Dressed for success

Striking a balance between looking stylish yet professional is crucial to every working woman’s life. Designers gave their take on what they recommend for the working female.

Designer Ritika Barwani says the key is to pick a silhouette that looks professional while still being feminine. “High-waisted trousers with a blazer, a conservative cocktail dress, blazers, a shirt with trousers are just some of the options for corporate women,” she says. Ritika adds that women should pick a look that’s not just suitable for the office environment, but also caters to the line up for the day. “With the right accessories, you can transform a work look to one suitable for an evening soiree —a pair of stilettos with the trousers and blouse will do the trick,” she says.

The stereotypical colours for corporates — whites, creams, and light shades of blues and pinks don’t restrict women anymore. Fashion designer Babita Malkani says a bright disposition at work is always pleasant, keeping in mind the office setting, of course. “In creative fields such as media, one can wear denims, linen trousers, ballet flats and accessorise with bright bags and scarves for a hip and bohemian look,” she adds.

For more formal corporate offices, women can go for shirts in linens, cottons or silks teamed with a pencil skirt or linen trousers. “Solid or printed scarves can be matched with solid shirts and are a good way to look trendy and add a splash of character. These work well with light linen jackets in taupe, nude, blush or white,” adds Babita.

Designer Aarti Vijay Gupta likes outfits that are bold and trendy. Black and white palazzo pants and jumpsuits as well as dresses with padded shoulders bring a sense of power that are well-suited to corporate meetings and conferences, she says. “These silhouettes teamed with flat ballerina shoes are comfy yet stylish to wear for long hours at work, and make you look confident as well,” says Aarti.