Office Fashion Dos and Don’ts

#LondonFashionWeek kicks off today, so we thought we’d do a little spit and polish of the working wardrobe.

Office wear, day wear, smart casual, dress down, there are any number of labels to describe what we choose to wear at work. So we’ve come up with a few simple rules to help you create your own inimitable style of #OfficeFashion.

• Don’t Think About Fashion

What you should care about is style. Fashion is dictated to us by marketing teams that need to sell new products. It has a short shelf life, and a lot of trendy items probably end up in the charity shop. So be picky. Find your own look and work it.

‘Fashions fade, style is eternal’ – Yves Saint Laurent

• Do Wear The Right Colours

Super, super important. This isn’t just about being stylish: colour works with skin tones and gives you a glow. Choosing the wrong shade can make you look pallid or unwell. A great book to hunt down is Carole Jackson’s Color Me Beautiful or Color for Men.

• Don’t Wear Ill-Fitting Clothes

Of course this will vary with trends and your personal style, but generally clothes that fit make you look smarter. You might find numerous reasons to go baggy or long, because you’re more comfortable that way, but give some thought to a more tailored approach.

• Do Accessorise

Even the most mundane of outfits can be given a lift with cleverly chosen accessories that reflects your personality. Women have lots of options, especially when it comes to shoes, but men need to tread a bit more carefully.  Try out different ties, cuff links and watches. See if you can get jackets with a cool lining, or look for socks with a bit of personality.

‘Give a girl the right shoes and she can conquer the world’ – Marilyn Monroe

• Don’t Match from Head to Toe

If you wear a scarf with an unusual ‘in’ colour, you should pair that with a more classic dress. You will still be on trend and coordinated, but you won’t be wearing a high street uniform.

• Do Be Professional

Much depends on what you’re going to be doing during the day. If it’s routine work in the office, you could be more casual – bright and breezy, but still well dressed. If you want to project a more business-oriented look, then something smart and sober may be more appropriate.

• Don’t Stop at Clothes

Try to align your outfits with your lifestyle and your outlook. If you are a smart dresser, but raucous in the office and slovenly at home, then there’s an obvious disconnect between action, appearance and mindset. Whatever you wear and whatever you do, it should be all of a piece.

It should be you.

 
‘Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn’ – Orson Welles

Are you interested in fashion? Read on:

• Men have taken to wearing women’s clothing
• Do you think tattoos in the office are okay?
• Did you know old ring binders have been turned into luxurious bags?