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. |
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It's finally Labor Day weekend and the end of summer which means that we can start seriously prepping our closets for fall. At the beginning of every season I like to take stock of what I already own so I can avoid missing staples or buying duplicates--fall is especially important since these pieces can be worn through April! When going through your clothes, be sure to try on anything that you haven't worn recently. You may discover that some of last year's favorites no longer fit or are looking rather threadbare. Pay particular attention to your pants, even your work trousers that you may still be wearing regularly. Many dark colors start to fade so if it looks like you will be needing an update soon, it is better to start your pant search early in the season when there are plenty of options available- don't wait until your current go-to pieces are no longer salvageable.
If you find that your wardrobe is missing entire types of pieces, make sure not to go overboard and buy multiples of the same item in many colors. Cardigans are a great example of this. As any long time reader of this blog knows, I am obsessed with cardigans and wear them everywhere--I even have a dedicated cardigan for wearing while doing laundry! Although my passion for those buttoned sweaters has not wavered, I do find myself going through waves of admiration for specific ones. To be prepared for these moods, I have every style of cardigan imaginable: v-neck and crew neck; long, short, and 3/4 sleeve; cropped, boyfriend, and hip length; zippered and buttoned; patterned and solid; and even the cousin of the cardigan, the sweater jacket/blazer. The point is that not every style works for every occasion and although it is tempting to buy up a rainbow of colors in the first one you find that fits, it is better in the long run to do the extra legwork and find a few different options so that you are not limited by your clothes.
When not rocking a cardigan, I am almost definitely in a blazer and one of the best things about fall is that the temperatures are finally cool enough to wear a tweed blazer without sweating half to death! While I am not usually one to shy away from color, I do recommend choosing a neutral color for your tweed. A well fitted blazer is not a disposable piece so while the pink or kelly green tweed may be appealing now, your wardrobe would be better served with an investment piece in a more traditional grey, black, navy or brown. That doesn't mean, however, that the piece needs to be boring to be serviceable--the Boden blazer that is shown below has great trim detailing and beautifully polished buttons.
Sparkly jewelry is a great way to create visual interest as the colors become more subdued in the cooler weather, but if you prefer playing with pattern, there are still many options! Tweed is great for adding texture, striped tees can be layered under just about anything, scarves run the gamut of prints, and patterned skirts are one of the season's most darling pieces. A printed skirt is great for mixing up your traditional suiting options and this grey and black Boden polka dot skirt is one of my favorites.
The week before you go on vacation is always a test. I am heading to the Grand Canyon in just a few days and my mind is already in relaxation mode. That can make it difficult to put on structured and professional clothes for work, but luckily there are plenty of options that look chic but feel like weekend wear. This first outfit is comprised of a mixture of the softest, stretchiest, and silkiest fabrics out there right now. I paired a navy & white striped blazer in my favorite comfy fabric (ponte!) over a colored tee with just a hint of detail at the neckline. Tuck the tee into this season's most versatile navy pant and finish off with a simple metallic flat and coordinating bracelet. You'll be so comfortable that you won't even want to change once you get home from work!
If you work in an environment with a relaxed dress code, then it can be easier to accidentally cross the line from chic-comfy over to sloppy-comfy. The indulgent comfort that you are enjoying in your pre-vacation outfits should only be obvious to you--the rest of your workplace should only be thinking how fabulous you look! To keep this third look casual, but not schlumpy, choose simple pieces with clean lines and narrow silhouettes. Use bright colors to make your basics fun again!
What types of summer events are looking forward to? Let me know what social and professional commitments you need help getting dressed for in the comments!
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