Looking Good From 9–5

 

Hi! Ali here, from Ali On The Run (http://aliontherun.wordpress.com).

When Ashley asked me to write a guest post for her, I happily and immediately obliged. Then, when she asked me to write a guest post about “How to Dress For The Workplace,” I laughed.

Me, a style guru? Hardly. My outfit of choice is short-shorts, a way-too-bright tank top and running shoes.

I’ve never considered myself a fashionista or a trend-setter by any means. However I do enjoy shopping and buying nice things for myself. My closet isn’t huge, but I’ve learned to make smart purchases and only buy things I adore and see myself wearing regularly.

I recently started posting my daily outfits on my blog and the feedback has been awesome. Maybe I do know what I’m doing after all?

So let’s talk workplace wear, shall we?

I’m a magazine editor and I work in an office that’s 85% (ish) women, and pretty much anything goes here, style wise. Jeans are fine, dresses are fine, and one girl regularly shows up wearing grey leopard print leggings. I’m not kidding…

As for me, I’ve managed to find a few tips and tricks to dressing up daily.

1. Invest in a good, dark-colored blazer. Try to find one that fits well, but if it doesn’t, spend the money to get it tailored. It’s amazing how a blazer can make an outfit go from sloppy to professional. I throw mine on over both jeans and dresses, and use it as a jacket in the springtime.
2. Yes, you can wear a button-down shirt. For a long time, I avoided button-downs. I’m, well, chesty—I never thought I’d find a shirt that would close over my boobs. One day, I found one at J.Crew and fell in love. Not only did it fit perfectly, I loved how it looked. You can wear button-downs with skinny jeans and boots for a casual look, or tuck it in with a belt for something that’s more pulled-together and professional. These wardrobe staples go with everything and are so versatile.
3. Buy dresses! I wear dresses almost every day. They’re so easy—you just put one on, pick some fun jewelry and you’re done. No mixing and matching, no fussing with fits. I definitely recommend buying high quality dresses. Sure they may cost a bit more, but they’ll also last longer and fit better. Dresses easily go from daytime to playtime, and can be worn bare-legged in the summer or with tights in the winter. 
4. Wear what makes you happy. I’ve never considered myself a girl who adores pink, but lately I’ve been really into wearing bright, hot pink. It pops and it makes me smile. Find a color that you love and don’t worry about how it looks on you—instead focus on how it makes you feel. The other day I woke up feeling cranky. I put on a bright skirt and couldn’t help but feel perked up. Hot pink won’t cure cancer or create world peace, but it can make a sad girl feel a little happier.
5. Pull it together. I had a revelation last summer. I was getting dressed for a nighttime work event and wasn’t sure what to wear. I needed to be dressy, but not too fancy. My first thought: a sequined skirt and a plain tank top. Ick, I thought at first. It just looked so…sloppy. I decided to tuck in the shirt and throw on a thick belt.  Instantly a little better! I still felt too uncovered to be around coworkers, so the last thing I did was resort back to the LBB (little black blazer). Suddenly, my once-lame combo was an ensemble!    
6. Be confident. Duh, right? You can make anything look good if you feel good in it. Don’t be afraid to try something new—it took me 25 years to try tucking in my shirts—and try on everything, even if it looks lame at the store.

Stop by my blog (http://aliontherun.com) anytime for more on the whim fashion advice!