How to Build a Work Wardrobe for Women

Guest post by: Elizabeth Ann West

We all have stages in our lives where our clothes just do not match our new pursuits. The most common crisis for a woman’s wardrobe is starting a new job. One huge transition is from the free T-shirt craze in college to looking professional on the job. Moving from stay-at-home-Mom or college crammer to super career woman, one truth is universally present: the funds are limited for buying work clothes. Learn the basics of building a wardrobe for work so you do not waste any part of your budget on unnecessary items.

The first step is to look at your current wardrobe and set aside any pieces that are appropriate for work. Remember to take into consideration fit when determining appropriateness. Take digital pictures with your cell phone if you need to so you can find selections in stores that pair well. This is going to be your base, and it can be as large as a few button down shirts to as tiny as one pair of black pants.

Next, figure out what you need to get through one full week of work. The best wardrobes are made of pieces that are interchangeable. Even if you are someone who generally enjoys wearing flashy prints and patterns, to build a work wardrobe it is best to pick two to three key colors that go well together. The most common color families are the cools–blues, purples, grays, and blacks–or the warms– earthy browns, tans, creams, and greens. Just beginning, pick one of the two major color families to work within so you can mix and match without revealing how limited your clothing choices really are.

When selecting pieces for the work wardrobe before a paycheck, resist the urge to get anything with loud prints or highly stylized in fashion, cut, or trim. Save the flashiness for accessories; they are a much lower cost investment in case fashion changes. Simple, flattering cuts of basic colors will pair well with accessories of all types. A baby blue buttoned-down cardigan goes well with silver or gold gemstone jewelry, or a costume necklace with a multi-colored stone pendant. A boring brown jacket comes alive with a bright earthy toned scarf hung loosely under the lapels or with a pinned costume broach.

Until real money is coming in and you set aside money for monthly additions to the wardrobe, shoes are not accessories. By starting with only one of the major color families, you should only need two pairs of comfortable but classic work shoes. Eventually, we all realize we spend so much time at the office and in our work “uniform,” it is worth the boost in happiness to wear what makes us feel good. For the beginning of any work wardrobe though, the good feeling really needs to be physical when it comes to shoes, and not emotional from the cuteness.

Finally, to avoid buying “just the deals and steals,” write out the work wardrobe pieces you are looking for before you go to the stores. A small note with the number of slacks, skirts, and tops with specific color types will help you avoid a hodge podge of clothes once you are home. Sure, two of the shirts you bought were only $5 each, but perhaps they only go with one pair of pants. When one of the outfit pieces goes out of commission, either from snagging in a car door or an unfortunate coffee spill, and it puts TWO major pieces of your wardrobe on the “injury list.” It is vital when you have little to work with that all the clothing works in at least two different combinations.

It is very easy to let the excitement of a new job bleed over into buying clothes for that first week. A budget for each item will also help because it will prevent you from talking yourself into “deserving” a flashier or designer piece of clothing. Remember, until you actually start working, you have the time to really hunt and only settle for the clothes that fit perfectly, look great together, and give you the most options come Monday morning. One day you may need a bit of happiness from the clothes you wear to work to give a little motivation, but you shouldn’t need a work wardrobe to fill this role until the enchantment of “new job” wears off.

Update Your Wardrobe with Well Chosen Accessories – Part 2

In the first part of this article, which was published last week, we looked at how you can select certain accessories and pair them up with existing items in your wardrobe to spruce up any outfit. Today we’re back with even more tips on this topic, which will help you stay stylish without spending too much.

The Versatile Scarf
A scarf can change the look of an outfit completely. Try wearing a scarf under a plain colored suit jacket instead of wearing a blouse. Fold the scarf around your neck and pin it carefully under the neckline of the suit jacket. You can achieve three different looks by sometimes wearing a bold patterned scarf, sometimes wearing a scarf with a tiny print, and sometimes wearing a soft pastel colored scarf.

A pretty scarf will dress up a plain straw hat. Choose a scarf that will complement the rest of your outfit. You can match the color of your scarf to your footwear, handbag, or clothing.

A large scarf can double as a sarong when you are at the beach. Tie your scarf at the waist and wear it at a long length to highlight your legs. Choose a floral patterned scarf to wear with a plain colored costume or bikini. A plain scarf will blend in well with a bold patterned costume or bikini top.

The Finishing Touches
Earrings, necklaces, pendants, and bangles will all complete an outfit. You can liven up neutral colored clothing with the addition of a brightly colored pendant, necklace, or bangle. Matching earrings will provide the final additions to your outfit. Women with curvy figures should avoid wearing small items of jewellery. A curvaceous figure will appear to advantage in large chunky items of jewellery. Petite woman can emphasize their delicate size by wearing tiny or fragile looking pieces of jewellery.

You will be pleasantly surprised at how easily you can alter the appearance of your clothing by the addition of new accessories. A few subtle changes can make a great deal of difference to any outfit. Shop carefully, so you can wear the same accessories with a variety of outfits. Save money this season by updating your wardrobe with beautiful accessories.

Update Your Wardrobe with Well Chosen Accessories – Part 1

In the current economic climate, it is important to be able to dress well without breaking the budget. Now is the time to re-organise your wardrobe. Put away, or throw out, items you no longer wear and re-vamp those items that you love. You can create a new-look outfit by purchasing new accessories.

Choose Shoes that Enhance Your Outfit
Every outfit you own will look wonderful with color matching shoes. Unless you always wear neutral colored clothing, color matching your shoes is a very expensive option. A less expensive method of matching your shoes with what you are wearing is to buy shoes in the same color tone as your hair.

When you are considering purchasing new shoes, hold them up to the level of your hair and match the shoes to your hair coloring. Shoes will co-ordinate perfectly with any color outfit if they are the same color as your hair. A person with dark brown hair can wear dark brown or black shoes to co-ordinate with almost any color, even navy. A blonde-haired person will look great in caramel colored shoes regardless of the color of her outfit. A red headed woman will look stunning in a rusty colored shoe.

The most flattering shoes are pumps with a medium to high heel. Open-toed sandals look wonderful especially when enhanced with well-manicured toenails. Pumps and sandals are suitable to wear with a variety of skirt lengths, which makes them a very versatile choice when you need to adhere to a budget.

Buying the Best Handbag
It is important to choose the right size handbag to suit your own shape and size. Small handbags look lovely when carried by petite women. Tall or more rounded shaped women look best when they carry a large handbag.

When choosing the color of your handbag, you can either co-ordinate the color of the bag with your shoes or with your clothing. Metallic colored handbags are a perfect choice for dressing up an evening outfit, provided the metallic color matches your jewellery. Do not carry a gold colored bag and wear silver jewellery. Avoid two-toned colors or patterns unless the two colors are a perfect match with the colors in your outfit.

Keep on watching this space, as next week the second and final part of this article is coming up, where we share you with even more stylish tips!

How to Rock a Black Plus Size Pencil Skirt – Part 2

Last week we started talking about plus size pencil skirts, and what to do in order to wear them in the most figure flattering way possible. Today we continue discussing this classic, and I think, staple item… sharing with you another 3 tips.

3. Turn it Into a Suit
A long, black pencil skirt looks chic paired with a shorter, fitted jacket that’s nipped in at the waistline. Think of the jackets worn by sophisticated women in the 1940’s. Check out a vintage clothing store that sells 1940’s apparel and choose a jacket that buttons at the waistline and flairs slightly at the hips. Slip on black hose and black pumps to complete the look. Tres chic.

4. Choose Simple Shoes
A black pencil skirt looks best with simple shoes. Keep your gladiators in the closet and bring out a pair of simple high-heeled pumps instead. Avoid sandals with straps that can cut the line of your legs. Pencil skirts worn with complicated shoes can make your legs look shorter and destroy the clean, sophisticated line you’re trying to achieve. In general, heels look better than flat shoes with pencil skirts, although you may be able to pull off the look with a pair of ballet flats.

5. Go Light on the Jewelry
Resist the urge to pile on the jewelry when you wear a pencil skirt. Keep the look sleek and simple with one or two bold sculptural pieces such as a flared cuff bracelet in silver or a strand of oversized pearls. Resist the urge to layer necklaces or wear overly ornate pieces. Keep the focus on your neck, wrist, or ears, but not all three. Simple is better when wearing a pencil skirt.

You’ll love the versatility that a pencil skirt offers and when you have one in black.

How to Rock a Black Plus Size Pencil Skirt – Part 1

What could be more sophisticated than the long, lean lines of a pencil skirt? Audrey Hepburn made this look trendy back in the 1940’s and these sleek, fitted skirts are still gracing the pages of fashion magazines today. Although you can find pencil skirts in a variety of colors, if you could only choose one, the obvious choice is black. Need some ideas on how to pull off this look? Here’s how to wear a black pencil skirt.

1. Get the Right Fit
A black pencil skirt is meant to hug the lines of your body without being overly tight. Spend some time trying on a variety of pencil skirts and walking around in them before making your final selection. The skirt should accent your shape without being constrictive or uncomfortable. The straight lines of the skirt can make walking a challenge if you select one that’s too snug. To prevent this, look for one that has a discrete slit in the back to allow your legs to move more freely. Don’t give up comfort for fashion.

2. Keep the Lines Clean
A slim pencil skirt looks best with a simple top that plays up the sleek, sophisticated lines of the skirt. For office wear, pair it with a stretch top and a bold, silver cuff bracelet. With a basic black pencil skirt choose a top in a bright color or create a sleek, ultra-sophisticated look with a fitted black top and a silk scarf tied at the neck. A silk blouse that buttons up the front is a good choice for an office environment or a business lunch.  If you’re feeling more daring, pair it with a leopard or other animal print top and black pumps for evening. Think sleek, clean, and sophisticated with a pencil skirt.

Keep on reading the scoop, and next week watch out for the second and final part of this article, where we share another 3 tips on how to rock a black plus size pencil skirt. Keep on reading ladies!

How to Spruce Up Your Wardrobe Without Breaking the Bank – Part 2

Last week we started sharing with you some handy tips on how you can update your wardrobe, giving it a summer look, without spending too much money… if any at all actually. Amongst the tips shared, we suggested you look at what you’ve already got in your closet, as well as looking for trendy accessories to spice up an outfit.

Today we’re sharing another 3 tips, which can further help give you ideas on how to give your existing wardrobe a breath of fresh air!

4. Look for Styles That Have Come Back in Fashion
They say that everything comes back in fashion eventually, and it is certainly true that many old styles are in again.  From bell bottoms and leg warmers to clogs and boots, many old fashions have come and gone throughout the years.  You may be able to find some hip and fashionable clothes in the back of your own closet.

5. Make a Few Small Repairs
Investing in a sewing kit can pay some big dividends when it comes to your wardrobe.  Simply mending your old clothes can save you hundreds of dollars, so gather up those clothes that you have been meaning to repair and put your needle and thread to work.

6. Put Your Old Clothes to New Use
Your old clothes can enjoy a whole new life with just a few quick updates.  From adding a new accessory to pairing a different blouse with your favorite skirt, there are plenty of ways to create new outfits with the clothes already in your closet.  Putting your old clothes to new use can save you hundreds of dollars season after season.

By making these simple changes in the way you view your wardrobe you can save yourself a ton of money and still look like a million bucks. So before you head off to the mall head into your own closet. What you find may just surprise you.

Summer’s Top 9 Plus Size Dresses

Be Summer’s best-dressed curvy girl, with one of our top picks for the season. Nothing beats a dress for a beautiful silhouette. From basic black, to bolg geometrics, short to maxi, choose a dress to suit your style and your size.

1. Violet Halter Dress
A blooming floral design and flattering empire shape make this little dress a feminine pick for summer dress up! Features an adjustable tie halter and crossover neckline.

2. Sosie Geo Print Dress
A bright and bold geo skirt is the focus of this modern summer dress. This is a sleeveless dress with U-neckline and wide straps for support.

3. Scarf Print Banded Dress
A colorful print and ruched detail makes this summer sundress a flattering and trendy. This dress is also sleeveless and features a crossover neckline, and ruched banded empire waist.

4. Sleeveless Knit Dress
Featuring sturdy binding at the neckline and sleeves, this dress comes in an easy-care stretch cotton/spandex. You can wear it with a belt for a more dressed up look. It’s also a great cover up over swimsuits too!

5. Ruched Floral Maxi Dress
This floral printed maxi dress is boho style with a touch of romantic style. Comes with elasticized cap sleeves and an elasticized neckline with ruffled trim.

6. Smocked Maxi Dress
The must-have long and flowing dress of the season in a vibrant splash of hot color. A flirty style to wear on or off the shoulder.

7. Black Smocked Maxi Dress
This simple smocked maxi dress is an always appropriate summer staple. Make it fresh with some colorful Summer accessories! Features tank straps and smocked bodice with ruffle trim.

8. Flower Power U-Neck Dress
A bright blooming flower is the centerpiece of this retro-inspired U-neck dress. It’s sleeveless with a banded U-neckline. It’s slightly ruched throughout to flatter the figure.

9. Candice Hibiscus Splashed Dress
A bright hibiscus print is splashed on the border of this flattering dress. Again, this dress is sleeveless and features a pleated empire waist and crossover neckline with slight ruching at shoulders and bustline.

How to Spruce Up Your Wardrobe Without Breaking the Bank – Part 1

As summer finally rolls around many of us are looking for ways to update our wardrobes without busting our budgets.  Buying new clothes can be expensive, and few of us have the extra money to spare these days.  But how are you supposed to look your best this summer without spending hundreds of dollars on a new wardrobe?

Fortunately there are some simple steps cash strapped shoppers can take to look their best without sacrificing either style or economic well being.  Updating your wardrobe on a budget is easier than you think – the key is to plan your new wardrobe around the clothes already in your closet.

1. Take a Look at What You’ve Already Got
Before you head to the mall or department store, take a good look at the clothes already in your closet.  Chances are you already have the makings of a wonderful summer wardrobe – and it won’t cost you a dime.

Take a look at the clothes you already have, and think about how those existing pieces can be used to create stunning new outfits.  From mixing and matching colorful blouses and skirts to accessorizing your favorite summer dresses, there are plenty of ways to enjoy your current outfits in a whole new way.

2. Look for Low Cost Accessories
Speaking of accessories, the right ones can make any outfit look better.  There are plenty of low cost accessories available, from inexpensive costume jewelry and lapel pins to stunning scarves in bright summer colors.

Chances are you already have some of these accessories in your jewelry box.  If it has been awhile since you looked at your everyday jewelry take another look and think about how those pins, pendants and necklaces can be paired with your existing wardrobe to create a great new look.  You may discover dozens of new combinations – at no cost to you.

3. Trade Clothes With Your Friends
Trading clothes and sharing wardrobes is not just for teenagers.  In fact sharing clothes is a great way for friends to cut down their clothing budgets while expanding their wardrobes.  If you have friends who are your size, why not ask them if they would be interested in sharing their clothes.

You may even want to start a new tradition by choosing a new piece of clothing each season and having your friend do the same.  That way you can expand your wardrobe at half the cost.  You loved sharing your clothes with your girlfriends when you were growing up, so why not rediscover the fun?

We have more coming up! Next week we’ll share with you the final 3 tips to help you update your style without negatively updating your bank account! So keep on reading the Plus Size Clothing Scoop!

How to Select Flattering Summer Jewelry – Part 2

Last week we too a look at how charms and accessories made from natural material can be great choices for your summer jewelry. In this second part of this article, today we’ll be giving you other suggestions which can be great picks for the summer.

Natural Stones
There’s something about wearing natural stone jewelry that feels right for summer. All natural stones such as turquoise and coral are always a popular choice and look stunning paired with cool, cotton tops and summer shorts. Don’t forget that natural stones such as turquoise and coral can be combined with other materials such as wood and ceramic for an eclectic look. Can’t find what you’re looking for? Head down to your local bead store and make your own.

Natural Shells and Sea Glass
Shell pendants and bracelets feel good to the touch and look stunning against gently sun kissed skin. Choose from paua shell, abalone shell, conch shell, hammer shell, or puka shell, among other shell types. You can even collect your own small shells on the beach along with some sea glass that’s been gently molded by the waves and create your own unique summer necklace or bracelet. Shells can be combined with other natural materials such as stones and rough wooden beads and strung onto hemp or leather for truly one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry.

Have fun choosing and creating your own special summer jewelry!