Fashion for the Real World
You won't see any filters, props, or artificial lighting. Just clothes. Clothes that you can feel good about wearing every day.
If this outfit doesn't say spring, I don't know what does. Although it's still pretty chilly here in the Midwest, that doesn't mean I could pass up this outfit.
I love the floral paired with the denim, and I have to admit, I can't really take credit for the combination. Once again I dismantled a display at Old Navy, and I love the look of these together. I may have to wait a little to wear the outfit until it gets slightly warmer, but it doesn't mean that i can't get prepared in the meantime :) This dress is very comfortable - it is made out of a t-shirt material. Better yet, it's on sale now for $18 (from $26)! Finally, these open-toed boots are all the rage now for spring. They really bridge that gap between the boots and sandals seasons. These from Old Navy are very affordable and comfortable. I do have to say, though, it is difficult to try on shoes with outfits when the shoes are still tied together. Luckily I didn't trip myself.
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I'm always on the lookout for a "comfortable blazer." As mentioned in a previous post, I find most blazers sweaty and stiff, and most require dry cleaning (which means I will probably not wash it unless I absolutely have to....). This blazer, on the other hand, has the cute stripes, and is machine washable! It has the flexibility so you feel like you can move, and it is breathable to wear even on those warmer days. I find these pants extremely comfy too. They aren't too fancy, or make you feel too "dressed up," but are professional enough that you can wear them to business casual type of events. Finally, I know you can't see my shoes in the picture (one of the difficulties of fitting room pictures), but I was a little "out there" with the shoes. I am wearing bright pink flats, which I loved with this outfit to add a real pop of color. If you can't tell, I'm all about the "comfort and style" type of looks. Anyone who has worn something extremely uncomfortable throughout an entire work day can attest to the fact that those days can be long and miserable. This outfit, however, I will be wearing on numerous occasions, regardless of the season.
I took the Old Navy dressing room by storm, and was in there for oh.....a good hour or so.
Oh goodness.....I love the green jacket look. This is the type of staple wardrobe item that can be worn on a more casual work day, or on the weekend. Whenever I see someone wearing a jacket like this I always think to myself how good it looks. There's just something about this color green and this type of jacket- this is my second in my wardrobe, and I find its incredibly versatility makes it a "must have." This one, in particular is extremely comfortable and for $29, yes please! I absolutely love this color combination, also- blues and greens- just makes me want to buy this outfit all over again. Now- in case anyone is wondering, I was wearing striped flats with this outfit (not pictured, but I will link). Typically I try to stay away from patterned or brightly-colored flats, because I hate having to match certain outfits with certain shoes. I prefer the "low maintenance" route of having flats that go with everything, but then you end up with a wardrobe of black and brown shoes. In this case, I made an exception because the flats are so affordable. Given the price, having an extra pair of flats (or two) to expand my shoe wardrobe was a pretty easy decision. Blazers are not very comfortable. They are stiff and hot. Even most current blazers make me feel like my shoulder's are as wide as a football player. That is why I typically will not wear a blazer to work unless I absolutely have to. That, however, eliminates quite a few wardrobe choices when we have to dress more professionally, so I made it a mission to find a more comfortable, breathable blazer to expand my professional wardrobe repertoire.
Behold- a comfortable work "blazer." This provides a great addition to my work wardrobe because i don't dread wearing it. It's not the usual "stiff" blazer look, but has a comfortable style and unique look that gives it a little interest. The black crop pants are another work wardrobe staple. I wear these pretty much every time I have to dress up, paired with the versatile black pump. Finally, I like the coral color to balance the black and white of the jacket and pants. You could really wear any color underneath, which gives me a lot of versatility in my wardrobe (which I enjoy).
As we transition from winter to spring, it is really difficult to find outfits that appropriately bridge that gap. My gray and black- colored sweaters that seem to dominate my winter wardrobe seem too drab for this time of year, but I can't quite push the button on the full florals and flowing blouses of spring,.
Our weather this season has been all over the place- one day 65, the next 35. On the 65-degree days you'll see a store full of people buying shorts and sandals (myself, included). Then when the temperature drops, I'll end up combing through my wardrobe back to the winter clothes of yore. This is always a somewhat disheartening exercise. The way I try to get around this conundrum is to add a new color or element to my "lighter" winter clothes. This makes them seem more "revived" and spring-like, even though I've been wearing them throughout the winter season. In this case, I found this bright scarf at www.tkqlhce.com/click-8254766-10414244 and love the pop of color it adds to this outfit. The pants have quickly become a staple of my work wardrobe. They fit so nicely, and are perfect for the winter-to-spring transition, particularly because they look best in pumps or flats (not as practical for winter). The sweater is perfect for this time of year - not too heavy or too light. It is breathable, so you're not going to be left sweating like a pig on those warmer days. It is, however, still a nice sweater look for those cooler days.
Click on each item to purchase information
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The weather has been getting slightly warmer, with fluctuations of cold days here and there. However, it's been warm enough that I can look at dresses without cringing, which is a great sign that spring is coming. It's so nice to get out of work and still see the sun outside.
Personally, I'm always trying to tackle the challenge of the "work dress." Aside from my coveted collection of sweater dresses, sometimes I need something a little more professional for those slightly nicer business functions. There's something very sophisticated about pinstripes, and I absolutely love them for work clothes- whether its pin stripe pants or dress, I'm naturally attracted to this type of pattern. Typically I'm not a huge fan of the "dress that looks like you're wearing your boyfriend's shirt" look, but this pinstripe dress from bananarepublic.gap.com has the pinstripes that I love, while still being sophisticated. I really like the structure of this dress, which makes it a little different than other "shirt-type" dresses. Also, pockets!! To me this is the ultimate bonus when a dress has pockets. It seems like there is always something to stick in there when I'm on the go. Sometimes I have presentations and the times that I have to wear the dreaded lapel microphone, a pocket is necessary to stash that battery pack. I've been caught a couple times in a dress that has no pockets, no belt, and has left me hanging onto that stupid battery pack for the entire presentation. Regardless of whether you give presentations or not, I don't think having pocket could be argued as being a bad thing. **Update** It looks like they are out of this dress on the website, but still have a skirt of the same material available for $12.00!!! Originally $98.00!! Get it before it's too late! bananarepublic.gap.com/browse/product.do?vid=1&pid=258230002 I have the most gigantic sweet tooth in the entire world. In fact, I think all my teeth are sweet teeth. Therefore, any of the major holidays involving candy (primarily Halloween and Valentine's Day) are a "green-light" for me to indulge in some of my absolutely favorite foods- which all fall into the "sweets" category. So, when I saw the "Chocolate Walk" being advertised locally, I knew I had to be a part of it. This involves walking around downtown, and getting different chocolate-based items to sample (both drinks and food items). I was thinking maybe 5 or 6 stops would be included. No. 22 DIFFERENT STOPS! 22!!! I'm going to have chocolate flowing out of my ears by the end of it, and it will be glorious. I'm picturing some kind of "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" type of experience. Hopefully I don't fall in the Chocolate river. So, naturally I needed something to wear for this chocolate extravaganza - something casual and comfortable, but festive. I found this outfit, which is pulled together with this adorable plaid vest. It is so comfy and is just the level of warmth I need to walk around outside for an afternoon. For a slightly different look, check out this too: www.kohls.com/product/prd-2526197/petite-chaps-buffalo-check-asymmetrical-sweater-vest.jsp The sweater underneath is extremely versatile- and is on sale for $30! I also added this scarf for that extra level of sophistication, and a little glitter. Finally, I really love these boots. I've been wearing these all season long, and they literally go with almost any outfit. I really love how slimming they are and the heel that makes them more feminine and sleek. The jeans are my regular "go to" pair that I spoke about in a previous post- my Target jeans (tried and true).
Valentine's Day is on a Tuesday this year, which in some ways is a very good thing. It means that the limits of Valentine's lovey-dovey-ness must fit into the confines of the work environment. I very much enjoy this holiday because I think it's a great opportunity to celebrate not only romantic love, but all the different types of love in our lives. (Insert clip from "Love Actually" here - **singing "Love is all around us"**). Anyway, I digress. This week's outfit just says "Valentine's" to me because it has the wonderful pink color and gold accents. I feel like this pop of color is very romantic, but not too over the top (let's hope there aren't any employees dressed as cupid this year). This outfit says, 'I'm acknowledging there is a holiday, so I'm not a 'Scrooge,' but I'm still professional." This blazer is a staple of my wardrobe. It is so versatile. The gray color goes with everything, and it's something you can just put over the top of any blouse to really pull the outfit together. The pink blouse is great as we enter springtime and we start bringing color back into our wardrobes again. The softness of this pink, and layered look give it an elegance and flowiness that I really enjoy. Finally, I'm all about the black pants and black pumps look. They're so easy to find, and again, the versatility is really a must for me. Personally, I avoid extremely bright colors in my work shoes because then I have to think too hard about what to wear them with. I don't have the mental energy for that in the morning when I'm getting ready. Click on each clothing item for purchasing information What is it about shoulders? A sweater that can be an extremely conservative style- even a turtleneck- all of a sudden kicks it up a notch with the "bare shoulders." Shoulders, in it of themselves, aren't considered "risque." Then why would I never wear a cold shoulder sweater to work? We'll ponder that philosophical question. I really love this top that I found at Macy's- it is a beautiful shade of turquoise. This is a perfect example of a shirt that I would wear to work with a blazer or sweater over the top. The turquoise sweater itself, is so thin, it's very easy to layer. Then after work- BAM! Blazer comes off and you're ready for a night out on the town, or out to dinner. I would recommend the blazer from taking-the-work-out-of-work-wardrobe.html They no longer have the cold shoulder top in this color, but there is a link below to one very similar. I love the little booties with this look, also. Casual, comfortable, and cute for work., but also can easily be transitioned into a more evening "fun" look. See comfy-professional.html for a better view of the booties. A comment about my jeans. This may or may not be hard to believe, but my "everyday" jeans (that I'm wearing in this picture, and any other time you've seen me in jeans) are from Target. Yes, Target. It's difficult to find good fitting jeans, ESPECIALLY at a reasonable price. I really like Target's skinny jeans, and have acquired a collection of various shades. I would highly recommend. See the link below for details. I just have to say - I love this outfit. I know it may seem lazy, but I cannot put jewelry and clothes together, especially in the morning when I'm getting ready for work. Congratulations if you're one of those people who comes to work with cute accessories and matching jewelry!
For me it's just a matter of ease in the morning. I also find that I'm relatively unadventurous when it comes to jewelry. So what's the solution? Buy clothes with jewelry attached! I love the detailing on this sweater- this hanging piece just adds so much class and elegance to what would be a pretty plain top. I appreciate the ability to look more put together than I actually am. I also love the detailing on the sleeves of this top- the lace cutouts really pull the whole top together. I am really liking this simple look. The top is now at "final price" at $29.95. Use Finally, I just have to comment again on these shoes. I did already introduce this amazing find on my first post (taking-the-work-out-of-work-wardrobe.html), but just to reiterate: These shoes have memory foam in them, and they are extremely comfortable and practical for work, without looking like tennis shoes. They are so cute. As soon as it gets above 30 degrees outside, I'm going to wear them every day. These are the type of shoes you can wear for those long days on your feet. No reason to have to sacrifice style for comfort in this instance. So I'm a huge fan of this outfit for an everyday work look. |
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Forget everything you know about fashion blogs. On this one you will see no ripped jeans, ponchos that you feel stupid wearing to work, grassy fields, filters, or puppies (okay, maybe puppies).....
This blog is for those who want to buy full outfits that fit into the daily life of working professionals.
All
Blazer
Brown Boots
Hat
Plaid
Poncho
Pumps
Scarf
Shoes
Sweater Dress
Vest
Winter Boots
Winter Hat
Work