Beyond POW: Black, White, and Comfy Manic Monday

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Outfit Mission Statement: Take knit pieces in white and black for a strong, chic, and comfortable Manic Monday look

Manic Monday outfits are easy career clothes to throw on for manic Mondays. This Monday we focus on creating a fun, high-contrast, but still comfortable work outfit. The POW (Piece of the Week) is the Beyond Tee from cabi Fall 2016. In this look, I take advantage of the long panels to create modern, open jacket look. The outfit is also very comfortable, with a knit pencil skirt and tee shirt—it may be more comfortable than your pjs! Together with the mixed prints, this is a chic, yet comfortable look to rock some manic Mondays. The high contrast of white and black gives it a dressier and more sophisticated air, meaning you could be both more comfortable and dressier than your coworkers—always a great combo. I am wearing the Beyond Tee backwards here, for a higher neckline that looks more professional with the sleeveless style. If you add a layer, you could wear it either way.

If your autumn has been as warm as mine, you are looking for new ways to style cool work outfits, so you do not overheat. But, if you are having crisp fall days, consider adding a cardigan, cropped jacket, long sleeved top, or turtleneck with this outfit to keep your arms warm.

 

Beyond Tee Styling Technique: Long Vest

To rock the “Long Vest” technique:

  1. Put it on backwards with the tag in front for a higher and more professional neckline 
  2. Tuck the bottom of the tunic part of the tee shirt (not the panels) into your skirt
  3. Wear the panels down each side as they naturally fall
  4. Add a thin print belt at your natural waist for curves

 

Tips:

  • When going sleeveless in the office, go with a higher neckline to add coverage and a more professional air
  • Don’t forget to follow the rules of mixing prints--in this case the prints works because the prints are different sizes and the same colors, plus animal prints can often be considered a neutral (when in their natural colors)
  • To add curves, wear a bold skinny belt at your natural waist
  • When wearing something that could be seen as casual, stick to black or black and white for a more professional feel
  • A low soft ponytail is an easy, yet professional, manic Monday hairstyle
  • Remember, when mixing white, they do not have to be the same shades of white
  • Play up the pattern mixing by wearing shoes with some type of a pattern, even straps

 

Outfit Breakdown:

If you would like the Beyond Tee, contact your cabi stylist. If you do not have one, please contact me in the comments or via email, reach out to my (Joni Allen via email or phone: 770 502-5243 [call or text]), or find a cabi stylist near you.

 

Related Posts:

  1. Bardot POW: Ponte and Knotted Manic Monday Posted June 06, 2016: For a comfortable, professional Monday outfit, dress up your denim shirt with a navy ponte pencil skirt
  2. Plaid POW: Manic Flannel Monday Posted February 22, 2016: For a cozy yet professional look, take one casual flannel and add lots of professional pieces
  3. Michelle POW: Manic Peasant in Ponte Monday Posted March 07, 2016: For a casual, yet professional, office look, consider ponte and a peasant blouse with your cardigan

Three Tips for Fabulous Fourth Style: Tip Three—Find one versatile new piece and mix it with red, white, and blue you already own

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For better or worse, the Fourth of July only comes once a year. You can style a few more patriotic days if you want, such as Memorial Day and Veterans’ Day (and Bastille Day, if you want to get your French on). But, most of the rest of the year, red, white, and blue just may be too much, especially items that are clearly for the Fourth. Thus, buying specific clothes for the holiday may not be an effective use of your money or closet space. Instead, start with a new piece that you can also wear other days of the year. Bonus points if it suggests the Fourth of July, such as stars in red, white, and/or blue, but doesn’t scream it, so you can wear them the rest of the season too. Then add red, white, and blue pieces you already own for a practical, closet-, and budget-friendly look!  Not sure what to get? Check out “Not just for fireworks: Nine Versatile Pieces for your Fourth of July and Patriotic Wardrobe” for some new pieces to add to your wardrobe.

Tips for making it work:

This skirt is perfect for the Fourth but it also can work for work, church, special occasions, and more! Outfit: PLEATED STAR SKIRT, SLEEVELESS DOUBLE DRAPE TEE, AND BOW BALLET FLATS.

This skirt is perfect for the Fourth but it also can work for work, church, special occasions, and more! Outfit: PLEATED STAR SKIRT, SLEEVELESS DOUBLE DRAPE TEE, AND BOW BALLET FLATS.

  • If you find your closet lacking either, go for stripes or stars for your new pieces—there are lots of options that easily work for everyday wear (my favorite may be this lovely skirt)
  • Look for new pieces you can clearly see yourself wearing to best ensure you do
  • If you add a new red item, you could possibly rock it for other “red” holidays, such as Christmas and Valentine’s day (a red dress a red or a top you can layer might be best for this) (this idea could also work for blue for Hanukkah…), making it even more versatile
  • Keep in mind how you are celebrating the Fourth, while I love this skirt or this jacket, neither will work for my plans to be outside in the hot Georgia weather walking around a festival and having a casual picnic before watching fireworks (although I wore them to work around the Fourth for a patriotic touch)
  • Look for fun pieces, such as red shiny wedges, as star scarf, or dangling star earrings for a celebratory touch
  • Feel free to go overboard if you are adding anew accessory, as they can easily be styled “down” the rest of the year (Such as this blue and red star scarf—clearly has a Fourth of July vibe, but could also work with a navy suit)
  • Shop your closet for the rest of the outfit, focusing on red, white, and blue items
  • When putting together the outfit consider these previous tips:
 
This scarf is clearly ready for the Fourth--but think of all the ways you can wear it all summer long! OUTFIT: STRIPED FAVORITE TANK, PICNIC SHORT, STAR PRINT SCARF, AND THE BOW BALLET FLATS

This scarf is clearly ready for the Fourth--but think of all the ways you can wear it all summer long! OUTFIT: STRIPED FAVORITE TANK, PICNIC SHORT, STAR PRINT SCARF, AND THE BOW BALLET FLATS

Amazing jacket, right? It also rocks for work! OUTFIT: CRUISE JACKET, and everything else is older (Aersoles shoes, Target shorts, Stella & Dot necklace, past season necklace.

Amazing jacket, right? It also rocks for work! OUTFIT: CRUISE JACKET, and everything else is older (Aersoles shoes, Target shorts, Stella & Dot necklace, past season necklace.

I hope you enjoyed my Three Tips for Fabulous Fourth Style. Be sure to check out Tip 1—Wear  Two & Pop One and Tip Two—Mix Prints for a more Festive Look!

I’ll be back to the POW posts soon, never free. But look forward to more posts of this kind. I had a lot of fun with them. Let me know if there is another day or topic you would like me to focus on for style tips!

Three Tips for Fabulous Fourth Style: Tip Two—Mix Prints for a more Festive Look!

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For a fun and festival Fourth of July look, mix prints in red, white, and blue. This will be a more unexpected look, especially if you choose prints that are not something clearly "Fourth of July prints"—like an American flag print. Bonus points if you can mix a strip with a star print!

Tips for making it work:

Three prints, including a star print and stripe print. Outfit: Striped Favorite Tank, Picnic Short, Star Print Scarf, and the Bow Ballet Flats

Three prints, including a star print and stripe print. Outfit: Striped Favorite Tank, Picnic Short, Star Print Scarf, and the Bow Ballet Flats

  • Make one of your prints stripes for more clear reference to Independence Day
  • Consider mixing a stripes print and a star print, if you have them, for a fun play on the American flag (and this mixes two of the same types of prints [geometric], which is a win for print mixing)
  • For the Fourth, you can have a lot of fun mixing prints in the three colors, which automatically gives you a limited palette and the opportunity to go bigger and bolder than normal
  • Follow the rule for mixing prints so the outfit works together, especially these:
    • It may be easier to mix prints if you choose one main color that is in each of the prints to bring the outfit together (white may be easiest and is used in my examples)
    • For a more complicated mix, try prints with different main color (such as red, white, and blue) [These last two conflict, but either can work, so go with what best fits your style and experience with mixing prints]
    • If mixing prints in the same color, emphasize differences in size, fabric, and style of print
    • Play with size, mixing smaller prints with larger prints
    • Look for different fabrics and structure, such as a loose knit and a structured cotton
    • Consider stripes a neutral when mixing prints
  • Have fun—it’s the Fourth you can go a bit wild and not be the craziest dressed person
Two prints with different main colors, textures, and print size. Outfit: KRIS TOP, PICNIC SHORT, STAR PRINT SCARF, AND THE BOW BALLET FLATS

Two prints with different main colors, textures, and print size. Outfit: KRIS TOP, PICNIC SHORT, STAR PRINT SCARF, AND THE BOW BALLET FLATS

Two prints both in the same two colors with the same main colors in different sizes. Outfit: Butterfly Print Scarf, PLEATED STAR SKIRT, SLEEVELESS DOUBLE DRAPE TEE, AND BOW BALLET FLATS.

Two prints both in the same two colors with the same main colors in different sizes. Outfit: Butterfly Print Scarf, PLEATED STAR SKIRT, SLEEVELESS DOUBLE DRAPE TEE, AND BOW BALLET FLATS.

Check out the first tip: Wear Two & Pop One and tune in tomorrow for the second!

Margherita POW: Trendy Terrific Print Play Thursday

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Outfit Mission Statement: Mix prints in the same color family with a pop of a contrasting color/print for a lighthearted trendy outfit

 

TTT Thursday outfits are Trendy, Transitional, and/or Terrific—in other words my choice. It can be whatever other outfit ideas the garment gave me. It may be something very trendy, transitional, terrific, or something else. The POW (Piece of the Week) is the cabi Spring 2016 Margherita Dress. This POW we are focusing on Trendy! Prints are classic, of course, but very in right now, and mixed prints are quite on-trend. Mixing prints can be scary, but it doesn’t need to be. It can also be very fun—it adds a fresh and exciting flair. This outfit is a mix of four different prints, and is a fun, lighthearted, and a pleasure to wear.

 

Tips:

When mixing prints:

  • Keep your colors in the same limited color family—here I focus on whites, navy, and black (but don’t be afraid to pop a small piece in another color)
  • Consider your stripes (or leopard print) to be a neutral, as I did here with the square dots stripe pattern
  • Work with similar types of prints: the dress and jacket both have geometric prints of lines and shapes that are square or square-like
  • Mix fabric textures and styling, such as a flowy dress and structured jacket
  • Choose a print of neutral for one of the main prints, as shown with the jacket
  • Play with size—the stripes on the skirt are large (with small elements) while the jacket has a small sprint and the scarf has a larger print with a lot of white space
  • Match one color—as I did with the navy in the dress, scarf, and clutch
  • Be adventurous and have fun with it, you may be surprised what actually works together (this outfit was exactly that—I tried the prints together and loved them)
  • When wearing an outfit of prints, consider popping one accessory in a bold color or bold and different print
  • Match your shoes to the dominate color to go easier on the eye or make this another area of print play!

 

Outfit Breakdown: