This is another look I sported during Fashion Week in New York last week. I’m wearing a graphic tank under the Marissa Webb cropped vest, which worked for the creative professional vibe I needed between meetings and shows that day. Since then, I’ve worn the vest over this black dress, for a more classic work-ready look, but I also think you could swap out the tank easily with a white silk blouse like this one if your work environment is more conservative. I’d also check out this tee and this tank as great options for layering under the vest as well. Options, baby, options!
P.S. I just updated my Shop page with lots of fall favorites here!
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Dressing for your 9-to-5 while maintaining your sartorial soul is hard enough, until your boss throws a black-tie event at you, and you start planning ways to fake your own death so you don’t have to face the challenge of finding a dress that’s conservative enough to wear at an event where your boss will be present but festive enough to fit the occasion. Been there, done that. Turned out faking my own death was less fun and more complicated than anticipated.
Whether it’s a black-tie work party (yikes, holiday parties are just around the corner), a client-related charity event, or even a colleague’s wedding, I’ve always wanted to avoid being “that girl” who is the subject of water cooler whispers on Monday morning because her low-cut mini dress didn’t obscure as much as she thought it would once food, alcohol, and dance floor movement was brought into the mix. On the other hand, c’mon, it is a PARTY. So, I also don’t want to show up looking like Angela Merkel running for re-election.
What to do when caught between this sartorial rock and hard place? Fake your own death. Find a frock like the above cross-back abstract floral Milly dress that’s super comfy, super festive, and super appropriate for both the occasion and the near-boss-proximity.
I will now refrain from saying the word “super” for the next 18 months.
This dress is more of an investment piece, so I’ve assembled a line up of dresses that I think would work perfectly for these types of work-related formal events at all price points below.
Happy Monday!
Runways for the past several seasons have taught us that leather (including suede) is officially a seasonless staple. I was so thrilled to find this suede skirt, because I think it looked as good in 80 degree weather this week in sunny NYC, as it will with chunky knits, tights and boots this winter. The work-friendly knee length was icing on the cake, and made it perfect for my schedule during fashion week this year. As indicated above, I love it paired with black, but if you’re wearing it to a more conservative office environment, try switching into these pumps. I just got a pair and they are phenomenally comfy.
As you’ve seen recently in this post and on instagram, these ivory culottes have been on constant rotation as we transition into Fall. I wore them last week again in NYC and thoroughly enjoyed when someone complimented me on the “almond milk” hue of my culottes as we walked into a fashion show. Naturally, we then became engrossed in a conversation about teff recipes and bone broth and instantly became BESTIES.
But actually, I just thanked her, and sat down in my seat where I reflected on the irony of the on-trend NYFW compliment, choked down laughter and began writing this post, starting first with the title: IVORY culottes.
Can we just call them ivory? Because they’re ivory. Or cream. I’d even be willing to concede antique white, ecru or eggshell. BUT WE’RE NOT DOING ALMOND MILK, MMK? So get it together.
It’s worth noting that I actually really like almond milk because unlike regular milk it doesn’t make my apartment stink when I don’t clean out my refrigerator for six months which is something that happens quite a lot.
Just kidding, mom! I totes clean it out more than that!
I absolutely do not.
Back to these IVORY culottes. White House Black Market’s fall collection is all about living to the #BeatOfYourDrum. For me, that harkens back to why I started Memorandum two years ago. Regardless of whether your professional environment is casual, creative, conservative or some combination of the three, you don’t have to abandon your personal style Monday through Friday.
To me, marching to the beat of your drum means you don’t have to clean out your refrigerator more than once a year sacrifice professionalism to wear what you want at work, or, on the other end of the spectrum, ascribe to some sterile corporate uniform to get ahead professionally. There are endless ways to look professional AND embrace your own sense of style. And, since there’s an indisputable link between appearance and work performance, I think this topic is worth addressing so that we all look, feel and do our best both in and out of the office.
I’ve always been a big culotte fan, so wearing these today is the perfect example of taking a non-traditional workwear piece, and making it “work” in my professional life. If you’re still not sure about diving into the culotte trend, you really should check out these suckers. Great price point. Fully lined. Fitted to perfection. Gorgeous neutral four-season hue. Perfect for work. What more do you need?
Your move.
Produced in collaboration with White House Black Market.
Navigating both business meetings and fashion shows has been a tad tricky during fashion week this year. While in NYC, I need to look professionally appropriate one minute, and then a short cab ride later (ok let’s be real, the cab ride is never short) I need to look sorta… well, fashunable. Or, at least noticeably distinguishable in wardrobe from Dwight Schrute so that the PR reps manning the show doors don’t punch me in the mouth and throw me into the street before I even have the chance to show them my e-ticket.
Disclaimer: PR reps at fashion shows don’t actually punch people in the mouth. I’ve also never seen them throw anyone into the street, but I try to keep hope alive.
Enter this easy sleeveless all black suit ensemble featuring a poppable collar and detachable shoes.
Whether you’re headed to a date, drinks, dinner or just want to look sharp for Wednesday night Bingo after work, it’s always tough to find a day-to-night look that’s really legit in both scenarios. For me, this outfit does the trick. As illustrated above, I wore the sleeveless blazer with the collar down during business meetings, then pulled it into the full upright and locked position (airline safety has brainwashed me) en route to shows.
I also swapped out these Stuart Weitzman pointed toe wingtip oxfords and put on these Loeffler Randall lace-up heels. Then I thought, hey, let’s go crazy! And I rolled up the cuff of my pants a bit so that the aforementioned lace-up heels had a little more leg room, if you will.
It’s probably worth noting that I generally talk to myself in third person plural. It’s a #squadgoals thing.
Before I leave you to the rest of your Monday, I wanted to make quick mention of the camisole I’m wearing because I’ve received lots of comments and emails in the past asking for recommendations. I just discovered this black camisole from the new-to-me brand Lark & Ro and have worn it both under a blazer and on its own at least three times in the five days since it arrived on my doorstep. So, needless to say, I’m a FAN.
With our wedding and travel over the past many weeks I feel like I’ve lost all sense of time and space, but my friends tell me it’s fall? So, as we enter this wonderful time of year when everyone awkwardly dances around mother nature’s transitional bipolarity, I thought I’d share this sleeveless camel coat. Now, while a sleeveless coat seems to ring oxymoronic, it’s actually an amazing piece for fall, especially as we get further into September and October. I’m a big fan of vests (most often of the puffer variety) to layer over sweaters during fall, so this sleeveless coat seems like a chic alternative with the added benefits of (a) covering my bum and (b) feeling like I’m wearing my bathrobe in public without looking like I’m wearing my bathrobe in public. The latter is especially frowned upon in professional settings. Don’t ask me why.
Speaking of things frowned upon at the office, I wouldn’t recommend wearing this spaghetti strap magenta number sans vest or blazer at work, but I wanted to highlight it because it is no ordinary tank. It is actually the elusive and formidable BODYSUIT. I feel like bodysuits are always polarizing, but I for one am an enormous, enormous fan, especially for working ladies. The level of rage that builds within me as I constantly try to tuck my shirts back into my pants or skirt every damn time I stand up or sit down throughout the day is both unreasonable and unhealthy. And yet, it’s unlikely to change, so let’s slap a bodysuit on that situation and just have a great day, shall we? Deal.
CULOTTES: 
SLEEVELESS COAT: c/o