• Highlight your waist and legs by pairing a cropped T-shirt with the gingham mini skirt. It's a young, laid-back look that's perfect for exploring the city.
• Add a retro, school-girl vibe by pairing it with white sneakers, a backpack, and some hoop earrings.
• If you want it to look a bit more modern, opt for accessories with modern details like exposed zippers.

• This is definitely a bolder ensemble, with the bright yellow and the bell sleeves, but it would be stunning for a photoshoot on the blog, brunch at a fancier restaurant, or for a date!
• Add a clean white crossbody bag and some gold earrings to play off the white and yellow tones of the outfit.
• Top it off with black mules for a powerful, chic, and feminine touch. It's also a great alternative to your standard stilettos, which can come off more formal.

• For a girls' night out, pair this skirt with a fitted number. The velvety and satin textures make both the top and the clutch evening-friendly. 
• To amp up the sexy factor, throw on a black choker and sky high strappy heels. 
• Now, if the outfit is too revealing or overdone, feel free to switch out the stilettos for a shorter heel or even a heeled boot. You can also wear a motorcycle jacket for warmth (it adds to the sexy/badass vibes). 

If you're feeling a bit blah about your clothing choices, you should consider taking a peek into your boyfriend/brother/dad's closet! I think menswear inspired outfits are always really chic and it can be an unexpected twist to your everyday style. I'm not telling you to strap on a bowtie or wear those horrific cargo shorts that your dad still thinks is trendy...

But! You can definitely play around with graphic t-shirts, white button-ups, and flannels. These are pretty unisex pieces, and that's why you have a bit of freedom to work it into what you already own.


Here, I've styled three different outfits while maintaining a feminine shape and look. The key is balance!!

1. If you're a bit of a tomboy or just like an edgier look, opt for your man's leather jacket or band tee. Either way, it will spice up those A-line skirts. Finish off with a red lip plus messy curls and you're ready to go.

2. Throw on his crisp white shirt as a dress (if you're short enough) or you can purchase one that's cut for women. Pair it with nude heels to lengthen the legs for a sensual vibe. Take it to the next level by leaving your hair down and putting on a nice pair of sunglasses. This will tone down the bareness of the legs but also give you that "I woke up like this" look.

3. Boyfriend jeans have been a big hit for a while now. You can either go with that or wear your favorite skinny jeans to keep the shape of your legs. Then, pair with a darker colored flannel for a masculine feel. TIP! You can also tie it around your waist for a more casual look. Put on those strappy red heels to add color and balance out all the loose layers. I'd recommend a messy braid and natural/glowing makeup for the final touches.

Tada! There you have it. Super easy ways to wo(man) up. Let me know: which look was your favorite?



Bye for now,
Jenn

I know. It's only Monday and I'm already thinking about Friday but don't tell me you aren't thinking it too! So let's talk about Casual Fridays and what to wear if you're having trouble mixing work and play.

Now if you work in a corporate environment, the dress code can be strict to enforce formality within the workplace. If you work in a more creative setting, the dress code can be loosened to adapt to the individuality of its employees. Some companies will allow you to ditch the tie and heels on what is known as Casual Fridays. For others, everyday is Casual Friday.

So how do you incorporate work-friendly pieces with laid-back vibes?

In the interest of welcoming spring (whenever that may be in New England), I have decided to play around with a pastel color palette and lighter fabrics. My main focus for this post is the blouse. It's a key player in professional wear because with the right cut, it can flatter most body types. The blouse is also comfortable when flowy and can easily adapt itself to other styles. So whether you're wearing it for work, drinks, or a chill lunch date, the blouse will get the job done.

On the left, I paired a sleeveless layered blouse with standard khaki tailored pants to maintain comfort but still emit a professional tone. To jazz it up, I added some oxfords with a bit of shine but can be switched out for colorful floral heels after work. This really helps add dimension to an otherwise plain outfit. To keep a balance with the bold colors, I opted for a grey handbag with gold hardware that screams "I am serious business". For makeup, neutral eyes with a bold lip to match the heels will pull the entire look together.

On the right, I created a more feminine outfit but with similar elements from the other ensemble. The wide skirt adds enough length to make it work-appropriate but the light floral pattern gives it more character. To let the outfit speak for itself, I chose neutral colored heels, which also helps with lengthening the legs. Because there is quite a bit of volume in the lower half, I added a cropped fitted blazer to streamline the top half. From there, it was about adding little touches of warmth with the rose gold watch and mauve pink lipstick.



The key to dressing for a more casual work environment is to incorporate at least one tailored item into the outfit. It could be heels, a blazer, a peplum top, pants, skirt, whatever. As long as you have a piece with some structure to it, the whole outfit elevates to being professionally acceptable. From there you can play with adding color, texture, print, or layers to bring out your personal style.


What is YOUR go-to outfit for Casual Fridays? If you don't work at a company that has Casual Fridays, what do you wear to work? Let me know down below!



~Jenn

These outfits don't necessarily have to be worn just for dates. They're perfect for hangouts with friends, lunches with your family, and any other occasion you see fit!

I've taken some basic outfits and used various accessories to give the outfit a different "look" depending on what you personally like to wear. Some people tend to dress a little more feminine than others and some really prefer being casual at all times. The types of accessories you choose should also depend on what you and your date plan on doing as well.

Quick Recommendations:
Wear flat shoes and sneakers if you're doing a lot of walking or maybe going to an amusement park. You won't be able to have fun if your feet are hurting!

Likewise, if you know you'll be doing minimal walking, such as spending time at a restaurant or the movies, then you might consider finding accessories that you can feel comfortable wearing in a sitting position for an extended period of time. For me, bracelets can get irritating during the movies because they make sounds when you move. And, in this case, you can definitely wear shoes with a little more height as your feet won't wear out as quickly.

If you're really confident and know you can handle the height, by all means, go for a platform pump! I think this type of shoe is perfect for evening dates and can turn a daytime outfit into a nighttime outfit. If you'd like the height but don't think you can walk around in such a high heel, then wearing boots with a chunky heel might work better for you. :)

This first outfit features an open knit sweater (somewhat cropped) and a bright floral dress as the foundation. Depending on where you live, it could get chilly at night so the sweater will come in handy and it looks really cute when you have the patterned dress peeping out underneath.
Of course, these accessories will look great even without the sweater so play around with the ideas to make it fit your own style!


This second outfit is a go-to for me. You can never go wrong with a nice fitting pair of denim jeans and a cute T-shirt. It doesn't expose too much skin (which, I think is a good thing!) and it gives off a very down-to-earth vibe. If that's the kind of look you're going for, then this outfit is perfect for you!


The third outfit features chiffon dresses! One of the biggest trends from last year moving forward into this summer is the chiffon material, whether it be used for a dress, blouse, or skirt. It's lightweight and perfect for those hot summer days. I find that dresses with an A-line are also flattering on many different body shapes and sizes so I'd recommend this option to anyone!


If you have any other suggestions or ways you'd style these outfits, let me know! I'd love to hear about it!
I truly hope you enjoyed reading this post and that it's sparked some new outfit ideas :)


Until next time,
{kissies}
~Jenn