Minerva Jaquier

Budding artists have been known to make quite a mess so when faced with the choice between poster paint or crayons, most parents will happily opt for the latter as they seem the safest, least drippy choice. But what happens when your little Picasso manages to get crayon stains on their clothes – or worse – on yours? When you’re left wondering how to remove crayon stains from clothes, don’t panic. Although removing crayon from fabric can seem tricky, it’s not impossible. Follow these simple st...

The magic of minimalism is found in the traits it evokes; elegance, confidence and authority. The beauty of simplicity is not just the style of a minimal outfit but also in the authenticity it conveys; how we can see a person for who they really are – and what they are capable of – when their clothes aren’t a distraction. Once exclusively linked to Japanese aesthetics and Nordic interior design, a minimalist wardrobe highlights the value of quality over quantity, paying homage to Marie Kondo’s ‘KonMari’ method of tidying. Aside from removing the occasional burden of excessive accessories and embellishment, a minimalist wardrobe can whittle down-time spent dressing in the morning and saving precious time one has alone before the working day. The key is to opt for striking silhouettes and luxurious details to bring the focus of the quality and structure of the garment centre stage. From a staple dress made from the finest silk to a well-cut power suit that needs no adorning, master the art of a minimal wardrobe with these four chic looks.

The New Zealand rugby team have performed their traditional dance of intimidation and empowerment, the haka, for over a century. Why? Aside from breaking the moral of the opposing team, there is nothing like the physical expression of confidence and strength to convince your brain to follow suit, way before psychologists had the proof to back it up. In today’s boardroom, body language still wields a shockingly large amount of influence on the all-important first impression; up to 90% in some, close-contact cases, making personal conduct all the more important in the corporate environment.

Although we may be set in our ways of sitting, standing and gesticulating, in the same way we are willing to be trained, learn and expand our skill-set in the office, we should be open to refining the more personal elements of our professional image. “People don’t realise how important it is to re-train and enhance your skill-set as you climb the career ladder” image consultant Joanna Gaudoin told Silkarmour, “A lot of people consciously dismiss the visual aspect of a professional image…when in reality, it has a lot of value and impact on how your colleagues and clients perceive you.” Just as our personal appearance makes the majority of a good first impression, our body language needs to be right behind it to pick up the remaining percent to seal the deal. Whether it’s a million-pound proposal or a salary negotiation, the right body language can not only help you feel confident, but it can turn the tables in your favour; especially using these five tips.

As our lives get busier, we’re not the only ones who need to multitask; our clothes must be cross-functional too. You’ve managed to nail your interview outfit and got the job, (hurray!) but the fashion minefield isn’t over yet. Now contending with a calendar stuffed with different occasions where you need to make the right impression for your company, deciding what to wear to this multitude of events on can be an added stress that we just don’t need. Luckily there are a few key hero pieces and staples like the pencil skirt, a killer dress and polished blazer, that when added to your arsenal, can be at the ready to swoop to the rescue at a moment’s notice.

Other tried and tested pieces like the classic button-down will come through for you on almost any occasion. They’ll form the basis of a timeless suit or save you from the stress of casual Friday. Whether it’s a crisp white version, a ruffled number or a slouchy chambray style, you can never own too many button-downs.

For most women, the dress is the undisputed champion of the wardrobe. A well-tailored dress can be your saviour for any occasion, it doesn’t even have to be black – the tone of the event can dictate the colour and style your dress. If you and your team are out celebrating a brand new client, there’s no reason to stay away from bright shades. Dresses are not only practical when you don’t feel like coordinating separates, they’re also the ultimate feminine staple. As Diane von Furstenberg famously said, “Feel like a woman, wear a dress.”

So whether it be a networking event, a client meeting or those pesky casual Fridays, with this handy guide, your outfit will always rise to the occasion, making sure that you do too.

Jenna Lyons is like the high-achieving, impeccably dressed best friend everyone wishes they had - or themselves aspire to be. For one thing, she gets up refreshingly late. She tells Harper’s Bazaar, “I wake up as late as I possibly can. The first thing I do is hit the snooze button. I love the snooze button—it's really a drug. I give myself maybe half an hour before I have to be out the door. One of my assistants gave me a T-shirt that says SORRY I'M LATE.”

But Jenna Lyons has earned that right. Having learnt to sew in a home economics class, she started out designing and making her own clothes when she found it difficult to find items to suit her exceptionally tall teenage frame. “I remember going to school and it was the first time anybody paid attention to the way I looked,” she tells Stylist. Anyone not paying close attention might think that her success came quickly after that, but that’s far from true. Lyons says of her success: "It's taken me years to get here, and I've cultivated it so carefully. But I didn't think it was possible. I just assumed I'd plateau and that there would be no place for me to go."

She started at J. Crew at age 21 after graduating from Parsons and began her career, as she puts it, as an “assistant to an assistant to someone else's assistant” with a position so low that her desk was in the corridor. However, her hard work and steady dedication paid off. By 2003 she was Vice President of Women’s Design. Then, in 2008, she became the brand’s Creative Director and in 2010 she was named President by CEO Millard “Mickey” Drexler.

It certainly doesn’t help when influential people – male bosses in particular – fail to realise how helping women ask for what they deserve can actually help business. At a conference celebrating women in technology, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella inadvertently confirmed one the deepest fears many women face when requesting a raise; many bosses don’t expect them to ask at all. When Maria Klawe, president of Harvey Mudd College, asked what advice Nadella had for women who were afraid of asking for a promotion or raise, he replied “It’s not really about asking for the raise, but knowing and having faith that the system will actually give you the right raises as you go along.”

Her first taste of the fashion world came in the 1959 when, despite being told she was “too fat”, she won a Vogue modelling contest. Fast-forward a few years and Coddington was in the heart of London’s Swinging Sixties. Her unique look caught the eye of renowned hair stylist Vidal Sassoon and she soon became the face of his iconic – and rule breaking – five-point haircut, which many credited with liberating women from the stiff styles of the Fifties. “He cut my hair in a bowl cut and totally changed hair – everything before then was lacquered and stiff. Suddenly you could shake your head – it was a defining moment of the Sixties," she said.