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

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)

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)

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)

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)

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) 

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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linking up with: let it shine // #howifall // hello monday // on trend tuesdays // style swap // TFF

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5 Professional Style Tips – According to a “Less Young” Professional

Happy almost Mother's Day! My mom has always been a huge fashion inspiration for me. She is a lawyer like myself and growing up I remember loving all her beautiful suits and heels. You may remember seeing my mom & her style in this post. In honor of Mother's Day I decided to ask my mom for 5 style tips she thinks that every young professional should know. 

As a fashionista who has been in the professional world for nearly 40 years (..sorry to age you there mom.. opps!) she has some great advice. So, without any further ado, here is a "guest post" from my mom. Enjoy!  

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Top Five Fashion Tips From Mom

1. Be well groomed
Whatever your level of self care (naked nails or bright red gel) be consistent. Touch up your makeup, stay on top of roots and trims, practice good oral hygiene and make sure your hands are immaculate and your clothing is clean. Who cares what you’re wearing if your mascara has run and you’ve got food stains on your shirt ?

2. Find a signature scent
Experiment with different scents but once you have found your signature one, wear it everyday. It doesn’t have to be expensive it just has to smell good on you. These days certain workplaces are “scent free” and of course you must respect those who are overly sensitive or allergic to strong scents but absent that restriction, indulge yourself (and remember to reapply as needed). My personal signature scent is this one, and Lee's is this one.

3. Make it fit
From thrift shop finds to high end fashion nothing looks good if it doesn’t fit. Find a seamstress and treat her like gold. Sleeves that end where they’re supposed to, hems that hit just the right spot to make your legs look amazing, a waist that follows the unique curves of your body, will set you apart. An inexpensive suit can look stunning if it fits you like a glove (that in part is what haute couture is all about).

4. Invest in a full-length three-way mirror  
Have a good look before you head to work every morning. How you look leaving a room is just as important as how you look arriving. If you can’t afford a three-way mount a second mirror on a door opposite a wall mirror. By moving the door you can get a 360 view!

5. Have a "style emergency kit"
Carry a small emergency kit with you at all times. You know what’s vital to you but my list is below. You can also read Lee's 10 Things Every Woman Needs in Her Office post for some "must-haves".
- bandaids
- tape or safety pins for fast repair of a fallen hem
- an emery board to fix a broken nail before it tears further or catches your clothing
- an extra pair of earrings if they’re a staple in your wardrobe. I have a bad habit of removing mine for phone calls then leaving them on my desk. When I get to meetings I then discover them missing and can make do with my emergency pair.
- an extra pair of pantyhose if you wear them

6. (I know she said 5 but this one’s a bonus) SMILE!
A sincere and radiant smile is the best fashion accessory going!

linking up with: casual friday // friday favorites // WW // flashback fashion fridays // friday favorites // shoe & tell 

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5 Tips to Look More Professional

Similar Blazer 1 & Similar Blazer 2 // Pants // Belt // Similar Handbag // Heels (the best) // Necklaces

Today I wanted to share with you all a classic work look modernized with a belt. Lately, I find myself wearing a wide belt over a blazer and pants quite often. It adds an element of chic to a standard professional outfit.

I was recently asked if I had any tips for making work outfits look more professional. I thought it was a great question and so, here are 5 simple tips to make your outfits look and feel more professional. I hope you enjoy them! Have a great weekend everyone and I will see you back here on Monday.

                 5 Tips to Make Your Outfits More Professional

1) Choose a Fitted vs. a Boxy Blazer 

In the above photos, you'll see that I'm wearing a well fitted blazer. A sure fire way to make your work outfit look more professional and polished is to opt for your fitted blazers instead of any boxy or slouchy ones you may have.

2) Choose a Structured vs. an Unstructured Handbag 
My handbag above has a classic structured shape. While handbags like this are gorgeous and on-trend, your work outfit will look more professional if you choose one of your structured handbags instead. if you are looking for a great structured bag I would suggest this. 

3) Choose Pointed vs. Round Toe Shoes

While you may still like the look of a rounder toe on shoes, a classic work look is far more likely to favor a pointed toe. It elongates your leg and pulls the outfit together. In addition to my Ivanka Trumps (linked above) I also find these to be very comfortable.

4) Choose Tucked In vs. Out 

An untucked shirt in a professional setting appears messy. While I am a huge fan of untucked tunic shirts with leggings on my "off days", at work your shirt should be tucked in.

5) Material Matters! 

Avoid sheer fabrics when putting together your office outfits. period. Shirts in heavier materials will not only 'hold up' better through a long work day, but they also will make an outfit look more professional.

Linking up with:
casual friday // fab favorites // fabulous friday // flashback fashion fridays // forage fashion // friday favorites // favorite fashion friday // style saturday // shoe and tell // hello monday // what i wore to work

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So. Many. Lawyers.

One of my favorite parts of this blogging adventure I've been on for the past year has been getting to know fellow bloggers - especially fellow lawyer bloggers. Tif was one of the first bloggers I ever connected with and it was SO much fun to discuss (in addition to our love of Kendra Scott & Lilly Pulitzer) the differences between being a lawyer in Canada and the US. This certainly wasn't something I expected to have emerge from this blogging adventure, but I am so grateful to have made so many friends and fashionista-colleagues!

Today we wanted to link up and show you "lawyer style" and our five different takes on what that means. You should definitely check out all of these lovely ladies blogs to see more of their outfit pics as well as to learn more about their awesome selves! Direct links to their blogs are at the end of this post. For now though... let's get you to my outfit pics! 

Similar Blazers: (1), (2), (3) // Similar Blouses: (1), (2) // Pants // Similar Heels: (1), (2) // Similar Clutch // Nail Polish (in "vixen")

 

Faux leather accents are a huge trend this fall and I could not be more excited about that. For the past few years I have been incorporating faux leather accents into my work wardrobe. I love how - when used in moderation - it looks professional but tough. Work outfits can really affect your mood/ how you take on the day and I find that faux leather gives me a huge confidence boost!

I also love adding touches of other fall trends to my daily work outfits - which is why emerald, burgundy & leopard print all make appearances in this work look. Do you try to incorporate fall trends into your work looks? What are your favourite looks for work?

For anyone stopping by from the other lawyers blogs- HI!! Thanks for stopping by! I love to get to know new readers so feel free to introduce yourself in the comments below! Follow me on bloglovin to keep up with my posts.

Now - to get to my fashionable lawyer friends! Go check out their pages and show em some love! From L to R right from the above outfits:

Brittany @ The Lady Lawyer - I love the peplum detail on her jacket
Nina @ The Law of Fashion - that skirt! She shares my love of faux leather
Tif @ Bright on a Budget - so obsessed with the blush on blush
Brittany @ Lawyer Lookbook - she has the most amazing hair, doesn't she?!

Linking up with:
let it shine
mix it mondays
how i fall
sophisticated style
a lovely little a la mode
hello monday
style sessions 
style swap tuesdays 
what i wore 
trendy wednesday 
midweek muse 
#wiwt 
throwback thursday 
what i wore to work 
style swap tuesdays 

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