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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ZipPicks: The Bell Sleeve Blazer
The bell sleeve blazer is a modern alternative for those of you who reach for your basic black cardigan or blazer to stay warm in the air conditioning at work – a slight twist on the usual blazer. I’ve popped the Zara version on a couple happy clients. The silhouette generally suits all body types and it’s easy to incorporate in your professional wardrobe.
Alice and Olivia Blazer (Bloomingdales)
Pricier version and suited for tall ladies
Mango: Great for the office. Also comes in red if you’re feeling bold
Zara: My favorite of the bunch as you can wear this casually as well.
Slightly cropped length works well on petites
ZipPick: Versatile Woven Skirt
Skirts are one of those pieces that often only work in 1 setting – a casual skirt usually can’t be worn to the office and a professional pencil skirt looks funny on the weekends. But I want to share a skirt that is incredibly versatile in terms of season, setting, and color: Zara Burgundy A-line skirt
This skirt is a nice alternative to the pencil skirt and long enough to be office-appropriate. Despite it’s “professionalism” it can be a surprisingly fun casual skirt as well. Team it with a denim shirt, a grey t-shirt, a navy light weight sweater and you have an informal look.
The burgundy color is also versatile and unexpected – it can be paired with the usual neutrals(white, black, navy, tan, grey) as well as blues.
If you live in a mild climate like Seattle, this skirt can be worn almost all year round. It’s not too heavy for 70 degree weather but can keep you warm during the winter if worn with tights.
Style Ruts: The pencil skirt alternative
When you think of skirts for the office, you probably picture a pencil skirt in your head. It’s the go-to professional skirt that can be worn easily with blazers and blouses. But the same old can get boring and some of you may not like form-fitting aspect of pencil skirts. Today I’ll review a few alternative professional skirts to get you out of your pencil skirt rut!
1.Full skirt – Full skirts are gathered and don’t hug the body like a pencil skirt. They can range in lengths from full length to super short. For the office, full skirts that hit right above the knee are the best bet. Though long skirts are in right now, a long full skirt is generally not the ideal look in a professional setting.
How to wear: This look will look best with a form fitting top to balance out the fullness of the skirt. Think form fitted turtlenecks, buttoned down shirts, and blouses.
2. A-line skirt – A line skirts fit snugly at the waist and flare out. It is different than a full skirt in that pleating is minimal and the “A” shape is maintained.
How to wear: This is very similar to a pencil skirt. You can wear the tops you usually pair with those. Thus it’s the easiest alternative to a pencil skirt! A-line skirts are great for those of you with big hips (places emphasize on waist and hides the hips) and wide shoulders (balances out shoulders).
4. Midi pencil skirt – Midi skirts are a cousin of the traditional pencil skirt but slightly longer in length. The hemline is usually between the bottom of knee to mid calf.
How to wear: You’ll most likely feel more comfortable in a skirt that isn’t too tight. Because the skirt will cover a lot of skin, you can wear lower necklines, short sleeves or 3/4 sleeves. Heels will be best in terms of footwear because the leg line will be shortened with the lower hemline.
Style Inspiration: Tuxedo blazers
Many of my clients, especially younger ones, are unsure how to choose a blazer. Blazers can seem old, stuffy, and aging if you’re not used to wearing them. The key is to find a modern cut, like the current tuxedo blazers! They typically come in black, white, or white with black lapel, and they have slim lapels with usually 1 low-placed button. Today I’m sharing 4 tuxedo blazer looks to inspire you. Vote on your favorite below!
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Zip Picks: 4 professional H&M dresses
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! |
Summer Office-Attire: Colorful pencil skirt
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!