How to Dress From Day to Night With Zero Effort

There's this unbearably common struggle of lugging a duffel bag with a complete outfit to your office, only to have to find a spot to store it under your desk and ultimately sneak to the bathroom stall to do a full-on change for after-hours drinks later that night. Are you with us? Well, it's actually pretty simple to wear the same outfit from desk to drinks—as long as you have a key foundation piece. And we’ve rounded up the best of these workwear staples to inspire you with the best day-to-night outfit ideas.

Today, we’re highlighting the five most versatile pieces (which you probably already have in your closet). They require little styling effort to work both in and out of the office, simplifying your day-to-night outfit strategy—no last-minute dress changes required. From rompers to silk blouses to wrap skirts, you can’t go wrong with a good foundation piece. Buy it once for endless styling possibilities. Topping the list is—yes, you guessed it—an LBD. The most versatile black dresses will have just enough interesting details to work for any occasion. And the same goes for the rest of our day-to-night essentials: Add a cool twist to any of these staples, and you’ll never have to fret again about packing an extra outfit.

We know you are busy so we went ahead and sourced the best day-to-night outfit ideas to make your life a little easier. Keep reading for the key pieces to effortlessly take you from work to play.

If you go for a little black dress with interesting details, it will stand out for an evening soirée but won’t be too much during the day either.

There’s something about a wrap skirt that feels sophisticated and chic in a not-trying-so-hard kind of way. Wear with a slim turtleneck for day, toss on a moto jacket for evening, and you’re set.

While the shirtdress may seem more casual, it’s actually quite versatile and easy to turn into a nighttime getup. You just have to pay attention to your accessories—wear Oxfords during the day and amp up your look with heels at night. That’s it!

Looking for an easy item to take you from day to night like that? Try a jumpsuit. It’s elevated enough when you’re heading out for a night on the town, and if you choose a style that isn’t too flashy, it works just as well at the office.

We love a silk blouse because it totally works at the office and feels fancy enough for drinks out too.

This story was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.