What to Wear to the Office

Fashion loves a transgression — so much so that, eventually, the transgression in question becomes what Alpha fashion types call A Wardrobe Staple. Underwear as outerwear? Old school. Transparency? Almost de rigueur if you want to inject youthfulness into an otherwise starchy outfit. Bondage? Of course — at least, in the shoe department.

One transgression, however, is causing fashion considerable consternation this summer: the question of whether one can wear a maxi skirt to the office. They’ve become practically ubiquitous in out-of-office wardrobes — a badge of honour for those with the kind of creative jobs that allow them to “work” all morning from the al-fresco tables in Ponsonby or contemplate the novel they’re going to write while sunbathing in the park. But at (proper) work? “No, no, no”, is the startled response on the American blog Corporette.com.

I canvassed a fashion-conscious receptionist in her early twenties in a reasonably conservative company to see if the codes were similarly uptight. “Loads of us are wearing maxis to work this summer,” she said airily. “Actually, they’re not floor-sweepers, but hit above the ankle.” In fact, now she came to think of it, they were midis.

As fashion cognoscenti know, a few inches make all the difference — a midi is not a maxi, although it ticks a lot of the same boxes and may even feel easier for smaller women to master. But with the right proportions, height isn’t a prerequisite for ankle-grazers.

The edgily stylish Virginia Norris, joint director of digital PR consultancy Aisle8, has been wearing maxis to work for ever. “If you want a maxi to look smart, keep it plain and avoid patterns. One with a tailored feel in a fabric that has structure works really well with a round-necked T-shirt,” she counsels. “Or tuck in a white shirt and roll up the sleeves.” Norris is fond of layering a T-shirt over her maxi dresses. “It gets rid of the waistband, which can look a bit frumpy, especially if it is elastic.”

Eugenie Hanmer, executive fashion and jewellery director at Harper's Bazaar, is another fan of the office maxi. "It's so low-maintenance. I can switch from work to an evening event in two minutes." She has a variety — from Brunello Cucinelli's sample sales, Alice Temperley and Acne, plus a pleated chiffon Oscar de la Renta number from Net-A-Porter.

“Some of the assistants have been wearing theirs with broderie anglaise tops and working the peasant look. But I tried my ikat-patterned Tory Burch one and felt it was too much of a holiday vibe.”

For Hanmer, maxis must be plain in the office. She may work in fashion, but on the business side, so she sticks with dark-coloured skirts, and is fussy about tops. “Nothing with spaghetti straps or embroidery. It has to at least have cap sleeves. Flat shoes are a given, but nothing too sandal-ly or boho.” Hanmer likes cropped, buttonless jackets — “more flattering than a longer blazer that cuts the line at your thighs”.

Hanmer and Norris both have a lot of sartorial licence in their jobs, but we could all benefit from reclaiming the maxi. They’re handy when your legs are pale, or not living up to expectations. In the right fabric — a plain, weighty silk crepe, for instance — they drape flatteringly and can be much kinder than summer trousers.

They're a graceful way to tap into the current Seventies trend without resorting to flares, which are almost impossible to get right unless you spend far more time than you can spare every morning adjusting their length to your heels.

MAXI CHECKLIST

1. Befriend belts — you'll need them. A mid-width belt will accentuate your waist and your smartness. A skinny belt with gold hardware will make you look sleeker. A belt around your jacket looks feminine and businesslike and also shortens hip-length ones to a more flattering length.

2. Stilettos with maxis look wrong. If you need height, choose a flatform, or a low block heel. To avoid the governess look, find one with interesting fashion details — stripes, metallics or jewels.

3. If it's a plain skirt, match with a very smart statement top with eye-catching details or shaped sleeves.

4. A pop of bright lip colour and groomed hair will keep this from entering holiday territory.

5. The higher the waist, the more elongating — but since this isn't necessarily the most comfortable option, look for a waistband that snuggles up to the navel, no further.

— The Daily Telegraph