Six stylish Canadians share their tips for dressing for the office

My approach to dressing for the office: Fashion is a way for me to exercise creativity while staying connected to my roots. When I moved to Canada from Trinidad and Tobago in 1997, money was tight, which instilled a love of thrifting in me. I worked in a newsroom with little room for creative expression for most of my professional life. I had a very Eurocentric idea of what professional style is: ties, dress shirts and blazers in neutral tones. It took me a while to experiment but, eventually, I rediscovered the colours and patterns that people in the Caribbean often wear. I found that my skin tone and complexion work best with vibrant colours and started incorporating them into what I wear to the office.

My go-to piece: A selvedge denim jacket from Gap in dark indigo. The buttons are finished in a copper colour, and I usually pair it with dark blue sneakers from Adidas that also have copper-coloured eyelets, which ties the outfit together.

My don’t for office dressing: Don’t feel like you need to conform to whatever everyone else is wearing. I never want to feel like I’m just putting on clothes to cover myself – I want what I wear to be an expression of who I am and my personality.

My advice for people who want to express their personal style at work: Don’t let the notion of being professional erase your sense of identity. Figure out what works for you. If you’re looking to explore new styles, look at the celebrities or musicians that you like and take inspiration from their use of colour and material.

My approach to dressing for the office: My style blends professionalism with creativity – sharp tailoring with bold eyewear and pieces that are unique and spark conversation. Working at an art museum, I dress with intention and am mindful of whether I’m meeting donors, artists, community partners or colleagues. I grew up in a small town (Port Hardy, B.C.), where I was often the only person of Chinese heritage. As a teenager, I dressed the way everyone else did in order to blend in. My love of fashion and discovering my own sense of style was a slow evolution that started with loving who I am.

My go-to piece: I’ve been wearing glasses since I was 6. They embarrassed me growing up, but now I use them to show my personality. Aviators suit my face, and I can wear a muted pair or a bold pair, like my oversized Tom Ford aviators, depending on how I feel. I often go to a family-owned boutique, Chinook Optical, to see what new styles are out.

My don’t for office dressing: I don’t believe in dressing to fit in. I want to feel authentically myself and good in what I wear. Also, I don’t believe in following trends blindly.

My advice for people who want to express their personal style at work: Take one piece – whether it’s something with an interesting colour, or a piece of jewellery you love – and integrate it into your standard work outfits.

My approach to dressing for the office: My relationship to clothing has evolved with age. Clothes are a big part of my life because they give me a sense of control over my appearance, and the conversations I have about clothing connect me to people across generations. We have a wide age range in the office, and I take inspiration from the younger women, as well as the older people who have developed their sense of style. My job can involve a lot of scenarios, from attending the Chamber at the Legislative Assembly to a casual day at the office, so I dress to feel comfortable in my own skin while remaining professional.

My go-to piece: A monochromatic suit. I bought a blue denim suit by Rachel Comey at Gravitypope, which I often pair with a nice blouse and some jewellery, like pieces from Shakti, a local designer.

My do for office dressing: Try to inspire people around you with what you wear.

My don’t for office dressing: I get offended by people who wear shorts or track pant materials to work. Your clothes are an expression of who you are – don’t wear things that make it seem like you don’t care about the work you’re doing.

My advice for people who want to express their personal style at work: I decided to stop dyeing my hair during COVID. I was 52 at the time, and I started embracing myself, which helped me embrace my personal style. Find something that gives you a sense of joy and makes you feel true to yourself, and let that translate into how you dress.

My approach to dressing for the office: Many years ago, a student of mine asked me why I always wore black. I still own a lot of black clothes, but I’ve become more conscious of using colour in how I dress and present myself. Now, I incorporate bright colours and African motifs into my work attire. I’ve collected pieces from my travels in Brazil, the U.S., Africa and Trinidad and Tobago, where I was born. I collect a lot of costume jewellery, which I use to dress up my outfits. There’s certainly an element of Black dandyism in how I dress and assemble pieces.

My go-to piece: A shirt I got from my friend, designer Robert Young. I’ve had it since 2012, and it’s still a piece I put on to give me confidence. It’s filled with different prints and colours, which look good on my skin and represent things that are important to me: my Africanness, my Caribbeanness.

My do for office dressing: There’s a funny quote from Sesame Street: a character is explaining what all the parts of her face and head do, and at the end, she says, “I have earrings that do nothing.” I like that quote because it reminds me that my accessories don’t need to serve any other purpose other than to make me happy.

My don’t for office dressing: You don’t have to play it safe. Experiment with prints and colours that make you feel confident.

My advice for people who want to express their personal style at work: When finding your personal style, there are so many elements that you can play with, like leggings or jewellery. It doesn’t have to cost a lot, either. I often shop on Facebook Marketplace or Poshmark to find great pieces.

My approach to dressing for the office: They say dress for the job you want, but I dress for the feeling I want – and for the way I want to make others feel. I would describe my style as a bit rebellious. I don’t like to follow fashion trends, and I stay open to clothes that inspire me. My closet is eclectic. It includes designer brands, Indigenous creations, travel purchases and pieces from local boutiques and thrift shops. I believe that fashion is what the industry says I should wear; style is an expression of who I am. I mix prints and textures with things that make me feel comfortable at the office, and often pair them with a white button-down to look sharp. By including accessories from Indigenous creators like Helen Oro, I also stay connected to my Indigeneity.

My go-to piece: I use accessories to show my values. I got a great pair of long, beaded earrings made by Indigenous creators from the gift shop at Wanuskewin Heritage Park. The park has been proposed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its significance to the Northern Plains Indigenous peoples, who have been gathering there for more than 6,400 years, so it means a lot to me.

My don’t for office dressing: Don’t feel limited to what’s available in fast fashion stores. Explore different shops, including thrift stores, and collect clothes that you can keep for more than 20 years.

My advice for people who want to express their personal style at work: Start with one piece, whether it’s a bold, whimsical or bright-coloured blouse or necklace, and pair it with something you feel comfortable in.

My approach to dressing for the office: I came to Canada from the Philippines when I was 10, and my parents were nervous about us fitting in. As a child, my dad taught me how to put an outfit together. He showed me that being well-dressed was a sign of respect for my environment. Throughout my career, my philosophy has been to always be ready for a meeting with senior leadership. I view putting on a good outfit in the morning as an early victory in my day. I try to pass on what I know about men’s fashion to the younger people at work, especially after COVID, when I noticed that many recent graduates dressed relatively casually at the office. We started “Tie Tuesday,” an initiative where a group of us wear ties as a nod to classic fashion. In the office environment, it can be seen as taboo to talk about men’s fashion. With the initiative, I hoped that the young men in the office would feel comfortable asking about fashion and how they should dress for different situations, because that’s how I learned.

My go-to piece: I primarily shop at Spier & Mackay, and their navy blazer is my go-to. For anyone looking to elevate their style, a good navy blazer is the first thing that I recommend investing in. It’s professional, versatile and it’s survived the test of time.

My do for office dressing: Find a good tailor who gives you good advice. No matter what you wear, if it fits properly and is proportionate, it will look great every time.

My don’t for office dressing: I don’t wear sneakers with a suit, or a suit without a tie. I think it looks disconnected.

My advice for people who want to express their personal style at work: A lot of people look at office fashion as a uniform. In our office, we are bound by some constraints, but there is still a world that you can explore with texture and fabric. Linen and seersucker suits in the summer or tweed and flannel in the winter can add a certain visual appeal that a plain blazer doesn’t have.