Black and White: FW 2025’s Only Two Ways to Work It 2/2

For years, black-and-white has been the default officewear pairing—the safest, easiest, lowest-risk combination imaginable. And yet (of for that reason), it’s also the one most likely to make you disappear into the background. In 2025, nothing signals irrelevant faster than a generic black jacket over a generic white top. The good news? Fall/Winter 2025 rewrites the formula with clarity and purpose and luxury houses, from Givenchy to Dior, give us a way to wear black and white (we’re covering white here, not cream) that looks intentional, current, and genuinely sophisticated—not timid. This season, there is exactly two work-appropriate simple formulas knowing.

All Black Tailoring + Feminine White Collar Detail

Here we keep it equally simple with tailored black bottoms—skirt or pants— paired with a feminine white collar detail (ruffle or bow), and let it peek from under a black blazer or even a fine-gauge black knit. The key here is for the whole silhouette to skim the body so that this clean line ensures the eye goes exactly where it should: the collar. That single, sculpted white detail at the neckline becomes the focal point, adding polish, softness and an unmistakably current feel while the rest of the outfit remains sleek, confident, and monochrome. Above: Chanel and Moschino, ©NowFashion.

Above (left-right, top-bottom): blouse by Veronica Beard (via Neiman Marcus), cashmere knit by Nadaam,  pants by Gabriela Hearst, skinny belt by Tom Ford, high heel pumps by Saint Laurent (via Net-a-Porter), blouse by McQueen (via Net-a-Porter), blazer by Zara, matching knit midi pencil skirt by Zara, boots by Gianvito Rossi. Click on each item for more options across the full price range.

Pair it with pearl earrings

For more styling options, see our easy formulas here.