Zip It Up

{exposed zippers that are appropriate to wear to the office}

There are a number of trends, materials, and styles – vests, leather, slingbacks, as examples – that walk that fine line between office appropriate and not. Zippers fall into that category. While a zipper can make a cute detail on a dress, skirt, or pant, not all zippers are created equal, and some are unequivocally not created for an office setting.

First and foremost, and this likely goes without saying, demure and/or hidden zippers are always appropriate. This beautiful Theory skirt, for example, is the perfect length and a dream shape, and has a small, hidden zipper in the back. Office fool-proof.

Things get a little more tricky, however, when the zipper is exposed or is otherwise stylized. We would advise you to avoid most pieces that contain a zipper down the front, whether it is a skirt or a dress (yikes and yikes). Something about that level of potential exposure is not quite right in an office setting and the implication is definitely not right either.

On the other hand, a beautifully crafted dress or skirt with an exposed but subtle and deliberate zipper down the back – or ideally a portion of the back – adds a fun detail and isn’t front and center so as to create any problematic insinuations. (And, if we’re being honest, we think it works best on a dress – the zipper detail is slightly harder to pull off in a skirt).

We love this Cynthia Steffe Tulip Sleeve Shift Dress with an exposed but subtle zipper down three quarters of the back. It’s a sweet and simple dress, and the zipper only enhances it.

For the same reasons, we are coveting this short sleeve print sheath dress with a cross design in the back that nicely incorporates a short and subtle zipper detail. Very cute and completely appropriate.

As far as skirts go, we love this pleated Alice and Olivia skirt with a small but defined zipper detail in the upper portion of the skirt. The black against the pink is lovely, and the zipper is short enough not to create any issues.

Finally, this coral Kenneth Cole sheath dress is perfect for the summer and the bold zipper detail is deliberate, stylized, and functions more like a stripe down the back than a provocative detail. Very work appropriate and still fun.

What do you think? Zipper or no?

xo,

Team HOM

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