Marie Claire UK - 11.2019

Fashion first

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Hereto solve all your workwear dilemmas is

style journalistAlice Olins, co-founder of women’s

career coaching network @TheStepUpClub

FASHION @WORK

Coat,

£350,

Ganni at

Net-A-

Porter.

com

Boots,

£250,

Arket

Earrings,

£17.99,

Mango

£295,

Kate Spade

£457,

Cafuné

3 OF THE BEST TOP-HANDLE BAGS

Fresh updates on a workwear basic

2.

1 3.

Firstoff, I admire your commitment to

trends, even when your work style

parameters are on the conservative

side. You’re in luck, because this season,

there is a new look that’s perfect for

confident,style-orientated working women.

Let me introduce you to: bourgeois chic.

With its spirit of 70s glam, lavish post-

war Dior tailoring and a soupçon of

90s power dressing, this style

possesses panache in abundance,

but can have the volume turned up

or down depending on how brave

you’re feeling.

So what does it entail? Well, using

the decade references as your starting

point, think about a strong silhouette,

fabrics that feel luxe (so that could be

rich silks for blouses, or tweed coats

and skirts), layering and accessories

that don’t fade into the background.

If theWorking Girlcast had post-work

cocktails with Audrey Hepburn and

a 70s Jerry Hall, collectively, this is the trend

they’d be sporting.

In terms of buying yourself into this

phenomenal mash-up of styles, let me first

point you to this & Other Stories pink blouse

(above left). The colour alone will transport

you where you want to be, and the pussy

bow adds a touch of retro brilliance that will

spruce up skirts and wide trousers that you

already own. In my dreams, you’d wear this

with a pair of burgundy corduroy wide-leg

slacksand a flashy gold belt at the waist.

Also,make this Marks & Spencer skirt

a new staple (below left). Cut to a neat, but

not too short pencil shape, with a wide

matching tweed belt and coy split up the

back, it won’t ruffle any feathers, but it

says ‘I’m expensive’ in just the right tone. It’s

a snip at just under £40 – and you are going

to want to get it before everyone else does.

Layering is a big part of this trend, and

somewhat puts dresses in the shadows.

After a summer of us all wafting about in

maxis, I don’t feel too bad about this, so

think separates, which include a punchy

blazer, some colourful (preferably pearl-

buttoned) knit cardigans and skirts that

restjust above the knee – teamed with

a pair of knee-high tan boots.

You will also need a coat that says ‘I’ve

arrived’, before you’ve even opened your

mouth. For this, head to Ganni, which

has just released a killer of a coat (top

left). It’s army green, comes in a plush,

textured finish and boasts lapels and

a super-sized belt. This coat will

literally tie your entire look together.

Then you just need to add these flower

earrings from Mango (top right), perhaps

a slick of pink on the lips and a spray of

Elnett and you’re done.

Iwork in a relatively conservative office, but I

love fashion and want to weave some current

trends into my daily work-life wardrobe. I don’t

know how best to do this. Please help!

Bethany, HR manager

Q.

Blouse,

£55,

& Other

Stories

Skirt,

£39.50,

Marks &

Spencer

£355,

Marc Cain