Finding a way to look chic while still being comfortable and not feeling too over dressed (or under for that matter) is one of the hardest things I encounter day to day. Because of this I have found there are a few simple tips, tricks and some key wardrobe pieces that can help you look put together but still feel like you can move and groove through your day.
Last year I took a job at a tech company in north Austin, and realized the dress code was going to be super different from the one I was used to at Nordstrom. Everyone wore jeans, flip-flops, cotton tees and in the summer, sometimes even shorts! I quickly knew that I had to find a new approach to looking put together but obviously still comfortable. It was important to me that I still found ways to “dress-up” like how I had when working for Nordstrom, because I’m still a style-hound at heart even if I was now in the tech world, which I found to be much more relaxed. I found that there were some go-to pieces that are perfect for just about anyone that can dress up your work uniform of jeans and a top.
Firstly, skinny jeans are usually the foundation of my work outfits. A dark wash skinny jean is great for a casual work environment because you can dress them up with a flowey wrap top like I did here or do the opposite and use medium/light wash skinnies to dress down a nicer top. I usually pair my jeans with either a classic leather pump or a versatile wedge sandal because it gives me that dressed up and put together feel that I love. One thing that I try to keep in mind when dressing for work is balance. It sounds silly but if I am wearing something nicer clothing wise, like a skirt or dress, I try to pair more casual accessories and shoes. But you can always play with accessories since you can easily add more or keep it simple with a few dainty gold bracelets like I did here with mine from The Shine Project . They’re not only on trend, affordable and beautiful but they also give back to the community by involving youth in the process of making them! How cool is that? To wrap things up (I make myself laugh, wrap top, get it?), this balanced approach keeps you from looking too over dressed in the break room grabbing snacks but also makes sure you look nice for those impromptu meetings with leaders.
“Playing dress-up begins at age five and never truly ends.” — Kate Spade
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