In collaboration with HOBBS London the Over40Collective is doing DESK to DINNER in our typically unique way….Wait, typically unique is that an oxymoron?
For my part the choice was super easy. I have longed for a good quality, sharp trouser suit for many years. In fact more so since I’m back in the work force, meeting with clients & brands in London is now a regular occurrence. When business is done I’m obliged to catch up with a friend, I mean it’d be rude not to right? Here’s where a sophisticated suit is lacking in my collection. One that’ll switch up with little effort, for dinner or even just drinks. As it happens HOBBS do a particularly beautiful trouser suit. I opted for navy blue as this colour works brilliantly with my wardrobe. I will never struggle to style it. The cut & fit of this suit is sheer perfection, the quality far outweighs the price. I’m wearing my usual size UK10 in both the trousers & jacket.
For the DESK part of our post I chose my pink silk shirt by Winser London to both contrast & brighten the overall block of navy blue. Because silk is such a fluid & tactile fabric it softens the structured suit beautifully along with leaving the cuffs loose. This serves to create fabulous statement sleeves. Both shirts I linked to below have pretty ruffled cuffs that also work well as a subtle feature. I added them to show how you can customise my version of a look to suit yourself, if that makes sense? Same goes for my studded T-bar flats that are a few years old. Once again, I supplemented them with a different pair that give the same vibe. Basically I’ve matched the same light pink colour of my silk top with my flats. As you can see they needn’t be these exact ones to style this look. Now onto the belt, also from HOBBS – Brown tone snake printed leather with a pretty gold buckle. I have to tell you I was blown away by the incredible quality of this belt! The superb finish is truly on a par with any high-end designer belt I’ve ever seen. I look forward to wearing it as a feature on the waist of my dresses & coats throughout autumn/winter. Many of you will have seen my LV bag styled numerous times on RCM . It is certainly a hard-core investment item, one I waited two birthdays & a Christmas for. Yet as cost per wear goes I’d say it’s up there as my best sartorial decision to date. The perfect size for my needs, convertible & it goes with literally everything in my wardrobe! See here, here here & here for outfits. The cost of this bag at Louis Vuitton has increased a lot since I bought mine however if you’re interested I found a couple of beauties on Vestiaire Collective.
SHOP THE TROUSER SUIT
Switching up the Trouser Suit
Switching up a trouser suit is straightforward with a pair of sexy sandals & a statement necklace. For continuity in my accessories I continue the brown theme with my Gucci killer heels. My showstopper necklace is by French jewellery designer Marie Laure Chamorel. I urge you to take a leisurely stroll through her beautiful website. This unique jewellery is truly magical, no two pieces are the same yet it’s surprisingly versatile. Mixed metals, hand-stitched onto raw silk, this one was a lucky find for me in the Fenwick sale a few years ago. You can read the full story in this post if you like. I found some second-hand necklaces from her collection as well as a couple of lovely chain necklaces from HOBBS below. Finally, my emerald nail varnish is Chanel & my awesome STAR RING is from Lizzy O Boutique.
The OVER 40 COLLECTIVE
Time for a squiz at the rest of the O40Co to see what DESK to DINNER looks they chose from HOBBS. For the details of each outfit & more fabulous images, click on the photos. As usual we’ve styled our pieces completely differently which is what we’re about. When we work with a brand it’s our aim to inspire you by showing there is always something for everyone. We’re the catalogue for EVERYWOMAN!
Have fun lovelies, bye for now xx
*Thank you to HOBBS London for providing the suit
Comments ( 30 )
Lizzy
Michelle, you look super sexy and stylish in both versions of the suit. It looks like it has been tailored to fit you. I love navy and agree that it is a very versatile colour and easy to style. I love the pink Winser blouse and am coveting the rest of your accessories too. The Marie Laure jewellery is divine- I’m going to go and have a look right now! xxx
MT
Thanks Liz! I think the superior quality of the tailoring gives it that bespoke feel. xxx
Michelle
I agree with Liz, VERY sexy yet sophisticated! And yes, it fits so perfectly I would honestly have thought it was tailor made for you too. You nailed it lady!
Michelle xx
MT
It actually felt surprisingly sexy to wear Michelle! I mean you wouldn’t think a shirt & pants suit would be? Goes to show that when an outfit works it gives such a great confidence boost. xxx
Catherine, Not Dressed As Lamb
Oh wow lady – now THAT’S how you style a trouser suit!! Not only that but it’s navy – it could potentially be the most boring workwear outfit ever – but you have rocked it in both instances. You can see the quality of it from 100 paces, so top marks to Hobbs for such a great cut and shape. You know how much I love that necklace, it works so well to take the outfit from desk to dinner, and those strappy sandals are hot af 😉
Thank you so much for being part of this fab project – we’ve all done so well at showcasing Hobbs for AW17! Three cheers for the O40Co 😀
Catherine x
MT
Aw thanks mate, big big thank you to you for making it happen. This has been such a fabulous project hasn’t it? Here’s to many more! xxx
sequinist
This is so beautiful on you; I love the shade of blue. On my screen, it looks lighter than navy; whatever it is, I love it! I like how you’ve gone super lady like (pink, strappy heels, chic necklace) on the accessories with this.. The contrast against a trouser suit is perfect. Lovely styling, babe xx
MT
Thanks Lisa! Yeah the suit does have a tendency to look lighter depending on the angle. The material has an ever so slight shine to it due to the mixed weave. Very clever actually because it breaks up the colour block. xxx
No Fear of Fashion
Well, I would buy that suit immediately if it looked as good on me as it does on you. However… it will not. I know what to look for in a suit and for the one you are wearing I need hips and a bum. So I am going to look for a longer jacket. But you did a terrific job. For office or drinks… you look bloody fab. Heads will turn.
Greetje
MT
Ah yes Greetje you are so right (as usual) we must choose the right right shape for our figure. Although the styling could be the same, I’m all about inspiration not copying. With your lovely height a long line jacket is perfect & I can confirm this having seen you in person wearing one 😉 xxx
jamie
Well Done, GFs!!
MT
Thanks doll xxx
SAmantha
Fancy pants! Day to night all right!
MT
I bet you look sexy as hell in a trouser suit Miss S! xx
Petite Teacher
Wow, you look equally good in a pair of jeans as in a business suit. Love the look. Love, Lieske
MT
Thanks Lieske that’s very kind of you. They both have their place in my life 😉
Nancy Baten
What a fantastic scenery! And such a stylish, trendy, elegant suit! I love it!
MT
Oh Nancy thank you so much for mentioning the location! Oh what a pain it was to shoot here, I did wonder if it was worth it in the end. I’m absolutely thrilled to bits that you noticed. I had the idea to coincide with the theme of work so I asked my local train station if I could use the platform as my background. They agreed & were actually very sweet about it but then every time a train pulled in people would stop to ask what I was doing! The whole thing ended up taking ages hahaha
Simplement Lui
Chic ,classy and so stylish ! Great outfits 😉
https://4highheelsfans.wordpress.com/2017/09/01/tuscany-collodi/
MT
So happy you like them! x
ABby@Midlifecrisisnut
Now this Hot Mama means business! Looking really classy there Michelle! Congratulations Girls on your new venture! xx Abby
Yvadney @ Mums That Slay
I LOVE trouser suits and when I first started going out always did them with heels and bling jewellery. It’s timeless glamour isn’t it, and so so sexy cool. You look gorgeous as always an major love for your LV bag.
Yvadney x #IWillWearWhatILike
MT
That’s right Yvadney me too! I wore a 3 piece suit with bling for my mates wedding back in the 90’s. I was Best Man so it was only right 😉 xx
Samantha Blair
Your suit is THE most gorgeous shade Michelle!
My kind of palette.
What a great post, full of inspiration.
Unbuttoning and adding a chunky necklace is SO easy but SO effective.
Fab!
XXX
Samantha
http://www.fakefabulous.com
MT
Thanks Samantha, I love the colour too. It has a zing to it you rarely see in navy. xxx
Renia
This is such a great idea!!
Love this post!!
Stunning suit – such a beautiful colour 🙂
Kisses
Renia
Emmerald
What a great look and backdrop for the photos! I love the colour too. I’d forgotten how versatile trouser suits are as I’ve become a bit frock and active wear-bound of late.
I used to wear my black trouser suit to work in Japan. If I was going out afterwards, I had a leopard-print silk shirt I could pop on instead of my work shirt. I think I should revise that rig-out now I’ve seen your and Lady of Style’s.
Emerald
Oops! Blessed typo. Only one ‘m’ in my name!
MT
Yes yes yes to the leopard print! That’s a fab idea, sexy too 😉