Work it
View(s):Creating that Amal Clooney look
By Arundathi Yasok
Beautiful, intelligent and stylish is how we would describe Amal Clooney. In addition to being quite a trend setter and unlike other celebrities, Amal has a day job that does not involve entertainment. As a result the 9-5 working ladies can relate to her to some extent with regard to the life of a working woman. She has succeeded in inspiring the public with her mix of playful and professional work attire. Hence, this week’s column offers tips for those of us working ladies on how to mix it up a bit with our work wardrobe courtesy of Ms Clooney.
| Lady Like
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This is one of Amal’s favorite signature looks. The formal dress, with a subtle design which lies just above the knee which contributes to creating a flawless work wear piece! The dress has always been a classic choice for many women as it enhances one’s feminine side. The A-line sheath dress would be most suited for a work atmosphere. A blazer could be worn over the dress if it is too extravagant. Wearers have to make sure they don’t show too much skin, which might not look as great in the office as it did when pictured in your head. So a blazer, even a scarf could help avoid unnecessary attention. The look
| Monochrome it
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This would be one of the easiest & most affordable looks to create. We all own a black & white item of clothing in our wardrobe don’t we? Monochrome adds the ‘power’ to your outfit like no other style. A common misconception among many is that black/white is quite dreary and it does not give room for personality. But it’s quite the opposite if you put an outfit together with a sense of direction. One could wear black & white or black on black or white on white. There is a danger however in wearing the entire outfit in one color, but with a touch of red lipstick, or a contrasting coloured handbag or heels the look can still be pulled off like a pro. These outfits could be well suited for client meet and greets where a powerful first impression counts.
| Give into bold, loud colours
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This one is not for the faint hearted! We all have those moments where we come across one piece that is absolutely stunning, unique and I dare say loud! So we fantasize about it, have a moment with it, if we are brave enough even try it on. And then our cognitive thinking takes over; we think about it being too out there, too colorful, hard to accessorize or maintain and the list goes on. However, the easiest way to work around those items, is to pair it with basic pieces. For example the brown lace skirt worn by Amal with the big beautiful floral embroidery work is paired with a basic black top. That’s all it takes. And another clever styling method which she uses is pairing the outfit with is her yellow handbag. So that is a double score. She used that opportunity to showcase two hard to match items in one outfit. We all have handbags or heels that are very coloruful hiding in our closets with the price tag on. Now you know how to showcase them too!
| T.G.I.F
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In many work places ‘smart casual’ is the dress code for Fridays. So we all get to go out after work with friends. However, we need to know how to strike the perfect balance between fun and work. The safest and the most go to piece for this would be classic jeans. Jeans are so versatile that it can be worn with a ‘night out top/shirt’ if you work your magic cautiously. Even though the distressed jeans has been shown as inspiration, one has to be careful not to show too much skin. Also another point to keep in mind – if the plan is to go out after work, pick the top/shirt that could also be worn at night and spend more time accessorizing.
These are a few styles inspired by Amal Clooney. Hope you find these tips helpful and use these inspirations the next time at work. Be brave, take a chance and have fun!
The writer of this column is a young entrepreneur and fashion designer at Butterfly Apparel. She is also the co-owner of the store along with her husband Yasok Nagarajah. You can follow their page on www.facebook.com/butterfly.apparel