Tips and tricks for returning to the Office: The new office dress code 1. DRESS FOR SUCCESS: Dress professionally for the office with tailored dresses, separates, blouses and comfortable shoes. Accessorize with simple jewellery and a classic bag 2. CHOOSE EASY CARE FABRICS IN CLASSIC STYLES: For your base capsule, opt for neutral colours like black, navy, grey, and beige. Choose comfortable and professional shoes like loafers or low heels. Layers are key, so consider a blazer or cardigan for a polished look. 3. BUSINESS ATTIRE MADE FOR YOUR BODY SHAPE: Feel comfortable and confident by choosing tailored and fitted clothing that is designed and made for your body shape. By purchasing clothing within your colour pallet, co-ordinating your out-fits is easy and fast in the morning. Choose the best colour-ways for your wardrobe planning. This will enhance your best features and complement your colouring A few simple rules are The colour must be in balance to your complexion The colour should not dominate or be understated to your complexion Being in harmony is the key to choosing the right hue/colour 4. DRESSING FOR THE SEASONS: Stay professional with appropriate weight fabrics for each season. Purchasing some pieces in the seasonal colours in dresses, skirts/separates jackets will add pizazz to your office-wear. The Trudy Wrap dress is a great dress to pair with a pale pink Jacket in the colder months. In warmer months choose to wear breathable clothing pieces 5. DRESSING FOR COMFORT: In the colder months, stay cosy with thick fabrics like scuba, wool trousers, team with knit sweaters, blazers, and ankle boots. Dresses with linings or slips can provide warmth and a crinkle-free professional look. Accessorise with scarves and gloves for extra warmth. 6. THE ESSENTIAL WHITE SHIRT: Black and white will always be right. The monotone combo is an easy style to get right. Just team your favourite white shirt with a classic black pants or black skirt. Then co-ordinate your accessories in black and white. This could be white comfy loafers or black mules, a black leather tote or a black and white brief case 7. ACCESSORIZING FOR THE OFFICE: Accessories can elevate any office outfit. Consider adding a statement necklace, a scarf, or a pair of chic earrings to your look. 8. CREATE AN IMAGE THAT REPRESENTS YOUR FIRM: Wear the dress code at the office that represents your firm's goals. Mix and match your wardrobe with investment pieces and seasonal statement pieces 9. PREPARE AND BE READY: organise your wardrobe in outfits one week in advance, make sure you have a delegated washing and dry/cleaning day, keep a raincoat and umbrella in your car or office for a rainy day 10. TRY THE NEW OFFICE DRESS CODE: Try some new styles in the new colour-ways for the New Office Dress Code

With the Stay at Home Orders in place, lets make use of this time for a Wardrobe Pre-Spring Clean We start with One by one analysis of your wardrobe: divide your pieces into 3 sections and a call to action plan. Look at each piece and determine The Keepers: if you love it, have worn it, still want to wear it Or (can’t bear to part with it) Needing Maintenance: Sort your pieces in terms of need of repair/alteration or clean For Donations: sort your pieces in this section that you cannot wear, need or wish to donate to Charity or Friends Follow through to action and return to your wardrobe the pieces to restore, clean, repair or donate 2. Sort By Colour: Now the fun part, time to organise a visual. Sort your keepers in your wardrobe ( just like having your personal boutique) Arrange the pieces from light colours to the darkest on your hanging space with coat hangers. Beautiful coat hangers also are helpful, small hangers for dresses and wide shoulder coat hangers for jackets/coats, clip hangers for skirts and pants, with satin padded coat hangers for knits or delicate evening wear. Please place very precious pieces in a garment bags If you have shelves sort your knits folded, shoes and handbags again according from light to dark colours. Now you can see a clear vision of your whole collection of accessories at a quick glance. Tissue helps inbetween knits and in bags and shoes to maintain shapes I prefer to fold my out of season Pieces of jeans, trousers, joggers pants or shorts, pjs and swim wear/undergarment and lingerie folded in drawers. As the new season is running, I switch the current pieces to clip hangers or on visual shelves. Jewellery, hats and makeup are also part of your look so do a similar sort of these also Repair and clean the ready to wear Keepers. Please press with an ironing cloth or iron inside out; take care of the your financial investment of Keepers Busy, Busy Busy little bee. Make use of this time because having your wardrobe space organised is important. We do not want to be wasting precious time getting Stylishly dressed when there is no time to spare 3. Organising Your looks in a Style Album for your Curated Wardrobe Depending on your life-style decide on how many category looks you want to work on. I can think of 4 categories at the moment. Casual weekend or work wear Monday to Friday or special occasion or lounge (3-7 days a week) Now get dressed with some looks try out some co-ordinated looks. When you like what you see or feel confident in your outfit, take a photo for your Style Album E.g.I would take a photo of: my taupe jacket with my white trousers and melange blue tee-shirt worn with my taupe shoes and taupe leather bag. I wear minimal jewellery so Costume jewellery Gold earrings with my favourite scarf around my handbag in blue and pink tone works for my style personality. I would also carry my favourite Designer Face Mask in my pocket or handbag At least 8 looks for each category is needed with photos and print the photos of the looks that you love. The looks should portray the correct message/image that you want to send to the world (and make you feel great). Lets work with what pieces we have first They say “A picture speaks a Thousand words” When you like what you see in the mirror or photo, file them in your Style Album. Preserve your work on clear foolscap covers You now have a quick reference tool what works for you for social weekends, work, special occasions or lounging at home Draw up a column at the back of the photo of your Style Album recording of the time, place and the occasion you wore the looks. This is a great way to record when and with whom you wore the look. Don’t repeat the look, with same friends, family or business contacts too often; a definite fashion faux-par Start a collage of looks or trends that you see in magazines, social media, TV or from friends and family (they have good ideas too) for inspiration Busy, Busy, Busy little bee continue with this very important work, that needs sorting 4. Shopping for a updated Wardrobe Plan for your Style Album Create a Wish list file of pieces that need replacing or "something" that you may wish to buy. This process is guaranteed to get you motived with new ideas. You will discover your unique eye for style. Give it a GO! Budget and Plan your shopping list of New must haves… do I need to say anything more Taking measurements: I apologise for writing this, but it might be a good idea to take your measurements (bust, waist and hips) because all manufacturers have different notions of size 8 to size 16 should look like! New pics for your Style Album; after you have made some new investment purchases, you are set for more ideas and quick tips for your unique Style Busy, Busy, Busy little bee, stay safe, stay calm and kind If I think of anythings else, I will let you know and please let me know of your tips for a great Curated Wardrobe and Style Album By Filomena Natale Sydney If you like to view our website please go to www.filomenanatale.com.au