On a tight budget this summer? Looking to add a little life to your work wardrobe?

We find one of the easiest ways to add life to your work wardrobe on a budget is by coordinating new pieces with your basics. Here are a couple great examples of pieces you can use to update your existing basics for Summer.

Keep your black pencil skirt Business Casual and add a feminine printed blouse for some personal style. Finish the look with your black pumps and a complimentary bracelet. Free as a Bird Blouse and Oh Pear Bracelet are both available at Modcloth.com.

Wear your basic black pants or khaki trousers with a new paisley printed cotton cardigan. The mix of materials is hot this season, cardigan has a woven front and knit back. Complete your business casual look with t-strap wedges in fuchsia.

Polish this Gap Pleated Floral Skirt by adding your basic white blouse or a simple tee. Finish with a statement necklace.

With a few new pieces you can easily create fresh looks for the summer. Happy Shopping!

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Jennifer Lynn Diana
@Workchic_Jenn
Jennifer Lynn Diana

Black and White punctuated with bold Blue, you know I couldn’t pass by this organically printed and draped blouse. I’ll start by admitting this look may not fly in all offices. But if your workplace is more contemporary or leans toward the casual side of business casual, you can pull off this top. Simply pair it with straight leg black trousers and sleek black heels or even ballet flats. You may also want to layer a demi-cami underneath, to avoid any issues as the neckline inevitably shifts.

While your first thought may not be Business Casual, I immediately fell in love with this top and set out to make it Workchic.  So turn to those basics and create a chic look for yourself!

PS: Robert Rodriguez Draped Print Silk Top is currently on sale.

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Jennifer Lynn Diana
@Workchic_Jenn
Jennifer Lynn Diana

Today through Sunday save at New York & Company. Receive 30% Off Any Purchase With Code 2027 – Shop Now!  They have new Workchic styles we love for Spring.

On a casual day in the office the Eastside Shirtdress is the perfect solution for mixing casual and professional style.

For business casual style this Spring, try a Sleeveless Boyfriend Jacket. We love that this piece is belted. For added interest swap out the attached belt for a style that fits your personality. We found a Wide Turnlock Belt that will also add an unexpected touch of color.

Ruffled blouses are still important for Spring. These two sleeveless styles will layer under your favorite blazers without adding unnecessary bulk. Both Yellow Dots Blouse and Thoughtful Blue Printed Blouse are $36.95.

Spring is just around the corner and you can start purchasing updates to your work wardrobe now. Today through Sunday, February 28th, shop New York & Company and receive 30% Off Any Purchase With Code 2027 – Shop Now and Save!

Everywhere you turn, plaid shirts are making a come back. Buffalo style flannels are topping the list, but plaids in all shapes and sizes are resurfacing. How can you translate this look into your fall work wardrobe? We looked for styles with more feminine silhouettes and recommend layering so they are not the focal point of your look.

Some styles like Charlotte Russe Plaid Ruffle Blouse or Banana Republic Women: Long-sleeve plaid ruffle shirt – Carob chip will look great on there own.  You can work these in with your denim on casual days or dress them up with a skirt for business casual.

For a more sophisticated take on plaid try  Women: Cap-sleeve printed top – Sidewalk gray or Jessica Howard Belted Dress. Each of these styles still clearly have a plaid pattern but the overall effect is more subtle.

When it comes to layering you have two choices. Either make a plaid jacket the focal point with something simple underneath or use a cardigan to play down a bold plaid shirt. Portrait-Collar Plaid Jacket will get all the attention over simple black trousers. A Mike & Chris Joplin Plaid Button Down Shirt with Tie will layer nicely under a Women: Italian merino cardigan – Dark blue. Either options will leave you looking Workchic!

You can embrace plaid within your work wardrobe. We hope this encourages you take the plunge.  If you have questions about incorporating a trend into your work wardrobe, email us info@workchic.com.

Tops and blouses are a fast way to update your work wardrobe with immediate and recognizable impact.  Here we selected some styles by size and office type.  It’s amazing what a blouse can do!

Petite Office Tops by Workchic featuring Dorothy Perkins

If you have a petite frame and are looking for a unique piece to add to your work wardrobe, keep the details smaller.  For a casual office we chose a neutral shade, yes olive is a neutral, and let the embroidery be the focal point. In a business casual office we selected a bold cobalt blue with subtle ruffles along the placket. For business we chose a printed blouse then layered on a black jacket to tone down the effect.  Finish you business and business casual looks with a black A-line skirt and neutral heels. These heels, the bracelet, and earrings are selected to go with all three looks. Now you can see how versatile a blouse really can be.

Plus Size Work Blouses by Workchic featuring Old Navy

We chose bold prints to update your work wardrobe if you shop plus sizes.  Pops of color show style in a casual office, while a more geometric design is ideal in a business office. For business casual we played with animal print in a tie-waist cardigan. Here you have black ballet flats with a woven strap across the toe, a leather tote, and bronze pearls to complete these three office looks.

Workchic Blouses by Workchic featuring Christian Louboutin shoes

For standard sizes we played with ivory blouses and black details. For a casual office we went back to bohemian embroidery and styling but paired it with a denim skirt and sleek black wedges to keep the effect chic and modern. A lacy cardigan is perfect for business casual, while a tie neck blouse commands attention in ivory with black placket and tie. Wear it under a charcoal suit with the wedges and lace inspired earrings. Take this look right to your desk with a pretty black and white desk tray.

As you can see a blouse can makeover your entire look. We even kept the same accessories for each office environment. Keep this in mind when you are shopping.  Many office have different dress codes on different days of the week. If you plan your outfits you can multi-purpose your accessories for each style. Have fun shopping!

We met Krissie McMenamin, a NYC blogger with amazing Workchic style, through Twitter.  We were so impressed by the way she infuses her personal style into a conservative and corporate dress code that we had to share her looks with you.  For those of you that feel business casual is boring or unflattering, take a page from Krissie’s book and visit her site, What Would Krissie Wear? Not only does she create amazing looks she does it on a tight budget! We asked her to share some of her favorite outfits with us, tell us how she creates them, and then pick out a few pieces from Workchic.com so you can Steal her Style!

Isn’t she chic! We were happy to talk with Krissie during the summer months when you can really see her style stand out.  She called the first outfit Pretty in Pink and she sure is. Capped sleeve mock neck is conservative yet still summery. The white pencil skirt continues this seasonal feeling while the belt detail showcases her style without jeopardizing any professionalism.  In the second outfit she plays with greens. This is where we relearn the lesson it doesn’t have to match it just all has to go. There is no mistaking that these shades of greens play well together. Anchoring them in a neutral trouser helps the feminine blouse take the spotlight.  We asked her a few questions so you can understand how she gets inspired to create these looks.

1- Describe your business casual style and tell us what you feel makes it unique.
My business casual style involves layering colors and patterns, adding blasts of bright colors or unique jewelry. I try to vary the structure and cut of my outfit one day to the next, some days highlighting my waist with a belt, other days my legs with a slimming pair of pants or a just-above-the-knee skirt. The idea is to choose an outfit that features one part of the body at a time so that you look professional but also feminine. I say one of the biggest factors that makes my style so unique is that I do it for little money, which is especially relevant today.

2- You have a knack for putting together stylish outfits on a budget. If money was no object where would you shop?
I’m so used to looking for a bargain, I’m not sure I could stop! But if I had an unlimited budget, I’d try to support up-and-coming designers who have really interesting, funky, fun lines and the small boutique stores you can find all over New York City.

3- Most of us would prefer to wear our blue jeans to the office. Do you have any personal advice on how important it is to dress to impress?
As professional women, it’s especially important for us to dress well in the office. There have been several articles written on this topic lately (including one in the Wall Street Journal) and many people have argued that women should pay more attention to doing good work and less to what they’re wearing. But guess what? What you wear and how you look and present yourself are all about building your image and making a lasting impression on your peers, your boss, management etc. Of course you should wow them with your performance but it’s only going to help you and your career in the long run if you also wow them with how you present yourself on a daily basis.

We couldn’t have said it better ourselves! As women we have many more options on how to dress for work then men. This allows us to express ourselves. Krissie does this everyday and it only makes her stand out from her peers as she continues to produce examplory work.  Ready to challenge yourself and Steal her Style? Use these pieces to get started.

Krissie says: “There is lots to choose from on the Workchic site in terms of clothes, accessories, jewelry, etc. I stuck to the basics, and of course the more affordable basics.”

“The black Rampage Belted Jacket is such a staple for summer and I picked two skirts and several blouses to pair it with. The black pencil skirt is a must have because it’s so versatile and I love the gathering in the tan skirt – perfect for tucking and belting. Which brings me to my two belt selections. The gold is for a bit classier look and the woven a bit more casual but I think either could go with almost any combination of blouses. I added the gold textured bracelet to play off either belts and the two turquoise necklaces to brighten up one of the more black and white outfits or that grayish jacket. I like that the necklaces sort of match too, so you may be able to double up on them, as well as pair them with the woven scarf… perhaps worn as a belt?”

To see more of Krissie’s stylish looks be sure to visit her site, What Would Krissie Wear?

Last week we asked our twitter friends for requests about dressing for the office. This one made us laugh and we just knew we had to address it.

“Would love to see what you do with white pants. I look like a sailor every time!”

It’s funny, but so often we talk about the fabric or construction of white pants to make them work appropriate. What about the styling? Well we utilized the outfits section of our site to better answer this questions. Here you can see some looks depending on if you are dressing for a casual or businesss casual office. 

BUSINESS CASUAL OFFICE

These three business casual outfits will have you looking chic and not sailor for the office. Soft feminine blouses do the trick withe these styles. Plus playing with fun prints and strappy sandals helps too. Shop our outfits to reel in these looks for Summer: Printed Blouse – Grey Blazer – Blue Blouse

CASUAL OFFICE

Back in the middle of Spring we started getting excited about white pants and put these looks together for a casual office. Avoiding Navy, Red, and stripes is a great start to maintaining a non-sailor look. We like the idea of adding jackets to casual white pants to make the looks more professional. Soft feminine florals are always nice in the summer. Capture these looks yourself by shopping our outfits: Taupe Short Slv Jacket – Casual Pink Blouse – Max Studio Casual

We hope these looks will help you feel sophisticated and professional in your white pants. If you are really up for a challenge, try this white suit from Banana Republic.  Good Luck putting your looks together!

If you have questions about keep your look Workchic, send them to us: info@workchic.com. We love answering your questions!

We received a question from one of our readers who is interviewing for a new job. She aced her first interview and is now being called in for a second. Her question is:

“I only have one suit and I already wore it to my first interview. What do I wear for this one?”

This happens often. Since business suits are no longer the normal attire for most industries, it’s common for women to only have one suit in their wardrobe. Hopefully you have selected a basic suit that you will get the most use out of. With that said, if you will be working in a company or industry that requires business professional attire, now is the time to invest in that second suit. Since this is not the case for Michelle, we are going share some easy ways to keep your look professional while utilizing part of your existing suit.

Remember you have already been to the offices and you know what the dress code is. This will help you better dress for the environment but you should still take your look up a level. If you are going in for a second interview you will probably be meeting with your potential boss’s boss. Generally the person in this position will dress to meet her authority. Make sure you dress accordingly.

Trade in your basic bottoms for a skirt with a sophisticated print. This should be something tonal and in colors that compliment your suit jacket. This Women: Cotton floral-print full skirt – Unbleached white will look nice with khaki and white suit jackets. Chaps Paisley Pleated Skirt at Kohl’s will be perfect with a black suit jacket. Full and A-line skirts are the most universally flattering, but pencil skirts can also look very professional. If you have a brown jacket, try this Antonio Melani “Lissa” Skirt.

If the office is more casual you can opt to trade your jacket for a blouse and cardigan combo. Both of the styles we selected from Banana Republic have a structured jacket feeling. This silk printed blouse will keep the professional feeling and look nice under either the grey or brown cardigan.

Either of these updates will breathe fresh life into your outfit while maintaining your professional appearance. If your not comfortable veering from a more traditional look with a full suit then swap out your accessories and select a blouse in a completely different hue or try a print.  We have many blouses selected for a business office that will update your look. 

Hopefully this will give you a little added confidence to land that job! 

We’d love to hear how you make changes to your interview outfits for different positions. If you’d like to be featured in a new series about how to dress for an interview, email us info@workchic.com. You can also send any work style questions to that address.  Getting ready for work should be the easiest part of your day, we want to help you make your effortless looks professional, feminine, and chic everyday! 

Stores are flooded with Spring products, you have been gazing at pictures in magazines, and reading your favorite blogs for Spring purchase inspiration.  Your work wardrobe feels bleak compared to all of these intriguing possibilities but you don’t want to spend your entire paycheck Springing things up.  We have a $100 solution for you.  These next five products, one for each day of the week, will add a little Spring to your closet without breaking the bank.

Floral Printed Blouse from Kohl’s comes with a belt, available in three different shades, and only $19.99.  This top is perfect for business casual with black or charcoal dress pants. 

Light Teal Dress from Old Navy is soft and feminine for Spring.  We prefer this style for more casual offices and it will be a nice addition to your Casual Friday options.  Worn with heels and dark tights it will take on a more professional image.  At only $14.99 you will get your money’s worth out of this easy Spring and Summer dress.

Office appropriate sandals available in Black or Brown.  Not only are they under $40, they are from Naturalizer so you know they will be comfortable all Spring and Summer long.

A new office accessory might be an unexpected choice, but think about all those meeting you need to take notes in.  Wouldn’t you prefer something feminine compared to that boring legal pad? This 6×9 professional notebook, adds a little color and pattern without being childish.  Pick it up for $9.49.

That leaves us with $16.84 for some new Spring accessories.  Since they fit in our budget we’re giving you two.  Necklace from Payless can be worn as one long piece or doubled depending on your blouse.  It’s only $9.99, so we are also recommending this beaded and braided bracelet from Charlotte Russe for $4. 

So now you don’t have to wait any longer, you can embrace Spring with color, print, and accessories for under $100.  Let’s get shopping!