Look The Business
Build a work wardrobe as brilliant as your career
- Don't be afraid to wear a colourful suit. Modern workwear has definitely become more vibrant than it used to be.
- Choose a style of suit that will make you look your best. Whether you go for a fitted jacket if you have a slim waist or wide legged trousers to hide a heavier bottom half, there will always be something out there to emphasise the good and hide the bad!
- The office is not a catwalk show so go easy on very "on-trend" items and exposing too much flesh is not appropriate either.
- You don't have to wear a shirt with your suit - a pretty top or blouse will soften your look to make it more feminine.
- When buying a suit jacket, button up the jacket and look at yourself from all angles - there should be no pulling.
- The quality of suit fabric varies widely on the high street - always look for fabrics with the highest possible wool content.
- A grey or black suit is a versatile, timeless buy but make more of a statement by adding on-trend accessories and a bright splash of colour.
- If your office allows more causal clothes, only wear one casual item i.e. a T-shirt, jeans or trainers - don't wear them altogether as you could resemble an over-grow student.
- Don't bring your lunch and book in a plastic bag, get yourself a cotton fold-up tote bag - it's far smarter.
- As a rule, larger and taller women suit longer jackets, while petites should go for shorter, cropped styles.
By Prima's Amanda Le Gonidec
Image: All items from Austin Reed