Choosing what to wear to work can be tricky, but we spend a third of our lives there, so it’s worth putting in a bit of effort! That being said, you don’t need to drop a lot of cash on your office attire. As part of our Canberra Op Shop Guide, today we’ll show you how to put together a look that will bring a little pizzazz to the nine to five grind. And yep, you guessed it; the whole outfit has been sourced from Canberra op shops!
Polka-dot shirt – $7 Salvos Mitchell
Grey pencil skirt – $7 Salvos Jamison
Leather flats – $2 Vinnies Dickson
Black clutch – $4 Salvos Jamison
This polka-dot shirt is cute and playful while still being appropriate for the office. The black and white colour palette means it will go with a number of different ensembles while still adding a touch of interest. Op shops are treasure troves for finding quality button up shirts like these. You can often find even silk shirts, which can retail for hundreds of dollars, for just a couple of bucks. Keep an eye out for fitted styles that can be worn either tucked into high-waisted skirts or loose over mid-rise trousers.
Tucking our shirt into this grey pencil skirt cinches the silhouette in at the waist, keeping the focus on the slimmest part of the body and creating an hourglass shape. Finding a skirt that fits well can be a bit tricky, but stick with it. A basic pencil skirt in a classic colour like black, grey or navy will become a wardrobe staple.
Rather than topping the outfit off with heels, we’ve chosen comfortable and modern man-style loafers. These were a total bargain considering they’re real Italian leather – just $2 from Vinnies. You’ll have no problems running out for multiple rounds of coffees in these babies!
And for toting around all your business essentials, we’ve gone for a sleek black clutch. It’s an unexpected accessory for the office, but can work surprisingly well. The small size means you’ll have to make tough decisions about what to pack it with, but when you think about it, strong decision-making is an important skill for any professional to have! If you’d rather have a little more room to stash your stuff, op shops are a gold mine for leather bags in a satchel or briefcase style, both of which would also look great with this outfit.
Can you believe the whole look cost just $20?! Each of the pieces can be used again and again in a number of different ways, proving that you can put together a stylish yet practical work wardrobe that doesn’t cost the Earth.
Have you ever worn a thrifted item to the office? Tell us what you think of our ensemble in the comments below!
Photography by Jiawa Liu from Closet Voyage.
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