Hey Working Girl ! Let's Dress Trendy

Go for Quality, Not Quantity

You don't need a lot of pieces to dress rich, only five or six that are interchangeable and of superior quality. A structured jacket like this solid black velvet blazer with contrasting trim and a four-button closure, a pair of beautifully tailored trousers, a little cap-sleeved pleated top or a creamy top cardigan will do.

Make It Fit

People who know fashion wear pieces that drape gracefully, creating that telltale elegant silhouette. Seams should lie smoothly, collars should be pristine, and pleats should be crisp, even and smooth. Skirts will have a pretty swing to them. Everything should fit the contours of your body just right.

Look for Luxury Fabrics

Designer Lauren Moffatt believes dressing well means surrounding yourself in only the finest fabric. "Aside from the fact that better-quality fabric feels amazing against your skin" she said, "it retains its shape and symmetry and won't bunch up or cling to your body in odd ways." So embrace those cashmeres, merino wools, silks and fine cottons.

Be Creative and Recycle

If you own a high-quality piece from seasons past that just needs a bit of tweaking, don't toss it, recycle it. For example, you can remove bows or other "too-last-year" flourishes such as extravagant ruffles, take up a hem or remove those exaggerated shoulder pads; just be creative!

Browse Your Local Consignment Shops

Consignment shops are another goldmine for discovering valuable, modern items at a fraction of the cost, and unlike with eBay, you can try them on. Look for well-constructed pieces made from wool, silk, cotton and linen.

Shoes and Bag Speak Volumes

The benchmark of dressing rich has to be the shoes and handbag, so pay special attention with your choices: no ragged heels or dirty scruffs on shoes, and no busted zippers or ripped seams on bags. And FYI, you might want to think twice about carrying Louis Vuitton; imitations are so ubiquitous these days, everybody may assume it's a fake anyway.

Classic Black Coat

One "Don't forget that quintessential tailored black wool coat," said Jennifer Meyer, public relations director for Club Monaco. "You can wear it with everything from jeans and a tank top to an elegant cocktail dress and look smashing."

This article is edited to fit into the Malaysian contect.
Original article, courtesy of ivillage.com