circle up!

I love a circle skirt... they just make me want to twirl!  This particular skirt (styled for fall here) is potentially my longest running item of clothing in my closet save for my missing pinstripe wool pants from J.Crew (WHERE ARE YOU?  COME HOME!).  For such a bold print, it's surprisingly versatile!

The perfect solution to the "Casual Friday but Can't Wear Jeans" Conundrum!

I've had this blouse for quite awhile too... hailing back to my "First Suit Purchase" days... love, love, love high quality pieces like these that stand the test of time!  

Happy Chinese Lanterns!

 Sheer Peach Button-Down - Banana Republic

Cami - Nordstrom Intimates

Chinese Lantern Circle Skirt - French Connection

Gold "Reva" Flats - Tory Burch

Gold Figure-8 Earrings - gift

Gold Medallion Necklace - gift

Ivory & Gold Bangle - Banana Republic

you'll have to rip my cardigan from my dead, lifeless fingers

As you can see from my outfit choices this week, if you told me I could no longer wear cardigans to work, I'd slap you silly... I'm talking Stephen vs. Irene Real World Seattle Style here, folks. 

This was one of those mornings where I had in mind what I wanted to wear (dark turquoise rosette neck shell - pictured - with a pencil skirt and jacket).  Then the pencil skirt was no where to be found.  Nether were my favorite pinstripe pants.  So then I had to go with option 3 - black pants from BR that I love but are high-waters in anything but flats.  And I think flats look lame with a full, formal suit... Off goes the jacket in exchange for the cardigan.  

And THAT'S how we got to 3 LEC Heritage Cardigans in 4 days.  Wphew. 

"Heritage" Cardigan in Turquoise Sea - Land's End Canvas

Dark Turquoise Silk Rosette Neck Shell - Banana Republic

Black Pants - Banana Republic

Black Bow Flats - Jessica Simpson via Nordstrom

Gold Disc Earrings - Sonya Rene 

Gold Medallion Necklace - gift 

Note: For those of you have have asked about LEC's sizing, I did a post on EA (click here) extolling the virtues of LEC and including a little blip about sizing!  

Another Mad Men-Inspired Look!

This is the other flirty office frock in my arsenal... although I admit to preferring the other one as I find it to be more flattering.  But this one is adjustable and the material is slick (ie: When I spill my coffee down the front of me, it doesn't stain if I act fast!  Score!). 

The cami is pretty essential to this dress... Its one of those trixy minxes that appears conservative in the breasticle area until you sit down.... and then the front pleats pop open like a Jack-in-the-Box (a lesson I learned the hard way the first time I took this one for a spin).  

Khaki Colored Dress - Calvin Klein 

Black Lace Camisole - Banana Republic

Black Patent Loafer Pumps - Cole Haan

Black Satin Headband - Ann Taylor

Pearl Cluster Earrings - Etsy Seller Bridal Emunique

Gold Medallion Necklace - gift

Gold C Cuff Bracelet - Coach

Also... Get the scoop on my wardrobe for last weekend's wedding in South Carolina right now on EA!  

{Click here for the wedding recap}

{Click here for the wardrobe review}

doompa-dee-doo

It's quite possible that I've managed to dress myself as an Oompa Loompa today.  But what can I say... there was crockpot pot roast to prep and a 6 pound pony on GMA to ogle this morning!

Once again, I think I might be pushing it with the skirt length but my legs were missing the beach!  

Heritage Cardigan in "Bold Sun" - Land's End Canvas

Polka Dot Shell - J. Crew

Plum Silk Skirt - J. Crew

Nude "Happy" Pumps - Ann Klein

Micro Pave Ball Earrings - Banana Republic

Gold Medallion Necklace - gift 

fruit punch

Apologies for the lack of posting last week... I spent Thursday through Sunday in beach wear (and a bit of cocktail attire to boot!) in Pawley's Island, South Carolina!  A wonderful and whirlwind wedding weekend was had by all, and I'm afraid I've come back 112 lbs heavier from all that lowcountry shrimp-n-grits, oysters, and sweet tea vodka Tom Collins'!  Perhaps that's why my dowdy "Mrs. Doubtfire Skirt" made an appearance this morning...

At least there was an infusion of punchy color with my favorite cable knit shell and my fourth (but probably not final) LEC Heritage Cardigan in Cherry.  

Heritage Cardy in Cherry - Land's End Canvas

Orange Cable Knit Sweater Shell - Target

Brown "Mrs. Doubtfire" Skirt - Banana Republic

Patent Peeptoe Wedges - Banana Republic

Pearl Cluster Earrings - Etsy Seller Bridal Emunique

double trouble

Outfits from Tuesday and Wednesday (be forewarned, I'm not ecstatic about either of these... I'm off my mojo this week)....

Tuesday

Bottom Line:  This top looks better with jeans... it's too long to leave untucked with a suit skirt or pants and, while it looks better with a pencil skirt, the sweater material is thick and leaves a big line across your middle when tucked into to a more form-fitting skirt.  I tried to do the juxtaposing pleats thing here but... meh.

Horizontal Pleats Sweater - Banana Republic

Pleated Suit Skirt - Banana Republic

Black Patent Loafer-Pumps - Cole Haan

Gold Figure-8 Earrings - gift

Gold Medallion Necklace - gift

Gold C Bangle - Coach

Wednesday

Honestly, I am so fed up with my hair and ready for today's appointment that I don't really care what's currently clothing my person!  The cape cardigan is a little kooky but I think its fun in a different sort of way, while the addition of the skinny belt to the dress delineates my waist, ensuring that I don't look like a crazy blob of a cat lady.  

And Evs would like it made known that he HATES this headband.  With a fiery passion.  

Silver Silk Cardigan Cape - Banana Republic

Black Suit Dress - Ann Taylor

Nude "Happy" Pumps - Ann Klein 

Rosette Headband - Etsy Seller Vie Moderne

Micro Pave Ball Earrings - Banana Republic

Blush Metallic Skinny Belt - J. Crew

black & white medallion shirt dress

Another easy-peasy frock for work... BCBG makes the best poly/spandex knit wrap and shirt dresses - I always scour the outlets and sales racks for their tale-tell patterns!

I will say, since we've been chatting about appropriate professional dressing recently, this is probably as short of a skirt/dress that I would go sans opaque tights at the office.... And I probably wouldn't have worn it bare-legged at all in a law firm setting.

{styled last fall, in a slightly more formal office environment}

And you'll also note that the red shoes (OH MY GAWD! SHOOT HER NOW!) (!!!!!!!) are making an appearance today...  

I had some questions about particular shades of red.... I don't think it really matters so long as the shoes themselves aren't cheap-y looking (ahem).  Mine are quite tomato-y... so much so that they were the perfect Ketchup Shoes! 

I think the round-toe and relatively short, stacked, wooden heel make the Juliet Pumps (official J. Crew color is actually "tomato") appropriate for the office in every color... unless your office is uber-traditional.  

Black & White Medallion Print Shirt Dress - BCBG

Patent "Juliet" Pumps in Tomato - J.Crew

Black Satin Headband - Ann Taylor

Pearl Cluster Earrings - Etsy Seller Bridal Emunique

Gold Medallion Necklace - gift 

Black Belt - Banana Republic 

Q&A: Non-Wool Suits?

Thanks for all the positive responses to my last post!  One reader comment / question I wanted to address...

So, I'm an aspiring med student and spent this winter interviewing. I looked EVERYWHERE for wool suiting - and just didn't find much. Everyone talks about buying wool, and I am totally on board with this. But when the rubber hit the road, I couldn't find any that didn't look matronly on me or worked for having curves (I am a very hour-glass kind of girl).

J.Crew has wool suiting, but my local store carried none of it (only some weird cotton suit - who buys a cotton suit?!). Ann Taylor had it, but it was HORRIBLE. The sales associate even agreed. Banana Republic pants do not fit my junk in my trunk. And even Nordstrom didn't have any wool suits!

So what's a girl to do? I bought a very attractive synthetic fiber suit that I love, but I still wish it was wool. Thoughts on other places to look? Just suck it up and order several sizes/styles from J.Crew to find the best (I didn't have enough time to go that route this year, needed a suit just 3 weeks after I found out and I always need alterations, so I had to go with something that didn't need to be shipped. Thoughts welcome... 

Don't fret!  A wool-blend suit is ideal, but not a total necessity... I tend to say NO SYNTHETICS not because there aren't great, high-quality suits made of rayon / polyester, etc but because its easy for the first-time-suit-shopper to fall victim to one of the bad apples once they start skipping down Viscose Road.  Two of my favorite Nordstrom brands make lovely suits that contain a blend of synthetic fibers...

Classiques Entier 

(polyester / viscose rayon / linen / spandex)

Semantiks 

(viscose rayon / polyester / wool / spandex)

Elie Tahari also makes some lovely wool blend suits - slightly pricier, but wool! 

And if you like the J.Crew suiting (which is of very good quality, I hear - especially the Super 120s), go to your local store and have a salesperson order several options in different sizes for you - they'll ship straight to the store so you won't have to pay shipping costs and there's no obligation to purchase!  I do that all the time with merchandise that isn't available in my local store!  

Thoughts on Professional Garb

Edited to Add: Check out Corporette for great professional fashion tips for women all types of professional environments.

I don't usually present wardrobe diatribes... While always happy to offer up advice when asked, ITPitB is a daily diary of personal style - an anthropological study of one individual's closet, if you will.  Pretty simply said... love it or hate it, this is what I wear.  But a little article on Above the Law made a big stir this week, and having accidentally become an ancillary part of the backlash / response, I figured I'd throw my own two cents into the fray!

Read the full article here...

And responses here, here, and here.  {Uggg, Lipstick Application Pre-Photo-Taking officially beings NOW!}

I won't rehash the article or the responses since they are linked above, but it seems readers' largest gripe (both with the original ATL article as well as official and/or unspoken office wardrobe protocol) is the seemingly endless list of rules for female professional attire (attorneys specifically, but I think the concepts easily translate).  To an extent, I agree - there are a lot more rules for women than there are for men.  Of course the flip side of the coin is that men basically have zero options when it comes to business attire, with suit + dress shirt + tie being the standard uniform.  The biggest fashion hurdle most professional men face on a daily basis is trying to remember if black or brown shoes go with charcoal suits (the answer to this riddle being black, btw).  Women, on the other hand, have lots of options... 

• Skirt or pants?
• Flats or heels?
• Button-up or blouse? 
• Is a dress appropriate?  
• Do I have to wear a jacket? 
• Do I have to wear pantyhose? 
• Hair up or down?
• And what about jewelry? 

Personally, I love options!  I'd be bored to tears if the professional uniform for women consisted solely of a pant-suit and a button-down.  Yet because our work wardrobe isn't so clearly delineated, more and more "guidelines" start cropping up to combat the desire to push the boundaries too far.  And yes, there are other  "guidelines" - more like relics of sexism - that have no real modern purpose.   As a female attorney who adores fashion and looking stylish but also wants to present a capable and professional face to coworkers and clients, these are my thoughts on today's "guidelines," as well as my personal professional fashion rubric...**

**As you might imagine, the following will be most applicable to female attorneys, obvs. 

Interviews / Court

Credo #1: Keep It Simple & Conservative 

• Now is the time for your sparkling personality to show through... not your sparkling statement necklace. Wear a suit, a button-up or a blouse, and close-toed pumps in a neutral color (black, brown, navy, nude). 

• Your suit should be dark (black, brown, gray, navy), conservatively cut, and well-tailored.  Some people will tell you that women should be in skirts... (a) I think that's sexist bollucks, and (b) if you feel more comfortable and confident in pants, you'll perform better anyway.  I happen to prefer skirts, but I've interviewed (and been offered clerkships / jobs) and appeared in court (and prevailed on hearings) in both skirts and pants - lightning did not strike me dead (although, read below at Credo #2: Recognize Your Surroundings & Office Culture).  

• If I'm wearing a skirt to appear in court or to interview, I suck it up and put on the pantyhose (please, please, please no Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders "Suntan" Style - stick with sheer black or sheer nude). Sexist "guideline"?  Yes!  However, this is not a battle I wish to pick... I prefer being "An Attorney Who Is Employed And/Or Wins Her Points In Court, rather than "An Attorney Who Stood Up To The Man And Now Folds Sweaters At The GAP."  (See also Credo #4: You Chose This Profession, Remember?).  Maybe that makes me "part of the problem," but I don't lose sleep over wearing pantyhose for a couple of hours every so often.  

• Shoes... so begins "The Red Shoe Debate."  I own red patent pumps and I love them to pieces.  They have a relatively low heel (2.5 inches - I usually wear more like 3.5 - 4 inches) and a classic round toe. I wear them to work constantly, and it's possible I've worn them to court before.  No one's ever branded me with a Scarlet S, but... BUT.  Err on the side of caution in your most formal professional settings and stick with classic colors.  Shoes should also be polished (also note that patent is easier to keep looking sharp than regular leather or suede) - the shoe-shiner is not just for men!  You can chatter all you want about flats during interviews and in court, but I'm on Team Pump.  

• Jewelry should be subdued and classic.  People who tell you to remove your wedding rings might have some ground to stand on, but like those who shout "No pants suits for the ladies!," I disregard this advice.  I'm married and I wear a ring - I'm not going to pretend otherwise. {Caveat: Jury Trials... if you have a huge diamond, you might consider wearing your wedding band alone 'lest some misinformed juror peg you as a money-grubbing attorney.}  

• Color - I'm not afraid of it in formal business settings.  I embrace jewel tones and patterns (so long as they don't distract).  I think a pop of color or a pretty patterned blouse (or... GASP!... even a well-placed ruffle) can add to your presence and make you stand out.  However, if you're unsure, just play it safe for now... you can experiment once you have the job! 

• Hair should be neat.  I don't know who thinks ponytails are the work of Satan but apparently those people are out there... I wear ponytails, hair half back, chignons, hair down and straight, hair down and curled, headbands, and French braids alike and see no problem with any of these styles so long as they are polished and do not create a distraction. 

Everyday Office Attire / General Musings

Credo #2: Recognize Your Surroundings & Office Culture

• Who do you work for?  Big Law? Small firm? Non-Profit? Corporation?  My attire at my current non-profit job is a bit more relaxed than it was at my old firm (although, I had a lot of leeway with accessories and different outfit elements there as well).  Start with the dress code laid out in the manual and then look around you.  If your office's dress code is Business Attire and every other female attorney comes dressed in a formal suit on a daily basis, follow suit (ha! pun!).  Only you can make the determination on branching out with colored shoes, larger jewelry, non-suiting dresses, etc - use your best judgment and make an educated decision (See also Credo #3: Remove Head from Ass, then Clothe Yourself). 

• Where do you work? Regional trends are important considerations as well.  In Charleston, an attorney in a seersucker suit and saddle shoes fits right in.  In San Fransisco, visible, non-ear piercings might be a-okay.  {Yes, I realize I'm stereotyping, but I think you get my drift.}  I live in Texas... some years we wear shorts on Christmas Eve and come May through September, you're going to be sweating like a whore in church if you're wearing pantyhose on a daily basis.  Thus, I've never worn pantyhose in the summer unless its for an interview / court (and then those suckers peel right off the moment I get in the car).  

• Who will you be working with? Maybe the whispers by the coffee pot indicate that The Powers That Be don't care for women in pants.  Lamesauce?  Yes.  Pig-Headed?  Yes.  But that's your current reality - you can either suck it up and buy some skirts, rebel with pants and see how far your career progresses in that particular environment, or find a new job.  I'm not saying it's right - it isn't - but life's tough and there continues to be superiors (and judges), both male and female, who prefer women in skirts, or think hose are 100% required 100% of the time (See also Credo #4: You Chose This Profession, Remember?).  

Credo #3: Remove Head from Ass, then Clothe Yourself. 

• Do we really need to be told not to wear mini-skirts, hooker boots, and deep v-necks?  From some of the comments on the articles... Apparently so, but come on!  Purchase articles of clothing in the proper size (tailor them if necessary) and made of high-quality materials (suits in wool blends, shirts in cotton or silk / steer clear of high synthetic fiber content).  No visible bra straps and no gaping buttons.  

• Clients shell out big bucks for your services.  Would you pay someone wearing thigh-high boots $400 an hour?  Um, er, scratch that... Would you pay someone wearing thigh-high boots $400 an hour FOR LEGAL SERVICES?  Hell, I don't even trust the Starbucks barista to make my latte correctly if I can see visible pantyline! 

• You can be feminine without looking like a sexpot at the office.  I adore pencil skirts... although it appears that someone at the University of Chicago equates She Who Wears Pencil Skirts to She Who Dances Topless On Bars.  I think this is Shrew Talk.  Tasteful, well-fitting clothes that show a woman's natural curves will not result in office orgies (and suggesting that male colleagues will be tempted by the sight of a woman's bare arm or calf is poppycock).  

• Use your noodle and be prepared! Are you conducting a huge document review on site today? If so, you might find yourself lugging boxes down off of shelves and bending over to inspect items.  Perhaps today isn't the day to wear the pencil skirt and the platform heels... No one wants to be "The Girl Who Flashed Her Partner" for the rest of her career.  Or, is there a chance you might get called into a client meeting or asked to run something down to the courthouse?  Be sure you have an extra suit jacket in your office that can be thrown on over your outfit if you're caught by surprise and not dressed in a suit. 

Credo #4: You Chose This Profession, Remember?

•  Hey!  Ms. Bitches-A-Lot! You are the one who chose to enter into a profession that is traditionally conservative (and traditionally male-dominated).  If you want to wear this seasons' latest jeggings and boudoir shorts to work, you should have gone into PR or opened your own wine & paper shop (sigh). As one of my very favorite film lines so eloquently lays it out... "You can't ride two horses with one ass, Butterbean."  It's called Work, not Fashion Show Fun, and while I'm a huge advocate for finding ways to present your personal style appropriately at the office, at the end of the day, your job is to get results for your clients and your employers... not to be Alley McBeal. 

Thoughts? Questions? Concerns?  

favorite dress! favorite dress!

Yeah.... so.... I say that about a lot of dresses in my closet, but this is definitely my favorite Double Duty Dress!  I've sported this frock for rehearsal dinners (here), evenings out with Evs' superiors, parties hosted in our own home, plus to the office oodles of times (example / example).**  Bare-shouldered it's a fab, if somewhat conservative, cocktail dress / Add a cardigan and its TCB Time (Professional Style)! 

I love mixing up accessories with this dress... it works with brown, black, leopard, red, nude, or gold footwear - open-toed, pumps, or flats - and I've belted it with a wide brown belt as well as a skinny metallic blush-colored belt.  Today, I stuck with the "mixed media" chain + fabric belt that came with the dress, added a dusty amethyst cardigan, gold jewelry, and perhaps my favorite springtime pumps (with the ivory bangle to tie it all together!).  

{woah. big foot.}

I really need to start taking these photos after putting on lipstick (always save it for the car)... jeesh!  

Dusty Amethyst (my description - not their's!) "Jackie" Cardigan - J.Crew

Navy Ruffle Dress w/ Belt - Shoshana

Nude "Happy" Pumps - Anne Klein via Piperlime

Gold Headband - Target

Gold & Amethyst Feather Earrings - Kendra Scott via Gilt

Gold Medallion Necklace - gift

Ivory & Gold Cuff - Banana Republic 

** I should point out that the first example of this dress worn in a somewhat professional setting is circa my mini-break from legit gainful employment... So no, I wouldn't wear those platform shoes to my old or my current office.  

pleasing pleats

I think I tried every single non-matchy-suit jacket in my arsenal on this morning... and I'm none-too-pleased that this selection could use a good ironing... but, as it so often is the case, it'll just have to do!

I do like how the pleats on the front of the jacket mimic the sassy kick-pleats on the back of my pencil skirt (which, sadly, do not photograph with the crappy iPhone camera... but they're there... you'll just have to trust me on this).  

Chino Pleated Jacket - Banana Republic (forever ago)

Black Pencil Skirt - Michael by Michael Kors

Patent Serengeti "Juliet" Pumps - J.Crew

Black Satin Headband - Ann Taylor

Pearl Cluster Earrings - Etsy Seller Bridal Emunique

Sapphire Ring - 21st birthday gift 

Girly Office Wear

Wednesday, April 7

This is my Mad Men Dress... I feel very Betty Draper-esque whilst wearing it... as if I could reach under my desk come 2 p.m. (or, hell, 9:30 a.m.) and find a chilled martini shaker, just waiting for a couple of olives.

I also luuurve this print... I'd like to find a duo of wingback chairs covered in similar material... or perhaps a rug!  I do not luuurve my roots... seriously considering going darker again... 

Silk Printed Dress with Covered Belt - Milly

Black Flannel & Patent "Molly" Pumps - J.Crew

Pearl Cluster Earrings - Etsy Seller Bridal Emunique

Gold Medallion Necklace - gift 

Tuesday, April 8

I purchased this jacket on mega-sale after stalking Ann Taylor for months... Plus, I got the added bonus of using my 15% off birthday coupon!  I love half-jackets for the warmer Texas Springs and Summers, and... HELLO RUFFLES!  

I'm not sure how much I love the jacket with the pleated skirt, but I didn't have time to dig either of my pencils out of the dry cleaning bags this morning.  Also, I'm always hesitant to wear peach with black - fearing something Halloween-y might result... but I just don't have very many shells plain enough to go under a jacket with this much detail...  oh well!  

Wool Blend + Chiffon Ruffle Jacket - Ann Taylor

Peach Shell - Banana Republic

Pleated Wool Blend Skirt - Banana Republic

Patent Serengeti "Juliet" Pumps - J.Crew

Gold Flower Earrings - J.Crew

Gold Medallion Necklace - gift

Gold Flower Cocktail Ring - J.Crew