The transition from college into the workforce can be a difficult one. Especially when it comes to your wardrobe. Your lifestyle in college conditions you to think about what you wear in terms of what is going to be the easiest and require the least amount of time in the morning. However, graduation is done and you’re all grown up now. Since most of you can’t wear the jeans and the flannel shirt from yesterday’s post to work what are you going to do? Can you dress appropriately for a grown up job and still maintain some semblance of your former cuteness? The answer is yes. Yes you can.
Dressing professionally and still looking stylish, feminine, young (not too young), and like yourself is definitely possible. It just requires a little bit more thought than just buying a few pairs of black or brown slacks and some mannish button-downs. Don’t get me wrong slacks and button-down blouses have their place. Just be sure to buy pants that fit well and are the appropriate length for the type of shoe you wear, and button-downs that are fitted and look like they were designed for a woman.
I put together a little outfit that I love and I think is a great professional look for almost any industry that you might be in. It’s fun, but classy and well put together at the same time. Take a look:
This dress is super cute and would be flattering on almost any body type because it has a defined waist and a skirt that flairs away from that waist. It skims the hip and directs your eye away from the part of the body that most of us want to camouflage. Make sure that the hem of any dress or skirt you are going to wear to work hits somewhere between right above your knee and a few inches below it. Too short and you look cheap and unprofessional, too long and you look frumpy and older than you are. It’s a wonderful thing having the perfect hemline, and a scary thing having the wrong one. One last note on the dress: know your company dress code. If wearing a dress that doesn’t have a sleeve is a problem then don’t wear it. You can still wear the dress just make sure you wear a little black sweater over it. As far as the sweater goes, in order to make sure you still look tidy and well-dressed make sure the hem of the sweater hits right at the belt of the dress and that it is slim fitting.
I am in love with these booties. They are some awesome sort of hybrid between boots and oxfords and they look great. With this type of dress and shoe combination it would definitely be wise to wear a pair of tights with them. When I say tights I mean simple, black, classic tights. Not fishnets or any flowering fishnet wannabe. Those are fine and dandy for a night out, but they are definitely not appropriate for the workplace. You could wear tights with some texture or design but make sure the design doesn’t get crazier than maybe a pinstripe or herringbone design and make sure they aren’t too bulky.
I kept the accessories really simple with this outfit because, a) it’s a work outfit, and b) it just doesn’t need a lot of accessories. I really like this bracelet; it’s got a bit of edge but also looks very soft and nice at the same time. These earrings are just a simple black stud (ok, they are really just a simple black diamond stud that cost a bajillion dollars but we don’t need to go there). Just enough to add a little sparkle but it’s not overwhelming. The coat is just darn cute. Investing in a classic knee length pea-coat is a fashion necessity. Get one in a neutral color like black or tan so you can wear it for years. If you’re like me and like to use coats and jackets to add color and fun to your outfit then you can buy cheaper pea-coats or jackets in fun colors (I have a mustard yellow coat that is one of my favorites).
Ok. Now it’s time for my favorite part. The bag! I have a deep passion for purses. Seriously. I love them like they are people. Wonderful, pretty, adorable people. I chose this bag because it is pretty, a good size and shape, has fun details, and is neutral without being matchy-matchy. If you’ve been living with the belief that your bag has to match your shoes, then I am here to set you free. You don’t have to match it exactly. The key to looking put-together is looking coordinated and like you planned it, and that doesn’t necessarily mean black shoes/black purse. Purses are something you can have a lot of fun with, so enjoy them!
Your task now is to take your specific work environment, style, and body type and apply the tips I talked about today. Remember, fashion is supposed to be fun not stressful so have fun and e-mail me with any questions or pictures of new outfits you tried and loved
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