A bold necklace is the quickest way to upgrade an outfit. The piece must be stylish, not too gaudy, and versatile enough for both business lunches and after-work drinks.

Top Pick: Pearl cluster bib necklaces ( A reinvention of the classic pearl strand, the chain-mail bib meshes muted tones and subtle sparkle. This necklace adds a hefty dose of shine to an otherwise simple outfit. It looks equally polished when you're in the office, wooing clients, or out on the town—no matter what the season.


Basic rules on how to wear a bold necklace to the office

Rule 1: Wear a solid-colored clothing, a monochromatic and simple business suit or shift dress is ideal. Avoid  prints and stripes, as these are distracting.

Rule 2: Choose the right neckline. As its for the office, don't pair it with anything low-cut; you're better off wearing a classic scoop-neck shirt. Generally it works with most necklines, as long as the lines of the garments are simple and clean.

Rule 3: Keep all other jewelry to a minimum, wear only the bare necessities in rings, bracelets, and earrings. The necklace is the focal point of your outfit, and adding more bold jewelry will look too flashy for the office.

Rule 4: Pair with a casual outfit. You'll probably feel more comfortable if the rest of your outfit is understated and monochromatic so that you don't wind up looking overdressed. A simple bib necklace without too much glitter can look beautiful for daytime.

By www.wearittowork.co.uk, the online shop for stylish business clothing for women.


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We all have specific issues with our bodies. Short legs, or perhaps longer legs, bigger breast, bigger upper arms, tiny waist... Generally retail shops cater for standard sizes, and this is where a tailor can become a woman's best friend.

The first thing that comes to mind when considering a tailor, is 'expensive', but - au contraire! It will save you money in the long run, and here is why. We tend to only wear 20% of our wardrobe. Why is this? Wrong shopping choices are probably one of the main reasons. BUt we tend to wear our favourite and most trusted pieces - we know they look good, fit well and are comfortable. So 80% is just waiting around, one day maybe to be worn or discarded. This 80% could be decreased by your tailor. Have a rummage through, and figure out why you are not wearing many of those numbers - doesn't fit quite right? Take it to the tailors, and it will be like you have a new wardrobe.
Not worth it on cheaper/ sale clothing? Think again! These clothes are clearly made for a mass market, and with a bit of tweaking, you can make it look designer, for a fraction of the price of designer clothing. So don't immediately dismiss taking your 'Sale' pieces to be altered, it may save them from dissapearing into the back of the closet forever, and turn them into one of your favourite items to wear!

When it comes to business clothing, it's often better to purchase a size up, as it is always easier to have clothing taken in than let out.
Hemming is the most common alteration, but there are a multitude of options for adjusting clothing. For example, petites may have problems with sleves being too long, which can be shortened.

Here are some of the common ways to make the most of your tailor;


Sleeve cuffs & Hems
Sleeves are frequently too long for many of us. Shortening plain sleeves is probably the least costly, as its done with a simple hem. Cuffs can be removed, a sleeve shortened, and then the cuff re-attached. If the bottom of the sleeve has an elaborate placket or buttons and buttonholes, the sleeve should be shortened from the top, rather than hemmed at the bottom. Expect this type of alteration to be more costly.

Narrowing Sleeves
For a neater appearance and better fit, petites often can benefit from having sleeves narrowed, especially jacket sleeves. A sleeker sleeve makes the wearer look sleeker too. This is normally a simple alteration involving taking in one seam.

Taking in Seams
When purchasing clothing, always but garments to fit your widest part because current commercial clothing construction methods leave little room for making anything bigger, so letting out a garment in the bust or hips is seldom possible. Taking in seams is another matter. It's a fairly simple alteration, which should be done equally on both sides.

Shortening Tops, Trousers or Dresses
Most hemming alterations are simple, and home sewers can do a professional looking job with straightforward hemming. There are a few exceptions, which become more complicated.

Removing pockets
Pockets in side seams can create a little bit of extra bulk, which may be good to get rid of, especially for those pear shaped women. This is another easy alteration involving removing the pocket and stitching up the side seam where the pocket was originally. This type of clothing alteration will not disrupt the original design of the garment.

Adding or removing shoulder pads
Shoulder pads are back in fashion, however not suitable for us all. It's great for women with a pear shaped or straight up and down figure, to add some curve and balance out the hips.
It's difficult to add shoulder pads that are significantly bigger than the shoulder pads the garment had originally because extra fabric may be needed. Completely eliminating large shoulder pads may also involve narrowing some seams so that the garment will drape properly.









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