Reader Struggle “My main problem is that I hide my femininity also the bright warm colors are my style half my closet is Chic feminine and elegant but rarely worn I only actually wear it at home outside I still wear a kind of armor of dark ugly suits they’re very classic but even with…
Reader Question–I just read your post about wearing your good clothes every day and its effect on how people see you as well as how you feel about yourself. I work at home. People see me from the waist up. How important is it that I wear a full-on “good” outfit every day at…
I’ve been following the discussion in the 7 Steps to Style group about different types of feminine dressing. I identify with the ethereal dressing with its long lines floaty gossamer-like fabrics. How would you suggest adapting your style to a business casual work setting? The definition of Ethereal is to be extremely delicate and light…
Hi Imogen, What do you wear to work when your colouring doesn’t suit the traditional light/dark and neutrals of corporate classic dressing. Especially for people with light colouring and low value contrast that still need to be “in charge” and taken seriously. I’m working on this now and find it hard to find the sweet…
This next couple of weeks in Melbourne is the height of the Spring Racing Carnival, and if you’re still not sure what to wear I thought I’d share some tips to help you find an outfit. 1. Is it Racewear? Find out if what you’re planning to wear is race appropriate with this fun flowchart…
I have a business casual workplace, but do a lot of travel, and have many formal meetings in countries like the US and Europe. So I have many shirts, blouses and Jersey tops, and wear them mainly with light trousers suitable for the warm climate in which I work, and also for travel and business…
If you have a relaxed dressing style how do you still be yourself if you work in a corporate business environment? This is the topic of Jill Chivers of 16 Style Types and my podcast episode. Why are you expected to dress more formally anyway? Rather than consider corporate dress codes as an imposed restriction…
Got some events or weddings coming up and you don’t want to spend a fortune on outfits? Why not think about wearing one base outfit and then changing up elements of the outfit to dress it up or down, depending on the style and formality of the event you’re attending. What You Need to Wear…
How can you help others hear your message and be taken seriously in the workplace when the traditional business colours (dark cool neutrals in a high contrast with a light top) don’t suit you, either because your overall ideal value is light and dark colours look heavy, or you are high colour contrast and you…
aka What You Wear Matters I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard from people over the years things like: “Why does it matter what I wear? It’s what I create or produce at work that matters!” “Women shouldn’t need to have to dress a certain way to be considered accomplished and capable! I…
Jill Chivers of 16 Style Types and I were asked to comment on the question of “how much skin is appropriate to show in the workplace”. Now we are aware this can be quite a contentious as there will be some wildly differing views on this topic depending on your culture, your work environment, job,…
The style that those with a highly relaxed, natural and more casual personality style find hardest to wear is evening wear. All that fuss, uncomfortable clothing (and possibly underwear required), high heels, highly groomed. Do you really have to dress up? Does it really matter? Are these a couple of questions you ask yourself? If…
When you think about choosing a pair of shoes, you want the shoe to work with your outfit as whole. When deciding which pair of shoes to wear, it’s worthwhile being able to quickly interpret the formality of the shoes. For example, if choosing a pair of oxfords (brogues) there are different elements that…
One of the issues I have in the cooler months, if I want to wear pants and an open top shoe – like a ballet flat or pump, even a loafer, but I don’t want to wear a pair of tights (hosiery), then my feet get cold. Now there have been the old “pop sock”…
If you’re a keen racegoer, Melbourne’s Spring Racing Carnival can be an expensive time of year. So I thought, why not just buy one dress, and then using the beauty bundle concept, change it up so you feel like you’re wearing a completely different outfit each time, still on theme. I’ve chosen a simple offwhite…
When you’re putting together an outfit, always consider what you want to communicate with it. Ask yourself what the situation/occassion you are wearing it. Who you are going to be interacting with, and how you want to be perceived. Then you can use this knowledge to choose the right combination of colours and contrast to…
A commonly asked question is what to wear to a funeral or memorial service? It used to be that black was the only appropriate funeral attire. These days funerals are not as formal as they once were, and colours other than black are usually appropriate. Unless there has been a request for bright colours as…
Your clothes are talking but what are they saying? If you go back to the concept of Yin and Yang – which relates to the line and design of your clothing, you can easily understand what your clothes are saying (without you opening your mouth or making a sound). When choosing what to wear, consider…
How should we handle conflict between personality/ career role and body shape recommendation? As my body is very curvy , the body shape recommendation is all kinds of feminine stuff: skirt over pants, and not just skirt , but A -line flared skirt over straight ones, wrap and fit and flare dresses , waist shaping,…
Whether you just want to look smart but approachable, or are looking for Casual Friday outfit ideas that won’t diminish your credibility a softly structured jacket can be a great item in your wardrobe. They work well for many as they have the comfort gained from stretch knit fabric from which they are made (and…
At the moment it’s Christmas Party season. Some are more formal, some more casual. Some are for work functions. Some are completely social. So what to wear to a party? Here are some ideas for your next event. What to Wear to a Formal Cocktail Function If the dress code is cocktail or after 5…
