Loving Lately: Polka dots

Both From What I Wore

From Style Within Reach

I love what both of these gals are doing- keep maintain a certain color palate to keep prints as professional as possible. Black, white and pink is a classic, and I love her pink polka dot shirt! I found similar ones here and here, adding this under the traditional 9 to 5 blazer and and adding a bright belt hits just the right note.

Loving Lately: Neons for 9 to 5

If you are anything like me, you love this look, but immediately think "That's just not my life!" I have "business casual" job, I'm no one's thin, toned and tanned size 2 and frankly, it's just not me. So, enough about that-- let's work neons into normal life!

These would all be amazing and plenty professional with a tan or khaki suit, or a navy shift dress, like this one:

Combine this anorak and dress with neon shoes and accessories, amazing!

neon fab by prettyfab featuring stiletto high heels

Sheer top, Ann Taylor high heel shoes, ALDO stiletto high heels, GUESS peep toe platform pumps, Zara shoes

Wear to Work: Floral Pants

Most trends these days seem completely unwearable for those of us (most of us?) who live in the world of dress codes and employee handbooks.

Well, huge floral prints can be totally work appropriate. I mean, she even has closed toed shoes on. It doesn't get much more office appropriate. 

Here's the equation: 

Floral pants/skirt + 

somewhat conservative shoes + 

solid shirt + 

blazer to pull it all together+

one standout accessory

= Working Girl Florals

Photo: Floral Overload from Lookbook.nu

Photo: Spring in my Skirt from Lookbook.nu

Outfit Inspiration: New Looks for Black Skinny Jeans

I am growing incredibly weary of the skinny jeans tucked into boots. I appreciate the practicality of the look and it's adorable on tons of people, but some days it seems like that's what 80% of the population is wearing. So I was looking for a little inspiration for other ways to wear them. Also, my new skinny jeans that I just bought are black, and it can be heard to not look like a Steven Tyler groupie when making outfits with them. So I did a little outfit inspiration!

These are my new jeans, but in black (I'm sure everyone has a very similar pair):

And I came up with the outfits below to go with them. Since versatility is sooooo important when going from the cubicle to real life and back again, some of these could play in both fields. Yay! Also, nothing in these is over $100... awesome!

Click the link below to find out where the items are from.

Black Skinny Jeans Inspiration by Pretty_Fab featuring Anthropologie

Barney's Shoe Sale!

More shoe lust this week. Barneys is having their huge post-holiday sale and looking at the sale shoes is giving me a serious case of shoe lust. Also, in addition to the sale, they also have free shipping.... awesome. Check them all out here: http://www.barneys.com/Shoes/SHOES10,default,sc.html?start=0&sz=202

Here are my personal faves:

These boots would be amazing for winter when it is so hard to be cute and warm at the same time.

These two pairs would just make life generally better, like cupcakes do. :-)

Shoe Lust! My heart skipped a beat over these.

How amazing are these shoes, which conveniently enough at 20% off the sale price on Piperlime today?? These could totally step up any regular work day look.

Perhaps sweet and innocent?

Here with me by shanti. featuring Lanvin bags

I don't generally love Lauren Conrad, but this is some adorable with these shoes too.

Celebrity Style: Lauren Conrad by LolaHaze featuring Forever21

And my own personal inspiration from these shoes. I think they could be a bit edgier with some subversive accessories and pops of magenta.... amazing!

Nude Footwear Paris by Pretty_Fab featuring Miu Miu

The Ever Present Skinny Jean

This is a great little video about the ubiquitous skinny jeans, and new ways to wear them and how to style them. I love the look with the trench coat, and most of the looks could easily be made from things that are already in your closet.