Dressing for Success: The New Way Women Are Dressing for Work

I recently helped a friend decide what to wear for a speaking engagement. She is an entrepreneur who helps students become financially robust after graduation and often gets asked to speak on television and for banks. She wondered what would one wear for such an occasion. I wondered what couldn't she wear for such an occasion?

Both women and men today have so many more options for work attire than we used it and it is largely because our workplaces have transformed quite a bit. Companies are a lot more focused on productivity than following traditional work practices, and part of maximizing productivity is making employees happier at work. This means allowing greater flexibility and versatility, which has given rise to a more casual work place setting with flex-time, hot desking, centralised management -and you guessed it! Relaxed work attire policies. Below are some of the recommendations I came up for my friend, which you might not have traditionally seen on someone presenting to a bank.

Formal Trousers + Patterned Button-Down Shirt

Pencil Skirt + Button-Down with Rolled up Sleeves

Relaxed Blazer + Tucked-in T-Shirt + Mismatched Trouser

Sleeveless Blouse + Tapered Trouser 

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Layering for Fall

( photos credited to http://atlantic-pacific.blogspot.com/)

Last year on this very day I made some suggestions for those out there who get the glory of experiencing all four seasons. This year I feel compelled to post pictures from only one blogger who has clearly mastered layering. This girl needs to do a commercial for Trident Layers gum or J.Crew or both!

As a law student I am particularly fond of these looks as most are still polished enough to be considered business casual. My theory is any outfit that makes use of a crispy blouse or well cut blazer is automatically turned to gold (side note: have popped collars ever looked this good????).

Cheers to another season of bundling up with light fabrics before reaching for a heavy coat!

In Transition: Blogger Streetstyle

      
If you happen to live in a city where weather transitions are a smooth and enjoyable affair, you have the luxury of extending the life of summer pieces in your wardrobe. The shortest of shorts and sheerest of blouses may even be spared. It's all due to one simple styling tactic: layering.

Socks, leggings, nylons, scarves, cardigans, jackets, hats etc...simply pick a few additional items from your wardrobe and throw them over top (or underneath) your summeresque look and voilà you are saved from autumn breezes and declining temperatures! No need to mourn the loss of your favorite summer frock.

If, however, you are gungho about jumping into fall attire, but find it too warm to commit to head-to-toe coverage, pick lighter fabrics and roll away your shirt/pants when temperatures peaks. Perhaps try cuffing your sleeves in an inverted fashion the way Karla has with her yellow blouse to keep things interesting.

(credited to Fashion is a Playground, Annabu, Pandora's Box, Leproust, Karla's Closet, Another Day to Dress Up, Natalie Off Duty, Hanneli, Refinery29, Faboo)

Working with Grey

 

Dress: Mexx

Shoes: Aldo

Nylons: American Apparel

Ring & Earrings: Banana Republic

Purse: The Gap

Grey was not one of the bigger fall color trends this summer on the runways, but it still made several appearances, especially in knit wear (Diane Von Furstenburg was a favorite of mine) so I expect to still see grey lingering in stores soon. I've always been really fond of grey because it's neutral yet rather dynamic depending on the fabric and exact shade used. It can be soft like my dress above or edgy like my heels. It's basically moody and that strikes a chord with me being a rather moody girl.

The best thing about grey is all the fun you can have with contrasting it. It serves as the perfect back drop no matter what color you pair it with and you can be as discreet or loud as you want with your pairing. Here lighter shades of grey have been color blocked with pastel colored tops.

Rich and deep colors can add a lot of elegance to a grey article of clothing like Kate Moss' royal blue jacket above and Nicole Richie's ruby red scarf. I would suggest keeping your other accessories neutral rather than juggling several color contrasts with grey, if you want a more sophisticated look.

The greater amount of grey you are wearing the more dramatic the juxtaposition a pop of color will have against it. You can add this color through any accessory imaginable from a pair of gloves to a bow tie and pocket square.

Grey is a particularly beautiful slate to display metallics against. Try stacking your arms in gold bracelets or pile on a few chains around your neck.

If you're crazy enough about grey you can go head-to-toe in it like myself and these two ladies. I've often read it's a no-no to match two tones of the same shade because it looks off or clashes, but if you're mixing different textures as well as tones the clashing works in your favor. Kate above is wearing a blazer that is probably a rayon/polyester blend with jeans and a wool top and the fact that the greys are all different tones still works well.