DEAR Mattie:
What should I wear in the office?
Wanting to Update my Professional Wardrobe in Lonsdale
Dear Lonsdale:
Professional clothing is quite bold and edgy this season.
The trends break away from traditional and swing way over to the modern side. Most offices won't be able to stand some the graphic trends, so let's tone it down a bit.
The silhouette is quite important this season. It is close to the body with lines and volume. The shoulders and hips are fuller and the waist is belted.
You will need a new belt this season. Both skinny and wide are in fashion, so choose the width that complements you body.
Consider a curvy hourglass shape as one silhouette and two inverted triangles as the other streamlined modern silhouette. Try and find your comfort zone.
An affordable way to update your professional wardrobe is with skirts and blouses. They are a great way to have the look of a complete outfit, without making your statement too formal.
Skirts should be to the knee, just above or just below. If you are going to buy one skirt, make it a black pencil skirt. If you plan on getting another one, consider a dark green (but not forest green) or a dark aqua blue (but not Caribbean blue). These colours are bold and cool, not warm.
Make sure the hip is slightly rounded. Pleats and pockets help create this look.
Blouses worn with a belt help create the cinched waistline. Blouses are very exciting as they can make or break your outfit. They should be tailored with a lightweight fabric, so as not to look too rigid. You can choose bold
MODERN HOME FURNISHINGS and graphic prints as well as a solid colour. When you choose a solid colour blouse, consider choosing the same colour pant or skirt to create a modern sleek look (don't forget the belt). When you choose contrasting colours you will create a trendy, bold look.
Graphic prints are edgy all the way. You will find graphic prints in blouses and skirts.
Graphic can be any design from tiny flowers to huge squares. If you steer in this very trendy direction, do not mix and match.
Suits are really in fashion this season. The bold colours work well with the modern lines. These darker colours replace the black power suit.
Dark greens and blues are safer choices, as they are mainstream. Aubergine makes more of a personal statement and dark red is pretty bold.
To wear the right suit, look for pants that are ankle-length and high-waist. Your blazer should be fitted with three-quarter or rolled up sleeves. Your belt should match the suit more than your shoes.
Shoes can be neutral or contrasting. At this point you can decide how trendy or edgy you want to go with the colour, pattern and contrasting options available.
I suggest you find some elements that you like and use them with your current wardrobe. Unfortunately, there are so many new trends, that they may not work so well with last year's styles.
Don't spend too much on this year's trends, as they are very trendy.
Adieu, Mattie
Mattie a la Mode is a monthly fashion advice column. Mattie is a freelance writer and fashion expert. She can be reached via her blog: mattiealamode.com and you can follow her on http: //pinterest. com/mattiealamode/
