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Working Girl - how to build a great work wardrobe

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Every client that I work with is different, some work full time, some work part-time, some work from home, some own their own businesses, some don’t work at all. What’s become more apparent over the past couple of seasons is that dressing for work is becoming more and more difficult. With many offices changing their strict approach to dress codes, work uniforms no longer feature the mandatory pencil skirt and shirt combo.

Here's what I know from working with women who work in many different sectors across the business world. From banking to accounting, to marketing, to PR, to lawyers and retail heads, women on the board and women who work part-time in office environments; the workwear uniform is becoming more fluid. It's less about boring black suits and more about how to bring yourself to work. Individual style can come through at work as the evolution of workwear styling has begun. It is important to dress in way that makes you feel professional, comfortable and self-assured but this should not be to the detriment of your personality.

So what do you wear to the office in 2019?

The current trend for office attire being more relaxed means that normal go-to outfits now no longer feel right to wear, or feel upto date. However, that doesn't mean people don't want to have a uniform of sorts in their wardrobes. Ultimately, you want your work clothes to be versatile, comfortable and smart enough for the job you're doing. This sometimes means dressing for the job you want. A recent client wanted to ‘upgrade’ her work wardrobe to prepare herself for a promotion that she wanted at work. This meant reviewing her style, looking at new places shop and giving her a wardrobe with ready made super stylish outfits so she could show she meant business.

People have always been confused by ‘dress down Friday’, but what if this becomes your everyday, how do you define your work wardrobe should be?

One of my clients mainly works from home, goes into the office once a week, but takes daily skype calls with the US, she said "I want something casual yet dressed enough that I feel productive and professional and can get on a Skype call without having to get changed."

There is a strong need for work clothes to work harder and to be as versatile as possible. Some clients want their weekend wardrobe to transcend into work wear and vice versa now that they have the flexibility to wear more casual outfits. But this can sometimes be confusing when getting dressed in the morning, so I try and approach your working wardrobe has having some definition that differs from your weekend one.

There is still an overall tendency for some to look smart when required, this can depend if they have a major pitch, or meeting or are visiting a client. Clearly now, a smart-casual approach to shopping for work clothes is key.

I found what clients currently struggle with at the moment is shoes for the office, one client said "I find shoes the most difficult thing to buy. I need a block heel for walking and still look good in the office. Anything else is impractical for travelling and needs to stay put on my foot easily when walking. Finding ones I like with the right kind of heel is a bit of a nightmare."


After the last few seasons of helping clients shop and buy items and outfits for their workplaces, I thought I would give you some inspiration if you are struggling with what to wear on a daily basis. I have pulled together a weekly edit of the things I think you need in your wardrobe and how you can create a versatile capsule working wardrobe with these pieces everyday of the week.

IF YOU NEED HELP WITH YOUR WORK WARDROBE THEN CONTACT ME NOW FOR A CONSULTATION









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Jumper LOVER

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There's nothing quite like a new jumper to make you feel autumn-ready. Cosy, stylish and practical, jumpers tick so many boxes when it comes to versatility, and now is the perfect time to invest in some updated pieces.

After all, what else can instantly transform floaty midi dresses and printed skirts into seasonally appropriate attire? Or can instantly update your jeans and trainers combination? Knitwear has sartorial superpowers that shouldn't be overlooked, which is why now the weather is getting colder it’s time to start thinking about what knitwear will see you through this Autumn Winter.

These past couple of weeks has been Autumn shopping madness for clients wanted to update their style for the new season so I have been shopping knitwear for a while now. I want to bring to you some fab pieces I have seen online that are great investment pieces aswell as upping your style game.


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What dresses to buy for AW19

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The ‘Buffet’ dress has been hanging around all summer, whilst they are a shape that covers everything, it doesn’t mean it’s the right shape for your body shape. It does have the tendancy to make you look bigger, and hiding your smaller areas too. So what dresses should you be buying instead of this dress that you see everywhere, well I have some great updates for you for Autumn.

A good dress will make you feel good, it should make you feel confident and pulled together. It also requires very little thought as it’s just one piece of clothing, so all you really need to think about it what shoes to wear with it. Easy. Boots or trainers would be my answer, with maybe a bright or leopard print heel for an evening out.

I’ve picked 5 options that are getting me excited for the new season ahead; florals, monochrome, maxi, leather and shirt dresses.


FLORALS

Florals aren’t just for Spring. They are for all times of year. In Autumn/Winter, look for prints on a darker background, red is such a great colour for this time of year as it brightens up your wardrobe. It will also work well once you have to break out the 80 deniers.


MONOCHROME

An easy win whatever season, choose a print that never dates so spots, stars, hearts and so on. You can add colour through layers such as chunky knitwear or jackets, or through accessories. A great cross body bag or coloured pair of trainers always looks great off setting against the monochrome background.


LEATHER

This season’s hottest fabric trend and translates so well into dress shapes. Good quality leather is expensive so make sure you are going to wear the dress more than this season. Leather never dates, think biker jacket and pencil skirts, just be careful about shape and length as you will want it to last. But there is nothing more sophisticated, fashionable and chic than this season’s leather dress choices. Top of my list!


CHECK

Checks have long been an Autumn favourite in shirts, trousers and coats, but this year the check dress is making a comeback in a more grown up way. The pattern is simple and easy so should work well within any wardrobe as along as you get your colours right. Pair with any length boot, biker or cowboy or with fresh white trainers for a more casual take.


SHIRT DRESSES

Shirt dresses are a very easy way to look immediately smart at work, they bridge a gap between full-on suit and easy breezy too-casual dresses if you’re in a more corporate environment. You could pair with a heel or a smart boot for the office, but you can also dress them down with casual jacket a big boots for weekends.

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What to wear right now

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September is a tricky month to dress for, with its ‘hot one minute, cool the next’ weather; you leave the house in the morning wearing multiple layers, only to come back home with most of them stuffed in your handbag. The trick is to wear pieces that straddle the seasons, hitting that sweet spot between keeping you warm while being breathable and cooling too – and all the while looking super stylish. In other words, the holy grail of autumn fashion.
An oversized cardigan can be thrown over a long-sleeved floral dress , while a timeless double-breasted blazer in camel corduroy makes for a versatile lightweight jacket and faux leather becomes your new best friend. As it’s still warm enough to forgo socks, now is the time to wear your slip-on shoes – pair with a satin skirt and a white tee. Finally, there’s the boilersuit – a wardrobe essential that gives your wardrobe a style boost this September.


Re-spin your style with these key pieces which will go on to becoming the cornerstone of your Autumn style -

  1. Boilersuit / Cargo jumpsuit

    A jumpsuit is a wardrobe staple and can be worn all year round, layering a polo neck underneath or a fur jacket over the top. At this time of year the weather is just perfect to give it it’s own pedestal and chuck on a pair of trainers.

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2.Leather culottes & trousers

Whether vintage, vegan, faux or the real thing, leather bottoms are an instant hit this Autumn. I have a pair of leather leggings that I have had for a number of years and also a pair of faux leather culottes that I am currently living in. This time of year they are great to wear with no tights, layering top layers such as blazers, or chunky cardigans or even a sparkly jacket.

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3.Over-sized blazers

I love blazers and a new addition to my wardrobe is top of my AW list at the moment. There are alot of checks around , mensy styling and also double breasted. Wearing one over your dress, jumpsuit or with a pleated skirt will update your styling and keep that cold chill at bay in the mornings.


4.Skirts

Skirts have been a big staple of mine all Summer so no doubt I will continue to wear them through the Autumn but I need to update my style as I am getting bored of t-shirts and skirts. This is fine when I sling a blazer over the top, but now I want to add printed blouses, shirts, sweatshirts and soon knitwear tucked into my skirts. Just in time for the hiking boots too.

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5.The chunky bright cardigan

Alot of my clients will tell you that I do NOT like a cardigan. I much prefer a jacket as a more sophisticated, versatile piece in your wardrobe. If you own a cardigan it’s normally a frumpy, lazy way of keeping warm, I like to educate clients on other ways to layer up in the Winter. But this season I am lusting after chunky, statement, coloured cardigans - with emphasis on the statement. The cardigan needs to bring something new to wardrobe and wearing it with dresses and skirts is how you bring freshness to wardrobe.

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