A monthly feature that offers stylist tips so you can have the most fabulous, fashionable work wardrobe around!
We all know the stress of finding gifts at the last minute during the holidays. And I’m sure many of you (like me) are familiar with the desire to find the perfect present but take so long deciding you end up buying Starbucks cards in mass quantities. Finding a thoughtful and unique gift for co-workers can be especially difficult because many old standbys are ruled out (i.e. booze).
If you’re still struggling with what to get your work BFF or office Secret Santa, consider a couple of these stylish gift ideas:
For your happy hour buddy:
If you have a colleague that you frequently get post-5 cocktails with, snatch up a glitzy clutch she can bring to your next visit to the local watering hole. For a nice bag at a good price, check out TJ Maxx or Nordstrom Rack.
In lieu of the SBUX card:
It’s no secret that Seattleites love their coffee. It’s so well-known, in fact, many of us are likely to get multiple Starbucks cards during the holidays. For a standout gift for the office coffee-lover, consider a personalized mug.
Fun desk accessories:
If you’re stuck in a dreary cubicle, help your office mate brighten up her desk space with a fun accessory. Anthropolgie always has an incredibly adorable selection, including the doggy mail holder below.
Do you have a go-to gift for co-workers?
A monthly feature that offers stylist tips so you can have the most fabulous, fashionable work wardrobe around!
It’s no secret that fall has officially arrived in Seattle! In the last couple of days, I’ve pulled out my cozy jackets and boots and said goodbye to strappy sandals and short hemlines. While the dropping temperatures always make me a bit sad, I love being able to dive into the fall fashion trends I’ve been fawning over since spring. Here are a few I’m looking forward to this season:
Unexpected Styling of Desert Boots
Desert boots aren’t necessarily a new item, but their level of versatility has certainly expanded. Instead of saving them for the weekend and just wearing with jeans, I love the idea of adding a bit of ruggedness to an otherwise classy piece, like a pencil skirt. The outfit below is perfect for a cozy and casual day at the office.
A monthly feature that offers stylist tips so you can have the most fabulous, fashionable work wardrobe around!
Labor Day weekend is one of the best times of year. Why you ask? In addition to nearly perfect weather, this weekend is a shopping gold mine for the fashion-obsessed. Stores typically have all of their new fall merchandise in PLUS offer some amazing discounts. Here is where I’ll be shopping this weekend…
Target
If you want to score a few affordable pieces to update your fall wardrobe, Target is the place to start. Right now they have an amazing selection of blazers, skirts, dresses and more. And psst…the Northgate location is open until midnight (except on Sunday). What better way to spend a weekend night, right? 
Nordstrom Rack
The annual Clear the Racks sale is on now through Tuesday, September 3rd. If you’re looking for designer duds at a discount, this is the place you want to be. Eat a hearty breakfast and come with lots of patience, though, because with great merchandise and huge savings you’ll likely be dealing with long lines of other gals hunting for their fashion must-haves, too.
Local Boutiques
If you’re looking for something truly unique and if fighting the masses isn’t really your scene, don’t forget to check out your favorite local boutiques. Often they have pieces the big department stores don’t carry, offering you standout pieces for your wardrobe. One of my favorites is Clementine Shoes in West Seattle, who currently has an amazing selection of boots and booties. Quick tip: Buy boots early! If you wait too long, you risk your size selling out.
Where will you be shopping this weekend?
Images 1, 2, 3
Full disclosure: Clementines Shoes is one of the boutiques I work with, but I really do adore their selection of shoes!
A monthly feature that offers stylist tips so you can have the most fabulous, fashionable work wardrobe around!
I don’t know about all of you lovely ladies, but I am definitely ready for the weekend and some weekend wear! Here are a few fun stylish ideas so you can look effortlessly chic Friday night to Sunday afternoon!
A day at the farmer’s market:
Weekend days are the perfect time to let your alter egos shine. During the summer, that’s usually a flower child for me. There ensues the perfect outfit for romping around town shopping, running errands or at the farmer’s market. A maxi skirt is easy breezy and you can’t go wrong pairing a bright one with a printed top. If you’re petite and feel like a maxi skirt might overwhelm your small frame, try this season’s high-low skirt instead.
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A monthly feature that offers stylist tips so you can have the most fabulous, fashionable work wardrobe around!
Color blocking has been a huge trend over the past year, and one I don’t foresee disappearing any time soon! If you haven’t tried your hand at mixing and matching bright colors yet, the coming summer months are the perfect time to experiment. Here are a few ideas to help get you started:
Tame
If several bright colors in one outfit are too much for your first time color blocking, start off wearing two colors in the same family, one dark and one very pale, and pair with neutral shoes and accessories.
Bold
If you’re ready to take your summer wardrobe to the next level, start dreaming up color combinations for your separates! A few of my favorite color combos are Blue + Orange; Teal + Purple; Red + Pink. If you’re unsure of what would look great on you, go to the hardware store (yes, like Home Depot), and head over to the paint aisle. Take home a handful of swatches and start matching!
Stylist’s tip: To keep your outfit cohesive when mixing colors, choose jackets and accessories in the same color family as one of your separates. Note the yellow shoes and cream blazer blend with the orange top.
Adventurous
Get ready to stand out! There’s no blending in when wearing bright colors from head to toe. The key here is keeping all of your pieces in the same tone, either cool or warm. And wearing tailored pieces like this ensure the focus of your outfit is the colors, translating into sharp instead of scattered.
Obviously the bolder you get with color combinations, the less work appropriate your outfit might become. If your office is conservative, wear the tame color combos and get more adventurous for happy hour and girl’s night out.
Happy Styling!
A monthly feature that offers stylist tips so you can have the most fabulous, fashionable work wardrobe around!
This streak of amazingly beautiful weather has inspired me to share a few of my go-to items for a warm weather work wardrobe. This summer, I’ll be wearing…
#1: A Safari Style Shirt Dress
I absolutely love a cotton shirt dress for summer! The fabric breaths so well, and wearing it in a neutral color means you can rock all of your bright summer accessories! Pair this with red flats, a chunky belt and a few bangles for an easy, breezy summer outfit.
A monthly feature that offers stylist tips so you can have the most fabulous, fashionable work wardrobe around!
It’s so easy to get stuck in a rut when we’re looking at the same clothes day in, day out. Avoid the inclination to wear the same old outfits, and get inspired by your favorite bloggers! Here are the fashionistas I check out when I’m feeling a little blah…
Cupcakes and Cashmere
This blogger is super adorable and has a fresh take on everything from fashion to home decor and baking.
As you can see from the photo above, her outfits are chic with a twist. I love the idea of pairing a jean jacket and fun heels with a simple white dress. It creates a totally unique look that transitions seamlessly from day to night!
A monthly feature that offers stylist tips so you can have the most fabulous, fashionable work wardrobe around!
Earlier this week, a few of the GPH’ers and I had the pleasure of attending Seattle Magazine’s The Forecast fashion show where they showed us that style and function can certainly go hand-in-hand, a balance I think all Seattleites are striving for (especially this time of year!).
During spring, layering is crucial. As the weather goes from torrential down pour to sunshine within the same hour, us Seattleites need to be prepared, first and foremost, with a fashionable and weatherproof jacket. Here are my top picks from the local designers and retailers featured at the show:
A monthly feature that offers stylist tips so you can have the most fabulous, fashionable work wardrobe around!
These last few days of sunshine have me itching to wear all the amazing spring styles I’ve been fawning over since Fashion Week! Here are my favorite (work-appropriate) trends that I’ll be rocking with a heavy coat until temperatures start to warm up!
Peplum:
I love this silhouette! It’s so girly and feminine, and the structured shape lends a polished piece that’s perfect for the office. Snag a peplum top to wear with straight skirts and pants, or a great dress in a bright color, like this one.
A monthly feature that offers stylist tips so you can have the most fabulous, fashionable work wardrobe around!
No one wants to wear the same boring outfit day after day, yet it’s so easy (especially with work clothes!) to get stuck in a rut. Once you have your work wardrobe basics down (see last month’s post for more advice on that), start having fun with your office attire by adding in a few pieces of flair.
If you’re Parisian Chic…
Add in a classic boucle jacket. Made famous by Coco Chanel herself, this jacket is the epitome of European chic. With a sleek silhouette and clean lines, it’s an ideal addition to any work wardrobe. Check out this jacket from TopShop for a swoon-worthy version that won’t break the bank.
You can also easily incorporate Parisian chic into your work wardrobe with an elegant shift dress and tie-neck blouses (tip: vintage stores are a great place to find unique blouses at a great price!).
Rock out…
You rock at work everyday, so why not let your clothes show it?! It’s hard not to let your inner Joan Jett out when wearing “look at me” trousers like this red pair.
Other rock star staples include ankle boots, leather jackets and studded accessories.
Release your inner bombshell…
The high-waisted pencil skirt should be at the center of every bombshell’s wardrobe. A leopard print or brightly colored version offers just enough sex appeal for the office and adds a bit of flirtiness to simple staples like button ups or short sleeved sweaters. J. Crew currently offers a great option, perfect for the office.
Other pieces you can add to your bombshell wardrobe include high-waisted trousers, vintage-inspired pleated skirts and form-fitting, structured dresses. To keep this this style work appropriate, make sure dresses and skirts are knee-length and necklines aren’t too low.
As always, happy styling!
