the belle lumiere

Think about your job. What is appropriate for your office? Not all offices are the same, so not all office dress codes are the same. Your office should have a standard dress code within their company policy/procedure manual. If you haven’t received this, don’t be afraid to ask for a copy from your manager or supervisor. If your office does not have a set list of guidelines, take a look around at your co-workers. They should be a good reference for what is appropriate. When in doubt, dress UP. Dress for the job you want, not the job you have. Unless of course you are one of the lucky ones who actually HAVE the job that you want.

Start with good quality basics. After thinking about what is appropriate for your workplace, invest in a good set of pieces that you can mix and match. This would be a good time to think about what kind of outfits you would like to put together, keeping in mind what your personal style is and what will suit your body type. Whether you’re buying pants, skirts, dresses or a suit – look for pieces that are well made and from good quality material. Keep in mind the fact that you will probably wear these items the most, so you want them to last as long as possible.

Find inexpensive “filler” pieces. Building your wardrobe is a gradual process, and in the mean time it’s important to find inexpensive filler pieces that you can wear while you are looking for the perfect items to fit into your wardrobe. You can usually find v-neck or scoop neck tops, blouses and plain cardigans or sweaters for reasonably cheap. Further down the track you can replace these with better quality items if you so desire.

Be well heeled. In my opinion there are two types of women in this world. Those who can walk for miles in heels, and others (like me) who are not so lucky. Those of you who are like me will need to get yourself some comfortable flats to wear if you have a commute to/from work. (please no sneakers!!!) Keep your heels stored under your desk or carry them with you to and from work. Keep your shoes subtle at work. Go as high as you like as long as you can walk in them, but anything too flashy will probably be inappropriate. You can’t really go wrong with a good pair of black leather round toe pumps.

Keep your accessories classic. I like to keep it simple when it comes to accessories when at work. I never really wear much more than my diamond stud earrings (or white gold studs, depending on my mood) and my engagement ring. If you’re going to wear jewellery to work, keep it low-key and classic. Giant chandelier earrings and statement necklaces might be great for going out on weekends, but they’re usually not a good idea for the office.

The main point to keep in mind is that when you’re at work you are not only representing yourself, you are representing the company that you work for. So keep things neat, classic and respectable at all times.

Note: This post was in response to an email from a blog reader. If you have any post suggestions or questions you would like to ask me, feel free to email them through!