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.
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.*
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.*
I will be the first to say that I definitely don’t have everything figured out when it comes to having a work-life balance and I am still trying to get a handle on working 2 jobs. I guess you could say that I have always bitten off more than I can chew. I think that stems from a serious case of FOMO (fear of missing out). Yes that is a real thing, and yes I definitely suffer from this insane disease.
From taking a look at my Instagram or other social media, I probably look like I have my stuff together. (And if I don’t, feel free to continue letting myself think that I do). But in all actuality, most days I am teetering on the edge of insanity. My poor body no longer knows what sleep is. My full time job is not getting the 100% undivided attention that it deserves. Blog deadlines have come and gone. And to top it all off my social life is hanging by a thread. Let’s not even attempt to throw a boy into that mix because that would really make things come crashing down.
So to help myself try to gain a little more control and take back my work-life balance, I’ve tried to enforce a few rules. I am definitely failing on several of these accounts but slowly but surely I think they will be a good base to get to where I want and need to be. Not just for sanity’s sake, but for an overall health stand point.
Plan. Plan. Plan
My friends hate to be “penciled” in and I hate being the friend that never has time to hang out, so I’ve started purposely leaving days open in my ever-growing planner. Most of my weeks are scheduled 2-4 weeks in advance with blog events, happy hours, meeting new people, and anything else that pops up. Having so many things to do can be stressful at times, but planning it all out and making sure I specifically pencil in personal time on top of blog or work events is a must.
Practice Saying No
It is not in my DNA to turn anything down, especially something that sounds like a fun opportunity! I like to think of myself as a “yes girl” that is always up for anything and let’s not forget the FOMO problem. Well even super heroes need a break every once and a while to cool off and recharge the batteries. You cannot function at your prime if you are overrunning yourself or not penciling in down time.
Avoid Multitasking
I don’t care if you claim to be a pro multitasker, it’s not possible. Each area of your life deserves your undivided attention and if you want “balance” while still maintaining dedication to each area of your life, then give 100% to each area. I am the queen of trying to do 3 things at once and failing to get a single thing done. For some reason we have this idea in our head that we have to get everything done in as little time as possible so we try to do multiple things at once. I’ve quickly learned that this ends up stressing me out even more than if I had I just completed one task at a time. So when you are with friends or family put your phone down. When you are working, don’t tempt yourself to watch TV.
Eliminate Wasted Time
This is not to say don’t ever take time for yourself. This is more so a reminder that there are several things that we do throughout the day where we could have made better use of our time. Who else spends an ungodly amount of time on social media? I am the first to admit that it is the first thing I check in the morning and the last thing I check before bed. That’s probably at least an hour out of my day that I waste on social media that I could be doing something productive. Some things we don’t even realize we waste time on. For example maybe it is spending too much time getting ready in the morning, running errands in an inefficient manner, or pressing snooze one too many times.
Have Fun
This probably sounds like a no brainer but for us #girlbosses sometimes we need that reminder. I know I get so caught up in what I constantly need to be doing that I worry more about deadlines and to-do lists than what really matters in life. Somehow I easily forget what a night off with friends and laughter does for the soul. I don’t know about y’all but wine and girlfriends make for some pretty fun nights and always leave me refreshed (if i don’t go overboard with the wine that is) and inspired.
One of my favorite quotes reads “Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life”. I’ve been under this impression that if I can just get a grasp on 2 jobs, a social life, and dating that I will finally have everything figured out. Well after almost 9 months of having 2 jobs and a teetering social life, I can tell you that it is easier said than done. I am slowly but surely trying to live up to that saying though, even if I have to constantly remind myself to have fun every once and a while or that I have to turn down some events. I would love to hear how you do it all and any tips that you have for me! O and if you have any remedies for a serious case of FOMO I’d love to hear your suggestions on that one too!
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!
