Fashion: Style thats fit for the workplace
Oct 4 2010 By Zoe Chamberlain
GETTING a step on the career ladder can be daunting – especially during the recession.
According to new research, a third of employers make a decision in the first 90 seconds of an interview.
Wearing the right clothes makes the casting vote for 65 per cent of employers but this can be tricky when purse-strings are tight.
With this in mind, we’ve gone bargain-hunting with stylist Claire Wacey at TK Maxx in Birmingham for two Midland women keen to become working girls but struggling to get their foot on the career ladder.
Hair and make-up: Gemma Howard
All the clothes: TK Maxx, Birmingham
Photos: Iain Findlay
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Silk print detail dress £40 (rrp £110), purple shoes £50 (rrp £140) and green clutch £80 (rrp £135) from TK Maxx. Total spend: £170 (should have been £385).
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Printed chiffon top £15, jeans £13 (rrp £60), maroon cardigan £20, shoes £30 (rrp £80) and brown leather bag £80 (rrp £154) from TK Maxx. Total spend: £158 (should have been £329).
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Red dress £20, black shoes £30 (rrp £80) and brown leather bag £80 (rrp £154) from TK Maxx. Total spend: £130 (should have been £254).
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Printed chiffon top £15, black pencil skirt £25 (rrp £150), grey shoes £20 and green patent bag £250 (rrp £489) from TK Maxx. Total spend: £310 (should have been £674).
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White shirt from £15, grey pencil skirt £20 (rrp £110), black belt £6 (rrp £25), red patent shoes £30 (rrp £80) and green patent bag £250 (rrp £489) from TK Maxx. Total spend: £321 (should have been £819).
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Black dress £50 and green patent bag £250 (rrp £489) from TK Maxx. Total spend: £300 (should have been £539).
Karen Davies, 29
Karen was made redundant from her job in the music industry last month. It is the third time she’s been made redundant in two-and-a-half years. She is single and lives in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter.
She says: “The first time I was made redundant I was a little taken aback.
“I had a mortgage with my long-term partner so there was lots of pressure on me.
“It took me two months to find another job, and the second time it took six months.
“By the third time I was made redundant, I’d had so much experience I took it more in my stride as I have transferable skills.
“In my jobs, I’ve done everything from booking bands like Primal Scream and The Kooks to changing beer barrels.
“I’m optimistic something will come up soon. I’m single now and I’m renting so there’s not so much pressure on me to pay the bills.
“I’m at the end of the lease on my flat so I could really go anywhere or do anything.”
Claire says
“Karen’s job can mean she’s changing beer barrels one minute then needing to look glam the next.
“I loved the silk dress because it was vibrant and youthful for her. But I also felt she needed an outfit that was smart with jeans for when she’s down on her hands and knees.
“The big leather handbag is really important to Karen because she goes to different events all the time and needs to carry a bag and shoes within her bag sometimes.”
Karen’s verdict
“In my industry, you work in lots of different places and how you look is quite important.
“But I would generally go for greys and blacks rather than bright reds so this has made a nice change for me.”
