After months of dressing for survival on the sofa it’s time to rediscover dressing for success as restrictions lift and people abandon temporary desks on their dining room tables.
Soft tailoring on the runways in Milan, Kate Middleton arriving in Copenhagen wearing a power red Zara blazer and federal Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese posing in a crisp white shirt for the Australian Women’s Weekly are all signs that corporate fashion is back in business.
A mix of the masculine and feminine, anchored by the jacket, sent the Fendi woman back to work on the Milan runway.Credit:Fendi
For the Fendi show this week designer Kim Jones provided a luxury road map for women, combining traditional masculine and feminine elements for a non-binary boss effect.
Retro prints from the eighties, dragged from the back of fashion heiress Silvia Venturini Fendi’s wardrobe by her daughter Delfina Delettrez, provided mix and match inspiration, contrasted with sharply tailored skirts in staid greys. The masterclass in modern workwear continued with blazers buttoned over flowing, silky skirts.
“It’s a wardrobe designed for every aspect of a woman’s life, for every generation,” Jones says in the show notes. “And it all started with Delfina.”
The universal lesson is to have confidence in mixing moods, rather than rigidly following the top-to-toe tailored approach of the Duchess of Cambridge, which is perfect for a princess but not always for those carrying totes filled with laptops, hand sanitisers and spare masks.
“What we have seen over the past year is that women still want work wear that is comfortable and that they can pair with an exciting print, either at the office or on the screen,” said Ginger & Smart designer Genevieve Smart.
Ginger & Smart Edition blazer over printed dress and Anna Quan ‘Gianna’ jacket in cloud.
For Smart, who launched a collection of essential workwear pieces called Edition in 2020, just before lockdown, the mix of tailoring on top, with print below, delivers a dopamine fix and appears dynamic in the office. A classic oversized blazer worn over a printed dress in a soft fabric is professional without pandering to outdated concepts of a working uniform.
The oversized blazer and dress combination is also being spruiked by Anna Hoang, designer of womenswear label Anna Quan.
Haulier designer Jeremy Hershan is combining the formality of a blue blazer with the comfort of denim. Credit:
“Tailored suits that offer comfort and versatility are in demand,” Hoang says. “Our relaxed fit blazers look chic with tailored pants but can also be worn with denim or a flowy dress. Classic elegance meets modern edge. The return to the workplace has seen a continuation of a mood that speaks to relaxation, practicality, and effortless style.”
While Albanese has grasped the concept of formal on top and casual below, wearing a white work shirt with relaxed trousers for the Australian Women’s Weekly, designer Jeremy Hershan says that a jacket would complete the look.
“I feel like the rule book has been thrown out the window, which suits my philosophy,” says Hershan, the creator of fashion label Haulier and former creative director of RM Williams. “I like knowing the rules before I break them.”
“We are moving in the direction of mixing the comfort of the past 18 months with formality. It’s about throwing on a beautiful blazer over a worn T-shirt and a pair of jeans. It’s a softer approach to tailoring that’s slightly irreverent.”
If your office is too formal to accommodate Hershan’s rule-breaking approach to men’s workwear, follow Albanese’s lead and at least ditch the tie with your jacket. If it’s more relaxed, try a vintage Fendi blouse.
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