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What glass ceiling?
Gone are the days when women were essentially required to
emulate conservative men’s suits. If there was one benefit
from the dot-com craze in the mid-to-late 1990s, it was the
gradual augmentation of trends in the business attire
fashion segment – evolving into what we know today as the
birth of “business casual” in the workplace. Admittedly,
while there were many businessmen and women (I’ll
affectionately call them the “old school”) who frowned
upon the business casual development, I firmly believe that
the infusion of modern panache into the archetypical
workplace will effectively buffer the formal fashion sector
from the law of diminishing returns.
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2) Color, color,
color! Don’t be afraid to experiment with color – even
if you’re making a pitch to a conservative industry sector
and need to present a high-end business-like appearance.
Wearing a bright colored shirt (solid for a more
conservative appearance or striped/patterned for a more
hip/casual look) with a solid colored suit will certainly
draw some attention – and it injects some ‘life’ into
an otherwise boring suit.
3) Suit fabrics should not be markedly flowing, but instead
crisp. Although pinstripe suits *can* be dressed up or
dressed down (with a plain white shirt underneath for that
sexy look), colors should generally be solid. Black, navy,
brown, khaki are great colors, but my personal favorite is
gray because of its versatility (i.e., you’re not
committed to any one color with gray-unlike black and navy).
Furthermore, unlike khaki, gray can be worn in even the most
conservative of situations.
4) If you can afford it, invest in a custom tailored suit.
Unlike ready-made clothing, which is often not form-fitting
even after it has been tailored, couture designers can craft
a fitted suit that flatters your body type and accentuates
your lines with sleek, sexy (yet conservative!) cuts.
5) Accessorize! Invest in a good pair of shoes – don’t
skimp out on this. The old rule that your shoes must match
your purse has become obsolete - believe it or not – so
long as the combination works with the rest of the outfit
and appropriately compliments one another. Of course, that
doesn’t mean that it’s a fashion faux pas to do so, and,
in fact, is often the safer bet (so go with it if you’re
unsure whether your shoes and purse ‘work’ together). If
you feel like dressing down for an occasion, it’s ok (and
even encouraged) to wear a knit sweater with your suit pants
or skirt to add a different dimension to your business
casual outfit(s). While cotton and/or silk work, don’t
underestimate the power of a cashmere or tweed top as they
work great with a complimentary pant/skirt. With a more
casual top like this, it’s good to go with a more tight
fitting top to show off those curves. Minimize the amount of
jewelry when wearing business suits, but it’s good to wear
a flattering necklace (that doesn’t detract from the lines
of your suit—so don’t make it too flashy!) like a pearl
necklace.
Christine Preetha Philip, is the Designer of ChuChu
Couture.
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