With the autumn season quickly approaching it is a great time to start your search for suits.  Here are 3 different styles below.

This gorgeous deep green hue is perfect for fall – Ruffle Collar Jacket & Pencil Skirt

Camel is being hailed as the new black for Fall 2010 and as you can see from the Fall ad campaign from Chloé  major design houses are showcasing the trend.  In my mind what is not to love about this classic color palette?  I especially love the use of chambray denim and camel.  It is a perfect combination for those business casual days at the office when you feel you want to put the emphasis on casual.

With a little help from Polyvore, I found some classic combinations of this timeless color duo that is just in time for the Fall season. 

Camel Set by Workchic featuring Lauren by Ralph Lauren tops

Lauren by Ralph Lauren ‘Rosana’ Tie Neck Shirt
$80 - nordstrom.com
More Lauren by Ralph Lauren tops »

Denim Chambray Shirtdress
$250 - saksfifthavenue.com
More Tory Burch clothing »

Camel Wool Melton
$695 - mulberry.com
More clothing »

Memoirs of Fashion: Camel Coats for Fall 2009
memoirsoffashion.blogspot.com
More coats »

camel double breasted pants suit
harpersbazaar.com
More clothing »

El rey camel | Galería de fotos 21 de 34 | Vogue
vogue.es


What do you think of this trend?  Can camel really become the new black?   Leave us a comment below!

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! 

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!

I love this Antonio Melani “Wade” Dress for a hot summer day.  The sleeveless sheath style may be basic in nature but the pleated squareneck bodice adds the right amount of detail.  Make it more business or corporate by pairing it with a black or white blazer and black heels.   Plus you can’t beat the price of $95.40!  What would you wear this dress with to make it more appropriate for a corporate office environment?  We love to hear your thoughts so leave us a comment below.

We know the temps are rising and the last thing you may want to wear is a suit.  Instead of the traditional pantsuit why not try wearing a sheath dress with a jacket?  It is professional, sophisticated, and most of all summer friendly.   We found the Sleek Scoop Sheath Dress and Rosette Applique Jacket at the Limited.   The combo costs $200 which can be easily mixed and matched with your basics in your wardrobe. 

What do you think of the sheath dress and jacket combo?   Anything you would add?

When shopping for your next suit for work, really think about how you can take that suit and wear it with other pieces in your wardrobe.  We love this Nine West Suit, Jacket and Pants with Printed Camisole for only $119.99!  You get the sleek tailoring of a suit and a bright feminine camisole underneath for colorful contrast. Pair the jacket with a white skirt or why not pair the pants with a white jacket.  The options are endless!  You can easily have five days of work outfits just with this suit combo alone!

Summer is just around the corner, the temperatures are rising and the need for layers is diminishing. So how do you keep your professional image when wearing light summer clothes?  Despite the office dress code, many business casual offices tend to get more causal as the heat waves roll in. With a few simple Workchic suggestions you can keep up your professional image and still enjoy the summer trends like raffia espadrilles with capris and shirt dresses with peep toe wedges.

This punchy pink shirtdress looks chic in polished cotton and is cool during the summer months. We piled on some bangles and more casual accessories like a loose tie dye scarf. We also went with a casual alternative to a tote bag, and selected a fringe cross-body or messenger style. The outfit is completed with a low heel, wrapped peep toe style wedge. It’s a versatile summer shoe that can be dressed up or dressed down depending on the occasion.

Since the weather is nice, save those dry clean only wool trousers for cooler temps or big meeting days. Instead turn to cotton capris. For a business casual workplace slim cropped navy pants are a great transitional piece. Pair them with open toe platform espadrilles. Then layer a collarless jacket over a linen blend tunic. We love how this one has crochet trim along the neckline. Finish the Workchic look with Banana Republic Disco bangles and Perseus earring that pull the coral color from the blouse.

Our top tips to achieving the perfect Workchic summer style.
1- Look for cotton fabrics with a little sheen
2- Layer ¾ or short sleeve jackets or sleeveless blouses
3- Wear shirt or wrap dresses over light camis
4- Shop for summer sandals with a tailored look
5- Play with Accessories
6- Add summery details such as embroidery or crochet trim

Remember, you should always dress for the job you want. As people around the office start to dress more casual, look to your boss or senior management in and around your office. Follow their lead when deciding what to wear and keep your professional image intact.  For more tips on how to look professional, feminine and chic visit Workchic.com and take the stress out of getting dressed for work!

Charm your business clients with our Workchic suit of the week!  We love how this Ruffle Collar Jacket and Corset Seam Pencil skirt can transition from season to season with ease.  We love pairing a bright green draped top with flutter sleeves  a black and white lightweight scarf, and skinny flower belt to make this suit anything but boring.  We also found a Woven Black Perfect for Work tote and Black Peep Toe heels that have a unique texture and stitching that fit perfectly with this outfit! Your clients will surely be impressed!

Stay tuned for next week’s suit of the week! 

Tweed just doesn’t have to be for Winter. We love how this  Cap Sleeve Tie Jacket and Dart Waistband Pencil Skirt is fun and fresh for Spring with a touch of blue that can easily be paired with other pieces in your work wardrobe. We added the Radiating Ruffle Tank in Yellow to play up the contrasting colors in the jacket.  TheTwist Tear Hoops are simple enough that they won’t compete with the tweed pattern.  We love the dark nude color in the Antonio Melani “Bree” Heels which adds just the right amount of sophistication to the suit.  We love this look.  We would love to hear what you would add.  Post your comment below or email us at info@workchic.com!

Stay tuned for more of our Workchic Suit of the Week Series!