3 Tips to Dress to Work on Week-Ends – Marled Woven Top – $59.00 – Photo: anntaylor.com

Are you working this week-end? I’ve always found dressing to go to work on week-ends particularly tricky. First, it’s the week-end, and I’d rather be lounging around than doing anything remotely associated with work, especially dressing. Second, I like to look good, which is hard when you’re in “lounging” mode, and third, there’s no such a thing as “professionally casual”, it’s like sugar-free cake, what’s the point?

After walking a few years back into the partner on the job dressed in my favorite low-rise jeans and my own 90’s version of the crop shirt, I seriously started considering how looking busted on week-ends at work could cause me a little more than just the aggravation to put up with the week-end T schedule. If I were going to lose my job, I would have liked it to be over something more substantial than low-rise jeans. Someone once said you never lose unless you lose the lesson, well, here are the 5 most important week-end work dressing I learnt since then:

1. Skip the casual altogether! The last thing I want to do early on Saturday morning is think about the difference between casual and not casual enough, or too casual. Besides when I looked around, all the powerful women around me were not exactly rolling in in their sweatpants. Since you’re dressing for the position you want and not the one you’ve got, don’t hate, emulate! I’m not saying, you have to dress up to the nines on week-ends at work or finish up your already severely maimed toes in board meeting-style heels! Instead trade your low-rise jeans for trouser jeans like these, laundry-tried T-shirts for easy blouses like this bold stripe pocket top, and tired sneakers for comfortable flats! if you can’t meet the partner in it on short notice, don’t wear it. Period.

2. Quality is the word! Even if your week-end work style is easier, bank on quality clothes! Cheap is loud! Invest in quality basics such as breathable wool and cotton tops like this luxe silk tee, or well-cut flat-front trousers and skirts. If possible, stock up on classic colors like, black, white, navy and/or brown.

3.Last but not least, grooming is key! Even when working on week-ends, keep your grooming immaculate. Well-kept nails, groomed hair, go a long way towards making your appearance professionally on point. For the busiest, on-the-go ladies, nude nail polish hues are perfect, this one from OPI is my favorite.

The Corporate Sis.