Shirt (J.Crew) | Jeans (Gap) | Shoes (Christian Louboutin) | Bag (Chanel)
We made it through Monday and honestly I’m surprised. 😂 Thank god I got myself thinking about “finding the good” over the weekend, because boy did I need it yesterday. When things get super crazy at work and with life it is easy to get comfortable. Wake up a little later than normal (because you worked late the night before and you deserve it), wear leggings and an oversized sweater to work (because nobody will ever notice when you’re sitting at your desk all day) and push off passion projects (because you just have SO many other things on your plate). This can especially be hard when you work somewhere where all three of these things are borderline acceptable.
When you are working well over a 40 hour week (whether it be in a corporate job, as a blogger, freelancer, etc.), it easy to ‘fall off the wagon.’ The wagon of professionalism! I remember when I first started at my current job (it is my first job out of college), I would wear Lilly shifts to work, J.Crew pencil skirts (ON SALE!), and button-ups almost every day! For context, I work in an extremely relaxed environment and I was undoubtably overdressed, but in a way it made me feel more confident and more ‘grown-up’ (does that sound ridiculous?).
To be honest, I’m not willing to go back to those days of dressing up prim and proper every day. I work far later hours than I used to and I would 100% be uncomfortable and go out of my mind. However, I have been trying to focus more on finding that balance. The balance of comfort in knowing my surroundings and professionalism that will push me to greater heights. Yesterday (with this mantra in mind), I woke up at 6 AM (I can’t even remember the last time I woke up this early!), got dressed in something casual yet put-together and got to work by 7:45 AM! For most of you, this is probably a breeze, but I was so proud of myself and hope to keep doing this more often.
I think the outfit that I’m sharing today strikes the balance and I hope you enjoy!
What I’m Wearing
Shirt (J.Crew) | Jeans (Gap) | Shoes (Christian Louboutin) | Bag (Chanel)
I don’t think there is a better outfit to reflect casual professionalism. If you work in the advertising/PR/communications industry, take notes! Most of the time I would pair my black ripped jeans with a basic tee-shirt and maybe a pair of sneakers, but this ensemble helps me get so much more out of them. Pairing a more tailored top with a pair of destroyed jeans kind reminds me of a mullet– serious on the top, party on the bottom (😂). A great way to balance out the casual look of ripped jeans.
Let’s take a second and talk about this top. This is one that I’ve had my eye on since the Fall and was so excited when it went on sale! It is so feminine, versatile and practical for everyday use. I can already see myself wearing it with skirts, jeans, and pixie pants throughout next Fall and Winter. I also LOVE the velvet bows that will pair perfectly with my 2018 holiday style (I actually can’t believe I’m already thinking of this!). Truth be told, I haven’t been a huge fan of button-ups lately. They either don’t fit me right (buttons pulling across my chest) or make me look like a straight-up man. This one is tailored in all of the right places and fit pretty comfortably. I would highly recommend!
This outfit is so simple and even easier to recreate! The one must are the black pumps. I don’t care where they are from, but they must be comfortable because you don’t want anything to keep you from being on your feet at work. Similar to how the button-down makes your ripped jeans look way more appropriate, the pumps turn your jeans it to boss lady pants. Okay, so I know it might seem hard to believe, but it IS that simple to dress casual yet professional. Would love to hear you own tips in the comments!
