Autumn changes to the home working wardrobe

So our Indian Summer is over and temperatures are back to ‘normal for the time of year’. What does that mean for the home worker who often spends hours a day seated at a computer, a situation guaranteed to chill the bones of the most warmblooded soul?

For me it means beginning the layering process, moving into T shirts with sleeves and jumpers and putting a pair of socks over those chilly desk-bound feet. I’m determined not to go into sheepskin boots yet, however, however much I love them. I’m hoping to hold out till November as it’s a sign of approaching winter I’m not quite ready to accept. Nor will my fleece blanket be introduced to the office chair until we start to have frosts.

What are your home working sartorial concessions to the changing season? Do you welcome the chance to wear woolly jumpers or try to hold off the evil moment as long as possible?

And what do you wear when you go out for meetings and events? I’ve always had difficulties in balancing a professional appearance with the freedom of being a home worker and not subject to the office dress code. I turned up for my last event at Central, which coincided with the Indian Summer, in a brightly coloured summer dress and cardigan and was taken aback to receive several compliments. Was it because I was wearing a skirt for a change, or because of the colour, or a mixture of both? Whichever, it’s made me rethink my default dark trousers and range of tops position.

Perhaps I don’t need to be so hung-up about looking professional and just wear what I know suits me and makes me feel good. I’d love to hear what both male and female home workers find the best approach for away-from-home working.

It’s frustrating when a label that’s been a stand-by suddenly decides to rebrand. I only discovered Kew about 18 months ago and now it’s become Kew.159 and is obviously aimed at a younger market. Which is odd considering that the population is ageing and that the bulk of spending power lies with the (relatively) oldies.

So I’m watching Mary Portas’ new retail venture with interest – she claims to be dressing the ‘grown-up woman over 40’. Anyone checked out her new store in Oxford Street yet?

And not to neglect you chaps who are interested in how you look. Take a look at Lifeover35.co.uk, a blog written by home working journalist Guy Clapperton about clothes, gadgets and style.