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Office wear needn't be dull as high streets cater for chic professionals

While the institutional sexism and workplace smoking have thankfully been consigned to the distant past, there is one way in which most professionals look at the office of the hit TV series Mad Man with envy, namely the chic workwear of its protagonists.

Compared to the throwaway efforts of the modern workforce, the advertising executives of the 60s look resplendent in their tailor-cut suits or figure-hugging dresses or two-pieces, complemented by perfect hair and dazzling jewellery that wouldn't look out of place at a society ball, never mind the photocopying room.

Fortunately, high street designers are starting to wake up to the fact that, even if they don't actually like their jobs, most professional women are keen to look their best while they earn their crust, and an off-the-rack white blouse and simple black suit just won't cut it anymore.

According to research carried out at the start of the new decade by Mintel, one in ten women purchased smarter clothes at some point of the preceding 12 month period with the expressed aim of getting ahead at work.

What's more, one in four of those polled stated that they don't mind paying more for good quality work clothes, rather than the usual high street cheap imitations, with many believing that, by splashing out and combining fashion and practicality, they are investing wisely in their own careers.

Indeed, though it may be comforting to believe that workers are judged solely on their abilities, most experts agree that what an individual wears can have a direct impact on the level of success they enjoy in their working life and, more importantly, the nation's employers and bosses feel this way as well.

Oonagh Brennan, fashion director at Company magazine, explained: "I think the more successful women become and the more the position of power they get, the more it's something we are all conscious of […] there's more demand to dress in a certain way.

"Most women have careers now and how you dress does influence how you feel, and how people perceive you and judge you, unfortunately. You need to dress for the job you want, almost."

Of course, while the number of women in high-powered jobs who look good while sitting at the boardroom is on the rise, the fact remains that most people are simply unable to afford to splash out on designer workwear, however much they may want a promotion.

But, again, it's no longer the case that turning heads at the watercooler needs to hurt the wallet as some of the biggest names on the high street focus their attentions on clothes that look both chic and professional but above all don't cost the Earth.

For example, by teaming white shirts with a fashionable waistcoat or opting for a plain jacket that is nipped in at the waist, it's possible to keep with the latest trends while simultaneously keeping the boss onside.

Above all, however, rather than looking good and accepting the praise of colleagues, the biggest reward a chic work-friendly outfit can give an upwardly-mobile professional is that of self-confidence.

Splashing out on a new office job-friendly wardrobe may mean cutting back on the party gowns or impractically high heels for a season or two but, by looking at it as an investment in a career, the long-term benefits of looking and feeling like a million dollars round the office more than offset any initial sacrifices.

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