Having had several interviews over the past few weeks, workwear and dressing smart has certainly been a trend high on my agenda. I consider my usual style to be fairly casual – although I do love ‘dressing up’ once a week, however when it comes to smart attire, I often struggle to find outfits I enjoy wearing for comfort, and style. So, when John Lewis approached me recently with the opportunity to style a smart outfit and try it out for myself, I practically jumped at the chance. Introducing, the edit.
Sports luxe has been a on-off trend for the last few seasons, coming to a head this spring/summer where it seems to be everywhere. Encapsulating casual comfort wear and smart attire, it sounds like the recipe to my perfect outfit, so it was a little surprising I hadn’t tried it out for size sooner. John Lewis have a carefully crafted ‘edit’ for those wishing to trial the new trend, and asked me to style an outfit which I would wear myself.
With a budget of £150, I chose a beautiful Carmen top from Wishbone in a gorgeous, almost neon yellow and a pair of Tia Trousers (also wishbone) made from satin and viscose for extra comfort. Since I have big hips, I usually stray away from baggy, non-tailored trousers as they can add extra (unwanted) pounds, however luckily – these have been carefully constructed to flatter your figure and not sit too uncomfortably tight.
With the benefit of being able to ‘dress up’ your sports luxe items, or just as easily ‘dress them down’, I decided to play around with accessories, shoes and other inspired items to see how many different ways of wearing the edit you could opt for. The great thing about these items is their versatility, as you can see:
Sport/Casual
Although tailored trousers and a fitted top are considered relatively ‘smart’ items of clothing, mixing and matching in different accessories can give the outfit an entirely new feel. Add a pair of Geox Heeled Wedge Trainers, a leather backpack and a pair of aviators (a steal at £20).
Classics
Perfect for daywear – or to dress up for an evening event with a blazer, the ‘classic’ look is pastel perfect, ready for the summer season – and oh so chic. Team the essentials with a Ted Baker bag, white watch, sandals and sunnies.
Work-wear
Work work, dependent on your occupation of course, is notoriously difficult to get right during the summer months, since flashing too much flesh can be seen as risky and bundling yourself up in your usual outfits is far too uncomfortable. Luckily, the Wishbone trousers and top are lightweight and airy, comfortable and flattering – however on a chillier day, you could opt for this gorgeous (yet thin) Whistles jacket, a nude purse, black wedges and aviators.
They have enlisted the help of several of your favourite bloggers to participate in styling the edit, including one of my favourites – Katie from Little Winter. Make sure you check out the full edit here, you never know – you might even find yourself a summer treat!
