Ah, Paris. In her own Barbie-like way, she has summed it up perfectly. Life is too short! If we have to get up each morning and head to our little cube and stare at a computer screen each and every day, we may as well look FANTASTIC while doing it! And make it fun. I would bet that if you make an effort to dress creatively each day, you will reap the benefits: people will notice, they will throw compliments your way, and you will have more fun and confidence. Try it for a week and see what happens.
Start with a frilly blouse under layers that are already in your closet, or a colored shoe with that gray dress you never wear (because you think gray is so boring). Check out the Jil Sander cream dress with orange shoes at the left for a great example of this look. These items don’t have to be one hit wonders. You should look for pieces that will take you to work, but that could be paired with jeans or cardigans for the weekend.
To aid you in this effort, I have found a few inspiration pieces that can punch up a simple black suit or typical work outfit. These items will work with dressy as well as casual outfits, as long as you mix them correctly. The striped blouse with the ruffle down the front would look great with jeans tucked into tall boots. Throw on a long cardigan sweater and you are looking tall, classy, and cool. If you are into a more feminine print, check out the black and white floral print top from Velvet by Graham & Spencer. You can find this blouse on piperlime.com for $141. It may sound like a splurge, but this top will be a staple in your outfit lineup, and will take you from day to night with ease. Don’t forget your red shoes!!
An unexpected pop of color will always make an outfit more interesting. Try this pink skirt from J Crew (on sale!) with a gray or camel colored top for an elegant look. J Crew also has a cashmere shell in gray that would work perfectly. And every girl should own at least one piece of cashmere. It is cool enough to start wearing in early fall and feels fabulously luxurious.
On the days where you just don’t have the fashion inspiration to come up with that perfect outfit, become armed with a one-piece wonder. A simple jacket can put the finishing touch on your look and create instant chic. Take a look at the bright blue trench coat from The Limited. This color looks great on all skin tones and will work over most outfits.
Use accent pieces as fillers for all of the gray, black, and brown that is already in your closet. You will punch up your wardrobe and give it some new life with just a couple of pieces. Much less pain to the wallet than buying a new fall wardrobe! Let me know if you have great pieces like this that you’d like to share.
