I need SERIOUS help - I have to dress for a week's work with a famous Paris fashion house!

[merryhell]

Normally I don't need to dress up particularly for work. Most of my wardrobe is smart casual. I don't possess a suit.

But next month I am spending a week working with the stylish folk at an uber prestigious fashion house in Paris and am in a big tizz about what to wear. There will be a cocktail party and a dinner to attend as well as the daytime work for 5 consecutive days... am trembling at the fashion dilemma!

Where to start?

no idea but

i want your job.

my only suggestion would be to let me go in your place

Oh dear lord!

Well know your limits. Presumably you don't have the budget for couture so you need to go for workmanlike and current without trying too hard iysim.

Without knowing which one it is, it's hard to advise... but having recently worked in a London fashion house, I would go for chic, good quality, mainly black clothes and very good (expensive) accessories.

It sounds AWESOME, by the way

@ blood. Sadly my job isn't usually glam

Dead right I have no budget for couture (hoping for freebies though - this is NOT likely!)

What is "workmanlike and current", without sounding like a total fashion wasteland? I can do current casual pretty well, but never have to look ultra smart. Am 39, slim and clueless in this particular respect

Ok black is good. Suits? if not, what else will make me look pro and competent and like Paris fashion houses are my natural home?

Am not much good at accessories

No access to JL, not before D-day &

What sort of look should I be aiming for? I'm thinking not hot-shot lawyer sharp?

HoF nearby?

Oh dear God, your OP has brought me out in hives thinking about it

No HoF either!

Guillotined - oh me too more & more the more I picture day 1

Wow. I would e-mail the net-a-porter fashion consultants (if you go to their website, you can contact them from the page of any item), articulating your dilemma and see what they come up with. Then rip their ideas off shamelessly (or buy them all, am thinking about the budget I would have in this situation) from various on-line shops.

You could wear suits but you will probably be the only one, or at least the only woman. I certainly wouldn't buy one specially.

Any of the smarter looks on this page would be OK...

Cos. You need Cos.

Here

What exactly is your budget?

What do you look like?

Yes I'm thinking good dresses - maybe like this or slightly less structured?

Can you borrow anything from friends?

I also vote for Cos. Probably not near you but they have personal shopper as well. You may need someone to explain how to style some pieces.

I was in Cos today and it really stood out from the rest of the high street as being more on edge.

yy, something like this- but cheaper. This with a thin tan belt would work. although maybe too wooly.

This would be good.

You lot are good! I knew you would be

Budget is £as little as possible to look good. No stylish mates my size.

I am 39, a scrawny size 6/8, 5'6", pale, thick-ish long-ish blond-ish hair

Cos looks terrific but would definitely need help making it look right. Biggest prob is the fact that I need to look good for 5 consecutive days!

What the hell do i wear to 2 different cocktail parties and 1 dinner?!

Ok, but are we talking £20 or £200 on a dress?

Bearing in mind that I don't normally need to dress this smartly, I'd rather spend £50 than £200, unless on things that can be dressed right down.

Like the Zara dress a lot - looks versatile.

I saw this jacket in Zara last week and thought it was great and on trend.

Zara and Whistles are your friends.

You don't need much. I got through 2 weeks at the London fash house with a stretchy black jersey knee-length pencil skirt, black tapered trousers (above ankle length), a black jacket and a selection of tops/blouses from Zara and Reiss. And a good leather handbag. Due to a knee injury, I couldn't wear heels, which cramped my style a bit, but nobody sneered openly .

Ooh, don't forget to get a manicure before you go. And a blow-dry (possibly a second one during the week if you can).

this is in the sale - too dull? I think it's beautiful.

I reckon you should email My Wardrobe retailer website. They could probably suggest a few items that would carry you through the week and mix in with you current wardrobe. A few nice pieces could really upgrade your look. I would say that a sharp handbag is a must (and ideally you could do with a couple for daytime and at least one for the evening). Maybe you could borrow one from a friend if you don't have one.