Sure, we all know what wardrobe essentials for work professional women are supposed to have in their closets, but if you’re buying one for the first time or replacing one you’ve worn into the ground, it can be a pain to find exactly the right incarnation in stores. In “The Hunt,” we search the stores for a basic item that every woman should have.

Readers had an interesting conversation a while ago about how if they only go into the office rarely they don't want to be in “basic law student interview garb” — and instead were on the hunt for statement dresses for interviews, important meetings, and more. Challenge accepted! After a bit of hunting for what to call these statement-making dresses, let's go with “power dresses,” even though that feels maybe a few years ago. (What else would you call these kinds of dresses, ladies?)

I'll include links to some of our more basic sheath dress roundups and the like — you can always add accessories like blazers, necklaces, sweaters and more to make them more interesting! — but if you want more interesting dresses for the office, let's go on a hunt.

(First, let's all bow a head to one of the OGs here: Claire Underwood. We never did a roundup but if anyone else suffered through Seasons 6 and 7 of Younger, I also think of Quinn Tyler.)

In addition to some Hall of Famers above, we definitely have some usual suspects — if I were on a hunt for a standout, power dress for work I'd check MM.LaFleur, Diane von Furstenberg, Black Halo, and Karen Millen. On the (much) higher end I'd check Roland Mouret, Akris, Victoria Beckham, and Chiara Boni La Petite Robe.

Readers, how about you — where would you start your hunt for a statement-making power dress for work?

Classic Dresses for Work You Can Dress Up or Down

Some of the best dresses for work as of 2024 include options from J.Crew, BOSS, T. Tahari, and Lands' End. For really affordable options, check out Quince and Amazon sellers Miusol or MUXXN. We've also rounded up the best plus-size dresses for work!

As of 2024, some of our favorite plus-size dresses for work include options from Lands' End, Karen Kane, CeCe, Talbots, J.Crew, Universal Standard, and Eloquii – also check Karen Millen, Pari Passu, and Tanya Taylor for more unusual choices.

Power Dresses for Work: One & Done Statement Dressing

Origami-Like Dresses

I tend to love dresses like this with lots of interesting folds and tucks, as you might have while folding an origami crane. I love these because they're usually pretty easy as they're usually a faux wrap.

The pictured one is from ASOS (and only $54!!), but I'll round up a few others below…

Architectural and Structured Power Dresses

I always think of this kind of dress as “architectural” in that it feels like more design work has gone into it in some way — prominent darts that are meant to be seen, or a detail that feels extra sharp. I'd even include J.Crew's Resume Dress here.

The one above is Roland Mouret (GORGEOUS) – but a few other options are below.

Asymmetrical Details on Power Dresses for Work

Here's a fun fact about me: despite writing the word “asymmetrical” like weekly for almost 15 years now I still can't spell it.

STILL: One of my favorite ways of statement dressing for work includes asymmetrical dresses (and tops) that make everything feel a little fresh and new.

Many times these dresses will feature cutouts or slashes/keyholes in interesting places — just remember to know your office here! I would caution that “unexpected skin” may not go over well at many offices, to which I would include the usual areas (cleavage, upper thigh) but also your lower back, your midriff, and more.

One of the classic asymmetrical power dresses is the Black Halo Jackie dress; Of Mercer has a great version as well. A few others are rounded up below.

Wrap Dresses

These are classics, and for great reason — but definitely wear a slip beneath them the first time you wear them if they're a real wrap (instead of a faux wrap). The DVF wrap dress is still around (pictured); the rumor last time was to size up at least one size to help them wrap more tightly. Other favorites we've mentioned over the years include Kiyonna and the faux wrap dress from Karen Kane. (On resale sites keep an eye out for BCBG and DVF wrap dresses.)

A few other cute wrap dresses on the market right now include these…

The Shirt Dress

I'm not a HUGE fan of these since personally I feel like they're less flattering on curves and you often have to deal with gaping issues. Definitely consider wearing them with a slip the first time you wear one (this slip looks great), and do check out some of our DIY solutions for gaping.

The dress pictured above is from The Kit; check out other options for shirt dresses below.

Readers, what are your favorite power dresses for work — for days when you don't want to wear a suit, but want to make a statement?

Like this feature? Check out other recent installments!

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Sure, we all know what wardrobe essentials for work professional women are supposed to have in their closets, but if you’re buying one for the first time or replacing one you’ve worn into the ground, it can be a pain to find exactly the right incarnation in stores. In “The Hunt,” we search the stores for a basic item that every woman should have.

Which are your favorite statement blazers? Do you prefer to go with classic statement blazers, or trendy blazers? What are your favorite work outfits with blazers?

A few months ago, readers posited an interesting question: as everything gets more casual, and face time gets more rare, how do you make a statement with a minimalist wardrobe? After all, if you're only going to have a few big meetings a year you don't need an entire wardrobe. We've discussed power dresses for work — but another natural way to make an impact is the statement blazer.

{related: tips on creating a capsule wardrobe for work}

Three Easy Work Outfits with Blazers

For my $.02, the easiest way to wear statement blazers is with pants — the blazer + dress combination tends to be trickier unless they're a set, especially for wrap dresses and flared dresses. For a more casual office, jeans can also work. Some simple work outfits for statement blazers:

1) the column of color look, where your pants and top are the same neutral, creating a column of color, and then adding the blazer on top of that.

2) the matched top look, where your pants are a neutral and the top matches or pulls out a color from the blazer. Example: navy blazer, navy blouse, gray pants. A variation on this: the shades of color look, where the top and blazer are shades of the same color. Example: dark gray blazer, light gray top, black pants.

3) the monochrome look, where your entire outfit matches the blazer (or the dominant color in the blazer if it's multicolored). I feel like this is almost always a really powerful look. If the look feels too boring to you, make sure your outfit includes several different fabrics with noticeably different textures. Example: black tweed blazer, chunky knit black sweater vest, flat black pants.

{related: do check out our regularly updated list of wardrobe essentials for work!}

Note that if you wear a lot of black, the most versatile blazer for you will likely be another color, a print, or a heavily textured black blazer. I've always found that white, caramel, olive, and print blazers to be the easiest to wear as separates. I had a great gray leopard-print blazer I bought on deep discount and thought I'd wear once or twice, but I wore it all the time… if you're more conservative, a houndstooth or windowpane or other menswear-ish print will be really versatile.

The Best Statement Blazers for Work

In terms of which statement blazers are best… this topic was a bit overwhelming even to me! There are a few that come to mind instantly as being pricey but consistently gorgeous; most have been around for years. The flip side is to go for things that are super trendy — e.g., the oversized boyfriend blazer is very in right now. Another way to do it: go for the “huh, I've never seen anything like that before” — think a very bold print, an unusual fabric, an especially dramatic cut — which sidesteps the trendy bit and might have a longer life in your work wardrobe.

We'll add some links to stores for the second and third categories — but we're going to focus on the classics that come to mind when I think of statement blazers in this post. Readers, I'd love to hear your thoughts! What statement blazers do you have in your closet? What are your favorite work outfits involving blazers?

{related: how to cultivate style (vs. trend, vs. frump)}

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Three Classic Statement Blazers for Women

The Chamberlain blazer has been around for several years — unless I'm mistaken, this is the first year I've seen it in neutrals like navy; all of the years prior I noticed it as being an amazing standalone blazer in interesting fabrics and colors. This bright happy blue version is stunning, but you can find a bright lime and a Pucci-esque abstract print as well as Nordstrom right now; Net-a-Porter has it in a baby pink. The blazer is just under $700; I've seen it on sale occasionally for under $400.

The Smythe Duchess blazer has been around for years (and years) — it first became big because Duchess Kate wore it. It has a distinctive square cutout on the back instead of double vents; it's come in a zillion colors and fabrics over the years. It's around $725 for most. You can find it at Nordstrom, Revolve, Neiman Marcus, Net a Porter and more.

The McQueen one-button blazer has been around for several years now; it seems to be called different things at different stores. Saks calls it the one-button blazer; Nordstrom calls it the leaf blazer, Neiman Marcus calls it the single-breasted blazer. (Interestingly the McQueen site calls it the “peak shoulder leaf crepe jacket.”) But it's the same recognizable blazer at all of them: strong shoulder, fitted body, and slanted, high pockets. I think it's a classic worth the steep investment: $1990. It's often sold as part of a suit, but I think any color other than black can be worn as separate. You can find it at Saks, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, and others.

A few other very pricy bestselling, long-standing styles: this Tom Ford velvet blazer, this Saint Laurent tweed blazer. You can get vintage Chanel blazers at Farfetch, and IRO has more affordable ($300-$600) Chanel-style jackets for work.

What statement blazers do you have in your closet? What are your favorite work outfits involving blazers?

{related: how to look great for work every day}

Where to Find Trendy Statement Blazers In General

• Brands to look at in general: L'Agence, McQueen, The Fold, Smythe
• Affordable Stand-alone Blazers: Boden, J.Crew (this and this are classics and often come in tweeds or fun prints), Gibsonlook, Saint & Sofia, Favorite Daughter, Anthropologie,
• Plus-Size Options: J.Crew (this and this), Anthropologie, Eloquii, Marina Rinaldi (also check L'Honore when they're up and running again)
• A Few Etsy Options: Marcella Moda, Studio Mariya,
• Chanel-style jackets for work: Chanel, St. John, IRO, L’Agence, Sandro

{related: here are all of the readers favorites and most-bought items from last month}

Some of the best blazers for women in 2024 — great for wearing as separates! — include options from Cinq à Sept, J.Crew (collarless and collared), Everlane, and Madewell. Hunting for a deal? Check out J.Crew Factory and Amazon (Cicy Bell, The Drop).

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Something I don't think we've ever talked about is C-suite style for women — what are the best tips for stylish power dressing for women in the C-suite? Where should women executives shop? And how much does any of this matter?

General Tips on C-Suite Style for Women

I'll say it up front: If you're in the C-suite, you've earned the right to dress however you want. In fact, you often see executive women at the very top having fairly non-traditional styles, like colorful moto jackets and other styles that might be a “know your office” kind of thing for a more junior employee. But you're the boss, and it's OK for you to set the tone that others follow.

If you want to look polished, tailoring would be a good use of your money. It's famously been said that absolutely everything on television is tailored, down to plain white T-shirts — and tailoring can make a huge difference with blazers, dresses, pants, and more.

{related: what stylish women get tailored}

In fact, I would view all of your purchases through the lens of tailoring — if you need a new pair of pants, for example, do you need a $100 pair or a $1,000 pair? After all, a $100 pair of black pants doesn't look so different than a $1,000 pair of black pants. However, the $1,000 pair was probably designed with tailoring in mind, so the seams and fabrics will better survive and last after tailoring, whereas the $100 pair of black pants probably has some stretch in them because they're designed to be worn off the rack (or are so trendy they're not intended to last more than a year or two), and stretchy fabric is often harder to tailor well. So assess for yourself which clothes fit you the best — it's OK if they're affordable ones! — and discuss with your tailor what alterations will make the biggest impact overall for your wardrobe, and buy accordingly.

Details and accessories matter more than head-to-toe designer outfits. For example, an Hermès scarf or Cartier watch will elevate any outfit, no matter whether the other wardrobe pieces are affordable ones. I would think that authenticity matters, though — if you're often in meetings with other high-achieving, wealthy people, then they will probably know the difference between a Hermès vs. a knockoff or a “similar” dupe. Spend money on good jewelry, shoes, and belts.

Other details to consider: haircuts and underpinnings. Bras should be replaced every 6–9 months, both for comfort and maximum effect (whatever you want them to do, they're going to be doing it more at the beginning of their life, whether it's minimizing, pushing up, etc.). Your hairstyle doesn't have to be anything in particular — curly hair, gray hair, long hair, and natural hair are all OK — but your hair should be flattering and look intentional. (A fabulous stylist who you see as often as needed is another great use of your money!)

In terms of bags, you're welcome to spend money on great bags, but I'm not sure you need an amazing briefcase like a man might. In fact, I've often been amused that some of the highest powered women I've known have used either preppy L.L.Bean-type totes, or — the real power move — a huge tote bag from a charity that you only get as a pretty major donor. (But then, this is for the commute to work, and not for VIP meetings or court.)

I would argue that the overall look you want to convey is a person who is smart, up to date, well informed, and aware of everything in your orbit, including how you present yourself to the world.

But again: You've earned the right to dress how you like!

Readers, what are your thoughts? How do the most powerful women you know dress? Is there a difference if they're in the C-suite, a partner, or an owner?

Where to Shop: C-Suite Style Advice for Women

If you did want to know where to spend money on particular things, here are some of the more expensive brands that we recommend for workwear often — and if you have a big clothing budget for your work wardrobe, here's where I'd start.

The Best Luxe Brands for Workwear

If you had an unlimited budget and wanted to spend it on a killer work wardrobe, where would you start? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

These are my picks for where I'd shop if money was no object…

• cashmere: InHabit NY, Loro Piana, Akris, TSE, Brora, & Eric Bompard
• basic blazers: Smythe, McQueen, L'Agence, Veronica Beard, The Fold, Armani
• dramatic blazers for speaking/Big Days: Akris, The Fold, IRO, L'Agence, Smythe, Etro, and Ray Darten (we've also done a roundup of dramatic blazers you can buy at Etsy!)
• Chanel-style jackets: Chanel, St. John, IRO, L’Agence, Sandro
• dresses: Roland Mouret, Victoria Beckham, DVF, Akris, St. John, Burberry
• pants: Lafayette 148 New York, Theory, Akris, St. John
• coats: Fleurette, Cinzia Rocca, Mackage
• bags: Loewe, Bottega Venetta
• jewelry: Ylang 23, Bergdorf Goodman,
• shoes: Ferragamo, Manolo, Choo, Valentino, Louboutin (but please know your office before considering thick platforms or 4″+ heels), Aquazzura, Sarah Flint, Prada, and Miu Miu (one of the favorites in our Newbie Guide to Designer Shoes)
• weatherproof shoes: Aquatalia, La Canadienne

Specific Classic Styles from Luxe Brands for Workwear

The Best Designer Heels for Women

Pictured above, some of the most classic designer heels for women: 1) Choo 2) Manolo 3) Prada 4) Valentino 5) Louboutin

Investment Flats for Women

If you want to make an investment in flats, these are some of the most classic options. AGL and Ferragamo are reader favorites for comfort, while Chloé, Chanel and Valentino are all recognizable status symbols.

The Best Investment Totes and Briefcases for Women

As I've noted before, a lot of the VIP women I've known tend to use charity bags (e.g., bags you get from donating a high amount of money or attending a gala) to move their stuff from place to place; it's also hard to be a huge boat tote from Lands' End — think of it as Hamptons style.

But – if you're hunting for “investment totes” for a splurge, some brands to consider include these:

As of 2024, some of our latest favorite luxury work bags (large enough to hold papers and a laptop!) include Bottega Veneta, Mulberry, Saint Laurent, Kaai, and Demellier. Of course, note that a lot of our readers who are in big jobs note that they love their (more affordable) Lo & Sons bags, as well as their Tumi.

Looking for work backpacks to splurge on? Montblanc, MCM and Senreve (also!) are great, and readers are always huge fans of all things Tumi. Some of our favorites…

The Best Designer Suits for Women

Some of the usual suspects for basic designer suits include McQueen, Altuzarra, The Row (this and this), Akris, Michael Kors, and Veronica Beard. Recent favorites include:

The Best Luxe Statement Blazers for Women Executives

Hunting for a luxe statement blazer? 2024 favorites include Smythe, include McQueen, L'Agence, Veronica Beard, The Fold, Armani, and Anine Bing.

Luxe Plus-Size Workwear for Women Executives

Designer plus-size clothing for professional women can be hard to find, so this list has a pretty broad definition of “designer”…

These are some of the best spots for designer plus-size clothing as of 2024… admittedly, a fairly broad interpretation because this category is such a narrow one! Our favorite spots for work outfit shopping are in bold!

• 11 Honoré (now owned by Dia & Co. – still some stock of DVF, Marina Rinaldi, Tanya Taylor, etc.) 
• Able Clothing
• Adrianna Papell
• Amour 781 (boutique of different brands; limited options up to 5X)
• Anthropologie
• BAACAL (limited options up to size 28)
• Bleusalt (limited options up to size 3X)
• Dia & Co. (subscription service) 
• Hours
• Hackwith Design House
• Gravitas 
• Jibri
• Karen Millen
• Kiyonna (sizes 0X–5X)

• Lafayette 148 New York
• LaLigne (XS-3X)
• MadeTrade
• Mara Hoffman (XS-3X)
• Marina Rinaldi/Persona by Marina Rinaldi
• Navabi 
• Nic + Zoe
• Of Mercer
• Pari Passu
• Pomp (Power Of My People)
• Poplinen
• PLVSH Style (subscription service)
• Rachel Pally
• Rita Phil Custom Fashion (custom skirts)

• Simone Aviv
• Summersalt (up to 2X)
• Tanya Taylor (00-22)
• TielDorein (Etsy store)
• Universal Standard
• Veronica Beard (00-24, but some warn that 24 = 20W)
• VigilanteLabs (Etsy store, custom suits for women)
• Vince (great for basics!)
• Wildfang (up to XXL)

Stock photo via Deposit Photos / AndrewLozovyi.

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Sure, we all know what wardrobe essentials for work professional women are supposed to have in their closets, but if you’re buying one for the first time or replacing one you’ve worn into the ground, it can be a pain to find exactly the right incarnation in stores. In “The Hunt,” we search the stores for a basic item that every woman should have.

We haven't done a hunt on statement necklaces for work in yeaaaaars… but I thought it might be interesting to take a look and see what's on the market right now. I have two thoughts here: the first is that delicate necklaces don't read well on Zoom, so if you're doing stuff virtually and want to wear a necklace it's probably better to choose a statement necklace.

The second thought is that if you're trying to keep a minimal work wardrobe while we figure out … *gestures wildly* … all this (including a postpandemic office dress code, once we're, you know, through the pandemic), a statement necklace is going to be an easy way to “dress up” simple clothing, from a gray pants and a gray t-shirt, to a sheath dress, to a plain white button-front blouse. (I will note that scarves can also serve this function…)

Readers, what are your thoughts — if you're working from home, are you reaching for necklaces right now for Zoom calls and the like? Are you a fan of statement necklaces now (or have you been in the past)?

This post contains affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. For more details see here. Thank you so much for your support!

Chain necklaces in gold and silver tone are HUGE right now — the pictured one above is $29 at Madewell, where they're showing it layered with others. The very similar “paper clip necklace” at J.Crew (available in both short and long sizes) is one of their bestsellers right now, ranging from $128-$168.

There's a very similar necklace for $94 at Reiss, and, to be honest, almost every single mall store right now has a ton of these in stock in varying widths and metals and lengths. You can find more upscale options by searching the phrase “chain collar” at places like Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, and Bloomingdale's.

I feel obligated to tell you that Banana Republic is STILL selling their “Notorious” collar (so-named because of RBG!), AND that it's on sale for 40% off.

Is the collar still “in”? I'd love to hear from readers — for my $.02, it was always a tricky look to pull off, and I think for the regular office it's a bit much. I do think, however, that if you have a special occasion that the collar has probably achieved classic status — so I'd still buy it if it's meaningful to you. It's versatile enough I think you can wear the collar t-shirts, sheath dresses, suits, and cocktail attire like jumpsuits or dresses.

There are versions of this Kate Spade necklace at both Nordstrom and Bloomingdale's (in reds) — I think it's a lovely pop of color and would be nice with anything from neutrals to contrasting colors (such as green or red) to complementary colors (pinks, purples). It's $148 at both stores, and Kate Spade has both the pictured pink and the red one (for $118).

There isn't a TON on the market like the necklaces right now, so I wouldn't say it's “on trend,” but if you love it, go for it. (Actually, there ARE a bunch of similar necklaces right now at Talbots, so if you're a fan, FYI!)

Another necklace that's more on the unusual side, but gosh I love the color. (Think of popping this on on a day when you're feeling washed out — the brightness from the white pearls and lipstick red? Yes please.)

This one is $486 at Nordstrom.

I almost didn't include this one because it's so similar to the first affordable option — but I love how you can really see what a statement this makes when you've got several widths and lengths of chains, as well as mixed metals.

The pictured necklace is $2500 at Neiman Marcus (“from the chain collection”) and has a single toggle clasp; they also note that it can be worn as a bracelet.

If you want a muuuuuuch more affordable option, I really like this $52 option at Nordstrom – a set of two layered necklaces with mixed metals.

Like this feature? Check out other recent installments!

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