Brisbane stylist Cate Massi has shared her styling tips for work-appropriate attire. Massi, the resident stylist at  Indooroopilly Shopping Centre, says that work wear can inform fellow colleagues of an individual’s type of employment, as well as give hints of personality, age and ambition. “In some workplaces, your appearance translates to performance and so it’s important to dress for the role you want, not necessarily for the position that you have,” said Massi. She has identified three distinct styles of dress for the corporate worker wanting to embrace fashion in their everyday attire.

Massi suggests the Corporate Catwalker persona should steer towards bold colours and patterns that will help a worker to be taken seriously, providing them with authority. “I always suggest to my clients who work in the corporate world, to quite simply, dress up,” said Massi.

Next, for the Career Creative, the Brisbane stylist suggests mixing prints and florals, experimenting and using outfits to promote a personal brand, because “as a creative, your outfit should reflect who you are and your unique edge when it comes to your work.”

Finally, Massi provides style advice for the Impressive Interviewee. “An interview is your opportunity to impress from the get go and to let your interviewer know that you’re serious.” Massi suggests neutral colours, such as blues and greens, and places emphasis on ensuring appropriateness for the work environment.

Massi has also suggested general rules for any style type. “If you’re presenting to a group, always consider wearing red lipstick or a pop of colour on your outfit to garner people’s attention.” Other suggestions include ensuring high standards of personal presentation, keeping a scarf handy to transform a plain outfit and mixing patterns. “Combining colours, scale and patterns in a way that looks dynamic takes practice, but there are some basic tricks to getting it right. You can wear two prints that repeat the same colours or mix a large-scale pattern with a smaller one.”

Massi is also a supporter of using bold and bright accessories, such as shoes and bags and preparation before shopping for a new work wear outfit. “If you’re shopping for the ultimate interview or boardroom outfit, get a true feel for the fit by bringing heels, lipstick and a hairbrush. These will help you get a better sense of the final look.” 

Readers may also be interested in these secret shopper tips from Cate Massi.