The new corporate cool

MANILA, Philippines - Getting dressed for the office today doesn’t mean leaving your personal style behind.  Your goal in getting dressed for work is to project a professional, competent image, regardless of your employment level or career path. The styles, colors, lengths, and fit of your fashion choices will speak volumes about your ability to do your job.

In the corporate world of casual Fridays, chic dressing for the office also means putting oomph into structured classics with ladder-climbing accessories.  SM Ladies Fashion shows us how to manage style and substance with these creative corporate pieces:

• Le Smoking redux – Decades after its debut, Le Smoking, with its masculine silhouettes and dapper details, is back in the spotlight with Raf Simons at Dior, Hedi Slimane at Saint Laurent, and Stella McCartney creating their own versions. 

At SM Ladies Fashion, sharp pantsuits in black and de rigueur crisp button-down shirts reflect this elegant trend.

• The corporate mix – Wear a sharp jacket with a straight skirt, printed pants or a shift dress.  Seal the deal with a soft feminine top or an oversized structured look.

• Skirting the issue – Depending on the dress code of your workplace, you can opt for different skirt styles ranging from playful ruffle, pleat, and flared styles to more sober straight or pencil-cut skirts.  Playful skirts are ideal for casual workplaces as they are more trendy and girlish in nature.  Skirts in straight cuts are perfect if you occupy a position of authority and you need to look professional and conservative in your business apparel.

• The power of prints – Prints add dimension and an air of confidence to your style agenda.  Look ultra-chic in classic windowpane prints, or smart and polished in optic prints and graphic stripes, as seen on the runways of Marc Jacobs, Stella McCartney, and Louis Vuitton.