Work dresses made to measure for the office

A sheath-like midi from the seamed dress

A classic sheath is cut close from shoulder to hem. Our Long sleeve seamed maxi dress comes near it: curved seams run from the shoulders down the front and the back, so it follows you through the chest and waist, and then it opens into a gentle flare from the hips. Ask for it at midi length and you have a sheath-like midi work dress that still lets you take stairs two at a time, because the flare gives your knees the room a straight sheath does not. Shift dress vs sheath dress explains how the two classic office shapes differ, and if your heart is set on a truly straight sheath, send a picture through custom made dresses and we quote it.

Matching the shape to your workplace

In a formal office, such as a law firm, a bank or any job where you meet clients, the shirt dress in black or navy and the seamed dress are the safe choices. In a creative studio, a school staffroom or a relaxed office, the Ginkgo Wrap, the Wisteria and the embroidered grey and brown frocks suit an ordinary Tuesday, and the indigo frock a dress-down Friday. If you would rather wear one shape most days and change only the colour, a personal uniform shows how.

Knee or midi: where a work dress should end

Knee length and midi are the two lengths almost every office accepts without a second glance. The indigo, sage and brown frocks are drawn to the knee. The charcoal and grey frocks fall to the calf, the Wisteria to mid-calf, and the shirt dress is long, to the calf, with a knee-length version on request. The seamed dress is drawn to the ankle but can be cut to midi. The hem is cut to the number you send, so give the length as our size guide shows, in the shoes you wear to work, and aim a little lower for a formal office, since a hem rides up when you sit. Knee and midi lengths in inches lists typical figures by height; see also our midi dresses, and the petite dresses and tall dresses pages for shorter and taller frames.

Summer work dresses, and sleeveless under your own layer

For a hot commute, start with the short sleeve frocks: the sage frock with its button front and white embroidery across the yoke, the indigo frock and the grey frock. Every dress on this page can also be made sleeveless, chosen on the order form or written in the changes box and confirmed in your quote. A sleeveless shirt dress or Wisteria makes sense where you keep a cardigan or jacket of your own on the back of the chair for meetings and the air conditioning. Send an armhole measurement too, so the edge lies close; the armhole guide explains why.

Where the street is hot and the office is cold, as in much of the Gulf, see workwear for cold offices and fabrics for air-conditioned offices. The fabric for each frock and modern design is agreed in your quote, so tell us where and in which season you will wear it.

When the dress code is all black

Some jobs, from restaurants and galleries to concert halls and events teams, ask for black from head to toe. The black shirt dress suits a shift spent on your feet, with long sleeves you can roll up and fasten out of the way and slits that let you stride. The black seamed dress is the dressier option for front of house or a stage. All-black work dress code outfits has more ideas, including why two blacks rarely match.

From the office to the Christmas party

When the work Christmas party starts the moment the office closes, a black or navy work dress with long sleeves can carry you through with a change of shoes and brighter earrings. For something with more sparkle, our party dresses page has long sleeve and strappy designs for the office do, and office party outfit ideas covers the rest. Put the party date in your quote request, since shipping comes after the making time.

Buttons that stay closed

A button front gapes at the bust when there is too little room across the chest or no button sits at the fullest point. Ordering the Button-front shirt dress made to measure means its front is cut to your bust, not to a size chart. Send your full bust and the distance from the top of your shoulder to your bust point, and say in the changes box if button fronts always gape on you. Why buttons gape at the bust goes into the detail, and how a shirt dress should fit covers the collar and shoulders.

A skirt that does not ride up when you sit

Your waist and hips spread on a chair, so a dress cut only for your standing shape pulls tight and climbs. Measure your hips sitting upright on a firm chair as well as standing, and add the seated figure to your notes so the skirt is given room for the difference. Side slits help as well: the shirt dress has them as drawn, and they can be made deeper or shallower. Pleats and a flare do the same job on the charcoal and grey frocks. Why clothes feel tighter when you sit explains what happens, and a work dress with sleeves covers sleeves you can reach in.

Ordering one dress, several, or workwear for a team

When you ask for a quote, give the design, the colour, your size or measurements and every change you want: a midi hem, three-quarter sleeves, sleeveless, a lining for a chilly office. Two or three work dresses can go in one request with one set of measurements. Nothing is cut until the details are agreed in writing. Making takes 5 to 7 working days from approval and full payment, and the quote already covers delivery to your door and any import duty and taxes.

Dressing a women’s team is a different order. Logo embroidery on women’s uniforms and workwear is quoted case by case from your design; see custom embroidery for how it works.