April 30, 2012

Today's Everyday Fashion: Office Neutrals













































Today's look is super-similar to my inspiration; the only big difference is the position of the belt! I wanted to show off the peplum ruffles on my shirt so I left it untucked, but a belt was still necessary. Why, you may ask? Well, when wearing a shirt that has a box shape such as this one, I find that a belt gives it some much needed curve. I also love the idea of wearing a blouse untucked to cover up the top of a high-waisted skirt. When it comes to making office wear "fun" I usually turn to bright colors but I think this look proves you can do it with neutrals too! Do you prefer wearing neutrals or bright colors to the office?

Inspiration photo: Banana Republic
Shirt: Moda c/o MJR Sales, $17
Skirt: Banana Republic, $40 (similar)
Belt: Joe's Jeans c/o Marshalls, $20
Shoes: Colin Stuart c/o MJR Sales, $17 (similar, similar)
Purse: Calvin Klein/TJ Maxx, $120
Rings: LOFT pink ring $11, My Stella & Dot website $49
Watch: Michael Kors, family gift
Bracelets: Banana Republic $10, My Stella & Dot website $49


1. Nordstrom leopard shirt, $24.97
2. ASOS leopard shirt, $45.45
3. ModCloth leopard shirt, $34.99
4. Victoria's Secret leopard shirt, $34.50

38 comments:

  1. Your outfit is so much more appealing than the inspiration photo!! The colors seems more prominent and that really makes the outfit pop.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Love leopard print anything!!! Always classic and fits  most any event. I did something of sorts for a funeral, leopard top, brown skirt and antique pearls. I felt appropriate and I knew the lady we were honoring would have loved it. I love your style!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I agree with Anon, in fact I will admit that I prefer your twist on the inspiration nearly 100% of the time. This is a fun outfit  I can get away with at work yet still have fun with my outfit. Very cute and I love how the color of the belt & handbag pop out yet still remain in the same family of colors.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love this outfit and would definitely wear it to work.  While it is neutral, it's not boring neutral.  :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love this for the office!  The belt really ties it all together.  

    ReplyDelete
  6. I adore animal print for the office but soemtimes I feel like it looks too fall like. You really printed it up to make it spring appropriate!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Love how this leopard outfit is totally work appropriate - I would rock this outfit as well : )

    http://allthingsprettyandlittle.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  8. This outfit is amazing! ♥
    I love the colours and the animal print. 

    ReplyDelete
  9. I adore both for the office - my blog is primarily about my outfits in the office. I try not to go too crazy though so I usually do a mix of both! Love this

    Sarah
    sarahsavvystyle.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. Love yoru blouse! SO pretty :) <3

    ReplyDelete
  11. my office doesn't have a dress code, so i'm pretty lucky in that i'm not restricted to what i can and can't wear - but i love the idea of switching it up from a bright color to a neutral!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I adore leopard. Wore it last week in my J. Crew Wildcat dress. Leopard never seems to go out of style.
    Niki
    http://www.fashionatforty.blogspot.com/2012/04/dress-week-look-2.html

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love this look! I am always looking for inspiration for work outfits!!

    http://michellelivinglifebeautifully.blogspot.com/ 

    ReplyDelete
  14. This is a perfect office outfit, I love the leopard top, its such a nice addition, and makes the outfit more fun, and eaasy to wear after office hours!

    ReplyDelete
  15. This is way too cute! I'm a sucker for leopard print and a designer handbag!

    ReplyDelete
  16. This is definitely something I would wear to work!   I'm slowly getting into brights but in the mean time I love leopard print to take a blah outfit to exciting!

    ReplyDelete
  17. That top is fantastic!  I spent a while last night browsing MJR sales, but just don't seem to find the same great items you do.  I tend to go for prints more than I do color when I want to jazz things up, only because I've only recently started wearing brighter colors. Love this look though, and it's fun while still be a little reserved. 

    ReplyDelete
  18. I adore your blog J, but why don't you talk a little about yourself, your life etc... in your posts? It would be sooo cool to learn a little bit about you! xx

    ReplyDelete
  19. http://goo.gl/XAuAj

    ReplyDelete
  20. I love this outfit you put together. It is definitely office appropriate. It has a sort of understatedness about it yet it still grabs your attention!

    I love the way you style all of your outfits! 

    http://kikiscornerfunfashionandfrivolity.blogspot.com/ 

    ReplyDelete
  21. Great outfit!! I love wearing an animal print into the office. 

    Tiffany
    http://shoeschampagne.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  22. I'll admit, normally I don't like your use of the belt. Like yesterday's outfit - didn't call for it and would of looked better without.

    But I feel that you really nailed everything today. I'd actually copy this!

    ReplyDelete
  23. love your interpretation!
    Cant wait to try the peplum style after I have this baby!

    http://gandacummings.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  24. Thank you Chelle! :-) It's funny because I would've felt totally naked without a belt in yesterday's dress. I talked about this once a long time ago, but I have this "5 piece rule," where an outfit is not complete until there are 5 pieces. Without the belt, it would have only been 4 pieces. Totally silly I know, but I swear by it. You are more than welcome to still like it w/o the belt, I just thought I'd explain why I wore one!

    Thanks again!

    ReplyDelete
  25. You are sweet! Is there anything in particular you would like to hear about? Check out my "What is J's Everyday Fashion" tab to learn about how the blog got started. And there are several posts under the "Table of Contents" table of contents tab, including a tour of my closet and my fitness and beauty stories! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  26. Sunday nights are not the best time to browse MJR - I recommend something mid-week, when they first get their new arrivals in. It's just like shopping at TJ Maxx - if you show up on the day they get shipment it's like heaven in there, and a few days later everything is gone. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  27. This is such a perfect work-day look. It's sassy & professional.  I love how the animal print is so effortless against the gray skirt.  Thanks for another great post!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Everything you style is always *so* pretty, and this outfit is *really* pretty, too, J.!!    I once worked with a very nice woman in her late 20s who always wore only neutral or pale pastel outfits----(under her white lab coat, while seeing patients)----and neutral heels.    The interesting thing, though, which I'll always remember, is that she NEVER wore a blouse/top, skirt, pants, or dress in anything but SOLID neutrals or pastels............ yet EVERY single item of really gorgeous clothing she wore had some sort of "texture" to it!!    If she wore, say, a solid white blouse, it had white scrolled embroidery on the collar/cuffs/placket............ if she wore, say, a solid mint-colored skirt, it had an all-over raised jacquard-weave of small, mint-colored leaves............ if she wore, say, pants that looked like they were solid dark cognac brown, they actually were a tiny, tiny dark-cognac-brown-and-cream herringbone weave!!  

    *Everything* she wore was solid, TONE-ON-TONE-(tonal)-colored and TEXTURED neutrals or pale pastels, i.e., either embroidered;  jacquard-weaved;  herringboned;  shadow-striped;  seersuckered;  dotted Swissed;  tweeded;  etc.;  etc.!!    Her "look" actually was very rich/subtle/refined;  and it also "inspired" ME, I think............ to suddenly start wearing  MORE  *C.O.L.O.R.*  (as was appropriate) with MY work uniform, then also (for me) to start wearing  MORE  *C.O.L.O.R.*  after work/on the weekends, too, (haha)!!

    ReplyDelete
  29. I love color, but sometimes it's nice to wear just classic neutral. Love the skirt/top combo!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Adorable style! Totally easy to do. Very classy. Thank you for sharing! :)

    ReplyDelete
  31. I do some of both, but I have a bright color disease that causes me to not be physically able to leave the house without a "pop" of color. I should get that checked out sometime!
    work-it-blog.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  32. jseverydayfashionMay 1, 2012 at 2:29 PM

    I heard it's an epidemic sweeping the country! I've been known to exhibit symptoms myself. ;-) 

    ReplyDelete
  33.  this is exactly what i wanted to know! Thanks and hope your blog will last forever, i really like it!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Thanks for the tips!  Heading over there now. :)

    ReplyDelete
  35.    
    You look soo pretty! The dress
    suits you very well, I’m in love with your style!

    ReplyDelete
  36.  I just can't take my eyes out
    of this picture half ninja half sexy!

    ReplyDelete