I came across a similar post and realised I have the exact same question, so thanks to the OP there.

I'm starting at a law firm soon, and I'm weirdly anxious about whether I have the right wardrobe for the job. I interned there during the winter, and everyone looked incredibly put together with tailored coats, blazers, boots, elegant sweaters. I never felt particularly out of place then because winter dressing is a bit more forgiving, and you can layer almost anything under a nice coat or blazer.

But now I'm joining in the middle of summer after most of the freshers have already joined, and I have no idea what people actually wear day to day. Looking at the firm's website and LinkedIn doesn't help because half the photos are from court or formal events, where everyone is in a blazer anyway. Do people actually wear blazers year-round, even in this heat, or is that just for client meetings and photographs?

I'm also wondering about women's workwear in general. Is it common to wear kurtas with straight pants, or do most women stick to Western office wear? I'm worried I'll end up looking underdressed even if I'm dressed appropriately.

Am I overthinking it, or is there an unspoken dress code that everyone just seems to know?

I work in a corporate team, and on a regular office day, most people are in smart business casual unless they have a client meeting, signing or presentation. You definitely don't need a huge wardrobe before you start. A couple of well-fitting trousers, 4-5 tops or kurtas that can be mixed and matched, one blazer, comfortable formal shoes, and a good work bag will take you much further than buying 15 different outfits. Most of us end up repeating the same staples anyway.

For brands, it really depends on your budget:

- - Uniqlo for shirts, trousers and knitwear.
- - Marks & Spencer for work trousers and basics.
- - Allen Solly Woman for formal office wear.
- - Westside for affordable workwear.
- - Zudio is a necessary resort for basics if you're on a tighter budget.
- - W for Woman, Aurelia and Cotton World all have simple, office-appropriate options.

Honestly, keeping a budget is necessary. Money leaves the wallet very quickly in the initial days and your team is not expecting a fashion as much as they are good work.

OP I FEEL YOU!

I started in a corporate team about two months ago, and I'd also just moved to Delhi, so I promise you're not the only one stressing about this. 😅 A few things I've learnt the hard way:

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- Day to day, people wear a mix of western and ethnic. Nobody is sitting there judging whether you're in a blazer every day.
- Honestly, good grooming goes much further than having an expensive wardrobe. Neat, well-ironed clothes, clean shoes, tidy hair and looking put together matter far more than wearing a new outfit every day.
-

I also made the mistake of panic shopping before joining. I took my mother with me, which in hindsight was a terrible financial decision. 😂 Indian mums have this magical ability to walk into a store and suddenly "budget baad mein dekh lenge, pehle achhe kapde le lo." By the time we left, I was convinced I needed an entirely new personality to justify the shopping bags.

The funny part? Two months in, I mostly rotate the same few outfits anyway. Most of what I actually wear is from Westside (Wardrobe), plus a few basics from Lifestyle. Nothing fancy.

If I could do it again, I'd buy:

- 2–3 pairs of trousers/straight pants
- 4–5 tops or kurtas that all go with those bottoms
- 1 blazer for meetings
- Comfortable shoes
- A decent work bag
-

That's genuinely enough to get you started. Once you've been in the office for a couple of weeks, you'll know what everyone actually wears and can buy anything else you feel you're missing.

Just wear tried and tested intern clothes initially. Every TEAM (that's right, not just FIRM) is a little different, and some teams are very well put together and others could care less. You're starting a new job, not a fashion competition. Most people are much more interested in whether you're pleasant to work with than whether you've repeated your navy trousers this week.

I dress up for work, i love dresses, long skirts, fitted blazers and tailored pieces. Indian wear looks good only if its solids and well fitted. Printed kurtas give off too much of a DU vibe and to me the silhouette of Indian wear unless fitted looks frumpy . I keep it modest because men are creeps. Having said that, everyone around me dresses kinda shabbily and no one seems to have a problem with it. But to be real the better dressed you are the more seriously people take you, so grab your grandmas pearls and put on your best lip shade and get in there. Also dress for the body you have not the body you want. Cannot emphasize this enough.