Why a power blazer is your new workwear secret weapon

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

This week, she recommends blazers that are anything but boring... 

Q. I’ve just been promoted, and I’d like to mark it with something beautiful and practical – though not a handbag, as my current one isn’t very old. What would you suggest?

A. The power blazer has regained popularity over the last year or so, helped by Brigitte Macron, France’s First Lady, adopting them as a sort of uniform. If someone asked me what would be in my ideal capsule work wardrobe, a blazer would come very much at the top. They can transform a pretty dress into boardroom material, a pair of smart jeans into an office appropriate outfit, or a simple pair of trousers into a sharp suit. They help define and finish an outfit.

Joseph lemon, ￡595, Matches Fashion; Striped, ￡79.99, Mango

Being a child of the Eighties, when I think of a power blazer the image of Melanie Griffiths in Working Girl comes to mind. Which – although brilliantly retro – isn’t a look I aspire to achieve in the 2018 workplace. That being said, don’t be scared of a little bit of a shoulder pad, especially if you have hips, as it will balance out your proportions. Blazers can create a waist like no other bit of clothing, so if you want to hide your middle then wear a looser fitting top under a jacket with a tailored waist. A black or navy blazer is an excellent staple, but I encourage you to try print and colour: they are absolute outfit transformers.

Floral jacquard, ￡150, Arket; Pink, ￡140, French Connection 

As you can wear a blazer over most anything, and across the seasons, it’s worth investing a bit more in great quality if you can. I stick to single-breasted as I usually wear mine with a dress, whereas double-breasted looks best with trousers.

French Connection’s flamingo pink with black lapels paired with black buttons would look very modern. Stripes look sharp and help elongate the body; this Mango number is an easy way to jazz up your everyday navy pencil skirt.

Block colours are perfect over printed blouses or dresses, like Reiss’s denim blue and Joseph’s creamy yellow. And don’t overlook a fabulous floral print – yes, it’s a bit of a statement, but you can keep the rest of your outfit very minimal and it will do all the talking for you.