Making Your Wardrobe Work for Work

Making Your Wardrobe Work for Work

By Tess Ferrton

There are more and more offices moving into the casual department, but there are still plenty of offices holding strong to the professional and tailored look. If your office fits in the latter category, there are tips to keep in mind while dressing for the corporate world without losing your personality in the mix.

Start With Color

If you are in a traditional office, image is everything. Trends are frowned upon as classic styles are still the norm. To keep your attire polished, stick to a color palette with black, navy and gray as the base. Add in softer contrast colors like pastels to keep from looking like you work at a funeral parlor. For offices with a little wiggle room or some creativity, you can throw in some bright punches of color like hot pink and chartreuse.

Jewelry

Jewelry is a great way to play up your personality. A few tips to start with are to avoid the jangling jewels like bangles and layered necklaces. Instead, try one bracelet at a time and some stud earrings. If that's not enough personality, and it really isn't much, try bringing in larger pieces like a great cocktail ring or bold watch.

Add in the Bag

Keep the flashy or slouchy bags for the weekend. To help round out the image of a strong and professional person, choose a bag that is structured to lend an image of being organized. Choose a solid color that won't clash with your wardrobe staples. The classic black and brown shades will always be in style, but you can also bring in personality with a bold color if it blends well with your typical overall look.

The Last Bit of Polish

The biggest part of making sure everything looks pulled together and professional lies in the details. Make sure to get clothes tailored to fit properly. After that, it's the little stuff like making sure nails are clean, shoes aren't scuffed, nylons are run-free and hair is done. Lastly, avoid excessive designer labels. A label or two is fine, but over-the-top labels are more of a weekend thing than part of a professional office.

Office Styles

Formal Business Attire is a business suit, closed-toe shoes, blouses, nylons and conservative hair, makeup and jewelry.

Corporate Casual typically means "smart business" such as dress pants, blouses and knit sweaters.

Casual Friday can range from corporate casual is formal business is the norm and go all the way to weekend wear and jeans depending on how casual the office is. The best bet for any dress code is to first see how a superior dresses, then emulate that look.

Tess Ferrton is a fashion lover and personal shopper with a flair for finding the perfect jeans.

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2011's Jeans Styles

2011's Jeans Styles

By Tess Ferrton

Those who are into fashion have already seen the 70s-inspired styles that are pushing themselves into the trend spotlight. If flare and boot cut are what you want, you are in luck. If they make you want to tear your hair out in a crying fit while rolling around a darkened closet, then you're also in luck; 70s jeans are not the only trend to hit this New Year of 2011.

Jean Shorts

Summer is coming, so it is really no shocker that jean shorts are, of course, in style. For some different ways of mixing up the tried and true jean shorts, pair them with tights for that classic "model off duty" look. If you've got some leggings still hanging around, wear jean shorts over leggings and top it all off with some great heels. The shorts themselves are not super short and tight like you might expect with the 70s rolling in, but rather they are still roomy enough to not cut off blood circulation and short enough to fully represent the title of "shorts."

Long Jean Skirts

If the flare jeans didn't bring back memories from the 70s and again the 90s, then the maxi jean skirt surely will. Last seen in the 90s, these maxi dresses are coming back. These are definitely not for everyone as maxi skirts in general do not always make the most flattering fit for petite women. Unless paired with high heels, the maxi skirt is best left for the taller girls; unless you just really want to wear a maxi jean skirt. For DIY people, the long jean skirt can make a great investment since they can easily be altered into a mini skirt, capri pants, shorts or a purse once their novelty has worn away.

Elastic Cuffs

In one of the more surprising jean updates, some boyfriend style jeans have been modified to not have a cuff, but an elastic cuff reminiscent of sweat pants. Hitting around just above the ankle and tapering a bit as it comes down the leg, these jeans look like the more fitted sweats seen just a few years ago where girls pulled the leg up to make them more of a Capri or knickerbocker style.

Of course there are more classic styles staying in place for this year including the much-loved, and also much-hated, jean leggings, as well as cargo jeans, trouser jeans and, going back to that 70s vibe, a higher waist denim. With so many options to play around with, there is a style of jeans for everyone.

With years of experience as a personal shopper to her name, Tess Ferrton is the go-to expert when it comes to all things jeans.

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Jeans: Men on the Street

Jeans: Men on the Street

By Tess Ferrton

After swimming through countless street fashion sites and books, one thing pops out. Amongst men, and especially Western European men, a slim fit pant or jeans rolled with a cuff is definitely the style. Popular with the "wise" crowd as well as the youth, this jeans style stands the test of time and showcases a keen eye toward detail and fit.

Italy

The biggest population of men taking part in this trend seems to be the Italians. Most street fashion sites focus on the hot spots of Rome and Milan, and both locations prove to be hotbeds of chic style. In Italy, men of all ages wear a trouser style pant or jean in a very straight, narrow fit then roll the cuff so it hits just above the ankle, creating the look of intentional high-waters. To top it all off they wear a great fitting blazer or sweater with a tie and an incredible pair of, what else, Italian leather shoes. Socks are optional.

Paris

In Paris the straight leg, rolled pants are around in abundance, yet slightly less than what is seen in Italy. Some men take a variation on the look and grab a pair of dark wash jeans in narrow fit, not quite skinny jeans but fitted, and roll the cuff just once, but high up to create a 4-inch cuff that sits at the ankle or just below. Still others partake in the Italian classic by rolling the dark wash jeans above the ankle.

Be it Italy, France or seen sporadically throughout western Europe, the straight leg, dark pant or jeans with a rolled cuff is definitely in style and has been for quite some time. Keep it classic cool like the Italians and pair the style with a sharp jacket and killer shoes. For urban cool, follow the footsteps of the Parisians and keep it in a dark jean paired with a pea coat or trench and fitted boots. In the end, take inspiration, and then make it your own.

Tess Ferrton is a fashion lover and personal shopper with a flair for finding the perfect jeans.

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