It can be challenging enough getting dressed for work in the morning, without having to also plan a second outfit for going out afterwards. In the morning, we’re pressed for time, plus carrying a bag with a load of evening clothes along to work is just inconvenient. That’s why if you know you’re going out after work, it makes sense to wear the same women's top to both occasions.
There’s a difference between a work and evening look, however, so it doesn’t always feel right to wear the exact same work outfit out the same night. That’s what this article is all about. We’re going to offer you a few quick tips for transitioning your work tops into evening tops.
The first, and most important thing to consider is, what kind of tops will be suited to this transition. We’ll cover the ones we think will work best, plus give you some tips for making the transition simple. What will you get out of it? A great outfit!
Linen and cotton shirts - from work to dinner
Let’s start with a staple piece of work wear—the linen or cotton shirt. We love these shirts for work because:
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They have a button-down front and a collar, which looks neat and presentable in the work place.
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They’re breathable in summer, which is really important, as nobody wants to overheat in the office and deal with sweat patches.
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They’re moisture-wicking, which means they draw perspiration away from your body, so you’re not sitting in a wet garment during hot weather. Linen and cotton will allow the perspiration to evaporate quickly.
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Linen tops and cotton tops are durable, so they’ll last a while.
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You can wear a camisole beneath them, so that you can stay warm in cooler office spaces.
Now we’ve covered why these shirts are great choices for work, let’s look at how you can adapt them for the evening.
Tips for styling a shirt to transition from day to evening:
Change your bottoms: If you’ve been tucked into a skirt or trousers that scream ‘work attire’, then an easy way to transition your women's top is by simply changing your bottoms. So consider changing things up and wearing your linen or cotton shirt tucked into some high-waisted jeans, or with a more loose-fitting skirt.
Add heels: If you’ve been in sensible shoes at work, add some heels to give you height and more of an ‘evening’ look. Heel sandals or stilettos will work well.
Undo, or do up buttons: You could go either way with this one. If you have a button or two of your shirt already undone for work, then buttoning it all the way up will make for a different, chic evening look.
Alternatively, if you’ve been buttoned up all day, then undoing one or two extra buttons will change your outfit. You might like to wear a camisole with a lace trim beneath, so that the lace peeks out and creates a feminine look. Add a delicate chain necklace and you’re done.
Roll up sleeves: If you’ve had your sleeves sensibly rolled down all day for work, then rolling them up to approximately the elbows will change the look of your shirt, and make it seem a little more casual.
Alternatively, if your sleeves have been rolled up all day, roll them down, button them, and add a bracelet to the outside of your sleeve.
Add a glamorous bag: Whether it’s a sparkling clutch or a polished-looking handbag, your choice of evening bag can make an identifiable difference to your look. Ditch the sensible work satchel or tote, and opt for something smaller and a little more dazzling. You’ll look less like you’re achieving KPIs and more like you’re ready to party!
(See Femme Connection’s full range of women’s linen tops)
Blouses - office to party
Similar to the shirt, blouses are a beloved women's top, due to their feminine look and their versatility. Blouses look absolutely appropriate in the workplace, but also are a viable option for evening excursions to parties, plays, bars, or wherever it is you’re heading.
Blouses can already look a little more ‘dressy’ than a plain shirt, but you still want to do a few tricks to differentiate your day look from your evening look.
Tips for styling a blouse to transition from day to evening:
Add a short skirt: For a stylish and edgy vibe, swap out your work skirt for a short to knee-length skirt. What skirt fabric to choose? If your blouse is a little shiny, opt for a skirt in a matte fabric, or vice versa. (Consider skirts in vegan leather, corduroy, denim, or wool, depending on the season).
Lift your game with heels: If you’ve been in sensible work shoes all day, then changing to some heels in the evening will transform your look. You could try stiletto heels, or even heeled ankle boots.
Add patterns: You might have been wearing a neutral-coloured blouse with a plain skirt or pants at work. For the evening, why not change to some bottoms in a bold colour, print or pattern. For example, pair an ivory-coloured blouse with some houndstooth tailored trousers, or with a candy-cane patterned skirt.
Change textures: For work, we tend to steer clear of things like ruffles, puff sleeves, floaty skirts and so on. But in the evening, you can ditch that rule and add some of those feminine and ethereal fabrics and textures. So try tucking that work blouse into a tulle, ruffle or lace skirt. You can also go less fairy and more glam by pairing your blouse with a sparkly skirt, like a sequin, diamante or glitter skirt.
(See Femme’s blouses)
Knit sweaters
In autumn and winter, we like to stay cosy at work in knit sweaters, however we might not consider these sweaters as women's tops that transition well to evening wear. They can seem a little more like casual tops.
While some knit sweaters won’t look appropriate for night outings (think sweaters with hoods, jacquard knits and bold graphics), there are other knit sweaters that can easily be dressed up for the evening, leaving you looking stylish and feeling comfortable.
For knit sweaters that transition well between day and night wear, consider:
Solid-coloured sweaters: Whether it be a beautiful blue, a rich pink or a deep green, opting for a solid-coloured knit sweater means it will be easier to dress it for the evening. You can pair it with dark trousers or a skirt in a complementary colour or neutral tone, and it should work. Add a clutch to really dress it up.
Neutral colours: Cream, ivory, black, navy—whatever the neutral tone happens to be, it should be easy to transition it from work to evening dressing. You can have fun by changing your work bottoms to some stylish jeans or print trousers. A knit sweater can also look great with a glam skirt, like a sequin or glitter skirt, as it creates an interesting contrast. Add heels and you’ll look gorgeous.
Sweaters with interesting features: Knit sweaters with sheer sleeves, lace knits or puff sleeves; basically, any knit sweater that’s a little bit fancy, will move from day to night with ease. You can tuck the sweater into a skirt or pants, or opt for an oversized style and let it hang loose over the hips.
Tips for styling a knit sweater to transition from day to evening:
Add leather: A knit sweater will look trendy tucked into a pair of leather (or vegan leather) slim-fit pants, or into a faux leather skirt. Add high heels or ankle boots, and you have a classy look wearing a simple knit sweater.
Add a belt: If you want to create a little shape, add a statement belt to the outside of the sweater. You can then tug on your knit sweater to blouse out the fabric a little. What kind of statement belt? You can go with a neutral-coloured belt, or opt for something dazzling with a bold metallic buckle, or try a sequin belt.
Add a cool jacket: Whether you opt for a faux leather biker jacket, a hip denim jacket, or a fitted jacket with a satin sheen, swapping out your work cardigan or blazer for a more chic, evening jacket, can drastically change your overall look.
Transitioning women's tops from day to evening wear - overall tips
Play with Fabrics and Details: Look for tops with versatile details like lace, satin, or subtle embellishments. Tuck in your top for a polished evening look or knot it at the waist for a more relaxed vibe.
Swap Accessories: Keep some alternative accessories in your office locker for when you need to head out somewhere fancy after work. Add a clutch or a sleek crossbody bag for a chic touch.
Swap layers: Replace your structured blazer or cardigan with a hip leather jacket, sequined shrug, or a tailored coat. These layers instantly create a more polished and evening-appropriate look.
Swap Bottoms and Shoes: Change your tailored work pants or pencil skirt to dark jeans, a leather skirt, or a floaty midi skirt. Add heels or ankle boots rather than flats for a more elegant look.
Change Your Makeup and Hair: If you’ve had your hair up all day at work, let it down for the night out and style it into soft waves, or vice versa—put your hair into a sleek bun. Revamp your makeup by adding a bold lipstick and a touch of shimmer to transition from daytime subtle to evening glam.
Dress Down an evening tops: Don’t forget that rather than dressing up women's tops to transition from day to night wear, you can instead dress down evening tops for the workplace, so that you’re ready to go after you leave the office. It’s a little more complex, especially if you’ve chosen a really glitzy evening top, which will be hard to tone down, but it’s worth looking at evening top collections and considering which tops could be appropriate for the workplace, if worn alone or with a fitted blazer.
Women's tops at Femme Connection
Shop for your women's tops at Femme Connection. We have a large range of casual tops, evening tops, plus some great tops on sale.