Black Pants for Work: Modern Tuxedo

I cap off my feature on black pants with black tuxedo trousers.  I love that these pants have a classic trouser shape while the ivory stripe adds on-trend flair.

Pants:  Ann Taylor Petites (Available here)
Blazer:  Ann Taylor (Available here)

My love for tuxedo-inspired styles is never-ending.  For this look, I paired the tuxedo trousers with a cropped ivory tuxedo blazer and a bib-front tank for a modern take on the tuxedo.

Ivory tank:  LOFT Petites (Sold out on-line; may be available in stores)
Black tank:  Old Navy Petites (Similar here)

Bag:  Target
Bangles:  ??? (old)

I added wooden bangles and a bright zebra print bag for an unexpected mix.

I like this outfit quite a bit, but I think if I were to do it over, I would up the tribal accessories and inspiration to make the mix of tribal and tuxedo more deliberate looking.  If you're going to do something, commit, right?  :-)

Boots:  Target (Available here)

Are you a fan of tuxedo-inspired looks? How do you keep your black pants interesting for work?


For these pants in another look, see here.
For this tank in another outfit, see here.

Dress Week: Tribal-Inspired

Global-inspired fashion was a huge trend on spring runways (see more here). 

I've long been inspired by everyday clothing and costume from around the world.  I'm particularly inspired by tribal clothing and jewelry - the rich textures, vibrant colors, and interesting metal work have influenced my home decor, and today, they influence my fashion choices.

Dress:  LOFT Petites (Available here)

Purse:  Target (Available here)

I added a tribal-inspired necklace and zebra print bag to a bright orange dress for a fun evening look.  I especially love the bright orange of this dress paired with the bright citrine bag.  I tucked the strap into the bag to use the bag as a clutch, giving it a slightly dressier feel.

Necklace:  LOFT
Cuff:  New York & Company (Similar here)

Jacket:  LOFT Petites (Available in regular sizes here)

I purchased this strapless dress recently from LOFT.  The fit was a little off, and the dress kept sliding down in an unflattering way.  Since I needed the dress hemmed, I decided to use the extra fabric to add straps to prevent slippage.  

Shoes:  Target (Available here)

Little tweaks like adding straps are an inexpensive and easy way to make pieces work for you.   

Do you like tribal-inspired fashion?  What are your fashion inspirations?

For this jacket in another look, see here.

Whimsy for Work

Hope you all had a great week and are enjoying your weekend!

I've spent the last two weeks in suits, so yesterday, when I had the opportunity to have a little more fun with my work look, I seized it.

Blazer:  Torrid (Available here)
Blouse:  Forenza by The Limited

"Evil eye" ring:  H&M
Bracelets:  Target, World Market

While I try to maintain a fairly conservative look for work, I do love adding a little whimsy sometimes through bold color choices, pattern mixing, and fun accessories like my "evil eye" ring and snake earring (close-ups here and here, respectively).

Pants:  The Limited
Purse:  Target (Available here)

Shoes:  Target

For this blouse in another look, see here and here.

Hello Yellow

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

Skirt: Target (Available here)
Jacket:  The Limited (Available here)

For work yesterday, I had fun styling my A-line print skirt with a black bow-front blouse and citrine yellow faux leather jacket.  

Blouse:  Old Navy (old)
Necklace:  Express (old)

I love how the yellow jacket brings out the hints of yellow in the skirt.

Bag:  The Limited (old)
Earrings:  The Limited (Available here)

The bow-front blouse and hemline is conservative enough for the office, but the print of the skirt and strappy heels gives the look a more youthful edge. 

Shoes:  Target (old)

I'm actually considering hemming this skirt.  Sometimes, it takes a few wears of a garment before I decide it needs alterations.  Due to the volume of this skirt, I think cutting off an inch or so would be more proportionate.

What do you think?  Do you get many clothing items altered?  How do you decide the "best" fit?

To see this skirt styled differently, see here.
To see this top styled differently, see here, here, and here.
To see this jacket styled differently, see here, here, and here.

Zesty Lemon and Lace

I love unexpected pieces that pop into my life.  

Pants:  The Limited (Sold out in navy on-line; Available in black here)
Lace tunic:  Forever 21+ (Available  here)

I was very excited to find this lace top from Forever 21+  It's long enough to wear as a dress (once I find a suitable lining), but I also love it over skinny pants.

Jacket:  The Limited (Available here)
Tank:  Target (Available in other colors )

Remember how I said that petite girls have to be careful not to go too long with tops?  Tops that hit mid to upper-thigh are a no-no (unless you really love them, and then, do whatever you want!).  I think a knee-length top like is a different story.  It works here because the pants are kept narrow.

I threw on my lemon yellow faux leather jacket and added a clutch, and I was good to go!  

To see these pants styled differently, see here, here, here, and here.
For this jacket in other looks, see here and here.

Sportin' Stripes

Happy Friday everyone!

On today's casual Friday, I was feeling a little bit sporty.  I paired a striped tank with a colorblocked cardigan.  I then decided to mix prints by adding leopard print heels.

Cardigan:  The Limited (old) (Similar here)
Tank: The Limited (old)

Jeans:  The Limited (Available here)
Heels:  Target (Available here)
Bag:  The Limited (old)

I'm not in love with this outfit, but sometimes it's fun to experiment with different color and pattern combinations.  It's not a winner for me, but I did like the mix of colors and prints, so I'll just have to keep trying combinations until I get it right!

One of the great joys of developing a personal style is figuring out what works for you and what doesn't, what you like and what you don't.  That takes trial and error.   

Don't be afraid to shop your closet and try new looks!