Extracted from “The Star” dated 11 February, 2014
As a young adult, looking good is of paramount importance. Putting your best foot forward and having a sharp outfit go far in drawing attention and showing people you mean business.
Often, having a nice wardrobe is associated with needing lots of money. But not all of us have deep pockets. We need time to get there. How do we deal with it then, in the interim? After all, women want to look smart, polished and chic. It gives us confidence.
Figuring out stylish work outfits can be difficult, and it can be even more difficult if your budget is small. However, with some creative styling, smart accessorising and knowledge of how you’d like to be perceived, a stylish yet affordable work outfit is easy to put together.
You’ll be surprised at how a simple dress can make one look elegant and attractive. It is even better if your office wear can double as a casual outfit; that’s value for money.
Online fashion store Whitesoot co-founder Estee Chong, 27, feels that dressing up at the workplace is important. “It’s not trivial at all. Dressing has become the unspoken factor in measuring a person’s competitiveness. Sales people understand this best and we see this often in insurance agents and sales people. They realise that dressing up is just as important as product knowledge.”
Here are five tips on how you can look stylish in the office:
Tip 1: Go bold
Bright and strong colours exude confidence. Sometimes it doesn’t hurt to stand out and make an impression. “I find that each time I wear a red dress, no matter how simple it is, I get a lot of male attention, from the taxi driver to my colleague,” says advertising executive Lisa Tan, 26.
Male attention is one thing, but if you have a boardroom meeting or a deal to seal, wearing a bold dress helps. Look at the powerful women and the clothes they choose when they go on stage. It is never white or a weak brown. It is often a strong and striking colour. Time to go bold, ladies.
Tip 2: Accent up
We understand that not every woman enjoys bright colours. No problem. For the colour-averse, there is a way to keep monochrome style interesting. A beautiful monotone blouse tucked into a black pencil skirt is a classic look, but take it up a notch by adding a brooch, a statement necklace or an accent detail. You’ll be amazed at the marked difference this little accent makes. You go from plain to wow in a second. If you worry about your ability to pair your clothes and accessories, purchase pieces which come with in-built accents. You must have seen blouses with pearl embellishments or gold studs on the collar making waves in recent months. These are wonderful pieces to buy because they give you instant style. For example, a long-sleeved button-down blouse with pearl embellishment on the collar makes an extraordinary work wear piece. So accent up and go wow.
Tip 3: Power dress
The power of a dress is simply undeniable. It is also the easiest way to look stylish if you aren’t confident about putting together clothes. We recommend a chic dress that shows off your curves even if you aren’t the typical size 6. A power dress brings out the womanliness and beauty in you. The importance of a good dress cannot be emphasised more. A power dress looks good even without a blazer. Whether it’s the colour or its elongating effect, the right dress can empower you to go the distance in your workplace.
Tip 4: Belt it
Just like a necklace can do wonders to a plain dress, so can a belt. A belt can flatter your figure by creating an hourglass shape and add personality to your dress. You can knot it to give a twist to a flowsy dress, or use it to further enhance a ladylike look. If you are wearing a plain dress, a totally different belt colour can add pop and style to it. For slimming effects, choose a narrow belt in the same colour as the dress.
Tip 5: Forget jeans, go for pants and skirts
What? This seemingly obvious tip is however lost to many. When a company announces casual Fridays, women dive their into their jeans and don’t seem to come out from it. Be the rebel and show off your pretty clothes, normally deemed casual for workdays. Go for coloured pants, flouncy skirts or even skater dresses.
These are refreshing and youthful choices that surprisingly many working women stay away from.
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