THE WORKING GIRL: HOW TO BUILD YOUR PROFESSIONAL WARDROBE

Trying to dress both professionally and stylishly is no easy feat, especially in a corporate setting. Here is how I built my professional wardrobe and some great finds for anyone trying to let their style shine through. Little trick: find a professional female style icon and before buying a piece think, "Would XXX Wear This Outfit"... My go's are Olivia Pope and Jessica Pearson from Suits vibes.

Some Notes:

1. I recommend sticking with a very neutral palette, accessorising with minimal gold accents, fabulous shoes (heels or flats, whatever strikes your fancy), and having a few statement pieces to pull out for an important meeting.

2. Tailor everything, please just do it. There is no need to have 12 ill-fitting blazers when you could have 3 in versatile colours that fit you like a glove! What I did so that I could have really nice quality blazers was to purchase designer blazers second hand on The Real Real and then get them tailored

3. Don't wear shoes you can't walk in. Though your favourite TV lawyer might wear 5-inch stiletto heel, that's not really practical or professional. Don't get me wrong, heels are great but stick around the 3-inch mark- try kitten heels in your skin tone(it will accentuate your legs). Or, if heels aren't your jam, a really beautiful pair of flats or loafers is always a good idea.

4. If you work an office job, don't buy linen clothing (or anything else that creases). Creases or wrinkles in your clothing from sitting down, will dilute your whole outfit. Instead opt for fabrics that are a bit heavier, or are cotton/jersey to avoid unwanted bunching/creasing.

5. Be mindful of cultural standards when meeting with clients of different

nationality/backgrounds. You want to avoid any culture-clash and sure that you aren't wearing anything that could be received as inappropriate or disrespectful.

Where to Shop

Clothing:

• Of Mercer

• MM La Fluer (Great for dressing for various body shapes, lots of options for petites, tall, extended sizes)

• Zara (but please tailor your things)

• Theory

• Vince

• Club Monaco

• Sezanne

Shoes:

• Margaux

• Sam Edelman

• Salvatore Ferragamo

Accessories:

• Mejuri

• Missoma

• Gorjana

Outfit Ideas:

Tops:

Bottoms:

Blazers:

Dresses:

Knitwear:

Shoes:

Happy Shopping! xx A