Where Stylists Shop: The Best Workwear Labels for the Office and Beyond

How do you approach office dressing? Are you like Melbourne stylist Liv Brown, who balances personal style with “feeling confident and professional”? Or are you like Sydney stylist Jana Bartolo, who “leans into character and a bit of flair”? Or, like Melbourne’s Lana Wilkinson, do you look for pieces that are “powerful, polished and expressive”?

Depending on the workplace, dress codes differ. For the office-attending professionals among us, clean, put-together and smart-casual attire is usually the starting point. Here, seven local stylists share their recommendations on where to shop for women’s workwear.

Katherine Rose , Sydney stylist

“I try to support local, emerging designers where possible. I love Essbee and Palytte ’s unique interpretations of classic workwear: Essbee’s pinstripe tracksuit pant or Palytte’s adorable Lola pleated skirt. I personally love St Agni ’s approach to design – it integrates fabrics like suede and leather into wearable pieces for the office, such as the leather pencil skirt.”

Jana Bartolo , Sydney stylist

“My version of workwear leans into character and a bit of flair. I like pieces that feel considered but still playful. Incu has a curated mix of elevated basics and directional pieces, and always with a clean, wearable edge. Ksubi adds a rebellious streak to tailoring, perfect when I want to bring a little attitude to a look. Blanca is known for great big blazers with a bit of dazzle, effortlessly elevating any outfit. Scanlan Theodore has sophisticated tailoring and refined silhouettes that bring timeless elegance to workwear. Gary Bigeni ’s bold colours and striking shapes define his genderless pieces, merging sustainable design with expressive, artful craftsmanship.”

Sally MacKinnon , Melbourne personal stylist

“Depending on my client’s budget, I will shop anywhere from Portmans and Cue , to Scanlan Theodore and made-to-measure suiting label Godwin Charli in Melbourne. Portmans continues to offer affordable workwear that I find is really great for women entering the professional workforce for the first time. Cue offers more elevated, professional workwear options that have a more modern approach. My clients love that, as they can often style their Monday-to-Friday wardrobe into the weekend. While my clients in 2025 aren’t so much into Scanlan’s crepe knit anymore, they do love their polished, beautifully tailored separates. And when I want to offer a client something truly bespoke, my go-to tailor is Godwin Charli.”

Liv Brown , Melbourne personal stylist

“I’ve styled quite a few mums returning to the workforce, and I always encourage them to maintain their personal style while still feeling confident and professional. While slightly more on the casual side, Kloke ’s pieces pair beautifully with more tailored items. The quality is incredible, and their styles add a relaxed edge to traditional workwear. I love how Kowtow incorporates colour and pattern into classic silhouettes. It’s perfect for clients who want to inject personality into a professional wardrobe. Blanca is a great go-to for elevated basics. Their oversized shirts, in particular, are versatile and can easily be styled for the office or beyond.”

Lana Wilkinson , Melbourne celebrity stylist and shoe designer

“I frequently turn to Australian designers like Christopher Esber , Toni Maticevski , Viktoria & Woods , Henne and Bianca Spender for workwear. All their designs are powerful, polished and expressive. All these designers create clothing that make me feel confident and stylish.”

Rochelle Renwick , Perth stylist and creative director

“ Cos is always a go-to for me. Their range is consistently strong: great quality, fair pricing and full of classic, chic pieces that feel timeless but can be styled 100 different ways. Plus, their inclusive size range is a win. Cue , since their revamp, is always surprisingly providing. While they still carry their signature staples (crease-free shirts and tailored black pants), they’ve been injecting some real fashion-forward pieces into the mix, perfect if you want corporate with a bit more edge.”

Karinda Mutabazi Melbourne stylist and creative director

“My go-to is a blazer paired with a collared shirt and a pleated pant or short, paired with a sneaker or loafer. I love a collared shirt in a boxy oversized cut – it’s comfortable but still looks sharp. My forever fave E Nolan is the queen of this! She also has an incredible collection of silk ties that I absolutely love. Now that she’s opened a ready-to-wear store in Collingwood, you don’t even have to make an appointment to try them on.”

For more shopping advice from some of Australia ’ s top stylists, read the rest of our Where Stylists Shop series.

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