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How to dress like a lady boss
Style tips from successful businesswomen
Don’t be afraid to look fabulous: There’s a reason Anna Wintour doesn’t look as old as her age – 66 years old. Vogue America’s Editor-In-Chief is not afraid to dress up. “That’s one of the things that makes me rather angry. I don’t understand that if you look wonderful, does that make you less important, less powerful, less serious?” she told Glamour Magazine.
Wear heels and gold: It’s not surprising that this advice comes from Versace mastermind Donatella Versace, whose style mimics the brand’s theme, extravagant and glamorous. “I’m always in heels,” she says. “I always wear jewellery. Gold, of course. This is Versace we’re talking about.”
Make an effort to look the part: Founder and owner of Nasty Gal fashion retailer, Sophia Amoruso, used to wear high-waisted jeans to work, but quickly changed that once she took up the temporary role of CEO. “If I’m meeting an employee for the first time, on some level I feel I have to live up to whatever a fashion company CEO looks like, so I always try a little,” she said.
Have a go-to dress: 65 year old co-founder of the Huffington Post, Ariana Huffington, advises having a go-to dress that works for formal events but is also feminine. “Never worry about repeats. This summer, I have a linen Dolce dress that I wear with different boleros and that is my go-to outfit for speeches, TV appearances, etc.,” she says, but we can’t keep our eyes of her patterned suit picture above. We think having a go-to suit is a definite must as well.
Wear pearls: There’s something about pearls that can make any woman look classy. And there’s something powerful about looking classy. Former CEO of Avon beauty firm Andrea Jung knows that, which is why she is almost never seen without her signature pearl necklace.
Style a white collar shirt: Carolina Herrera, founder of the Carolina Herrera fashion brand, forever feminised the white collar shirt by sporting it with A-line skirts and plum lip shades. “I wear a white shirt like a security blanket [because] it looks snappy in any situation. I have different styles for different outfits. I always wear a plum lipstick by Bobbi Brown, it was discontinued, but I have a lot of it,” she told Red Book magazine.
It’s not about the money: A part of dressing like a female boss is dressing elegantly. And according to Carolina Herrera, you can dress elegantly without spending too much money. “Elegance doesn’t buy elegance. You can take an inexpensive sheath, add a pretty scarf… and a wonderful bag, and it will always be elegant,” she says.
