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“A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous.”
Every now and then we all need a bit of inspiration in our lives, both personally and professionally. This is especially true when it comes to fashion. Even though the runways and magazines keep getting more and more stacked with fresh, innovative designers eager to flaunt their collections, sometimes it’s helpful to take a step back and reflect upon the icons that shaped our current styles and influenced much of the clothing industry today.
One of these people is Coco Chanel. This powerhouse who popularized the LBD, the wide-leg pants, the tweed suits and monochromatic outfits was much more than a fashion designer. She was a cultural influencer, who empowered women to discover their unique styles and convinced them that it was actually possible to go against the traditional current and reinvent their wardrobe intuitively.
As we look back upon her style, we discover that much of her suggestions and fashion statements are as current today as they were 50 years ago. Here is how you can easily apply and replicate her style for an elegant and poised corporate look:
Embellish yourself with pearls
“A woman needs ropes and ropes of pearls.”
One of her all-time favourite accessories were pearls. In fact, she was rarely seen on a social occasion without them. Coco simply adored these perennial jewellery staples, flaunting them around with almost anything she wore, whether it was a little black dress or an all-black pant suit.
Even though she was not the only icon of her time embellishing herself with them, she definitely helped make them fashionable and even transformed them into a sort of trademark for the feminine, but self-assured woman.
They are just as fashionable today as they were back in the ‘20s and they can easily be used to complement an elegant corporate outfit, whether it’s a classy skirt suit or a pant and shirt ensemble. A delicate, evergreen pearl staple is enough to make you stand out in any corporate environment and bring you just the right dose of attention (a.k.a. respect and admiration) from your peers and business associates.
Keep it simple
Chanel was often quoted saying that simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance. This is especially true when it comes to the corporate world. Often times, the best formal attire you can put together is one that does not try to outrank everyone else, but one that accentuates your personality in a respectable and professional manner. The safest way to achieve this goal is to go with complementary colours, subtle accessories and soft, classy materials, such as cotton, linen, and silk.
Sometimes you have to say “no” to colour
Coco was a faithful fan of the black & white combo. This simple, but timeless duo of non-colours can help you achieve a classy look in an almost effortless and imperceptible way. The non-colour combination can easily be applied in a work environment, where most of the times the dress code leaves very little room for innovation.
Take charge of your authenticity
Finally, but perhaps most importantly, Chanel taught us that when it comes to fashion it’s paramount to maintain your authentic self in all circumstances and that going against the current is worth it sometimes if it means preserving your individuality. The style maverick was famous for wearing black in almost any type of context.
When asked about it, she once famously said that she will stop wearing black when they invent a darker colour. And so she stubbornly continued to wear black, without any fear of being catalogued as somber, gloomy or constantly in mourning, as some might say. She therefore managed to create her own identifiable style, and in the process inspired countless women after her to be bold about their physical appearance and be more than just an anonymous shape in the crowd.