I can’t fathom wearing a long sleeve blazer in the weather we are experiencing in New York City.  So I began my search  for some short sleeve blazers that would give me that professional edge of a suit jacket yet still keep me cool in the home stretch of these hot summer days.  I also plan on getting use out of them in the cooler months by layering a cotton or jersey top underneath!  I decided to go to my favorite sale destination in July- The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale!

This Tweed Short Sleeve Blazer on the left is from Classiques Entier at Nordstrom.  It can be dressed down when worn with denim and a T-shirt underneath.  A ruffled collar and hem add some unexpected femininity to this Alberto Makali khaki jacket giving it the versatility one needs in their work wardrobe.  Not only do I love this Nanette Lepore Jacket being worn as part of a suit but I could see myself also pairing it with a black a-line skirt or charcoal grey wide leg trousers.  I also can’t resist the deep berry color!   Another fave of mine is also by Nanette Lepore.  Instead of a button closure there is a toggle closure which gives this short sleeve jacket just enough edge yet still remains professional for the office.   I love this jacket when it is paired with the matching pants but I would definitely wear it with my black pencil skirt or over my black sheath dress for that perfect business casual look!

These blazers show that you can still be stylish and chic in this heat! Stay tuned every Monday for our Business Casual find of the week!

I love how the end of July means one thing-Summer sales!   With Fall inventory stocking the shelves at local boutiques, department stores, and even online retailers that means great deals on summer shoes that can easily carryover into the Fall season!

I scoured the web and found the following at Piperlime .  The best thing about them? They all are under $ 50!  Hurry don’t miss out!  From left to right:

Ciao Bella $39.99 (multiple colors),  Hive and Honey $29.99, Restricted flats $19.99, Unisa snakeskin pumps $29.99, Pink Studio $34.99, Seychelles $49.99.

Happy Shopping!  Have a great weekend from Workchic.com!

One of our favorite sites Shopbop shows how this Parisian line called Equipment successfully brings back the blouse for the Fall season.  We love how they are classic and can be worn dressed up or down.  Here are some of our faves for the Fall!

What can’t you wait to wear this Fall?  Leave us a comment below! 

I seem to be gravitating towards the spice shades of deep rust, brown, orange, and yellow lately.  Is it a longing wish for Fall which ultimately means cooler temperatures?   Is it possible I am getting tired from wearing the always trustworthy shade of black?  I know it has been reaching near 100 degrees on a daily basis in steamy New York City but Black is the last shade I want to wear these days.  Check out some of my Workchic finds I found while exploring Anthropologie the other day that helped satisfy my new color craving!

The Brettones Blouse is a flowy silhouette to have in your wardrobe.  It can be worn with a pencil skirt or dark denim on casual fridays at the office.   There is something about this Floreat Blouse that also caught my eye.  I am sure it is the color palette but I am also drawn to the whimiscal and vintage inspired print.   Last but not least, I have to admit that I have been coveting this necklace.  It would go perfectly with my brown wrap dress or yes with my many black dresses hanging in the closet!  I can also see it with a white shirt and dark denim for the weekend or casual days at the office. 

    

Have you found any Workchic finds that you want to share with us?  Just leave us a comment or email us at info@workchic.com! 

If you ever woke up for work late or just in a plain state of panic- the last thing you want to think about is your makeup.  YouTube and internet sensation, Lauren Luke, shows how you can apply a classic look in a matter of minutes.  It doesn’t appear overdone and still looks as though you put some effort into your appearance that morning!  Let us know what you think!

I never thought I would write an A-line skirt as being a weekend find but shopping for business casual clothing has been well a bit frustrating!  I have not been able to find a basic black A-line skirt.  Shouldn’t be hard to find right? Wrong! Even my go-to workchic fave stores & boutiques seem to have been caught up in the pleated, printed and frilly miniskirt trend this season. Nothing is wrong with them but if you work in a more business or business casual environment or even if you   are like myself that has reached the late 30′s age bracket..the maxidress is more of a viable option to wear than a miniskirt!

On the hunt for that perfect skirt, I wandered into a J. Crew store in New York City this past weekend and spotted a classic A-Line or Fluted skirt silhoutette in basic black nonetheless!    For $118, this Fluted style in 120s Australian Merino wool will be a staple item to add to my basics in my work wardrobe.   I can dress it up or down with a cardigan or blazer for those last minute business meetings.  I found a button up blouse that is lightweight enough to wear now and wear into the fall.   What do you think?

We would love to hear where you shop for basics for your work wardrobe! Seen any A-line skirts out there?  Leave us a comment or email us at info@workchic.com! 

Across the country many of us have been experiencing this heat wave with little to no relief.  Just running out to lunch can leave you uncomfortable for hours. So how are you dressing to stay comfortable and still look Workchic?

Here are a few of our top suggestions for a business casual office.

1- Cotton Dresses
They are an easy way to keep your look Workchic without overheating in the summer temps.

2- Capris paired with a tunic.
By selecting slim fit capris you can wear a looser top and still look Workchic. Keep to natural fabrics for ultimate coolness.

3- Sheer Cardigans
When you think of cardigans the words hot and winter may pop into your mind; but they are perfect this time of year. Light weight sheer cardigans will fight off the chill of over air conditioned offices. Plus they easily slip off before you head outside.

These pieces should keep you comfortable and professional throughout the summer. Especially if we have another one of these heat waves. Some other pieces to try for the office are sandals, skirts, and light weight blouses. Layer these in with fun prints and your tried and true basics to achieve an effortless summer style.

If you have tips to stay Workchic and cool this summer, please share a comment below.

 

We are always looking for a stylish bargain so who better to turn to than Jennifer who owns the website The Looks for Less. Web developer by day, fashion blogger by night-Jennifer covers everything from styling your favorite dress to create a variety of unique looks, DIY projects, and of course celebrity and designer looks for less. Every post is infused with a bit of her personal style, which ranges from contemporary to preppy to rock-star glamour.   In fact she sent us some of her business casual & casual looks for the office.

We are seriously in love with her colorblock heels.  More on those later but here is a close-up:

We just had to ask her more about The Looks for Less and the inspiration behind the outfits above.  Keep reading below!

WC: What inspired these outfits?

JL: I work in a really casual work place. Well, I am a web developer that gets to hide in a basement office and do not correspond with the public on a regular basis. So, I would have to say that every work day is casual Friday for me. This is the perk of working on the bottom floor; that and you get to play your music a little louder than your coworkers.

The shoes were the main focus of this outfit. They were sent to me courtesy of a British invasion street-style website called Next Direct. I wanted to show two looks with these beautiful pumps – one casual Friday look and another a bit dressier. To work, I would probably pair the studded dress with black tights.

WC: Are there any celebs outfits that you try to mirror their look for less?

JL:My favorite celeb style icon was Rihanna for as long as I can remember; however, it’s not easy to wear studded outfits on the streets of Florida, haha. So most recently I have fallen in love with the oh-so-wearable Rachel Bilson. I can’t find a picture of her that I don’t love! She is always wearing head-to-toe high fashion labels, but in such an approachable way in a style that is all her own. LOVE!

WC: How do you shop for work clothes when you are on a tight budget?

JL: One of my favorite ways of extending my wardrobe on a budget is working with what I have already. In fact, I recently hosted a 1 Dress, 4 Ways contest on my site ( http://www.thelooksforless.com/2009/12/02/help-me-choose-a-winner-1-dress-4-ways-contest/ ) and the options that my readers put together with one dress were endless. You can take a sweater or top and wear it over your dress so that the bottom looks like a skirt. Or, you can wear a skirt over the bottom of the dress so that you have a completely different outfit. A black dress is a work essential that can be worn alone or styled in so many different ways.

WC: What do you splurge on?

JL: Most girls are addicted to shoes and handbags… I, am addicted to jackets. I think jackets transform an outfit like no other piece of apparel of accessory can. You can throw on a t-shirt and jeans and dress it up or down with the right jacket. From street style to tuxedo, I have a growing collection of jackets in my closet. I love all styles and colors, but in particular, I have way too many black jackets and my favorite is a military inspired button down that I picked up from Forever 21.

Other than jacket splurges, I spend a bit more than I should at the Mac makeup counter! Their prices aren’t terribly expensive, but I have to have one of everything they offer, so it all adds up.

For more info on Jennifer visit her at the following:

http://twitter.com/thelooksforless

http://facebook.com/thelooksforless

Thanks Jennifer for participating in our July Steal Her Style segment!

We always love a fresh new pair of shoes especially if they are on sale. We checked out some of our favorite shops to find Workchic sandals on sale for summer.

 

Vince Camuto Darla T-straps have a professional feel in a summer sandal. They are currently available for $89.99.

 

 

Arturo Chiang Hummel peep-toe espadrilles have a charming print for casual days in the office. Pick them up for $59.99.

 

 

Get pretty in pink with Biviel BV2332 ankle strap sandals. They are $79.99 and business casual chic.

 

 

Flat sandals are generally more casual, but Kelsi Dagger Monaco have enough detail in the ruffled ribbon accent to make them Workchic approved. They are $69.99 in beige and $59.99 in black.

 

 

Wear these chic summer sandals with dresses, skirts, and all your favorite Workchic outfits this summer.