What She Wears: Work Wear

By Ann-Marie Proudfoot

Office elegance has loosened up since the days of stiff, drab black suits. The aim is to power dress in a stylishly polished kind of way. Sexy, figure flattering dresses and chic tailored trousers are your new “suits”.  Fitted skirts and silk statement blouses should also grace your work wear wardrobe.

Not everyone works a corporate job so even for creative type jobs where individual style is important, the basic rule is that your working wardrobe should be a smarter version of the clothes you like to wear anyway.

Here are some winter office wear basics worth investing in:

Dresses

I find knitted dresses for going to the office a great option as it is your outfit in one. Stick to basic colours like black, grey and navy, changing the looks by accessorising with scarves and belts.

White Shirt

Make sure to have a good quality white shirt in your wardrobe for all work occasions. You can also team this with a pair of jeans for a smarter weekend look. Try the range at Zara, they are very affordable and are a nice fit.

Black Pencil Skirt

A big fashion trend at the moment is the fitted pencil skirt – it can be dressed up for heading out and played down for the office. Pick yourself up a nice fitting one and you will wear it lots this season.

Choose a skirt that sits just below you knee for a more elegant look. A stretchy fabric is a good option as it allows for a figure hugging shape yet still allowing you to move in it.

Black Trousers

Good fitting trousers are a must-have for your office wardrobe. They are so versatile and can be paired up with so many colours on top.

Fitted Suit

Even if you don’t have to wear a suit to work, it is good to have a well fitted, classic suit in your wardrobe. They last for years and can be pulled out for those all important meetings or interviews. Principles offer a petite range while Zara and Reiss are great a go-to shops for nice suits.

V-necks and Cardigans

These are great for the office instead of a suit jacket and still look smart with trousers or a skirt. Be sure to have a black, grey and beige colour so you can wear them with a variety of items.

Tights

Here are a few basic styles of tights that you should have for all occasions;

• Black opaque in a couple of deniers depending on the look you want to achieve. Avoid low deniers they tend to just look old fashioned.
• Patterned black and grey to add a little dimension to a black outfit.
• Footless black tights are really handy if you like to wear socks with you boots but still have the look of tights.

And finally, if your work has a Dress Down Friday rule, it means putting on your weekend wear a day early – yay!

Images of Anne Hathaway from The Devil Wears Prada Movie. Image of  Talita in Running in Heels, a fly on the wall series about three interns working in Marie Claire magazine.

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