‘Cait, she always wears these gross stripper heels and really low-cut top…but a really nice silk skirt, I just don’t think she gets it!?!?!” This was part of a conversation a girlfriend and I were having about a co-worker of hers recently. Their boss is at her wits end trying to work out how to tell her she has to dress more appropriately for the office.

Fashion is anyones game at the moment and because almost anything now goes, etiquette for dressing in certain situations has been lost in the crowd. Don’t even get me started on what some girls wear to the races, or a job interview – it’s not a nightclub ladies!! And a real lady NEVER takes her shoes off!! But that is for another time. This is all about how us working girls need to pull our socks up and dress for success (I was trying to see how many fashion clichés I could fit into one sentence, you like!?)

Working Girl

You can still look feminine and professional at the same time so here are a few tips on what NOT to do and some better options:

Dont show cleavage, ever (unless you work at Bad Girls etc and that IS part of your job description). If you are wearing something that you think is a little too revealing, wear a camisole, singlet or slip underneath to shield the poor men of this world from staring at the girls during an important marketing meeting (it’s ok boys, we all know you look).

Heels need to be an appropriate height – can you walk in them without doing the 18-yr-old wobble walk (you know what I mean!), in general, work shoes should be closed-in, not strappy. Save the sky-high stilettos for when you hang them over your shoulder walking home from the races…. (again, you know what I’m talking about).

Perfect for work - Jacqui E suit RRP $349.95

Skirts need to sit on or below the knee – you need to be able to sit comfortably in a meeting without the rest of the room knowing what you had for breakfast. You have more important things to worry about, like last months sales figures, to be constantly pulling at your skirt.

See-through clothes are to be left for after dark – If a blouse is sheer, wear a camisole or singlet under it, and one that DOESN’T show bra straps.

Underwear of ANY KIND should not be visible – this includes bra straps (Carrie Bradshaw rocks the black bra under the white singlet but don’t think you boss will get that reference), VPL’s (that’s when you can see your undie lines through your skirt, trousers etc) and the toes of your pantyhose in an open toed shoe.

Rock the frock - SACHA DRAKE Wrap Dress RRP $239

Don’t be afraid of the frock. These days, a great wrap dress can be totally appropriate for the office. In general they are long enough (below the knee), have a 3/4 sleeve and don’t show too much boob (and if you are worried they do, throw on a cami or a full slip under it). Suits are still expected in some workplaces but there are great feminine cuts available now days – you don’t have to have the power-women of the 80’s look, try a suit jacket and slimline skirt (below the knee) from Cue, Jacqui E or Saba to name a few.

Stockings – some workplaces still require women to wear stockings/pantyhose in the office. Try and find a colour that is quite sheer and matches your skin tone. Alternatively, black opaques are a good option in winter worn with a smart pump. Pantyhose are something you should invest a bit of money in, the cheap ones will ladder much quicker and you will end up spending just as much on twice as many pairs, and for goodness sake, always keep a spare pair in your drawer -runs are NOT cool (unless you are an indie rocker, which I guessing you’re not).

If, and I say ONLY IF shorts are appropriate for your workplace, the same rules as a skirt apply. To the knee or longer, no VPL and wear with a heel or wedge to give them a professional edge.

Polish up – Dressing professionally comes down to looking polished.

• Clean and tidy hair whether its worn up or down – although if it’s over the shoulder and gets in the way, maybe think about tying it up.
• Makeup should be worn but keep it simple. Daytime colours such as browns suit most people. A light covering of foundation, a bit of blush, add a stroke of mascara and a bit of lippy or lipgloss – what not to do> Mimi from The Drew Carey show – see right.
• If you wear nail polish on fingers or toes, make sure it is neat with NO CHIPS!! there is nothing that says ‘I don’t care about how I look” more than an unpolished look and chipped nail polish is the number one killer!!
  

  Not really right for work you think?

Make sure your clothes fit properly! If you are bigger in the bust, don’t wear a button-up shirt that pulls across your bust, either get one that is tailored to a bigger bust or wear a knit or stretch blouse. Make sure that your trouser pants are the right length (not too long, not too short – I feel like Goldilocks…). A trouser hem should sit half way up the heel of the shoes you wear most with them.

And the number one, most important rules of corporate dress etiquette? DON”T RUN/WALK TO WORK IN TRAINERS!!!!! The 80’s called and they want their ‘Working Girl’ back. If you walk a distance that you can’t do in your heels, swap them for a cute pair of ballet flats (see here) in winter or flat sandals in summer. Or if you must wear trainers, change the rest of your outfit to match – talk the opportunity to get in some real exercise. Change into your gym gear at work and walk home, or jump on the bus/train a few stops later so you get a good workout in.

Have you ever had a workplace wardrobe ‘incident’? Do your colleges get the office dress code or are you dying to pull them into the nearest Cue store for a full office wardrobe makeover (that doesn’t include Supre and Dotti)?