When it's cold outside..

dressing for the winter

Business Casual in the Cold--With Skirt by sandylikesmakeup




When I woke up this morning I was presently surprised by the crisp morning weather. While contemplating what to wear I realized that I would transition into the winter with my outfits.

I always layer, especially if you do not have any control over the office temperature you never know if it's going to be hot or cold. Usually a sweater or wrap over a shell or button-up is fine. If I wear a skirt, I like to put on some patterned tights.

All in the Details

I don't know if it's because I'm a meticulous person but I constantly finding myself paying attention to details. Even though you have all the right clothes, it's the details that will give you a top-star business casual look. Here are my tips:

1. Nail polish: A beauty enhancement that a lot of people don't realize that's noticed. Never wear chipped polish. It needs to be either all on or off. Chipped polish is sloppy. Also, pay attention to the color. My friend, who motions a lot with her hands when she speaks, once sported a dark plum nail color during an interview. She told me later that the interviewer's eyes kept following her nails while she spoke. My friend could tell that it was a distraction that took away from her answers.

2. Jewelry: Pick accessories that match with your outfit but that are not too over the top. Take notice if a piece jingles as you move or if your earrings sway a lot. It is distracting. When done right, accessories really enhance and complete your look. I will probably do a more in-depth post on this subject later.

3. Make-up: It may seem silly but there are many times when I see a someone wearing a great outfit but her make-up is done so sloppily it detracts from the whole look. A few little reminders such as wearing the correct foundation shade, even eyeliner and a neutral shadow with a bit of blush will go a long way. Curling your lashes will help you open up your eyes and brighten your whole face.

4. Clothing fit: Before leaving your home make sure that your clothing fits well, is unwrinkled and free of hanging threads. I like to have a lint roller in my car at all times, because I wear a lot of black, which tends to show more lint. Also, when buying blouses, skirts or bottoms, make sure that there are no gaps that show when wearing the clothing. It may take longer to find the right fit, but in the end it makes a difference in your appearance.

5. Clothing material: The material of your clothes can influence your overall appearance a lot. Different materials drape differently. Also, the type of material can deem a piece business casual appropriate or not despite it's cut. For example, a lame button down shirt gives off a totally different vibe then a cotton one. Make sure that the pieces you choose to wear are complete in and of themselves in relation to your outfit.

Remember that dressing business casual is more then wearing the correct clothing. It's about the whole look.

Dressing Business Casual Tip # 1

1. When in doubt, be conservative.


BA 101 by sandylikesmakeup

Above are the components to a classic business casual outfit. It's what every student learns in BA 101. When starting a new job or internship, it's always good to err on the more conservative side of business casual as you may not have a sense of the company culture yet. Every office is different. I've had two internships and the dress code differed for each one.

As you can see, I have a more traditional style by picking pearls, classic black pumps with a lower heel, simple cotton button up. It may seem a little boring but for your first few days in a new office, you have a smaller chance of breaking office dress code (if you office had one) and will definitely make a statement that you are a professional.

Business Casual 101

I've always been interested in fashion. But I don't always dress nicely or fashionably, because, let's face it, realistically I'm a college student and I live in Texas. The sweltering sun makes everyone perspire profusely. So why would I wear perfectly nice clothes to trek around campus only to have them ruined with sweat? Besides, it's easy to not have to think about your outfits and wear a cotton t-shirt with running shorts.

When I got my first internship I was really excited about wearing the cute office casual clothing...but I found myself in a rut. I could not really put together any outfits that were not straight, textbook business casual. I felt like all the days of wearing the ubiquitous college student outfit had sucked my style out of me. I wanted to dress fashionable, but professionally at the same time.

It took me a while but after a couple of weeks I got into the groove of putting together office appropriate outfits with a fashionable flair. This blog will be my tips and tricks that I've learned from my trials and tribulations of being what I now call an "office fashion newbie."