A female office dress code doesn’t necessarily mean “trouser suit” or “pencil skirts”. With a bit of planning, styling and a few nice accessories, your “go to office look” can also be stylish and hip. This is something I was focussing on during yesterday’s styling session.
My client: Female, in her mid-thirties, successfully working in the marketing department of a cosmetic company. She decided to look for some professional help in order to sort out her complete closet. Once the main work was done, we started to recreate two types of outfits: Business Casual and Leisure (meaning local market Saturdays, outdoor socializing with friends, date night at home, etc.).
Here are yesterday’s casual business outfits I’d like to share on my journal.
1. Make sure you tuck in the sweater in order to optimise proportions in order to elongate the legs. I prefer rolled up sleeves for most blazers.
2. The most important detail of this outfit is the belted blazer. Again, a belt helps to optimise proportions.
3. This is is a total power outfit. I love the vintage Escada Blazer my client found at the flea market for 8 EUR. Crazy. The structured shoulders with a fitted top make this look sexy, powerful, yet super female. It’s a strong outfit for a strong woman.
4. She told me she was not sure about the colour, even though it fits her amazingly. A muted pink needs red lipstick. To add the marinière and white sneakers came naturally.
5. This is a very classic outfit. Discrete and effortless. The snakeprint ankle boots give it a little twist though. In order to add “more” you could add a matching baseball hat (maybe not for the office) and a thick ankle chain necklace.
6. I think a slip skirt is the most versatile piece ever. Matching with cashmere sweaters, ripped tops, blazers, leather jackets, even a hoodie would fit. In order to avoid looking too casual, we added some elegant leather sandals with a tiny heel. She has nice ankles, which are important if you plan to show them off wearing a 3/4 skirt.
7. I call it classy classic. The pearls fit, a chunky necklace might be more surprising. You could add a fedora hat or a baseball cap in order to make it more casual. The tiny heel of the sandals elongate the legs. Wide leg pants are awesome but you have to pay attention towards the shoes in order to avoid a '*bulky” silhouette. Again, proportions are key.
8. She wanted to toss the denim jacket but we noticed it fit so well with this outfit. White tees love denim, always. Paired with the slip skirt and ankle boots this makes a beautiful spring day look. If you like you could layer it with a trench for colder days or add a matching silk scarf.
9. This is a nice an comfy day to night outfit. Zoom calls, spring outdoor socialising - all covered. Once it gets warmer, you could alternatively combine it with a straw hat or Castaner wedges. I’d not pair it with flats.
10. An easy one. We replaced the denim jacket with a black blazer, to dress it up. If I could pair it with one additional item, I’d add Totême’s monogram silk scarf.
Voilà, thats it! All of those outfits work well with zoom, too. They’re all comfy yet put together and clean. I hope you felt inspired.