Smart Shirts for Work

What better way to look smart at work than with a shirt? I'm not talking about your average ill-fitting unflattering shirt, on the contrary there are some shirts out there which can give you a feminine look without having to resort to a plunging neckline!

1. White shirt with ruffle detail on shoulders from Oasis £40

2. Red shirt with pleat detail Karen Millen £99

3. Purple Satin shirt from Dorothy Perkins £25

Knitted Jumper Dresses

Knitted jumper dresses are a great transition item to take you from summer to autumn. Here's a selection I came across which will keep you looking cool and covered:


These two cowl neck dresses come from the latest collection at Oasis. The long sleeves provide maximum coverage and this dress can also be worn as something smart for work with trousers, or casually with jeans. It's available online now for £55. Click here for more info on these dresses from the Oasis online store.


Another one from Oasis, this long sleeved silvery metallic dress has a v-neck with a ribbed design. If you're conscious of the neckline, accessorise this dress with a contrasting coloured scarf as shown. This would be great for an evening out :)
The dress is available for £65 from the Oasis online store, click here for more info.


For a more casual look, check out these two striped jumper dresses from Republic. Again, they have long sleeves and a v-neck. I'd suggest wearing a vest top underneath if you're not happy with the low neck. These are a bargain at £19.99, click here for more info and to buy from the Republic online store.


For something totally funky, Bench have these striped knit jumpers with bold colour combinations which really make a statement. These are available for £45. If these are a bit too much for you, Bench also have plain coloured jumper dresses for around £30. Click here to visit the Bench online store for more info.

Eveningwear - blow the budget with these designer dresses

If you've got a special event coming up, or have a desire for all things designer, I've found 2 gorgeous modest dresses which will keep you covered up but still ooze luxury and elegance.


This black embroidered shift dress from French Connection had long sleeves and a very modest neckline. The contrast in the embroidery colours against the black really gives this dress a sparkly but understated look. This dress retails at £200.


For something really glamourous, this 3/4 length dress silk from the See by Chloé collection needs no accessories. It's available in both black and blue and can be yours for the small sum of £318

Long Sleeve Print Dresses

I've been looking around for dresses with long sleeves. I know you can always get a short sleeved dress and add a cardigan or a shrug, but there are some occassions when you just don't want to wear too many layers. I'll be posting all my finds, starting off with these 3 print dresses:


Dress #1 is from the John Rocha Collection at Debenhams, it features a floral design with coin embellishments and is available for £50.
Dress #2 is for the plus size women out there, this orange beaded kimono style dress is available from Evans and comes in sizes 14 - 32. You can get this dress for £65.
Dress #3 is from Oasis. This diamond print dress is available for £48.

Maxi Dresses and Shrugs

While there's still a bit of summer left, there's still time to look fabulous is a maxi dress. Most of the shops have started to get their autumn/winter stock in now, so finding the maxi dress of your dreams is becoming a bit more difficult. I've found a few though, check them out below:



Dress #1 is from the Therapy range at House of Fraser and is available for a very reasonable £40.
Dress #2 is an animal print halterneck style maxi dress, available from Peacocks for £25
Dress #3 is a silky satin dress with detachable straps, available from Quiz for £39.99

So that's your lower half all covered up nicely, but if you're a bit conscious about necklines or showing off your arms, the perfect accompaniment to a maxi dress is a shrug. New Look have a great range of shrugs in at the moment so check out the New Look online store to find a the style and colour to suit your maxi dress!

More than just your average cardigan

Cardigans are probably the most popular cover up ever invented! They're just so easy to slip on top of a tshirt or vest, but sometimes I think they can be a bit boring, no matter how many different colour combinations you have, it's still going to be a boring old cardigan isn't it? Well perhaps not, I've found a few cardi's which have a bit more style about them thanks to a bit of draping and some ruffles! Check them out below:






#1 This 3/4 sleeve grey cardigan is from Karen Millen, as shown, it looks just as good worn open as it does zipped up. It's quite a tight-fit cardigan so if you're looking for something more loose and drape-y, a waterfall cardigan might be better for you. This cardi available to buy now for £110 fro the Karen Millen online store.

#2 & #3 are waterfall style cardigans, both with long sleeves they don't fasten up but do hang very nicely, hence the reason why they're called "waterfall" cardigans :) these two cardigans are great value for money, the red cardigan is £14.99 from Quiz, and the the light grey shrug is from the Miso collection at Republic for £19.99

#4 & #5 are from a few more long waterfall cardigans from a selection at Marks and Spencer and are available in a range of different colours.
#5 is from the"Perfect" range for £35.00, and
#4 is available for £29.50