Work Wear Challenge Favorites

Well, the Work Wear Challenge was over as fast as it started! I was so happy to get some new outfit formulas to wear to work.

 Here are some of my takeaways from the Work Wear Challenge ~

1. A few, good quality pieces are the key to a good work wardrobe.

2. Work wear can be easily dressed up or down based on fabrics. For instance, gray pants/slacks can be worn in a dressy work environment and grey jeans in a more casual work place.

3. Pearls make just about outfit work appropriate!! :)

4.  Tucking in and adding a fun belt can elevate an outfit from casual and work appropriate.

5. A blazer always looks polished.

Here's another look at all the outfit formulas individually ~

1. Black Pants + Polka Dot (or printed) Top + Cardigan + Leopard Heels/Flats 

Black Jeans: Express (exact, similar)
Polka Dot Top: via Poshmark (similar, option)
Cardigan: Old Navy (similar, similar)
Leopard Heels: Payless (similar, flats)

2. Printed Skirt + Chambray/Oxford Top + Pearls 

Printed Skirt: thredUP (option, option)
Chambray Tank: H&M (similar, long sleeve blouse)
Pearls:(similar, similar)
Sandals: Target-Sold Out (option, option)

 3. Colored Pants + White Top + Neutral Heels/Flats

Chinos: J Crew Factory - exact color sold out (same style)
White Portofino: Express (exact)
Nude Heels: Payless (exact, similar)
Leopard Belt: Target (exact, similar)

 4.  Gray Jeans + Black Tee + Blazer + Pearls + Leopard Heels

Gray Jeans: Loft (similar, similar)
Black Tee: similar, similar
Blazer: Loft (similar, great casual option)
Leopard Heels: Payless (similar, flats)



5. Dark Wash Jeans + Oxford/Chambray Shirt + Cardigan + Heels

Jeans: Denzien/Target (exact, similar)
Chambray Tank: H&M (similar, long sleeve blouse)
Cardigan: similar (cozy purple)
Leopard Heels: Payless (similar, flats)

 6. Printed Skirt + Black Tee + Pearls

Striped Skirt: similar, cute option

Black Tee: similar, similar

Black Wedges:similar

 7.  Colored Pants + Polka Top + Blazer + Leopard Heels/Flats

Burgandy Cords: Loft (similar, in Tibetan Red)
Polka Dot Top: via Poshmark (similar, option)
Blazer: Loft (similar, great casual option)
Earrings: Stella & Dot (exact)
Leopard Heels: Payless (similar, flats)


 That's a wrap for the Work Wear Challenge, pretties! Hope you are able to use some of these outfit formulas to find some new outfits from work! Enjoy the rest of your week!

AND DON'T FORGET!!! Create28 Fall starts TOMORROW!!! Woo hoo! Join Carrie, Whitney and me as we share 28 days of fall fashion--we hope you join us, too! Use the hashtag #Create28FallLooks and link up with us every Monday!

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Work Wear Challenge ~ Week 2 Favorites

Happy Wednesday, pretties!!! It's been a blast putting together Work Wear outfits the Work Wear Challenge! See last week's faves HERE.

Keep in mind, I work at a school where we can't wear jeans (except on Fridays) but overall, it's fairly casual. If you work in a more dressy environment, keep in mind the "outfit formula" but feel free to sub in dress pants or slacks or dressier blouses and shirts.

Here we go!

1. Gray Jeans + Black Tee + Blazer + Pearls + Leopard Heels ~ I've pretty decided pearls can make an casual outfit "business casual!" I like this outfit because I can use my blazer as outwear-when I take it off, I still look dressed up enough to look professional at work. This outfit would also look awesome with a pretty black blouse like THIS ONE. :)

Gray Jeans: Loft (similar, similar)
Black Tee: similar, similar
Blazer: Loft (similar, great casual option)
Leopard Heels: Payless (similar, flats)

2. Dark Wash Jeans + Oxford/Chambray Shirt + Cardigan + Heels ~ Even if your workplace is lax about jeans, I think it's still important to "look nice." So leave the ripped and acid washed jeans and home :) and opt for nice dark washed jeans. The oxford shirt and jeans provides a great base and you can add whatever other "third piece" over it...a colored cardigan, blazer, moto jacket, etc.

Jeans: Denzien/Target (exact, similar)
Chambray Tank: H&M (similar, long sleeve blouse)
Cardigan: similar (cozy purple)
Leopard Heels: Payless (similar, flats)

3. Printed Skirt + Black Tee + Pearls ~ Here's the black tee again! A great, versatile piece for work! For whatever reason, I'm just totally loving black and white right now. You can easily add color, though with bright shoes, a colored handbag and fun statement necklace!

Striped Skirt: similar, cute option

Black Tee: similar, similar

Black Wedges:similar

Work wear pieces are all about mixing and matching. Invest in good quality pieces (great skirt, pants/slack, neutral blouses, nice blazer)--then it's all about mixing and matching and throwing on one or two nice accessories (nice watch, pearls!). So easy!! Work in complicated enough without worrying about complicated outfits :)

What are your work wear staples?

Don't forget....Create28 Fall is coming!! We hope you'll join us!!!

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The Essential Bag

It's MONDAY (again)!!! As usual, Carrie, Whitney and I are hosting A Lovely Little à La Mode Link Up today, so if you're a blogger, please join us! The girls and I have been hosting a little mini series this month, so feel free to join in and link up below!

Monday 9/7 ~ Summer Dresses (see post HERE)
Monday 9/14 ~ A Classic Piece (HERE)
Monday 9/21 ~ An Essential Bag (TODAY!!)
Monday 9/29 ~ Fall Transition 

Alrighty, so today we are talking about the Essential Bag! Here is a very close version of mine ~

Emperia Side Zip Faux Leather Tote

When I was looking for a new tote awhile back I knew I wanted one that could transition to work (2 days a week) to my mom life. This tote totally fit the bill!! It fits all of my work stuff...my planner, water, a book, lunch PLUS all of my "mom stuff"--small makeup pouch, phone, wallet, Wet Ones, Bandaids, random snacks, etc. 

This outfit combo is from the Work Wear Challenge: Colored Pants + Polka Top + Blazer + Leopard Heels/Flats

Burgandy Cords: Loft (similar, in Tibetan Red)
Polka Dot Top: via Poshmark (similar, option)
Blazer: Loft (similar, great casual option)
Earrings: Stella & Dot (exact)
Leopard Heels: Payless (similar, flats)
 
 I'm at a point now with my kids where I don't need a GIANT bag for diapers/wipes/extra clothes, etc, but it's really nice to have a nice, roomy bag to stuff things into because one of the kids is inevitably going to ask me to hold this, hold that...blankets, books, bags, you name it!

I try to keep my bag organized because with a tote like this, it's easy for it to become an abyss of JUNK! Here's a little sneak peek into my bag ~

Here are some other great tote options! (click on any image for more details) ~

What's your "essential bag??"

Guess what??!! Carrie, Whitney and I are teaming up again for Create28 Fall Looks! So every single day in October you will get a new fall look from one or all of us! We'd LOVE for you to play along and link up with us on Mondays!!! The prompts are below so you have plenty of time to prepare! We can't wait to see all of you lovelies!! Use the hashtag #Create28FallLooks :)

Time to link up!Don't forget to use the hashtag #lovelylittlealamode on social media!

Hosted by ~

Carrie/A Lovely Little Wardrobe ~ Bloglovin/Facebook/Instagram

Whitney/Whitney à La Mode ~ Bloglovin/Instagram

Casey/A Little Bit of Cheer ~ Bloglovin/Facebook/Instagram

Each week we choose a favorite...check out Carrie and Whitney's blogs to see if it's you! Here was my favorite this week ~ Erin from Happily Howards! I LOVE her style!! These three outfits are SPOT ON how I would style a cute black dress like hers!  The fringe booties, the fur vest, the gingham...it's just toooooo perfect!! I'm dying! Read her original post HERE.

Now let's get linking! We like to keep things simple around here. Just link up your favorite posts--fashion, beauty, food, DIY, anything goes! Follow your hosts on social media, have fun and be inspired! Thanks for linking up!

<a href="http://www.alittlebitofcheer.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc454/pianoprincessdesigns/button%20small_zpsujefyz2q.png~original" alt="A Lovely Little À La Mode Link Up" width="125" height="125" /></a>

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See where I link up HERE

An InLinkz Link-up

Work Wear Challenge ~ Week 1 Favorites

The Work Wear Challenge with started last week and it's been a blast playing along with the girls from the Challenge!! Although I only work 2 days I week, I sometimes run out of business casual ideas to wear to work (I work at a K-8 school). The Work Wear Challenge has given me so many great ideas and the best part of it was, I had 90% of the items already in my closet! If I didn't, I made little adaptations here and there.

Here are my Top 3 outfits from last week ~

1. Black Pants + Polka Dot (or printed) Top + Cardigan + Leopard Heels/Flats ~ I had been looking for a cute polka dot top for awhile and this is one the few items I purchased for the Challenge. I ended up buying it via Poshmark and I love it and will be wearing it again and again!

Black Jeans: Express (exact, similar)
Polka Dot Top: via Poshmark (similar, option)
Cardigan: Old Navy (similar, similar)
Leopard Heels: Payless (similar, flats)

2. Printed Skirt + Chambray/Oxford Top + Pearls ~ I LOVED this combo! I wore it to work and got so many compliments. The pearls dress it up just enough, but then paired with sandals, it wasn't too dressy to look out of place at work. The original outfit called for colored heels (red would be awesome!) which I don't own, but I think the sandals were perfect for my work place. BTW-I purchased this skirt from thredUP (you know how much I love them)! Here's the link to get $20 off your first order: $20 OFF!
 

Printed Skirt: thredUP (option, option)
Chambray Tank: H&M (similar, long sleeve blouse)
Pearls:(similar, similar)
Sandals: Target-Sold Out (option, option)

3. Colored Pants + White Top + Neutral Heels/Flats ~ The original outfit showed a long sleeved white blouse but since temps were in the 90s here last week, I opted for my trusty sleeveless Portofino top. If this isn't acceptable in your work place you could easily throw a black blazer or neutral cardi over the top. Or you could do a long sleeve white blouse and colored slacks (vs. my casual chinos)--just adapt it to your workplace!! I added a leopard belt for fun :)

Chinos: J Crew Factory - exact color sold out (same style)
White Portofino: Express (exact)
Nude Heels: Payless (exact, similar)
Leopard Belt: Target (exact, similar)

Hope this gives you a few ideas for work! Remember, just use the outfit formula and adapt it to your workplace. For instance, I did black jeans because I work in a casual environment, but you can easily just swap them for black slacks/pixie pants, etc if your workplace is more dressy.  I'll be recapping 3 more of my favorite Work Wear outfits next Wednesday! Enjoy the rest of your week! XO



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The Next Challenge ~ WORK WEAR!!!!

You guys know I have been doing Alison's Style Challenges for about a year now and I absolutely LOVE them!! These challenges take the guesswork out of what to wear each day by giving you a simple "outfit formula" to put together and wear each day. It completely takes the guesswork out of getting dressed! Plus, you'll be inspired by all the women on the Challenge Facebook group. I have met so many lovely women from this group!

Here are the recaps of past challenges I have done ~

Summer 2015 Recap 

My faves from the Summer Challenge ~

 Spring 2015 Recap

The outfits that I put together for these challenges I still wear all the time and I feel like my closet is much more scaled down and organized. I always have a cute outfit to wear!

I have never participated in the Work Wear Challenge but  I am going to sign up this year! Even though I only work 2 days a week as a part time Learning Center/Special Ed teacher, I feel like I often run out of "work" outfits since I can't wear jeans to school. I am looking for some inspiration and I know I'll get it with the Work Wear Challenge!

Early registration for the Work Wear Challenge starts TODAY! Here are the dates:

Registration Opens: Friday, August 14
Registration Closes: Friday, August 21
Shopping List Release: Friday, August 21
Outfits Start: Sunday, September 6 (for 21 days)

Click HERE to sign up!! It's worth every penny and a lot cheaper and less time consuming than hiring a personal stylist :)

Feel free to ask me any questions! You can also head to the Style Challenge homepage or the Work Wear page for more details. I hope you join!!

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See where I link up HERE