This is the weekly "Help Style Me!" post, where we can share items we are having trouble putting outfits together with. Elaine (in this
post) says it best, "You know, that thing you
bought because you love it and you keep pulling it
out and then putting it away without wearing it?"Please share your J.Crew item (either that you own or are thinking about getting) that you would love help creating an outfit with.
Also, please help out by offering your styling advice. Feel free to include links to your blog (where you incorporated that piece) or to Polyvore (where you showcased an outfit with that piece). Thanks in advance! :)
I suppose this is a combination styling question/comment so I will post here. My company announced yesterday that it is moving to a less formal dress code (we've been business formal/business casual depending on department for the entire 15 yrs I've worked here). I think I've worn jeans to work maybe a handful of times.
ReplyDeleteWe are now moving to a "dress for your day" philosophy - if you don't have important meetings/meetings with external parties, etc. then you can dress more casually. This is definitely going to be a shift for me! I work in HR so I've known about the changes for a while and have mostly said that I will remain dressing as I typically do (on the dressier side of business casual) but as more buzz circulates around the office I've started to think about how I can change up my work wardrobe.
I have a closet full of blazers, dress pants, suits, etc. so I'll be interested to see how things evolve. I'm curious to hear if anyone has had a dress code change how they've adapted and any tips :) I am excited to think that I can wear my nicer tops/blazers with jeans/heels to work and maybe add a more casual jacket here or there but I don't see I foresee myself going totally casual.
My office is 'business casual' with jeans on Fridays. I probably dress more like you envision - I am definitely on the dressed up side of casual. Really, being well dressed makes me happy, and I think it also influences the way other people view you in a positive way. But I DO wear jeans whenever I can. Because otherwise when would I get to wear my 20 pairs of jeans? I even wear them with sneakers sometimes, but when I say sneakers I mean clean 'fashion' sneakers like flannel or velvet or satin, not dirty old gym sneakers. When I wear jeans they are combined with a stylish top,jacket or sweater. Some of my favorite jeans require heels because I hemmed them that way. Others work well with loafers. I also wear cropped pants, but only with heels. And I have certainly not given up on my many dresses and skirts or my suits. On more casual Fridays I will also wear a denim, camo, velvet or leather jacket instead of a more conservative blazer or cardigan. I am also more adventurous with pattern mixing, metallic shoes, scarves and costume earrings than before. I think of the more casual environment as a chance to have more fun getting dressed for work. There is nothing wrong with being one of the best dressed!
DeleteI am in HR like you in a manufacturing environment. I started here 12 years ago and the dress code has always been business casual with jeans on Fridays. Back in the day I loved wearing my more formal business dresses and skirts. By no means was it necessary and I was always the overdressed one to the point where my boss would be like: where do you think you work? It didn't bother me but as I got older my style and mentality changed. I am still the nicest dressed person in the office however I have sold all but maybe 3 of my more formal business dresses. I have a ton of casual dresses I still wear and I kept almost all my pencil skirts as they can be dressed down with a t shirt. Basically once it is warm out I hate pants and I still prefer skirts or dresses. I still wear blazers too. I love them with jeans and graphic tees underneath with a cute pair of flats. Almost every pair of pants I have are the BR Sloan's in either solid or prints. Like silver lining I also wear my seavees and sperry sneakers but not really athletic sneakers. I like that almost all of my pieces can now double for work and play. It is nice. It took me a long time to stop buying the formal dresses but now I don't even look at them. Good luck with the transition!
DeleteHave fun with the transition, Anne! I am a university business professor, but I like to dress “polished” business casual. I don’t wear sneakers or word tees to work ever, and if I wear jeans they will be a dark wash w heels. I think having a mostly J Crew wardrobe is very well-suited to dressing professionally but stylishly.
DeleteThis happened at my company over time - we used to be business formal/business casual with casual Fridays and casual summer (July 1 to Labor Day - somebody would always violate the casual rules and wear a tube top on day 1, whyyy) and eventually it became all-casual, all the time. I had a closet full of blazers, pencil skirts, and heels that I enjoyed wearing and I became the overdressed one in the office because the majority of employees went right to jeans and sneakers. The way I handled it was to keep casual Fridays for myself and more business-y the rest of the week - I just liked that better and was able to retain my work wardrobe. It's nice to not have to dress formally, but it can be a slippery slope to sloppy.
ReplyDeleteI've been working from home for years but still have that business wardrobe because Murphy's clothing law states that the second I get rid of it, I have to find an office job. ;)
My company's policy is business formal with business casual Fridays, and during the summer, business casual all week keeping in mind the "dress for your day" philosophy. I still don't do jeans on Fridays or during the summer. My job is public-facing so I always aim to look a little more formal than other employees, and I feel like anyone in HR sets the example for the rest of the company, so I'd suggest like... business casual plus. Khakis, chino pants instead of jeans, maybe a more casual dress (even a T-shirt dress or similar) but with a blazer and maybe fun scarf/necklace.
ReplyDeleteI worked for many years in places with casual dress codes, and I was super excited to need to dress nicely for work. I think now even if I were to change jobs to a more casual place, I'd stick with being business casual plus. It just feels nicer to look the part, you know?
I received the popback navy Lace-up sweater in everyday cashmere
ReplyDeleteJ0964. This is only the second cashmere in recent J Crew history that I am keeping. It is a fairly heavy soft knit, nothing like my favorite Ruffle-sleeve crewneck in striped everyday cashmere, but still a keeper. It has a cute lace up front with large grommets that gives a nautical feel. Perfect with white jeans.
I was lucky to find it at 40% + 15% off sale.
I also received the navy Tissue turtleneck T-shirt in floral
K4924 and it as cute as I expected.
Both these fit well in my usual S. Surprising for a cashmere to run TTS and not small.
I was looking at that in the natural but today it's gone!
Delete@Suz Has, that may be because I have it. If you are interested in S it can be done, since I don't need both. But you may be XS?
DeleteI was waiting for a good promo and must have missed it previously. I'm not sure if the color is too beige or more cream. I usually size up to a small.
DeleteIt's on the darker side, almost a beige heather. Definitely more beige than ivory. I think they call it 'natural' which is a good description since there is variation in the color. It may actually be the natural color of the wool.
DeleteOk that will prob be more beige than I'd like next to my skin. Thank you.
DeleteLet me know if you change your mind. I think I'll put it with black jeans and brown boots. Or maybe go monochrome with ecru jeans?
ReplyDeleteI was going to try with white jeans since that monochromatic look is big now, but also medium blue denim
DeleteLadies, I appreciate all of the insights and advice - thank you! My thinking has been variations of what you've all suggested and I will see how it all develops. I have always been one to push the envelope in terms of dress code (more from an add a statement necklace, wear more color standpoint than disregarding it) and have always been one of the best dressed and plan to keep it that way! I agree that it can be a slippery slope to sloppy and I am sure there will be others that take it in that direction and there are of course always people who bust out that inappropriate summer item! And yes, being in HR does make a difference - I'm not recruiting so really it will depend on who I'm interacting with in a day but I am looking forward to being able to incorporate jeans when appropriate and wear the multiple pairs I own and don't wear enough. Have a great weekend :)
ReplyDelete