Chic in the spring

5 ways to update your workwear wardrobe

It might not quite be summer, but it's definitely feeling warmish outside. That's delightful at the weekend, but trickier the other five days of the week, should you have an office dress code to follow.

Wool-mix tailoring, beaming sunshine and hermetically sealed windows do not make a good combination. Which is why, even though we're longing to buy embroidered sundresses and basket bags to carry lemons home from the market (a thing that no one has done or will ever do, but don't let that stop the fantasy), we're taking a first-things-first approach to spring-cleaning our wardrobes, and starting with workwear.

The most obvious change to make is one to lighter-weight fabrics - but not linen.

"Although it looks pristine in the shop, you'll be covered in creases five minutes into the commute to work," says Isabel Spearman, Samantha Cameron's special adviser while at No 10, who now runs her own brand and image-consultancy firm. "Go for lightweight crepes and polyester mixes that are more forgiving in the heat, but still look smart."

A shift in color palette is next, with this season's pastel tailoring striking the rare but fortuitous balance between stylish and practical. But if you're not quite ready for top-to-toe pink, here's a gateway guide for getting summer (ish) workwear right.

'Rose-tint' your tailoring

Pastel tailoring might seem daunting if you generally live in black or navy, but it can look incredibly polished, not to mention youthful.

"Summer is a great time to be a little more daring in terms of color," says Jennifer Bishop, buyer at Browns. "So be bold in your choice of suiting. Racil is my go-to brand for suiting with personality."

If pink power dressing is a little too much for your boardroom, the London tailoring label and Reiss both have good blue options. If your office has a more relaxed dress code, you can break up your suit and wear it as separates.

Kate Foley's blazer smartens up jeans, or try pastel tailored trousers with a fine-knit jumper tucked in.

Drop those hems

Legs that have been hibernating might not be ready for baring.

Lucky, then, that this season's essential skirt length falls somewhere between mid calf and ankle, so you're really not showing off any more leg than you would in cropped trousers. It's A-line, but not so full as to look like you've wandered out of a garden party.

M&S' simple white D-ring belted version is spot-on, or try button-fronted from Sea, which will work at the weekend as well.

If you're shopping online, don't be put off by skirts that appear knee-length, unless you, like the model, are 5'10" (about 175 cm). For anyone less amazonian, these are worth a try, and if you're particularly petite, then it's just a matter of taking a few inches off the bottom.

Snazz-up shirt stripes

A blue-and-white striped shirt is not exactly reinventing the wheel, but thanks to statement catwalk versions at Mulberry and Balenciaga, not-so-basic iterations are easy to find on the high street.

Gap's pie-crust ruffled version runs less than $65, and while Olivia Palermo's floral-embroidered Zara shirt is sold out; they've got a (very similar) new version in stores now.

A quick poll of the Telegraph office puts Joseph's belted version way out in front; it's the most expensive of the lot by some way, but then, a striped shirt will always be useful in your wardrobe. They look best with white, navy or khaki tailored trousers, or even chinos, which are making a comeback this summer.

Keep feet in check

I'll admit being a champion of a "fun shoe": They're a great way to bring a bit of interest to an outfit without too many bells and whistles, and update what's already in your wardrobe.

Too much print can feel overly loud in an office setting, but since gingham is both graphic and monochrome, I think it fits the bill.

Try a stacked-heel mule with that long-line skirt, or a kitten heel with tapered trousers. Bimba Y Lola's pointed-toe flats are the shoe equivalent of a V-neck top - great for elongating small feet, and making big feet look daintier.

Swap to suede

A black leather bag might work with everything in winter, but it goes with absolutely nothing (save a black shirtwaister) come summer.

Neutral shades of tan and gray are more forgiving against pastels and white, but the main thing here is the switch from leather to less-structured suede. Good for stroking absent-mindedly on your commute, too.

Daily Telegraph

(China Daily 05/10/2017 page19)