Bardot POW: Working It Wrapped, Classy Linen & Denim Wednesday

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Outfit Mission Statement: Make your denim shirt work for work by pairing it with a classic neutral linen trouser and sophisticated accessories

Working it Wednesday outfits are professional career clothes, often a step or two above Manic Monday outfits. The POW (Piece of the Week) is the cabi Spring 2016 Bardot Shirt. Of course, the easy way to dress up a denim shirt for the boardroom would be to add it to a two piece suit, or wear a blazer, or do any number of rather predictable, but interesting, things. However, for a lovely denim shirt with special details, like this one, you don’t need to go the easy way. Simply add professional, quality pieces that say class and sophistication, and you can make it work!

Tips:

  • Dress up your denim shirt for work by pairing it with a nice, professional pair of linen trousers in a neutral
  • Add classy accessories and shoes to add sophistication and professionalism
  • Consider mixing lighter neutrals for a cultured look, such as cream, beige, burnished gold, and leopard print
  • A fine quality leopard print belt can add class to a work look (but be careful of going overboard, leopard can get trashy is there is too much or the quality is poor)
  • Just because it is a button-down, it does not mean you need to button it all the way down!  Consider a diagonal wrap instead (see directions below)
  • Want more sophistication? Add a designer handbag
  • Consider a nice crisp cream linen, for a more refined look
  • Tuck in your shirt for a dressier look

 

Directions for Wrap Tuck:

  • Start with a denim shirt that is baggy on you (a size up)
  • Button the buttons down to your bust or a bit lower (more or less depending on the amount you want to wrap)
  • With your pants undone, take the shirttail of the piece that is on top (has the button holes), and wrap around you, creating a diagonal line
  • With a safety pin, pin the shirttail into this diagonal shape, making sure the pin stays below where the pants will tuck (if needed add more above the tuck line, just find ways to do it invisibly)
  • Tuck in your shirt, making sure to keep the diagonal
  • Add a belt for additional waist slimming attention

 

 

Outfit Breakdown:

 

Related Posts:

  1. Bardot POW: Ponte and Knotted Manic Monday posted June 6, 2016. For a comfortable, professional Monday outfit, dress up your denim shirt with a navy ponte pencil skirt
  2. Plaid POW: Working It Flannel Wednesday posted February 24, 2016. Even flannel can work in a formal office when combined with very professional pieces
  3. 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

Plus, check out the other Working It Wednesday posts.

 

Bardot POW: Boho Southwestern Sparkly Princess Sunday Best

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Outfit Mission Statement: To dress denim up for a special occasion look, throw on the fancy—think tulle, sparkly gems, embroidered velvet, statement pieces, and amazing shoes

Sunday Best POW outfits are special occasion clothes for dinning, theater, opera, holiday parties, church, and other such occasions that need something special. The POW (Piece of the Week) is the cabi Spring 2016 Bardot Shirt. There are many ways to dress up a denim shirt. Check out Sparkling & Flannel Sunday Best for dressy look you can make work with a denim shirt (denim and a lace pencil would be Fab-u-lous!). One fun thing you can do is choose a very dressy skirt. Denim tends to dress things down a bit, so with very dressy bottoms, you can average somewhere dressy, but not overly dressy. Tulle can easily be very dressy. Add denim, and bam, nice special occasion look that does not go too far. Adding fancy, statement pieces as accessories ups the dressy too. Together, you can end up with a fun, sparkly, pretty special occasion look with a touch of boho. I love the tulle and denim combo. Opposites attract, right?

Tips:

  • When dressing up a denim shirt, feel free to go far on the dressy side for the rest of the pieces to average the perfect amount of dressy
  • Add special, striking, and/or fancy statement accessories to further emphasize the dressiness (or go the other way and add casual accessories [like cowgirl boots, a distressed leather bag, and rustic jewelry] and end up in a casual, fun look with a touch of princess)
  • Mix metals for a lighthearted touch that may also allow you to bring together pieces you might not otherwise consider
  • Consider tying the denim shirt in a knot at your waist to emphasize the waist and continue the lighthearted touch
  • Keep colors in the same general tones for a more put together look, such as the blues and greys I focus on here, making sure each element has at least one of these colors

Outfit:

 

Related Posts:

  1. Plaid POW: Sparkling & Flannel Sunday Best posted February 28, 2016. Turn flannel elegant by adding a dressy skirt and accessories.
  2. Plume POW: The Stylish Safari Princess Thursday posted April 14, 2016. For a trendy outfit with masculine and feminist touches, mix tulle and military/safari style.

 

POW 9: The Southwestern, Boho, Boutique Staple Denim Shirt

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I’ve never been a fan of the denim shirt, at least not for me. They look great on other people. They are a wardrobe staple. They are incredibly versatile—easy to dress up and down, wear as layer or wear on its own. But just not my thing.

That is, until I met the Bardot Shirt. Yes, this is another cabi Spring 2016 piece. It is also not your typical denim shirt. It is a faded blue, which you can find many a denim shirt in. But, it also has a boho, Southwest feel with lovely navy embroidery. This shirt makes me think of New Mexico or maybe Arizona. Clear blue sky, turquoise jewelry, horseback riding, red dusty ground, and that desert vibe. It also has a casual, but tailored fit and distressed silver buttons. Plus, each one is unique with the fading of the denim. My cabi stylist, Joni Allen, says this is like a boutique version of a denim shirt, and I must say I agree.

Outfit: Bardot Shirt, Villa Pant, and the Marisa Top from cabi Spring 2016. Earrings and Necklaces by Shine Chaser Jewelry. Bracelets by Solid Treasures. Acme Bootie by Crown Vintage, sold at DSW.

Outfit: Bardot Shirt, Villa Pant, and the Marisa Top from cabi Spring 2016. Earrings and Necklaces by Shine Chaser Jewelry. Bracelets by Solid Treasures. Acme Bootie by Crown Vintage, sold at DSW.

Outfit: Bardot Shirt and Destructed Curvy Skinny jeans from cabi Spring 2016. Yet Another sandals from Aerosoles. English Arrow Wrap Bracelet by Sloan Ranger. Earrings by Solid Treasures. Necklace from Target.

Outfit: Bardot Shirt and Destructed Curvy Skinny jeans from cabi Spring 2016. Yet Another sandals from Aerosoles. English Arrow Wrap Bracelet by Sloan Ranger. Earrings by Solid Treasures. Necklace from Target.

Outfit: Bardot Shirt, Fresco Dress, Villa Necklace from cabi Spring 2016. Unisa Eavvi Sandal sold at DSW.

Outfit: Bardot Shirt, Fresco Dress, Villa Necklace from cabi Spring 2016. Unisa Eavvi Sandal sold at DSW.

I see this shirt being what a flannel shirt is to me in the winter and late fall—a cozy shirt, a layer, something I throw on when cold or needing the lightest of jackets, something easy, practical, and worn on its own and as a quick go-to addition to nearly any outfit.

Now I’m a big fan of this denim shirt. And I may find my way to loving the more typical denim shirts. Yes, the Southwestern, boho, boutique Bardot Shirt will be my ninth POW (Piece of the Week). If you do not have the Bardot Shirt and are not interested in buying it, feel free to use any denim shirt in the styles I will show you. It will work best if the denim shirt is a bit loose so you can tie it. Otherwise, pretty much any denim shirt will work. You can also replace your denim shirt with a flannel shirt for fall and winter and try similar styles. I did feature a flannel shirt for the third POW, so feel free to follow those styles replacing the flannel shirt with a denim one!

If you would like the Bardot Shirt, 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. If you want a more typical or different denim shirt, check out L.L. Bean’s Denim Work Shirt (in two colors) or the Signature Chambray Shirt (on a huge sale!) or the classic Levi's® Long-Sleeve Denim Western Shirt at Macy’s (on sale and in four colors).

Do join us for the ninth POW and discover seven ways, from the office, night on the town, playground, home, and more to style this casual, versatile, unique wardrobe staple the Bardot Shirt!

Go-To POW: Denim on Top Saturday

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Outfit Mission Statement: Wear your denim on top with classic black pants for a casual, fun, and modern outfit with a touch of class

Play Day Saturday are clothes for taking your kids to the park, running errands, talking your dog for a walk, shopping, picnicking, travel, going to a museum or a zoo—out and about or home having fun clothes. These are the clothes you often live the best parts of your life in! The POW (Piece of the Week) the cabi Spring 2016 Go-To Trouser. This outfit makes me want to go to a fair or antiquing. It’s fun, comfortable, and stylish. Plus the layers help for regulating your temperature in cool antique shops and warm fairs. The classic yet modern black pants work well with the cropped styling for more casual dressing, while maintaining just a bit of sophistication. The denim shirt adds to the casualness of the outfit, but the funky embroidery gives it a classier take on the typical denim shirt. The pops of color in the shoes, scarf, and tank top add a bit of fun and even whimsy to the outfit. Together you have an overall fun, casual, and modern outfit with a touch of class.

 

Tips:

  • Twist up the "denim as usual" casual look by wearing a denim shirt and not jeans—still casual, but with more stand-out style
  • When working the denim and a neutral add pops of color to liven up the outfit
  • The popular layering of necklaces works beautifully for a scarf and a necklace—just make sure one is longer and they are not competing for the same space
  • Denim shirts scan be worn in many ways, which is part of the beauty of them:
    • Tying your denim shirt, as shown, adds a bit of flirty fun and emphasizes your waist (works better with slightly oversized or oversized shirts)
    • Wearing it open creates a more casual take on this outfit (works best with slightly oversized or oversized shirts)
    • Tucking it and buttoning it is a slightly more polished look (works best with a true-to-size shirt)

 

Outfit Breakdown:

 

 

 

 

 

Plaid POW: Sparkling & Flannel Sunday Best

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Outfit Mission Statement: Turn flannel elegant by adding a dressy skirt and accessories

Sunday Best POW outfits are special occasion clothes for dinning, theater, opera, holiday parties, church, and other such occasions that need something special. The POW (Piece of the Week) is the L.L. Bean Slightly Fitted Scotch Plaid Shirt in Deep Evergreen Tartan. At first I thought dressing this up would be hard, but it really was not. I was lucky that I had the cabi Frolic skirt in this lovely dark pink lace that is the same color as one of the stripes in the blouse. However, I could have gone with a variety of colors and still had it work. Since the shirt is flannel, I really wanted to go dressy on the skirt to counteract the casualness of the flannel. Lace works perfectly. Other things could work too, like sequins, tulle (the adult tutus that are so popular), velvet, and more. Once you add a dressy skirt, the rest is adding the right dressier accessories. When dressing up flannel, denim, or other casual shirts, feel free to go extra dressy with the accessories—faux fur details, luxurious jewelry, fancy clutches, shimmering shoes.

 

Tips:

  • Look to very dressy and feminine skirts in lace, velvet, tulle, sequins, and other special fabrics to balance out the casual flannel
  • Use this as an excuse to bring out those extra special fancy accessories
  • Roll the sleeves up to add a modern touch and a bit of class to the shirt
  • Play off the colors in the shirt as much as possible with the skirt
  • Feel free to be lavish with the dressy accessories—yes you can add a statement pearl necklace, faux fur trimmed scarf, vintage bead clutch, and sparkling heels
  • Make sure your hair is also dressier than normal—consider some sort of an up do if you have long hair

 

Outfit Breakdown:

  • Flannel Shirt: L.L. Bean Slightly Fitted Scotch Plaid Shirt in Deep Evergreen Tartan
  • Skirt: This is the Frolic Skirt from cabi Fall 2014 and not available. Consider instead:
    • Lido Skirt: Not as dressy, but consider it—from  cabi Spring 2016 collection
    • Floral Lace Pencil Skirt: This striking Ann Taylor pencil skirt may be even dressier than the Frolic Skirt 
    • Tulle Midi Skirt: This is a lovely tulle skirt (by Anthropologie), but on the pricier end of what I suggest ($168)
    • 6-layer Tutu: Not as gorgeous at the Anthropologie skirt, this is an inexpensive tulle skirt (414.98)—perfect for testing the trend out
  • Shoes: Jennifer Lopez’s Women's Metallic High Heels—I’m surprised they are still available at Kohl’s! I got these last year and now they are only $34.99!
  • Clutch: This is a vintage clutch (I’m guessing from the 1950s or 1960s) that my mom bought me for Christmas. I’ll put the shop name in where she got it when she gets back to me.
  • Scarf: This is the cabi Fall 2015 Twist Scarf, which sold out in black and cream. You can go a few different ways to substitute. You can go with fur or a scarf, or, if you find it a combination. Here are some options: 
    • Marabou Bolero Shrug: By INC International Concepts and sold at Macy’s this is a faux fur shrug 
    • Persian Cartouche Burnout Shawl: By the Metropolitan Museum of Art Store, this shawl is a striking black scarf with bright colors and a rug design
    • Louis XIV Arabesque Burnout Shawl: Also from the Metropolitan Museum of Art Store, this striking silver and black large shawl will allow you to bring your metal (silver in this case) into your shawl too 
    • Dunand Deco Floral Scarf: This stunning black, white, and gray has a leaf design based on a beautiful lacquered wood panel and is from the Metropolitan Museum of Art Store
  • Necklace: This is the Fall 2014 cabi Contessa Necklace and no longer available. Consider instead these Stella & Dot options: 
  • Earrings: These are cabi Fall 2014 Vintage Stud earrings and no longer available. But, consider these Stella & Dot options:
    • Vintage Crystal Studs: These are about the same size and I tend to wear these interchangeably
    • Maddie Pearl Earrings: Perfect with the Starlet Pearl necklace, these elegant earrings will fancy up your outfit
    • Déjà vu Studs: With a pearl on one side and s spike on the other, you can go classy or edgy

 

For a spring or summer variation on this look, start with the boutique-styled cabi Spring 2016 Bardot Shirt. Add the 6-layer Tutu, Jennifer Lopez’s Women's Metallic High Heels, 1930s beaded bag, along with the Stella & Dot Starlet Pearl Necklace and Maddie Pearl Earrings.

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Plaid POW: Working It Flannel Wednesday

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Outfit Mission Statement: Even flannel can work in a formal office when combined with very professional pieces

 

Working it Wednesday outfits are professional career clothes, often a step or two above Manic Monday outfits. The POW (Piece of the Week) is the L.L. Bean Slightly Fitted Scotch Plaid Shirt in Deep Evergreen Tartan. This was a fun outfit to put together. I wasn’t sure if I could make flannel appropriate for a more formal office, and, look, I can and pretty easily. This outfits takes the tips from the Manic Flannel Monday post, where I discus show to do a more casual flannel work outfit, and applies them with even greater professionalism. So to incorporate professional clothing, make sure it is very professional. And nothing is more professional than a black or dark suit. Add a black suit jacket and black pencil skirt and you have an outfit that should work in the tenue de ville (or international business attire/informal [which is actually two steps up form business casusal]) office setting. Keep it going with a more formal hair style, such as a bun, and simple jewelry. Go with simple heels to look professional from head to toe. You can heighten the professionalism even further by wearing a long sleeves black jacket, which I discovered I no longer have. Now, don’t you want to rock some flannel in the workplace?

 

Tips:

  • Even the most casual of shirt (such as flannel) can work for more formal work environments if combined with a dark suit 
  • Keep accessories simple and fairly small
  • If you have longer hair, wear it up in a bun, French twist, or other more formal hair style
  • It is okay to go with trendier items as long as the pieces are not loud—like this three-quarter sleeve longer collarless jacket
  • Keep the shoes simple to and match them to the color for the suit for added professionalism

 

Outfit Breakdown:

 

Want to work a Spring version of this outfit? Consider this outfit that applies the same rules from the cabi Spring 2016 collection, but uses a denim shirt instead of flannel: Lido Jacket, Bardot Shirt, and the Lido Skirt. Accessorize with the Aurora Necklace, Aurora Stud Pack  and the Artisan Marquis Cuff by Stella & Dot. Then, slip your feet into the Good Lux heels by Aerosoles for the finishing touch.