RETURNING TO OFFICE

September has spun around and you’re caught between thinking “where did the summer go?” and back to school nerves. Yes, it turns out you can be a grown woman and a mother, who left school a long time ago - and still get back to school nerves.

One thing you shouldn’t have to feel nervous about, is getting dressed. Whether you’re dressing for two, three, four or five (good on you, gal) there are plenty of easy pieces you buy to make yourself workwear-ready and keep your kids on the smart side of casual. Perhaps you’re taking them into your office for the day; or you just like them looking sharp, day to day.

Kids, it goes without saying, need to be comfy. But so do you! The quickest route to looking pulled together on a zero-hours budget, is a blazer – preferably one that’s beautifully tailored, like Stella McCartney’s Check Jacket (you can always count on Stella for tailoring – because it’s what she wears, herself). To go with the blazer, I recommend a pair of tailored trousers from Boss (a workwear wardrobe staple), worn with Balenciaga’s houndstooth slingbacks – comfy and stretchy but office ready. To keep it cosy, Ganni’s Julliard sweater is just the ticket, while Vince’s V-neck sweaters are endlessly easy, both at work and play.

If you favour a bit of colour and your office has a more casual dress code; Rixo London and Sacai make beautiful, fluid and easy to wear pieces, like the floral print skirt, by Sacai. Chuck a blazer over the top, to ground it in something more formal and sharp. And for chic one pieces, you cannot beat Loewe whose interesting designs work over trousers or alone, alike. If in doubt, of course, go Victoria, Victoria Beckham. Like Victoria herself demonstrates, a smart suit and white silk shirt is always a winner.

Traditionally speaking, it’s definitely more fun to dress a girl for a smart occasion, than a boy – but who says girls get to wear frills and boys only wear sportswear? Let’s keep this advice non-prescriptive: read your kid. Let her, or him decide; or at least provide plenty of choice for them to navigate their personality through clothes. Monnalisa’s divine wool coats with peter pan collar harks back to olden days, whilst the leopard print coat is a cute and more modern choice.

You could always match with a Valentino leopard print coat, if that’s your vibe. If you just want your little one to look pulled together, fuss and frill-free, then try a complimentary two piece, like Stella McCartney’s dusky pink bug sweater with burgundy trousers or some rose print jersey trousers with a candy pink cable knit. For tiny wee ones, Chloé’s frilly necked Babygro is adorable. For something more utilitarian, Tommy Hilfiger, king of preppy sportswear, is the answer. The chevron striped sweater would go neatly with the navy tracksuit trousers with green striped pocket while Chloé’s navy cape is a Gallic, goes-with-anything cover-up.

Pandora's Picks

Discover our children’s collections in our Dublin, Cork and Limerick stores and online for mini-me envy…

Take a look at another chic Londoner’s new season selection - In Conversation With Sarah Harris.