A fashion and lifestyle blog for young professional women

5 Easy Work Outfits to Try When You Hate Everything in Your Closet

work-day-outfit-ideas-when-you-need-inspiration

We all know the feeling. Those mornings you wake up, tear apart your closet, and end up with an 'oh-my-gosh-I-could-bury-a-body-in-this-it-so-huge' pile of clothes on your floor. ... and you still have nothing you want to wear to work.

Fear not, there are some tricks you can use to create an outfit you actually want to wear from the pieces you already have in your closet. Below are 5 work outfits to give you some business casual outfit inspiration. For each outfit, there is one key tip that you can use when you just don't know what to wear to work. 


1. Wear a Bold Blazer AND a Print (Full Outfit Post Here)

cobalt blue blazer and snow leopard top outfit
Chances are you have at least one colored blazer (or cardigan) in your closet. Chances are that you likely wear it with white or black. Grab your bright colored blazer or cardigan and pair it instead with a printed top. You've just created a chic, bold, work outfit simply by "re-pairing" items of clothing that were already in your closet. *happy dance*
2. Opt for a Pleated Skirt (Full Post Here)

office day outfit idea with a pleated skirt
Step away from your go-to pencil skirt. Pair whatever shirt you would normally wear with your trusty pencil skirt, with a pleated skirt instead. Pleated skirts are still office appropriate, but they change the entire silhouette of your work look.

3. Add a 1-minute DIY (Full Post Here)

DIY jewelled collar shirt
Whenever I am in a blah mood. You know, the "every outfit I am picking out is boring" mood, I use this little trick. Simply take any button down shirt that you have in your closet and pin a pair of earrings to the collar. The touch of bling is still work appropriate, but it gets you out of your style rut!

 4. Go Monochrome (Full Post Here)

cream suit and cream blazer work outfit Like most young professionals, I often wear a matching suit set and I use my shirt to add a pop of color to the outfit. This can get monotonous. To change things up, go for a monochromatic look from head to toe. A cream blouse with a cream suit, a black knit with a black suit, etc. The result is chic business casual.

5. Throw on a Sleeveless Blazer (Full Post Here

what to wear with a sleeveless blazer
If your go-to pants and top are just not working for you, try adding a sleeveless blazer to top of the outfit. Or, if you were going to wear a blazer, try a sleeveless one instead. This is a great trick because it works all year long. In the summer you can wear a t-shirt underneath, as I did in the outfit above, and in the winter you can wear it with long sleeve blouse or turtleneck.

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Racing Stripe(d)

pink pants with black racing stripe
embelished button front shirthow to style pink pants for workmallory high heels black


Blazer // Pants c/o (exact color sold out, but many options available) // Shoes // Similar Handbags: (1), (2), (3)

Pink pants that are work appropriate?! My inner 13 year old is freaking. right. out. I fell in love with these pants the moment I saw them. Unfortunately they are a bit big on me (Definitely order one size down) but I like them so much that I don't mind.  

Pale pink/blush is probably my favorite wear-to-work color (see two of my other favorite outfits here & here). I love how well it pairs with both black & grey and how it adds a touch of femininity to traditional office wear.

I'm only in court for the morning session today, so my weekend actually starts at 12:30! I'm having an "adventure day" with my group of girlfriends and I could not be more excited. Follow along on instagram if you want to see the activities and shenanigans we get up to as I'm sure I'll post instagram stories. Have a great Friday everyone, and see you back here Monday morning!

linking up with: casual friday // fabulous friday // WW // flashback fashion friday // friday favorites // friday faves // what i wore // trendy wednesday

My #NSale Purchases - with Honest Product Reviews & Try-On Photos

I am so excited to (finally) share with you my purchases from this year's #NSale. There are only TWO DAYS left to shop the sale, so be sure to check out these items and place your orders STAT!

While general #NSale roundups are great, I wanted to go more in depth and actually provide you guys with reviews of the items I got; sizing tips, notes about the fabric and my thoughts on the item. As a lawyer I couldn't help but structure this by way of me giving you my verdict on each item #lawyerproblems. Without any further ado, here goes: 


Outfit One: Theory Dress



YOU. GUYS. This dress is ah-mazing. It 1000% lives up to the hype. This is my first Theory purchase; though I have been eyeing their suits since the day I stepped foot into law school. I've been hesitant to pull the trigger because of the price tags, but with the dress coming in at under $200, I had to do it. 

Quality: This dress is incredibly well made - the stitching and tailoring are perfect - well worth the investment. 


Size: This fits true-to-size (I am wearing a size 6)

Verdict: 10/10. This is EASILY my favorite score from the sale. KEEPING.



 


Finding suits that are professional but feminine can be very challenging. That's why, when I saw this suit in the sale, I was positively giddy. Overall, I like this.

Quality: The quality is not as great as I would have expected. The lining seems cheap and (for some incredibly odd reason) its is also BRIGHT blue. You can see a hint of it if you look at my sleeve in the last photo. That said, for the price, the suit is still pretty good. I LOVE the slight a-line cut of the skirt - such a refreshing change from the classic pencil skirt (and one that is far more flattering on my body type). I also like that the hem of the skirt is slightly shorter than I am used to finding (but still work appropriate).

Size: This fits just a touch on the large size- I would size down if you are in-between sizes, otherwise stick with your usual size. (I am wearing a size 4).

Verdict: 7.5/10. Despite the mediocre quality, the unique design and flattering fit of this suit make it worth it. KEEPING.



 
I just have to say this outfit is making me crave fall something fierce. PUMPKIN SPICE ALL THE THINGS. Okay, now that that is out of my system, let me review each item here in turn.

Quality: Meh. Not much to report. It is neither noticeably good or bad. It is the toast of the clothing world.

Size: Definitely fits large. Size down at least one size (I am wearing a size small, and would have actually preferred an XS)

Verdict: 4/10. This sweater had SO much hype in the fashion blogging world, and to be honest I don't see why. I found the fit to actually be very unflattering - as opposed to a standard loose fit I found it a bit 'bubbled' in the hip area which made my hips (a problem area) appear even larger. RETURNING.


Quality: In stark contrast to the above, these leggings are SO worth the hype. I love the material - just enough stretch to be comfortable but still suck you in nicely. They also sit high on the waist (that perfect sweet spot right underneath your belly button) and are thus perfect in my mind. That said, I do still swear by the Victoria's Secret VSX leggings as the best leggings of all time but these are now my definite second favorite.

Size: Fits a bit large. Size down if you are between sizes (or if you want a really tight fit). I am wearing size small. 

Verdict: 8/10. KEEPING.



Quality: Perfection. I love that these are a smooth leather as opposed to last years 'cobbled' TB boots. The gold emblem is the perfect size and adds just a touch of sparkle. I will be living in these this fall; no question.

Size: Fits true to size or a bit small. I am wearing a 9.5 and I range between a 9 and a 9.5. I also have large calves and these have the perfect amount of 'just a touch' of space for me, so that is great (please note this are the standard not wide calf version). What that means though, is that if you have small calves this may end up being too 'clunky' on you.  

Verdict: 9/10. KEEPING.




Let me just say upfront that I am not a fan of this outfit! I had very high hopes for this top, thinking it would be flattering but comfortable- perfect for fall. But, I don't like it in person sadly!

 
Quality: So-So. The color of the fabric is beautiful and the material is not too thick and not too thin (yay for not being see through). I don't like the flimsy quality of the tie around the waist though (*though this issue can be addressed as you can see below)

Size: True to size. I am wearing a size small.


Verdict: At first: 2/10 .... but on second thought, 6/10... 

Essentially, I realized that while i do not like the way the tie waist sits as shown on the website, I actually REALLY like the look of this top if you tie the belt around back- as you would if you were tying a trench coat to sit open. This creates a more flattering line and it takes care of the issues I found with the tie being flimsy. So, in the end I decided I liked this top. KEEPING. Here are two more pics to show what I mean about tying it differently.


See review above. 


Quality: Excellent. Lace up shoes can be iffy on quality (always check to see how secure the grommets for the laces are - they can rip on cheap shoes) and these are very well made. The suede and deep burgundy color are beautiful. I did really like these, BUT let me tell you, they take four billion years to put on. You need to carefully pull at all the lace loops to make them go on properly (and have the laces cross evenly across your foot). If you are willing to deal with doing this then these shoes are definitely a great purchase, I just am way too impatient for that. 

Size: True to size. I am wearing a size 9.


Verdict: 7/10. RETURNING. 

THAT'S IT FOLKS! I would love, love, love to hear your thoughts on this post, on my outfits (did I keep the right items?!) and any reviews you may have of these items! Let me know in the comments below. And lastly, to recap, here are the direct links to shop all of the above mentioned items: 

Theory Dress
CeCe Tweed Suit Skirt 
CeCe Tweed Suit Jacket
BP Open Front Cardigan
Zella Leggings
Tory Burch Riding Boots 
Halogen Belted Pink Top
Zella Leggings
Vince Camuto Lace-Up Heels

Also, for anyone wondering the other items you see me wearing in the photos are:
My Heels: Cole Haan 
My Bracelet: Olive & Piper
My Phone Case: Kate Spade


linking up with: casual friday // fab favorites // friday favorites //

Where to Shop to Build Your Work Day Wardrobe

best stores for womens work wear

original photo c/o pink pot

Finding clothes to wear to work that don't cost an arm and a leg can be a daunting task. Below is a round-up of the places I think are best for office wear. I've also picked out some favorite currently available items (so many beautiful pencil skirts!) from each of these stores. Enjoy!

Nordstrom: 


Pro:
SO many options. Nordstrom is the mecca for wear to work shopping. My personal favorite brands for office wear are Halogen & Anne Klein (both extremely affordable). I also love Theory (though their clothes are much more expensive).
 

Con: They have far more online than in store. This means a lot of shopping without trying on. If you are in America though, they have a free shipping & returns policy so buy a ton and just return what doesn't fit! Shipping is $10 to Canada.

Some great options:



Club Monaco:  

Pro: Feminine work wear styles. High quality material.

Con: Expensive. I find that shopping their sale section online is that best way to get affordable items.

Some great options:


 

J Crew:

Pro: Timeless, Classic items. You can wear J Crew pieces season after season and still be fashionable.

Con: Expensive. Styles don't fit all body types (I hear many women complain that J Crew just doesn't fit them right. Try some items on and see how they feel for you).

Some great pieces:


 
J Crew Factory:

Pro: Affordable, classic pieces. Also- lots of "mix and match" items with different cuts of pants, skirts & blazers all in the same fabric/color.

Con: Lower quality material. I find the stitching is more likely to come undone, hemlines are more likely to fall, etc.

My favorite items right now:

 


Express:

Pro: Extremely affordable. "Trendy" items.

Con: Not much selection. Very fast turn around in products (ie. if you like it, buy it. It may not be there next week!)


My favorites:

  
White House Black Market:

Pro:
Affordable. Very stylish.

Con: Some of their "work wear" items are not the most work appropriate - sometimes they make v-necks that are a little low, slits that are a little high, etc.

My top picks:
 
Ann Taylor:

Pro:
Quality materials. They are also really quite good with returns and exchanges.


Con: Limited number of pieces each collection/season (only really a con if you're planning on doing a large haul of work wear)

Some of my favorites:
 

linking up with: casual friday // WW // friday faves // flashback fashion friday // friday favorites  // hello monday // 

Ruffles & Pleats


 Similar Top // Skirt c/o // Heels // Similar Handbags (1), (2), (3) // Necklace // Statement Ring // Midi Rings

The combination of ruffles & pleats is so feminine; I cannot stop wearing this effortless spring work look! This dark green skirt is such a pretty color and it works so well paired with crisp white & rose gold!

The weather here has been so beautiful lately; perfect for wearing midi skirts to work. While I am primarily a pants girl (you may have noticed my love for skinny work pants here, here & here haha) it is nice to add something different to my work wardrobe. Do you wear midi skirts to work?

I cannot wait for this weekend! I've got a ton of fun things planned including attending a launch party with a fellow fashion blogger (follow along on instagram for details!), a backyard BBQ and a Sunday morning girls brunch.


linking up with: casual friday // friday faves // fabulous friday // WW // flashback fashion friday // friday favorites

How to Style a Sleeveless Blazer




Similar Sleeveless Blazer // T-Shirt // Pants // Heels // Similar Handbag // Necklace

l
The hotter the weather, the harder it is to dress professionally for work. If you work in a business casual work environment the sleeveless blazer is the perfect item for you.

While I unfortunately can't wear sleeveless blazers to work; I can wear them on my rare 'in my office' days or on weekends. I have been wearing this long black one non-stop! I love the functionality of having pockets but not having the added bulk of a full blazer.

Whether you choose to dress up a sleeveless blazer for work or dress it down for an evening/weekend look, I think there is one important tip to rocking this item of clothing. Balancing your proportions
By that, I mean pay attention to the length of your sleeveless blazer. If you are wearing skinny pants, as I am here, you can opt for a longer length blazer. If your bottoms are fuller though- like a midi skirt - stick to a sleeveless blazer that hits at or above your hips. In the widget below I've rounded up my top picks for sleeveless blazers (at every price point). Enjoy!


linking up with: let it shine // OOTD // hello monday // shoe & tell // #howispring // style sessions // on trend tuesdays // trend spin // style swap // tuesday fashion party 
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