Be Smart About Style

Although currently in the middle of an Indian summer and still hanging onto our easy summer dresses – September is upon us. Bringing with it lots and lots of shiny new autumnal clothes for all occasions, including some great work wear that can be worn in or out of the office?

The new season, see’s the dress play second fiddle to a whole host of great separate’s: skirts, shirts, culottes, trousers and coats. Designers such as Michael Kors, Dior and Celine championed this movement on the catwalks, by showing us stylish power dressing suitable for the 21st Century. Forget the 80’s and Melanie Griffiths in ‘Working Girl’, all hair and shoulder pads, this is a sleeker more streamlined approach to dressing.

A beautifully cut trouser, worn with a white shirt and a great tailored coat, exudes elegance and assertiveness. Similarly a draped blouse tucked into a statement pencil skirt, worn with block heels, suggests an effortless approach as well as being a great day to evening outfit. In this day and age busy professional women require their fashion to be as versatile and flexible as their lives.

Here are some of the best of this season’s trends to kick-start your own workwear renaissance.

The Culottes:

key breakout trend for this autumn/winter and a stylish, practical alternative to a skirt, wear with block heel shoes for a more contemporary feel.

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The Tailored Trouser:

Smart layering is the stylish solution to surviving transitional weather.  Go for a mix and match approach to suiting, wear a blazer with contrast colour or printed trousers and a great shirt.  For a more modern take on tailoring, team a fitted top with a sleeveless blazer and slim ankle grazer length trousers.

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The Sharp Suit:

Discreet design details and brighter shades elevate the classic trouser or skirt suit, whilst pairing with a white or black shirt and court shoes keep it suitable for the office.

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The Slouchy Suit:

Tailoring doesn’t always mean sharp angular lines, fluid fabrics in soft greys or oatmeal shades add a timeless elegance to a work suit. Wear high waisted wide leg trousers with a longer length jacket, for a streamlined silhouette.

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The Pencil Skirt:

Pencil skirts come in many shapes, colours and styles this season. From the iconic black knee length style, to a statement printed skirt – great for desk to dinner – to the more edgy yet elegant asymmetric wrap style.

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The Coat:

The great thing about coats is that they are such an easy and inspiring way to build a look and this season the choice of styles is huge.  Choose a soft draped trench coat for transitional weather, add colour with a one of the many pastel shades available, or opt for a beautifully cut tailored coat to replace a jacket.

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Lisa-008Author Bio

Lisa O’Shaughnessy is the founder and owner of Always Stylish a personal stylist and shopping consultancy. Lisa has worked in the international fashion industry as a stylist and fashion designer for 15 years, for luxury and high street labels alike. Using her wealth of experience she coach’s and styles a wide range of clients from successful professionals, to busy parents and high profile individuals of all ages. For monthly style tips and fashion advice subscribe to www.alwaysstylish.co.uk

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