Best corporate styling pieces in Australia 2024: Best Picks shows you how to dress for work and beyond in the latest fashion

Having a corporate job has plenty of perks.

Air conditioning on hot summer days, usually a coffee machine and vending machines for easy snacking, and desks for you to decorate and house as many lip balms on as you can manage.

But one of the main downsides is having to choose an office-appropriate outfit everyday at approximately 6.30am when your eyes have barely opened and you can hardly string a sentence together.

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Australia is fairly relaxed when it comes to corporate styling — often men can leave their ties at home, and sporting sneakers around the office isn’t a sin.

Nonetheless, putting your best foot forward takes some time (and energy).

So the Best Picks editors have spent February putting together looks that you can easily mimic in your own life using brands — mostly Aussie ones — that you may or may not yet be familiar with.

Draw inspiration from it or use it as a tool to lay those clothes out over your desk chair the night before, and put your best foot forward in the fashion stakes five days a week.

LOOK 1: SUITING

If you’ve been living under a rock or don’t regularly log onto TikTok, you might have missed the current craze around suiting.

Everyone from SIR to Glassons is delivering, to fans of the look, vest tops, blazers and pinstripe trousers galore.

And given how easy and office-ready a full-piece suit set is to put on, it’s got our Best Picks’ stamp of approval.

This month, Matilda wore the Ines Longline V Neck Vest ($180 at The Iconic) and matching Ines Tailored Straight Leg Pants ($200 at The Iconic) from the brand Minima Esenciales.

She sized down from her usual 8 in the top, because often vests are a little baggier, to allow room for a shirt underneath.

“I’d actually never heard of Minima Esenciales before this story but most of its pieces are actually perfect for work,” she said.

“The material is thick and feels sturdy, so it’s not going to disintegrate after one wash.”

This look was paired with Under Armour’s new Forge 96 sneakers ($160) — which feel like you’re walking on a cloud — and Uniqlo’s brand new Faux Leather Shoulder Bag in a buttery yellow, which is only $49.90.

Keeping the vest theme going, the pinstripe Suit Waistcoat from H&M ($27.99) pairs beautifully with a range of white tops — this month Matilda opted for the Linen Blend Frill Trim Blouse ($39.99) and the Broderie Anglaise Blouse ($69.99), both from H&M — and a cream or white wash jean from Neuw Denim.

In early April, July Luggage is due to release the soft leather Juliette Handbag that Matilda has been trialling with many of these looks because it can fit all her essentials as well as her laptop with ease.

Watch this space.

Now for a luxury suiting option both Sophie and Matilda leaned into for work, from Australian brand Silk Laundry.

You might be thinking “silk is more often used in gowns and after-work events”, and while this is normally true, we tested out full silken sets in the workplace.

Sophie wore the Twill Mami Blazer in Black ($620) in an XS paired with the Twill Slouch Pants, also in Black ($550), and Matilda opted for the Relaxed Blazer in Midnight ($405) and the Long Bias Cut Skirt in Midnight ($370), both of which skimmed over the body so elegantly.

The ECCO Classic 35 Women’s Leather Pumps in the shade Andorra ($269.95) were perfect to wear alongside both colourways because the deep red tone is the ultimate trending colour of the year.

These shoes are unbelievably soft and there were no blisters in sight after a full day of wear.

Now, acknowledging that silk isn’t best placed for a hot summer’s day, this look will be magic during the transeasonal and winter months ahead, with a thicker coat like the Carver Suiting Coat from Meshki ($289) in ivory slung over the top.

The Silk Laundry blazers can be worn cheekily with just a bra underneath — our favourites are from Nat’v Basics and Chouchou Intimates — or with a light singlet top.

Matilda opted for the latter with one from Neuw Denim ($69.95).

From Furlong & Gale, a fantastic company that quite literally tailors to women wanting to wear suits, Matilda wore the A Line dress in Pomegranate ($525) which falls just above the knee and which is made out of Italian stretch wool.

To keep things simple, opt for flats with dresses such as these: the Alias Mae Pierre Flats ($239.95) or the ECCO Women’s Anine Ballerina Shoes ($259.95)

Two of the major players in the simple suiting trend this season have been DISSH and SIR, which both released collections recently that are perfect grab-and-go ensembles.

From DISSH in this category, Matilda wore the Celine Pebble Longline Vest ($149.99) and the Celine Pebble Pant ($139.99) which are both thick and so gorgeous on the body, hugging to your curves without showing too much off.

On a separate day she wore Faithfull the Label’s Lui Mini Dress Letizia Check Black ($229) with Ugg Express’ leather TARRAMARRA Sammi heels ($65 on sale).

And Sophie adorned the lemon-coloured Sandrine Button Mini Skirt ($320) and matching blazer with Alias Mae’s Golan Heels in Chocolate Leather ($249.95), which is perfect for the days you want to look a little bit brighter than your standard navy, black and cream fare.

Matilda pulled the same blazer over the top of SIR’s Leonardo’s Vest in taupe ($360) and Leonardo’s Tailored Trouser in black ($490), which was chic and oversized in its appearance.

It would look perfect with Vestirsi’s Allegra Latte Knot Crescent ($329).

No matter the season, suiting is definitely here to stay.

LOOK 2: CHIC DRESSES & SKIRTS

Sometimes, on days where trousers feel too corporate, you might want to opt for a dress or a skirt, particularly when the weather is warm.

But wearing either of these options doesn’t have to spell casual, or too revealing, as the Best Picks editors discovered when delving into the fashion cupboard this month.

Sophie chose to pair SIR’s Jacques Mesh Tank in slate ($160) with the brand’s Leonardo Belted Skirt in black ($490) and the Leonardo Blazer in black ($560) slung over the top.

The Alias Mae Golan Heels returned again for this look with a brush of chocolate brown.

Faithfull The Label, known for its feminine silhouettes, is perfect for this category, with Sophie donning the brand’s Setubal Top Letizia Check in black ($139) and the matching Dalicenca Skirt Letizia Check in black ($269).

She popped Minima Esenciales’ Fable Oversized Blazer ($320) over the top for both warmth and to cover her shoulders for a daytime look, and styled her bob straight for the occasion.

The matching Ariana Pleat Maxi Skirt ($140) and Ariana Pleat Funnel Neck Top ($120), also from Minima Esenciales, was perfect for an after-work event.

Best Picks struck gold again with DISSH’s new collection, with Sophie opting to wear the Celine Black Shift Dress, roomy enough if you’re planning on long lunching in the city, and Matilda wearing the Cara Black Pinstripe Vest ($129.99) and Cara Skort ($119.99).

Matilda paired her vest and skirt look with Vestirsi’s iconic Daniella Triangle Woven Shoulder Bag ($259).

In winter, she’ll be wearing these heels with tights to keep her legs cosy.

The soft leather of the block heel makes them comfortable enough to wear all day.

LOOK 3: DESK TO DINNER

Having plans after a long office day speeds up a slower-paced day.

So on the days where you need to dress up for two special occasions, Best Picks has just the ticket.

Firstly, you need to turn to Meshki, the queens of high quality garments, fast shipping and trending looks to boot.

Matilda fell in love with the brand’s Frida Mini Dress ($129), pairing it with the statement Shelly Shen Merida Heels ($189.95) from Shoe Connection and Kinnon’s Mini Ginni Tote ($345).

The coat she wore over the top — it was a particularly windy day — was none other than H&M’s $269 grey marle Wool Coat.

On a separate day, Matilda chose a failsafe H&M Oxford Shirt ($34.99), with the brand’s One Button Wool Jacket ($249), accessorising with the ultimate bucket bag: Longchamp’s Roseau S Handbag ($1,115).

Sophie played around with colour when she wore her older Bec & Bridge red skirt, a belt and tucked in the H&M Linen Shirt ($34.99).

Adding tone but keeping it simple she chose the Shelly Shen Major Casuals in Brandy ($209.95) from Shoe Connection to wear on her feet.

The H&M Sleeveless Boucle Dress ($59.99) is a must-have wardrobe staple paired with Kinnon’s Ginni Tote Bag in dune ($495), and for a mum racing to pick up her toddler from daycare it has to be the ECCO soft 7 sneakers ($289.95) on her feet.

From DISSH, the Signature White Stripe Long Sleeve Tee ($129.99) is absolute wardrobe essential tucked into the brand’s $119.99 Dylan Black Skort (this comes in an effortless white shade too).

Sophie matched this look with her leather Anine Sandals from ECCO, which are currently on sale for $119.98.

For those with a more relaxed workplace, the Lee Matthews Vanessa Halter Top in black ($399) would be gorgeous with some of the DISSH pieces, and for heavy air conditioning add the Mila Ribbed Cardigan ($399) over the top.

Last but not least, Dawn Marie’s ready-to-wear collection, including the Antigua Dress in Azure ($490), is the ultimate luxury 100 per cent silk garment to wear out to dinner (just pop a blazer over the top for the office).

LOOK 4: CASUAL FRIDAY

Ah, we’ve reached our favourite day. Friday.

For Sophie and Matilda, this usually means a more relaxed approach to dressing as the weekend draws near, and we’re hoping this is similar for you.

Matilda will often pull on a pair of sneakers — like the aforementioned Under Armour ones — or cosy buckle flats like the Miss Sofie Cybill Sandals in White ($159.95) from Shoe Connection.

High heels are nowhere in sight.

From H&M, Matilda outfit-repeated the Linen Blend Frill Trim Blouse ($39.99) a few times coupled with the brand’s vest, on one particular day paired this look with a long white skirt from Spell.

Sophie donned an Oxford Shirt from H&M ($34.99) to tuck into a Tailored Mini Skirt from the brand, just $29.99, and accessorised with Longchamp’s Box-Trot M Crossbody Bag ($1,335) and Shelly Shen Milos Heels in Mustard ($189.95) from Shoe Connection.

From Meshki, the brand’s extremely popular Antoinette Pleated Mini Dress ($159), which also falls under the suiting category, is more laidback and casual in the lemon shade Sophie was spotted in this month.

As the temperature begins to dip, one of the best fashion hacks to acknowledge lies in H&M’s online store.

Under the category of “women”, H&M has a “premium selection” filled with woollen and even cashmere sweaters and scarves at a very reasonable price.

“I couldn’t believe how many epic cardigans, sweaters and blazers were in this category at prices you wouldn’t dream of usually for fabrics like cashmere,” Sophie said.

JEWELLERY & ACCESSORIES

No outfit would be complete without statement earrings, bold necklaces and wrist cuffs.

So Sophie and Matilda didn’t hold back when it came to adorning their bodies in jewellery for this story.

The Layne Gold Cuff from Arms of Eve ($119) is the perfect bracelet to slip on alongside a gold watch or soldered bracelet, like the ones both Matilda and Sophie have from Alana Maria Jewellery.

The heavy drop earrings from Arms of Eve called the Phoenix ($110) perfectly tie into a scraped back hair day because they draw attention to your face, with the Mikayla Gold Earrings ($89) coming in a close second for performing the same duty.

From Alana Maria, the Greta Hoop Earrings ($109) are our choice for gold hoops, for animal lovers it has to be the Bee Earrings ($109).

If a traditional pearl tickles your fancy, the Emme Freshwater Pearl Necklace ($129) can be worn everyday.

And for those trips to grab a morning coffee, or to walk from the train station to work, you’re going to need to protect your eyesight with sunglasses.

From Eyewear Index, Sophie and Matilda both recommend the $600 Gucci GG0516S 013 shades in grey, the $700 Bottega Veneta BV1265S 001 in black or the super chic $570 Saunt Laurent SL 557 SHADE 001 in black.

For something with some serious attitude, Arms of Eve’s Lennon sunglasses ($139) will have you going from the front of the office to a table at the bar for after work drinks with ease.