"Business Casual Doesn't Have to be Business Boring"

"I guess business casual doesn't have to be business boring."

That's what an office mate said to me last Wednesday when I wore this outfit to work. And I agree; I mean, the office dress code of conduct isn't a mandate to wear sweater sets and lame-o slacks.

To be fair, the tights look more demure (more raspberry and opaque) than they do in this photo.

• Light khaki trench by Kristin Davis (of Sex and the City) fame: $25ish after a deep discount at a Junior League shopping event. Unfortunately Belk discontinued the classic and sophisticated line.
• Evan Picone dress ($18 via Ross - also seen here)
• Burgandy tights (Hue)
• Patent booties with gold zippers - BCBG Girl via eBay
• My "nerd" glasses via Zenni Optical

p.s. Don't forget about the latest Audience Participation Friday. Send me your best black and white get-up by 10pm tonight!

What's Black and Blue and Cheap All Over?

Why a Less than $50 outfit, of course!

I TOTALLY had forgotten about this skirt until this morning. I saw it peeking out from the back of my closet, covered by a thin layer of dry cleaner's plastic wrap. I don't think I've worn it in five months. I've missed you, lined/textured Isaac Mizrahi for Target skirt.

• Top: $4 on extra super clearance at the Georgia Premium Outlets' Banana Republic. It's actually too big in the body, so I just keep it unbuttoned and fold it over just a bit. I thought the tribal-esque print might be a little much, but it's grown on me.
• Black tank: $5 (Old Navy)
• Stretchy belt: $2 at (Athens, Georgia) Salvation Army ions ago! It has a kind of art deco textured buckle. I bet I've worn this belt 100 times.
• Aforementioned Isaac Mizrahi for Target skirt. Picked this up nearly a year ago at Salvation Army while in Michigan for my grandparents' 60th wedding anniversary. What a fun weekend. $4.
• Shoes are from the place where 50 percent of my shoes are from: Ross Dress for Less (North Dekalb Mall in Decatur, Georgia, location). Leather platform pumps by Nine West - they have fun patent leather tips. $27.
• Grand total: $42

(shheesh - I had enough dollar bills left in this outfit to have thrown on an eBay costume necklace!)

Taking a Risk: <$50 Outfit Post

Every time I wear white, I take a serious risk. I am the most coffee spilling, makeup smearing, accidental pen writing person that I know!

I feel a little less nervous about ruining white clothing when I pay under $10 for it...

• Orange/red lucite necklace: eBay ($8)... I always have fun searching "costume jewelry" on eBay
• Black tank: Old Navy ($5)
• Black elastic/art deco belt: Salvation Army from ~6 years ago ($2)
• White lace skirt: Marietta, GA, Goodwill ($5)
• Black buckle pumps: $20 Fitzwell (6pm.com) 
• TOTAL: $40

Forgive the pumps — wore this to work today with a little 3/4 sleeve jacket over top.

On a side note, I think my camera takes fine photos outside (like these) — but the indoor ones are awful. Can't wait 'til I have a better camera! This is hint #4 or 5. 

My Going Away Day: Sassy Sandal Friday

We commemorated my last day at my job (I accepted a new job with a large auto advertising company) with a theme shoe day: Sassy Sandal Friday.

Maria's sandals mix classic polka dots with fun and flirty flowers.

Allison was on the hunt for versatile, comfortable, cute white heels with zero cheesiness factor. I think she found 'em!

I wore some Jessica Simpson patent, t-strap heels gifted to me by my sister-in-law (too big for her, just right for me). 

Party in the back (my sandals).

Rachel added a pop of glam with her in simple, gold sandals.

Susan's sandals mix two colors I love to wear together: black and brown. Love the flower detail, too!

I'm going to miss all my fun and foxy colleagues — and their willingness to participate in my silly style escapades. 

Easter Inspiration

Some coworkers and I co-conspired to wear Easter colors on Friday. 

I realized Thursday night that I actually didn't have ONE pastel-colored blouse or skirt (or any other bright Easter Egg-ish color anything for that matter). Lucky for me, the Decatur Last Chance had a size 6 pale pink oxford that was calling my name! 

Thanks for brightening up your work attire with me, work friends!

(Josh and Michele couldn't make it for the group shot.)

One Project Stalled (Must Be a Sign)

Two blankets into my volunteer work (sewing baby blankets for Grady Hospital babies), my sewing machine broke. If this isn't annoying enough, I JUST got it serviced (I'm talking days ago) and I have to sew the hems on 33 blankets before February 8! I am brainstorming creative ways to get to the repair shop... which is only open from 9 to 5:30 and is located on the opposite side of town from my office. Ugh.

Anyway, since I was feeling crafty tonight, I'll pick up a little project I'd been putting off — putting new buttons on the Maggy London shirt dress I bought back in November at Last Chance (a local thrift store). 

Maggy London has been in the biz of making feminine and unique dresses for a few decades. A quick google search tells me the brand is still carried at the likes of Nordstrom — and there's a decent presence of ML dresses on resale sites like Etsy. Check out this Maggy London vintage secretary dress for sale on Etsy: 

S/M dress seen here for $22.

Oooh. And I love this funky/fem silk 80s one, too (also on Etsy). 

Size 12 Maggy London dress seen here for $48.

I think being able to wear my new-to-me Maggy London dress tomorrow is enough to make me forget about this sewing machine debacle for just a bit. 

Goodwill Finds: 80s Vertical Striped Sweater Dress

click to enlarge.

One of my New Year's resolutions is encouraging more people to buy secondhand. There are SO many reasons to consider shopping your local Goodwill, Salvation Army or vintage boutique. 

• Cost (you're almost always going to pay less)
• Sustainability (what's more "green" than buying others' "recycled" clothing)
• There are good options! (I donate nice things to Goodwill, and others do, too — their discards can be your treasures — and many items are in nearly new condition)
• Uniqueness (more one of a kind, funky stuff than any women's — or men's — clothing shop you'll visit)
• THERE'S SERIOUS FUN IN THE HUNT!

Okay, more on that later.

For now, here's an example of what's waiting for you at your local secondhand shop. 

Secondhand find: teal/black, vertical-striped sweater dress (so soft!) - $5.89 at the Northlake (i.e., Tucker) Goodwill - no tag

Paired with: black leggings (Target), elastic/fake patent belt (Mercedes Bien in D.C.), Dolce Vita wish boots 

And if you REALLY want to see a great blog about secondhand clothes, check out "New Dress A Day," a blog dedicated to spending $365 (or less) on 365 days' worth of outfits. Marisa is a genius at finding neat thrift clothes and making them her own. Some need more work than others, and she takes "before" and "after" photos to show how she customizes each item to her style and taste. Phenom. I'm so inspired. (Thanks to Becca for sharing this blog with me!)

Pre-Thanksgiving Crazy Boot Wednesday

It may feel like a Friday... but it's still a (Crazy Boot) Wednesday... Thanks to the office ladies who participated in the fun. We were double up on participation last week.

(The boots third in from the right belong to my company's owner/CEO)

Sorry, AJ. Didn't mean to block your awesome wedge boots!

And e-mailing in from Tifton, Georgia, is a little man named Will. Check out Will and his super rad, super tough cowboy boots:

Rockin'

Crazy Boots Wednesday (More Join in the Fun)

Just another regular Wednesday awesome Crazy Boots Wednesday.

Coworkers from left to right: (me), Vondia, Kathryn, Ethleen

Take two. (Maria, get your boots soon so you can join in on the fun!)

I recruited a few more ladies to wear fun boots (I think my Tuesday e-mail said, "Alright ladies. It's on tomorrow. Crazy Boots Wednesday." Hump day is a little more fun when you're wearing fun shoes...

And speaking of shoes, remember to send in your answers: What's the fiercest pair of shoes in your closet? Send photos — and tell the story behind your shoes (why they're so fierce, where you found them, what feedback you get when you wear them, how you feel when you rock 'em out, etc.). Send your submissions in to lifefulfilledatl@gmail.com by 10pm Thursday night (November 19).

Kathryn (Michael Kors boots pictured above) decided we should call Friday "Sexy Shoes Friday" to go along with my Audience Participation Friday theme. So stay tuned for Kathryn's (and others') sexy/fierce shoes!

Crazy Boot Wednesday (and an Audience Participation Friday reminder)

A few weeks ago, I declared one Wednesday as "Crazy Boot Wednesday." Even though I thought my boss and HR woman may be less than amused, the day was a hit. In fact, our head of HR stopped by my desk that first Wednesday and glared at me. 

"Katy, you didn't tell ME it was 'crazy boot Wednesday," she said sternly. "I want to participate!"

And so Wednesday are henceforth declared "Crazy Boot Wednesdays" until further notice (or until we have a client in the office and have to postpone until the next week).

I told my hip and fashion savvy colleague Peggy that we should take a photo of our crazy boots. And so here we are:

Peg's iridescent snake skin kickers make my leather cowboys look lame. I'll kick it up a notch next week...

She can even pose her feet fashionably!

Check out that shimmer.

These photos are a great segue way to the next topic at hand: a reminder for Audience Participation Friday!

What's the fiercest pair of shoes in your closet? Send photos — and tell the story behind your shoes (why they're so fierce, where you found them, what feedback you get when you wear them, how you feel when you rock 'em out, etc.). Send your submissions in to lifefulfilledatl@gmail.com by 10pm tomorrow night (Thursday, November 12).

(p.s. Dawn, while you made me laugh when you told me the idea last week, I think I'll hold off on "crazy pushup bra Thursdays" for now.)

Houndstooth Belt

It had been TOO long since I wore this houndstooth belt my stepmother gifted me with last year. It's so hard to decide what to wear it with. All black? A white top and black pants? No, that's too predictable and too soccer mom. A black top, black skirt and crimson-colored platform heels? Now that feels better!

This was also the first time I've worn this flowy/slightly rugged military-style DOTS skirt in maybe two years. If you have time, I really encourage you to swing into a DOTS to see what they have. I usually find a cute (and super cheap) skirt, dress or piece of costume jewelry.

Lightweight turtleneck: $15 at Target

Skirt: $18 at DOTS

Tights: $5 at Target

Belt: gifted (I know that's kind of cheating in a <$50 outfit post but oh well)

Shoes: gifted by Mb but by Nine West (I get so many compliments on these shoes that I need to get more ASAP — and I feel like they're really flattering on the legs)

Outfit total: $38

And no, I did not intend to look like an Alabama fan.

(Nearly) A Week in Review

When I wake up, I think I'll be able to pick out in outfit in under a minute. With all the staples that any gal probably has (black skirt, brown skirt, black sweater, black dress, solid and print button-ups, blazers, etc.), it shouldn't be that hard... right?

Turns out that the one-minute estimate is on the way skimpy side. Each morning, I end up spending about 10 minutes second-guessing a boring outfit choice only to grab something funkier from the depths of my wardrobe. Then I triple-guess myself, wondering if the slightly edgier outfit will be too much for my semi-conservative office. Then I land somewhere in the middle. 

I'm working to find the balance between fun/unique and business casual. Where are Stacy and Clinton when I need them?

Monday: OLD black Wal-Mart tank ($10), random black/white shrug sweater from Ross ($12), random Macy's black pencil skirt ($14) with white seams, gifted crimson Nine West shoes

Tuesday: GAP Outlet teal v-neck sweater ($17), GAP Outlet black and teal cap-sleeve blouse ($17) Ann Taylor LOFT lined wool pants via The Nearly New store ($7), gifted Kenneth Cole kitten heel Mary Janes

Wednesday: BCBG dress ($15 from Ross), Target tights ($5?), Lapis black swing coat ($12), Fitzwell heels ($15 plus S&H from www.6pm.com)

The Tuesday dress by its lonesome

Friday: vintage plaid lined cape ($4 plus $10 for alterations), Banana Republic Outlet white button-up ($17), Banana chinos ($6 at The Nearly New), Nine West brown kitten heels ($30)

(Forgot to take photos Thursday — sorry! And it looks like all but one outfit fell under $50)

What do you wear to work?

Second Day of Work: A Little More Fun

My second day of work was a little more fun from both experience and attire perspectives. I'm starting to understand the personalities of my colleagues and better understand the business. And I wore open toe shoes and a belt to cinch my waist.

And did I mention my office is the temperature of a deep freezer? I had goosebumps under my two light sweaters.

• Cream knit top: Christmas gift (Kohl's or somewhere)
• Brown short-sleeve sweater: Mossimo via Target
• Skirt: Banana Republic
• Shoes: Bandolino via Ross
• Belt: Liz Claiborne via Ross
• Necklace: one of the five I bought from eBay last week

What's your business casual look? I need Stacy and Clinton!

First Day of Work (and a <$50 outfit post)

I had trouble falling asleep last night. And this morning TOTALLY felt like the first day of school. 

"What should I wear?" 

"Will these shoes give off a good first impression?" 

"Pants or skirt for the first day?" 

"I wonder how they feel about open toes..."

For my first day at the new (business casual) job, I finally settled on a new-ish black dress, low-heeled Mary Janes and black tights with a barely-visible argyle pattern. I intended to put on my shapes chain necklace but forgot (whoops). Maybe I was too distracted by how the torrential rain was going to ruin my rarely flat-ironed hair? (FYI: I am aware that this photo is terrible — I ran out of time for re-dos.)

I'm already itching to wear something a little more funky (but still totally appropriate and within dress code). Part of this feeling comes from seeing my new colleague Peggy's workplace attire for the second time. When I visited the office two weeks ago, she had on a totally approp bohemian-style dress with creams, teals and browns and fabulous costume jewelry. Today she had on a tiered black dress, black kitten heels with roses on the toes (they were much cuter/less kitsch then they sound) and a cluster of metal, lucite and faux gemstone costume jewelry. Business casual can be fun and professional, right?

Dress: Evan Picone via Ross ($17.99 on clearance)

Tights: Anne Klein ($7.99 for a pack of two - Ross)

Shoes: Kenneth Cole Reaction (gifted from sister because they were too small for her)

Total: $25.98 (would have been $39.98 if I hadn't forgotten the necklace...)

Now that I have a reason to get dressed every morning, I hope to be back to posting outfits semi-regularly.

Note to self: get a better camera. Either the user or the camera sucks with indoor photos. Question to self: why so shiny? ALL THE TIME?