MAC lipstick: the perfect go-to shade that is work appropriate
Kate Spade planner: if there is one thing every #girlboss needs, it’s a planner to make her life just a little bit easier
If you liked this gift guide, make sure to check out all of my others for this holiday season here. Also, don’t forget that today marks our 2nd day in the 12 Days of Christmas giveaways so make sure you are following along on the blog and Instagram to get the first updates!
GIVEAWAY TIME
To enter today’s 12 Days of Christmas giveaway make sure you COMMENT on this blog post. For additional entries follow me on all social media outlets. The more you complete, the more entries and the greater your odds!
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.*
Being a #girlboss can take a lot of work so your outfit shouldn’t have to! If there is one thing that my mama taught me well, it was how to dress for success on a budget. Thanks mama! Dressing for success does not have to be costly and who doesn’t like to save a few dollars where they can? I don’t claim to always get everything for cheap, but I do make a conscious effort to make my dollars go as far as possible. That being said, here are my tips for all of my ladies out there that, like me, have a champagne taste on a beer budget.
Shop the sales
If you aren’t someone who normally gets excited about sales, it’s time to make a change! At some point the gorgeous blouse that you are coveting is going to go on major sale and you will kick yourself for paying full price. Stores are always looking for an excuse to push a sale so look out for the really good ones (40%+ off) and sit back for the duds (10-15%). Sign up for your favorite stores email lists and check them regularly. Sometimes email subscribers get inside information and it pays off to get all of those annoying emails! Outlets can also be your best friend. While they usually are a season behind, they offer greatly discounted clothes and you know they are still the name brand you love. J Crew Factory is my favorite for discounted work clothes- specifically their cropped pants. The majority of my work attire comes from Loft, Banana Republic, and J Crew Factory when they are having their major end of the year sales. I have scored work pants for $8/piece so I am telling you that the wait is worth it people!
Know when to save and when its ok to splurge
Have you ever heard the term, “Fashion comes and goes but style is timeless”? It is ok to splurge on the pieces that you know you will be able to wear for years to come. Think suits, blazers, an age-appropriate LBD, or well-made heels. This unfortunately does not include trendy pieces. So while you might be really tempted to run out and buy the season’s hottest new trend, unless you can find it for a reasonable price, I highly suggest saving your money. I tend to splurge on pieces that I can see myself wearing in 5 years and in order to do that the quality has to be there. Keep in mind that sometimes it is necessary to spend a bit more for quality if it is going to save you money in the long run.
Don’t allow yourself to shop for fun (on a regular basis)
This one gets me the most. Anyone else an emotional shopper? I get it, I have first hand experience that retail therapy can cure just about anything! I have spent hundreds of dollars trying to make myself feel better or simply because I was bored at the time. While this is ok on rare occasions, it can NOT be your norm. If you absolutely must- stick to places like Marshalls, TJ Maxx, or Target. I call these my safe zones because at least they are budget friendly. Be careful because these places can also sneak up on you if you go overboard, so my best piece of advice is to only allow yourself to purchase one item.
Stock up on staples
These are your classics that are never going out of style. They are the separates that you can wear to make several different outfits. For the most part, your staples are going to be your solid colors. Prints tend to come and go. Every #girlboss should own a white and black blouse, navy and black pants, and a black pencil skirt at the very least. These colors go with almost everything. I own several different white blouses because they go with any bottom that you can think of- pants, pencil skirts, shorts, you name it. You can’t go wrong investing in separates in white, navy, black, khaki, grey, and red.
It’s all in the details
Details can make or break an outfit but they can also help you recreate old looks and make them new again. Accessories can completely change an outfit by switching up your jewelry, belt, and purse so don’t forget about these. You do not need a ton of different details. Again, stick to pieces that you can wear with several different outfits and through multiple seasons. My go to place for details is Charming Charlie because they have great deals and everything is color coded so it’s super easy to choose from!
Since this week is full of Valentine’s Day inspiration and outfit ideas, it only seemed fitting to show off the most beloved suit I’ve ever owned. Yes, I only own 3 suits but that is besides the point. I bought this red suit on a complete whim because I saw it and immediately fell in love with it’s pink trim and bold features. It screamed #girlboss and I couldn’t say no! I firmly believe that every girl deserves to have at least one outfit that makes her feel like a down right boss. An outfit that simply exudes confidence, power and beauty. This red suit stands out and is definitely against the norm, every reason why I loved it.
So all of that is to say that I have waited an entire year to wear this suit and I am so glad that I get to finally show it off to you guys! When I bought it I had absolutely no idea where I would ever get an opportunity to wear it. Valentines Day I thought? Maybe Christmas? “You shouldn’t buy an outfit to just wear one day a year” I thought to myself. Then my mother chimed in “It’s 65% off.. you have to get it”. And just like that I was SOLD. Gotta love mom’s sound of reason…
The great part about buying a suit is that you don’t have to wear the suit jacket and skirt (or pants) together. So while buying a suit is normally quite the investment, you really do get a lot of use out of each piece. I wear this pencil skirt with more casual tops to work all of the time! The blazer makes for a cute pop of color to other outfits as well. So I may have bought this suit on a whim but I can assure you that it has had it’s fair wearing!
Stay tuned for more Valentine’s Day inspired looks every day this week. Do y’all have any exciting plans for the big day? Whether it’s galentines or something special with your significant other, I hope you have a lovely day 🙂 I’m excited to spend my 3 day weekend binge eating chocolate and probably watching the Notebook. It’s a pretty strong possibility and there is no shame in my game!
