When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more
There are a lot of factors that go into determining the best workwear for women. The perfect professional pieces are versatile, stylish, office-ready, and — perhaps most importantly — comfortable. heat invisible camouflage fabric
For more of our favorite workwear staples, check out our coverage on the best suits for women, the best work pants for women, the best white button-down shirts, the best work bags for women, and the best flats.
Everlane may seem too casual for workwear, but the brand is a go-to for foundational basics for any office wardrobe.
Sizing options: Varies by style, with most clothing options running 00-16. Shoes tend to run small.
Everlane is an internet darling, partly thanks to transparent pricing in an industry that has traditionally relied upon markups. We shop here primarily for basics that are above-average in quality and below-average in price. We like Everlane's shoes, leather bags, cotton shirts, and work pants.
In terms of footwear, we typically recommend the Day shoe family, though you'll want to size up a half size for your order. We're unanimously fans of the company's $138 Day Glove flat, and we also love the Day Heel, The Mary Jane, and The Glove Boot.
Read our full review of Everlane's workwear collection to see more of our favorite picks.
Quince is a direct-to-consumer lifestyle brand that boasts affordable prices for traditionally high-cost materials.
Sizing options: Mostly XS-XL, with some extended sizes
Quince provides your run-of-the-mill clothing essentials and makes them using organic, sustainably sourced textiles. Their success can be attributed to their fair pricing, maintained by cutting out the added expenses of the supply chain. Ever think cashmere sweaters were a luxury item out of your reach? Well, Quince has them for just $50. In addition, they also make some of the best white button-downs for women and men.
Read our full Quince review to see more of our editor's favorites.
For clothes that are as comfortable for the office as they are WFH, check out Eileen Fisher.
Sizing options: Varies by style, with most options ranging from XXS-XXL.
Eileen Fisher is all about easy dressing. Simple, clean shapes and great fabrics are the ethos of the brand. And thanks to the timeless styles and truly top-notch materials, you can expect to have them for decades.
The brand's wide-legged pants and breezy blouses can be mixed and matched to create your new — surprisingly comfortable — work wardrobe. And since most of these pieces are minimal, and come in a range of complementary hues, all you need is a few to create the ultimate capsule wardrobe.
Read our full Eileen Fisher review here.
Rent the Runway is a revolving door of designer clothing. If you're easily bored with what's in your closet, here's a fashion-forward solution.
Sizing options: Varies by brand; select styles available in petite and tall
Rent the Runway is one of our favorite places to find discounted designer shoes, bags, and clothing, where you can either rent or buy luxury workwear via any three of their subscription plans. The middle-tier membership starts at $94 a month and costs $119 every month after. With this package, you can choose 5 items from the entirety of Rent the Runway's collection. Try them out for the month, and if you love any, you can choose to buy and keep them. Or, you can send them all back for a fresh batch the following month. It's a unique way to keep your wardrobe refreshed and allows for an intimate look at fashion brands like Anine Bing, Staud, Theory, and more. If you rather test out the service before going all in, you can start with a one-time rental instead.
SuitShop is the perfect place to get a high-quality suit for under $250 that feels like it was custom-tailored.
Sizing options: 0-28, petite, regular, and tall
SuitShop took home our best overall award in our guide to the best suits for women, marking it as a true standout when it comes to finding the best matching blazer and pants set around. Most of the suits hover between $200 and $250, which is a true steal for the quality. There are also petite and tall options in both tops and bottoms.
"Though you could dress it down for work, SuitShop's Women's White Tuxedo is a showstopper at formal events and elegant outings. I'm five-foot-two and the short option hits me perfectly at the ankle. I absolutely love how custom it feels, despite it being only $250. The material is also luxurious. It's made of satin and expertly tailored to flatter your figure," says Samantha Crozier, style editor at Insider Reviews.
Petite Studio is a great place to find both trendy and professional pieces that are designed by and for petite folks.
Sizing options: XXS-L, exclusively petite cut
Many companies tailor how their clothes drape and fit by testing them on a typical model, who is often just as tall and leggy as you would expect a model to be. If the company wants to release a petite version of the clothes, every measurement is just proportionally shortened. But not at Petite Studio. Every single piece that Petite Studio makes is tailored on a real-life petite fit model. And it's a difference that you can really feel.
"I tested Petite Studio's Rowan Button-Down and was blown away by the fact that I could wear a billowy, oversized shirt without looking like I was drowning. The sleeves hit perfectly at my wrists, and the waist was nipped in at the most flattering spot. With something as important as workwear, it's imperative to look tailored and professional. And Petite Studio is an amazing resource for women like me who are under five-foot-three and struggle with the trailing hems and schleppy silhouettes that lots of standard-size workwear can cause." — Samantha Crozier, style editor, Insider Reviews.
M.M.LaFleur is the name to know for high-end, stylish, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. workwear.
Sizing options: Varies by style, with most pieces ranging from XS-XXL.
Most of M.M. LaFleur's clothes are machine-washable and wrinkle-resistant, and the brand's design hacks are helpful rather than gimmicky — like internal clips to keep bra straps in place and adjustable pant hems for different shoes. Miyako Nakamura, former head designer for Zac Posen, is a master at flattering, easy silhouettes.
There are also plenty of options for business travelers that feature machine-washable, wrinkle-resistant, packable suiting staples like the Moreland Jacket. M.M.LaFleur also makes the ingenious Foster Pant that adjusts for different shoe heights.
The former mall mainstay has rebranded and become a go-to retailer for everything from basics to workwear.
Sizing options: Pants go from 23 extra-short to 37 extra-long. Tops go from XXS to XL.
Abercrombie & Fitch's office-approved attire is great for anyone trying to build a professional wardrobe on a budget. Most of their pieces are under $100 and can be worn to work and on the weekends.
We're particularly big fans of Abercrombie's pants, which mostly come in five different lengths: extra-short, short, regular, tall, and extra-tall. Plus, they have a whole slew of curve-friendly picks that have more room in the hips.
Spanx does more than shapewear. The brand excels in slick basics that transition from the office to evening plans.
Sizing options: The brand has its own hosiery sizing guide, so make sure to reference that. All other pieces range from XS-3X.
Spanx is best known for its shapewear, and — to nobody's surprise — the same things that make its shapewear great (intuitive design, savvy understanding of women's bodies, and high-end materials) also make for some of the best work pants we've tested.
We tested Spanx's collection of PerfectFit Pants, and they proved to fit comfortably even over the course of an eleven-hour workday. We were particularly impressed with the machine-washable, wrinkle-resistant smoothing fabric that sculpts without squeezing. Sizing options include petite, regular, or tall inseams.
See our full Spanx Perfect Pant review to see how it looks on different body types.
COS, under H&M, is a modern clothing brand that incorporates thoughtful fashion design into everyday wear.
Sizing options: Limited to XS-L
COS is H&M's line of modern, upscale fashion that while simplistic in nature, is ultimately designed to make a statement. Its vibrant colors and clean lines converge into abstract silhouettes that still maintain function and comfort. COS' selection includes great foundations for a solid office look, along with stylish, well-crafted pieces that stand out on their own.
& Other Stories is H&M's premium ready-to-wear brand made with more ethically sourced natural materials.
Sizing options: Limited to XS-L
& Other Stories is designed by ateliers in Los Angeles, Paris, and Stockholm and distributed under H&M. Similar to Banana Republic via Gap, & Other Stories presents a more elevated version of its parent company's brand. If you have a big conference or office party coming up, & Other Stories has an outfit to meet the moment. Their wide range of knits are made out of responsibly sourced wool blends, and their liberal use of recycled materials translates into a reasonably priced sustainable option for quality workwear.
Universal Standard has some of the most size-inclusive clothing on the market today.
functional camouflage fabric Sizing options: Inclusive sizing, from 00-40