Plume POW: Working It Classic & Modern Coco Wednesday

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Outfit Mission Statement: Create a career outfit with the same put-together professionalism as a suit with a few modern interpretations of classic 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 cabi Spring 2016 Plume Top. Nothing looks more professionally stylish than the clean, elegant lines of Chanel suit. You can mimic this look much less expensively by wearing this bright sweater cardigan with lines and details reminiscent of classic Chanel. Add the always classic pencil skirt and a lovely blouse and you have a clean, classic, and professional look. You can add modern touches through things like the bright trendy color of the sweater and the contrast of the bright yellowish sweater and navy ponte pencil skirt. Even Coco would love the ease of this look! Remember, nothing says a professional career outfit needs to be boring or a plain suit.

 

Tips:

  • Pair a sweater with classic, elegant lines & details with a pencil skirt for a look just as professional as a suit
  • But, break up the more traditional single-color suit look by wearing the sweater and skirt in contrasting colors
  • If going for a classic feel, add those pearls, but modernize the look by choosing and elegant yet on-trend statement pearl necklace
  • If you look has a touch of an earlier time, like the 60s, play that up with a modern version of a hairstyle of that time (such as the French twist with a bit of volume) and maybe some cool sunnies
  • Neutral shoes allow your other pieces to take the spotlight
  • If you don't already have one, once again let me tell you, get a ponte pencil skirt and other ponte career clothes!
  • Button that sweater up for a dressier, more suit-like look, or leave it open for a more casual look (or vary it as the daygoes on based on body temperature and needed professionalism)

 

Outfit Breakdown:

  • Blouse: Plume Top from cabi Spring 2016
  • Sweater: Loren Sweater from cabi Spring 2016
  • Skirt: Lido Skirt from cabi Spring 2016
  • 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 a spike on the other, you can go classy or edgy
  • Shoes: These are beige suede pumps from Target last year. Here are some available options:
  • o   Lainee Pumps at Target
  • o   Glamorous by Aerosoles
  • o   Doppler Radar by Aerosoles
  • Sunglasses: Rectangle Sunglasses – Brown at Target
 

Go-To POW: Working It Classic Nautical Wednesday

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Outfit Mission Statement: Combine the perfect black work trousers with a classic nautical jacket for chic, preppy, and professional look that implies success

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 Go-To Trouser. These are the perfect professional pants—classic with an updated, chic silhouette. A good pair of black work pants are clearly a wardrobe staple and easy to style in a professional look. Anyone can throw on a jacket and blouse and have a more formal business outfit with these pants. But, you can also take the typical black pants outfit to new place—like say the sea?

The trendy, yet always chic, nautical style easily works in a formal office setting, especially with such a lovely, tailored jacket as the Cruise Jacket. The fine details, like the buttons and double-breasted styling, take it beyond your normal jacket or low-end nautical style. This preppy or even bon chic, bon genre jacket speaks of wealth and success. It also combines two power colors—navy and red! And yes, the navy striped blazer can and should be worn with black pants. Wearing navy and black together is not only very in, but is a classic and French look (adding even more sophistication to the outfit—see previous discussions about the combination here and here). In addition, it can be easier to combine black and navy than either color with itself. I’ve found it tricky to take two black separates and combine them. Often the blacks are close enough in color but do not fully match color exactly—so it looks a bit off or even like a mistake. The similarities and slight differences create a conflict the eye stumbles over—say with two separate navy pieces. However, you can take one black piece and one navy piece and easily combine them. The differences are enough that your eye recognizes them as intentionally not the same color and doesn’t stumble.

 

Tips

  • Do wear navy and black together for a sophisticate, smooth, and classic look
  • When wearing nautical pieces in a formal office setting, go for rich, preppy pieces that pull on the classic, tailored look
  • As discussed before, and especially in a more formal office setting, limit the nautical pieces to one  
  • Look for fine details like flattering seeming, special buttons, and delicate lace details to display professionalism, prep, and success (but not scream it)
  • A simple bun always works for more formal office dressing
  • To really play off the classical feel of the nautical style, choose vintage or vintage-feel accessories, like this classic locket
  • With such bold and strong colors, consider a neutral shoe to put focus on your outfit

 

Outfit Breakdown:

 

 

For this photo shoot, I am modeling the sample cabi Spring 2016 Go-To Trouser, which are 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.