7 Winter Work Outfits to Keep You Warm, Comfortable, and Cute

You know you're in good hands when your lawyer walks in wearing cashmere, a leather tote from The Row, designer loafers, and diamonds. Lisa Ing-Marinelli is a London-based corporate lawyer and content creator with phenomenal office style. Her followers—including all members of the Marie Claire fashion team—are particularly in awe of Ing-Marinelli's winter work outfits. Fine knitwear paired with the season's top trending coats, perfectly-pressed trousers, and refined work bags that are antithetical to boring briefcases—she's a master at blending personal style with professionalism during the serotonin-zapping season.

Because injecting personality into your cold-weather office style when all you want to wear is an elastic waistband and whatever's coziest in your closet isn't easy. The former fashion executive behind the style newsletter Every Body Gets Dressed, Liza Belmonte, says it's perhaps women's biggest pain point with winter fashion. "One of the most common questions I get from subscribers when it comes to dressing for work in the winter is, 'How do I dress for the office and still feel and look like myself?'" the writer says over email.

Well, to start, Ing-Marinelli and Belmonte both say to take stock of your wardrobe and sprinkle in a few timeless-with-a-twist items where they're needed. Often, this means investing in high-quality items that, yes, are double the cost of fast fashion but will last quadruple as long. "Winter outfits are expensive, but they last if you buy well," Ing-Marinelli says. The lawyer adds that most cold-weather items were originally purchased years ago but are still in rotation because of their top-tier craftsmanship and cost-per-wear.

Splurging on a work wardrobe might even help you like your job a little more. "When I worked a corporate job, I noticed that how much effort I put [into what I wore to work] or how much I liked my outfit directly correlated with my job satisfaction," says Belmonte. "I began investing in better pieces for the office, like well-made blazers and tailored trousers, and they were game-changers. And it's not about the perception of others; it's about showing up as your most confident self."

It's a tale as old as time, really: the better you feel about what you're wearing, the better you feel about yourself—and, therefore, the better work you can do when clocking in. Ahead, ten rich-looking outfits and more insight from Belmonte and Ing-Marinelli on what to wear into the office this winter.

Strategic Neutrals

"You may be expected to stick to a neutral color palette to convey professionalism. If that is the case, sharp cuts, structured fits, and interesting design details will go a long way to give your work outfits a unique edge," says Belmonte. "Paying attention to these has led to some of my favorite outfit formulas to attend formal meetings in winter." Like, for instance, a sculptural cape coat, barrel-leg pants, and a chunky sweater.

Tailored to a T

Simple but effective: Belmonte says you can't go wrong with "a pair of wool trousers with a deep front crease, a blouse with slightly flared sleeves tucked into the waist, and a leather belt." Specifically, the fashion writer recommends "Anderson’s belts; they have the best price-to-quality ratio I have come across for classic belts."

Splurge on the Classics

Ing-Marinelli's topline piece of advice when building a winter work rotation is, interestingly enough, to ignore the winter trends and "invest, invest, invest" in quality classics. "Summer is much easier to wear trends in, whereas winters seem to be led by my wardrobe and current collection rather than what is trending," says the lawyer.

Belmonte's advice is similar, adding that oftentimes, the key to having a distinct style is buying timeless pieces with a few choice tweaks. "Deliberately mixing and matching your existing pieces with newer ones that incorporate interesting design details will have a significant impact and keep you looking polished," says Belmonte. Interestingly enough, Ing-Marinelli also encourages you to ignore winter trends

Strategic Layering

The key to making these—and any outfit formulas—work in the winter is to have the right base layers," says Belmonte. "Basic long-sleeved tops in natural fibers like cashmere, merino wool, or silk—like Intimissimi's—will add warmth without adding bulk. Ing-Marinelli agrees, saying she's partial to "turtlenecks layered under V-neck sweatshirts or button-ups with a pair of high-waisted denim."

A Not-So Basic Button-Down

Belmonte doubles down on her note about classic-with-a-twist items and encourages buying "a cotton poplin shirt that isn’t just your run-of-the-mill button-down shirt— like this twist-wrap front one from Lemaire. As for styling, the writer advises "a pair of cropped kick-flare jersey pants from Everlane with the pair of slingback kitten heels you thought were reserved for the mid-season and thin Merino wool socks that will look sophisticated and office-friendly."

Build Around a Blazer

Ing-Marinelli believes the best blazers are those that can effectively be the anchor of your look. "Blazers of all different shapes with jeans and loafers—this formula works in so many scenarios." Though the lawyer, ever the stickler for details, recommends paying close attention to the fit of the jacket; with an oversized blazer, for instance, you'll want to ensure the shoulders aren't outrageously boxy, or else it might swallow you whole.

TK Dress

Belmonte says cute winter dresses that reflect contemporary design details—like the drop-waist dress trend, a draped shoulder detail, or an asymmetric hem—are smart additions to a workwear rotation. Top a ribbed wool maxi or cowl-neck jersey dress with your favorite blazer and slingback heels.

Boots First, Clothes Second

Break glass in case of a winter work outfit emergency: "knee-high boots with a long coat and skirt" is a reliably polished combination that Ing-Marinelli often calls on for the office. "There are so many variations of this look, from flat boots to heeled boots and trench coats and wrap coats, and it always works," says the lawyer.

Dopamine Dressing

Another option is to dress decidedly against the seasonal doom and gloom by "offsetting the long winter days and short daylight schedule with some joy-inspired dressing," says Belmonte. "Wrapping yourself in soft cashmere will feel like a treat. Be bolder in your choice of outerwear as it bookends your day, and you take it off when you get to the office anyway." Feel-good winter color trends will also work. "If you can get away with a pop of color, a sky blue sock worn with Mary Jane flats and an all-black outfit will be a dopamine hit," the writer adds.

Neo-Neutrals

When corporate gray feels too blah and you can't be bothered to wear beige, lean into what Belmote calls "the ‘fake neutrals’: pieces in deep burgundy, dark burnt orange, or rich olive green and chocolate browns." The former fashion executive says the slightly punched-up shades "will carry the same sophistication as greys and blacks but be uplifting and express more of who you are behind the business attire."