The new year is almost here and tomorrow will be the twelfth and final installment of the 12 Days of Holiday Parties outfit series! If you need to catch up, past posts can be found here. 

The outfit:
A patterned ponte skirt paired back to a pink v-neck tee and a black blazer with grosgrain ribbon tie. Pair with black pumps.

Where to wear it:
To a friend's dinner party (or when you are hosting your own!) and as a festive work outfit on New Year's Eve. 

Why it works:
I love ponte skirts in general, but a bold pattern definitely sweetens the pot. I chose the bright pink as the base of the outfit because I like to wear something besides red and green to holiday parties. The black blazer grounds the look and prevents it from looking like an Easter ensemble. Another way to style this skirt would be with a black long sleeve tee layered under a white open cardigan.

Need to catch up on the 12 Days of Holiday Parties outfit series? Past posts can be found here and new looks will be posted daily until New Year's Eve to inspire your party outfits this season!

The outfit:
I absolutely adore this tweed suit, but do not have many occasions to wear it as a set. Since the sleeves are only 3/4 length, I love to add a fun pop near the wrist and in this case I layered a white and black stripe tee underneath. Pair with a cute pair of black boots to finish the look. I added a gold and pearl necklace, but a brightly colored scarf tucked into the jacket would also be appropriate.

Where to wear it:
This warm and cozy outfit is perfect to wear to church, to the office holiday party, or to see the annual production of The Nutcracker or A Christmas Carol.

Why it works:
Tweed is a cold-weather fabric and worn as a matching suit, it feels very seasonal. The style of this jacket as well as the unexpected pop by the wrists keeps the outfit from feeling like you are on your way to work.

Remember that although dark colors do feel seasonal, you are not limited black and grey. Blue, burgundy, and teal all add brightness to an outfit while still feeling appropriate for the cooler temperatures.

For the cooler weather of fall, cardigans really are the superstar of your closet. They are polished enough for work, easily dressed down with a pair of jeans and a tee, and a lifesaver when you are shivering in a cold restaurant in your cute little black dress. If you are not convinced and only want to try out one, my suggestion for maximum versatility would be the Banana Republic black and grey colorblock cardi.

I mostly wear my tweed jackets when I am trying to add polish to my denim for an elevated casual look, but they are also great layered over sheath dresses for work or mixed with your existing solid suiting options.

A tweed skirt is also a key cold weather piece, but it doesn't necessarily need to match your tweed jacket. I have an over abundance of tweed in my closet so although I do own a matching tweed skirt suit, it is rare that I wear it as such. Paired back to a crisp oxford and a solid blazer or cardigan, a tweed skirt is a great office wear piece, but I also like to wear it with dark tights, a cozy sweater, and riding boots for a weekend look.

If you do decide to wear a matching tweed skirt suit (or for the very brave, a tweed pant suit), try adding a lighter colored top underneath the blazer to visually lighten the weight of the fabric. To avoid creating a dated look, skip the pearls and heavy gold jewelry and instead choose colorful, light, and modern accessories.

To avoid boring work looks, take inspiration from menswear styling and pair colored oxfords under contrasting pullover sweaters. To add a feminine detail in place of a tie, layer a statement necklace under the collar but over the sweater. I love a chunky piece like the J. Crew necklace pictured because it doesn't get lost in the layers, but can also be worn as a wow factor with a dress for evening.

I love that the cut of the skirt gives it movement without feeling heavy (although this polka dot print is also available as a pencil skirt if you prefer a straighter fit) and the small size of the dots keep it work appropriate. If you have a closet full of dark clothes, this is a great piece to help break up the monotony. Pair with a black sweater, tights and riding boots for an outfit that kicks it up a notch without taking you out of your comfort zone. For a conservative office, tuck in a white oxford and layer on your favorite black blazer to create a classic three piece look.

What fall clothes are you excited to be able to wear once the weather cools down? Let me know in the comments! I hope that everyone has a fun and relaxing Labor Day weekend!

This J. Crew ponte dress is the perfect base layer for this second outfit. It looks like a cream shell tucked into a black pencil skirt, but since it is all one piece, you don't have worry about coming untucked throughout the day. Pair with a short sleeve cardigan (or a black blazer for a more conservative office) and accessorize with just the basics. You'll be lounging around in so much stretch that you'll forget how polished you look until you walk by a mirror!

I love a nude pump or wedge for the office in the summertime. It feels lighter and cooler than basic black, doesn't push the envelope- the only statement it makes is polished sophistication so you can shine through.

As the tag line of this blog says, I believe that you should love what you wear everyday. The best way to do that is to feel confident and comfortable in your clothes. Choosing fabrics that move easily can make the difference between an outfit that you are readjusting throughout the day and an outfit that you can put on and forget about (except when you are getting compliments). Incorporate some polished stretch into your work wear and enjoy your most comfortable summer yet!

Versatility is one of the main components of a practically stylish wardrobe. Since summer is full of irresistible parties and patios, it is important to be able to change your work wardrobe into a wow wardrobe with only a few small swaps.

summer office that you won't have to worry about feeling inappropriate. Shoes can add an extra pop of pizzazz to an outfit, but you should never rely on them to change the formality of your look. So when going from work to evening in a single pair, err on the side of work-appropriate.

This is a very easy outfit to switch up for evening. First, leave your blazer draped over your office chair. Although I generally love to wear blazers for all occasions, summer outfits should feel light and breezy. Add a fun and flirty edge by untucking the lace tiered shell to show off the scalloped hem and the floaty tiers and move the belt over the shell to once again accentuate the waist. This silhouette is no longer buttoned up, but rather has a soft and romantic feel to it.

What about if your office requires a suit every day? Or maybe you are at a conference and know you will only have a few minutes in your hotel room between the sessions and the socializing? Your suit does not have to be the enemy.

Instead of an oxford or a basic shell, I layered a black short sleeve sweater under the suit and added an optional multi-strand necklace with small silver and gunmetal grey hammered discs. A simple black kitten heel finishes off the ensemble.

The most important thing when you are transitioning your suit from work to play is to make sure the pieces can stand on their own. I often have clients say that they don't mind if their skirt is too tight or the waistband of the pants sags because "the jacket will cover it." (For the record, I do not condone buying an ill-fitting suit bottom even if you will always be wearing it with a jacket. If you can't find a perfect fit, then make friends with your local tailor. There is no excuse to look sloppy after spending hundreds on a suit; this should be your confidence power piece.) Make sure that your bottoms fit you well. Although I have this pictured with a skirt, you could easily also do this work to evening look with pants if that makes you feel more comfortable.

The evening part of this look is all about accessorizing. Once again, ditch the jacket before your night out. I chose a short sleeve sweater with an open neckline that nicely frames the necklace and I added a matching grey patent belt to the waistband of the skirt to add definition.

If you look closely, you will notice that all of the accessories I chose follow a theme: they all have a silver and grey dot pattern. Even the bag is made of small silver sequins. I have really loaded up the jewelry on this outfit, but if that does not feel right for the venue and event you are attending, edit it down to a level you feel comfortable at.

If you wear pants instead of a skirt with this suit make sure to tuck in the shirt and add a belt. A great pair of heels will also help elevate your suiting into something spectacular.

Keep in mind that any outfit you transition from work to play will follow a different formula than your party-only pieces. Every event has a spectrum of appropriate dress code and these ensembles will tend to be on the more conservative end.

The finishing touch to this fabulous dress (the photos do not come close to doing it justice) is my favorite my pair of party shoes: a slightly pointy-toed 4.5 inch pewter pump that was part of Banana Republic's Mad Men collection about 18 months ago. They are some of the most comfortable heels I have ever worn and they make getting dressed up all the more fun. Although the shoes don't make the outfit, they can make enjoying the outfit just a little bit sweeter.

Unfortunately this next outfit did not photograph as well as I could have hoped, so please bear with me as I attempt to describe it. For work, I paired a black ponte sheath dress underneath a black blazer, accessorizing only with a black & tan scarf and a basic black patent kitten heel. Although they are non-matching pieces, the dress and blazer duo have a similar effect as a skirt suit. The scarf helps to break up the large swath of black fabric by adding contrast where a top normally would.