High Street Inspires Work Wear: 5 More Tips
Polished Work Wear Ideas can be Borrowed from High Street Chic
Aug 3, 2008
Make that transition to polished high-class working girl with these tips. In fact, high street stores can be inspiration for those who already have a basic work wardrobe
A good way to suss out working fashion is to get on the Tube. You will spot three main styles of working fashion: women with supposed ‘work wear’ that is badly cut and in poor fabric (not good), women in designer work wear (too expensive) or women with personalities that shine through their very respectable working clothes (what you want to achieve). High-street fans can keep their style by first building a basic work wear wardrobe. Here are five more ways to help you breathe life into a working wardrobe.
- Accessories for a Richer You When in doubt, leave it out. Choose quality over quantity. Good pearl earrings, simple drop earrings and diamante ones are better than big colourful jangling options. You don’t want to look cheap. With gold earrings you can get away with big hoops, but go easy on the make-up, with muted shades. Necklaces and brooches work well with simple necklines. Neck scarves are a secret ingredient women use to "look rich" instantly. Show your colleagues you whisper class.
- Shoes & Handbags Many women fall back on designer shoes and handbags to announce their status. This is an expensive method that can rob you of your individuality. All it takes to buy good shoes and handbags is a good eye. When choosing shoes, buy at least two pairs: comfortable shoes in your basic colour on days you want to just work; and a pair in your accent colour (or patterned with hints of your accent colour) that immediately command respect when you walk into the boardroom.Handbags don’t have to be expensive; nowadays you can buy them online, even from eBay. Once again, choose quality fabric and a clean-cut design. Opt for something ‘cutesy’ only if you work in a creative industry, or if your personality is already authoritative! Your handbag colour should either be your accent colour, or your basic colour with something unusual about it – maybe it comes in good fabric, has charms hanging off it, or is cut in an interesting shape. Avoid getting a slouchy bag in a boring colour – it is better to stand out than follow the "work clones"!
- Surprises are better! You have at least two basic colours and an accent colour, now choose a "surprise colour"! Find a colour no one will have guessed, but ensure it looks good on you. Purple, for instance, or orange, or turquoise works well. Leopard print is like a "colour" in itself.How about "Euro Chic"? Italian and French women have a good eye for quality clothes and they buy lots of clothes in soft basic colours like tan, cream, brown and olive. As the Euro Chic colour palette is somewhat different from UK style, test the waters by getting a one-piece (jumpsuits are very fashionable right now), or a complete outfit (trousers and top).Also, jackets don’t have to be boring. Add whimsy to your wardrobe and you’ll have the fashion flair others envy. A jacket in a basic colour is safe, but why not choose an accent coloured jacket? You may even be able to get away with a casual fabric like denim. If using denim, stick to darker washes like navy so you keep an air of authority about you.
- Now, Go Casual! Now that you are a pro at work wear, it is time to go casual! What high street stores are really good at is humour. Cotton tops work if they are cut well and look more "grown-up". If you are unsure of a piece, ask yourself: does this go well under a jacket, and does it show too much skin? If it works well with a suit and covers you up adequately you can be pretty sure it is a good buy. For instance, a knitted top with a dog on it can actually work! When you start to add these pieces to your basics and accents, your colleagues won’t think you are a high-street girl, but a classy, elegant girl with a sense of humour.
- Perfume – the Final Touch Marilyn Monroe's favourite saying was that she goes to bed only with Chanel perfume on, and she is smart to say so. Perfume is the one thing that finishes your look and gives it aplomb. Find the perfume that reflects your workday mood, one that helps you feel most confident at a presentation or when meeting senior management. It can be something feminine, even tomboyish, or musky and sexy. It can be a sporty scent. The more people find you an individual with style at the workplace, the more you stand out from your work peers. It is easy to achieve this with class and boost your confidence. High-street girls take note! Work wear can be fun too!
See previous article, for first 5 tips on how high-street girls can build a basic work wardrobe
The copyright of the article High Street Inspires Work Wear: 5 More Tips in Women's Work Wear is owned by Lynette S.K. Webster. Permission to republish High Street Inspires Work Wear: 5 More Tips in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
 |
 |
 |
