For those of us navigating the corporate world, getting dressed in a smart and professional look every day for work can be—well—a challenge. An endless calendar of deadlines and meetings means that you need a rotating wardrobe of smart shirts and sleek blazers to go with them. It can also be hard to have fun and add flavor into your work style, especially if you’re in a more traditional office setting. Investment banking in cool ripped jeans and a mesh JPG top? Unlikely.
However. . . have you watched the underrated 1997 dark comedy Clockwatchers recently? If not, do it for the style inspiration alone: A recent re-watch of the workplace comedy has unearthed a goldmine of corporate style ideas worth taking notes on.
If you have yet to see this often-overlooked film, let’s get the plot out of the way. Directed by Jill Sprecher and costume designed by Edi Giguere, the movie follows a group of Global Credit temporary employees as they navigate their unfulfilling day-to-day duties in the office. The real star of the show, though, is not the satiric script or the campy performances, but rather how each character brings their own unique approach to dressing for the corporate ladder.
There’s Iris (Toni Collette), the new girl with a prim-and-proper sensibility, thanks to her buttoned-up cardigans and skirts; Margaret (Parker Posey), the edgy and jaded temp who stomps around in her cool chunky sweaters and grungy combat boots; Paula (Lisa Kudrow), an aspiring actor whose silky blouses and mini skirts lean into office siren territory; And Jane (Alanna Ubach), who dresses more ladylike in her classic shift dresses and statement jewelry. Talk about a star-studded cast—and their chic ensembles are just as noteworthy.
Throughout the film, the four office friends slowly begin to descend into madness—the humdrum environment and corporate watchdogs causing them to grow more paranoid and unhappy by the day. But even as their polished facades come undone in the workplace, and their office goes dystopian and Orwellian real quick, their impeccable style persists. We first meet Paula, for instance, at the copy machine in a chic Gucci statement belt. Even near the end of the film, despite all of the grim happenings around them, her love for a good silky top and pristine blowout continues to steal all the scenes.
The four characters each show how to bring personality to office looks. Margaret, for one, pairs a burgundy corduroy skirt suit with tights and chunky boots one day, and a teal V-neck sweater with a punky plaid skirt another; the perfect balances of dressy and cool. Paul and Jane each take turns wearing bold, bright-colored summer dresses that are a statement, yet still suitable for the boardroom. Watching the movie again has totally inspired me to rethink my approach to office dressing. The next time you’re doubting if your cool, trendy outfit is work-ready, just channel the Clockwatchers girls and remember: You can embrace fashion and individuality without being sent to Human Resources.
