I love my client Mrs. Refined. After years of knowing each other, I truly do consider her a friend. However, when she emailed me, “Any chance you can do a blog post on how to wear cropped metallic pants? I’d like to find a way to wear them to the office as well as in a more casual setting. It might be way out there for the office, but nonetheless they are so cool,” I seriously began to wonder the sanity of my friend.
After a good eye roll, I started to reconsider my first thoughts about wearing gold leather pants to work. And, if we’re being honest, it’s sort of my fault anyway. I was the one who texted her a link to a pair of gold crop pants from Akris Punto, to which she told me she already owned a similar pair from Lafayette 148, and I am the one who fully supported her decision to wear leather with great abandon at work in the first place. Mrs. Refined’s love of going bold at work has been strongly enabled by me. Why let her down now.
So I gave it some thought and decided to come up with metallic looks that work in the workplace.
How to Wear Metallic to Work
Before I get into the different looks, wearing any type of metallic at work requires some restraint. Less is more and it should be done tastefully. Silhouettes in metallic for the workplace should be professional in appearance and things like your one-sleeved glitter top should be reserved for after five. Okay, let’s take a look at some outfits.
Outfit #1
These are the Akris Punto pants I recommended to Mrs. Refined and look like the similar style she has from Lafayette 148. Due to the bold nature of the pants I wanted to go understated with the rest of the look. I styled the look with a black slim turtleneck from L’Agence and black blazer from Theory. I finished the look with black booties from Paul Green, bold gold earrings, and black bag from Gigi New York.
Outfit #2
The metallic plaid in this Elie Tahari blazers has a balance of gold that makes it work appropriate particularly when it is styled in an understated way like in the first look. I styled the jacket with a black surplice top from Lafayette 148 and wide-leg cropped pants from The Fold. I finished the look with black pumps, a gold tote from Gigi New York and a necklace from Laura Lombardi.
Outfit #3
This blouse from Frame has subtle metallic threads running through it making it perfect for work. I styled top with a pair of brown pants from Theory, beige flats from Everlane, burgundy bag from Coach and gold drop earrings from Halogen.
Outfit #4
Metallic is often found in bouclé tweeds which can be a lovely work fabric. I styled this metallic tweed Ted Baker dress and jacket with a pair of navy tights and boots from Boden and finished the look with a blue bag from Antik Kraft and pendant necklace from Hobbs.
Outfit #5
This outfit has two pieces in metallic. First, metallic flats from 27 Edit. Metallic flats can be a safe way to add metallic to your work looks. In addition to these shoes, I also styled this outfit with a grey ATM cardigan with metallic threads running throughout it. I added these burgundy pants from Nili Lotan, a grey long sleeve t-shirt, gray tote from Dagne Dover and silver pendant.
If done professionally, metallic can add some fun and whimsy to your work looks. I hope these outfit ideas help.
