Style Spotlight: What I Wear To Work

Gillian Duke

Top: H&M

Pants: Zara

Necklace: Funky Monkey

"My go-to work uniform is usually trousers and a top. I might wear pumps because I walk from Heuston Station and I always keep a pair of heels in the office. A lot of the time we’ll have an event in the evening, so you might just pop on a bit of nail polish or a necklace on to change it up. I have a big heavy jacket for walking to work but I’ll have a lighter jacket for going to meetings and things, something a bit smarter.

“For summer I really like the trench coat look, it really fits with our weather because it’s about layering as opposed to wearing something too heavy. I love the bright colours and florals for the warmer weather, too.

My average working day could be anything from client meetings, to photo calls and shoots, to presenting to a client or meeting with media, and I’d spend a lot of time at my desk too so work clothes have to be comfortable. The three staple items you’d find in my wardrobe are a nicely cut blazer, a good pair of fitted trousers and a good handbag.

In terms of a quick beauty fix, I always have lip balm, a bit of mascara and a Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick, because I don’t wear make-up everyday but it’s great to have that for a little glow when you need it.”

Lucy Clarke

Pants: Zara

Shirt: Zara

Shoes: New Look

“I have a few staple dresses at home that if I find out at midnight that I have a meeting the next morning, I can throw one of them on. One of them is black and I wear different types of shirts underneath it– I have a white one or blue with hearts or black with polka dots - so the dress looks completely different with each one. I like to look smart with feminine details or something a little girly like a floral detail. I have a lot of bows and things with frills. My day-to-day look would be trousers with nice brogues, I do wear a heel when I can – if I can last in them!

I’m really liking that there’s a lot of nude colours in the shops at the moment. I have my eye on a nude blazer or ballerina pumps, I think one of those with black could be really good for work. I’m also very fond of the mac coats, they’re great for a typical Irish summer because they’re really smart but they’re not too warm, so they’re perfect because often a summery day here starts with rain and ends cold.

When I’m organised I’ll have a few things in my handbag that have me ready to go for an event or a meeting, those are lipstick, nail varnish, the Studio Fix Foundation from Mac, a pair of tights in winter, a hair brush and sun factor.”

Breffni O'Dwyer

Dress: Thrift store in New York (it had full length sleeves but I took them off)

Tights: Penneys

Shoes: On sale in Topshop

Cardigan: Dirty Fabulous Vintage

Necklace: Dirty Fabulous Vintage

“My everyday work look depends on my mood, I tend to dress myself happy. I can wear all black some days with a chunky necklace or a pop of colour, and then some days I’ll come in in head-to-toe colour. I do like dresses and I would always have a pop of colour. When I’m going to meet clients I’ll be a little bit more polished - if I was meeting a client in this outfit I would wear a blazer instead of the cardigan and then if I was going out for drinks later I’d put my denim jacket with it. Having things like that in the office helps to change it up.

Some days you’re running around a lot to meetings and in and out of the office, and then you might go straight to an event after. For long days like that I like to wear brogues because they’re a smart pair of shoes that are flat. I’m also loving that black heels are back in fashion because they are so comfortable.

I have a couple of investment pieces that are great go-tos for work. I bought a really good leather jacket around seven years ago and it takes me everywhere – it’s great for going out and it’s smart enough for meeting media or clients. And I’ve invested in some really good shoes - there’s a boutique in Thurles, Le Chateau Choos, that has great shoes so when I’m home I’ll always see what they have in. And I always buy a few bits in Dirty Fabulous Vintage because they’re special and you’ll never see them on anybody else.”