Soft Power Dressing: Add a Feminine Twist to Your Office Wardrobe

For decades, office attire has been all about power dressing. If you wanted to make a statement in the boardroom, a tailored three-piece was the way to go.

But, like every fashion trend, workwear has begun to evolve too. Recently, we’ve seen the emergence of a new style known as soft power dressing. This is the idea of challenging the traditional, masculine-focused work wardrobe by replacing restrictive shapes with relaxed fits and swapping darker tones for lighter, more calming shades.

Joe Browns clothes are designed to break the mould and defy the status quo, so naturally, we’re obsessed with this feminine approach to office outfits.

We’ve put together some of our favourite looks to give you this guide on how to add a feminine twist to your office wardrobe through soft power dressing.

This style isn’t just a modern fashion trend, it’s a philosophy that aims to redefine workwear for women. Rather than demanding attention through rigid suits in ‘safe’ colours, soft power dressing expresses a calm inner confidence through easy, fluid shapes and tranquil tones. 

Many women are embracing this look because it allows them to dress smart without sacrificing comfort or personal style.

Before you put your feminine work outfits together, here are a few key pieces you’ll need to get started. 

If there’s one piece every woman needs in her office wardrobe, it’s a soft, flowing blouse. Elegant, feminine, and endlessly versatile, a blouse is the perfect base for any formal look. Layer it under a tweed waistcoat to get that classic old money style, or wear it with a skirt suit for a chic Chanel-inspired ensemble.

What we love most about the blouse is that it’s sophisticated without the rigidity of a traditional shirt. Choose one with all those lovely feminine details like ruffles, lace trims, embroidery, and floral cutouts.

Tailored blazers are a cornerstone of formal workwear, but soft power dressing puts its own spin on it by swapping out those traditional heavyweight fabrics for lightweight materials like linen and cotton blends.

This creates a more relaxed shape that drapes around your figure. It’s a great way to make yourself appear more approachable whilst signifying that you’re not trying too hard to impress, because your attitude does that for you.

The work dress is the ultimate way to add a feminine twist to your office wardrobe. The key is to choose one that balances structure and fluidity. 

For example, you could opt for a blazer dress with an a-line skirt. Blazer dresses often come with details like fitted bodices, buttons, and lapels, that mimic classic tailored styles. This gives your outfit the defined shape of a suit yet the flared skirt offers the graceful silhouette of feminine styles.

You might think knitwear leans a bit too far into casual wear but jumpers and cardigans have their place in office wardrobes.

Imagine a collared cable knit jumper paired with tailored trousers, or a crochet cardigan layered over a crisp white shirt. Both options strike the balance between comfort and professionalism, bringing soft textures to fitted pieces.

This is a good opportunity to bring some personality to your outfit. Look for floral patterns, pearl buttons, and scalloped edges. It’s those little things that bring a womanly touch to office wear.

Trousers are a staple of office attire. These versatile bottoms can be worn with anything, so you can create an endless number of unique work outfits.

Wide-leg trousers are ideal with soft power dressing. Much like work dresses, they’re often fitted around the waist and hips for a sleek tailored look, but their wide-legs give them a laidback edge. 

What makes wide-leg trousers so great is that they come in a range of colours and styles. Black or white trousers will fit perfectly with every top but for something more eye-catching you could opt for earthy shades or pastel tones. 

Our Viva La Chica collection is all about dressing with strength and confidence whilst embracing your femininity. It’s the perfect fit for the soft power dressing phenomenon. So, to give you some inspiration, here are some of our favourite feminine work outfit ideas. 

Popularised in the 1980s, the power suit was designed to convey dominance and authority through harsh lines and dark colours. 

One of the boldest ways to bring soft power dressing into your work wardrobe is to turn the idea of the power suit on its head. 

Replace the heavy fabrics with super soft linen blend materials. For a truly unrestricted look you could even opt for an oversized jacket. Rather than the serious shades of black and navy, choose serene tones of cream, light green, and– for a real feminine twist – pastel pink.

Traditional power suits shy away from bold patterns, but there’s nothing that signals confidence, and feminine power, quite like a bright floral print.

Add chic ankle boots and subtle jewellery for an elegant finish. 

Complete with a blazer, a waistcoat, and wide leg trousers, our Beautiful Butterfly Linen Blend Suit is the statement piece your work wardrobe needs.

Heritage is a country chic style focused on high-quality fabrics and timeless designs, and featuring earthy tones inspired by the British countryside. Tweed blazers, jumpers, and pleated skirts are all key pieces, making a heritage wardrobe the perfect place to find inspiration for your feminine office outfits.

Whether you’ve gone for ruffles, frills, or delicate embroidery, your blouse would make an excellent base for this look. Layer your top under an oversized jacket in a rustic shade like brown, cream, or muted green. 

Bring visual interest to the look with heritage checks. Like traditional pinstripes, this pattern will refine your outfit, but in a subtle, harmonious way. 

When the temperature drops, you might even want to wear a cable knit jumper under your jacket for an extra layer of warmth.

Choose a skirt, either in black or in matching checks, to add the final feminine touch. 

Looking for more heritage style inspiration? Head to our blog for a full guide on how to style a tweed jacket.