Showing posts with label Work Wardrobe. Show all posts

Wearing pencil skirts I used to always feel like a kid dressed in grown up clothes- they just didn't seem right and always hung somewhere around mid-calf (Kay, I know you feel me on this one). Until, that is, a miraculous blow out sale at Banana Republic in which I learned about petite pencil skirts (this is the one that popped my petite skirt cherry). I've always had in my head that "petite" means tiny/skinny, and I've always had a booty that would not be considered tiny or skinny, but that day I learned that "petite" is a length thing, and if your body is 5'4" in length or shorter you should be wearing petite. Old Navy has this nice graphic to explain it on their website, and Old Navy is Banana's cheap/poor red-headed sister so this goes for both:



So here is my round up of my fav affordable petite pencil skirts for the spring. I mean summer. I mean, whatever season it is right now that involves temperatures that are 48 one day and 88 the next day.

1. $17.99 @ JC Penney || 2.  $19.99 @ JC Penney || 3. $25.77 @ NY & CO || 4. $54.99 + 40% off = $34.99 @ Loft || 5. $26.99 @ Macy's (seersucker! Hello summer! use promo code "memdeal" for an extra 15% off) 6. $24.99 @ Gap

My fav pencil skirt looks via Pinterest:
via
via
via
via
via

I think nothing tops off a good work pencil skirt like pointed flats (or heels if you don't have to walk all over the falling apart streets of DC). I just ordered these taupe flats and also love these and these. 

 QUESTION:  What are your summer work wardrobe essentials? 

 Linking up today at Little Friday, Lovely Thursdays, Look What I Got, Tres Chic Fashion Thursday

Broke Girl's Work Wardrobe: The Pencil Skirt (should YOU be wearing petites??)

Thursday, May 22, 2014

While I'm soaking up the San Diego sun my good friend Charisse is taking over Thursday on Broke & Bougie! Enjoy!

I'm Charisse, a twenty something non-profit professional. I also happen to be a full-figured fashionista and often Lindsay's personal stylist. I am so excited to finally get the opportunity to write a post of Broke and Bougie!

While getting ready for the ballet this weekend, I had a mini meltdown because I had nothing to wear and not in that "I have lots of stuff but just not feeling what I have" kind of way. In that moment I decided I needed to maybe a get a couple of new items to addto my wardrobe to get me fashionably through the Winter. I started with my usual plus size friendly online shops: Asos Curve, Target, and Simply Be. I wasn't really finding anything I like and then I remembered that I had read on one of the plus size blogs that I follow that Talbots is a great place for curvy girls. Not only do they go to size 20 in their straight sizes BUT they have womans and womans petite. When I think of Talbots I usually think of Boca, sweater sets and loafers but I thought why not try, you never know right? Plus a trust fashionista can make anything work. Boy am I glad I went with it, Talbots is currently having a huge end of season sale; up to 60% off all items. I purchased 3 pairs of great pants for $87 original retial price, wait for it......$387!! SCORE

Prints and textures seem to be on trend for fall 2014 so I will definitely get some wear out of these next season. If you are afraid of wearing prints on bottom, ease your way in with a subtle mono-chromatic print like these purchased in black.

I also have seen jewel tones making a return on the runways at Mercedes Benz Fashion week (streamed through Youtube) like these velveteen pants I got in a burgundy color.

Another item coming in strong this year is the tuxedo pant. I found this pair for under $30.

All pants were ankle length (another big trend) which is perfect for my 5'3 frame, they tend to hit just where I like it.

Moral of this story: open your mind to all retailers, you never know what you may find. Being a plus size woman who loves fashion is sometimes hard. The fashion industry is slowly moving towards seeing us as actual style influencers worthy of stylish and accessible clothing and not just people who need shrouds of drab clothes to cover a body that we are trying to change (come on Jenna Lyons, extend JCREW's sizing already).

Do you have any great straight size cltohing stores that work for a fuller figure? If so share away, I am always looking to add to my arsenal.

**Follow Charisse's fashionspiration on Pinterest

$20 Tuxedo Pant @ Talbots

$ 20 Curvy Velveteen Ankle Pants

Print Pants @ Talbots


Guest Post: The Best of Plus Size Pants (you'll NEVER guess where we found the best)

Thursday, February 20, 2014

http://25.media.tumblr.com/8d721c401a77e4fb8a1c91a57d761847/tumblr_mz2lb9sQ5A1qli8ufo1_500.gif 

 In honor of House of Cards' AMAZING return, a tribute to the greatest political villian of all time, who also happens to have an incredibly fabulous work wardrobe: Claire Underwood. ("I'm willing to let your baby wither and die inside of you" OMG CLAIRE REALLY?!).

Did anyone else notice Claire's color-coordinated closets that she casually wisped by while talking to her media manager? Claire Underwood's closets in a few words: white, neutral, grey, black and tailored.

So here's my knock-off Claire outfits that can go straight to the tailor:

First off: Claire Underwood's Perfect Grey Dress.

 Claire's Perfect Grey Dress for the Broke and Bougie: 



Second: Claire's Perfectly Tailored White Button Down (or button up, depending on where you're from)
 

Claire's Perfectly Tailored White Button-up for the Broke and Bougie:
 1. $54.50 Contrast Trim Button Down Shirt @ Loft  |  2. $29.94 Long Sleeve Piped Essential Shirt @ Express  |  3. $14.99 Women's Regular 3/4-sleeve Modern Broadcloth Shirt @ Land's End





Third: Claire's Perfect Blue Dress
 

Claire's Perfect Blue Dress for the Broke and Bougie:
 1. $49.50 Collection to Wear to Work Sheath Dress @ The Limited  |  2. $18 Merona® Women's Textured Cap Sleeve Shift Dress @ Target  |  3. $41 Cap Sleeve Sheath Dress @ Express





Fourth: Claire Underwood's Perfect White House Awards Ceremony LBD

Claire Underwood's Perfect White House Awards Ceremony LBD  for the Broke and Bougie:


Fifth: Claire's Perfectly Feminine/All-Business Suits

Claire's Perfectly Feminine/All-Business Suits for the Broke and Bougie: 

This is a piece that truly needs to be tailored. For the big-bootied  narrow-shouldered munchkin-legged women such as myself, the perfect suit does not exist- we have to make it. Here is where I have found the best deals on suits (that are almost always on sale):

Holiday Bonus: Claire Underwood Fashion for the Broke and Bougie

Sunday, February 16, 2014

Look I hate to brag but since power shopping isn't a nationally recognized competition yet, I have to give myself my own kudos in this area. Can we just talk about how I have managed to never pay more than $20 (except on shoes- hey, YOLO) on anything I wear? Also I follow a lot of those blogs that are just people showing what they wear to work every day and am almost always like OH I HAVE ALL THOSE PIECES! So a little broke and bougie inspiration for the week:

Monday


Tuesday
Wednesday (it was a desk day)

Thursday
  • Shoes: $25 at DSW (7 years ago)
  • Pants: $19.99 Julie Straight Leg at Loft (I'm on their e-mail list and got an alert that these pants were 50% off the sale price and knew I had to track some down in my size)
  • Blouse: $17.50 at Forever 21 (2 years ago, see similar ones here)
  • Watch: $20 at Hallmark. Yep, Hallmark. Sidenote on Hallmark: they have a lot of random cool stuff. My mom did a part time gig there and I discovered that besides extremely over-priced cards, they also have reasonably priced chatchkis (see- unbreakable wine glasses, wine glass tumblers with LIDS, the list goes on).

Broke Girl's Work Wardrobe Pieces Under $20

Sunday, October 27, 2013


As soon as cooler weather sets in my wardrobe turns grey and black. This year's fall resolution: try to look alive- cut back on the black and grey! Cue the patterned blazer. These are some great options to spice up the work wardrobe but still keep it professional.
  1. LC Lauren Conrad Floral Tux Blazer $21.00 @ Kohls: My girl makes great work clothes for really affordable prices. Love love love this, especially how the black collar and zipper pockets that tone it down a bit.
  2. Sofia by Sofia Vergara Women's Open Front Blazer- Leopard Print $29 @ K-Mart: So yeah, I guess K-Mart's still here thanks to Sofia Vergara. I actually read somewhere that she is making mad bank off her K-Mart clothing line, surprising since I didn't know K-Mart was making bank off anything right now. But hey, this is a classy looking leopard blazer and I like the look of this with bright pants and a neutral blouse.
  3. Jersey Blazer Dark Blue/Pattern $17 @ H&M : I know, it's jersey. But it actually looks professional and is super comfortable and not too bunchy (you know how blazers can be that way?). I like how this incorporates comfort, professionalism and the geo-tribal-pattern or whatever we're calling it this season. 
  4. Mossimo Women's Printed Sateen Blazer Jacket $17 @ Target: I've really been dating myself lately by saying "I miss when I used to go to Target with $20 and come out with at least 2 pieces of good clothing", but they're back at it with affordable clothes. The light sateen fabric is great for sweaty people like me (hello I just walked 5 blocks from a crowded bus can we please turn the heat in this office down). It's a pretty busy pattern, I would pair it with a black or white shirt and black pants, or put it over a black or white dress.

Fall Workwear: The Pattern Blazer {under $30}

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Caramel Leopard Moon Walk Flats from Zulily for $14 + $5 shipping
I may or may not have an online shopping problem. But whatever, if I was shopping in real life around DC I'd spend 10 times as much money, and I can justify this purchase as a "work wardrobe expense". I found these today on Zulily  for $14 plus $5 shipping and handling. I really like the dress loafer style and in my online research have had a hard time finding this style for under $40. I love the coloring of these, and I like the lack of studs or other odd bling I've been finding on other options. Here are a few other leopard print flat options:



JC Penny Leopard Print Studded Flat for $24 (but they have studs...):








Kenneth Cole Reaction Slipified Flat at DSW for $39.94
 







Unleashed by Rocket Dog Conner Flats at Kohl's for $34.99




$15 Leopard Flats from Zulily

Monday, September 9, 2013

 

My favorite thing about shopping at Kohl's might be how the receipt shows how much you saved at the bottom. HA yeah don't mind me, just saving almost $100 today! My second favorite thing about shopping at Kohl's is how nothing is ever NOT on sale. Every time I go to the register I get a sale surprise..and am that girl who celebrates with the cashier "I HAD NO IDEA THIS WAS $4!!!!!! LET'S HUG!!" The third thing I love is that my girl Lauren Conrad has a clothing line there. As someone who feels they went through high school with the Laguna Beach class, then had a summer internship in LA at the same time The Hills was airing (really who didn't feel the regret with LC when she returned from her horrible summer at the beach with Jason instead of going to PARIS), I feel like I'm supporting an old friend when I buy her clothes. Call me crazy but I know at one point or another everyone in my generation of MTV watchers feels it too.

I got a nice pair of Elle Skinny Twill Ankle Pants for $25! I have kept my eye on every sale that comes up (Express, The Loft, Anne Taylor, etc) and searched Targets and TJ Maxxs (wait is that how you pluralize Maxx?) far and wide for a good pair of black dress pants for under $40 that don't look like Mom Pants and this is the best deal. I got two blouses from LC's line (one is called Coachella Sunrise- you're too cool, LC) that I will pair with blazers and cardigans or wear with my pencil skirts. I also grabbed a Croft & Barrow Open Front Long cream colored cardigan to wear with dresses as the weather cools off.

So thanks, LC for getting me through high school, being there for me in LA, and now dressing me for work. Go girl.

All of the clearance items are also available for the same price on kohls.com .

Work Wear: Kohl's Clearance Rack Edition

Friday, August 23, 2013

Subscribe to: Posts ( Atom )