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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Theory

Theory-Brand-Fall-Dressfall work day outfit ideashort sleeve theory dressnavy suede heels
work wear suggestion theory brand
olive and piper jewelry

Dress // Shoes // Similar Handbags: (1), (2), (3) // Bracelets // Similar Earrings

This dress was my first Theory purchase, and I cannot sing it's praises highly enough! The quality is evident from the moment you touch the material. This has easily become my favorite new work dress. 

I love the subtle green-black-blue print of the dress as well. I decided to pair it with similar tones, so I went with my green-blue handbag and my navy blue suede slingbacks. Gold accessories polished the look off. I love doing bracelet stacks for the office.

In other news, last night sucked. If you follow me on instagram or twitter you know that Mode Media - one of the biggest blogger agencies in North America - filed for bankruptcy yesterday; leaving thousands of bloggers out thousands of dollars. 


It's a really scary feeling that you can sign a contract, do work and then never actually get paid. I am definitely in shock and still trying to process the whole  thing. If you are a fellow Mode media blogger - my condolences (virtual hugs all around). It's a good time to reflect upon your finances & hopefully we'll all come out of this stronger!

I hope you all have an awesome weekend, whatever you plan on doing. See you back here on Monday! 

linking up with: trend spin (jewelry) 

Work Wear Outfit Ideas for Fall

fall office appropriate outfit ideas

When I'm looking for inspiration for what to wear at the beginning of a season, one of the first things I do is go through my old blog posts to remind myself of outfits I wore last year. This helps to remind me of style ideas I liked, and gets the creative juices flowing! 

Today, therefore, I thought I would share 5 office appropriate outfits that I wore last fall, and will definitely be re-creating again this year. I hope these help inspire your own work day fall style. Below each photo I've included a link to the original blog post where you can see all of the outfit details (all item links have been updated.)

PS. did you catch my Facebook live style Q&A over the weekend?! I've saved the video to my facebook page, so head on over to check it out if you missed it!

fall office appropriate outfit orange blazer
 Original Outfit Post Here

office wear leather detailing blazer
Original Outfit Post Here 
 
emerald green blazer
Original Outfit Post Here

how to style a short sleeved turtleneck
Original Outfit Post Here 

what to wear with a plaid pencil skirt
Original Outfit Post Here
 

Polka Dot Top

ruffle sleeve polka dot top
office approrpriate polka dot outfit
polka dot blouse for work

 Top c/o // Pants // Heels c/o - I also love the flats version // Similar Handbags: (1), (2), (3) 

This polka dot top adds so much fun to my work wardrobe. I love that the modest cut and the flutter sleeves. Pairing it with navy and grey seemed to be the perfect way to style it for a day at the office. 

 I'm not comfortable wearing open-toed shoes to work, especially when most days I am in court, but I found that these sling backs felt both work appropriate but also more summery than traditional closed-toe pumps. I think closed-toe slingbacks will be something I reach for a lot this summer!

I had a relaxing, low-key weekend (it was rainy *again* here in Vancouver) so I feel pretty ready for the work week ahead. I hope you all are ready for the day - I am sending some kick-ass, you-got-this, let's-do-this vibes your way!

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


Perfectly Patterned


Grey "Suit" Set c/o // Similar Handbags (1), (2) // Heels // Pearl Ring // Nail Polish  

I absolutely adore this coordinated set! It's an interesting summer take on a suit for work. I feel like the outfit is professional (the coordinated pieces help a lot, as does the looser fit of the top). I also like the metal snaps down the sides of the shirt - such a unique touch

I wanted to keep my accessories to blush & neutral tones to compliment the grey of this outfit. You may recognize these shoes (*cough* I wear them all the time *cough*) as I feel they are a great statement shoe that somehow works with everything. I most recently wore them here - in another summer work day outfit I can't get enough of.

Would you wear a coordinated set like this to work? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!


linking up with: friday favorites // fabulous friday // casual friday // WW // flashback fashion friday // #howisummer // spotlight

Wednesday Wants: Summer Pencil Skirts Under $150




I have been craving pencil skirts a lot lately. I have spent countless hours online window-shopping for great summer skirts. I realized, I should probably share with you a round-up of my best finds! These skirts are all office appropriate but still feel fun & fresh for summer.

In completely other random news - I saw Finding Dory a few days ago. It was SO good. I thought I would feel pretty ridiculous going to a kids movie with my group of 20-something year old friends, but I was shocked that the entire theatre was packed with adults haha. I highly recommend checking it out! All I'll say is that the darn sea shell "paths" shot (you'll see what I mean if you watch it) had me tearing up! If you've seen it; please tell me you teared up too. #SuchaSap

To my LLB "regulars": I won't be posting this Friday as I will be taking the day off for Canada Day. I'm actually going on a 3 day camping trip and could not be more excited to relax by a lake & hang out by a campfire. I will be back on Monday July 4th with a summer outfit you won't want to miss! Have a great long weekend everyone!

linking up with: what i wore // midweek inspiration // trendy wednesday // oh hey girl // TFF 

How To Pick Your First Suit

suit shopping tips for women


*original outfit post here*

I try to showcase a lot of wear-to-work outfits that are work appropriate, but go beyond just a basic suit. However, suits are a must have in your closet if you are a young woman working in the professional / corporate world. Even if you work in a laid back industry, there are times where a classic suit is just a necessity. 

Today I wanted to share some tips on how to select your first suit. Suit shopping can be a daunting task - especially for women - so these tips should help make the process easier! I'll also link up my favorite places to buy suits.

1. Know your Industry 

Do you work in a 'big business' accounting firm, a boutique law firm, a tech start-up? Knowing your industry is essential to determining the type of suit you need. For more 'corporate' industries you will want to to stick with a classic shape. The more relaxed, the more you can experiment with cuts/shapes. Personally, I live in 'skinny pant' suits. 
2. Decide on Color 

For a first suit, stick with the basics - navy or dark charcoal gray or most common. Traditionally the rule was to shy away from black as it is too harsh. Personally, I think that rule is outdated now and I see many young lawyers with black suits as their first/primary suit and it looks great. 

     3. Decide on Skirt vs. Pant            

If you are in a more strict environment, or are planning on going to numerous interviews in your first suit, skirt suits are still recommended as the most appropriate style for women. That said, it's 2016. If you feel more comfortable in a pant suit, go for it. I personally don't like skirt suits and did every law firm interview I had following law school in a pant suit. 

4. Try on Different "Fits"

Suits can be as diverse as jeans. Take a ton of suits into the change room to see how different fits sit on your body type. Longer vs. Shorter blazers will look different on different bodies, as will one, two or three button blazers. Try them all on to see what look suits you best before narrowing your search to suits in that particular fit.

 5. Where to Shop

Luckily, it is becoming easier to find stylish women's suits. My personal favorite brands/stores, by price point, are below.

Affordable ( >$200):
- Halogen (available at Nordstrom)

Mid-Range ($200-600):
- Ann Taylor

High End ($500+)
- Classiques (available at Nordstrom)
Theory
- Boss (available at Saks)  
 

Wednesday Wants: Work Appropriate Spring Jewelry


work appropriate jewelry

I've been wanting to update my jewelry collection lately. I love jewelry because it is one way you can add individuality to your style when you work in a corporate/professional setting. That being said, I do try to stick to less assuming pieces that don't draw too much attention.

For this spring I am definitely loving/wanting marble & rose gold as well as focusing on rings with unique shapes or gems. What jewelry trends do you want to add to your work wardrobe?



My crazy few weeks of work is finally starting to wind down (it becomes much less busy after Friday) so I am excited to spend more time reading, going to the beach & working on blog posts! Just a heads up - this week I will be deviating slightly from my posting schedule and instead of posting on Friday, I will be posting on Saturday. I promise it's worth the wait though and I can't wait to share the post with you!

linking up with: style me wednesday // oh hey girl // trendy wednesday // thursday fashion files // throwback thursday // casual friday // creative mondays
 

The 5 Blazers Every Working Woman Needs

style advice working woman blazers
~original outfit post here~

As a young professional it is tough to build up your wear-to-work wardrobe. You want to put your best foot forward in your career, and that includes looking & feeling your best. Blazers are a wardrobe staple for young professionals, so today I have got your guide to the top 5 blazers every working woman needs.

(1) Fitted Black Blazer
womens office wear belted blazer

~original outfit post here~ 
A fitted black blazer is the absolute staple of any young professional's wardrobe. It's a timeless piece that can be worn with just about anything. I recommend keeping a well fitted black blazer in your office at all times. Think of it as your professional looking security blanket - thought you had a casual day and then suddenly an important meeting is thrown at you? You can add a fitted blazer to whatever you are wearing to make your outfit appropriate for any work event. You can shop my top picks for fitted black blazers below.

(2) Menswear Inspired Blazer


menswear inspired blazer for young women


~original outfit post here~

Every woman needs a powerful blazer in her arsenal, and a menswear inspired style is perfect for that. A tuxedo jacket, similar to the one I am wearing here, is a great style that carries both the confidence of a menswear inspired blazers and the fashion forward element that every working fashionista wants. You can shop my top menswear inspired blazer picks below. 


(3) Good Quality Blazer

what to wear with a navy blazer women
~original outfit post here~


While you are starting out in your professional career, you may not have the budget to go crazy on work wear. In my opinion you don't need a ton of expensive blazers, but you do need one really good quality blazer. My personal favorite blazer is the one pictured in the above photo from Citzen's Mark. The fabric and tailoring are so high quality and so beautiful!

(4) Cropped Blazer



~original outfit post here~

A cropped blazer is an important item of wear-to-work clothing that pairs well with those wide-leg trousers you've been seeing on-trend this year, as well as office appropriate dresses. Below you can shop my personal favorite cropped blazers.

 (5) Bold Blazer 

blazer-stylish-must-have ~original outfit post here~

Every working woman needs one bold or bright blazer they can wear to work that is their "stand out" item. I love wearing a bright blue, emerald or red blazer with basic black to brighten up my work wear. Below are my favorite bold blazers; and all are under $200! 


linking up with: let it shine // #ootd // #howispring // mix it mondays // friday faves // fabulous friday // WW // creative mondays
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