The essential guide to what to wear at work

The holy trinity of workplace dressing comprises: (1) looking professional; (2) remaining true to your personal style; and (3) being comfortable. Successfully balancing the holy trinity is no mean feat, but it can be done by following some guidelines.

I’m going to start from the feet and with a plea: don’t wear your manky old runners into work. There are so many comfortable, stylish runners out there. For walking to the office I would recommend a black trainer that will look smart, blend into your tights, elongate your legs and allow you to get where you’re going fast. These Balenciaga (pictured) aren’t cheap, but you wouldn’t need to change out of them.

Alternatively you could go for any number of styles of flats. Brogues work well with wide pants, Chelsea boots look great with skirts and a ballet pump flatters everything (although word from my chiropodist is that if you are walking long distances they aren’t great for your feet).

Working up the body, the choice between a skirt and trousers is purely personal. If you are a trousers wearer, try a more modern cigarette pants or a wide leg, and unless your office is very casual I would avoid jeans. If you are one of the lucky few in an office where jeans are acceptable, make them black and pay close attention to avoiding the aged, greying effect that can happen after a few washes. Combat this by dyeing the jeans every few months with Dylon fabric dye in jet black.

I always think of bags as an opportunity to show a bit of personality at the office. Ensure they’re sturdy and structured, and big enough to hold a laptop, a make-up bag and even a change of clothes. But when it comes to colour, go all out. The Victoria Beckham bag would be a great way to shine.

Moving into warmer weather means that crop tops and all things skimpy are back in vogue. If you are lucky enough to pull this off, congratulations, but don’t even consider it at work. Any garment that exposes an area of your body that you wouldn’t be comfortable showing to your dad should be saved for the weekend. Without sounding too 1950s housewife, I would go as far as to argue that sleeveless shirts should be avoided (unless it is properly hot outside) and skirts should remain around the knee (unless you wear thick tights).

Provide a professional look

Shirts and blouses are the go-to for office wear for a reason. A classic white shirt will go with anything and instantly provide a professional look; just invest in some vanish for those pesky stains. Also keep in mind that “shirt” doesn’t have to mean masculine cut; take some time in finding a version to flatter your body type, like the River Island wrap-around in the gallery.

When it’s one of those mornings when there are more important things to think about, a pair of black tights, a nice frock and a cardigan will be your saviour, as they require significantly less “what goes with what” thinking. I particularly love dresses that look like separates (like this one from Cos). Shirt dresses are also fantastic; wrap a skinny belt around your waist and you’re ready to go (the suede one from Zara is particularly on-trend).

The final piece in any working wardrobe is a blazer. If your office is conservative, stick to a more structured cut and show your personality through colour (apart from neon; no neon in the office, ever). If you have a more relaxed workplace, you could try something such as the waterfall cut blazer from New Look in the gallery. There is no such thing as one size fits all; experiment, try things on and go with what feels right.

LAST-MINUTE MIRACLES: SOLUTIONS FOR DAYS WHEN . . .

• You have three minutes to get to a meeting: brush your hair and your eyebrows.
• You are feeling a bit "Jenny from the block": remember less is more when it comes to office accessories.
• You need a refresh: facial mist.
• You feel like an office mule: invest in a good laptop bag if you have to carry it in and out every day.
• You missed the alarm: sunglasses will help you look more put together until you can get to your desk.
• You're a little under the weather: blush and Vaseline can do wonders.
• The air-conditioning is up too high again: keep a cardigan or wrap close to hand.
• You wore high heels despite this article: always carry plasters in your handbag.

[ What are your work essentials? Tweet Dominique @BobbleheadMo ]