The best Australian and New Zealand workwear brands for the office and beyond
IMAGE VIA PARIS GEORGIA
WORDS BY AMY FOCIC AND FASHION JOURNAL
Who says office wear or business attire can’t be stylish?
If you’re struggling to put together outfits for the office, you’re not alone. It can be hard to find the right balance between stylish and semi-serious; cool but still corporate. But with the right office wardrobe, it’s easy to make the morning rush a no-brainer.
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To help you out, we’ve put together a curated selection of our favourite work-appropriate Australian and New Zealand labels. The selection covers everything from tailored two-piece suits, colourful midi dresses, bold collars and denim coats, so whatever you prefer to wear to work, you’ll be covered.
Mahsa
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Work shirts don’t have to be boring. New Zealand label Mahsa proves this tenfold with its collection of bold blouses coming in a selection of natural fabrics and colourways. Stop by its trouser and outerwear sections, too.
Summi Summi
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Inject some colour into your wardrobe basics with Summi Summi. The Australian label takes staple silhouettes and transforms them with a swipe of colour or print. Professionalism doesn’t have to come at the cost of fun.
Beare Park
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Australian-made ready-to-wear label Beare Park creates elevated and well-crafted items, fit for the nine-to-five grind and beyond. Luxurious fibres and contemporary cuts make this label a step above your typical workwear brand.
On Parks
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Melbourne brand On Parks by Filly’s Stable proposes a fashion-forward outlook on workwear. The in-house label offers easy-going pieces like printed button-ups, lightweight dresses and tailored statement pants.
Olivia Cashmore
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Considered detailing, beautiful ruching and an ethical supply chain make Olivia Cashmore an easy choice for those looking for an elegant, androgynous workwear look. The Auckland-based label specialises in made-to-wear pieces intended to last a lifetime.
HB Archive
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If you’re looking for conscious, comfortable separates for the office, Melbourne-based label HB Archive offers a variety of pieces made from sustainable materials. Make getting dressed in the morning easy with warm neutrals and trans-seasonal silhouettes.
Lee Mathews
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Shake up your daily uniform with Sydney-based label Lee Mathews. Subversive silhouettes bring an unconventional, yet practical and professional look to Mathews’ pieces. Infusing the classics with a looser, sleeker fit, Mathews’ collections are an easy choice for a wardrobe upgrade in the office.
Pave
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Pave is a modern workwear brand fusing fashion and functionality. Its timeless, considered pieces are crafted in premium materials and designed with versatility in mind. Plus, Pave’s merino garments look incredibly soft.
Esse Studios
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With a strong focus on slow design and quality craftsmanship, Esse founder Charlotte Hicks creates pieces with purpose. Released in seasonal capsule collections, each versatile piece is designed to be worn with the existing essentials in your wardrobe.
Coreprêt
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Coreprêt brings an artistic spin to everyday essentials, playing with shape through its fluid, feminine silhouettes. Each piece is created in high-quality renewable materials, with collections released in annual drops.
Penny Sage
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Want to inject a bit of colour into your work wardrobe? New Zealand label Penny Sage is here to the rescue. With plenty of tops, skirts and dresses in a rainbow of colours to choose from, dressing for work will no longer be boring.
Wynn Hamlyn
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Auckland label Wynn Hamlyn fuses classic and alternative silhouettes to create garments that lend themselves well to a workwear shake-up. Its collection of shirts, trousers and tops could easily be worn outside of the office, too.
Paris Georgia
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Contemporary New Zealand label Paris Georgia creates clothing inspired by the women who wear it. Launched in 2015 by friends Paris Michelle Temple and Georgia Cherrie, the womenswear brand combines high-quality fabrications, timeless silhouettes and feminine detailing.
Jillian Boustred
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With a sustainable and ethical ethos at its core, Jillian Boustred is the place to go for work-appropriate clothing that doesn’t harm the planet or people. May we suggest the Stevie Chunky Knit Jumper in Khaki? The perfect layering piece for when the office is just a little too chilly.
Maggie Marilyn
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A leader in the sustainable and ethical fashion space, New Zealand label Maggie Marilyn makes clothing that elevates work dressing into a luxurious experience. Its range of blazers make us want to wear a pantsuit every day, but they’d be ideal for pairing with jeans, too.
Par Moi
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Feel like bringing a bit of the statement collar trend to work? Par Moi has got your back. Its collection of whimsical blouses (among other magical garments) are made-to-order from deadstock fabric in Melbourne.
Kowtow
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Iconic New Zealand slow fashion label Kowtow makes clothing that can shift easily between work and leisure. Boxy shapes in pops of colour and timeless neutrals mean there’s something for everyone going back to the office.
Blanca by Reliquia Collective
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Can’t get enough of button-up shirts in endless colours? Blanca, by cult label Reliquia Collective, is your go-to for when you return to the office. In pastel candy stripes and contrasting brights, you’ll no doubt find a shirt for every day of the week.
Marle
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New Zealand label Marle creates ethical and sustainable pieces that will endure for many years to come. Its floaty blouses, transeasonal knits and linen dresses would make a welcome addition to any work wardrobe.
E Nolan
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Spearheaded by designer and tailor Emily Nolan, E Nolan creates made-to-measure suits and ready-to-wear pieces that are created to last a lifetime. After all, as Emily believes, a well-made suit is a versatile item in anyone’s wardrobe.
Alkam
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Based in Sydney, Alkam is a workwear label for those wanting a timeless, unfussy and minimalist working wardrobe. Designs are both understated and elevated, with a focus on tailoring across the brand’s core collections. The colours are very wearable too, think neutrals, whites and blacks.
Friends With Frank
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Driven by the ethos of quality over quantity, Friends with Frank garments slot nicely into your selection of work-appropriate clothes. In a palette of classic neutrals, the brand’s outerwear collection is a luxe addition for the cooler months.
Arnsdorf
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Arnsdorf is accredited by Ethical Clothing Australia, plus the brand is a B Corp, so you know its pieces are considered and made to last. Arnsdorf doesn’t stop at clothing either – it makes belts and stocks bags and shoes by other slow fashion labels like Nelson Made.
Scanlan Theodore
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Iconic Australian label Scanlan Theodore offers an elevated tailored capsule for your workwear needs. The brand’s collection, which includes a range of heels, spans muted tones and pastels – so go co-ord or colour block.
Collective Closets
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Using Oeko-Tex certified linen and artisan-made African fabrics, Collective Closets aspires to connect its customers with the talent, beauty and rich history of the African continent. Each piece is made with intention, so you can mix and match the brand’s core collection with its brightly-printed designs.
Elk the Label
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Elk’s pieces are a thoughtful combination of vibrant prints, unique silhouettes and consciously-made knits. The brand’s accessories collection also features a range of jewellery, bags, sunglasses and more, so you can complete your office-ready outfit.
Camilla and Marc
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Loved Australian label Camilla and Marc has a focus on high-end design and tailoring with an unexpected edge. Its investment pieces, like the classic Grayson Blazer, are made from premium materials and are designed to complement any wardrobe.
Albus Lumen
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Complementing its collection of homewares and accessories, Albus Lumen’s clothing offering is sleek and timeless – what we all want for workwear that endures. The tailored separates will stand the test of time.
Looking to create a capsule work wardrobe? Try this.
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