Cyran
Cyran is the founder and editor-in-chief of Corporate Style Story. She loves good pyjamas, good food and good company.
Cyran is the founder and editor-in-chief of Corporate Style Story. She loves good pyjamas, good food and good company.
I get so many requests from visitors to my blog and followers on Instagram and Twitter about where I have bought things I’m wearing as well as and questions about what to wear to certain events.
I love to share what I find whilst shopping so that you can get inspiration and shop from these posts without trawling the internet or the shops. According to a survey by totaljob.com as as many as 29% of women say that they find dressing for work stressful.
I have certainly stressed out about what to wear to work on occasion and the whole point of starting the blog was to be a destination for working women to find inspiration for what to work and to hopefully the some of the stress out of it.
I love this white double breasted blazer from Marks and Spencer, this will be perfect in warmer months on dress down Friday with jeans (or of course on the weekend!). Things from M&S sell out super quick because they’re spot on style-wise and price-wise so if you like something don’t wait, because it may not be around for long:
This is a great pencil skirt from Boden, it’s great quality and I love how Boden’s pieces fit. This is a classic cut and will be one that you can wear again and again. I like to wear it smartly with a jacket and heels or even dressed down with a more relaxed shirt:
I love this dress, this is another one from Marks and Spencer, the peplum hem is great on the waist and the pattern on this fabric is a nicer option that a plain colour:
Here is another dress, this time from Warehouse. I do love a wrap dress, they create an elusive of a waist if you’re quite straight (like I am) and also give more definition around the waist if you need it. This material falls nicely and I am a lover of polka dots as you may already know!
I think every woman needs a silk shirt in her wardrobe. A real silk shirt. It’s an investment piece and will last forever if you get a good quality one. Marks and Spencer are renowned for their quality and at £69.00 this one such a great entry level silk shirt. It would go perfectly with the Boden pencil skirt and is another piece that also doubles up for the weekend effortlessly:
I really cannot get enough of this coat, I think it’s such a steal and so iconic. the amount of love I got for it on Instagram was testament enough.
I also love this jacket, again this is perfect to wear with the Boden pencil skirt or even a leather pencil skirt (one of my favourite looks). It’s a popular one from Marks and Spencer, so be quick if you want one. This would also be perfect with a pair of jeans a ballet flats on dress down Friday.
What to Wear on Valentine’s Day – ah Valentine’s Day – such a divisive topic. I don’t know of any other day that creates such a reaction in people other than Valentine’s! I have friends who ignore its very existence, others who are total cynics because it’s a commercial holiday and others who buy into it (quite literally) whole heartedly. The latter is usually me.
I’ll be honest with you, I quite like an excuse to celebrate events and milestones, even commercial holidays. I don’t really mind that what used to be a day to mark Saint Valentine’s commemoration is now a commercialised opportunity to buy stuff we don’t need in the name of love, ‘just because’.
When else are you encouraged to make a fuss of one another? When else do you buy your significant other a gift and expect one back (on the same day), besides Christmas?
It’s actually rather difficult to ignore Valentine’s Day nowadays, the balloons, flowers, red heart-shaped paraphernalia everywhere, it quite takes over February, but it’s all in good fun in my eyes. These days, I really don’t think we should dismiss a day to celebrate love or your relationship, if you’re in a couple I think you should be grateful and if you’re not in a relationship, enjoy doing exactly what you want to with your time until that special person comes along. You can spend it with your friends, family or simply indulging yourself for the evening.
Valentine’s Day definitely doesn’t need to be exclusive to couples, my mum has always bought us all a little gift on Valentine’s Day, like heart-shaped chocolates or something which is a nice tradition among us all now. We’ll buy Poppy a little something – I’m thinking an LOL Surprise Doll maybe, as exasperated as I am with finding them all over the house, they are easily the most ethnically diverse toys out there in my opinion, but that’s another blog post. I’ll buy something from her to Daddy and get him a card from her too.
I actually hadn’t heard of Galentine’s Day before this year, but its an alternative to Valentine’s Day or an additional day in my eyes, it’s celebrated on 13th February and is to celebrate female friendships. My friends and I have always celebrated Valentine’s Day together when we’ve been single. They were some of the most fun Valentine’s I’ve had – not remotely romantic – but definitely hilarious!
My husband and I usually go out a cocktail or two on Valentine’s Day, either on the day or the nearest weekend to Valentine’s Day and we exchange gifts (I’ll take a candle or Pjs please darling 😉 ). I have no idea what I want to buy him this year, I’m still looking for inspiration (if you have any ideas or gift idea posts, please leave them in the comments or tweet me – bloggers have the best gift guides ever).
This year we’ve actually decided to do a ‘family date night’ and go for dinner on Valentine’s Day this year – Valentine’s Day is mid-week and half term so Poppy doesn’t need to get up for school in the morning so she can have a little bit of a later night, we’ll book at table at around our usual dinner time and exchange our gifts at dinner. My husband and I will do our own thing and go out on a weekend – when it’s easier to get a babysitter!
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Here are some ideas of what to wear on Valentines Day this year:
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Teddy Coat here | Lip Colour here | Skirt here | ‘Love’ Bracelet here |
‘Love’ Necklace here |Black Camisole here | Balenciaga here | Shoes here
Star Wars Denim Jacket, Gap here | Gold Audacious Nars, here | Cuff Bracelet, here | Cuff Earrings, here | Red beret, here | Ribbed Dress, here | LV Pochette Metis, here | Black Boots Boohoo, here |
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Along with my favourite places to visit in Paris, I want to give you guys the background. I’ve visited Paris lots of times and I’ve been fortunate enough to visit with friends who are either real Parisians or who have lived/worked/studied in Paris to give me the inside scoop. I usually visit France every year – I’m a bit of a Francophile actually!
I wanted to write this post for you all to share my experience of Paris and so that you can have a bit of an authentic experience of the city. Hopefully you can take some of what’s included in this post, along with visiting the usual tourist attractions when you next visit.
Paris is an amazing getaway for a weekend, there is always something to see. I think it’s great for when you don’t have much annual leave left but want to get away.
Season-wise, I prefer city breaks in the colder months, but I’d say that April/May is probably my favourite time, Paris is nice and sunny and not too hot.
This time around, I visited in January (my birthday is on the 19th – remember that). Unfortunately for me it decided to rain for 3 days straight when I arrived this year. We managed to get a 1 hour window on Sunday to shoot rain-free which was a Godsend!
Urban, Effortless, Chic.
Whilst I consider London to be the fashion capital of the world (I have to say that as a Londoner) Paris really has the effortless chic style down. Nobody does this better than Parisians.
I absolutely love the pavement cafés and the fact that Parisians will sit and eat outside even when it’s pouring down with rain and take it all in totally nonchalantly. I’m quite sure that the only people sitting inside are tourists.
I love French womens’ style and their laissez-faire attitude to make-up and beauty. It’s refreshing.
If my French was better (God knows it should be having had lessons since I was 4, sorry Mum) I’d have totally loved to spend some time working in Paris. Who knows, I still might!
Related posts: The Best French Slogan Tops Out Right Now
Paris is a remarkable city of memories for me.
The important stuff. Food. In no particular order my favourite places in Paris to visit to eat:
A casual, no reservations restaurant, serving traditional bistro fare. Constant is an understated but authentic French place to eat. Great for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Try the grilled sea bream with pesto and button mushroom risotto, absolutely divine!
This is a speciality coffee shop in Montemarte serves amazing coffee and is also totally Instagrammable with its huge greenery wall. It totally helps that their coffee is also amazing. There’s lots of space to get ‘that shot’ before you sip your coffee. If the weather is warm, they open the floor to ceiling shop front too.
When rich French cuisine gets too much, this Japanese tea house on Rue Saint-Honoré is an oasis – calm and soothing. Try the miso soup and onigiri combo or if you’re just stopping for something to drink, they make authentic matcha lattes and I can highly recommend the matcha madeleines that come with!
A French “institution” there is only one thing to tell the waitress, how you want your steak cooked. Nothing over medium well be accepted, I tried to order medium-well and was totally dismissed! Expect to queue for at least half an hour (even in the rain!) and don’t ask what is in the sauce that comes with the steak and pomme frites because it’s a secret.
There are lots of places where you can get a plain entrecôte and fries but this place isn’t it! Oh, and your food is served in ‘two halves’, so finish one plate and the next half will automatically served afterwards.
You can take shots from the viewing platform, on the crossing near the carousel at the top or you can head down to Allée des Refuzniks at the foot of the tower way like I did in these shots.
Get a different angle by going to Avenue Silvestre de Say and getting a shot of the Eiffel Tower between buildings. If you want to get pics of the carousel and the Eiffel Tower, head to Promenade Quai Branly.
Insider tip: To our surprise, going early in the morning (“early” being 10am on a Sunday morning) there really weren’t many crowds and we got some great shots. Beware of the cars, we nearly got run over so many times! So worth it though #DoingItForTheGram haha
This much-instagrammed pink restaurant restaurant in Montemarte is so pretty and is another #DoingItForTheGram location. This is one of my favourite places in to visit in Paris.
Insider tip: Again, visit early if you can or even better early evening when the sun is setting at the end of the street.
Fast becoming the most instagrammed street it Paris, this street is so colourful and pretty its a great shot, even prettier in Paris.
This is a great place near the Eiffel Tower to great a spot of lunch and to get the classic French cafe shot. As with all Parisian cafés their are heaters outside so great for any weather. This is where I took my café shots:
Champs Elysees – Come on, this street obviously tops the list. It helps that you can stop for Lauderee Macaron on your way down the street too. there is also a huge Sephore, Louis Vuitton on the corner and every shop you could wish for
Rue Étienne Marcel – I love this area, such cute stores around here. Shinzo Paris for all the cool trainers in the world, around the corner at 64 Rue Tiquetonne, visit Killiwatch for the best vintage ever. On Rue Montemarte you should pay a visit to Comptoir des Cotonniers.
Nose is one of Paris’ prettiest boutiques and is such a cool concept on Rue Montorgueil. Home to perfume houses like Creed, fragrant Diptyque candles, handmade Swedish soaps and shelves filled with gorgeous glass bottles.
I love a hotel. I spend a lot of time researching hotels. Sometimes I like researching hotels more than I do the country! Well not quite, but I can check out the country when I get there, but I need to make a decision about my hotel before I arrive. Here are some of my favourite places in Paris to stay:
I love a hotel that caters to families with all the trimmings without expecting us to accept a lower standard just because we’re travelling with children. We stayed at this hotel in Bordeaux and the Paris equivalent is just as gorgeous and has a great location. Even if you’re not staying, go for brunch.
Is recently opened in Paris. My friend Yod who runs brand agency and concept store, Yod and Co absolutely loves this place and I love the styling. Similar to the Hoxton and Shoreditch equivalents in London, it really works in Paris. Its such a stylish Hotel and they have great space to work in as well.
Is another family-friendly hotel and apartment location which caters to children. The apartments are sleek and have kitchenettes which is great for when you need a break from the bistro-life. They have a great concierge and a great location. I love the minimalist decor too.
I love Paris, and it’s such a great city to travel to with lots of culture – highly recommended and totally Instagrammable!
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French slogan tops are super popular. Before my most recent birthday jaunt to Paris, I went on the hunt for some of the best ones on the internet, I thought it would be a great way to channel my inner French-girl chic.
I’m a self-confessed Francophile. I love French culture and French food. Last year we visited Bordeaux for the first time (highly recommended) and this year I planned to meet my friends in Paris again. You just can’t get enough of Paris.
French slogan tops are a great way to Frenchify your wardrobe, without buying a plane ticket. I’ve always been a fan of French slogan tops, there are some brands that bring them out every season. I love buying them, figuring out what they say and wearing them according to my mood.
New Look Cream J’Adore Print Rolled Sleeve T-Shirt £7.99
No translation required. A Perfect one for Valentine’s Day.
Whistles Red C’est La Vie Sweatshirt, £79.00
That’s life. On a Jumper.
River Island Black Comme Ci Glitter T-Shirt, £17.99
The oh so French answer to “How are you?” – “So so”.
Chinti & Parker (at Net-a-Porter) Bonjour Bonsoir Intarsia Cashmere Sweater, £275
Bonjour on the front, Bonsoir on the back. Genius.
Whistles Red “Parisien” Sweatshirt, £79.00
Really blend in with the locals.
New Look, Green Jolie Print T-Shirt, £7.99
Meaning “pretty” or “pretty one”. Just make sure you pronounce it properly.
New Look, Red La Femme Slogan Jumper, £19.99
Surely there’s no need to translate this one.
H&M Light Grey Marl Bisous T-shirt, £8.99
Pucker up. Bisous simply means, “kisses”.
New Look Grey Je Ne Sais Quoi Embroidered T-Shirt, £9.99
A certain quality that cannot be named or described easily. So French.
Sezanne Demain T-Shirt, £45
Available to buy on 5th February, order here.
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Here is another ‘5 Work Outfits to Copy from Instagram’ post, because it’s my first full week back at work and I know I’ll definitely need some inspiration for outfits. Plus, if there’s ever a way to get over the January blues, looking and feeling great is a great start.
I love starting the week off strong and this energising electric blue colour is perfect for a Monday morning when everyone needs a little bit of an extra push. I particularly love the neutral bag and the silver shoes – so chic. Add some silver jewellery and some pearls and this is the perfect work outfit to kick off Monday.
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I love this berry colour, its such a flattering colour on any skin tone. I particularly love how Maddy has styled these with a grey cashmere wrap – such a cool look.
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I got a lot of love for this work outfit on Instagram just before Christmas. I do love to layer pieces and play with different textures. An otherwise off limits leather skirt is wearable in the office with tights and a smart blouse. I also love my Prince of Wales check blazer (similar here from Topshop), it’s an instantly stylish item.
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I love Lisa’s style, she mixes print and colour into her work outfits so well and has an enviable shoe and accessories collection. I love this pleated skirt with a simple cashmere jumper, whilst the velvet mustard colour is quite tough to get hold of, any pleated skirt will work to create this work outfit – love it!
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These red accents give this look a Parisian inspired look without looking too OTT. If you can’t wear ripped jeans to work (definitely not in a conservative environment) then substitute these for dark smart denim. I love flats shoes and work outfits like this can totally work without heels – these red loafers are a perfect complement. A perfect work outfit to see you through Friday!
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With the New Year fast approaching, lots of people will be thinking about their new year’s resolutions or perhaps they’re just thinking about what to wear out to celebrate on NYE and welcome in 2018?? Whether you want to lose weight, save money, stop smoking or eat more healthily, statistically about 80% of adults will fail to keep their New Years resolutions.
This year, whilst writing this gratitude post, I realised that quite by accident I’ve applied a process to setting my New Years resolutions that I find works really well for me and I’ll explain why in a sec.
When I hear the phrase “New Years resolution”, it sounds a bit gimmicky, like a fictional, weird phrase we just bandy about at this time of year.
When I think of New Years resolutions, I think of things that we may attempt to do in January but have taken zero steps to start at any other time of the year. Usually, we will attempt to make changes that are so drastic that we’re bound to fail, especially as we’re trying to make these changes just because the clock struck midnight on a particular day of the year.
What happened to making these changes when we’re ready?
Once we’ve completed some smaller steps that together will lead us to the bigger drastic change over time?
Often, we’re not emotionally or psychologically ready to make such changes in our lives and if we’re not ready we’re not going to be successful and there’s nothing like an unattained new year’s resolution to make us reluctant to set another one.
So with that being said, I had a think about what I do towards the end of the year that works really well for me and they’re really simple things:
This is a necessary way to begin the year. I recently read Marie Kondo’s, Spark Joy – An Illustrated Guide to the Japanese Art of Tidying, after seeing a friend with the book I wondered what kind of book was describing tidying as an ‘art form’?! Needless to say that I subsequently discovered it wasn’t a humorous novel and it’s honestly is a great read, Kondo’s work is an art form and it really motivated me to de-clutter. I’m not a huge fan of the sterile, “show home” look but I do advocate regular decluttering (zero clue as to how we managed to keep so much stuff in our previous home) and decluttering and clearing out is a great way to start the year – it genuinely makes your home environment feel lighter.
It also makes way for all the great things I’ve no doubt bought in the January sales…
It’s also really important for me to look back over the year and to make a note of all the amazing things that have happened. To be grateful for all of the things I’ve experienced, the challenges I’ve faced and to note the lessons I’ve learned. I take this time to appreciate the person I’ve become in the last year.
My Birthday is in January, so it’s a perfect time to plan a little celebration and to kick off the year. Having a birthday in January isn’t the most welcomed by friends and family after the festive period, so it’s a perfect time for me to make a fuss of myself! I never work on my birthday (which means I’ve never taken cakes into the office) and I like being away from home for at least the whole day. Last year I spent some time at Soho Farmhouse which is gorgeous place to spend the day with yourself and to really relax in the heated outdoor swimming pool (yes in January) and their spa.
You can still totally celebrate the new year without subscribing to NYE countdowns, hangovers or taking time off work. I have found that just the time to reflect and the self-acknowledgment is enough and gives me the confidence that I’ve taken stock of the lessons from the previous year and given myself a pat on the back for my accomplishments.
Reflecting and taking time for yourself can be such a luxury in our busy lifestyles. However you choose to reflect is up to you, but if you only do one thing before the end of the year, it’s this one because you can’t fail to have a better year when you take time to analyse the last one.
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Only when armed with the reflections of the year that has passed, do I spend some time deciding what I what I want to do and what I’m ready to do. I think about the next logical thing I want to do instead of creating some sort of ‘major’ thing – I’m not trying to impress anybody.
I use this opportunity to think about the new skills I want to cultivate, the old habits I want to get rid of, new habits I want to form and what I need to do to get organised for the coming year in order to feel more prepared.
This is the real differentiating factor for me. Whatever you do, don’t call them ‘New Years resolutions’, the phrase has such negative connotations associated with it. By replacing it with something more positive by calling them ‘goals’ or ‘decisions’ and making sure you’ve taken time to reflect, you’ll feel a lot more confident about the decisions you’ve made for the year ahead.
Lots of people share their New Years resolutions from an accountability perspective so that they’re committed to achieving the goal, Mark Zuckerberg does this so you’re in good company if you choose to. You can share with your friends or on social media, Twitter would be great for this.
You can follow me on Twitter here.
I’m a huge fan of physically writing down goals that I want to achieve in on of my snazzy notebooks. For me, the process of writing things down almost ‘activates’ something in me. Try it.
Visualise yourself doing the thing you’re trying to achieve in your mind. This one goes hand in hand with making sure you’re ready to do something. If it feels forced or you can’t see yourself achieving it, chances are it won’t happen.
Either way, however you choose to set goals for the year ahead don’t be too harsh on yourself, make sure you have fun and forget the naysayers. Use a new year to set goals to impress nobody but yourself.
If you have any tips for starting off the year well and what works for you, I’d love to hear them, you can leave them below or send them to me via social media.
Image via Observer.com
As we draw near to the end of 2017, I’m sitting at my computer on Saturday 23rd December 2017 and thinking back over the year of so many great things that have happened during 2017.
Gratitude is so important in every day life, I am teaching Poppy how to be grateful and what it means. At the moment she says she is grateful for things that are coming (like Christmas!) which is not exactly what I’m getting at, but we’ll get there.
I am so grateful for Poppy and my husband. I cannot tell you how grateful I am to have such an amazing little person in my life. These two make me a better human being. I can’t wait to grow old together.
This time last year December 2016, we had just reserved the house we moved into this year. It was all a bit of a whirlwind at the time, but we’ve been here for 8 months now and it’s starting to come together. As it was new build, there wasn’t much to do inside, except to make it homely and we’re gradually doing that (once the settling in cracks have been plastered over!). This house is perfect for us and we’re all loving life in this place. We’re totally in love with this house and so grateful that we’re here.
I’m so grateful that my family are so bloody amazing. I have a really close relationship with my sisters, brothers, mum, dad, even aunts, uncles and cousins – all of them I’m so grateful for, because I feel like I have a huge team behind me. They are all brilliant in their own right and I know how important family is. I’m also grateful for the family I’ve inherited from my husband, they all add something to my life that I’m grateful for.
I’ve had my close circle of friends since I was in school, we’ve got the old, embarrassing pictures to prove it and I have added a few other friends along the way. My circle is small but it’s perfectly formed. They’re the people who are genuinely happy for me when things go well , regardless of what is happening in their own lives and they are there for me when they’re not going so well.
Since I started blogging I’ve also added lots of formidable and supportive women to my friendship group and they know who they are. They’re the ones commenting on my Instagram posts, reading my blogs and checking in on me if I haven’t posted in a while to see how things are. I’ve met lots of them IRL during 2017 and I will meet more of them this year.
Cheers to good friends, I’m so lucky to have you!
This goes without saying. I am so grateful for my health and that of my family. Truth be told, I rarely get ill. I haven’t had a cold since in forever. However, this isn’t true for everyone of course and I am very grateful for the NHS that looks after everyone if and when they are ill, because it’s amazing, I don’t know what we’d do without it.
I’m going to be brutally honest, I can’t be around “doom and gloom” people for very long, but considering this is a gratitude post, I’m going to say that I’m grateful to them too because they remind me to stay on track! I’m a glass half full girl, I will have a rant when I need to rant, but the majority of the time I focus on what I want rather than what I don’t have.
At the moment my labour of love is my day job and my blog. You know what they say, “do something you love and you’ll never work a day in your life”. I chose a vocation and an environment that I truly enjoy and I’m very lucky that I do what I love everyday.
It’s really important for me to be grateful about my financial stability. I’m so thankful for all of the lessons that I’ve learned and the current financial state that I’m in. It’s important not to take money for granted, especially if you want to make more of it. I am grateful that I can give some to charities to support their work and I currently support the NSPCC and RNIB and their life-changing work.
London has been through a lot in 2017, I’m grateful for the Capital’s resilience during some tough times with terror attacks for example. Politically, there were some difficult discussions around Brexit and we’re yet to see how that will pan out. But just strolling around London and seeing how beautiful it is and how courteous people generally are, I’m confident that things will get better. I’m really proud to say that it’s where I’m from!
I’m grateful that my Christmas is spent how I want to spend it, with our own family traditions which we’re cultivating along the way. Christmas dinner with a few too many of us sat around the table (is Christmas even Christmas without fold-out chairs?!) gorgeous food and fun and loving company. Silly games and gifts exchanged, I’m grateful that this is a great time of year for us all, because I’m aware that it’s not like that for everyone.
This is a different kind of post for me, but I think it’s important to at least round off the year by saying thank you for everything you have. What are you grateful for?
Ah the festive season! I have always loved Christmas. I love all the traditions, I love all of the food and the family gatherings and silliness and I would be lying if I didn’t love the gift giving.
We’re down to the last week of shopping before Christmas, there are still some steals to be found and some great gifts to be purchased as a result. The best things about holiday gift shopping later on in December is that some stores have already launched their sales (hooray!) and not everyone is shopping (these are the people that finished early), so it’s to be expected that you’ll find some great gifts.
Last Minute Christmas Delivery Dates:
One of my favorite times of year and so Christmas parties are looming – I know some of yours are happening this week. I’ve had lots of requests for a post dealing with ‘what to wear to the office Christmas party’, so here goes.
Dressing for the office Christmas party can be tricky, it’s a party but you’re still with your colleagues and so effectively it’s still “business”. You can relax and let loose but remember you still have to see those same co-workers around the boardroom table at your next meeting, so avoid embarrassment of being inappropriately dressed or a wardrobe malfunction and have a read of what I’ve learned over the years about dressing for the office Christmas party. How to deal with the “what to wear to the office Christmas Party” conundrum?
I’ve been to black tie Christmas parties and I’ve been to Christmas parties held at a bar or nightclub. Obviously what i’d wear to the former won’t work for the latter, but their is always a dress code. Find out what it is.
Yes you can loosen up at Christmas but you still want your colleagues to keep their eyes above your neck – if you wouldn’t wear it that low during the office day, I say it’s not one to wear to the office Christmas party. None of those deep v-neck plunge dresses for the office Christmas party, keep those for nights out on the tiles with friends if you must wear them.
I think it’s best to err on the side of caution when it comes to dress/skirt lengths for the Christmas party. I don’t typically prescribe to the “2 inches above the knee” or “Bic Biro length above the knee” kind of rules. If a skirt needs frequent yanking down or adjusting or if it doesn’t cover my bottom when I sit down – its too short, so I stick with that.
Jeans are too casual for the office Christmas party. You definitely don’t need to wear a dress and I’m a huge fan of wearing trousers to special events but jeans just aren’t special enough, it’s not dress down Friday it’s a celebration make an effort.
Just because your outfit may not have a plunging neckline or be super short, doesn’t mean you can’t go to town with the shoes! Heck, go sky high if you want to, sparkles, platforms (which I say to avoid wearing to the office in this post), feathers – go to town!
Check the lighting in daylight and bright light and make sure that it’s not too see-through. There will be lots of pics being taken. You have been warned!
If in doubt, keep it classy and keep it conservative, get to know your colleagues and have fun. Statement earrings, fabulous shoes and a gorgeous bag are great ways to show your personality too. Have fun and keep it professional.
Last weekend, I attended the Urban Lawyers Careers Conference and for the first time in my life it was to be a speaker. I was ecstatic when the organisers invited me by getting touch on Twitter. When I started my blog just over a year ago, my intention was to curate outfit inspiration for dressing for work but I had also hoped that I’d be able to have some interaction with young and aspiring lawyers. I wanted to pass on my experience and knowledge in a conversational and open way.
So last Saturday, I traveled back into the City to Herbert Smith Freehills (with grey skies and rain overhead might I add) to network with some old faces, hear the amazing speakers and to share some of my own nuggets of wisdom with the attendees.
I turned my slides into a blog post as some of the delegates asked for them and I thought these would be more useful and I can keep them updated.
This post is also a good read if you’ve been out of the workplace for quite a while or returning from a lengthy maternity leave.
Buy the best you can afford – you should consider your work wardrobe an investment. My suggestion is to separate your work wear pieces from those you wear on the weekend. If you can keep them in separate sections of your wardrobe – even better – experts say that your suits shouldn’t be touching in your wardrobe. This is not only to keep those work pieces lasting longer but, as heralded by Arianna Huffington in her new book, much like wearing pajamas for bed, your brain gets into a particular mode when you wear specific clothes for a specific purpose. Just like a uniform, you become focused on the thing you’re supposed to be doing in those particular clothes.
People often spend all of their hard earned wages on gorgeous things to wear for the weekend when we get the least amount of time to enjoy in them. There’s a real difference in what I wear on the weekend and the work wear pieces I wear during the week. Not least of all because I’m running around after a small person on the weekend and need to be comfortable, but also because I really can forget about the rules of dressing for the office and wear whatever I want!
REMEMBER: This tip is not an excuse to go out buying extravagant Prada suits to wear to work. Be sensible and stay within your budget, my suggestion is to try to buy one new piece per month if you can.
Buy investment pieces – by this I mean that when you do buy ‘the best you can afford’, buy quality work wear that will stand the test of time in natural fabrics and in cuts that are flattering.
Make sure your clothes fit properly – Your clothes shouldn’t be too tight and I would suggest buying a size bigger and having them altered down if necessary. Finding a good tailor is a must for situations like this and some stores have altering services for pieces you buy from them which are usually very good.
Less is more when it comes to jewelry – Jewelry should be classic and discreet. I do think that statement necklaces can be worn if you’re wearing a simple dress and if you’re in a less conservative environment. I think that dress watches are the epitome of elegance, dress watches go perfectly with smart suiting, so if you do wear a watch have a look for a dress watch. But generally speaking, you should err on the side of caution with jewelry.
I get asked this question all the time via email, so here is a list of the staple items that every woman needs in her wardrobe:
Here are the staple items that every man starting out in the corporate world needs in his work wardrobe:
I hope you found this useful, I’ll be writing another post about Dress Down Friday next week, so please subscribe so that you don’t miss it. If you have any suggestions of questions you can let them in the comments below. Check out my Black Friday and Cyber Monday post for the latest discount links so you can get the best prices on some of these work wear pieces.
Thanks for reading!
Each year Black Friday deals get better and better, this year is no exception with deals starting now and stretching into next week. My inbox has been heaving with codes and discount from so many brands.
The discount codes below are live NOW and I’ve added my edit of the best things to buy now – party dresses especially
Now is a great time to start your Christmas shopping if you haven’t already, retailers offer bigger discounts at this time of year as they anticipate more sales being made today and over the course of the week.
Click on the retailer to shop
ASOS – 20% off everything with code WIN20
I’ve linked some of my favourite party dresses for the festive season below:
MANGO – 30% off everything with code Black17
TOPSHOP — Get up to 50% off and free shipping.
J.Crew — Take 30% off everything with code GOSHOP.
GAP – Black Friday offers live now, use code BLKFRIDAY
Nike — Take an extra 25% off sale styles with code EPIC25.
Intermix — Get 40% off select full-priced styles.
SHEIN – Buy one get one 99% off.
FARFETCH — Up to 50% off.
URBAN OUTFITTERS — Buy one, get one 50% off.
BOOHOO — 50% off everything.
LUISAVIAROMA — 20% off with the code BFSUS17.
MACY’S — Take 20% off Black Friday with code HURRY.
MATCHESFASHION.COM —Up to 50% off
MODA OPERANDI — 30% off sale with 30EXTRA
NEIMAN MARCUS — $50 off $200 with code THANKFUL
NET-A-PORTER — Up to 50% off with new styles.
NORDSTROM: Take an extra 20% off select sale items.
OUTNET – Extra 10% off new arrivals with the code FRIYAY.
REVOLVE — Up to 50% off sale styles.
SAKS – Up to 60% off use code BLKFRI17.
SHOPBOP — Up to 75% off sale items and 30% off full-priced styles with code MORE17.
SSENSE — Up to 50% off.
YOOX — Up to an 60% off.
Hawes and Curtis – Up to 50% off online.
I love this polka dot shirt.
UK: 40% off use code BLACKFRIDAY
(US, CA, DE, IT, PL): up to 40% shop with this link
Image via timeout.com
My round up of the best Chanel Style Jackets on the internet, perfect with a pencil skirt for work or with jeans and boots on the weekend for brunch (my fav!)
$495.00
English Limited Edition Tweed Jacket, Winser London
I never did like chocolate as a child so I missed the whole advent calendar thing growing up – I popped all the windows open, but I didn’t really care what was inside, I was more interested in the countdown to Christmas Day. So when I first discovered luxury advent calendars for grown-ups, I thought they were a brilliant idea. Last year we bought Poppy this Playdough calendar which she loved and was a good alternative to chocolate each morning! Before you buy yourself a standard chocolate advent calendar this year, check out my shortlist of the best beauty advent calendars for 2017. You’ll have to get in there early because they sell out fast, keep checking back for updates…
I am a huge Diptique fan, I’m waiting to find a place to put the huge 1500g one in our new house. I love the different gift boxes you can buy at Christmas and this advent calendar includes 25 of the gorgeous treasures to discover in the run up to Christmas. Mini candles 25g, hand and body products, eau de toilette and a 70g candle = a gorgeous smelling you and home.
This is the first ever beauty advent calendar from John Lewis including a mixture of both 25 full sized and miniature luxury beauty products. The calendar includes some of my favourites including Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream, Bobbi Brown Smokey Mascara, Nars Blush in Orgasm and Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant. From what I’ve seen, this is definitely one of my favourites.
I love the Charlotte Tilbury range, I have a few of the pieces that bloggers have raved about when the collection first launched, like the Filmstar Bronze and Glow (which is amazing). This luxury advent calendar includes make-up as well as skincare and is the total package for any make-up lover.
L’Occitane are back for a second year with 25 of their best-selling products making their advent calendar is a great way to discover some new favourites. I love L’Occitane’s almond range, the peony hand cream and their verbena soap, all smell gorgeos.
More gorgeous candles and smellies in a Christmas advent calendar and this time they’re from Jo Malone. This is on a par with the Diptique advent calendar above in terms of the miniature treats inside. I love the Georgian townhouse packaging and receiving Jo Malone goodies every day for a month would be enough to get me out of bed super early on time every day!
This is available exclusively at Harrods and goes on sale in November.
Last but not least, is this gorgeous advent calendar from OPI. It contains 25 miniatures and features bold reds, standout metallics, purple, charcoal and black hues. There is something for everyone and it’s a pretty complete polish collection. For those of us who love changing our nail colour freqently!
Will you be going for chocolate or beauty treats this Christmas?
Here is another ‘5 Work Outfits to Copy from Instagram’ post this week, with a focus on transitional looks because it’s not bitterly cold out yet and some of our Summer pieces will still work day to day and we should get the most out of them. Weather-wise London certainly is very mild at the moment, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t start looking at in this year’s coats for when the weather really gets chilly.
Ah the classic navy suit. A necessary addition to any business woman’s wardrobe (they’re personally my favourite for an interview). I really like how Nessa has styled this with a silk camisole underneath instead of a shirt and this look is a great way to start off the week. I tend to have most meetings and see more people at the beginning of the week so I like to start off strong!
Get the look:
Winter whites! I know we’re not officially into “Winter” yet but I do love white trousers as a transitional wardrobe piece, even in colder weather. You can still grab a pair on sale, I love these ones from Hobbs and you can always wear them next Summer too, so win:win. Pair with a black tuxedo blazer, breton top and nude heels and job done!
Get the look:
This look will totally work for transitional weather, I personally love a pencil skirt and a boucle jacket, it’s such a smart and stylish look! If it’s chilly, I’m a fan of wearing a silk cami under the shirt. Lillian’s vintage Chanel pulls the whole thing together, she looks great. I personally love drooling over vintage Chanel on Vestiare Collective but I haven’t got around to buying vintage designer bags yet. I am still waiting for my mother to gift me her collection! Nudge nudge, if you’re reading mum! 😉
This is such an easy look to copy, pleated skirt, check, patterned shirt, check! Perhaps in London we need to be thinking about court shoes and hanging up the block heel sandals but this is still a gorgeous outfit that you can quite easily copy for work this week. Add block-heeled court shoes or pointed midi flats and you’re good to go.
If Friday means a dressed down day for you, it doesn’t have to mean jeans. I really love a relaxed smart look, like this oversize shirt and cigarette pants worn by Andy. The structured bag adds more of a smart look to an otherwise super casual outfit. I think it’s perfect for a Friday.
November’s magazines are filled with this season’s gorgeous winter coats and I’ve curated a list of 10 winter coats that are perfect for a commute and that I also consider inject a bit of personal style to complement your business looks.
Although the weather is quite changeable – who would have thought we’d have temperatures in the high 20s in October?! In any event, there are savvy shoppers out there and coats are already flying off the shelves. Consequently, I’ve learned its good to be organised and to get in there early, so here is my pick of winter coats for you all:
Every wardrobe needs a good camel coat and this is a truly timeless piece and a good investment coat for your work wardrobe. I have one like this myself and a calf length design is great for a tailored look. This winter coat has quite a form fitting cut which is instantly smart.
I’m loving the ‘Winter whites’ trend this season and this trench coat is a great take on the classic. It’s a great one for commuting as its very light and you can wear this one right now with the changeable weather in London what it is at the moment.
Anything pink or red is a major trend this season and this coat is a gorgeous statement colour, I and the shape of this means it will cover most outfits so you can wear pretty much anything underneath. I personally love belted coats, I’m a huge fan of the ‘dressing gown’ vibe. This coat style keeps you ultra warm in winter due to the wrap of fabric across the front. Great if you walk to work or the station or if you’re outside a lot.
This is a military style coat with a corseted style waist. I like this one for colder days as it’s so long and will keep you warm. You can’t go wrong with a navy coat either, this is a perfect classic addition to your work wardrobe. The deep pockets would be great if you’ve forgotten your gloves too!
As unlikely as this may seem for a work coat, I think that this can totally be worn with a white blouse and a pair of wide leg trousers and still be really smart and business appropriate. This dark floral coat from Topshop is a great way to incorporate the floral trend for autumn. Plus, it’d be great over a dress for evenings out.
Heritage checked anything is another big trend this season and I am in love with anything from the L.K. Bennett collection at the moment. They’re definitely my go-to shoe store for classic work shoes. Their coats are also gorgeous and this one fits really well.
Another belted wool trenchcoat for winter, this time in red which is perfectly on trend but also an investment piece. I’d gladly have this style in every colour – I think it’s so versatile and easy to wear. This also comes in the lovely rich indigo blue and Reiss sizes go down to a 4 for the petite among us.
I’ve been going on a bit about the belted coats and how much I love them, but you cannot underestimate the simple single-breasted wool coat. This is a great choice to wear over a suit or a blazer and will keep you cooler than a belted coat if you’re rushing around or on the Tube or Subway.
This coat is a quiet statement coat that’s suitable for the office, I love the fluted sleeves and concealed buttons. Banana Republic sizes can come up quite generous so I take a size smaller that I do in UK sizing. All of this plus I’m just a sucker for a camel coat.
I love the pattern of this Zara boucle coat and the fact that this has quite a masculine fit to it. I think I’d probably wear this over jeans for dress-down Friday. But I’d equally wear it over a navy or grey trouser suit.
Researchers have conducted studies into procrastination and I’m certain its because its virtually every human being procrastinates at some point.
Procrastination is the habit of putting off important tasks for more enjoyable ones. My procrastination acts of choice include checking my Twitter, Instagram, shopping online and checking out hotels I’d like to visit.
Procrastination not simply being lazy or disorganised. Sure, a prioritised to-do list or schedule will help. But doubting that you have the skills or resources you think you need to get the tasks done, so you seek comfort in doing tasks that you know you’re capable of doing.
Procrastination as Stress Management?
Mel Robbins in her new book the 5 Second Rule, suggests that procrastination may well be a form of stress management. The act of procrastinating and putting off tasks gives us a sense of control when we’re feeling overwhelmed or under stress.
The key to procrastination is focus, when we have a mammoth task in front of us its very easy to feel like we’re trying to literally move a mountain. Break down the task into smaller tasks so that it feels more manageable. It is scientifically proven to be easier to get going with a smaller piece of work.
Research has shown that when breaking a task down, it’s not necessary to start with the easiest task, it’s just to start with any task – just to get some momentum.
A trick of mine when I’m struggling to focus to listen to the right kind of music whilst I’m working. I have used classical music since my school days to help me focus which is scientifically proven to create the ‘Mozart Effect’.
A colleague recently introduced me to brain.fm as an alternative and I love it! You’ll be amazed at how well you just get your head down and avoid procrastinating when you’re listening to it. Just make sure you select the tracks for “focus” and not “sleep” otherwise you’ll probably fall asleep under your desk.
Setting a deadline for a task is a powerful tool in the fight against procrastination. The old proverb ‘the work expands to fill the time’ is an adage coined by the twentieth-century British scholar C. Northcote Parkinson and is known as Parkinson’s Law. Parkinson’s Law states that people usually take all the time allotted (and frequently more) to accomplish any task.
Ever noticed how pretty much everyone is writing up until the last second of an exam? Or that the deadline set on that project your boss set for you to complete has you racing to complete it literally at the time its due? There’s a science to that.
Setting deadlines that are well before the completion date or better yet, set the deadline as one that is due to be completed now and this has a power over your procrastinating habit to get things done.
If you haven’t read the book by Brian Tracy you really should. With a subtitle like, ’21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time’, this book has great tips for beating procrastination.
My favoruite is to ask myself the question, ‘What action can I take in less than five minutes that can move me closer to my goal’? I set a timer for 5 minutes and work on the task for that long and then stop. Gradually building up to 30/60/90 minutes at a time.
Even starting for a short period of time means that you’re much more likely to finish a task because it stays in our minds. This is due to a psychological phenomenon referred to as the Zeigarnik effect, which says that unfinished tasks are more likely to get stuck in your memory. This is precisely the reason why we remember a cliffhanger, because its unfinished. (Game of Thrones anyone?!)
Research has shown that the more you can forgive yourself for past procrastination, the more likely you to get things done. The idea is to unburden yourself from the past transgression of procrastinating so that you can focus on the task at hand.
Research following university students who did this during their studies showed a difference in exam results in the second exam when they exercised self-compassion. for procrastinating when studying for the first exam.
Saying something like “I forgive myself for procrastinating, I can now focus on the task at hand” is enough to give effect to this powerful tool and if you feel silly, just remind yourself that this is back by science!
This is my favourite tip-plus-tool-in-one; I recently discovered this reading ‘The 5 Second Rule’ by Mel Robbins mentioned above. Essentially, counting down “5,4,3,2,1” and after which getting up and moving, physically taking action to do something to move you towards completing what you need to work on. Even doing a little thing. It really does work.
Mel Robbins recommends setting your morning alarm half an hour earlier and instead of snoozing (she talks about exactly why you should never hit snooze in the book too) you count down “5,4,3,2,1” and get out of bed. I’ve been using it and it really helps to form new habits.
The 5 Second Rule, decreases your propensity to procrastinate because it develops a bias towards action. To help you stop thinking and start doing.
I wanted to finish on a popular Instagram post of mine, which is a quote I say to myself frequently and one that I once heard one of my most successful friends say:
If ever I need to motivate myself, I question myself on how I am spending the most finite resource on earth: time. Everyone has the same 24 hours. Once it’s gone, it’s gone. Spend it wisely.
Share your tips for beating procrastination below!
First on the list of our things to do in London this weekend list, is 51st State Festival. After a sold out debut last Summer, 51st State Festival is back this year to showcase the best in house music at London’s Trent Park. The event features one of the best line ups ever and includes Matt Jam Lamont, Basement Jaxx and the Artful Dodger – we can’t wait! There are literally a handful of tickets left here.
Saturday, Trent Country Park, Barnet
If something more chilled is your vibe this weekend, then the London Craft Beer Festival in Shoreditch is celebrating its 5th year in the Capital. You can expect DJ sets from Hot Chip and Foals and lots of food. You can also try hundreds of beers to choose from. Why ever not?!
Shoreditch Electric Light Station, Hoxton Square
Third in our 5 things to do in London this weekend is ShoutOut Live, London’s first podcast festival. Podcasts are more popular than ever, so what better time for a festival celebrating them. ShoutOut Live! is set to introduce Londoners to the best of the US podcast scene as well as celebrating our own home grown talent.
Saturday, Bedford Way, Russell Square
A multi-arts extravaganza on London’s South Bank, featuring affordable comedy, circus, cabaret and children’s shows, street food and one of the largest outdoor bars in London.
Saturday and Sunday, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX
Frieze’s first-ever summer display in the English Gardens of The Regent’s Park brings together 25 new and significant works by leading 20th-century and contemporary artists from around the world. Entry is free too.
English Garden, Regent’s Park
I’m going to dive straight into it this week, the feedback I’ve received from you guys is that you really enjoy these posts and I really like collating them, so I’m going to make these posts a priority each week.
1. TWO CORPORATE GIRLS
I’ve been following these girls since I started blogging. I love their work outfits, they’re classic and stylish and there are lots of them.
2. PAM HETLINGER
Pam is a lifestyle blogger with impeccable style, she not only does the on trend stuff amazingly well, but she also does the classic looks that translate into perfect work outfits.
I’d suggest making sure that the tie shirt is appropriate for your office before styling it like this. If not, you can wear this work outfit with a normal shirt and just tie it for apres-work drinks.
3. ALWAYS MISS FANCY PANTS
I do love a fine knit top as a smart alternative to a good quality t-shirt or other simple top to pair with a pencil skirt. This work outfit works really well for Summer – loving these colours!
4. CHIC WORK CHICK
Loving wrap around skirts this season, especially textured ones like this in suede. This is quite a relaxed look with the slouchy cheesecloth shirt, so make sure it works for your environment. But this work outfit is another love of mine this week.
5. CORPORATE STYLE STORY
Jeans and any blazer is a yes from me on a Friday. A dressed down double-breasted blazer is one of my favourites, check out my post for my tips on this work outfit here. I talk about styling a double-breasted blazer as one of your work outfits but also for the weekend.
Have a great week!
Ah the double breasted blazer…this is actually my favourite kind of blazer to wear to the office or the occasional meetings. You feel instantly smart and put together and its an altogether more interesting look than its single-breasted cousin. Whilst they’re really on trend at the moment, they will also stand the test of time in your working wardrobe, so they’re a really good investment.
Double-breasted blazers work in any season and as I mentioned their popularity has been on the rise recently – the Balmain blazer can be seen on everyone from celebs to bloggers.
I’m yet to see the Balmain Blazer in the boardroom as I think it’s a little ostentatious for everyday business wear, but a double-breasted blazer is smart look that definitely translates to a smart off-duty look as seen on these guys:
Double-breasted blazers are, in my opinion, the easiest kind of suiting to wear. They look instantly smart and look super stylish. Here are 3 different ways to wear this look to work:
To keep your double-breasted blazer on the smart end of the spectrum, wear it with matching trousers, as part of a suit with heels and a shirt (ignore the fact that these models are sans shirt!):
Somewhere in the middle but still a smart look, is a double breasted blazer with jeans a heels:
A super casual way to wear a double-breasted blazer is with a t-shirt and fresh white trainers, which is how lots of celebs like to wear the Balmain blazer. If you intend to wear this to work, be sure that the environment you’re in is suitable for such a casual look.
Dress down Friday doesn’t automatically mean that you can wear trainers or sneakers, so unless you’re in the creative industry or a really laid back environment (like IT, possibly), be sure that this look is appropriate.
If you’re wearing this look on the weekend then fresh white trainers it is!
The rules about when to button a double breasted blazer are less strict than a single breasted blazer. So they’re perfect to wear in Summer because they can be worn unbuttoned without breaking any major fashion rules or suiting etiquette.
I love these double breasted blazers for warmer months as they come in lighter colours and lighter fabrics and have a less structured fit:
Cream Double Breasted Blazer
Double-Breasted Blazer in Italian Cotton
(reduced from £218.00)
Seersucker Double Breasted Blazer
(Reduced from £380.00)
I particularly love wearing double breasted blazer when it’s chilly because you can wrap the blazer around you and do up the buttons to keep you a bit warmer. They’re usually made of heavier fabrics and here are a pick of some favs:
Cameo Double Breasted Blazer
(Reduced from £295)
Tiorna Double Breasted Blazer
Double Breasted Wool Twill Blazer
Do you like double breasted blazers or do you think that they’re the reserve of Patrick Bateman in American Psycho? Let me know what you think!
What to wear when it’s hot outside and air-conditioned inside? Light, natural fabrics with short sleeves or no sleeves, plus a linen jacket if you’re in a conservative environment that you can whip off the moment you step outside!
Here’s my pick of 10 dresses that are perfect for the office this Summer. They’re all under £100.00, but be quick some are in the sale!
Whistles, £49.00
Whistles, £80.00 (reduced from £119.00)
HM, £24.99
Broderie Angliase Blouse Dress
& Other Stories, £69.00
Whistles, £85.00 (reduced from £110.00)
Topshop, £65.00
French Connection, £25.00 (reduced from £85.00)
Cos, £59.00
£95.00 (reduced from £195.00)
Crepe Jersey 3/4 Sleeve Shift Dress
£79.00 (Reduced from £135.00)