Going CLASSY at the office does not necessarily mean dressing STAID. Add a BIT OF QUIRK through ACCESSORIES and COLOUR, says Jasmeen Dugal
Central to the new mood of get-ahead power dressing is the choice of outerwear. And while our interest in classic silhouettes and detailing is banishing experimental wear from the workplace, the question today is: how does one dress to stand apart in the workplace without attracting the wrong kind of attraction?
Whoever you are, whatever kind of firm you work at, the rules for looking good remain the same. Dressing up more creatively than you once might have — within your workplace dress code — is the key. Experimentation with colour and silhouette can guarantee that your colleagues sit up and take notice, but garnering appreciation with a grown-up, gimmick-free look is the way to go. And that’s where the jacket comes in.
“A jacket may not be the most appropriate garment in certain workplaces, but it is a good garment for the corporate environment as it lends authority to the wearer,” explains designer Ravi Bajaj. “The formality of the garment gives the right signal. It is more than just power dressing; it is a ‘must’. A person can dress casual for ‘Friday Dressing’, but if you dress casual during other days of the week as well, your attitude tends to become casual, and this can take a toll on your image and productivity.”
Structured jackets that draw a neat, narrow silhouette ( but are still comfortable and easy to wear) is your safest bet.think minimal, pared-down aesthetic—a few visible fastenings and subtle surface details—perhaps in a softer romantic direction (a gathered collar or vintage buttons give jackets a signature, hand-worked feel). What women want today are versatile garments made by designers who do not live in a dream world. If you have a day packed with meetings, you would want to put on a crisp shirt and quality jacket to look in control so no one would guess you partied until dawn the night before! So when you go shopping for a jacket, ask yourself: will it fit into the workplace culture? Is it comfortable while at the same time conveying authority? Can you move in it? And colour is key. Black is urban, and can effortlessly make the transition from day to evening with only a few accessories. And though navy or grey look businesslike, it can get tricky to dress up the look when moving on to post-work cocktails.
New York-based stylist Beatrice Young says there are three principles of dressing for the workplace. “A good jacket that pairs well with a pencil skirt or formal pants is indispensable. It must be crafted out of fine, soft fabrics that befit an employee of significance in the hierarchy. Two, it should be made with exceptionnal art: you would expect nothing less of o a red-carpet gown, so why comprom mise with a jacket that you wear far more e often? Three, it should fit well and be e spotless! Think of these principless as a workplace style manual
allowws you to appear polished to colleaguues, while showing the CEO he oor she can have confidence in abbility to move up to a senior n seamlessly in the hierarchy.” Also, this article would be ncomplete if we did not mention Friday Dressing. ‘Business casual attire’ is de rigueur on Fridays, but how does one embrace it without appearing too enthusiastic? A jjumper or denims would look good llunching with the girls or on a shopping trip, but at work, opt for tthe classic jacket with a subtle, creative twist. “We suggest thin belts with metal buckles to wear on top of classic jacket,” says Hemant Sagar of Lecoanet Hemant. You can also go for a ‘coatigan’ (a cardigan masquerading as a coat) if you want a relaxed look. There are some truly lovely styles on net-a-porter.com. But in the end, the idea is to look interesting and not staid. And adding a little bit of colour to your staples might just be the perfect starting point for you.