3 Pieces I Wear to Get Away With Jeans and Tees at Work

I'll admit it: I'm lazy. The thought of coming up with inventive, stylish office outfits five days a week never fails to stress me out, so I usually revert to the universal fail-safe combo of jeans and a T-shirt. Naturally, this duo doesn't exactly scream boardroom, so I rely on a few key pieces to polish them up so I can get away with wearing basics to the office.

First up: a satin or silk blazer. While structured wool blazers are also a favorite of mine, I find that looser, flowier blazers are more comfortable for nine-hour days and still as grown-up and cool. My favorite way to wear them? By contrasting the nighttime vibe of satin with a fun band tee—preferably a Rolling Stones or Beatles version by my go-to brand, Madeworn. I'm also partial to a colorful cardigan and kitten heels to liven up jeans and T-shirts. Scroll down to see how I wear the staples to work, and shop my picks.

Satin or Silk Blazer

Yes, a plaid wool blazer is a classic, but I'm partial to flowier blazers in satin or silk because they make it feel like you're wearing pajamas but look just as polished as any other blazer. 

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Colorful Cardigans

I never turn down a splash of color. Right now, my go-to way to add color to a white tee and jeans is with a bright cardigan. My For Love & Lemons version below is sold out, but there are plenty of worthy options out there. 

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Kitten-Heel Sandals

I'm 5'10", so I certainly don't need to add height, but I'm still of the mind that heels are dressier than flats for the office. Kitten heels are the perfect compromise, and I love my By Far Libra Slides, which I also wear with midi dresses

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Erin Fitzpatrick
Senior News Editor

Erin got her start as a Who What Wear intern over 12 years ago—back when the site only published a single story per day. (Who What Wear has since increased that number twentyfold.) She graduated magna cum laude from USC, which is how she ended up moving to Los Angeles from her hometown of San Diego. In college, she also interned at Refinery29, where she was promoted to editorial assistant and then assistant editor. After nearly three years at R29, she came back to WWW in 2016, where she currently holds the title of senior news editor (as well as the unofficial title of resident royal expert—in case you haven't noticed her numerous Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton stories). She spends her days trying to incorporate her idols, Anna Wintour and Roger Federer, into as many stories as possible. Outside of work, she loves tennis, classic rock, traveling, and smothering her dog with affection.