Dressing for the office can be a tricky one. Get it right and it could help you land your way to that promotion, however getting it wrong could lead you to become the laughing stock of the workplace. That’s why I’ve created this handy guide so that you can bluff your way to the perfect professional look from now on.

Don’t go too tight and skimpy

The first rule for office dressing is to not show off too much. You may think that your bum-skimming dress make you look dead sexy, but they really won’t do you any favours in an office environment. For one, it may attract some unwanted attention from a colleague, which could lead to extremely awkward situations. People are also not likely to take you that seriously in the workplace if you are showing them what you had for breakfast.

Avoid frumpiness

Although you don’t want to be showing off the outline of your butt cheeks, don’t feel like you have to dress like a nun in the workplace. You don’t have to wear a dress right down to your ankles for people to take you seriously. The trick is to dress for your body in the right way. Make sure all your clothes are the correct size and flatter your figure nicely for a winning combination.

Buy staple items

Those who work full-time spend most of their week in the office, which means a lot of different outfits. It’s understandable that you may want to impress your colleagues with your wide array of fashionable items, but if you’re not careful this could lead to a big credit card bill. The trick to keep your work wardrobe and your bank balance happy is to invest in staple items that will see you through. This means key items such as a pencil skirt, smart trousers and a handful of nice shirts and blouses. If you cleverly mix and match these items then you will keep your workwear style fresh all season.

Go for the best quality you can afford

Although you don’t want to max out your cards on your office wardrobe, it is advisable to buy the best quality you can afford. A well-made item is far more likely to see you through the year than something you picked up for a pound in a jumble sale. It is also a lot less likely to fall apart when you are having that important meeting.

Invest in your footwear

There is nothing worse than someone wearing terrible shoes – it is just a fact. Even if you have spent hundreds of pounds on an outfit for work, wearing a pair of tatty old shoes that you have had for the last decade will leave you looking scruffy and unkempt. Make sure you have at least one good pair of black heels, which tend to go with everything. Flats are also great for the office, especially if you can’t hack it in stilettos all day.

Keep it clean

Of course what you wear matters, but even if you are wearing a smart outfit, you will not look your best if it is dirty, stained or un-ironed. For example, going into a meeting in some trousers with half of yesterday’s lunch down them hardly screams professional does it? It may even be a good idea to keep a spare outfit in your desk drawer in case of any lunchtime mishaps.

So there you have it, your perfect guide to office dressing success! Now go wow your colleagues and clients…