We spend most of our time at work, yet the hunt for office clothes often falls behind the more glamorous quest for the perfect party outfit or a cute pair of shoes. So why are work clothes important? Stylist Sapor Rendall, managing director of modelling and PR agency Sapors Group, believes that your outfit doesn’t just affect how you are perceived, but also how you perform. “A good work outfit gives you a sense of power and self-respect,” she says. “It helps you to concentrate on what you have to get done. If there’s part of the outfit that doesn’t work or is dirty, you’re distracted and you worry about it. You don’t feel comfortable.”

Studies have consistently shown that what you wear affects how you view your own productivity, creativity and authority – it may not seem immediately important, but the right outfit could end up giving you an all-important boost in the workspace. Understatement is crucial to a good work outfit. With 18 years’ experience in the industry, Rendall advises office workers to keep it simple. “It depends on where you work, but a skirt and a shirt tucked in generally works for women,” she says. “There should be no wrinkles or frills, and the skirt should be knee length. Avoid bright colours or patterns.”