Awesome human. Magna Cum Laude. Editor-in-Chief. Awesome human. 
Magna Cum Laude.
Editor-in-Chief.
School podcaster.
Quill and Scroll recipient.
Citizenship award winner.
Spirit of Excellence  Award 8 yrs. running. 
Class of 2022. 
Job well done, daughter!
P R O M. That’s the caption. P R O M. That’s the caption.
You done good, young lady. Now it’s time to soar You done good, young lady. Now it’s time to soar. 🎓#classof2022
Happy #NationalCollegeDecisionDay! Laylah is off Happy #NationalCollegeDecisionDay! 

Laylah is officially registered at St. John’s University and will begin her freshman year in August as a Public Relations Major. I’m so proud of her hard work and dedication—proud of the young woman that she has become.
Allow me to reintroduce myself. My name is.. Dan Allow me to reintroduce myself. My name is.. 

Danyelle Little, the NEW Director of Marketing and Communications at @rungforwomen . Been sitting on this for a while—now it’s officially official. 🙌🏾
Happy 28th birthday to the best son a mom could ev Happy 28th birthday to the best son a mom could ever have. Kind. Supportive. Talented. Creative. Caring. Smart. Courageous. The list goes on and on. You’ve overcome so much in the past year, and I know that God’s plan for you is working. I love you more than words can say. ❤️❤️❤️
And it’s official. Signed, sealed, delivered. Cl And it’s official. Signed, sealed, delivered. Class of 2026! 🙌🏾@stjohnsu #acceptedstudentday
Look for me in the Spring/Summer edition of St. Lo Look for me in the Spring/Summer edition of St. Louis Family Magazine—page 10 to be exact! I’m honored to be able to share a glimpse into my life as an author, Social Media Manager, and most importantly, a mom! 💕
And we have Book #2! My new novel, 'A Wedding On C And we have Book #2! My new novel, 'A Wedding On Clermont Lane', is now available! It's the sequel to my first novel 'Christmas On Clermont Lane', and if you loved the first one, just wait until you read the sequel.

That makes it two novels in five months, and I must say that while I missed my original deadline in February, I am so excited to have this one finished. The support you all showed me during the first release made me warm and fuzzy and so many of you reached out and asked when the next one would be. Well, here you go!

You can purchase 'A Wedding On Clermont Lane' on Amazon Prime, available in paperback for $10.99 and $7.99 for the eBook/Kindle edition. If you'd like a signed copy, a limited amount of copies are available. Hit the link in my bio.

I cannot wait for you to read this one and let me know your thoughts. Jasmine and The Robinson Family are back---and this time, it's for keeps!
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Career, Contributors, Fashion · July 27, 2015

How to Curate a Personalized Professional Wardrobe for your Career


If you’re anything like me, hearing the words “business casual” is enough to make you want to call in sick. I pride myself on having an eclectic wardrobe that isn’t afraid to take risks, making the task of creating professional looks feel suspiciously like. . .work. I forced myself to wear sensible pants and button-up shirts for years until I’d finally had enough. I even staged a mini-rebellion and tried to convince myself that a way-too-high-in-the-front high-low dress looked professional. (It didn’t, but I was too frustrated to care. And technically, I didn’t violate any dress codes.) Sound familiar?

If so, weekdays may feel like a constant tug-of-war between your personal style (be that edgy, vintage, sporty, boho, or all of the above) and a work-appropriate style. While most offices have relaxed their dress codes from pants or skirt suits (hence, the term “business casual”), there is still an expectation about what constitutes business attire – and rarely do shredded denim shorts make the cut. For lots of us, it takes finesse to find things to wear at work that look and feel like true to our tastes. Here are 3 tips on how to curate a professional wardrobe without sacrificing personal style.

Tip #1: Incorporate Professionalism Into Your Personal Style

The biggest thing that helped me turn my polished-but-just-not-me work attire into a fresh, 9-5 friendly wardrobe was a shift in my attitude. I tried hard to insert my personal style into a cookie-cutter picture of how I thought people in my career were “supposed” to dress. It led to money wasted on clothes I rarely wore and a sour expression as I drove to work. So, I tried a radical shift in my mindset: I began incorporating professionalism into my personal style, rather than the other way around. And it worked for me.

Case in point: I hate wearing cotton button-up shirts. My original mindset had my closet filled with bright colored button-up shirts. Business appropriate? Absolutely. Something I would wear off-duty? Never. During the experiment phase of my mindset, I happily donated of all of them. I bought chiffon blouses with daring accents like tiny studs and paired them with dressy bottoms. See? My style, with a dash of sophistication. If there’s an item of clothing you really, really can’t stand, even with statement jewelry or fun colors, stop buying it! Find ways to make the clothing you actually like look more professional. Which approach do you prefer?

Professional Wardrobe

Look 1: Pink button up shirt / Weekend Max Mara black crop pants / GUESS high heel pumps / Prada handbag / Adjustable chain necklace Look 2: Cat print blouse / Helmut Lang denim skinny jeans / Dorothy Perkins socks / Robert Clergerie black shoes / Gypsy Soul gold jewelry

Tip #2: Acquire Edgy Gal Work Staples

You’ve heard that anything can look professional if you stick a blazer over it, right? That’s generally true. A zany pattern, strapless dress, or even vintage concert tee looks far more office-worthy beneath a blazer. (The shredded denim cutoffs still won’t look professional even with a blazer, sorry.) If you share my aversion to khaki pants and “slacks,” dresses are your new best friend. With silhouettes and lengths to satisfy any style palette, I dare you not to find at least a few dresses that are “you” and won’t upset HR. Opaque tights provide coverage if you’re concerned a skirt or dress may be too short. Menswear-inspired oxfords are not only cool and comfortable, they are an edgy alternative to pumps. When in doubt? Dab on bold or dramatic nail polish.

Work Staples

Skater dress / Yves Saint Laurent black jacket / Blue tight / Accessorize oxford shoes / Nars cosmetic

Tip #3: Build Your Work Wardrobe From Stores You Like

When assembling workwear, where you shop is almost as important as what you buy. I used to purchase most of my work clothes from stores I didn’t like. As nuts as it sounds, I thought if I spent enough money on pencil skirts and classic pants, that would somehow increase my desire to wear them. (Nope, didn’t work.) It’s kind of like going to the gym – simply shelling out bucks for an expensive membership isn’t likely to get you in the door. If you stick to stores you already shop in, your professional wear is more likely to feel like “you.” Think of your favorite stores. Is there a section that has dressier or more conservative items? Start there. On a budget? Try resale and thrift stores.

Of course, with any work wardrobe, you have to keep your environment and best judgment in mind. You may want to hold onto some safe garments while you test the waters with an edgier look. What do you think of these tips -risky business or right on target? How do you showcase your personal style at the office?

carmenb-profile-pic-264x300About Carmen:

Carmen Boeser is a freelance fashion writer, thriftaholic, and vintage lover. She chronicles personal style and love for the St. Louis fashion scene on her blog, The Ruby Zipper. When Carmen is not processing merchandise at a resale boutique, she’s learning the joys of new parenthood with her husband and baby daughter.


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In: Career, Contributors, Fashion · Tagged: careerwear, Carmen Boeser, Contributors, fashion, style

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Comments

  1. Danielle Alinia says

    July 31, 2015 at 2:11 pm

    Absolutely love those blue tights!!! They always feature in my winter outfits 🙂

    Reply

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Awesome human. Magna Cum Laude. Editor-in-Chief. Awesome human. 
Magna Cum Laude.
Editor-in-Chief.
School podcaster.
Quill and Scroll recipient.
Citizenship award winner.
Spirit of Excellence  Award 8 yrs. running. 
Class of 2022. 
Job well done, daughter!
P R O M. That’s the caption. P R O M. That’s the caption.
You done good, young lady. Now it’s time to soar You done good, young lady. Now it’s time to soar. 🎓#classof2022
Happy #NationalCollegeDecisionDay! Laylah is off Happy #NationalCollegeDecisionDay! 

Laylah is officially registered at St. John’s University and will begin her freshman year in August as a Public Relations Major. I’m so proud of her hard work and dedication—proud of the young woman that she has become.
Allow me to reintroduce myself. My name is.. Dan Allow me to reintroduce myself. My name is.. 

Danyelle Little, the NEW Director of Marketing and Communications at @rungforwomen . Been sitting on this for a while—now it’s officially official. 🙌🏾
Happy 28th birthday to the best son a mom could ev Happy 28th birthday to the best son a mom could ever have. Kind. Supportive. Talented. Creative. Caring. Smart. Courageous. The list goes on and on. You’ve overcome so much in the past year, and I know that God’s plan for you is working. I love you more than words can say. ❤️❤️❤️
And it’s official. Signed, sealed, delivered. Cl And it’s official. Signed, sealed, delivered. Class of 2026! 🙌🏾@stjohnsu #acceptedstudentday
Look for me in the Spring/Summer edition of St. Lo Look for me in the Spring/Summer edition of St. Louis Family Magazine—page 10 to be exact! I’m honored to be able to share a glimpse into my life as an author, Social Media Manager, and most importantly, a mom! 💕
And we have Book #2! My new novel, 'A Wedding On C And we have Book #2! My new novel, 'A Wedding On Clermont Lane', is now available! It's the sequel to my first novel 'Christmas On Clermont Lane', and if you loved the first one, just wait until you read the sequel.

That makes it two novels in five months, and I must say that while I missed my original deadline in February, I am so excited to have this one finished. The support you all showed me during the first release made me warm and fuzzy and so many of you reached out and asked when the next one would be. Well, here you go!

You can purchase 'A Wedding On Clermont Lane' on Amazon Prime, available in paperback for $10.99 and $7.99 for the eBook/Kindle edition. If you'd like a signed copy, a limited amount of copies are available. Hit the link in my bio.

I cannot wait for you to read this one and let me know your thoughts. Jasmine and The Robinson Family are back---and this time, it's for keeps!
Happy International Women’s Day. I would not be Happy International Women’s Day. I would not be here without the wisdom and strength of my praying grandmother who has poured into me for 46 years and counting. I am so thankful for her unconditional love and unwavering support. ❤️❤️❤️#internationalwomensday #womensday #womenshistorymonth

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