Let your lingerie take you from the sheets to the streets
Fashion is a fickle thing. Take the silk slip – the it-dress of the 90s, popularised by Kate Moss and Jennifer Aniston and then relegated back to the bedroom, only to be seen two decades later on the likes of Nicole Richie and Rihanna. It sounds very arbitrary. In many ways, it is. But as sure as the sun will rise, so too do trends come full circle. In the case of the slip, let’s just say morning has broken (again) and this is your wake-up call.
Boudoir chic returned a few seasons ago, when pyjama-inspired separates, camisoles and robes became runway, red-carpet and street-style staples. It peaked in 2015 with the rise of the bralette – a bra by any other name. Still, as former Victoria’s Secret Angel and now Bendon brand ambassador Heidi Klum would say, one day you’re in, the next day you’re out. Of a job. Because you came to work in a negligee. So what exactly are the rules here?
I wore a slip to the office all summer unapologetically, but I’d advise taking my very casual January with a grain of salt. Even at FQ HQ, it’s likely that my lingerie look only got through because my 90s-inspired mules and shrunken denim jacket made it a ‘reference’, and not an HR issue. A better entry-level option for the corporate woman is the camisole. While flimsy fabrics and shoestring straps are better saved for after hours, a peek of lace under a blazer has as much place in the boardroom as the bedroom. As for those in the creative sector, a camisole tucked into baggy, low-slung jeans is the perfect masculine-feminine ensemble.
If, like Bridget Jones, you dare to go sheer, flesh-coloured undergarments aren’t the answer. This is a bold trend so do it like you mean it and go for unfussy block shapes in dark colours. If modesty is a priority, perhaps the robe is for you. Whether styled with denim for day, or something more slinky for night, the robe adds rock-star nonchalance to an outfit. The key is in making sure this nonchalance isn’t mistaken for apathy. While you don’t want your outfit to look contrived, you also don’t want to look like you’ve given up on getting dressed. Commit to your robe, wear it with conviction, and definitely leave the hair turban for another day.
Style tip: Total transparency in the workplace isn’t always best, but less is more when you’re off the clock. Go double-sheer for double the impact.
