I recently shared the glen plaid trend for fall and today we’ll look at inspirational looks. You can dress the plaid up or down and often the pieces are work-appropriate. Feel free to vote on your favorite below!
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I recently shared the glen plaid trend for fall and today we’ll look at inspirational looks. You can dress the plaid up or down and often the pieces are work-appropriate. Feel free to vote on your favorite below!
#1
#2
#3
#4
In honor of H&M opening their US online store, I’m picking my current favorites in a series of posts. Check out my guide to shopping at H&M, H&M shoe picks, and pants picks.
We’ve gone through shoes and pants. Next up I’m sharing my current favorite H&M dresses offered online:
Comes in yellow, olive, and blue. I’m eyeing the yellow one. Here’s how to wear colored pencil skirts. |
This dress is a perfect example of why to shop H&M’s office-attire section. At first glance it’s a plain black dress, but the cut is very flattering, and the eyelet provides an interesting pattern/texture. |
H&M Lyocell Sleeveless Shirt Dress
Sleeveless dress in olive and denim. The belt adds waist definition but you may want to swap it out for a better quality belt. If you work in a formal environment this might be too informal, maybe nice enough for a casual Friday. |
H&M Sleeveless Fit and Flare Dress
Classic and elegant. This silhouette is flattering on most women. It could easily be your professional little black dress – a wardrobe workhorse! |
For background on Nordstrom Anniversary sale, check previous posts: Intro to NAS, NAS 2013 Overview and NAS Boots. Items are on sale through Aug 4th.
Many dresses to choose from this year, especially for those of you looking for dresses or skirts to wear to the office – Here are my dress picks for NAS 2013. Happy Shopping!
(L) Taylor Jacquard Fit and Flare Dress
(R) Taylor Black and Red Print Dress Fresh printed dresses by Taylor. The fit and flare is flattering on most body shapes. The black and red printed dress may be a tad short for those of you tall women who want to wear this to work, but otherwise these are 2 options perfect for the office! |
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(L) Calvin Klein White Faux Leather Trim Sheath
(R) Micheal Kors Houndstooth Dress Sleek, sophisicated dresses in black and white. These may be trendy with the faux leather details and contrast paneling but their simple, classic cuts won’t date easily. Wear them now in the Summer or with tights in the Fall. |
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(L) Halogen Print Pencil Skirt
(R) Elie Tahari Kelsa Mixed Media Skirt Pencil skirts can seem boring but these 2 have just the right details to add visual interest. The Halogen skirt also comes in a variety of solid colors! |
This is the third post in my Summer Office-wear series. Learn how to dress for the heat and still look professional! Check out the other posts: Summer office-attire shopping guide and Lightweight blazers.
Skirts are perfect for the office and the heat. I suggest having at least one colorful option for the Summer that you can easily mix and match with neutrals. You’ll want to choose a solid color or pattern that has staying power – one you will not tire of quickly!
Here’s how you can make the most of your colorful skirt at work:
1. Pair it with neutral colored tops: Most colors go with black, white or grey so you can easily pair your neutral dress shirts and work-appropriate sleeveless tops. All of the pencil skirts shown below can be worn with black, grey, or white tops (One exception: I wouldn’t pair the pink with black).
2. Wear with a black and white graphic top. If you want to add a pattern to the mix but you’re nervous about making sure it matches, stick to black and white. Check out these examples for inspiration:
3. Choose a quality fabric– It may be tempting to buy a cheap, thin jersey skirt so you’re comfortable and cool, but they tend to look less professional. Stick to sturdier, well-made woven skirts or thicker knits like ponte.
4. Choose length carefully – It almost goes without saying that you’ll want to choose a work-appropriate length. A general rule of thumb is to not go higher than 2 inches above your knee, but I find that shorter women can get away with shorter skirts because they have less skin exposed compared to taller women. You’ll also want to make sure you can sit down without feeling uncomfortable – skirts often ride up when sitting.
5. Wear it with a denim shirt – Denim shirts act as a neutral and go with most colors. If you choose a well-fitting, wrinkle-free shirt, you can wear it to the office. I love the look of denim collared shirt in a business casual environment as it’s a nice mix of casual and formal. However, if you work in a conservative office a denim shirt may be too casual. Love the blue with yellow options below:
Outside of work: After hours, you can get more wear out of your skirt by throwing on a t-shirt or tank top. It’s a quick way to make a pencil skirt look more casual and comfortable. Add a necklace and sandals and you have an easy Summer outfit.
For those of you with small closets or mostly neutral wardrobes, buying a colorful skirt may seem too bold but with the right choice it can be an incredibly versatile item – worn at the office and after work. Keep an eye out for one!
Asymmetrical hem lines are popping up in stores in the form of tops and dresses. At first glance, I wrote it off as a young, almost-juvenile look but my eye has adjusted. It can be a flattering, breezy Summer style or even an edgy professional look if pulled off well. Below I’ll dissect the trend and offer in-store choices.
Dresses & Skirts
The most common asymmetrical dresses I’m seeing in stores are lightweight Summer options perfect for beach vacations or hot weather. They tend to be casual and range from super short to long, maxi-length dresses and from sophisticated black or neutral options to bright, happy colors and prints (which look great with nude shoes!). Most women can pull of this look with the right cut and fit, though long legs will look better in the longer skirted versions. If you are petite or have proportionally shorter legs, you can add wedges or heels to compensate.
Professional options: If you’re looking for an asymmetrical dress or skirt to wear to work, consider the following:
Shirts or Sweaters
Again there are casual options and more structured options when it comes to asymmetrical tops. Important fit issues to consider:
My verdict: I like the airy dresses/tops for hot weather, but Seattle’s Summers are too short to really make that look useful. I’ll be keeping an eye out for a cozy, asymmetrical sweater for this Fall so I can get more wear out of the look.
This is the second post in my series of Summer Must-Have items. The first must-have is the Striped Dress.
It has long been known that flesh-colored (nude) shoes elongate the leg. This is especially desirable during the summer when legs are exposed. By ‘nude’, I mean a color that matches your skin color. This means each person’s nude shade will vary depending on skin tone.
Not only do nude shoes elongate the leg, they provide balance against other pieces that have loud colors, busy prints, or a bold statement piece. The key to choosing the shoe is to not veer into dull, old-lady territory. You’ll want to keep the look fresh and young-looking by choosing modern styles and adding textural interest or distinguishing details. Keep reading to learn how to wear nude shoes!
1. Wear with brightly colored & printed dresses
When wearing bold, colorful pieces, whether that’s jewelry, skirts, pants, jackets, an easy way to ground the outfit and keep it from becoming “too much” is to throw on a nude shoe. This way your shoes won’t compete with the loud pieces. Here are some colorful and printed dresses to inspire your outfits:
2. Wear nude summer boots
We usually think of wedges, strappy sandals, ballet flats, and pumps when it comes to summer shoes, but don’t rule out nude boots! They are a stylish alternative to flats, wedges and heels. The nude or light colors keep the boots from looking too heavy in hot weather and again, elongate the leg despite the coverage that boots provide. They’re great to wear with light colored jeans, white jeans, dresses and shorts.
3. Wear patent or textured shoes
Nude colored shoes can be boring if you’re not careful. Consider choosing a shoe with patent shine to add a pop to your look. If you have a brown or golden skintone, gold can act as an interesting nude choice. Textural interest can also be added to make your nude shoe stand out. For example, a woven/braided shoe or shoes with cork/wood heels can add texture.
Consider getting a jersey striped dress this summer season. They’re incredibly versatile and provide instant chic factor when worn simply. Striped dresses in neutral colors act as a solid and you can pair them with almost any color. For a casual look, accessorize with cropped jackets, scarves, fun summer bracelets and sandals. If you’re looking for a wear-to-work option, look for longer lengths, higher quality jersey, and add a blazer or cardigan for structure. Below you’ll find casual and professional options ranging from the traditional black & white stripes to the brightly colored.
Casual, chic, and comfortable. This t-shirt dress is easy to thrown on and its loose fit will let you move freely whether running errands, chasing kids, or enjoying time outdoors. Pair it will sandals, a simple bracelet and you’re good to go.
Maxi dress with wide stripes. Again, an easy, casual summer dress to keep you cool. Accessorize with a belt, jean jacket or scarf.
Love this longer length which makes it work-appropriate for a casual Friday. The coral color will be flattering on most people and offers a nice alternative to the usual black & white stripes. Thrown on a blazer or cardigan to make your look more professional and structured.
This Trina Turk dress is on the pricey side at $265, but I love the shades of blue and varying stripe widths. Depending on your height this may be office appropriate. To get more wear, in the winter this dress could be worn with tights and black booties.