Capital dressing: whatever works for you

When it comes to the workplace wardrobe, whether you’re an executive or a junior, the key is creating a character that fits, says Emma McCarthy
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19 November 2012

Style and the City

No matter how fiercely it is enforced, the ancient law “Thou shalt be subjected to skirt suits and pussy-bow blouses until thou art 65” is not the holy grail of office dressing.

It is, in fact, a load of old toot. Just because the bloke on the desk next to you wears the same blueprint of cornflower shirts and navy suits doesn’t mean you need to be duller than dishwater as well. Ditch (or, preferably, burn) your ill-fitting pencil in favour of a butter-soft black leather skirt, à la Whistles, and team it with a simple cashmere sweater, which is far more comfortable, stylish and adaptable than any scratchy blouse. And repeat after me: “Thou shalt be professional, not formulaic.”

Executive Class

There’s no questioning who’s boss when said boss is wearing Roland Mouret. This outfit ticks all the boxes — functional, classic and elegant. It looks expensive (mainly because it is expensive) and it’s got some serious style credibility in the boardroom. Better yet, its LBD discretion means you can easily whip it out every week, but the power cut will ensure that you can command the attention of any room. If your wardrobe consists solely of 18-hour dresses as useful as this, there’ll be much more time to get on with running the world.

DIY dressers

For a freelancer, the job of getting dressed in the morning is not an easy one — namely because you have to stand on your own two feet with no one to back you up. Therefore, first impressions count. A lot. While you may feel like you spend half your working life at home or tucked away in a cosy one-person office, you still have to be suited and booted at all times for when duty calls. So keep it smart, and when you need to stand out from the crowd, an injection of colour, like this emerald Reiss jacket, is your best friend. Basically, if you look like you could kick butt in the Dragon’s Den, then you’ve got it down to a fine art. And this girl does.

Canny creatives

Rules of dressing in the world of media are few and far between. Except, perhaps, don’t ever wear a suit. But that doesn’t mean you should live your working life in Converse. If you can wear denim to the office, then you should, every day, but keep the ripped boyfriend cuts at home and stick with a neat chambray shirt. Preferably concealed under a statement jumper for extra fashion kudos. Add a print to tailored trousers and colour to jackets. And when desk work is considered more of a part-time occupation than a requirement, keep heels low but bright. Smart casual? Sussed.

Top of the class

Teaching is a minefield. A minefield specifically involving an army of children, a barrage of high-maintenance parents and the impromptu summons to the front line that is the headmaster’s office. And that’s before we’ve even got to the dressing bit. But while propriety is requisite, your uniform doesn’t have to be as predictable as your pupils’. A case in point is this outfit — classic but far from mundane. The boyfriend fit of this investment jacket will take you far away from fuddy-duddy territory and looks ace layered over a simple printed skirt and a loose-fitting shirt. That way, you can get on with being educator/role model/adviser/co-conspirator/emotional punch bag/secondary parent/therapist/and all-round superwoman safe in the knowledge that you look killer doing it.

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