Fashion Guru: Don't Get Fooled By Spring Trends

Spring finally showed up just in time for the first of the month. As WomenWorking’s new style expert, my hope is that you keep up with this season’s trends this spring without looking like a fool on April Fool’s Day. Follow these tips to make sure that the joke is never on you when it comes to workplace fashion. 

What’s hot this season? Striking color, bold graphics, and floral prints. But these can be difficult to wear tastefully to the office. Here are a few ways to wear the looks well.

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Pencil Skirts and Fluid Shirts. The pencil skirt has long been a staple item in the workplace, but now it’s slimmer and high-waisted – which can unintentionally become a “sexy look,” especially for those with curvy physiques. Balance this look with a more fluid and looser top to soften the point where the skirt and shirt meet; your appearance will read less sultry and more fashion-savvy, and you’ll get by in even the most conservative work environments. Though solids work best for the pencil skirt, get brave with the numerous graphic print tops this season. 

 

Are Shorts Ever Appropriate? The long and “short” of it – sorry, I couldn’t resist!—is that Bermuda shorts are the only short appropriate for the workplace. They come just above or at knee[image error] length (anything shorter is too short and anything longer is considered a capri pant). No longer made of traditional menswear fabrics, today they come in an array of colors and materials from silks and linen to denim and cotton blends. They can also be played up or down – pair them with flats for an easy look or your tallest stilettos for an easy day-to-night look. 

But how do you wear them at work? It’s simple. Bermuda shorts can replace the skirt in most scenarios, so whatever you would wear with your skirt is fair game – blazers and cardigans included. However, wear this trendy style with caution. Shorts may not fly in some conservative arenas – if your boss would never wear them, then you shouldn’t either. 

 

Pamela Watson is an experienced stylist who currently works as the trend expert for Builders of Style, where she prepares A-list clients for red carpet events, music videos, concerts, and award shows. Got workplace fashion questions for Pamela? Write them in the comments below or send them to administrator [at] womenworking [dot] com.