Your return to work wardrobe checklist
The first episode of Tits & Tricks: our new bite-sized, tip-based mini dropping every Thursday
Introducing Tits and Tricks! It’s Ready or Not’s new bite-sized, tip-based podcast, and it’s coming to your ears every Thursday from either me, Lu, or my Witching Hour co-host, Loz. Whether it’s time saving hacks, products or services that are helping us to make work, work, or something that might inspire a mum put herself first more, you’re going to find it here.
And first up is a return to work checklist for your wardrobe.
Look, I am no style expert. I can’t stress enough that this is not about what to pair with what and I’m not going to pretend to be your fashion correspondent. But I am a mum who needs to get dressed each day, and of all the things that bring unexpected stress when it comes to getting out of the door in the morning to get to paid work, a big one in my house is getting myself dressed while trying to get a little person fed, kitted up, and out the door.
Your body might be different, you might have shoved your office wardrobe out of sight for six months or longer, and you might just feel different about the way you want to dress.
So, this episode is less about vanity and telling you how to dress, and more about streamlining processes that make getting dressed for work less stressful and more joyful.
It’s inspired by our Postpartum and Return to Work Planning Guide, and while that guide doesn’t cover fashion, the logistical advice detailed in that guide has influenced so many areas of my life, including getting my work wardrobe ready so that I’m not constantly scrambling to put some silly clothes together before heading out the door for paid work.
With that in mind, click on the links below and tell us what you think!
Got 10 minutes?
Listen to Tits and Tricks now on Apple or Spotify.
Expanded Show Notes
Your Return to (Paid) Work Wardrobe Checklist:
What will the weather be like when you return to work? Will it be cold like it is for me? And if so, did you just realise you have no fkn jackets or blazers or coats appropriate for work? Start to think about what gaps you have in your wardrobe for the time of year you’ll be returning to paid work and write them down.
Do you commute to the office? If so, how do you get there? Do you need warmer outer layers, comfier shoes or a big, practical bag? Or do you already have those things that you can start to set aside now?
How many days a week are you in the office? This will help you determine how many top to bottom outfits you need for your on-site days. If you’re in the office three days a week
What types of work attire do you need? Is it a smart casual vibe in your office or is it more corporate? If it’s more corporate, there’s a good chance you haven’t touched those clothes since well before maternity leave. How do you feel about those clothes now? Are they comfortable for your postpartum body? Do they make you feel good? Do they still represent your style or has it changed?
Get specific in identifying your different dress codes. I identified that I need three types of outfits: smart casual for on-site work, work from home clothing — aka business up top and party down below — and smart function-friendly outfits.
Write down the types of outfits you need for each day of the week, such as corporate for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and working from home Thursday and Fridays, plus the odd function-friendly outfit.
If you are in an office three days a week, is that the same jacket with a different top and bottoms combo? What can you re-wear that won’t be smelly or stained to keep things simple? Write down the way you can mix and match your clothing items so you’re not stressing out the morning of work while potentially trying to get kids out the door.
Do you ever have to attend events or functions that require a different type of dress code? Is there anything in your wardrobe that fits this brief already, and is it sympathetic to your potentially changed body?
Shopping your own wardrobe: What's in your wardrobe that you may have forgotten about? I know it sounds like a basic tip but it is honestly silly what you can find when you go through your wardrobe with a fine tooth comb. I recently went through mine and found some work attire that I'd forgotten ALL about. Another plus of shopping my own wardrobe is that I made some money by selling clothes I no longer need!
Are you being realistic about what fits and what doesn't? Here’s my rule of thumb:
If it isn't even CLOSE to fitting, I will sell it or palm it off to a friend immediately.
If I love something in my wardrobe that not’s quite fitting, I will keep it if it's only slightly too tight and re-assess and try on again in three months. If it still doesn't fit, it's gone.
Now that you've shopped your own wardrobe, what have you identified that you ACTUALLY need? For me, it was a black blazer and good quality short and long sleeved tee shirts.
Now that you know what you need, what are your values?
Do you want to mostly shop secondhand, do you want to keep the price right down, or do you want to invest in quality pieces? Maybe it's a combination of all three, but whatever it is, write it down and see what you find that fits in with your values.
Have you tried on the items that you think will work together?
I have been trying to dress Ray and myself concurrently SO many times, only to discover while I'm in a rush, that the outfit I thought might work does not at all.
Try everything on, firstly to make sure sizing is still right, and secondly, to try out your outfit combinations. This will lead to less buying, more mixing and matching, and using what you have.
The items Lu mentioned:
Cotton On Jeans - these are sold out I'm sorry :( but they have the same style in black here.
If you want to get to know Liv Brown from Rattle Style more, follow her here.
Here are some online sales that have a lot of return to work friendly attire at reduced rates at the moment:
Sir the Label (The shirt that Lu got on sale is here)
Studio Marlene (Not on sale, but their pants and shirts are lovely to wear and under $200)
Friends with Frank (for your more upper end on sale items)
The Undone Store (again, for your more upper end on sale items. I really wish I could buy one of everything)
Got anything to add? Head to our Instagram stories now.
Do you have any other hacks or tips when it comes to dressing for the return to work? Leave a comment below or catch us on Instagram. X