With more and more professional women in the public eye these days, the face of business has definitely changed. However, gone are the days when a powerful women needs to dress like Margaret Thatcher or have the shoulders of her jacket so padded she resembles an American line-backer to be taken seriously. With successful businesswomen such as Karren Brady and the late Anita Roddick proving you can be smart, glamorous, quirky (and even sexy) while still kicking butt in the corporate world, why not take some inspiration and give your work wardrobe a boost?

While many of us may think we have our work style figured out already, there can be no harm in ramping things up and injecting some current trends into your office wear. Of course, different industries have different dress codes so there isn’t a set formula that will work for everyone. However, most women that work in the corporate world are likely to own either a trouser or skirt suit. Teamed with a crisp, fitted white shirt, it is fair to say this is definitely one of the classic business looks for females. However, why not play around with it and look for masculine cut blazers and ankle grazing skinny trousers in chic charcoals, neutrals or perhaps even a daring purple? Or ditch the suit jacket and opt for a fitted pencil skirt in soft black leather on your bottom half? Even a more sombre suit can pop when paired with the right accessories – look for bold watches and classic handbags with a twist.

Dresses are another staple of a women’s work wardrobe. Don’t feel limited to conservative shifts in dull colours though, why not embrace the resurgence of 50s glamour (thanks to shows such as Mad Men) and look for floral prom dresses or a cute polka dot or checked shirtwaist? These dresses are not only functional for work but the shape and style are all about celebrating a women’s figure. And the 50s look isn’t limited to just dresses, think pussy bow <a href="http://www.dorothyperkins.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CatalogNavigationSearchResultCmd?catalogId=33053&storeId=12552&langId=-1&viewAllFlag=false&sort_field=Relevance&categoryId=208650&parent_categoryId=208600&beginIndex=1&pageSize=20#catalogId=33053&storeId=12552&langId=-1&viewAllFlag=false&sort_field=Relevance&categoryId=208650&parent_categoryId=208600&beginIndex=1&pageSize=20&refinements=category~[241531|208650]&noOfRefinements=1">blouses</a>, tailored trousers and boucle jackets. For accessories, pick up some cute brooches, kitten heels and oversized handbags.

Of course, if you prefer a more up to date look then take your inspiration from the catwalks and high street - the only limit to spicing up your work style is going to be your office dress code – bear this in mind when shopping for your work wardrobe and choose a few key pieces each season that won’t look out of place but still stand out. If you are limited to suits and muted colours then let your shoes, bag and jewellery do the talking. And if you are lucky enough to work in an industry that embraces a more ‘smart casual’ approach to dressing, then the sky’s the limit!

Jesse Wallace writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.