I recently had the honour of collaborating with a very dear friend of mine, May Chan from Hongkong who is a fellow image consultant and General Manager of Spark Image Consultancy Company.
We were randomly talking about our professional experiences and came across the topic of work wear.
One of the biggest struggle we noticed in women, including ourselves, was the constraint of business dressing. I’m sure you have had to attend events and dinners after work and got stuck wearing your boring work clothes to the party.
There were times, I carried an extra cocktail dress along to work so I could change, but more often than not, that didn’t work out. I ended up working late or was in a rush with absolutely no time to switch outfits. So what do you do in such situations? How do you work around with what you have to look elegant enough and not boring for an event after.
May and I present to you – 5 Key tips on How to Dress for a party straight after work:
Tip 1: Think about your outfit beforehand
If you know you have a party or a cocktail to attend before hand, pick a versatile outfit that can look good for both occasions. Pencil skirt is a great option. I used to wear a long tube top with a pencil skirt and a blazer to office. Post work, I just had to remove my jacket and wear a necklace or a scarf.
Alternatively, an LBD is a great after-5 option as you can do a lot with it.
If events come unexpectedly, opt for accessorizing or a quick makeup to up your social look.
Tip 2: Accessorise
I’m sure you have heard this tip before. Carry a shimmery or a stunning beaded necklace with you or even a statement neckpiece in your work bag while leaving for work. After work, put it on. It is a quick and easy way to add beauty to your look. Same goes for chunky earrings and bracelets. They may be small elements but they make a lot of difference to your overall appearance. Red or gold is a great choice of colour for accessories as they tend to stand out.
Tip 3: Makeup
Office wear requires subtle makeup which might be too toned down for an evening event. Make a quick trip to the ladies room before heading out and put on some eyeliner and a rich lipstick to instantly add glamour. I used to wear a maroon shade of red to work which was not too bright. For night, I used to quickly dab it off and change my lip colour to a brighter red. If you don’t like lipsticks, go for a glossy look in the night. Use a nice shimmery lip gloss and subtly line your eyes so that you don’t look tired after a long day. Don’t forget to dab some perfume. I usually carry a travel perfume in my bag.
Tip 4 : Scarves
Many of us wear blazers to work which is too formal for a fancy dinner or party. Switch that blazer for a scarf. Don a gorgeous multicolour scarf to stand out. Alternatively, you can also choose a scarf of the same colour with some embellishments. A black shimmery scarf with a black dress always looks classy.
Tip 5 : Shoes and Bag
Always keep an extra pair of high heels at work. I used to always keep a pair of high heel black stilettos at work in case I didn’t get a chance to go home and change. In that case, I would switch my black low-heel pumps which were easier to wear at work all day into those high heels. I also used to keep a small shiny clutch bag at work which was more suitable for an evening wear. It enabled me leave my big work tote bag at office and be up and ready for a party.
We had May show us how she changed her work look to an after-5 look effortlessly with just few changes. Notice her scarf, makeup and accessories.
BEFORE ( DAY – AT WORK) :
AFTER ( NIGHT- AT A PARTY) :
Doesn’t she look stunning? You too can implement these looks after work with just minor changes.
Hope this article helped you.
We heart you,♥
The Crispy Corner
REWARD ALERT : Share with us your after work looks on Instagram by following and tagging us on instagram ( IG : thecrispycorner) and stand a chance to get a free image or style consultation with May or me on Skype, email or in person. Discover the best colours and outfit for yourself with our help.
About May Chan :
May Chan, the General Manage of Spark Image Consultancy Company. May is one of the few people in Hong Kong with a certified image trainer qualification from the prestigious London Image Institute and Academy of Image Mastery. Since then she was appointed Vice President – Education of Association of Image Consultants International (AICI).
Website:- www.sparkimage.com.hk
Jewellery Sponsored By : Wai Kee Jewellers Ltd
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Store address:
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Photography By : Kings Production
Since 1987, King On has set an uncompromising standard for each photograph and video production. Handcrafting each assignment requires up to one full quarter – creating a set of rare quality and global renown, not surprisingly, King’s Production remains the choice of social elite of each epoch.
Website : www.kingsproduction.com.hk
Make up for May by : Faye Pan
Faye is a Chinese-Indonesian Make-up artist, based in GuangZhou, China. She has worked as a makeup artist for Miss World Tourism (GuangDong District) and a designated make-up artist at International Fashion Week of GuangZhou 2014. She was also award the Excellence Stylist of GuangZhou 2014
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Email: 893379175@qq.com
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