How To: Dress Trendy for Work

So many women are concerned about dressing appropriate for work while still managing to keep their sense of fashion. I did a little fashion research, and here are a few tips I found that will help you dress fashionably for your corporate job.

Bazaar - April 2011

• Pair unexpected colors for modern suiting (camel blazer and red pants)

• Strong-tailored seperates

Elle - April 2011

• Simple shapes in bright colors will keep a basic outfit un-boring (color block).  

• Conserative dress and outrageous shoes
• You can wear pattern. You can wear short (opaque tights help keep things appropiate) things. The difference between looking finished or not lies in the details: gorgeous, groomed hair; a structured bag; and classic killer heels.

Cosmopolitan - May 2011

• Denim gets all sophisticated when it hooks up with a drapey silk blouse and a chunky bracelet.

 

• Paired with a tailored blazer, a mini skirt seems suddenly professional. A low heel downplays your showing a lot of leg.

• Disguise a t-shirt's casual vibe by tucking it into a pencil skirt and belting it at the waist.

Instyle - July 2011

• Impress work associates in a dark sheath with flashes of brilliance.
• Turn on the glow with a form-fitting dress in a shimmery fabric. The touches of gold at your wrist and on your bag and heels make it clear you know how to shine.

• For a twist on the tuxedo, try dramatic black draped with a soft white cowl to light up your face. Echo the black-and-white with your purse; then add sexy sandals.

Glamour - September 2011

• For a corporate job wear things that flatter, but aren't revealing, like a classic sheath dress. No cleavage, but arms are okay.

• A one-piece (jumpsuit) for work is possible. Add a blazer to look pulled together, not pajama party.

• Try tall, flat boots - so stylish and comfy, and great for work

Elie Tahari boots

Cosmopolitan - September 2011

• Wide leg trousers are a Monday-to-Friday staple. Add a belt and a tucked in top.
• With a tucked-in blouse and skinny belt, denim looks polished enough for work.

• Accessories are essential! Use fun and trendy accessories to punch up your outfit. Some current accessory trends are:
• Snakeskin bags (work as a neutral, so wear them with anything)

• Beaded or feathered (boho) jewelry 

• Strong,  bold, architectural pieces

• Gemstones in geometric settings

• Color Block bags (3 colors max)

 

• Minimalist bags (Solids with a trim are chicest. Look for a small envelope size.)

• Sleek ankle booties

 

• Glam loafers (perfect with a knee-length skirt or pants for work)

 

• Lace-ups (to offset the tie's casual feel go skyscraper high)

How To: Wear Lace

Tips straight from some of my favorite magazines...

• Marie Claire - April 2011 (v.18, Issue 4) If your skirt is short cover up on top. If your skirt is long (it should never be longer than the lowest point of kneecap) show off on top. Stick to neutral colored skirts (black, beige, and grey category). Avoid white (too bridal) and pastels (too "old").

 Dolce & Gabbana

Olivia Wilde

• Elle - April 2011 Lace Overlay shoes



• Glamour - March 2011 Lace clothing in neon colors, layered with neutrals (like a khaki top) for balance. Black lace is the easiest sheer fabric to wear; you can also try gray or navy (Blake Lively & Mia Wasikowska). Don't wear head-to-toe white lace. Layer lacy bras and camisoles under transparent tops for night.



Blake Lively

Mia Wasikowska

• Glamour - November 2010 A "sexy librarian" vest in a shrunken fit, mixed with a lacy mini.

My way of wearing lace...



How To: Color Block

I really like the Color Blocking trend, but I wasn't sure of how to do it. I didn't want to mix the wrong colors together because color blocking makes a really bold statement, and if you don't do it right you'll just look tacky. So I did some research on how to color block, and I want to share what I found with you-all...

• Avoid colors on the exact opposite sides of the color wheel like red and green. If you change the hue of one of the colors it can be possible to pull it off though.
• The most popular theory for combining colors is called the rule of two-thirds. Make an equilateral triangle (a triangle with 3 equal sides) on the color wheel. In it’s most basic form, the points at the ends of this triangle will be touching either red-blue-yellow or orange-green-purple. From there, you pick two of the three colors that the triangle touches. These colors will almost always harmonize together beautifully.
• Since color blocking tends to have 3 colors, use 2 colors from the triangle you made earlier and combine that with a 3rd color outside of it.
• Leave accessories neutral and minimal, so they don’t clash with the outfit.

This is an example of changing the hue so you don't end up with the horrible red & green combination. The yellow & green are similar in hue, but the pink blazer looks nice with it.

 Orange and green are very close to each other, but the orange is a little darker and the blue is a little lighter.

For a more detailed explanation, go to the website I got all this information from: http://styleprompt.com/2011/04/15/color-theory-or-how-to-color-block/

If you don't like or feel comfortable wearing color-blocked clothes that's okay. You can try color-blocked shoes, bags, jewelry, & other accessories!

How To: Wear Oxfords

I couldn't help but notice the growing number of people that are starting to wear oxfords. And with that number comes a growing number of people wearing oxfords horribly. Which is sad because I really like oxfords! When oxfords are worn wrong they can look so ugly, grandpa-ish, and just not stylish in any way.

The pictures on this post should serve as inspiration to everyone. It'll show you how other people have stylishly worn oxfords, and how you can create your own unique look.

 

From looking at these photos, I can tell that oxfords...

• Should be worn with fitted pants: skinny jeans, jeggings, leggings (your top should cover your butt because leggings are NOT pants!), etc.
• Won't look good with pants that flare out (they'll cover up the shoe!)
• Can look great with skirts, dresses, and shorts
• Can look chic when paired with tights (Tights aren't pants though; wear something to cover your bottom!)
• Can be worn with cuffed boyfriend jeans/pants (the cuff will keep your jeans from covering your shoes)