What to wear - the perfect lawyer look

Gone are the days where female lawyers wear ugly brown suits (I admit - yes I have owned an ugly brown suit).  With the increase in designers and shift in acceptable work wear, we have an endless choice of what to actually wear in the office!

Appearance is everything.  But your pay packet may also determine what you can and can't wear.  As a previous Partner told me - you can tell the higher skirt brackets - better quality clothes.  I laughed when she said this, but as my pay has increased, so has my clothes budget and where I buy my clothes from!

I use Pinterest a lot for inspiration on what to wear to work.  I even have a board dedicated to all things lawyering.

I am loving the classic look at the moment (see pic above).

Here are a few tips to young career girls starting out.  Whether you are a paralegal, graduate or a first year, these tips will help you create a closet that is timeless, yet fashionable!

1. Splurge and buy that 1 great suit.  This suit should be reserved for Court days or important meetings.  I have never bought an off the rack suit that fitted me perfectly, but I have made friends with a great dressmaker in Brisbane (PQ Fashions) who alter all of my suits for me.  They even make suits, but I am yet to venture down that path.  I bought a gorgeous skirt suit from Portmans over 6 years ago, and I still wear it today.  It is a black, pencil skirt with a traditional collar jacket.  I get it dry cleaned to ensure it is well looked after.
2. Shoes - oh how I love shoes!  Have at least 2 pairs of heels to start off - black and nude/cream (try places like Famous Footwear and London Rebel to start off) and pay to have the tips replaced straight away.  I go to Mister Minit who replaces my tips if they come off in the 6 months since he put them on.  Wear flats to and from work - especially if you are walking from public transport - to look after your heels.  Don't wear casual wedges to work - unless its casual Friday.  Wedges have made a comeback in recent years (I don't wear them at all), but I have seen some really nice low wedges suitable for work. 
3. Staple items - black pants, skirt (a nice grey colour is great), singlets for under your blouses (black, white and nude), at least 1 good button down, long sleeve shirt and belts (they are always in with work wear).
4. If you are showing leg - wear a pantyhose.  It is basic deportment.  I wear a nude pantyhose every day that I am wearing a skirt or dress.  I feel "naked" without one.
5. Have a smart casual outfit for "casual Fridays".  Jeans with a cute top and sandals or ballet flats work best.  If I am heading out for Friday night drinks, I might bring a pair of heels to work, or wear a cute dress with cropped jacket.  Hit up Valley Girl and Temt as a starter.  Look around at all of their items and you will be surprised at what you will actually find.  I am addicted to Sheike at the moment and buy heaps of dresses from there that I wear on casual Fridays.
6. Don't be afraid to go to Big W and K-Mart and actually look around at their basic items.  You will find cheaper shoes, singlets (see point 2) and basic work tops that look fantastic and not cheap.  I once bought a dress from K-Mart for $46 as a second year and a Senior Associate asked me how I could afford Victoria Beckham.  I was like what are you talking about!?  She showed me some of VBs latest range, and turns out the dress I bought was similar to hers.  Score!
7. Accessorise properly.  Head down to Lovisa, Diva or (splurge) Mimco where you can get lovely earrings. Fake pearls, cubics and pretty studs are a plenty.  One day I will be able to buy all of the real diamonds and pearls I want (wishful thinking!). 
8. Handbag time!  When I was at Uni, Oroton was making its mark in the corporate world.  All I wanted was an Oroton bag and purse.  I remember when I bought my first Oroton and was oh so excited.  But there was no way during my early years that I could I could fork out $600 for an Oroton bag as a first year, and I didn't have a boyfriend at the time who gave me an Oroton purse for Christmas (But I was lucky this Christmas!). I looked around at places like Strandbags for designers like Condura.  These days there are heaps of bag places, like Colette, which have great work bags under $50.  Again, keep the colours neutral - black, nude/cream.  I love teaming my black bag with a funky silk scarf for that added bounce!
9. Make-up completes the package.  What is acceptable on a Saturday night in the Valley is not acceptable at work on a Monday morning.  Invest in make-up brushes (start out at Cosmetics Plus) to give you that polished look.  Basic make-up items include foundation, light blush, mascara and a nude gloss/lipstick.  By all means wear eye shadow and liner - I do most days.  If I know I haven't got any meetings on, I try and have an "eye break" - no eye shadow or liner - I love the "natural" makeup look and just touch up my gloss a bit more.

Remember, these tips are to start you off.  The most important thing is to make sure you look respectable and presentable.  As a blonde, female, young(ish) lawyer, I need to make sure I dress right so I am not judged.  I plan my outfit the night before depending on my calendar and usually because I am packing it in my gym bag.  Saves so much time the next morning and I'm not waking up the house by ironing early!

I hope you have a fantastic 2014 and I look forward to helping you with your careers and development.