How to Look Fabulous: In the Workplace

Some women seem to have an effortless and chic look about them. The kind of elegance and class that is admirable, even desirable. You know her, the women of our past-Jacqueline Kennedy, Audrey Hepburn and Diana Ross. Then we fast forward to the modern day woman- Oprah Winfrey, Carolina Herrera and Nina Garcia. These women seem to pull off their looks with ease.

Yes, they may have had certain luxuries like stylists, make-up artists and designer labels. However, the everyday woman can achieve the same iconic style that these women seemed to execute no matter where they went.

So, you say, how do I achieve this chic, sophisticated look? The key is to know where you are going and what you want to say when you get there through your clothes.

The biggest fashion faux pas that you can make is forgetting your venue. Mistakenly thinking that comfort is all about jeans, t-shirts and flip flops; the same feeling can be achieved with a pencil skirt, tailored shirt and cute flats.

Here we start our journey in helping you look extraordinary in the professional world.

In the professional realm, you want to convey confidence and feel empowered. The work environment is a place where we often come in contact with new people. In a world where first impressions are everything and perception is often reality, you will want to showcase your style while still showcasing your skill and talent.

Tailored suits: There is more than just the traditional grey and black suit with rectangular shapes and lines. Today’s modern woman has many options available to her with more feminine tailoring to flatter your figure and some variations in colors and fabrics. The beautiful thing of suits, whether it is a pant suit or a skirt, the right accessories can punch up this look tremendously.

For instance, you can spice up a gray suit by adding silk fuchsia top and chucky accessories of the same hue. Keep it modest on the accessories by adding only one colored item, such as the bracelet or earrings. All other fashion items should coordinate with the suit and not the bright colored blouse.

Dresses: Wrap dresses, pencil dresses and even an A-line dress work well. When it comes to an A-line dress, you want to ensure that the flare is not too wide as it may look too much like a summer or party dress. For a pencil dress, a skinny or wide belt for smaller frames or a wide belt for a fuller frame help to break up solid colors and accentuate your overall body shape. If your dress has a print, you should choose something that is more subtle. Finally, no matter what dress you choose, you will want to choose something that is well tailored, well fitting, but not tight, skimming off your natural curves.

Separates: A nice pencil skirt, wide leg, straight leg and boot cut pants are great for work. When paired with a nice blouse with an embellishment or fabric accent, you will help give a traditional skirt or pants, stylish flair. Finally, a cardigan is always a nice addition to separates, plus they keep you warm. A nice tailored cardigan goes well with both skirts and pants. Cropped cardigans go well with pencil dresses and flared cardigans are nice with pants.

Shoes: Traditionally, anything above 3 inches seemed inappropriate for the office environment. However, I believe the modern day woman can wear her 4-5 inches and not look like she may be off to a party instead of work. Keeping that in mind, leopard prints or bright multi-colored 5 inch heels might bring the wrong attention. Instead, keep your shoe look classic and simple Embellishments are great as long as they don’t overpower the shoe and the rest of your look.

Bags: I think any style of bag is appropriated for work but with a few tweaks. Keep the look neat, and simple in color. For instance, a hobo bag is fine, but to tone it down, you might go for a grey or nude color and one that is medium in size not extra-large. For bags, it is very much like shoes keeping it classic in color and not too large in size.

Overall, a favorable impression goes a long way. Negative impressions are always the most difficult to change. In the workplace, you want to be noticed for the right things, chic style, talent and intelligence.