Navy with black? Leopard? The workwear rules which are meant to be broken

Isabel Spearman is a brand and image consultant who previously worked as special adviser to Samantha Cameron at Downing Street. Each week , she offers a helping hand dissecting workwear dress codes and offering a modern take on power dressing.

To ask Isabel Spearman your workwear questions, email [email protected] or follow her on instagram @isabelspearman

In this week's column, she advises on how best to go about wearing the traditional workwear rule breakers ...

Q. I’m looking to refresh my work wardrobe, but everything in the shops seems a bit bold - lots of leather and animal prints! Should I stick to the basics?

A. When it comes to workwear, there are rules to be followed, and those made to be broken. At a recent meeting with a lawyer, I was reminded of exactly that; she was wearing a lovely black leather knee-length pencil skirt with a crisp white cotton blouse and a black fitted jacket, and looked stylish and entirely appropriate for her senior role. Mostly, leather is deemed too racy for work, but worn with the right combination of separates, I think it’s a brilliant - and versatile - way of sharpening up an all black wardrobe.

Lace blouse, ￡59, & Other Stories; Animal print cardigan, ￡125, LK Bennett

I remember being told by my grandmother that red and green should never be seen and never to wear navy and black together. While I agree with the former, I have come to realise that in a more corporate working environment, the latter is one of the chicest colour combinations around. Wearing black from top to toe can look quite severe but add in an elegant navy top or jacket and you’ll find it much softer and more flattering.

Sheer blouses would seem another obvious no-no, but investing in silk camisoles to layer underneath renders them completely suitable. The best camisoles I’ve found recently are from Boden and come in blush pink, black and navy. While acrylic fabrics and cotton vests don’t really work as they ride up, silk sits nicely between the skin and your top.

Leather wrap skirt, ￡160, Next; Denim shirt, ￡59, & Other Stories

Equally, denim can be dressed up and doesn’t have to be saved for casual Fridays. I am a complete sucker for denim shirts with a bit of a frill as they can look really smart, so long as the rest of your look is polished, from make-up to a good pair of heels.

Finally we have leopard print, my absolute favourite article in the should you/shouldn’t you office debate. It keeps coming back every season, meaning that brands are very clever now at giving us chic options, whether it’s the pair of Hobbs leopard flats I lived in all summer, or a ladylike spotted knit from LK Bennett. Try pairing leopard with khaki, burgundy or camel rather than the obvious black for a more modern way - and subtler - way to wear it.