Pattern Play

 

I originally bought this dress a couple of years ago for casual wear (it's a tall dress from Banana Republic). And it didn't cross my mind to wear it to work until recently. I've found that my shoes have the biggest influence on whether my outfit is business or casual. When paired with these leopard wedges, I find it to be work appropriate. The three-quarter length sleeves makes it a great dress to transition into fall and then also wear in the winter with tights. Or, a great dress to fight the freezing office temperatures.

Have you seen this article? Like we've all suspected, office temperatures are designed to accommodate men in suits. AND, as if we didn't already know, men have faster metabolisms. My husband is a bean pole, but eats no less than three cookies and a Klondike bar a day. I want his metabolism that way I can stay skinny and warm.

As much as I love summer, fall is coming whether we like it or not. I love to mix prints, but I find it kind of difficult to do so in the summer since I wear so many dresses. But, come fall, it's easy to add a patterned scarf or cardigan. One of my all time favorite pattern combinations is stripes and leopard. In the winter I'll add a polka dot scarf to this outfit.  If you're mixing and matching several prints, I recommend maintaining the same color scheme. Other prints that are great to mix and match: floral and stripes, windowpane or gingham and floral, and polka dots and stripes.

Dress: old, similar here | Shoes: old, similar here | Necklace: old, similar here and here

Rules Are Meant to be Broken

 

Happy, happy FRIDAY!  It's here, finally. I was under the misconception that yesterday was Friday. And by 3:30pm, I was really bummed when I realized it wasn't. Whoops. But, good news. TODAY is Friday. So, here's one of my favorite desk to drinks dresses, perfect for Friday. 

Do you ever buy a piece of clothing that just ends up sitting in your closet? I have a rule, if I don't wear it in a year, I discard it. Exception: I lost the piece of clothing or totally forgot about it. This dress should have been thrown out according to my rule. But, for whatever reason, I never tossed it. It's times like these that I'm so glad I broke my own rule (though, it was by complete accident).

I originally bought it probably 3+ years ago on super discount from Anthropologie. And then it just sat in my closet. But, I've definitely made up for lost time. It's now one of my favorite summer work dresses. For those in conservative offices who want to incorporate patterns, a geometric in a traditional work color (navy, grey, black) paired with the same color blazer is a great choice. 

Fun fact: We've been taking photos outside but in more isolated areas. I'm a little (um, very) self-conscious of taking photos while there are onlookers. Well, when we were headed out the door take photograph this outfit, we had a little bit of a miscommunication. So, we ended up in one of the most crowded areas near us. Eeek. But, I powered through. I feel pretty good about it. And, it means that you're not looking at the same backgrounds. Progress! It definitely gave me the confidence to branch out more in the future!

Dress: old, but similar here and here | Blazer: here | Shoes: old, similar

The All Occasion Dress

When my husband and I got married earlier this summer, I moved from NC to DC, and we moved in together. He graciously offered me the walk in closet. He volunteered it. I didn't even have to ask. I knew I married well!

So, I have the walk in closet and good thing because I filled it pretty quickly. Even after purging before and after the move. With the lack of closet space (a new phenomenon for me; I had closet space galore in NC as a single lady), I have to be careful about what I buy. This means, I'm always on the lookout for pieces that will do double and triple duty. This dress does just that. It's appropriate for work when paired with a cardigan or blazer and wedges. It's a great outdoor summer party dress without the cardigan and when you swap the heels for sandals. Lastly, I love it for a casual Friday or Saturday out running errands and/or brunching.

This dress is available in tall. I originally ordered it in tall, but found that it was a little too big. Unfortunately, JCrew doesn't offer too many pieces in Tall 0 (which normally isn't a problem for me). Tall sizes tend to run a little big: a Tall 2 is more like a Regular 4, but not quite. So, if the Tall size doesn't quite fit, I often size up in the Regular. It oftentimes (but not always) gives me the additional length I need. This dress is shorter than most of my work dresses, but not too short. And because it is shorter, it makes it more versatile outside the office.

May I share a tiny complaint with you? I'm so thankful that more and more retailers are offering Tall sizes and that those retailers are expanding their Tall departments. However, I really wish they'd offer Tall sizes without simultaneously making them BIG and TALL. Like, why is the same size in Tall any wider? It should be longer, the waist should be altered to fall at the appropriate place, the inseam should be longer, etc. But, I don't understand why there is an assumption that a tall woman is larger. And, if the stores are going to make, say for example, a size Tall 4 not only longer and proportionate for a tall woman, but wider and bigger, then they should offer the Talls in smaller sizes. Heck, if the regular clothing is available in an XXS, 000, and 00, I think it's ridiculous that the Tall sizes start in T2 and Small (especially when those are more likely to fit even a tall woman like a 4 or Medium).

Has anyone else also experienced this? OK, end rant. Thanks for listening! :)

The tip of the day is this: if the Tall doesn't fit you, try sizing up in the regular.

Dress: here | Cardigan: here | Necklace: here | Shoes: old, similar here

Summer is still in Full Swing

I hope everyone had a great weekend! Our wishes for cooler weather came true and we jumped on the chance to get outdoors so we took the dog and headed just outside the city to Great Falls. We got some good hiking in by lunch time when we decided we would make a quick trip to Chick-fil-A before heading home. Just so you know, I'm addicted to Chick-fil-A. I worked there throughout high school and it has to be my favorite fast food joint (Bojangles is a close second). But, there aren't any in the city near and easily accessible to us. So, we figured we'd stop by one on the way home for lunch. Well, what was supposed to be a quick detour turned into a scenic drive through Clarendon and Arlington, VA. We ended up at a Chick-fil-A in a food court. So, I ran in grabbed lunch and we enjoyed a picnic in the parking deck. It was delicious. Well worth the drive. 

Despite the cooler temperatures on Saturday, it warmed up Sunday and the temperatures will be rising into the high 80s and low 90s this week. Summer is definitely still in full swing. But, you wouldn't know that looking at retailers' new arrivals and window displays. Fall always seems to come this time of year in the clothing retail industry. I'm not ready for fall. Because as much as I love fall, it means winter is coming. I don't like winter. And this winter is probably going to be especially hard for me since it will be my first in the city. 

This dress is the epitome of summer office attire. It's colorful, patterned, and flows with the wind (as depicted in the photos above :)). While most of my work dresses are all-seasons appropriate if accompanied with tights and/or a scarf, I have to make the most of this dress during the summer which means I try to wear it frequently.  As summer winds down, I find myself wearing it more often in an effort to hold onto summer. So, I'm sure it will be on repeat for the next month.

Dress: old, similar here, and here | Blazer: here | Shoes: old, similar here | Necklace: old, similar here 

 

Tone on Tone

Sometimes I think I should have lived during the Mad Men era. Then I remember I probably wouldn't have fared well: I'm opinionated, career oriented, and a horrible housewife. But, I love 1950s inspired clothing. When I happened upon this dress, it caught my eye. The v-neck was a pleasant surprise, so many suiting dresses are round or boat neck which can get a little tight and constricting during the day (does anyone else have to remember to pull down their dress before sitting?!?). This neckline is definitely screaming for a statement necklace, but I don't currently own one that I love with it. Like I said previously, I need to expand my statement necklace collection.

 I couldn't make my mind up about the pleats. They definitely make the dress stand out. But, I was concerned it made the dress a little too Jacki O. I caught it on promotion and decided to give it a try. I'm so glad I decided to take a chance. The pleats drape exceptionally well, they're heavy and keep their shape well throughout the day with  minimal wrinkling on the back side. In fact, we took these pictures after I'd worn the dress all day.

Paired with this grey leopard print cardigan, I don't think it reads too 1950s housewife. What do you think? This dress does not come in tall, but as you can see, it hits just barely above my knee. So, no extra length necessary. I've considered having it hemmed just a little, but I'm not sure it's worth the trouble. I would recommend sizing down. I ordered my usual size and probably should have exchanged it, but I didn't. The reviews suggest it was also a hit with petite women who were willing to make necessary alterations. And, it comes in pink if you're more daring than me. 

Dress: here | Cardigan: old, similar here, and here | Shoes: old, similar here, here, and here

Power Dress

 

Some days, I like to keep it simple. Black and white is always an easy way to look polished and simultaneously stylish.

This is my power dress. It's comfortable, professional, and makes me feel confident. Sometimes I worry that my love affair with clothes is materialistic and a waste of time and money. I feel a bit guilty. But, then I remember that when I love what I'm wearing I feel good about the way I look and about myself so I'm better able to conquer my day. I hate arriving at work wearing an outfit that I'm less than pleased with because it leaves me distracted. Even worse is when I realize something I'm wearing isn't comfortable or doesn't lay right so I end up fidgeting with my clothing all day.

I think we all deserve to feel great and look great and clothes are a big part of that. If I can't wear my yoga pants and a tank top to work, this dress is the next best thing. It's not unique, but it fits me well, is very comfortable, and is versatile year-round. It also allows me to make a statement with my shoes.

Dress: old, similar here, here, and here | Shoes: here | Necklace: old, similar here, and here

Coral + Leopard

 

I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend! We beat the heat and caught our first movie in a really long time, Mission Impossible. It did not disappoint! We're hoping for some cooler weather sometime soon so we can go hiking. But, you won't hear me wishing summer away. I'll take the heat over cold weather any day! 

This week, I'll be showcasing my wardrobe staples: suiting dresses. They are the base of my work wear and I don't think it's possible to own too many! But, they can be a little boring. Which can be a good thing. It means they go well with blazers and cardigans and are appropriate for client meetings, the courtroom, and every day office attire.

This dress is one of my favorites, for several reasons. First, it has sleeves. The longer sleeves make it office appropriate without a blazer or cardigan. Which is nice, especially here in DC where it's been topping 95 degrees regularly. Second, it has a defined waist which I think is universally flattering, and lastly it has pockets. I also love the light grey color for summer because I think it pairs well with bright colors, but you'll also see me wear this dress in the winter with tights and a scarf.

Most days, I don't have to dress for court or client meetings. So, I like to add a little color or print or both to my work dresses. Here, I love mixing the coral and leopard print. If both are a bit too much for your workday, feel free to swap out the shoes for black or nude to tone down the look. While leopard is a neutral in the fashion world, the more senior partner may not think so.

If your office is a bit cooler and the elbow sleeves won't keep you warm enough during the day, pair it with a navy or black blazer. If you are looking to introduce even more interest, add a striped blazer like this one (I have one of Target's ponte blazers and they're amazingly comfortable, but I do recommend removing the shoulder pads).

Dress: old, but similar here, here and here | Shoes: old, but similar here | Necklace old, but similar here, and here| Purse: gift, but is now on sale here