Smart-Casual Work Attire...

I'm not sure about you, but if I let myself, I could agonize for hours about whether my sheer-blouse and leather-skirt combo is appropriate for my office's 'smart-casual' dress code. However, taking into account the fact that I work for one of the top magazine publishing houses in the world, I feel like they expect our outfits to be a tad risque every now and then, so I try not to let myself think about it too much. Nonetheless, 'smart-casual' is something I have struggled with since school discos, so my general motto tends to be 'It Is Better To Be Over-Dressed Than Under-Dressed.'

A bit like what they tell virgins, 'If In Doubt, Don't' I feel like if I begin to question my outfit, it probably isn't right. At risk of appearing ever-so-slightly Bridget-Jones-in-a-too-tight-see-through-blouse-with-a-too-tight-too-short-mini-skirt I do my best to veer away from what I loosely define as being 'sexy' in the office. I also attempt not to stand out in any major way if I can help it, so jingly jangly loud bracelets are often out of the question. As I work with a headset, I try to keep my hair out of my face. I don't wear heels every day but as our office is carpet and I'm rarely on my feet I can get away with them on special occasions (like if the CEO casually pops in for a breakfast buffet of croissants and strawberries...) When it comes to work, I try to mix and match different items of clothing into different outfits rather than just wearing all of my clothes because I like to keep some things for the weekend you see! Last but not least, I keep an all important big thick knit cardigan hanging off the back of my chair because the office is always bloody freezing but I don't want to look like a sweatier version of Michelin man during my morning commute.

So those are my top tips on the mind-mess that is 'smart-casual'. As I love you, I have included some photographs of my daily outfits for a bit of fash-piration. Because sometimes all y'all need is a picture of me in the toilets at work...

*Lacy Topshop mini-dress, black ballet flats, hair pinned back into a messy chignon*

*Whole outfit is from Topshop. Literally. High-bun hair is a good way of keeping my mane out of my face when I am frantically trying to pull-up a client's records*

*Primark blouse and cigarette trousers with River Island wedges*

*Top from the marvelous Primarni, Topshop skirt bought for next to nothing at a carboot sale and Topshop shoesies*

*Forever 21 blazer, Primark blouse, cigarette trousers and black wedges as before*

*Topshop playsuit with a New Look cami beneath (to maintain cleavage-related modesty) and wedges as before*

*Entire outfit from Topshop... are you sensing a pattern here?*

*Forever 21 blazer and brogues, peplum top and trouser from Topshop*

*Blazer, shoes and trousers as before, top from Topshop*

*I am in love with this Primark dress but it only looks good with my Topshop wedges*

So as you can see, it can be quite the emotional rollercoaster getting ready for a day at the office. I find myself lost in a sea of Topshop, Forever 21, Primark, New Look and River Island choices. And then I usually end up wearing things I have worn before. But who cares? Absolutely no-one cares. In fact, no-one even really notices. And if they do care and notice, they certainly don't judge you for it because more often than not they are wearing the same boots, dress, playsuit, skirt and necklace as they wore the week before.