Skip to main content
The M Dash

Live with purpose.


The Power Casual Report: March, 2023

Eliminate the divide between your “work” and “life” wardrobes with these seven outfit formulas.

By Madeleine Kim

Your March Power Casual Report is here! In this series, we share outfit formulas for the month ahead, all centered around Power Casual—the clothing equivalent of work-life balance. The goal? Eliminate the divide between the “work” and “non-work” sides of your closet and give you the tools to style outfits that make you feel confident wherever you go. 

The key to achieving the Power Casual look is right there in the name: Just combine elevated power pieces with casual styles. Want to see how it’s done? Check out the seven outfits we’re wearing this March and beyond.

1.

T-Shirt Dress + Leather Jacket

For an easy between-seasons look, try elevating a T-shirt dress with a cropped vegan leather jacket. The new Corrie dress is made from our ultra-lightweight, machine-washable OrigamiTech fabric, so it’ll be in your regular rotation once the weather warms up. For now, pair it with the sleek Nicky jacket, the snakeskin Rowan flats for texture, and the Claressa earrings for shine.

2.

Statement Top + Trousers + Sneakers

A silk top and trousers—a classic business-casual combo—can take on a Power Casual feel with just a few tweaks. Rather than reaching for your cream button-down, try a top in an unexpected color, like guava, which looks great with camel. And instead of slipping on pumps, reach for a pair of white sneakers that make the outfit look casual, but not sloppy.

3.

Neutral Base + Bright Jacket

There are some color combos that just work—and blood orange + mink is one of them. In this look, the Axam turtleneck and Curie pants act as supporting characters for the star of the show: the Moreland jacket. But of course, the outfit only works if every item pulls its weight—and luckily, all the pieces in this look are wrinkle-resistant and machine-washable. Complete the ensemble with leopard-print loafers, which help offset the color-blocking up top.

4.

Patterned Slip Dress + Knit Pullover

One easy way to make a slip dress more casual? Just add a pullover. The Nene dress in our exuberant new peacock print is an excellent choice for all your summer special occasions, but you can also wear it right now by layering on the stretchy Tyler sweatshirt. Finish the outfit with the easy Carter slides and some silver jewelry.

5.

Easy Monochromatic Separates

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: Dressing in monochrome is a shortcut to looking chic. The Didion top now comes in shiny washable silk charmeuse, which balances out the more casual look of the elastic-waist Shane pants. You could wear this outfit with sneakers or slides, but we prefer it with the strappy Ella sandals for an extra bit of oomph. The multi-toned Mabel necklace adds dimension and pulls the entire outfit together.

6.

Chambray Suit + Pastel Underpinning

From our Chief Creative Officer, Miyako, we’ve learned that you can make a suit feel casual by introducing playful colors into the mix. And what could be more whimsical than a chambray-like suit with a pastel underpinning? The O’Hara blazer and Mejia pants in indigo-and-ivory sharkskin have a denim-like vibe, but with more polish, and the Nora top in iris is simultaneously elegant and joyful. Complete the outfit with sneakers and hoops.

7.

Vest as Shirt

Swapping your shirt for a vest allows you to adopt some of the design details of a suit—sharp tailoring, bold buttons, decorative pockets—without actually having to wear a suit. Try the Roo vest with the Skinny Foster pants and vegan leather Nicky jacket for a Power Casual look that could take you straight from the office to a concert at that new venue you’ve been meaning to visit. 

Written By

Madeleine Kim

Madeleine Kim is the Senior Brand Manager at M.M.LaFleur, where she started out as a stylist. She loves developing styling-focused content and creating newsletters that bring the M.M. community together.

See more of Madeleine's articles

Read on.

Back to Top