Posts Tagged ‘work wear’
If you have ever worried about what to wear to the office, then a suit is almost always the easiest option. It can solve all sorts of worries like ‘will I look smart enough?’, ‘Is my outfit on trend?’. Whilst suits are nothing new they have been around for many years, it is quite easy to find an on trend style of suit. But more importantly with a suit your don’t need to wear a really on trend style. Some times it can look better to pick a classic style that really suits your body shape and then accessorise with some fashionable accessories to bring the whole look right on trend.
The most fashionable styles of suit at the moment are simple and minimalistic styles with clean cut lines. Colour schemes are also very much based around neutrals think black (which is always in fashion) but also grey, brown, taup and of course camel. Whilst camel is very on trend this winter it can be a difficult colour to wear a suit in if you want to minimise your top or lower half and darker neutrals can be much more flattering. By investing a simple capsule wardrobe consisting of a skirt, dress, jacket and trousers, you can easily vary your outfit each day.
A line and flared skirts are really on trend at the moment and look great with almost all styles of jacket. Try adding a pair of lady like heels and a handbag for a little bit of Mad Men style. A smart shift dress is also a great way to work the seasons lady like trend but also stick with a classic and flattering shape.
As far as trousers are concerned, straight cut are almost always the most stylish and flattering style. Whilst new styles and shapes of trousers will emerge each season like this years ankle skimming tailored style, in reality these styles can be difficult to wear and quite unflattering. Wearing a heel with your straight cut trousers, even if you can only walk in a slight heel will help to lengthen the leg.
Military jackets are also very fashionable at the moment and are great for making a style statement in the work place. Look for khaki colours, double breasted styles and details like metallic buttons and epaulets.
In order to bring your classic suit right up to date you can take your pick from a huge range of accessories for the season including scarves and jewellery. You can also add a fashion shirt, blouse or camisole top to your skirt or trouser and jacket combination. Choose from animal prints, richly coloured winter florals, berry tones, lace, polka dots, paisley and colourful abstract prints. Lady like jewellery like pearls and vintage style lockets look great too. How about pinning a colourful brooch or flower corsage to your lapel for a really stylish look.
Finally a brown or tan leather satchell style hand bag is not only incredibly trendy but also really versatile and will go with almost anything.
A polo neck jumper is one of the most classic winter pieces. It is incredibly warm for the coldest of days and also great for wearing in an air conditioned offices. Its high neck and thin knit means that it lends itself to layering making it incredibly versatile. You can wear it in multiple different ways for all sorts of different occasions. It is also soft, comfortable and practical.  This black roll neck jumper with long sleeves will go with almost anything but a bright red version is also great for adding a pop of colour to a dark outfit.
With a chiffon blouse or dress
You can create this winters boho folk look by layering your black polo neck jumper underneath a floral or paisly chiffon blouse as seen at Ralph Lauren. Look for a blouse with a pattern in rich autumnal colours or deep purples and berry pinks. Loose fitting bell sleeves and a v neck also work really well for this look. It doesn’t matter if the blouse is a little low cut as the jumper will cover you up and keep you warm. Add some winter boots and a long pendant necklace for the finishing touches.
Wear under a shift dress
The sixties is also really on trend at the moment and wearing a polo neck with a shift dress is a great way to create this look. Try wearing a different colour dress and jumper for maximum impact for example a grey dress and black jumper. Add some elegant court shoes and a lady like handbag to complete the outfit. This is also a really practical way to get some extra wear out of your shift dresses in the really cold weather.
With a tailored jacket
Another really classic way to wear polo neck jumpers for work is with a tailored jacket or with a suit. For a really sleek look , you could try wearing all black of for a more eye catching look try a brightly coloured polo neck to brighten up a dark suit. If you are wearing a skirt suit a pair of black knee high boots will look great and for a trouser suit, a pair of ankle boots. A long necklace is also a great way to add a bit of interest to this look.
With a cardigan
Another classic and incredibly warm way to wear your polo neck jumper is with a cardigan. This is also a great comfortable and everyday outfit. To keep this look really on trend try wearing a black polo neck jumper with a long camel coloured cardigan or an animal print knit. A great pair of trousers and some elegant ballet pumps will finish this outfit off perfectly.
With a statement accessory
Sometimes just a plain polo neck worn with a pair of tailored trousers or jeans can look amazing. It also works really well as a blank base for some amazing accessories. How about a really beautiful large silk scarf or a long statement necklace.
As a woman, dressing for work is much more complicated than it is for men. Whilst we have much more freedom, which allows us to express ourselves and our sense of fashion and style, there are so many more opportunities to get it badly wrong. At many some companies employing professionals, they were so concerned that the recently graduated students wouldnâ??t know how to dress, they send them to an image consultant.
First of all, you have to consider where you work and what the general dress code is there. For those of you who have a uniform, life is easy. Even if you donâ??t feel the uniform is very stylish, at least you can spend your clothes budget on stylish clothes for your free time. The vast majority of us who work in an office though may find the following ideas helpful. These are my golden rules:
If in doubt, ladies suits are always the best option. It doesnâ??t need to be expensive and discount retailers do a great range of work wear nowadays, even better it is often machine washable. Equally, suits are often available in the sales so you can buy a quality piece at half the price and when you consider number of wears per pound is generally a much better investment than an expensive dress for a party.
- As a general rule, be wary of very bright or fashionable colours for a suit. Black, navy and grey will never look out of place but having said that red is quite a classic power dressing colour.
- Always take your lead from the most senior female in your office about what type of clothes are appropriate. She is, after all, already a success.
- Avoid skirts being too short or tops too revealing but that said most smart business suits have skirts which are slightly above the knee and that is fine.
- Trousers suits are fine in this day and age in all but the most conservative of environments, possibly banking and accounting but even then as long as you are smart, it is unlikely to be a problem.
- Avoid vest tops unless you intend to keep a jacket on and choose something with a sleeve.
- Make sure your outfit is clean, pressed and defluffed and your tights have no ladders.
Then, the fun part can begin. How do you make the outfit look stylish and up to date? Accessorise, of course. Choose a blouse or top in a fashionable colour to brighten up the dark suit. Add a scarf with a cool pattern. Scarves are very versatile and look great with a suit. Try experimenting how to wear them. Use a long scarf or a square one, whichever you prefer. Shoes and a handbag can add colour and update an outfit too. If you have lots of paperwork, try and get a stylish briefcase which will fit the content of your handbag too as struggling with lots of bags looks scruffy and not so stylish. Finally, donâ??t forget jewellery. A distinctive brooch in a modern design or a vintage piece handed down by your grandmother both work well with suits. Be bold and make a statement with your necklace or your earrings as well providing your blouse or top is plain and it wonâ??t detract from that.
Should we look fashionable and trendy for work? it all depends on where you work. It is always important to fit in with the culture of your organisation; otherwise you could be heading for trouble.
If you work in a creative industry or retail, the dress code is likely to be more relaxed and allow fashions and the latest trends to play a greater part. In these scenarios, you probably donâ??t need to wear ladies suits but you still need to look smart. You can probably experiment with bolder colours and more innovative looks.Â
In these environments, your choice of attire could say a lot about how creative you are, and as a result how good you are at your job and how well you fit in. . Trendy and hip could be essential in certain industries. The size of your organisation and the average age of the employees is also likely to influence the look that is acceptable. The smaller the organisation and the younger the average age, the more likely a bang up to the minute trend is likely to be appropriate. That said it is no good being a blind follower of fashion.  You need to pick trends that suit you and your body shape. Cut of an outfit is very important and you need to think about what flatters you. Also consider your skin tone and hair colour when selecting colours.  It is no good wearing the latest fashion, if you donâ??t wear it with style. However, you still need to remember that you are there to work, so an overly sexy look is probably not the best style.
 Some industries such as banking and accountancy tend to be very traditional and your dress will need to reflect this. You will probably need to wear a suit, probably in dark colours such as black, grey or navy. However, there is still an opportunity to show you are fashionable and trendy whilst wearing a more classic look. Choose a suit with a fabulous cut. If you are a larger lady, avoid double breasted jackets, and those which stop at the waist or the hip. Three quarter length jackets can be flattering as they make you look slimmer.  If you are lucky enough to have a curvy figure, wear nipped in jackets to accentuate and flatter. If you have a small frame, avoid wide legged trousers as they swamp you. Pencil skirts accentuate curves and A line skirts hide a multitude of sins. Boot cut trousers suit a smaller frame or a pear shape equally well. But the golden rule is look for the nuances of a cut. An expensive jacket can look terrible if the cut doesnâ??t work for you whereas a cheaper jacket which accentuates your best bits can make you feel a million dollars. Now you have your classic suit, it is time to add the trend factor and make you feel more fashionable. Look out for trends that are not too obvious and will not jar in the workplace. Also, donâ??t abandon bright fashionable colours altogether. Keep an eye of what colours are on the high street this year and pick a colour that is bang on trend. Then incorporate the must have colour but just donâ??t let it overpower your outfit. Add a touch of colour with a top to go under that suit jacket or a scarf with a funky pattern. Donâ??t forget jewellery. Keep an eye out for the latest fashions and allow yourself a bit more extravagance there. Just keep it in proportion and maybe choose a feature piece. A big chunky necklace that stands out might be best accompanied by a more discrete pair of earrings.
 Most of us probably work in an environment that is somewhere between the two. Look at the more senior women in your company and that can give you an idea about where to pitch your look. Just remember to avoid overtly sexy or scruffy looks. And no matter how â??on trendâ? grunge might be at a particular time, it is never likely to be work wear.
A ladies suit is one of the most wearable, versatile and widely accepted piece of work wear. You can never really go wrong at work by wearing a suit as it conforms to even the strictest of workplace dress codes. If you are unsure of what to wear for an interview, an important meeting or your first day in a new job a ladies suit is the safest and easiest option. You will never look over dressed in a suit but if you don’t wear one you could easily look under dressed.
The skirt or trouser suit
A skirt suit is the most traditional of work wear and even now some offices and professions consider it far preferable to wearing a trouser suit. A trouser suit is however extremely practical especially when travelling to and from work in the cold, wind and rain. It is much easier to sit down in a trouser suit in a ladylike fashion and if you do have certain more active parts to your job for example moving equipment, it is ideal. With a skirt suit for work it is always best to choose a skirt of no higher than just above the knee, often a skirt below the knee such as an a line or pencil skirt is the most comfortable and practical.
Which is the best colour for a ladies suit?
The best colour of suit will really depend on you and your profession or role at work. Black, grey or brown colours are still considered the most appropriate for very conservative roles or companies. Those who work in a more relaxed setting or perhaps a retail or creative industry can probably afford to be a little more adventurous with their choice of colors. However when it comes to classic suits that will last for a long time, the neutral colours usually work best.
Whether to choose a classic cut or fashionable style
Again whether you choose a classic or fashionable cut or style will depend on your own preferences and where you work. Classic cuts tend to be more flattering and better investments as they don’t go out of fashion. But if you find a more fashionable style that you like it is a great way to add a little variety to your work wear wardrobe.
How to keep your work wardrobe fresh and interesting
All the talk of classic cut black and grey suits can be quite uninspiring and even to some really boring, but you can add a little fun and personality to your work wear wardrobe by adding some interesting shoes or accessories. A red or pink handbag is a great way to a pop of colour to an outfit whilst a beautiful vintage brooch pinned to a tailored jacket will look stylish but professional. If you are longing for your work wardrobe to be a little more fashionable then why not try adding an animal print or polka dot scarf. Bright printed blouses or camisole tops are also a great way to add colour and pattern to a work outfit.