these rules were made to be broken

The weather out today was so beautiful, I couldn't help but take advantage of it by dressing in happy pastels! When people think of pastels, they usually think light blue, a silky lavender, or maybe a pale yellow. Easter colors, basically. This pale, pastel green is so fresh, and the soft ruffles complement the color. The cardigan is made of a light, silky knit material, so it was comfortable and not too bulky, leading to a polished office look. When buying a cardigan for the office, make sure to check the fabric to make sure that it's not scratchy and that it doesn't pill easily (those annoying little furballs that crop up on some cardigans ... yes, I know the cardigan might look GREAT in the store, but I've seen one girl's mustard-yellow cardigan end up in little wool balls all across her black dress. Unless you're okay with carrying around a lintroller at all times, stay away!)

I knew that, if paired with other complicated pieces, the ruffles on the cardigan could be a bit overpowering and frilly, so I went for a simple and crisp rest of the outfit with a white pencil skirt and white tank top. Dressing monochromatically also makes you look taller. It presents a cohesiveness and elongation based on the repeating colors. You can simulate this effect by just throwing a cardigan over a full shift dress or, in my case today, wearing a simple skirt and matching tank top or T-shirt in the same color.

I paired this outfit with a pair of pale pink pointy-toed kitten heels. Because this pencil skirt is just a little bit on the shorter side, I didn't want heels that were too high. I usually say that the skirt should not be more than one inch above the knees, but there can be some give. For example, if you're short, you can get away with a bit of a higher hemline, as sometimes skirts that hit exactly at the knees look a bit dowdy on you. For taller girls, on the other hand, sometimes even an inch above the knees is too short. Because your basically have more physical leg that is showing because you're taller to begin with (damn you), be very mindful of your hemline, and it's best to stick as close to the knees as possible.

There can be some give and take with the shoe pairings, as well - for instance, in the case of my outfit today, my skirt was a bit on the shorter side, so I offset it with smaller heels. If I had a skirt that hit a bit lower (right at the knees), I might have opted for higher heels. I usually say 2-3 inches is an appropriate height for the workplace, maybe 3.5 inches. However, as always, read the signals from your own office. In my office, for example, I've seen many a women who have sported the 4-inch stiletto in a tasteful way. I even bought a pair of 4-inch heels for myself (!). So, while I used to hold steadfastly to the 3.5-inch-and-below-only rule, my perceptions are changing based on what I've seen to work for others in my office setting. I think that, as long as you wear them like a businesswoman and not a stripper, you can get away with it. This is achieved by being especially conscious of not pairing it with skirts that are slightly shorter (even by a centimeter!) or tight clothing. I *do* hold steadfastly to the 4-inch rule, though ... any heels that are more than 4 inches belongs in the Red Light District, not Wall Street.

Cardigan: Ann Taylor | Skirt: Banana Republic | Tank top: Banana Republic | Kitten Heels: Cole Haan

Bet on the Trifecta

Today, my office took us out for a day at the races - so of course I had to take advantage of this dress-up opportunity! I've had this dress for a while, and I've been waiting for just the perfect moment to debut it. Racetracks are all about classic fits, fresh colors, and, most importantly, a great hat. While today's normal horserace-goers don't exactly deck themselves out to the extent of My Fair Lady, the girls decided to go all-out on this occasion.

I went with this floral print dress with a high collar and an A-Line skirt. This dress actually hit me below the knees originally, so I had it altered to raise the hemline just slightly. I am in love with the print of this dress - I actually bought it because it reminds of a dress from the movie An Education, which is one of my favorite movies of all time. In it, Jenny (Carey Mulligan) is wooed by an older man, David (Peter Sarsgaard) in a beautiful and tastefully done plotline. The movie presents a thought-provoking commentary about the value of an education as opposed to a life of carefree frivolity. When I saw this dress in the store, it reminded me specifically of the instance when Jenny and David go to Paris, and this dress is, incidentally, in the still chosen as the promotional cover of the film. Here's a visual.

This dress came with a matching belt in the same print, but I decided to go with a classic brown leather belt to let it pop against the colored print of the dress. Finally, I didn't have a hat on me, but I did have this headband with a mini hat delicately sitting atop:

I found this headband in a vintage shop in the shopping district of Amsterdam early last summer. I am obsessed with headbands, so I knew I just had to have it, despite the fact that I didn't foresee any instance in which I could reasonably wear it without looking totally ridiculous. But, the opportunity will always come around sooner or later! This headband and a set of pearls completed my look for a day at the races.

Dress: Talbots | Belt: Hand-me-down | Headband: vintage (found in Amsterdam)

Snow White

Another neutral-tone outfit! This is one of my favorite dresses because it's both elegant and comfortable. It has a beautiful tulle overlay to the ribboning at the top, making for an interesting neckline without being revealing or extravagant. The dress itself is a darker tan color, almost a faded metallic gray-brown (does that exist?). Because it was a darker shade with some highlights at the neckline and the waistline with the ribboning, I was able to pair it with a lighter neutral cardigan. The different variations on the same theme provide for a cohesive ensemble. I also could have paired with this dress the navy cardigan from two posts prior, with the solid navy offsetting the calm neutral of the dress. However, by keeping it to earthy colors, I was able to make the outfit pop with one key accessory. This accessory could be anything, really - special earrings or maybe a bright bracelet (in this instance, I wouldn't recommend a complicated necklace, just because the neckline is already pretty intricate). In my case, I went with a bright red headband. It's understated enough that it goes with the simple cut of the dress and the cardigan, but the bright pop of color adds freshness. Additionally, the dress itself (and the ribboning) has some very subtle red undertones, and this headband is able to play it up. I ultimately paired it with my reddish-brown metallic J. Crew flats that I've worn in many previous posts (not pictured here) for what was an extremely hassle-free outfit!

Dress: AnnTaylor Loft | Cardigan: AnnTaylor Loft | Headband: Express

Easy A-Line

I love the shape of this A-Line skirt, which is narrower at the top and then flares out at the bottom. The dip-dye coloring paired with the slightly high waist makes for a dramatic effect and a very feminine silhouette. Think of those little figurines that distinguish the ladies' room from the gentlemen's with the flared-out skirt. The figurines fail to factor in gravity, but it's a pretty close portrayal of the shape the A-Line skirt provides. The length, too, is perfect for office purposes, just grazing the knees.

The A-Line skirt is an interesting comparison with the pencil skirt. The pencil skirt is snug throughout, and it is seen as a staple of women's business attire. It is also the skirt of choice for women's suits. The biggest problem I see with women and pencil skirts is fit. The skirt should just hug your curves lightly - the worst is when a pencil skirt is just too snug. I won't elaborate further than saying that is is unpleasant for all, including the wearer. Don't be afraid to buy a size larger than you normally would if the fit is better; after all, you are the only one who will see the size printed on the tag, but everyone will see how well (or not well) it fits you. Buying a size that is too small for you- even if the numerical size is what you usually get - will only highlight how ill-fitting is that size. Also note that a lot of stores have different sizing schemes - don't be discouraged if you suddenly "jump" a couple of sizes when you shop at a new store. The size that I purchase at different stores can range from 4-6 different sizes. As long as you feel great, you're going to look great, so don't worry about what size is printed on the label. Oh, and if you shop at European stores (ie., Mango, Zara, etc.) .... Europeans are really skinny. Just a heads-up.

In contrast with the pencil skirt, the A-Line skirt is much more free-flowing. It's that skirt that we all think about when we're young girls, where we'll twirl and the wind will catch it and flare it out, Sound-of-Music-style. Maybe that's just me. But it is much more relaxed than the pencil skirt, and has a fun kind of "swish" when you walk in it. I wouldn't recommend an A-Line skirt for a skirt suit set, but such a skirt on its own is perfectly appropriate for the workplace, as long as it is long enough. For the work place specifically, I would recommend an A-Line skirt that sits a little higher, somewhere above the hips and around the navel. A slightly higher, defined waistline makes the A-Line skirt look polished and not dowdy. Since the construction of the A-Line provides more attention to the bottom half, try to keep your top relatively simple and clean, or else the outfit might seem too cluttered. A simple cardigan over a tank top or T-shirt works well, but be careful about pairing blazers with this skirt, as it might weigh down the outfit.

Skirt: Express | T-shirt: New York & Company

Collar ID

One of the easiest ways to look put-together is to wear varying shades of the same color. As long as they're complimentary shades, you can't go wrong by pairing the ensemble with a neutral color (black, gray, white, tan). Wearing varying shades of the same color (ie., a hot pink and a pale pink, a deep purple with a lavender, even an emerald green with a subdued lime green) offers an immediate element of cohesion. Here, I paired a light blue blouse with a darker blue cardigan.

Perhaps my favorite color to wear is navy. It has the same calm collectedness as black, but it's so much less harsh. Think about it: you would like to have a crisp and fresh black suit but a comfortable and well-fitting navy blazer. Whereas black is corporate, navy is more ... academic. Today, I paired it with a white pencil skirt. To avoid looking like a glorified flight attendant or ship captain with the trademark navy and white, I paired it with a periwinkle blouse with pleated collar.

I am absolutely in love with this blouse. It is a light silk material with subdued pinstripes running vertically and the most delicate collar pleats, reminiscent of the age of Queen Elizabeth I (but less costume-y).

A pleated collar is such an elegant way of making an outfit more interesting, and the pleats of this blouse go quite well with the equally delicate cap sleeves!

Blouse: Talbots | Cardigan: Brooks Brothers | Skirt: Banana Republic

Switzerland

Neutrals are a summer trademark. It's fun to pair neutrals with bright colors to balance out an otherwise loud outfit, but pairing neutrals together is so Parisian-chic!

One word of caution with neutrals is to avoid shades that are too close to your skin tone. Unless you want people to do a double-take in a bad way, declare your lack of nudity loud and clear by choosing neutral shades that are exaggerated. While this sounds counterintuitive - after all, "neutral" means you aren't extreme in any particular direction - go for a shade of tan or a pale pink, light nude, or off-white eggshell or cream so that none can be mistaken for your skin tone.

As simple as the color white might seem, choosing different shades of white (yes, there are shades of white) can mean different things. A subdued, creamier white (that almost has golden undertones) is a bit warmer and is so elegant! It's perfect for a more formal evening out, and it goes quite will with a short strand of pearls. A starker white, like that of white-out or computer paper (you can tell I work in an office), is a bolder statement. It contrasts sharply with every other color in your outfit, giving a "pop" and freshness that is great for the workday. Think starched collars, pointy-toe black pumps, and corner offices. Also, depending on the article of clothing (say, a stark white suit), your outfit might scream "Miami Vice" instead of NYPD. On the other hand, I think a starched white cotton button-up long-sleeved collared blouse is a must for any woman in the workplace - and in life! (Just a note from my not-so-graceful self: a stark white is not so forgiving to spills or other mishaps as is an off-white, though both are not ideal.)

I paired an off-white shell blouse with a neutral tan shrunken cardigan and brown suede platform heels. I went with a comfortable black pencil skirt, but if you have a skirt or pants in a neutral tone, totally go for it! Because neutrals are so light, it's easy to layer them and mix and match.

Cardigan: AnnTaylor Loft | Shell Blouse: Talbots | Pencil Skirt: AnnTaylor | Heels: AnnTaylor Loft

Summer Shorts

My office is a big proponent of casual Fridays (which include jeans!), and it's a great opportunity to mix things up a little bit from the normal pencil skirts and cardigans. I played around with a couple of floral dresses before I decided on these floral dress shorts from my mother's college days, which I paired with a retro button-up cotton blouse with a peter pan collar. To keep it polished, I threw on a navy blue blazer with golden buttons and a crimson vintage belt from my mom. I love the juxtaposition of the loose dress shorts with the constructed blazer, the dusty florals with the severe navy. It's all about balancing something more casual with something more serious - light vs. dark.

Shorts in the workplace are a bit of a slippery slope, and I was a little nervous at first about wearing them. I have had a number of conversations with people on this topic, especially given the recent weekend special in the Wall Street Journal featuring shorts suits combos: Short and Sweet.


While I love the look presented in the article, I had to take a moment and consider whether this trend was a serious option for the workplace. I absolutely love the light summer colors of the suit sets they featured in this article, but I found that some of the shorts were just a bit too short for the workplace. Workplace attire should not end more than an inch above the knees, and it definitely cannot end more than halfway up your upper legs. I liked the idea of it, though, especially for a casual Friday as opposed to a normal, business casual workday, and I found these shorts that are the same length as the skirts I normally wear to work. The blazer topping it off helped add an air of professionalism to what might have been a less appropriate outfit for the workplace.

One of my coworkers noted, "I've never seen anyone pull off shorts at the workplace - I think you did a good job!" I guess I'll take that as a compliment! I did get a couple of turned heads, though, so I'm not sure if that was because it was just a different ensemble people hadn't seen before, or if they saw "shorts" and had a huge warning sign flash up in their heads. What do you guys think? Shorts in the workplace? A good seasonal decision or professional suicide? (Regardless, I do have to mention that this was, by far, the most comfortable outfit I've worn all week!)

Dress shorts: hand-me-down (mother's) | Blouse: hand-me-down (mother's) | Blazer: Brooks Brothers | Belt: hand-me-down (mother's: Balenciaga) | Flats: J. Crew