{3rd edition} Working Women Wednesday...

Oh hey working women! It's that time of the week again. For the third installment, we're dressing it up a bit with Anna. I think this is a great next step in the series because I've been getting feedback from some of my more "business casual" readers, seeking advice for when jeans just aren't an option. These comments are also a great indication of new directions this weekly installment can take, so please, keep 'em coming!

Perhaps now is as good a time as any to mention that I have been using the one and only Carrie Bradshaw as inspiration image for these posts for  a reason. In her hey-day, she was a caricature of a fashionable, budget-unconscious working woman. I think she serves as a perfect icon of aspiration because if you start with you and shoot for Bradshaw, you (hopefully) land somewhere in the realm of just right. And if you fudge it up a little, guess what? That doesn't exist. You did it on purpose and you look fabulous, thank you very much.

So, we've clearly established what we're trying to accomplish with these posts, so lets now get down to business again. Ha, business. Anyway, today we have Miss Imperati in a cap-sleeve dress, tights and boots. A three-piece recipe just begging for a little sartorial Tabasco sauce.

Hold in your shock and awe New Yorkers, but in some Emerald City circles what you are about to see is considered dressed up. And one of those circles probably exists at Anna's office. I know this may make some of you cringe, and some of you squeal with jealousy, but believe me, I have been there, lived that, and it's a real thing.

What we need here, to make this post helpful to Anna and relevant to the rest of you darling readers, is to remove the trappings of the particular occasion and location of this ensemble, and simply address it on it's own merits. Observe:

Kookai dress; Spanx tights; Frye boots; Michelle watch; Tiffany bracelet.

Per usual, she's got a great fit and totally office and age appropriate look. Let's see what Anna thinks:

"I like this dress because i feel like it's business up top and a party down below. It's conservative, but still young with the length. It's also a medium weight so I feel like I can wear it in the summer with strappy heels or in the winter with tights and boots. The problem is that I never know how to layer on top of it in the fall/winter when I don't necessarily want bare arms. I feel like the top half makes it difficult to layer and accessorize."

A challenge, indeed. She's right about the shape of the top making this dress a little bit tricky to layer. I feel like we all have a dress like this, don't we? One that nips in here and flares out there, making the majority of options look somehow - off.

To give this look the proper kick of fashion Tabasco I hinted at earlier, I'm going to break it down into three options: samsies, dressier, and dressiest. This way, there's variety, mix-and-match potential, and everybody wins. Here's what I'm envisioning:

To break it down, what we have here is actually more of a quirky, a put-together and a fancy.

To keep this look on par, but add warmth as Anna is hoping to do, I would stick to thicker layering pieces. That way, you don't run the risk of letting the dress sleeves shape the sweater sleeves. I chose this crazy grand farther-esque Marni cardigan as an example, but the idea is to add some spunk and spirit via pattern. Wrapping an extra-long studded skinny belt around your natural waist a few times will also jazz up the look. These suede loafers are like an office-appropriate version of a Minnetonka moccasin, with a sexy librarian twist.

The second look is something I would put together if the occasion called for being completely composed and sophisticated, but not overtly dressy. The key is to pair a wide belt with an open cardigan that extends below the natural waist. Wear the belt over the cardigan, using it to determine how the sweater falls, and to keep your silhouette professional. Pointy toe flats will be all the rage this spring, and I find them to be a chic alternative to the ballet flat. An additional option is also to switch out your go-to opaque black tights for a lace pattern to keep things youthful.

Finally, we have the dressiest layering choice for this dress: the blazer. It is hands down the greatest essential in my wardrobe these days, and it's hard to go wrong with how you wear one. For dressing up this dress, I would wear the blazer open, sleeves pushed up to the elbow, with a big ol' necklace and some t-strap pumps. Again, the lace tights would work here as an artful finishing touch.

Phew, that was a doozie. Now, have at it in the comments, please! How did I do?

{2nd edition} working women wednesdays...

And we're back! I am so excited to bring you another edition of Working Women Wednesday after the great reception of last week's post. This has already turned out to be a really fun project, and I'm glad you guys are enjoying it, too.

Dressing for work is really the common thread of sartorial "writers block" that bonds us fashionable and professional young women together. Date night? No problem - give me an LBD and send me out the door. Brunch with the crew? Please - show me to my boyfriend jeans and brogues. It's dressing for the days that just keep coming - the occasions that don't feel like occasions - that causes so much grief.

To overcome this mentality on say... a dreary, mid-February, 45-degree Tuesday morning circa 8:45 a.m., I have to trick myself a little bit. It's sometimes necessary for me to invent a reason to add that extra gold chain or to wear my chunky heels instead of beat up riding boots. Need a few Ideas? Here are some occasions I sometimes employ to motivate myself out of my jeggings and into a high-waisted skirt:

• Takie yourself out for a coffee around 11 a.m. and will yourself to wink at a stranger.
• Decide to out-dress your co-workers just because you can.
• Wear something amazing you know someone will compliment you on, just to boost your confidence for a bit.
• Make a lunch date with a friend who works nearby, or one of your co-workers (even if it's just in the office cafeteria).
• Make happy hour plans for after work.
• Imagine that today may be the day you bup into your soulmate on the subway platform...

You get the what I mean. It's all about pulling a little motivation from somewhere within, and having the little dashes of spice you need available and at the ready in your closet.

All that being said, today's Working Women Wednesday features the lovely Ingrid, and one of her easy, breezy, go-to looks. It's simple, comfortable, and the perfect blank canvas to gussy up with a little somethin' somethin'...

Collective Concepts long sleeve tee; Joe's 'Honey' jeans; Frye motorcycle boots.

How great does she look? A perfectly slouchy tee, uber-flattering boot-cut jeans and classic, forever Frye boots - it's a can't-miss combination. Ingrid said this of her look:

"I absolutely love throwing on a flow-y shirt and running to work with some jeans and a cute pair of heels or boots. This is an alright look for any typical Friday in the office but I would love to jazz it up a bit so that I continue to wear comfort with a bit more flair."

Aha, flair! I love flair, we know this. If over-accessorizing were an Olympic sport, I would be a 2012 gold medal contender. But we're not talking about me, or about over-accessorizing. What Ingrid needs, and can oh-so-easily achieve here is a few additional elements to give this look a little more character.

What I'm envisioning here is just layering over the perfect basics she already has; keeping the comfort level high, and maybe switching up the shoes as desired. The first look, based around a boyfriend blazer, adds major polish and doesn't compromise comfort. A cozy snood is like a necklace that keeps you warm, and a hidden-wedge bootie gives you hight without the implied fanciness of a blatent heel.

The second look is built around the chic and colorful addition of a wine-hued open vest, with shortie cowboy boots (a go-to of mine) and fierce gold spike earrings. A vest is easy, too, because you can layer yet another sweater over it, or just your jacket, without too much bulk. I can imagine the earrings adding just the right amount of shimmer when Ingrid rocks her low side braid.

Lastly, I picked a cool, structured vest with unexpected cut-outs in back.  With layers of ladylike pearls and demure-but-fun animal print flats, the combination is sophisticated but youthful, and a way to stand apart from the masses without making a spectacle of yourself in the office.

To wrap things up, I'll try and summarize what all this means in the end, and in your closet: Layering and amazing accessories are the keys to updating a basic look, or a look you feel like you've worn a-million-and-one times. You don't need a lot. Especially if you're seated at a desk most of the day, you'll probably find that weighing yourself down with chandelier earrings and an armful of bangles may drive you bonkers before you make it out for that 11 a.m. coffee.

{new feature!} working women wednesdays...

I am so pleased to present a new weekly feature here on the blog! For at least the next couple of months, each Wednesday, I will be collaborating with two of my darling girlfriends back in Seattle on a project we're calling "Working Women Wednesday."

Anna and Ingrid both work in public relations in the Pacific Northwest. They're successful, savvy and charming young professionals, navigating the sartorial freedoms and challenges that come with a sophisticated career in a casual city. Anna summed it up like this:

"The biggest dilemma we have is that the PR industry is pretty informal. Although we work for a big agency, the dress is low key. There are very few people walking around in pant suits. I feel like I'm allowed to dress my age and have fun with it as long as it stays professional."

Sounds like a pretty good deal, right? It is! Anna and Ingrid both have great taste, and this is a perfect atmosphere to explore their personal style, as well as new silhouettes and some sophisticated classics.

These women face the same 5-day-a-week dilemma that most do: How do I change it up? How do I balance professional and youthful with grace and creativity? What else in the world can I possibly wear with black pants!?

Let's kick things off with one of Anna's go-to work-day elements, her black J. Crew riding pants.

J Crew black riding pant; white J Crew "Painter's T;" Gap "Navajo" sweater; black Corso Como "Randy" boot; Michele watch and Tiffany bracelet.

I love this look. The tribal sweater is on trend-without being loud, and I'm pretty sure those are the same Corso Como boots I wear almost every day. The skinny black riding pants are a staple I'm sure Anna hardly goes a week without wearing in the colder months.

"Love my riding pants, but I'm kind of at a loss about all the ways to wear them. Love them because they are super comfy and a great fit. They look professional, but I always have trouble figuring out what my top options are with them."

Here are a few ways I would re-style this classic piece to add a little variety to the weekly routine:

Ok, so I'm currently obsessed with silk blouses, especially button downs. The luxurious fabric and casual cut make such a top an ideal option for a professional-meets-casual work enviornment. They're great on their own, and layer brilliantly I'm crazy about the fit of Equipment's washed silk shirt, but I found a suitable, budget-friendly alternative at H&M.

In keeping with the tribal vibe of Anna's look, I found a couple of great pieces by House of Harlow 1960 that add instant edge to a feminine or classic top. The studded Frye boots are seriously fierce, but when paired with her classic pant and a cashmere sweater, they're instantly softened. And the brogues? It's safe to say a menswear-inspired piece will always be welcome in the workplace.