Fashion / Pop Culture / Office Style / working women

9 fashion movies that will inspire you to ace your office style

. 6 min read . Written by Muskan Miglani
9 fashion movies that will inspire you to ace your office style

The cozy blanket is out, the chips and diet coke are set, the AC is just cold enough, the laptop is plugged in, and you’re all set for your weekend binge. There’s no stopping you from watching F.R.I.E.N.D.S reruns, but you’re reminded of the important meeting with your new boss/crush. Here comes the scare — what to wear!

You’re tired of wearing the boring old pants, and the worn out pyjamas you’re sitting in are laughing back at you. Well, fret not!

If you’re looking to dial up your office style a notch, we suggest you take your lessons from the best in the business. Bring together the best of your weekend watchlist and shoot down your style woes with some of the best fashion movies that we stan.

What to watch when looking for women’s workwear: Best fashion movies you can’t miss

1. Dil Dhadakne Do

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While Dil Dhadakne Do has been lauded for its fresh concept, Priyanka Chopra’s character, Ayesha Mehra, has especially received a lot of appreciation for her silent courage. While we’re still in love with her, we also can’t stop crushing over her fashion choices.

From high-waisted pants and pastel blouses to straight-fit dresses with soft, messy buns, Ayesha’s style was emblematic of her personality — confident yet subtle.

2. Ocean’s 8

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With Sandra Bullock’s confidence, Anne Hathaway’s elegance, Sarah Paulson’s charm, and Rihanna’s everything, Ocean’s 8 is a powerhouse of stylish women. What does a person do after serving a sentence in jail and coming out? They assemble a crew to execute a robbery worth millions of dollars!

While the grand heist sits at the centre of the movie, we are more than interested in the fashion sense of these 8 women. Fitted jeans with long coats, structured skirts, loose buns and leather boots — at least the fashion police won’t be after the criminals.

3. Cocktail

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Veronica might have lost her lousy boyfriend (Gautam) to her best friend (Meera), but she won with her fashion sense on all accounts. If you’re working in a creative field that does not require you to prescribe to a formal dress code, Veronica has to be your style guru.

The bell bottom pants with solid tucked in T-shirts, the shrug on a shirt look, and the high-waisted shorts with a printed blazer are some of the best looks from the movie. There’s a lot of print, a lot of colour, and a whole lot of courage to pull it all off.

4. The Devil Wears Prada

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With Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway in titular roles, The Devil Wears Prada is still one of the most loved movies ever. It’s got fashion, drama, suspense, satire, and suffering. We witness Andy trying to scrummage her way through Runway as an assistant to the sinister Miranda Priestly.

Since the movie deals with the diabolical workings of a fashion magazine (and the fashion world), you will catch some of the most stylish, chic looks if you have an eye for fashion. From oversized coats and statement accessories, to lush bags and luxe shoes, you’ll see a style statement being made in every shot.

5. Aisha

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It’s almost criminal to omit Aisha when talking of movies to watch for fashion inspo. The movie practically established Sonam Kapoor as the fashion diva we know and love today. While the idea of transformation brought the movie into hot water, it has many style lessons to give.

Aisha’s structured dresses, Dior bags, and Chanel suits set her apart as the chic fashionista who dresses to impress. Her simpler looks like shirts with bold pants and ballerinas are much easier to follow when dressing for office.

6. Confessions of a Shopaholic

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Confessions of a Shopaholic might have come under a lot of fire for promoting materialism and featuring a cookie-cutter protagonist, but there is more to Rebecca Bloomwood than just being a spoilt shopper. She is ambitious, inspired, and a little chaotic. But she has an eye for fashion, and we admire her for it.

From A-line skirts with tube tops to colour-blocking with bold shades, she is unafraid of experimenting. If Becky’s personal style seems a little over the top, you can tone down the colours and go a little easy on the prints.

7. 2 States

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Alia Bhatt is a fashion icon, and her characters only go on to prove that. Her character of the strong-headed girl next door, Ananya in 2 States was loved for her effortless charm and laid back style.

She transitioned from the long skirts and silver bangles she sported in college to Indian suits and wedge heels when she started working. If you’re looking for ethnic picks for the office, style a shirt with an embroidered jacket and tone down the drama with non-distressed jeans like Ananya does.

8. Second Act

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Imagine being so confident and gorgeous, you land a job even when you have no qualifications. If anyone could pull off Maya's character with such panache, it had to be JLo. The dual life she lives is embodied in her choice of clothes — minimal and powerful at work, and chic and fun at home.

While her checked shirts and yoga pants might not exactly be fashion forward, the bodycon dresses with belt details, floral shirts with pastel blazers, and striped skirts with flowy silhouettes need to be on every office fashionista’s wishlist.

9. Piku

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Piku might not be the first movie that comes to mind when we look for fashion inspiration, but how can we not love Deepika’s looks in the movie. Deepika plays the character of a working woman in her thirties, whose style quotient is relaxed yet assertive.

A linen kurtas with ankle-length cotton trousers is the most popular Piku look. While she does experiment with longer shirts and denims, and even silk stoles and sarees, the huge tote bag never leaves her side. If you’re all for comfortable fits, this is the movie to watch.

While movies can be a far cry from reality, more often than not we find glimpses of our sombre lives mirrored in our characters. Our lives aren’t like Aisha or Becky, but that doesn’t mean we can’t look the part. Here’s to powerful women who own their flaws but don’t shy away from looking their best selves.

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