Women wear jeans to work?

So if you doubted you could wear jeans to work, then think again... In fact, jeans can add that dynamic and fun aspect to your work wear. It is very much how you wear them that makes all the difference. Here are few simple things you can do to look professional and current in wearing jeans to work.

Boyfriend Blazer: this is very useful for updating dresses as well as jeans.

Embrace Sequins: is an instant way to upgrade your outfit.

Embellished Cardigan: lends charm to a pair of jeans.

Sophisticated Shirt: is a no-fail piece for the office.

Little Leather Jacket: gives a jeans-and-a-t shirt look a luxurious feel. Although, do avoid heavy motorcycle jackets.

Silk Blouse: will give your jeans a feminine feel. If your workplace is more formal, go for a crisp pair of dark-wash skinny jeans.

Dressing For Success

The following tips will help you with dressing for when you are at work:

*Employers often feel that grooming and dress sense cannot be taught or is difficult to change and want to be able to see you ‘fitting in’ with a team and their company. Dressing in a CURRENT manner and not high fashion is a good idea.

*Dress appropriately for the specific job you are applying for. Look at what other successful men/women wear in the field wear and mirror their style.

*Wear colours which enhance your hair and skin tone. Try mixing different colours.

*Keep your outfit simple but add personality with carefully chosen accessories.

*Show you are on top of your game at work - you can do this by showing you know what is currently happening in the world of fashion - since 93% of communication is visual.

*Think laterally: split up a suit by wearing the trousers with a mismatched cashmere sweater and coat. The result is still smart but more relaxed. Or, for a smart but kooky and current look for a 'creative role', replace tailored trousers with a pair of harem trousers since this will give classic workwear a creative edge.

*Heels are instant confidence boost., so it might be a good time to invest in a pair.

*Tips for men: a coloured shirt (such as shades of blue) can make you appear more friendly and approachable. For more authority a white shirt with a dark jacket or suit works well. Your belt and shoes should be good quality leather and be in similar colour tone and wear dark socks.

Most of important of all - you need to feel comfortable in your clothes, whether formal, smart casual or somewhere in-between.

 

Testimonial

It was a draw dropping, eye opening experience that you made very easy for me! You got me off to a great start and I'm sure I'll be back in touch as I move forward. Key messages I think are fixed in mind, empire line, fitted and just the "nod" to hippy, loved the way you look to organise the wardrobe, will definitely develop that and got dressed in front of the mirror yesterday. So many thanks and best wishes!

Interesting Quote

I heard an interesting quote today and it certainly resonated with me. So much so, it had me pondering on the various occasions this applied to across my 37 years of life:

 “It’s unwise to pay too much, but it’s worse to pay too little”

Male Clients Experience

I’m launching a new service shortly that I’ll need to promote and come across well. With that in mind I realised my wardrobe was a bit tired and needed updating.

I have baggy old things for working at home and slightly more respectable outfits for pub lunches with friends. I have a range of suits - summer/winter, country/town. I think (!) it’s relatively easy to dress for formal business meetings and I’ve no shortage of ‘hanging around in baggy type’ clothes. But the one thing I absolutely can't do is smart daywear. I find it especially difficult to get a jacket/blazer, trousers, shoes and shirt that don’t age me by 20 years.

After a chat, we proceed upstairs to my wardrobe and Katie starts pulling clothes out. If she likes them she puts them in either two piles: work or social. But more often she asks the killer question, 'When did you last wear this?' and Katie knowingly puts the item in the ‘charity/gardening clothes’ pile.

Katie has made me think differently of how I want to look… more relaxed and effortless smart in both work and social time. A look I have yet to seem to master… I also now know which clothes are for different parts of my life: work and casual.

So what do I conclude? Buying the right clothes, takes a considered approach. To look really smart, you have to find items that work well together and are versatile. You can try and do this by yourself, or your can use Katie's help to save you time, as she'll do a lot of the research, get her valued opinion. Quite often what she'll find are stunning clothes that work for you that are not the most expensive.

Why bother dressing right...?

Things have drastically moved along a lot since the Sunday best culture and parameters for dressing have certainly changed. Nowadays dressing formally does not necessarily equal getting it right! All very confusing from the good old days I know… However, there are still occasions like the theatre or going out for dinner when it is nice to have a sense of occasion and wear those lovely outfits you love to wear!

Even dressing for work can be tricky, we all know the rules have changed these days. Unless you are in a formal profession (…. Lawyer/ accountant), then dressing smart is still an expected part of being in that role. Alternatively, most other job roles allow some flexibility, some allowing a great deal of creativity – although not be translated as an opportunity to dress sloppily or badly.

Having a flexible wardrobe helps people to have the right outfit for various occasions. In fact, clothes focus the mind on the role you are playing at any one time. I am a great believer in performance clothes, where clothes have to earn their place in your wardrobe. So your wardrobe works for your life now not you 5/10 years ago….

Less is more...

Did you know that women own at least 20 items they have never worn. And in a lifetime are expected to buy £133,640 on clothes. Shocking I know..

You may have noticed that over the last decade there are a rising number of womenswear items to choose from (increased by 21% from 2001-2005), whilst the cost of items have come down by 14%.So when you look around your friends, family and colleagues you may have noticed that they have contributed to this shopping pattern.

My point here... is to buy carefully and less.  A wardrobe that works effectively is like a well oiled machine that works around the requirements, needs and beliefs of their owner. Avoid the trap of thinking... that because you are buying something, you are adding to your wardrobe, sometimes you are simply confusing and cramming your wardrobe and mind simultaneously.

What do I wear to… My first day at work?

The key for getting a successful ‘first day office’ outfit is to wear keep your outfit simple but add personality with carefully chosen accessories: a stylish bag, a patterned scarf or a piece of statement jewellery.

In today’s current job market, more than ever employers expect for you to be on top or your game, and you can easily do this by showing you know what is currently happening in the world of fashion, with these key hottest trends for Autumn/Winter:

* Camel is a big look this coming season. If you have dark hair, with warm toned skin you can wear a top or jacket in this colour. Everyone else should wear sparingly as an accent colour only eg.shoes, bangles, rings or handbag.

*Square toes heels worn with either a buckles or bow. Go for buckles if you want a statement, bows if you want pretty.

* Structured handbags on a short strap: any colour! Your choice here…

* Wide legged and high waisted trousers worn with a polo neck is a demure work-wear alternative to skirts or dresses.

* Hem length skirts are in this season! Great for office work, but avoid the ‘mini’ at work, which is also making a come back.

* Top tip: wear heels, since they are an instant confidence boost.

Style Inspiration

My inspiration comes from coffee shop observing and walking the streets and seeing diverse people, and when it comes to clothes I like to mix high street with designer and vintage pieces. This way it always keeps it fresh and as well as individual.

How would I describe my own personal style? Well I would say…. It is: feminine, creative and sometimes bold! I love these famous people’s style: Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, Kate Moss, Lulu, Danni Minogue, more recently Victoria Beckham.

 

Useful...

 

Here are some useful style based websites. Enjoy using them: 

www.girlmeetsdress.com/

www.rentyourrocks.co.uk/

www.notonthehighstreet.com

www.todayimwearing.com

www.stylesequel.com/

Can style be learnt?

I know women in their 20’s until 60’s, which get stuck in a style rut. Sometimes people struggle to adapt to their new role in life (eg.change of career, age, being a mum, having a new business or becoming single again). Keep playing like you are child and you will keep your look fresh.. not freeze framed.

I spend a lot of time people watching and analysing how someone’s put their look together. Over time, I have learnt that:

a) this is a good way of borrowing someone’s look. And importantly then putting your twist on it.

b) play and experiment with clothes, some of it works and doesn’t. You never know until you try.

 

Do you shop for clothes?... Or yourself?

Often when I take clients out shopping, they can tend to blame their shape for the clothes not looking good. That's not  really how it should be. Instead, blame the clothes if they don't suit your body shape. What might look good on your friend will not necessarily look great on you. Don't compare yourself to others - just look for the best clothes that suit you.

And finally, you are not simply shopping for clothes, you are shopping for yourself.

Racing Season Outfits

There will be different dress codes and etiquette for each event, race course and type of ticket that you have. When picking an outfit, ignore trends and go with what suits you. If you are going to go for a particular trend in terms of your outfit, it needs to be worn in a classic way.

Generally Ladies Day Outfits and dress codes for bigger events call for a more formal style of dress. Some tickets allow for a casual dress although you definitely won’t look out of place if you want to get dressed up. To be sure, you should check the race course website well in advance of the day, therefore giving you plenty of time to plan your outfit. Some race courses don’t allow bare legs, anything above the knee or uncovered shoulders. So do look into what the dress code is.

Finally, a good deal of walking is done on any racecourse, so you maybe it’s best to avoid the new popular trend of wearing sky high heels. After all, no-one looks good when they are unable to walk properly.

Testimonial

Am so happy at receiving this lovely Testimonial from a client today:

"I couldn't recommend Katie more highly and am so glad I decided to ask her to help me revamp my wardrobe. I was daunted by the cost of doing a full wardrobe sort-out and then going shopping, let alone the cost of the clothes, which I knew would probably be a lot more than I usually spend, so I thought about it really carefully beforehand.

But now I've done it, I know it was worth every penny, and feels like a much more economical way of approaching shopping as I've got things I'm really going to wear. I also don't feel tempted by impulse buys if I walk past a shop because I'm completely satisfied with my wardrobe as it stands, and don't want to undo the good work of getting everything sorted out.

The process of clearing out was so liberating! It was months ago now, and I still feel fantastic. I have a completely fresh look, and I enjoy wearing everything I bought. I can actually see what I have in my wardrobe now, and have some good flexible combinations for different occasions, but all of them look great. I learnt a lot - how to be really selective to choose only the really best items that work for you, and choosing a small number of good quality items than filling your wardrobe up with mediocre things. I got stuck buying the same cheap things because I didn't have the courage to invest in bolder clothes - it feels like a completely fresh start.

Katie was decisive and fun to go shopping with, and responsive to my tastes, while pushing the boundaries a bit. She's sympathetic about the emotional attachment you have to your old clothes, and gently but firmly guides you through the process. If you have any doubts, my advice would be - go for it!"

Love this Quote!

Some quotes are just so apt and this is certainly one:

“A man should look as if he has bought his clothes with intelligence, put them on with care and then forgotten all about them.” 

Testimonial

It is so lovely receiving another great testimonial from a client.

"I really enjoyed our shopping day - thanks for all your help. I'm actually thinking now in terms of what goes with what and feeling much better in the mornings already!! I'm already finding it so much easier and straightforward to choose an outfit that I like each day. There are no purchases I regret... I feel fully equipped for my job interviews and I really love my new social wardrobe. Thank you so much for your help and advice"

I Believe...

* Style is about knowing what suits you and fits you.

* A clear wardrobe equals a clear mind. A messy wardrobe makes you lose visibility of what you actually own and what your signature style really is!

* Invest money on clothes you wear most of the time.

* Know what is worth spending a bit extra on.

* Stylish people don't replace their wardrobe every season (even if they can afford it). They update with accessories and have a trademark of their own.