Go-To POW: Manic Black & White Monday

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Outfit Mission Statement: Rock your black pants in a long, lean, chic, and cropped black & white outfit

Manic Monday outfits are easy career clothes to throw on for manic Mondays. This Monday we focus on creating a chic work outfit. The POW (Piece of the Week) is the cabi Spring 2016 Go-To Trouser. This pants are work-ready. Thrown them on with a nice blouse, sweater, and/or jacket and you are good to go! But, you can do much more with them for a chic, professional look. Black pants are the perfect bottoms for nearly any top. But, it can be especially fun to make them the base of a black & white outfit. With the right pieces, like a linen blazer and dressy tee shirt, you can be chic, contrasting, casual, and comfortable! The shirt is the same cropped top you saw in Michelle POW: The Cropped & Contrasted Thursday.  Check out the post for tips on choosing a cropped top for you. Yes, you can wear the right cropped top to work—see!

 

Tips:

  • Roll your jacket sleeves for a more modern look
  • Consider a linen jacket for a nice summer-weight fabric and a more casual career style (since it wrinkles so easily, it may not work in a very formal office)
  • No need to wait for Labor Day to wear white, especially a fun white jacket
  • Make sure your jacket works buttoned and unbuttoned so you can change up the look during the day
  • With a black and white outfit consider keeping your accessories light and mild to not conflict or distract (or go bold to add even more pop) 
  • Don’t rule out cropped tops for work—just be careful with your selection: go for a longer length and make sure your stomach is covered
  • With the right cropped clothing you can still create a long lean look:
    • Make a dark color your base (pants and top), with the contrasting color for the jacket
    • Wear heels in the same color as your pants
    • Don’t go too short on the cropped pants or shirt

 

Outfit Breakdown:

For this photo shoot, I am wearing the sample cabi Spring 2016 Go-To Trouser, which is a size too big. My own pair did not arrive in time. Keep in mind these should be a bit tighter and smoother if they fit correctly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michelle POW: The Cropped & Contrasted Thursday

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Outfit Mission Statement: Don’t rule out a trend before you try it on

TTT Thursday outfits are Trendy, Transitional, and/or Terrific—in other words my choice. Whatever other outfit ideas the garment gave me. It may be something very trendy, transitional, or something else. The POW (Piece of the Week) is the cabi Spring 2016 Michelle Cardigan. I’m going more for trends this week. This outfit employs a few trends. First the crop top. Perhaps, like me, you shuttered when crop tops came back in, know that it was not a look for your body now. I was shocked when I tried this cabi Crop Top on. It’s longer than many, but still has the cropped silhouette and styling. It does not show off what I call my “mommy tummy,” as I feared. In fact, it’s rather flattering. I do plan to wear mine with higher waited items or perhaps a cami underneath so there are not occasional flashes of skin (or worse—the mommy tummy!). I’m shocked to say, I rather adore this cropped top! In fact, I think the length cuts right in the perfect spot to mask that tummy. Another trend in this outfit is mixing navy and black. This is such a fun, modern mix, which I have discussed previously. The navy and cobalt cardigan really add a pop of color to the outfit and cut the starkness of just black and white. It’s a pretty & fun layer over to other fun pieces. Stripes are also very in. These add a slight twist by being diagonal. And, yes, another m’legging sighting. These seem my go-to TTT Thursday pants! But that is because they are trendy, comfortable, and flattering. Really, if you don’t own a pair, go out and buy these. Trust me. You will wear them Thursday and the rest of the week!

 

Tips:

  • Don’t rule out a crop top, even if you are not skinny and don’t think you have the best tummy area! Just look for one in a flattering style for your body type. You may find the line of the top work perfectly to hide (not flaunt) your problem area
  • Wear navy and black together—this is a modern, trendy look, with a classic history (very French)
  • Add a navy cardigan to a black and white outfit to tone down the starkness of the black and white and add an unusual pop of color
  • Don’t be afraid for mixing different styles, like this bold and almost edgy crop top with the classic and elegant cardigan with chiffon. This mix is fun and more interesting that an outfit composed of the same style of piece.
  • Buy thee m’leggings and thank me later
  • With a neutrals only outfit, wear bright, fun jewelry that pops

 

Outfit Breakdown:

  • Cardigan: Michelle Cardigan from cabi Spring 2016 
  • Crop Top: Crop Top from cabi Spring 2016 
  • M’Leggings (the leggings with a skirt): Mesh M’Leggings  from cabi Spring 2016 
  • Necklaces: Helios Necklaces (a pair sold together) from cabi Spring 2016 
  • Bracelet: Helios Bracelet from cabi Spring 2016
  • Earrings: Stone Twilight Earrings from cabi Spring 2015, and no longer available. Consider these alternatives, which also work with a white, black, and navy outfit:
  • Booties: These are old Aerosoles. Here are some current ones that could work:
    • Sundae: The black wedge boots have an elastic cross strap
    • Soterday Night: These Oxford-style ankle boots are also wedges
    • Duble Trouble: These low heeled (1”) ankle boots that look like you could keep up with twins wearing them