c/o Chico’s: SUIT JACKET | PANTS | SANDALS | TOP | NECKLACE | CUFF
EARRINGS: Argento Vivo | SUNGLASSES: Stella McCartney | BAG: c/o Henri Bendel | RING: Kathy Kamei (similar here) | POLISH: Nails – Essie (Vanity Fairest); Toes – Essie (A-List)
c/o Chicos: LACE JACKET (also similar here) | TANK | TRACK PANTS
SHOES: Topshop | BAG: Vince Camuto (similar here) | RING: Kathy Kamei (similar here) | EARRINGS: Argentino Vivo | NECKLACE: vintage but similar here
c/o Chico’s: POLKA DOT JACKET | PANTS | COLORBLOCK TOP | CHOKER
SHOES: Kate Spade (similar here and here) | BAG: c/o Henri Bendel | SUNGLASSES: Stella McCartney | EARRINGS: old but similar here
c/o Chico’s: LACE DUSTER | WHITE SHIRT | JEANS | NECKLACE
EARRINGS: old but similar here | SHOES: Saint Laurent (similar here) | SUNGLASSES: Stella McCartney
If you’ve followed this blog for any amount of time, you know that I’m all about versatile pieces that can be worn in a variety of ways and a variety of situations—both in and out of the workplace. From a practical perspective, it’s important to have pieces that can easily transition from desk to drinks when you don’t have time to run home and change before your après-work activities begin. Beyond practicality, however, having a separate office-only part of your closet comprising “work outfits” that you only wear from nine to five isn’t a great idea anyway. You should make your work-ready clothing a contiguous part of one fluid, cohesive wardrobe, rather than feeling like you have to ascribe to a “corporate uniform” of pieces that don’t really feel like you Monday through Friday. What you wear is not only representative of who you are, but also has proven effects on how you feel and perform professionally. Within the bounds of what’s appropriate in your workplace of course, there’s no reason you can’t wear clothing Monday through Friday that really represents you and your personal style.
This week, I’ve teamed up with Chico’s, a brand that epitomizes exactly this concept. As you can see above, each ensemble consists of versatile pieces that can be easily dressed up or down. For example, I wore the white suit above to a business meeting last week, and afterwards ditched the suit jacket and heels for a jean jacket and flats when running to the grocery store. Similarly, I wore the all-black ensemble shopping and running some errands while getting ready to leave for fashion week, and then wore the same pants with heels and a blazer this week for meetings in NYC. One of my favorite pieces is the lace duster jacket that can be worn as styled above for a Casual Friday look, or with a dress for dinner and drinks… speaking of which, is it the weekend yet? Happy Friday!
Follow @maryorton on instagram!
24 thoughts on “Versatility”
Superb outfits, esp. the 1st one, it totally won my heart!
I love how you make all of your outfits so versatile but still always
very elegant.
http://lartoffashion.blogspot.com
Chico’s has great workwear. Thanks for showing the looks!
Not only versatile but quite affordable as well! Since you are affiliated with several different brands, how do you manage such a perfect fit? Do you ever have to have them tailored or do they usually just fit right off the hanger or out of the box?
Occasionally I’ll have something tailored, but not often. All of these pieces fit well, so I didn’t have to worry!
That first outfit is stunning! I love the necklace and those sandals. That lace jacket and duster are perfect pieces for work-wear and weekend!
Happy Friday!
http://www.livinginsteil.com
This is making me miss Pac Heights so much.
very nice !
Isn’t the ginormous necklace an office crime?
Like all things, it completely depends on your office. If you work in a conservative environment, I wouldn’t recommend it. However, the blog includes ensembles for conservative, casual and creative professional settings, and this would be great in many creative environments (i.e. advertising, media, fashion, etc.). For those working in more conservative offices, like investment banking, the necklace can be a great piece to bring in your bag and throw on to jazz up your outfit for cocktails after work!
I love all your looks. So beautiful!Love your style!
X
Miri
http://currentlywearing.com
I love versatile pieces too, have a great weekend!
That necklace in the first photos is so eye catching….the question is how heavy is it? You look positively perfect in these outfits! Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
I was really impressed with how light it is considering the size! Of course, it’s got a little bit of weight to it, but for me, not at all enough to be uncomfortable after any period of time. I highly recommend it!
These stylings are great but there’s nothing versatile about clothing that stretches, fades and/or pills after one or two washings (Chico’s, Ann Taylor, etc.). These brands are notorious for their degrading quality over the past decade. Are you really going to wear them more than once, for these photo shoots? Please consider going a little more up-market for us hard-working professionals!
I’m sorry you feel that way! I include pieces on the blog at all price points, so stay tuned for brands that are more your taste. To be fair, I have to say that I include Ann Taylor and Chico’s on the blog because I genuinely endorse their products for working women who can’t afford to buy professional wear at higher price points. Personally, I have owned many pieces from both brands and have worn them for years, through many washings, so what you described has not at all been my experience!
Good point – I still have some silk/wool Ann Taylor classics from years past. It’s just been a good long while since I’ve seen anything comparable. Looking forward to continued variety in your posts!
Mary has to walk a fine line to attempt to please everyone. Just the other day someone commented that her outfits were too expensive and now a complaint that they aren’t expensive enough. When presenting an outfit, she almost always provides links to similar alternatives which are priced at both ends of the spectrum. I try to use her choices as inspiration rather than always buying the exact same item she is wearing.
The all black outfit is my favorite of the bunch, it’s flawless and I wouldn’t change a thing. It’s on trend, sporty yet tailored bec. of the oxford shoes, it’s modern, it looks like what a young stylish woman would wear.
The white outfit with black shirt…sorry but this isn’t anything I haven’t seen before. That necklace too I’ve seen too much in the media so it feels too trendy and tired for me.
The Khaki outfit looks too mature for you, like what a 50 yr. old woman would wear. Chicos I’ve noticed does a lot of loose fitting clothes but it just doesn’t flatter a figure of a young woman. I also wouldn’t wear a black bag with it.
The jeans/duster/white shirt, my eyes initially like it. I wouldn’t pair black accessories with it but chocolate brown instead. I also wouldn’t wear closed shoes like that with it, a cool bootie probably, like the Pikolinos Romo in Olmo (I have them, they’re comfortable and the leather is uber soft like baby skin). Sorry one last critique…the bottom of the jeans don’t look right, they’re just loose looking in a way that’s just not modern, not boyfriend cut loose. The cut is just not hip imho.
I have two compliments I forgot…your wavy ponytail looks very pretty in the jean/white/duster outfit. And I do like the black shoes quite a bit in the white outfit.
I’m a dope and I realize your wavy ponytail is in each of the pictures. You have such pretty hair, color and texture. I looked back again at the duster outfit and I really do like that outfit just I’d put it with jeans that flatter more and maybe a metallic accessory not the chocolate brown like I initially thought. They call the color of that duster taupe so I’m thinking a pewter leather belt. I would do shoes in a griege color or an animal print that leans toward the taupe not leopard or zebra but one that has that white/griege color in it.
I like that blue poncho they have on the website, Olena Ombre poncho. You would look amazing in that!
I just checked out Chicos shoes! Uh-oh, they’re really good prices! I love the black Fortuna ones you’re wearing in the white outfit pic. And another favorite that are priced ridiculously cheap are the Corey Ankle Boot with the red/leopard. I might ‘need’ these.
http://www.chicos.com/store/product/corey-ankle-boot/570115357?color=631&catId=&fromSearch=true&scPos=1-909-3184
I feel guilty about my brutal honesty last night. I only do that with irl friends and I would never dream of doing that to someone with a fashion as hobby blog. I don’t consider your blog to be fashion as hobby but more entrepreneurial so I felt it was ok to have a voice of dissent.
I looked again at these outfits and this is how I wish I would have phrased it…
Outfit 1. I actually love solids paired together, it’s understated class especially white with black where white is the predominant color… perfection. The Fortuna shoes make that outfit. The bib necklace is a bit trendy for my taste but I’m not a fan of costume jewelry in general. I like very subtle jewelry. I would wear a short strand of pearls with this look.
Outfit 2. This all black look is my favorite of the bunch. I like the pairing of the lace jacket, the dressy sweats and those oxford shoes. I love it!
Outfit 3. This outfit first struck me as very mature but today I see it as reminiscent of Audrey Hepburn. I like it. It grew on me. I like the pointy flat with it and how it works well with those pants. I would be curious to see how it looks with a different color bag or flat but I don’t even know what color I’d pick. Gold? Red?
Outfit 4. This is a fresh look for me because I don’t entertain dusters probably because of my height (short). I like the look of the duster with white tailored shirt and jeans. I would be curious to see how accessories in mushroom,pewter or greige looks with it in terms of a belt/shoes. I do like black/white and taupe together though, but I guess the denim makes me want to keep the accessories lighter. I mentioned I didn’t like the cut of the jeans in an earlier post but I still think the jeans look flattering on you because of your knock-out figure. I guess I would just put a loafer/driving moc with that style of jeans. I would pair a heal with jeans that don’t have any roominess to them but I don’t even wear jeans so I have no real knowledge base and just what I glean from catalogues/tv.
Thank you for sharing these outfits with us. You have amazing style!
Love the all white look with a hint of nude. You’re style fab!
Stylish Sophisticate: WorkWear Fashion and Professional Beauty
I love the white suit outfit with the bib necklace and black cage heels – totally didn’t expect those pieces to all be from Chico’s!