Having a great neutral skirt in your basic work wardrobe is important. Notice we didn’t say black, this skirt should be in a solid color that will mix and match into your existing closet. Some colors to consider are tan, brown, navy, charcoal, and of course black.  We have discussed in other blog posts the best skirts to fit your figure.  You should also consider the types of tops you have on hand when you pick out your basic. To get you inspired we have put together some outfits on Polyvore.  Then we went shopping and found you the best basic skirts to add to your wardrobe today.

Banana Republic Women: Wool-blend textured pencil skirt – Carob chip $90, available in regular, petite, and tall sizes.
Old Navy Women: Women’s Essential Pencil Skirt – New Black $29.50 available in regular, petite, and tall sizes plus also in grey and dark brown.

At Dillard’s Alex Marie “Jamie” Skirt, $89 and Westbound Gored Skirt in Navy, Chocolate, or Black for $30

For Plus size options we turned to Lane Bryant.
Belt trimmed skirt, $49.50

High-low hem skirt, $49.50

Any of these skirts will make a beautiful update to your work wardrobe. Stay tuned to Workchic.com to learn about creating a solid foundation in your closet to build remarkable outfits around.

The full line will be available on Workchic in a few weeks, but today we just had to give you a sneak peak. We have been doing some shopping ourselves and found some very Workchic looks to share with you. These next outfits are right from our own shopping carts!

I fell in love with this skirt and knit top combination! Pair it with a beaded bracelet and black tote to finish the look. I pulled a pair of peep toe pumps out of my closet too.

Ribbon Detail Tee, $39.50

Bold Box-Pleat Skirt, Reg $59.50, currently on sale for $29.75
Bead and Metal Stretch Bracelet, $22.50
Grommet Hobo, $59.50

This black and white skirt is on Melissa’s radar. She will look chic wearing it tucked in and accessorized with a belt. Finish the look with a sophisticated necklace and clustered earrings.

Applique Afternoon Skirt, reg $69.50 on sale for $34.75
Bib Pleat Button Front Shirt, reg $44.50 on sale for $22.25
Obi Belt, $34.50
Sculptural Bead Pendant Necklace, $22.50
Beaded Cluster Earrings, $19.50

Here are a few more styles we love, with a little more color, from TheLimited.com. They put together a collection accentuated with painterly prints in fall tones called Art Works.  Some of our favorite styles include the Fan Detail Top, Ribbon Zipper Tank Dress, and Pleated Ruffle Neck Top.

We are excited to have The Limited on board and hope you are too. Leave a comment and let us know what you think.

As you know Workchic has a long list of stores we turn to for office appropriate fashion. We also have a few favorites for tall sizes that you may or may not know about.

New York and Company has you covered from Suits to Denim.  We love this cotton blend jacket in white for simple yet sophisticated spring and summer looks. Dress it up for a more professional style with Sharkskin trousers. For a casual day at the office, pair it with dark rinse denim.  Shop now to take advantage of sales and discounts. These jeans are currently only $14.99!

We love the tops Banana Republic adds to their tall collections. Both of these styles would look very chic underneath that white jacket.  One of our favorite items is their dresses. Length is so important, especially when heading to the office.  Banana Republic make sure you will look appropriate and chic with these dresses. 

Eddie Bauer also has a great selection and offers many of their styles in Tall sizes.  We love this Stretch Poplin Skirt. It comes in two different print and color options and will last you right through Spring and Summer.  This Roll-Sleeve Safari Dress will be best suited for more casual days, but would also be perfect for the company picnic.  Eddie Bauer also offers tops by fit. So not only can you find your perfect length, you can chose from shaped, classic, or easy fit. We selected this Fine-Gauge Cardigan in a classic fit, perfect for chilly mornings and offices.

Check out these stores for great Spring fashions and Sales going on now!  They will have you set for any office environment. For Business Professional start with Banana Republic then fill in with New York and Company. For Business Casual start with New York and Company and fill in with either of the other two. You can can also check out Old Navy for more business casual and casual looks. If your office is casual head straight to Eddie Bauer to get started.  Have fun shopping and let us know what you find or if you have a favorite store.

It’s Spring and we love picking up fun floral skirts and dresses this season. They liven up our work wardrobes and make our whole attitude brighter.  Just think of the compliments you’ll get strolling down the halls.  We want to make sure you are getting the right looks and compliments.  This means your skirt length needs to be appropriate, but you know that. What we really want to discuss is the right skirt for your figure.  The key body shapes are Apple, Pear, boyish, and hourglass.  Keep reading to find your shape and the right Spring Skirt for you.

Apple: A-line

Apple Shape=Aline – by Workchic on Polyvore.com
The belt on this Aline skirt will make you waist feel smaller. So tuck in the skirt and keep the accessories simple. This Ikat skirt and vintage inspired blouse should get all the attention. Here are two more Spring Skirts with soft A-line silhouettes.

Pear: Full Skirt

Pear Shape=Full Skirt – by Workchic on Polyvore.com
Wear a full skirt with a tailored jacket. The soft lines of the skirt will soften the hip and the broader shoulder on the jacket will balance your shape. Plus a jacket makes business casual easy.  A knit top can be worn out, but it should not go past the waistband on the dress.  Ballet flats will keep you comfortable during long days at the office.  We found more full skirts at Tobi.com.

Boyish: Petal or Tulip

Boyish Figure=Petal Skirt – by Workchic on Polyvore.com
Petal and Tulip skirts add volume. This makes them nice for anyone with slender hips.  Tuck in a tailored blouse and add a short sleeve cardigan to complete a polished business casual look. We love the rocker edge these accessories have to contrast the soft folds of the petal skirt and sleeves on the cardigan. Finish the look with Peep Toe pumps and show off that pedicure that’s been hiding all winter. These next to options are from shopbop.com and Dillard’s.

Hourglass: Pencil

Hourglass=Pencil Skirt – by Workchic on Polyvore.com
Pencil skirts look chic on hourglass figures. Wear the belt around the waist over the cardigan to accentuate your shape. These pops of orange bring out the sophisticated peacock pattern in the skirt.  Here are some more pencil skirts for Spring from New York and Company.

Follow these suggestions and look chic in business casual this Spring. Now go shopping!

We are always mentioning the basics you have in your work wardrobe. If you missed it, we even wrote a whole blog series on the subject.  You know you need to have them, but do you know why? We wanted to show you some ways to wear these wardrobe staples that aren’t basic at all!  Let’s take a look at the white blouse.

You know you can simply wear this blouse with your basic trousers or with denim on Fridays.  Accessorize it with a necklace as above or wear it alone. But, what else do you do with it? How do you wear this blouse to the office with other pieces?  Would you ever consider wearing it with a printed skirt?

Tuck the blouse into the skirt and wear it high waisted.  Just make sure the length is appropriate for your office environment.  Finish off the look with a wide belt and necklace. The necklace should be worn under the top not over, so leave a button or two open without being overly revealing.  If your feeling uncomfortable wear a white cami underneath the blouse.  Finish the look with black peep toe pumps.
Narcissus-Print Pleated Skirt

Barse “Nouveau” Teardrop Necklace

Gianni Bini Leather Belt

J Vincent Pump

What about layering it under a scoop neck dress? Make sure the blouse you choose is fitted through the body and sleeve. This option ties back to our Colorblocking post from Thursday and our Wear Spring Dresses Now and Later post from a few weeks ago. Be sure to read those articles for even more ideas.

The nice feature on this dress is the tie back empire waist which will help keep the layered look clean and tailored.  Try wearing your hair up or pulled back with larger earrings.  Finish up this fresh Spring look with comfortable ballet flats.
London Times Colorblock Dress

Lucky Brand Teardrop Hoop Earrings

MICHAEL Michael Kors “Astor” Large Drawstring Satchel

Gianni Bini “Rylann” Flat

While we’re sure you know you can layer a blouse underneath a sweater or vest in the winter months, when the weather is a little warmer or uncertain you can also layer a blouse underneath a t-shirt or light printed top.

Of course you can wear this look with jeans for a casual office, but for business casual follow this outfit through with all of our instructions. With a lighter more flowy top like this, tuck in the blouse. If you chose a more casual t-shirt you can leave the shirt tails hanging down. Accessorize with a chic and distinctive watch. This look is also a great opportunity to start wearing your new Sandals.
Karen Kane Floral-Print Mesh Top

ABS by Allen Schwartz Wide-Leg Pants

Emporio Armani Leather-Strap Watch

Antonio Melani “Daniela” Sandals

You can wear your basics in more ways then you think. Try adding these looks from Dillard’s into your work wardrobe and build your outfits around that basic white blouse.  For more professional offices add a blazer to the first two looks.  As we said the last look can be worn with denim for casual offices.  Otherwise you should have some pretty solid Business Casual looks lined up.  So Start Shopping!

Not only did Thakoon show a Fall collection with ensembles you could wear to the office, he also currently has a line available at Target.  Let’s take a look at what styles we can take from Runway to Reality.

His prints had a sophisticated edge we love for more conservative environments.  Shown in shades of blue and black they had a geometric quality without going tribal or ethnic as we have seen in many collections this fall.  We also prefer the black tights for work opposed to the overwhelming amount of leggings we have seen this season.

Soft neutrals were shown along side pops of color, like this stunning pleated Kelly green blouse.

You know we love printed dresses, but we were also impressed with the luxurious and professional quality of his solid dresses.  The tan style is the perfect update to a shirt dress with simple details along the placket. While this black dress may not be the most fashion forward design, it’s the perfect look for any work wardrobe.  The LBD goes from office hours to dinner dates with ease.

Capture the style of his unique prints for Spring either in a full skirt or a blouse with pleated details along the neckline.  Either item is pure business casual style.  Add a cardigan in gray for chilly offices or until Spring temps finally emerge.

Pop your work wardrobe with a little color in this pleated short sleeve blouse.  The details are similar to the Kelly Green style shown on the runway.  You can score this style from Target for only $8.04 in Sunny Yellow or $11.49 in White!  Combine the shirt dress and LBD in this office ready style.  Accessorize with your favorite beaded necklace or printed scarf.

Special thanks to Style.com for their excellent runway coverage.  Extra special thanks to Thakoon Panichgul for collaborating with Target to create a line affordable for everyone.  No one should have a problem updating their work wardrobes for Spring with these pieces. 

We are enjoying NY Fashion Week as much as the next person.  The only down side, designer duds are pricey!  So, we are taking a Fashion Week Break and putting together a chic outfit for under $100.

City Style Chevron Stripe Tee, $19.95
ELLE Tulip Skirt, $29.99
Dream Catcher Necklace, $6.99
Pleated Knot Flats, $18.99
Woven Satchel, $19.99

Thanks for taking a break with us, hope you like the Workchic look!

 

A couple of weeks ago we showed you how to Break your Color Routine and mix up your work wardrobe.  We hope you took our advice and bought some colors you do not usually gravitate towards.  Today we are going to push you even further out of your comfort zone.  Trust us, it’s time!  We are going to get you ready for Spring by picking out prints perfect for your office.

Business Office?  Layer prints like these under your blazer.  Tuck the top in and add a belt to keep the look polished.

Business Casual Office?  Have some fun.  Embrace color.  If your office is more conservative add a cardigan to mellow the print.  Look for tailored shirts or full skirts instead of flowy chiffon tops.

Casual Office or just getting ready for Casual Friday?  All bets are off, well almost.  Pair our suggestions with dark wash denim and ballet flats to keep the look pulled together, casual, and comfortable.  You do want to look casual chic after all.

Hopefully this goes without saying, but if your closet is filled with red, picking up a red print does not count as diversification!  Try blue or a neutral top with punches of color.  We purposely did not pick the boldest and brightest prints.  You still have a couple months before those should be added to your closet (don’t worry we’ll remind you).  Right now, just try and break your color routine while keeping it Workchic!

We are nearing the end of January.  While time flies, the cold weather and wardrobe of sweaters seems to drag.  Our goal today is to spruce up your Wardrobe for less than $100.  We want to you feel like you have a weeks worth of new clothing without spending your entire weeks or months paycheck.  We have identified 5 categories, necklaces, sweater, skirt, blouse, and shoes, by adding one of these pieces into your outfit, the whole thing will feel new.  Don’t believe we can achieve that for under $100?  Take a look.

Wearing a beaded necklace over a solid sweater, makes the sweater slide into the background and the necklaces becomes everyone’s focal point.  You will get so many compliments on your new jewels you’ll forget you have been wearing that sweater for the last 3 months.  Pick up this one up for only $6.99.  Also comes in a silver and teal version.

This sweater knit top with geometric details looks like two shirts in one with it’s chiffon sleeves and satin bow at the collar.  Would you believe it’s only $21.49?

This blouse will take you right through Spring, but make your outfit feel fresh today.  Throw a cardigan on over it if your office is a little chilly.  On sale for $19.99.

Ebony and Grey skirt by Thakoon for Target is effortlessly chic.  Add this to your work wardrobe for $26.99.

Sometimes all an outfit needs is a new pair of shoes.  This tuxedo style, $19.99, can be worn any day of the week with black pants or add some kick to your casual Friday style with dark denim.

You said it couldn’t be done.  Not only did we accomplish a week’s worth of work wardrobe updates, we came in under $100.  Wait for it… your grand total is $95.45.  So, what are you waitting for?  Start shopping!!!

It is now ten weeks on the job for our friend Mallory.  She revealed all of her insecurities being at a new job from wardrobe issues to getting along with co-workers.  This week she decided to turn her focus to her best friend, Andrea.  Here is what she wrote below:

“Since all of my past blogs have been about me and my experience at my new job , I thought this week I should focus on how other people who are just starting out in the workplace are figuring out how to dress for their new jobs. This week, I want to focus on my best friend, Andrea. Andrea is a paralegal who works in downtown Manhattan at a large law firm. Her work attire is very different from mine because her office is all business attire, which consists of having a wardrobe of  pantsuits and skirts.  She had a good start to building her wardrobe by wearing her skirt and pantsuit and pairing them with different shirts and sweaters.  It created new outfits for the week without spending alot of money.   Now she has been at the job for a few months and is trying her best not to wear the same outfit constantly! Although I am learning and I am still not an expert in this department by any means.. I told her the first thing I could think of…go to workchic.com! She was really able to get many ideas because the website is specifically designed to make it easy to choose clothing for yourself and your work situation. It was great to help her as much as I could because she really appreciated new ideas and my input on how she could look and feel better at work.”

(photo of Andrea courtesy of Mallory)

Do you have ideas on how to stretch your wardrobe with spending a dime and still look workchic?  We would love to hear about it!