{Vintage Friday}: Juicy goes vintage!

not completely of course, don't worry ladies, the track suits are still there!
but I do love these vintage inspired dresses in their new collection, how cute is that strawberry print dress? I so want one!

Happy weekend everyone! It's going to be a cold one here (coldest in 13 years or something like that), so I'll be wrapped up in warm blankets (yes, plural!) and drinking hot chocolate... yum

(images from Juicy Couture & Bloomingdale's)

{I Heart}: silver hearts

When it comes to jewellery, I have two contrasting loves, big fabulous colourful statement jewellery and simple silver necklaces, like a classic silver heart pendant, with it being quite close to Valentine's day, I'm finding myself draw to these simple yet so beautiful jewellery on Etsy:

top row: I&F Designs bottom left: lindesigns bottom right: phoebe's treasure

and while talking about siver hearts, how can I not mention the classic Tiffany hearts:

{all pendants from Tiffany & Co}

I have always loved the Return to Tiffany heart tag but when my boyfriend rang me from the airport last summer asking if I wanted anything from Tiffany's as our 2nd anniversary gift, I suppose I got greedy and though with all the VAT saved, maybe I should ask for the more expensive heart lock?

Don't get me wrong, I love this pendant and it certainly is my favorite but I didn't realise how chunky it is and it constantly turns slides everytime I move! Teach me a lession for being greedy I suppose! :) don't worry heart tag, I will get you one day!

do you have a favorite heart necklace? or maybe hearts are not quite your thing? love to hear what you think!

VOGUE - RECESSION HIT?

Vogue (Indian edition) disappoints by using an older cover from the US edition on their February 2009 Indian issue.







Related Posts
VOGUE INDIA NOVEMBER 2008 - must have for the brides-to-be
2008 FASHION FLASHBACK - HAPPY NEW YEAR
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CRUELTY FREE FASHION

High-end fashion does not have to be cruel and part of the animal trade. It can be just as glamorous, elegant, thrilling and beautiful without any cruelty involved. Unfortunately many people believe fashion is more important than the life of animals, and to feed their needs many designers continue to capitalize on the animals' lives. Even vegetarians cannot contain themselves from luxury brands' leather handbags and shoes rage. Think before you buy, do you want to kill animal for the sake of fashion. Fashion should be fun, not fatal!

Click here to know what an animal undergoes for your Jimmy Choo Shoes or Louis Vuitton Bags.


HOW TO BUY CRUELTY-FREE FASHION
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LEATHER - NO, NO
There are lots of high-quality substitutes for animal skin and many designers and luxury brands are using them in their collections.

Stella McCartney, the name synonymous to style and luxury, has proved that luxury does not mean being cruel. Stella McCartney is famous for her sharp tailoring, irreverence and sexy femininity. A strict vegetarian, her designs are fur and leather free. In addition to keeping leather and fur out of her collections, the luxury designer also has vegan perfumes and luxury organic cruelty-free range of skincare in her portfolio. Stella has also won 'Best Green Designer Award'.
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Click on following links to buy Stella McCartney Online:

- Stella McCartney Online Store

- Net-a-Porter

In India, Stella McCartney is stocked at Kitsch Store in Delhi's Emporio Mall.

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Marc Bouwer is a highly influential designer in the world of high fashion. His creations add phenomenal glamour and style to an array of red carpet events around the world. He decided to go ethical and stopped using any animal skins or products in his designs. He refrains from using fur, leather and wool in his collections.
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German Brand Puma and adidas by Stella McCartney makes high-quality non-leather athletic trainers.

Online store www.asos.com has a selection of non-leather shoes and handbags. In fact while making a search, you can filter your search by selecting non-leather in the category.

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Matt and Nat makes cruelty-free smart and stylish handbags and clutches that you would love in your wardrobe. They produce two lines a year, and each collection is filled with clean lines, bright colours and interesting details. Their designs are classy yet modern. You would not desire Balenciaga or Gucci once you see Matt and Nat cruelty-free handbags. List of celebrities that love Matt and Nat bags include Natalie Portman, Charlize Theron, Drew Barrymore and Teri Hatcher. More on Matt and Nat or click here to buy online.
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FOOTWEAR

Beyond Skin, a vegan luxury ethical footwear label, makes beautiful, classic, hand-made shoes that combine style and fashion with a cruelty-free lifestyle. They have a variety of fashionable and stylish, high-quality ladies shoes, stilettos and boots. Their shoes are stylish and does not make style and vegan oxymorons, in fact they combine the two and is a great place for fashionistas to shop cruelty-free shoes!!!!

olsenHaus is an American brand started by Elizabeth Olsen who has worked with the likes of Calvin Klein, Bulga, Nine West, Jodi Arnold, MINT and many others. She put an end to making shapeless and boring vegan shoe by creating a line that is chic and synonymous with style. Celebrities like Emily Deschanel, Alicia Silverstone, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Amy Sedaris and Cameron Diaz love her shoes. To shop those stylish vegan stilletos or delectable flats, click here.

On Budget?

Charles and Keith, the Singapore's high-street shoe brand, has a wide range of stylish non-leather shoes, bags and belts. Their shoes are concoction of style, quality and sensuality for fashionable women at affordable prices. Charles and Keith's products are available in over 23 countries, predominantly in Asia and Middle East (they are not complete cruelty-free brand, but have a good non-leather variety).

Malcolm Frontier have great collection of stylish bags and accessories. Malcolm Fontier shows us that leather isn't the only option for durability and luxury when it comes to wallets, bags and toiletry cases. The unisex pieces are all made from PVC-free alternatives including coated canvas. Its a great brand especially for me, who are looking for cruelty-free stylish bags.

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Update 31 October 2009

Luxury Designer teams with target to create faux snakeskin bags. The bags will be available inn Target stores and onlin (to debut tomorrow).

How to check if the product contains leather?

Read on What's Wrong With Leather?


FUR is not fashion
Wearing animal fur on your body does not reflect chic, class or style, but cruelty. Buy faux fur. Many of the big designers in the fashion world have already started using faux-fur. Vivienne Westwood, Juicy Couture and Stella McCartney use cruelty-free fur in (some of) their collections.


Vegan BEAUTY
If you're vegetarian or love animals, stop putting lipsticks, mascara, moisturiser, perfume or other beauty products made from animal ingredients. Cosmetic brands that offer vegetarian and even vegan products include Clarins, Chantecialle (luxury skincare and makeup brand, with all vegetarian products and an exclusive vegan line too), Dr Hauschka (not entirely vegetarian, both use carmine in their coloured products, like makeup, but have vegan mascaras and more), Origins, Suki, Urban Decay (they have a special vegan line), Oriflame (for the girl on budget), Stella McCartney, Lush.

Recommended: A favourite with celebrities, Chantecialle offers natural luxury beauty products that are pure and gentle yet effective. Clarins is my another favourite brand, their moisturisers suit even the most sensitive skin.


Related Posts:
Is your lipstick safe? - LEAD IN LIPSTICK
The Encyclopedia of Lip Balms
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creams, beige & a little bit of shabby chic

Colours are fabulous, but sometimes creams and beige can be gorgeous too. I'm loving these interiors from Town and Country Style, the cracked paints on the wall just adds that little bit of shabby chic magic.

What's your opinion on creams & beige?

(images from Town & Country Style)

Modern Fairytale

What's a modern fairytale for me?
Being in the audience to watch the mind blowing Chanel Paris-Moscou fashion show! Can you imagine what it would be like to watch this live?

these gorgeous fairytale-like outfits also reminds me of the wonderful office of daniela kamiliotis, it would be amazing if I could visit her office in person! I'd happily spend days there.

Stay tuned for new Beauty Tried & Tested posts coming soon to Tuesdays, think I'll name it {Beauty Tuesdays}, simple and gets the message across right? ;)

(images from Chanel, The Selby)

{Dear Diary}: My very late New Year Resolution list!

this is my very late New Year Resolution list, my argument is Chinese New Year is like today so if I go by this then my resolution list is actually quite early ;)

This year, all things on my list are things I want to achieve by the end of this year, most should be quite practical too...

{wallpaper image from Benefit Cosmetics}

1. graduate from uni - hoping it would be a 1st Class too! Our graduation ceremony will take place in the famous Bath Abbey, which despite the fact I have lived in Bath for more than 3 years, I have never been inside the Abbey so I'm hopeing it would be a nice surprice!

{Bath Abbey via amigadave}

2. start the Women into Enterprise course - I recently discovered there is this amazing training program running in Bath, helping women to set up their own businesses & it's free for students! The course starts next week so I'm very excited!

3. & 4. I'd love to improve my photography skills, at the moment I just take pictures with a simple click & adjust the lighting using my limited Photoshop skills. Since I might be leaving in Bath this summer, I've decided to explore more of Bath and capture places with my newly improved photography skills! So I am calling on all photographers, I'd love to know how you picked up photography, was it a training course? a book? Any info you can give would be greatly appreciated!

5. well, it's just I'm a bit bored with my current style at the moment, I tend to buy a lot of basics, lots cardigans, all plain coloured. While basics are important, I would like to add a bit of excitment into my wardrobe and mix with my current basics. I'd love to be more edgy & adores the relaxed chic style, I am also really loving this girl's style:

{Woori Go via lookbook}

What does all these mean for this blog? Here are some changes you can expect, hopefully good changes! I kept a diary when I was quite young but somehow grown out of it, so I'd like to start an electronic one, and don't worry I won't share any of my maths related topics! ;)

{wallpaper image via Cath Kidston}

and the winners are...

the book bag: coco
the zip bag & the travel purse: Mary Jo from TrustYourStyle

{wallpaper image from Cath Kidston}

wait there is more...! There were actually 4 more zip bags to give away! I went shopping again yesterday (bad tina!) and bought these since I figured if I'm sharing, I dont have to feel guilty about shopping right? ;)

the lucky ladies are: Courtney, Megan , so alaurable & The Clothes Horse!

Congrulations, please send me your address here my lovelies & I'll send the goodies your way on asap! xxx

(ps. all winners were generated by the random number generator in Excel)

Hooked on: more boudoirs in London! {Part II}

as promised yesterday, here's a mini tour to two of my favorite boudiors in London, they're two very different styles as you'll see... it's also my first time linking to Hooked on House, a great site for those (me included) hooked on house! Check out what other great bloggers are hooked on today here.

First up is the wonderful, packed with full of antiques and vintage items, I call it the Union Jack House! gorgeous as any other french boudoir but make no mistake, this is clearly a British boudoir, I think the union jacks make it quite clear dont you? ;)

all the artworks are just beautiful!

is it too greedy to want this house and all the owner's stunning dresses?

and could I take the china cardboard too?

My other favorite is the "Winter Palace", pure white walls, furniture and floors! I have a huge thing for white rooms and they might not be practical to live in, but they're so pretty! I'd love to see this house in person!

how great is this? there is even a little boudoir in the kitchen!

I just want to take the whole set of furniture! and Happy Friday everyone, have a fab weekend!

Don't forget it's the last day to enter the Giveaway!

via desire to inspire

(images from the amazing site Airspaces)

french boudoirs in... London! {Part I}

a collection of gorgeous rooms from some of the most beautiful houses in London, found on Airspaces (a very cool site!), in part ii tomorrow I will be taking you for a short tour around two of my favorite houses!

loving the shabby chic look!

I so want that beautiful chair, in colour of the year too!

Isn't this just the perfect rooms for a grown up princess? ;)

via desire to inspire

(images from Airspaces)

Are You Wearing the Right Bra Size?

Wearing the right sized bra is very important. Correctly fitted bra can change your entire body shape, make you look slimmer and makes your clothes fit & look better, while ill-fitting bras can make you look shapeless, damage confidence and cause bad posture. Not to mention causing back and neck pains, scarring under the breasts and much more.

Does your bra ever feel uncomfortable? Does the band pinch? Does the underwire poke? Does the back ride up? Do the straps create leave bad marks on your shoulders? Do the cups overflow, squeeze or sag? Take a look at the following bra fitting tips and see if you are wearing the right size:

- A bra that fits properly will be supportive and comfortable
- Your boobs would be lifted and separated by the cups
- The back would fit snugly without being restrictively tight

Signs that you need a bigger cup size:
- Your boobs bulge over the top or sides of the cup
- Wires stick out at the front

Signs you need a smaller band size:
- Bra rides up at the back
- Bra moves around when you do
- Straps dig into shoulders

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What difference the correct fit can make to your posture, and yes confidence too.

3 steps to the perfect fit

Try these simple steps at home to check that your bra fits perfectly.

1. The band around your body should be firm but comfortable. It should be horizontal and not ride up at the back at all.

2. The wires at the front should lie flat against your rib cage and should not dig in, rub or poke out anywhere, especially in between your boobs.

3. Your boobs should be completely enclosed in the cups and you should have a smooth line where the fabric at the top of the cup ends and meets your bust. You shouldn't have any ridges or bulging, even if you are wearing a balconette or lower cut style bra.


Try before you buy
Just as you would never buy a pair of shoes without trying them on for size, bra sizes differ depending on their style, cut, fabric and make. So always try before you buy. When trying on a bra, fasten it on middle hook (so you can tighten it as it stretches with wear and washing or loosen if it feels tight sometime) and don't forget to adjust the shoulder straps to fit.
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french guiana

For the next month I will be traveling in French Guiana, a tiny country with the population of 200,000. French Guiana is an overseas department of France, located on the northern coast of South America. It is part of the European Union, and the currency is the Euro. The climate is 80 degrees consistently throughout the year, with the rainy season raising the humidity to 100% during 6-9 months out of the year.

The country is mostly an impassable rain forest, and that is exactly where I will be spending most of my time. More specifically, I will be helping Alec disassemble a walking bridge suspended between two trees at one of the CNRS science stations. Here is a link describing this organization and the two stations I will be visiting, Inselberg and Pararé. Inselberg is armed with a satellite internet connection, and I will try to send updates from there.

Alec has been at the stations since October, and I am pretty fortunate to join him there. Only scientist are allowed. Click here for an entry from Alec's blog describing some of the environment. Being an Earth Monkey under the Chinese Zodiac, this is the perfect place for me.

Stylish and Smart Dressing for the Office

The work place is where you spend the vast majority of your time, where you are most likely to encounter people who you want to make an impression on; whether it be bosses or clients. It is quite clear that the goal to getting dressed for work is to project a professional, competent image regardless of what level of management you are at. Thus, the styles, colors, lengths and fit of your dress will speak volumes about your personality and how serious you are about your job.

In fact, today, what you wear at work and your presentation is very important. But that is not to say that your Corporate Attire has to be boring, or you can't follow fasion or look stylish in your office attire. You can show your personal sense of style without sacrificing your professional image by choosing your threads wisely.

Dressing up for the office actually opens up whole new vistas of style, dress, and fashion opportunities with just a little thought and effort. You can also look sexy in a subtle way. So smarten up your office wardrobe and you’re bound to get noticed more quickly. Especially Let us see how........

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Building basics
Firstly, build a basic office wardrobe. Let us call it the 'office staples'. With your staples you can mix and match to create multiple looks.

- Well-fitted White Shirt(s)
- Well-fitted Black (Brown, Charcoal, navy) trousers
- Dark (black, brown, charcoal, navy) pant-suit
- Dark (black, brown, charcoal, navy) skirt-suit
- Fitted Shirts in subtle colours, stripes, checks or subtle dots.
- Cardigan
- Waistcoat
- Closed-toe low-heeled pumps
- Structured handbag

Remember, don't compromise quality for quantity. You are under constant scrutiny from your co-workers, your subordinates and your seniors, and you don't want to tarnish your image.

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Smart Dressing

With your basic wardrobe, add some fashion elements and trendy twists to give your office attire an edge. Mix-and-match your tops and bottoms and accessorize with jewelry, scarves and shoes. .

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Colours: Colors play a big role in creating a professional image of a person. Traditional career colors include white, navy, gray, black and blue and these colors go well with formal pants and skirts. However, you can even choose feminine colors like light blue, light purple, soft pink and ivory. Bright and loud colors like hot pink are much riskier in the office and should be avoided. But if you are creative and bold you can try them. However, avoid any kinds of prints and patterns – only monochromatic tints will be fine.

Layering: Layering clothes allows you to mix and match a wider variety of different styles, and adds more dimension to your outfit. Sweaters, vest or jacket over formal shirts and blouses creates multiple looks using same piece of garment. It's easy to layer as the weather gets cooler but layering works even during the hot or humid weather by choosing cottons. Put thought into your combinations. Mix and match trendy scarves, casual or formal outerwear, cardigans, waistcoats and sweaters to achieve a fashion-forward look.

Layering will especially be useful when it's 40 degrees outside and your office is 20 degrees. You need to be prepared.
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Jacket: It's the workwear essential. Every woman should have a black suit in her closet. A sharply tailored jacket gives a power punch to any outfit. It is apropriate for job interviews, client meetings and corporate functions. This piece of clothing can be worn off-the office also. In fact, a smart suit goes straight from boardroom to bar/party - just add or delete a pretty feminine blouse and mix it with right accessories.

Vivienne Westwood Red Label (Black Jacket) - $835

McQ, Cropped Wool Jacket - $750

Vivienne Westwood Anglomania, Petite Jacket - $1,070

French Connection, My Lady Jacket - £100

All Saints, Nemi Tessimax Jacket - now £52

Topshop, One Button Jacket - £45

Mango, Suit Jacket (ref. 81100179) - £60

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MANGO, amongst the high-street brands, has one of the best collections of jackets and pant/skirt suits.

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Check the latest Hollywood trend, tuxedo/suit at the red carpet.

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Angelina Jolie at Benjamin Button Berlin Premiere

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Anne Hathaway at Bride Wars Premiere

Anne Hathaway kept things chic and minimal, at Bride Wars US Premiere, in a tailored tux jacket and skinny trousers, accessorised with blinging diamond earrings, a sky-high pair of Louboutins and a diva-tastic up-do. Her look can easily take transition from the office to the bar and exudes that perfect mix of sexiness and sophistication.
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Shift Dress: A shift dress is a very intelligent piece of clothing in your wardrobe. With a formal jacket or a collared shirt inside you can wear it to the office and just the dress with quirky accessory and dressy sandals can be worn for the party straight from the office.

Learn more on layering and shift dress

Smart Dressing - different looks with same wardrobe

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Accessorizing: Get creative and use accessories to revamp your old office wardrobe.

The easiest and smartest way to look stylish and break the monotonous everyday look is to accessorize. Dress up your office clothing with carefully selected accessories and jewellery and make an impression that's both professional and stylish. A smart belt, stylish bag and minimal jewellery can take any outfit from boring to beautiful.

Use these accessories to brighten up your look and make a chic statement:

- Scarf: most important piece of accessory that can instantly pep-up your look. They add color and style to any outfit and can change the look of an ensemble almost immediately! They look feminine, sophisticated and trendy all at once. Add a splash of colour using a scarf to your simple black and white ensemble.

Learn more on scarves

SCARVES - fashion item to pep you up INSTANTLY!!!

- Brooch: A brooch will give a splash of elegance to your office attire or an otherwise ordinary drab and forgettable outfit. For the corporate woman, the choice of brooch should be more sleek and elegant. Perhaps something made out of a precious metal with several semi-precious or precious stones. It can be worn on the lapel of your suit or as something to tie a bow together. It can also be used to tie a scarf. Did you see how Michelle Obama is making fashion statement with Brooches? The central focus of her look is often a bold, jeweled brooch. If you don't want to buy a precious piece, check out Aldo Accessories, they have some good brooches.

- Jewellery: Earrings, bracelets and bangles. Wear simple and elegant earrings at office. Too loud, colourful, funky or street style maybe your choice, but they are a no-no for the office. They should not be too long or too ornate. Hoops and studs are great as office wear as these do not look flashy and still make a style statement. Remember this rule for your office jewellery, less is more.

- Necklaces: a pear or beads string is the best necklace pick for the office. Don't wear anything too extravagant or loud as the office wear has to be smart but subtle, unless your profession demands something 'loud'.
(I have taken it out from jewellery because a necklace can make or break your office outfit, and hence needs different categorisation)

- Bag: Carry a smart bag. A medium-sized tote is always sleek and businesslike. Don't buy anything too small, as your stuff will not fit, or too oversized, as it will look messy. Pick proper structured and formal handbags as slouchy bags give a shabby and a sloppy look.

- Belt

Shoes: Put your best foot forward. Everyone knows that a pair of shoes can either complement your look or kill it. So invest in good quality shoes and keep them buffed and shined. Athletic shoes, tennis shoes, thongs, flip-flops, slippers, very high party heels, and any casual shoe with an open toe are not acceptable in the office.

A smart tip - if you routinely run down your heels or scuff the toes by pounding the pavement, it may be a good idea to wear a pair of inexpensive shoes (a flip-flop or sneakers) during your commute to and from work and change into your formal shoes at the office.

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THE CLASSIC WHITE SHIRT - accessorised
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The best item of your office wardrobe, Classic White Shirt, worn smartly can make you look professional, smart and chic.

The white shirt looks great tucked in. Wear it with trousers (any colour) or with a pencil skirt.
Accessorize it with a nice necklace, smart belt and shoes. You can layer it with a cardigan, a formal vest or waistcoat.
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Meryl Streep (below) is looking every bit elegant in her White shirt paired with a jacket and worn with great accessories - the necklace and red belt.

You can get Anne Hathway's look by layering your white shirt with a black knitted round neck top or a sweater. Wear a long pearl string, do your hair in a high pony and you are ready to take over the world.
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Meryl Streep (left) and Anne Hathaway (right) from a still of Devil Wears Prada

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Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway

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Makeup for office: Go easy on the makeup, of course unless your work demands otherwise (like the aviation and hospitality industry). If you want to be taken seriously at work, accentuating your natural beauty is the best way to go. It should be noticeable but not distracting. Glitter, loud colours are an absolute no-no. Emphasize skin care, and opt for a cleaner, subtle and polished look.


Tips to Remember

1. Fit is everything when you want to look perfect.
- Pants should be fitted, but free of visible panty lines. You can get good quality no visible panty lines (no VPL) knickers from Marks and Spencer or La Senza.
- Skirts, especially straight styles like pencil skirts, should be loose enough to sit down in comfortably.
- Jackets should be able to be buttoned.
- Blouses shouldn’t expose too much of your body.

2. Office is not the place to show too much. You don't want to tarnish your image to just get a few stares. Save your revealing clothing for a night out on the town.

3. Invest in good quality accessories don't buy cheap looking stuff.

4. Don't choose Jewellery that is too bright as anything that attracts too much is distracting.

5. Keep the colors simple, just mixing one or two together. Break up blacks and grays with a splash of color. Try a coloured scarf, beaded necklace or sweater set.

6. Avoid printed shirts in the office.

7. Ensure the proper ironing of your clothes and avoid wearing wrinkled clothes as they present a highly casual and an unprofessional look.

8. Other important consideration should be given to your personal hygiene including clean manicured nails, clean polished shoes, styled and neat hair, subtle perfume and deodrant and applying a light and subtle make-up.

Make sure that everything creates the right look down to the smallest detail. Dressing for the office is all about striking a balance between looking good and stylish and looking competent, organized and ready for business.

Most importantly feel confident, as carrying yourself with a right attitude is what contributes to making the right impression.

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Related Posts:
SCARVES - fashion item to pep you up INSTANTLY!!!
Wardrobe Must Haves - all time classics
Smart Dressing - different looks with same wardrobe

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