirt and blazer sets are appropriate for all sorts of offices. It's also undeniable that Mango has the best quality for its price range—even before its pieces go on sale. No wonder everyone from Gigi Hadid to Katie Holmes is a fan.
There's a special phrase that encapsulates Tibi's approach to workwear: creative pragmatism. Tibi co-founder Amy Smilovic coined the term for women like her, whose style expresses their essence without losing its functionality for everyday life. The catch? None of these clothes look or feel like typical everyday fare—they're truly special, from suits made up of an oversize blazer and asymmetric pleated skirt, to a lineup of "tropical wool" separates that have an enduring fan base. The foundations may look like other workwear brands on the surface, but the woman who owns them can appreciate details like clever cutouts and self-layering sleeves up close.
Tibi pieces are a little bit of an investment, but I've found my growing collection to pay itself back tenfold in the range of ways I can wear each item to work. (Pro tip: Tibi's website also hosts an outlet section with past-season pieces marked down in limited sizes.)
For more than 150 years, Harper’s Bazaar has been the preeminent fashion, beauty, and lifestyle resource for women at every age. We cover what’s new and what’s next in fashion by working with the world’s leading authorities in ready-to-wear, footwear, accessories, and more. Every story we publish has been thoroughly researched and vetted by our team of editors and industry experts.
Halie LeSavage is the fashion commerce editor at Harper's BAZAAR. Her style reporting covers everything from reviewing the best designer products to profiling emerging brands and designers. Previously, she was the founding retail writer at Morning Brew and a fashion associate at Glamour.
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