Too little, too late?

The minute I (quite pretensiously) decide to create the inspirational blog for the desk-bound women - those of us who simply can't let our creativity show through our dress sense in everyday life, but instead have to adhere to the tyranny of the work wear guidelines and office attires, - nearly every glossy fashion magazine (including the revamped Style magazine in UK broadsheet The Sunday Times) publishes version "your guide to autumn 09 work wear."

But instead of accepting that my contribution might just be too little, too late, - this blog is probably the first fashion blog without a single photo... (I blame career enemy number 1: procrastination) I will instead do what any other working woman would do: a competitor analysis.

First candidate: ELLE Magazine.
10 pages of work wear editorial features and a further six pages featuring the offices spaces featuring the sister behind jewellery label Zoe & Morgan; fashion PR guru Mandi Lennard; and founder of Caravan, a homeware shop, Emily Chalmers. Arguably, these three work space features were meant as inspiration, but let me tell you, to me is was another reminder of the tyranny of the open plan office I find myself spending every Monday to Friday in, and how much I absolutely detest those blue desk seperators I stare at from 9.30 till 5.30.

But I digress, back to the fashion pages. First page, glitter and gloss and a Starbucks espresso paper cup (another reminder we should all cut back on those lattes, and in fact milk and wheat in general - I cannot believe I am actually writing this.) First editorial - How We Dress for Work.

First high achiever: a director of London and NY galleries. Next! I am sure it's hard work, but she wears quirky glasses, and harem trousers. A no-go in my work world, I'm afraid. I bet her office is a big white desk, with fresh lillies and a bright white Mac. Next please!

Restauranteur. She actually opts for black stockings - the thickier version that doesn't break as easily - black skirt, and a greyish silky top. This is actually perfect office wear, and also looks comfortable. I could sit a day in that. All clothes by Marni, though. You can't wrong with Marni. If you can't look chic and professional in Marni, there is no hope. Although I have to say, I could never do silky tops. First of all, because it looks like nightwear, but also as I spill coffee in the morning, the top would be ruined for ever. ROI in swanky silky top when decorated with coffee stains, 0%.

Third career women works in politics, mayor of London's office in fact. If you're already the head of a government office, I am sure you can pull anything off. But for the rest of us: Do not wear over-sized pearls, unless you want to look like you're the girl getting coffee; no pattern looking like a wallpaper from the 70s if you want people to be able to focus on your message in meetings, and pussy cat bows only if you're already proven you've got claws. The second outfit, which is my personal favourite, jeans and a jacket, never fails, but alas, strictly no jeans in my office.

Finally, a director at Tesco in what looks like a party dress. Sophisticated, yes, but really? Do they wear at the Tesco HQ? She is also sporting a small burgundy coloured dress from Vanessa Bruno, short, but very smart. On a good day, I would have loved to wear that.

The Elle Edit session clearly assumes we are all graphic designers or model bookers. First of all, who can fit a day's supply of make-up, work papers, Oyster cards, personal phone, Blackberry, extra pens, stockings and hairbrush in a clutch?! And faux leather sandals WAG style. Are you kidding? I have a brain, I would like people to focus on that, not wether or not, I am going to fall over on my way to the copy machine. Also, we live in England. It's cold in winter. Sandals?!

Next page, a pink theme. Pink. When did you last see a female board member in pink? Didn't think so.

Of the best finds is a great t-shirt from River Island (£19.99), it looks longer, so it won't show off love handles or bare backs when you sit. And the light grey colour will look great under a smart jacket on dress down days.

If you want to add humour to your otherwise safe work outfits though, the ELLE team did have a brilliant idea - blue suede shoes from Russell & Bromely (£125).

So overall, half wearable, half for dreaming.

Style magazine, next. Tomorrow.

Until then,

The Open Plan Survivor.

Dear reader,

Welcome to the Open Plan Surivor blog.
A fashion blog for desk-bound office workers.

As an avid reader of fashion blogs, I have often found myself wondering (or rather screaming to myself) "Why can't I look like that?" The answer is simple, because I am an office worker. I sit in front of my bulky and grey computer screen (obviously not a sleek Mac) all day and record activities from a small segment of the financial world. Don't get me wrong, I love my job. I'm a writer for a trade magazine/B2B/industry publication, sort of a financial journalist I guess you could say. Occasionally, my job can contain a slight element of glamour, when we attend drinks receptions, lavish pre-credit crunch parties or similar events. But yet, the dress code is not "chic and creative." It is appropriate office attire. For my first few outings with work, I wore a suit. Pin-striped and all. That was before I realised, that, although suits are probably the easiest thing to carry off well, unlike our male colleagues, we can afford to be more adventurous than that.

But where are the blogs with ideas and inspiration for the desk-bound workers? Apart from the career women pages in Harper's Bazaar, which mostly cater to the few impressive women who made it to board level, our options are limited. So, here we go. Open Plan Survivor to the rescue. It is a known fact that if you feel good, you will perform better. Empirically proven by yours truly. So on this site Open Plan Survivor (which by the way got its name from the office design de jour - the open plan - think The Office by Ricky Gervais) will publish photos of women who got it right, inspiration and ideas, stories of my own dressing to the occassion traumas, and tips and hint on shopping, grooming and simply surviving without throwing our fashion sense out the window.

May the forces of fashion be with us.

Yours truly,

Open Plan Survivor