Office wear can be very masculine with your main building blocks being suits, shirts and pencil skirts and pumps. The key to a more feminine and versatile office appearance lies in contrasting the severity of your tailored pieces with feminine elements.

Choose flowing tops in stead of fitted shirts or simply add a dangly strand of pearls for a more ladylike appearance.

An easy way to create variety in your career wardrobe is by mixing and matching suit jackets, trousers and skirts.

Here are a few tips to get that office wardrobe looking ultra-feminine:

  • When buying black, look for tailored jackets with decorative inner linings - like a pretty colour, or a textured fabric. It adds feminine sophistication to an otherwise very classic black jacket.

  • To avoid blouses and skirts from looking too masculine, create a softer look by choosing a flowing fabric like chiffon or georgette.

  • Delicate details like lace and classic soft colours like salmon or nude will tone down the severity of a very structured suit.

  • Choose cardigans with pearly instead of plain buttons.

  • Select shoes with a pretty buckle or trim for a more feminine feel.

  • Make it interesting by mixing tops and bottoms from different suits. For example, wear a fitted jacket with a wide, 50s-style skirt as an alternative to tailored pants, or combine your white suit jacket with navy suit pinstripe pants.

  • Coats are also ideal for the office: soften the military lines by wearing a dainty floral-print dress or camisole underneath.

  • A tie is a great fashion accessory for the office, but with a shirt it can look very masculine. Try wearing it as a belt with your trousers or with a t-shirt under your jacket, more like a scarf.

    • Retha Jurgens is the fashion editor of Shape Magazine.

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