The May Edit

Add a bit of colour to your worklife.

I haven’t always been a minimalist. In my early twenties, my personal style was best described as ‘pop art’. I had black and blue hair like a Manga character and I wore a lot of comic book prints. I was photographed frequently going about my business in London by street-style publications (almost none of which I have a record of sadly as this was in the age before online publications and Substack). If you keep in mind that I was coming of age just after the late 90’s tasteful Calvin Klein era of fashion you’ll realise just how unusual this was. It was, in the words of one ex-boyfriend, a lot.

This wasn’t how I dressed for the day job of course - and, when worn up in a ponytail, I could disguise the bright blue highlights in my hair enough to be acceptable in a corporate office in the City of London. There were a lot of trouser suits but, once I left for the day I would change my top to a Sex Pistols or Andy Warhol t-shirt like Samantha Morton’s iconic Oscar’s 2000 Paul Smith suit (which she wore to the Oscars just weeks after giving birth. This, alongside her early life story, makes her a personal hero of mine).

The minimalist 90’s aesthetic is having a moment again (it’s funny how fashion goes in circles) and I’m very here for it as a middle-aged executive - but every now and then a girl likes to have a little fun... Maybe not quite as much fun as I did in my early twenties, I’m not Edina from Ab Fab, but life can’t all be tasteful shades of white, black and beige.

So in this week’s WithPockets I’m showcasing those ‘pop of colour’ accessories that turn a minimalist outfit into something a little more rebellious. Because no one ever rose to the top of the career ladder being a good girl. I may be a consumate professional in my job, and the blue hair may be gone, but the urge to push the boundaries and kick against the idea of there being only one acceptable way of being an executive still very much occupies part of my soul.

And yes, I still pack a ‘going out t-shirt’ sometimes.

WithPockets x

Still of Roxy Migurdia, a character in the Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation series, which is available to watch on Crunchyroll.

Vikan Plan tights

Patterned tights are a great way of adding interest to a midi skirt. Vikran Plan do some really out there ones in all sorts of incredible patterns. With winter coming in, these would look awesome against a subdued colour skirt suit.

Scotch & Soda x Basquiat

If you want to bring that comic book feel but in moderation (not a full t-shirt and leather pants combination like I used to) Scotch & Soda have a collaboration with the Basquiat estate that includes this fantastic printed bandana, which could be worn as a neck tie and would look excellent with a white shirt and black suit

This is absolutely on my wishlist. Although I haven’t decided whether I’ll wear it or frame it.

Paul & Joe

Another great way of bringing a flash of colour to your trouser suit is with some excellent socks from French brand Paul & Joe. A quick flash of these when you take the seat at your next conference panel will definitely leave them guessing.

Paul & Joe also do really lovely colour palette eyeshadows in all the colours of the rainbow if you prefer to stamp your rebellion somewhere more obvious.

Magenta sandals by Nomasei

I’m well known for not sticking to the rules when it comes to shoes and boots and these are no exception. And, since I did the shoes article a few weeks back, I have, of course, been bombarded with Instagram posts of other shoe brands I didn’t know about. These magenta-coloured Sunday Morning embossed sandals by Nomasei would look killer with a trouser suit. Pre-order them now.

Repeto Paris ballet flats

For some colour that’s a little less in your face, these Raffia ballet flats in multi-colours are very 90’s Missoni.

Anonymous Copenhagen

Alternatively, the Praise flat shoes by Danish brand Anonymous Copenhagen come in 17 different colours to suit your mood.

Ngali scarf

Finally, for a bit of grown-up colour and interest, First Nations brand Ngali does the kind of scarves that are less fashion and more wearable art. Ngali are now a feature in catwalks around the world with good reason.

How about you? Do you play it safe in neutral colours or is there a rebellious side to your corporate wear? Let us know…