Work Wardrobe Chronicle : Summer Uniform

For business casual, I pretty much wear variations of the same exact outfit everyday : pencil skirt, silk top, boredom...

Club Monaco Pencil Skirt, UO Silk Top, Top Shop Shoes, F21 Belt.

Changed into shorts for running around town after work.

Bunch of Animals

I work in an intense environment heavily dominated by males. In most meetings, I am not only the only female present but also one of the youngest. I'm very conservative and cautious about what I wear to work because I don't want people to focus on my outfit and would like to be taken seriously.

I wore this dress to work, because it's a great shape ( bloussant top, pleats... ), plus the length is about as short as I can go at the office. However, check the print on this dress, full of sizable bunnies, bears in tutus, mushrooms, ponies, and ducks wearing big hats. Mulled over this for half a second, and decided oh well, can't always take yourself too seriously. Plus, adding pearls to anything makes it classy, right?

Pinkyotto Satin Dress, Top Shop Peep Toes :

Work Wardrobe Chronicle : the World Needs More Seersucker

My memories of childhood summers always involve my grandmother wearing some form of seersucker. Even back then I was smitten with this magical fabric. It's made of cotton, it's textured, and I need more of it! I've had this seersucker blazer for so many years and have since been searching for another. I may resort to making my own.

Seersucker Blazer found overseas, Sisley Satin Pencil Skirt, Club Monaco Belt, Kenneth Cole Peep Toes.

Work Wardrobe Chronicle, the Shirt Dress

A combination of work, chilly temperatures, and chronic rain has gotten me down. This usually translates to extra snoozes in the morning. When I'm running late to work, shirt dresses are always my first pick because they save me the trouble of having to put together an outfit.

I realize that my fashion posts have been lackluster and slightly infrequent. I've been wearing a ton of black due to aforementioned reasons, and in pictures they show up as inky blocks and all details are lost. Hope to be out of this funk soon!

Club Monaco Shirt Dress, Pinkyotto Belt, Bloomingdales Earings :

Work Wardrobe Chronicle, Convertibles

From work to play...

Dress code at the office from Memorial Day to Labor Day is business casual, which means no suits in summer and open toe shoes!   This dress is safe for work when worn with a cardigan, but also good for an after work date with A.   Plus there are pleats and pockets!   Shoes were part of my first F21 shoe purchase, failed the walk-to-work test but I still likey though.

Club Monaco Dress,   F21 Cardigan & Shoes,   Pink Sapphire & White Quartz Necklaces ( by Vale Jewelry ) From the Young Designers Market on Mulberry.

Work Wardrobe Chronicles - Business Casual Friday

UO Grey Tuxedo Cardigan

Theory Pencil Skirt

White Pumps with Black Lace Trim

Club Monaco Tweed Vest

Raven Tailored Wool Trousers 

Erin Fetherston for Target Blouse

I only get to dress business casual on Fridays, the only day of the work week to look less like a corporate robot.  I am always worried though, that dressing too stylishly at work may result in not being taken seriously.  Business formal is simple, my definition involves one or more of the following : suit, blazer, collared shirt, and certain type of dresses.  Business casual, however, is more open for interpretation. 

For the environment I work in,  I consider any skirt shorter than knee length to be inappropriate.  Cardigans are safe options, as are vest and blouse pairings.  Not exactly fashion forward but respectable enough.  These shoes deserve a special mention,  they were purchased for five dollars, from a random boutique I found while traveling in Asia.  So pretty.

Work Wardrobe Chronicles - All Hail the Pencil Skirt

I own over a dozen Pencil Skirts, yet every time I discover a new one with great detailing and fit, I must buy it.  Their classic shape is effortlessly professional but also feminine.  Instead of a boring suit,  my favorite everyday office look is a Pencil Skirt with silk blouse and cardigan, or a fitted blazer.

Pictured :

Club Monaco Pencil Skirt 

UO Embroidered Silk Blouse

Club Monaco Blazer