Designers and Fashion

Outdoor jackets have been popular with hikers and people who enjoy walks outside for many years. Why? They are excellent at keeping you warm and dry in the harshest of weather that means they are perfect for use in the dreadfully wet British climate. However, outdoor jackets have also now become more popular with the mainstream British public who do not actually intend on wearing the outdoor jackets for hiking in, oh no, they intend on wearing them as a fashion statement. I do not know how this came about but I do think that it is a very strange concept but if it is something that will evolve in to a much bigger trend remains to be seen. I sincerely hope not though!

This trend in wearing an outdoor jacket as a fashion jacket seems to be most popular within the teenage groups. I have seen many secondary school children wearing their North Face, Berghaus and Sprayway jackets not only to school but also in the local shopping areas and other social areas. I have also witnessed children who appear to have worn the same outdoor jacket every day for about a year. Why, oh why is this popular at the moment?

You would never catch me dead wearing one of these jackets as a fashion statement? The biggest reason why I would not wear one of these jackets as a fashion statement is because they really are not fashionable at all! Many of these jackets are made up of basic, boring patterns and also very dull colours. I am a big fan of fashion and looking good in the clothing that I wear and it is beyond me how anyone thinks this looks good in a fashionable way.

In addition to this, there is a certain group of youths who tend to wear outdoor hiking jackets as a fashionable item; some people may call them ‘chavs’. These particular groups of youths can use the design of these outdoor jackets to their advantage. As you will probably be aware, outdoor jackets tend to have very high necks and have some of the best quality hoods out on the market. These hoods are very large but can be tightened so it can conceal every part of your face except for your eyes. Certain youths use this technique in a way to intimidate people and look threatening. A group of twenty youths stood on a corner with their hoods up, completely concealing their faces is not good for society as it can mean that they can commit felonies and avoid any punishment as they have no way of being identified.

So, if I did happen to think that these jackets looked attractive and would look good if I were to wear one as a fashion statement then I would still chose not to where one as I would not like to be associated with such a culture. I want to see these sorts of problems being removed from our streets and I would not be happy with myself if I were to encourage the popularity of this kind of fashion, and the kind of culture that sometimes goes along with it.

I really do not see how anybody in their right minds could wear these outdoor jackets a fashion statement. I am not denying that they are excellent jackets for hiking in and they look good when you go hiking but when you are in social town centres, it is just not the same. These jackets are quite frankly ghastly in many ways. They do not look bright or elegant in any way and I really do hope that the fashion soon dies down and they are only worn for their intended purposes, hiking.

When you dress smartly you tend to act more professionally, not to mention give a potential customer the right impression. A smart looking staff member gives a customer confidence as they appear as though they know more about their job. Image is everything in this day-and-age.

With this in mind, it makes perfect sense that a basic requirement for all offices should be a dress code that requires that a person should turn up for work wearing the finest shirt and unique cufflinks. Cufflinks may sound like something that can be done without but the best shirts are made to be used in conjunction with these. A visit to a top purveyor of clothing, such as Thomas Pink, reveals this fact very quickly.

Any professional should be prepared to invest in a business wardrobe. It will help get them the job they seek and also assist any person who deals directly with the customer to become more successful.

The simple answer is that shirts are usually compulsory, but cufflinks aren’t. The majority of offices are fairly formal, although it does vary heavily depending upon the company you work for.

It is quite common for offices to have dress down days on Fridays. This would mean that employees could turn up for work in casual attire. You will find that quite a few call centres have this policy but most professional vocations, such as law, don’t have such a relaxed dress code. The simple reason for this is that they are expected to look professional and turning up with a printed t shirt sends out the wrong message.

There are companies that allow their employees to wear pretty much what they’d like. These companies tend to be those who don’t deal directly with the public or have clients visiting. There also tends to be a more relaxed approach to formal dress in certain departments, such as IT. Small family companies tend to be more laid back than the larger multi nationals, but the attitude of the owner will generally determine how things will be.

Shirts are traditionally officewear because they look official and smart.
Nobody is going to choose to consult a solicitor if he is wearing a tshirt and jeans.
Shirts make people appear more credible.
Men and women who come to work dressed smartly ,look as though they are in control of things.
They are the ones who will gain promotion, all else being equal.
Imagine approaching a policeman or woman for help in the street and then discovering that they are wearing lycra ! You would think twice about wether they were really able to help you with your problem.
You rarely see a doctor who is not smartly dressed for the same reason.
A shirt is acceptable wear nearly everywhere and that makes it an ideal garment .
Cuff links can only be worn on shirts where the cuff is made to accept them.
A shirt with buttons, wont have the holes that the cufflinks must go through to ‘link’ the cuff.
That makes them more of a fashion accessory than a practical piece of wear in this modern day.

The type of clothing you wear to the office rather depends on what type of office you are working in. The clothes you decide to wear forms the basis of what other people think about you and you also have to consider the image of your company. If you are working in a legal firm for example you would certainly be expected to dress very smartly in a suit, shirt and tie. You might decide to wear cufflinks but this is probably a matter of personal choice. Sandals and shorts are certainly not an option!

However if you were working in a graphic design or media setting you would probably be expected to wear more casual clothing maybe even jeans as it would be seen as a sign of your creativity.

If in doubt about what to wear you should look at what the boss is wearing and take your clue from that. If he is dressed in a tailored suit don’t turn up in jeans.

I think there is probably space for both types of cufflinks.
Timeless classic cufflinks are usually quite plain and subtle, some have stones and some don’t but they are usually discreet and bring a classy finished feel to a shirt.
Novelty cufflinks are just that a novelty, the come in all shapes and styles and most have some kind of funny design.
If these are worn at appropriate times why not, they may not add class to an outfit but can prove a talking point and suggest the wearer or the giver has a sense of humour.
My husband wears cufflinks everyday for work and they are usually given to him by me or our daughters.
He has England flag ones, dice and cars.
he also has subtle ones that I give him such as ones that are plain or have a little stone,
So to conclude there is place for both types off cufflinks and be it a formal dinner or a party with friends if you have both types you will also have the right pair.

Cufflinks have been in fashion and have gone back out again but they have never truly gone away. While shirts needing them continue to be made then cufflinks are here to stay in one form or another.

Today the choice is endless. There are many elegant, timeless and dateless designs that always look good, especially with a tailored suit and crisp white shirt. There is also an infinite variety of novelty cufflinks available to suit the wearer’s hobbies, pastimes or affiliations. I have seen them in the shape of footballs, horses, aeroplanes, cars, national flags, letters of the alphabet, even working clocks, and a host of other designs. Where they were traditionally made using gold and gemstones, now they are also manufactured from materials like enamel or even fabric mounted on to the typical cufflink mechanism.

There is something very sophisticated about the gentleman who wears cufflinks; I think they look far classier than any little shirt button.

I think that cufflinks should be stylish, classic and not overly ostentatious. If a man is wearing a well cut, smart suit, with a shirt that requires him to wear cufflinks, they should be of a minimalist design, and preferably in a silver coloured metal, such as silver, platinum or white gold. Yellow gold can sometimes look a little tacky.
Some cufflinks are also available in fabric - I have seen some really interesting ones made from twisted threads of fine silk made into a knotted sphere, that were stylish yet understated. It is important that the cufflinks match and go with the suit and shirt that is to be worn. For example, with a slim fitting single breasted 1960’s three button suit in a mod style, it would be quite good to wear a pair of cufflinks with targets on them.
I think that novelty cufflinks, as with novelty ties and socks for men, look rather silly. They may be amusing for the first time that they are worn, but the joke starts to wear thin after that. Perhaps these type of novelty items should only be purchased occasionally. They do seem to be a money making exercise for large companies to get more money out of consumers, as most of the novelty cufflinks etc, are adorned with symbols of materialism, eg. characters from television shows and films, so they are best avoided.

No one wants to spend a fortune on office wear, but equally no one wants to look drab. Summer basics can be quite hard to find as you need to look professional but still want to feel cool and relaxed. Some good quality shoes will be vital so as not to end up with the dreaded sweaty feet. Go for a neutral colour that will match the rest of your wardrobe, there is nothing wrong with black but a cream or khaki colour is also a good option.

Next get some skirts that are suitably long (i.e. just above the knee to full length). This year bold colours are in but for those who don’t want to risk this in an office consider pastels or muted colours such as pinks, lilac and yellows. Team these with a sleeveless top for the coolness, but always carry a light weight cardigan to place over the top for a professional look. Three quarter length trousers can work wonders, but only for the slim or super slim!

Above all be comfortable and remember layers, layers, layers!

Having been a city worker for over 6 years I would consider the following as the essential capsule wardrobe:

3 trouser suits in black, a lighter colour such as beige and one in between such as brown or navy.
1 full length black skirt
1 knee length skirt to go with you trouser suit jackets
At least 3 tailored style plain shirts
Around 2 to 3 smart patterned shirts
3 or more smart but noticable belts which will dress up a suit easily
A wrap dress - these always look smart and have stayed in fashion
A few t-shirt type tops to go under your suit in warmer weather
3 to 4 close fitting jumpers to wear if you don’t want to always wear a suit jacket but still look smart
2 pairs of pumps, one dark (preferably black) and one light
2 pairs of heeled office shoes, again one light and one dark
A smart pair of mid length or knee high boots
2 to 3 handbags to go with your suits or shoes
A smart winter jacket
A mid length jacket for warmer weather
A few pairs of neautral tights or patterned tights if this would fit in with the charachter of your office

Optionals:
A few neck scarves to add elegance to an outfit
If you’ve longer hair perhaps investing in some jewelled hair clips to jazz up your look
A few pairs neat drop earings or studs if you wear you hair up