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Shades of Suede

November 16, 2016

Fashionable work wear for women featuring shades of Suede: Suede leggings + pleated top + suede booties

Top: Ellie Kai | Leggings: Express | Booties: Vince | Purse: Goodnight Macaroon | Earrings: Bauble Bar

Photography by: Banavenue

While suede for the cooler weather is nothing new, albeit you didn’t know how many shades of suede were actually out there to choose from! Retailers are making just about every clothing piece, head to toe, in some form of suede. I’ve had fun this season bringing suede into my every day attire as well as my work wardrobe for a little bit of unexpected spice!

Today’s ensemble is featuring two of my favorite suede shades, navy and gray. These navy suede leggings have become my best friend for this cool weather we’ve been getting. You know that I am all about the clothing items that are both fashionable and comfortable and these mark both of those boxes. I love them so much that I plan on getting these in a couple more colors such as these and these. I love that I can wear them to work and out. When you find pieces like that, you stock up!

Since gray suede is a more neutral color, you will find many boots, jackets and purses in this color. I bought this pair of booties last year and this purse (which is an amazing dupe of the Chloe bag) this year. Both have become closet staples and go with absolutely everything.

To continue on with several other colors that I have seen popping up, I have rounded up my favorite shades of suede in 5 different color options. If you do not own anything suede yet, I highly suggest buying a jacket. You can never go wrong with a suede jacket and every girl needs one.

Navy

Burgandy

Taupe/Gray

Olive

Tan

*Thank you Ellie Kai for making this post possible. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.*

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Out with the Old, In with the Bold

November 9, 2016

Bold Work Wear: Blue pencil skirt + white blouse

Black Purse perfect for year round

Skirt: Similar | Top: Pippa and Pearl | Shoes: Similar | Purse: Charming Charlie | Watch: Charming Charlie

Photography by: Banavenue

I’ve teamed up today with Pippa and Pearl to share how we as women, can use fashion to be bold in the workforce. Men have it SO easy. They wear a suit or slacks and it’s a done deal. For us ladies, we have millions of options which can prove to be both a blessing and a curse. With so many options it can be overwhelming, leaving many women to resort to plain jane clothing. While there is nothing wrong with plain Jane, plain Jane doesn’t stand out. Plain Jane isn’t getting you noticed by your boss. And why do we put in the long hours not to get noticed? Now that’s not to say that your hard work and smarts aren’t getting you noticed but looking the part is just as important!

My top 4 ways to be bold at work are sure to make you stand out. And in a good way! I’ll bet that adding in a few of these tips are sure to get you more than a couple of outfit compliments from your girlfriends. Let’s be honest, we all love getting those 🙂

Call on color

Color seems to be a lot of women’s biggest insecurity. It’s easy to hide behind darker colors like black and grey, especially when you don’t feel like being noticed. Color brings an outfit to life. My advice is to start small and slowly add in more and more color. An easy way to start out is by adding a pop of color with your shoes and accessories. These are my current favorite heels to add in a pop of color to any outfit.
Pull out the prints

Prints are another fun way to make a statement. And the best part is that they are very easy to bring into your attire. Keep in mind that you always want a one to one ratio of prints versus solids. So if you are going to wear a solid skirt (as pictured above), wear a patterned top and vice versa. Besides my gorgeous top pictured above, I am loving this striped blouse and this floral pencil skirt (seperately of course!).
When in doubt, pump it out

A bold shoe will never go unnoticed. A lot of times people make shoe contact before eye contact. Not only do heels instantly dress up any outfit, they also do wonders for your legs and make you look taller. So ditch the boring black or nude flats and invest in a couple pairs of chic pumps that will never go out of style. My go-tos are these black, suede Sam Edelman heels and my maroon pumps.
Blazers will always mean business

There is no other piece of clothing that says “I mean business” like a blazer can. Every woman needs a few blazers in her closet for days when she needs to look professional. The best part about blazers is that they do not have to be worn with a suit. Instead they can be worn individually to turn any casual outfit instantly into business attire! Add a blazer over any blouse and pair it with slacks or a pencil skirt. I could have easily added a black blazer to this look such as this one. Don’t be afraid to bring in colors or patterns into your outfit by way of your blazer. One of my favorite blazers is this one but if you are feeling really fashion forward try this one.

If you aren’t used to being noticed at work, it’s time for a change! You deserve to be noticed for the hard work and long hours that you put in. Pippa and Pearl is the perfect online shop to find some new work wear pieces at a great price. I was excited to find this cute boutique because they have such unique pieces that you won’t find at every other store. This is always good to know because that means no one else in the office will have it. It’s always awkward when you show up to work matching someone else. Cue the “who wore it better” committee. I also love that many of their clothing options are so versatile so you have the ability to wear the clothing for multiple occasions such as work, events, brunch, or even casual weekend wear.

Pippa and Pearl also has some amazing jewelry if you are looking to add in some color to your outfits. And for outside of work, they have a huge selection of hats, fascinators and gloves. I need someone to invite me to a high tea or derby event so that I have an excuse to buy all of these!

I wanted to end this post with a quote that I found. “The doors will be opened to those who are bold enough to knock.” So if you need a little push to be bold in the work place, start with how you are dressing. It might be the inspiration you’ve been looking for 🙂

*Thank you Pippa and Pearl for sponsoring this post. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.*

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Cubicle Queen

October 26, 2016

Business casual chic: maroon blazer with all black

Blazer: Similar | Pants: Gap | Top: Madewell | Shoes: Similar | Earrings: Kendra Scott

It’s another Work Wear Wednesday and I’m excited to share one of my new finds with you today! A big part of why I started this blog was to help transition into the working world, both as a way to express my style and share my experiences. Most of the time I feel like I still have no idea what I am doing and other days I surprise myself by actually getting something right! 😉 Either way, having a #girlboss outfit on really does make all of the difference!

As a girl on the go, I know just how much time shopping and putting together outfits can take. Cubicle Queen is a subscription based service specifically for work wear, from business casual to business professional. My entire outfit (blazer, top, pants and jewelry) is all from this month’s box.

I had been hesitant to try many of the subscription based monthly programs, especially clothes programs, because let’s be honest I love to shop and finding clothes to fit my petite frame is a task. Lately I have not had the time to physically go looking for new work clothes (shocker I know!) so I was pleasantly surprised that both outfits that Cubicle Queen sent me fit PERFECTLY and were super stylish. That seriously never happens guys! Every article of clothing that they sent were brands that I love- Ann Taylor, Loft, Gap, Banana Republic– just to name a few.

I have loved Cubicle Queen’s service so much that I have partnered with them to give my readers 50% off your first box with code SHELBI50. You can sign up here to receive complete outfits or mix and match pieces to design your own work wear. I personally went with the complete outfit option because the lazier I can be in the mornings, the better! This was almost as good of an option as when mama used to pick my clothes out before school! 🙂 O to be young again!

If you have any other questions about this service please do not hesitate to ask! Also if you are looking for more work wear inspiration feel free to check out my other recent Work Wear Wednesday posts here.

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Effortless Work Attire

October 19, 2016

Chic business casual: effortless work attire dress + pumps

Dress: Ellie Kai | Shoes: Target (Under $30) | Purse: Similar | Earrings: Tory Burch (studs) | Necklace: Taudrey

Photography by: Banavenue

The good Lord made me a lot of things but what he did not bless me with was patience or how to be a morning person. What do these things have to do with effortless work attire? A LOT! Getting ready in the mornings for a girl is hard work and for those of us that aren’t morning people and have this thing called a J-O-B, the two don’t mix very well. Since I am one to snooze my alarm a few too many times and then get caught scrambling to make it out the door on time, the last thing I want to worry about (or have time for) is worrying about what to wear to work.

The easier and faster that I can get myself ready for work in the morning makes all of the difference, so I wanted to share my top 3 pieces of advice for effortless work attire that continue to be my saving grace for the never ending, hectic mornings.

1. Dresses are your best friend– I’ve said this once and I’ll say it again. Dresses are by far the easiest piece of clothing that a girl can wear. It’s a one and done, no hassle, no over-thinking-it kind of clothing. So there is about a 99% chance that on any given day, I will be wearing a dress. The comfier the better so what I look for is a soft material such as cotton or nylon. This one from Ellie Kai comes in 20 different patterns and is seriously one of the best feeling dresses I have ever put on! It’s made of nylon and spandex so it’s super stretchy and comfortable 🙂 Here are a few more that I am loving for work.

2.Stick to a couple pairs of neutral shoes– Call me crazy but to be honest heels are more comfortable to me than flats. Whether you are a heels or flats kind of girl, find a couple of good pairs. My black and brown pumps by far get the most use out of my entire closet because they go with everything. It makes it super simple in the morning when I need to pick out shoes because most of the time I am only choosing between 2 options so that means only 2 looks in the mirror and I’m off! I have Target brown pumps (under $30) and Sam Edelman black pumps. Here are a few more that I also own or have my eye on.

3.Dry Shampoo for the win– This one is not fashion related but it’s so important it is for sure in my top 3 pieces of advice. Really this one should go first because if I was stuck on a island and was only allowed to bring one thing, there is a good chance that my first thought would be to bring my Batiste dry shampoo. Obviously I am kidding but that stuff has saved me more time in the mornings than I can count! Bastiste– you the real MVP when it comes to bad hair days, hectic mornings, and adding a little extra volume. This stuff is the master mind of greasy hair or hair that is not willing to cooperate! I’ve also tried a lot of dry shampoos in my day and Batiste is the only one that I will use now because it is THAT good. Here are a few other products I use on the go.

I think it goes without saying that number 4 would be lots (and lots) of coffee! When in doubt, drink another cup! For all you Houston gals, here are the 10 best places to grab a cup of coffee! Now here is to hoping that your mornings be a lot more productive and less hectic then mine 🙂

*Thank you Ellie Kai for making this post possible. As always, all thoughts an opinions are my own.*

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Work Wear Wednesday: Leather + Peplum

September 28, 2016

Business chic style: leather pencil skirt + peplum top

Photography by: Banavenue

It has been way too long since I did a Work Wear Wednesday post! Today I wanted to bring you all one of my favorite outfit combos for work: the pencil skirt and peplum duo. It’s not new news that I am a fan of peplums. I think they are so flattering for all body types and add extra dimension to any outfit. I specifically love peplums paired with pencil skirts for a few reasons.

You don’t have to tuck any material into your skirt! GENIUS. Any other type of top that you wear with a pencil skirt will require you to tuck in your shirt. The less time I have to spend in the morning getting ready, the better. I think we all know how long it can take to get your tuck just right. You then have to pull a little out, make it look a little less straight laced and not so proper, you all know the drill. I’m telling you, peplums are the way to go, friends!
A little extra room. Who else loves a top that you can hide a food baby in? You would be lying if you said no! Peplums add a little “fluff” in the belly region so after lunch food babies are a worry of the past!
Great all year round. Peplums work for more than just a cute Summer top. For cooler temps (or a chilly office), peplums pair great with a light sweater or cardigan. My office is usually pretty cold so you would find me pairing this look with a cardigan, similar to this one.

Ok now let’s talk about this faux leather skirt for a minute. I’ve had serious doubts if leather is appropriate for the office. My answer is yes but hear me out. Moderation and feminism is key. My simple rules of thumb are this. 1) If you would consider wearing your outfit out to a bar, it is not appropriate for work. 2) It cannot be tight or short. Like at all. If you are still scratching your head after those two rules, I promise I will have a more in depth post up about wearing leather to work at a later date!

As always, feel free to add a pop of color into your outfit with your accessories. Since my top and skirt were both neutral colors, I knew that this purse would be the perfect pop of red. A big thanks to Macy’s Backstage for gifting me my purse and heels. Macy’s Backstage is such a great way to get designer items for a steal! Y’all must check it out if you have not heard of it yet.

I should be back with another work wear post in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, I would love to hear from you what all you would like to hear about concerning anything about business. I love sharing my office outfits with you, but I also love sharing and tips and advice that I can as well. If you think of something you’d like to read about, please let me know! Have a great day, friends!

*Thank you Macy’s Backstage for making this post possible. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.*

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