Work it! Style rules for spring

From power trousers and major shoulder pads to chic and sleek boardroom-ready denim, Chloe Street and Joe Bromley compile the ultimate seven-step guide to the best styles you need to try

- Chloe Street and Joe Bromley

SPRING is a time for clear outs and fresh starts, and where better to begin than your working wardrobe? With four out of five jobs now advertising a smart casual dress code, it’s never been easier to feel like yourself in the office. Read on for seven easy ways to add some 2023 energy to your 9-5 vibe.

1. Pleat-front slacks

If you buy one item of workwear this year, make it a pair of power trousers — the bigger and baggier the better. Pleated front, wide-legged trousers are booming online: the style was the top search on the M&S website last week. “Oversized is everything! Go bold in Bottega green, or pure and simple with Prada and style with a neutral oversized knit or blazer,” says Natalie Dickson, head of women’s luxury at Flannels. COS does a high fashion-style green pair for less. They are part of a general relaxation in office attire. “The trousers are wider, the jackets are roomier — it all feels very relaxed but elegant at the same time,” says Oliver Spencer, founder and creative director of menswear label Favourbrook.

2. Desk-destined denim