On Monday, I shared the MM.LaFleur Bento Box. Today I'm sharing two of my favorite pieces I received in my Bento Box; the Winfrey top an the Soho skirt. I fell in love with these pieces after reading this article of Narie Forster, who is the COO of MM.LaFleur.
The pieces can be worn together and resemble a dress, but can also be worn as separates and still be appropriate for the office. I imagine wearing this top with wide leg trousers and the skirt with a printed buttondown shirt. The soft jersey knit fabric is comfortable for any day at the office.
For anyone who missed it, use the code CORPORATECATWALK for a free copy of Wear to Work with their first Bento Box. If you've ever torn your closet apart in a state of early-morning outfit angst, this book is for you. We know how hard it can be to shop for work and to balance personal style with the sartorial codes of the office. Our advice? Get a uniform! In this manifesto, we'll show you how to build a career-making wardrobe in four delightful steps.
This post is dedicated to one of my readers, Emily. Last month she asked for recommendations on tops to wear to the office. Today's post is all about three basic tops to have for your work wardrobe this Fall/Winter.
There are three types of tops to extend your work wardrobe; camisoles, button-downs and sweaters/cardigans. What you'll find is that most of my work tops can be worn several different ways. Remember, you don't have to spend a fortune to look professional at work.
Camisoles
These can be worn with any blazer and cardigan. They're lightweight and don't add bulk to your outfit. As much as I love silk, I'd recommend getting a polyester camisole, simply because the material is durable for the busy corporate woman.
Start building your work wardrobe with a white, black and blush pink camisole. These colors go with traditional blue and black trousers.
*the above photo, you can easily switch out the ripped denim for a black skirt or black trousers to complete your work look.
Button-downs
One of my favorite work shirts, especially in the fall and winter. If you find a button-down that fits well, get it in a few different colors and/or patterns. These can be layered with sweaters, blazers and dresses. I love the sophistication of button-down shirts. For those ladies who are a little curvy, invest in an undershirt likes this one from spanx, this will eliminate the embarrassing cleavage gap in button-down shirts.
Start building your work wardrobe with a white and striped button-down.
Lightweight sweaters and cardigans will keep you warm at the office (because we all know it's an icebox 90% of the time) and extend your work looks. J.Crew is my favorite store for sweaters and cardigans. The photos below show layering with a button-down, but cardigans can be worn over camis and sleeveless work dresses. Basic sweaters are nice because they can be paired with basic trousers. That's what I typically wear when I don't have the time to put together a look in the morning.
Start building your work wardrobe with a black and nude cardigan and white sweater. Slowly start adding colorful sweaters like orange, pink and blue for more variety in your looks.
Most of these pieces I'm wearing in today's post you've probably seen elsewhere on Corporate Catwalk. A few weeks ago I wore this top here and last October I wore the pencil skirt with a peplum blazer. These Zara heels I continue to get tons of wear on a weekly basis, along with my Fendi bag (best work purchase, yet!).
By now, we've all noticed that the guys at the office have mastered the gingham button down. Not wanting to copy their style 100%, I thought this top was a good alternative. This fun and flirty top is a great way to incorporate a printed blouse into your work wardrobe while still feeling professional. I love the sleeves on this top, I typically wear it with white denim pants or shorts. Yesterday I picked up a similar style top from Zara. This top can also be worn at the office (with an undershirt) or no undershirt for a night out with your girlfriends.
You've probably noticed, I'm a huge fan of the J.Crew pencil skirt. My only complaint about pencil skirts, is that by the time I walk to work, my skirt has rotated half way around my waist. Does anyone have any good tricks or tips to keep your skirt from moving throughout the day?
One last thing, this Fendi bag was a huge investment piece when I originally purchased it in July 2013, but I can say with confidence that I've worn it over 500 times in the last two years. That seem excessive, but I use it everyday to work. It's similar to a man's briefcase. It fits my laptop, charger, mouse, wallet, makeup, extra shoes and several other tidbits to the office and when I travel for work. If you're seriously thinking about investing in a designer bag this season, take a look at the Fendi 2Jour. Since the bag is a few years old, check out consignment shops like TheRealReal and Poshmark. Both have an authenticity process making it safe and secure to buy designer bags online.
Although this is a simple outfit, it's an easy look to wear at the office. If you're like me, white pants probably scare you, especially at the work place. To cover the bases, I always make sure my pants are not too tight, made of thicker material and wear nude underneath. If you don't wear heels to the office, try these perfect office flats. This look can easily be changed from office chic to casual weekend with a pair of nude sandals. Have good rest of the work week!
Welcome back! Today's post is a little different from my Monday blog series. Instead of sharing a day and a night look, I'm sharing two ways to wear a bright structured dress to the workplace.
In outfit number one, I'm layering with my favorite Ann Taylor shirt. This stripes are a great way to add texture to a solid color dress. You can add dimension by flipping up the collar and sleeves. The camel coat and fedora don't take away from bold dress, instead adding a more professional appeal to the outfit.
As for outfit number two, it's a little more traditional. Adding black pieces for a more subtle look. By wearing a red lipstick it adds a variety of color, so you don't feel like you're dressing up for Halloween.
Getting through the winter months and looking stylish at the office can be difficult. Most mornings I wake up and want to throw on a chunky sweater and black trousers. What I've found, midway through the day I'm wishing I wore something else to the office. Something with more character and pizzazz! My sweater and trouser combo is acceptable on Mondays, but after that I'm trying to put more effort into what I wear throughout the week. It makes for a more successful day at the office.
Today's outfit is a perfect example of adding "pizzazz" to your outfit and getting rid of the "winter office blues". This bow is from ASOS and can be added to most collar shirts. It makes a boring office outfit stand out and gives you something to talk about with your colleagues.
Quick question for my readers. How do you like my Monday series, one piece two ways? I'm thinking about continuing this series throughout the year, but wanted to get feedback and see if you enjoy this idea. As it warms up, I'll start be doing more outfits outdoors!
