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Style Diary: What to Wear to Work

With this new job in the fashion/retail industry, I’ve sort of been taking special concern over what to wear to work. Work has these rules where you can’t show your shoulders, can’t wear leggings, jeans or sandals and even rules about always having to have a mani-pedi.  (as if dressing well for a fashion job wasn’t pressure enough!)  Plus they blast the air conditioning so you’re also restricted with thoughts of how best to layer.

The first day felt like I was the new kid at school having all eyes on me as I was made to introduce myself to everyone and later wonder who I was going to sit with during lunch.  And just like school, the first day of work’s first outfit is all-important.  I wore a simple gray sheath cowl neck dress with matching metallic belt from Calvin Klein (bought at TJ Maxx), a lace blazer designed by Compagna bought at a Korean boutique, and studded heels from Good Choice (bought at a NY boutique).  And I thought I’d play it safe with this silver chain and pearl long necklace which I get tons of compliments on (bought at a NY boutique).  Overall, the entire outfit cost only about $150 or so (none of it was new, just old finds from my closet though).

After wearing so much neutral, I felt the need for color and what is bolder than red?  I usually shy away from candy apple, primary color red but this Escada sheath dress that I found at a sample sale was just too good of a deal to pass up.  I’m not wearing it in the picture but I tempered it down with a camel cardigan (so the fashion police wouldn’t ticket me for showing my shoulders at work).  And I wore the camel cardigan over the dress and belted with a dark brown rustic belt.  This is me at the end of the day after weathering the suffocating 90plus heat.  I couldn’t be bothered to put back on the cardigan and belt.

The bag was bought at a NY consignment store and is by Emanuel Ungaro.  I love it ‘cuz it is pony haired and has the softest texture.  The shoes are Steve Madden – don’t they look much more expensive?  And the chain necklace that drips down into a v is a statement piece that I bought super cheap – can’t remember where.

During my first couple weeks, I also traded off the cardigans with lightweight blazers being careful to avoid being too suit-y.  I did this by pairing them with fun printed skirts.  See the below outfits.

Here I am trying to pass off a cheap H&M fitted blazer for something a little more luxe by pairing it with a nicer Tracy Reese designer skirt and Chanel purse.  The beaded necklace was a freebie from a NY fashion week goody bag and the shoes are a fun Marc Jacob knockoff with cutout hearts found at one of my secret favorite shops – Forever 21.  I added the ceramic teddy bear to the purse – ‘cuz there’s still a kid in me and my recent trip to Japan helped make me unashamed of loving the cutesy.

I also paired a Tahari printed fuller skirt with a Chanel purse – this time in butter yellow with some similar colored heels with studded flower accent.  And this time I skipped the traditional blazer in favor of a military inspired ruffle blazer.

I did bring out the simpler black blazer (with puff sleeves) later when figuring out how to make my gray tiered dress more work-appropriate.  The blazer is from H&M, the dress from Philosophy, the purse is Prada (brand new with my store discount) and the trendy lucite necklace is from years ago..  Perhaps the best part of this outfit other than my new (bought on sale) Prada is the suede black peeptoes that were a huge find from a MI thrift shop.  It seems that Midwesterners don’t know the worth of Ferragamo ‘cuz I practically stole these slingbacks at a shocking $5!  hmm that cost sort of balances out the cost of my purse, right?

What outfit is your favorite?