Happy Tuesday everyone, I hope the week has started off well for you!
The end of summer is almost upon us with the upcoming long weekend so this week I will share two looks that are on my back to work wear list.
The weather has still been pretty hot and I am certainly not ready for long sleeves, pants, socks or anything else that reminds me of the colder weather. But with the way the temperature can change from one day to the next it is good to have some transitional layering options in your wardrobe so you can adjust accordingly.
Fall is shaping up to be a fantastic season with rich bold colours, textures and prints. And more and more brands are offering “transitional” collections that will take you from summer to fall.
I decided that I wanted to take a risk with this outfit and chose a colour palette that is outside of the box for me. You might think that I found the scarf and then was inspired to put the other pieces together but it turns out I chose the other pieces and the scarf was a last minute score that I found when I attended The Fuller Woman Expo.
I regularly scroll through Lane Bryant’s new arrival section to see what they have coming out and what inspires me. As soon as I saw this circle skirt in this rich Citron colour I was inspired. Citron is such a unique colour and I absolutely love it.
What was even better is that this one is made out of ponte fabric which has the perfect amount of stretch, in a popular midi length and has pockets. For a great everyday basic you really can’t go wrong. It also comes in several other colours. I am wearing the 26/28 and the fit is true to size.
As I continued to scroll through the new arrivals I came across this blazer that they dubbed “The Sexy Stretch”. I am not one to wear blazers or traditional suits very often because I have always struggled to find ones that fit my pear shape properly but I was in the market for a new basic black one so I decided to give this a try.
The material has a nice stretch to it so I felt that it fit my curves better. I liked that it only has a 2 button close on it so it allows room for my bust and it is vented in the back to allow room for my hips. The combination of all these factors made for a great fit.
And it does have small shoulder pads which helps to balance me out. Again this is another great investment piece for your wardrobe. You could easily pair it with dress pants, jeans, a pencil skirt or joggers. If you like the full suit look they also have the matching pencil skirt. I am wearing the size 28 and I was very happy with the fit.
For me combining black and white with the Citron is a basic colour combination that I would do on a regular basis. But I didn’t want to be basic so I continued to scroll looking for a piece to add the wow factor and then I came across this tank shirt.
The criss cross detail on this tank is so eye catching and I love how they used it in the front and back. The cut on it allows for it to be bra strap friendly and it doesn’t show a lot of cleavage so if you can go sleeveless at the office like I can it hit all my criteria.
The fabric is super soft and it has some cute ruching at the sides for extra details. I chose to wear it tucked in but you could easily wear it out. This top comes in black and it would have been very easy to go that route but the bright pink spoke to me and I just had a sense that it would really pop with the Citron. I am wearing the size 26/28 and I probably could have sized down if I had wanted to.
So how was I going to pull this look together? With my accessories of course! I already had these super cute polka dot sling back flats that I got from LB at the start of summer that I knew would work perfectly. Unfortunately these are sold out online but polka dots are a huge trend right now so keep on the look out for some new arrivals or try in store in the clearance section.
Then I added by classic black and white stripe Kate Spade purse. This purse is one of those pieces that you will have in your wardrobe for years to come. It is so versatile and I pull it out of my arsenal time and time again.
The scarf is from The Plus Factor, a boutique that has several locations in Ontario and you can shop online through Shoptiques.com. They had a booth at The Fuller Woman Expo and one of the staff was folding this scarf and when I saw it I of course immediately ran over because it brought my colour combination to life. It is a great lightweight scarf. I chose to tie it on my bag because I get hot but it would look equally great tied at the neck.
I wanted to keep the jewelry clean and sleek and I immediately fell in love with these pieces from Lane Bryant. These earrings with their half circle shape are a great play on the current geometric trend.
And this ring, honestly I was blown away when I saw it. It’s clean and bold and a modern statement, everything I love. And they carry up to a size 11 which is awesome. Finally the bracelet was so unique with the cut out and made for us gals with larger wrists. It is sold out online but I gave you a link to a great alternative and I would check for it in store.
I added a pair of sunnies and I was ready to rock. This is definitely a look that I feel powerful, professional and sassy in all at once. If I had an important meeting or presentation this would be one of my top outfit picks.
Don’t be afraid to rock something bold in the office ladies, we are meant to be seen and heard!
This look was provided care of Lane Bryant. Please note that all opinions and statements are my own.
Thank you to Robert of Robert Skuja Photography for the photos.
Skirt by LANE BRYANT | Jacket by LANE BRYANT | Tank Top by LANE BRYANT | Shoes by LANE BRYANT (alternative here) | Earrings by LANE BRYANT | Ring by LANE BRYANT | Bracelet by LANE BRYANT (alternative here) | Purse by KATE SPADE (alternative here) |