Corporate Fashion Do's & Don'ts

Wed, 17 Feb 10

Wondering what to wear to wear to Monday’s meeting? Not sure what’s pushing the casual Friday boundaries?

Common sense, perhaps? When coordinating office-wear we can tend to get stuck at times. Read for some useful office fashion fixes and common fashion faux pas.

Do…. 

1. Spend what you can on timeless quality suits and shirts– the investment will pay off. They will last longer, make you feel more important, and you will look dashing.
2. Own a few classic white shirts. A white shirt never fades – pardon the pun.
3. Don’t just stop at your clothes. Take your time finding your shoes and bag/briefcase. Durability and comfort is the key.
4. It’s always better to dress conservatively than experiment.
5. Wear navy as an alternative to black.
6. These days don’t be afraid to wear statement jewellery within reason – no ghetto gold chains please.
7. Wear a French cuff to a work function or any day of the week. The elegance of a French cuff says a lot about the wearer and it allows you to have fun with your choice of stunning cufflinks.
8. In the summer months wear lightweight suits preferably in grey and team with fresh and bold coloured shirts in 100% cotton.
9. Wearing a tie? Nothing over the top, see that it reaches the middle of your belt buckle. If you are dressed formally, see that your jacket is buttoned.

Don’t….

1. Wear ill fitting clothes. Dress for your shape - flattering your figure is usually the viable option. Shirts are always best as they button up so that there is room to move and they are long enough to cover your mid section as you stretch across your desk.
2. Adopt a hairstyle that needs constant attention.
3.  Let you shoes out-do their welcome in your wardrobe – scuffed with worn soles stands out like a sore thumb.
4. Choose unflattering fabrics – pay attention to your trousers or skirt fabrics. Fabric that bags at the back or knee looks hideous after only a few hours.
5. Wear ridiculous heels higher than 2 inches tall ladies. No shoe bling and no flip-flop shoes.
6. Wear those cool overly elongated white snake skin shoes. The white shoe brigade doesn’t belong at work gentleman.
7. Feature showy tie pins and large belt buckles in your outfit – you may as well wear suspenders if you’re going to do this.
8. Wear mini skirts – state the obvious. Surprisingly they’re still seen around in the office from time to time. There are so many nice longer styles to choose from.
9. Fashion your washed-look denim jeans on casual Friday. Stick to dark solid denim.