29 woman this month | July 2012 | 7. The basic itinerary With the new collections in stores, it might be hard to choose the essentials. Invest in drawstring trousers, a kurta shirt, skirts, shorts, maxi dresses and capris (if you must). If it isn’t bright, it better be pastel. 8. Deceive Stash away your sleeveless tops for evenings alone to avoid nasty tans. A clever way to mask heavy upper arms is by draping them in a delicate chiffon scarf. It doesn’t hurt to look a little arty. 9. Whiter than white Please don’t be fooled by the idea that white makes you look bigger than you actually are. The secret to any good piece of clothing is to check if it fits well. There’s no better company for a shopaholic than a dressing room. 10. Activity-conscious attire Always consider the task at hand. If you intend to be quite active for the duration of the day, don’t choose something too long. You wouldn’t want to keep tripping over the hem. Add some pizzazz Summer gives you the opportunity to be playful with your outfit. Nothing distracts the eyes better from those dreaded “problem areas” than funky accessories. 11. All ears Nothing says “fun” like hoops. In fact, anything that dangles is good to go. We can’t have enough of bead fringe earrings this season. Fish out those disc earrings as well. 12. Up to the neck Flaunting your collar bone is a good enough reason to decide against wearing any sort of necklace or pendant. Then again, that’s the same reason you should want to wear them. Keep an eye out for your neckline when picking out chokers. Colour-block necklaces add freshness to monotonous clothing. 13. Wrist candy The chunkier, the better. Whether it’s bangles, bracelets or cuffs; it’s never too much. Get creative; mix them up. Your watch could use some company. 14. Stand tall Hemp wedges and wooden platform heels are life-savers. Cut-outs and peep-toes work well too. If you’d rather opt out of wearing heels, go crazy and pick up the neon jelly-strap flats that seem to be popping up everywhere now. 15. Complete the look The only layer you can be adding is a scarf. Silk and chiffon are winning fabrics. Accessorising is vital. We’re all for quirky rings. Don’t forget, a belt can give an unexpected twist to the simplest pieces. Turn down the heat It might be sizzling outside. That doesn’t mean you should raise the temperature indoors. Here are a few tips for appropriate ways to dress during summer at the office. 16. Smart casual Dressing down might be permitted closer to the weekend. However, it still needs to be appropriate for a work environment. Rule of thumb — no shorts, no ripped jeans, and definitely no flip-flops. 17. Environment-conscious clothing Keep an eye out for the culture of the city you work in. Most importantly, always have your job description in mind. Would you trust a client who met you in an ill-fitting t-shirt and a pair of old jeans? 18. The miracle fabric You don’t want to wear something too taut. A cotton-linen mix works better than 100 per cent linen. Cotton shirts and a one-button blazer should be just right. 19. Bottom line If they allow shorts in your organisation, the wise option is to be clear about the length. Wear them with pumps to elongate your legs. So as not to cut yourself in half, the petite can opt for shorts that fall right above your knee. Monochromatic colours or a pencil skirt work best with a dressy cotton top. 20. Preppy vs sloppy The idea behind “casual Thursdays” is to look relaxed yet pulled together. It’s never OK to wear a sweat shirt and sneakers to the office. Similarly, daisy dukes, stained garments, sagging jeans and flimsy rompers should stay at home (or be burnt). Louis Vuitton
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