In honor of Fashion Week, we decided to play dress-up here at PayScale. We partnered with style-maven Jess Estrada, the Seattle-based author of Fresh Jess, fashion and style blog. Jess joined us at Old Navy, where she put together a few office-chic looks for Aubrey Bach, our Consumer Product Marketing Manager. Read on for her tips on looking fierce and professional at work.
Be Bold
Jess taught us many things during our shopping spree, but the biggest piece of advice she gave was to have confidence in your sartorial choices. Don't be afraid of color. Wearing what you love, what makes you feel great, is one of the best ways to project your confidence and capability to your colleagues. Color isn't off-limits. Check out the first look she gave Aubrey:
The green dress gives Aubrey a fun burst of color, while the gray sweater makes the look office-appropriate. Paired with black booties and a chunky bubble necklace, this look is perfect for a day at the office followed by happy hour with coworkers or friends.
Maybe your office is more conservative and a green dress wouldn't fly. You still don't have to shy away from color, as this next look demonstrates.
The black dress is modern and not at all frumpy, while the red shoes add just the right touch of personality. This dress would also work well with leggings and boots. Add some delicate silver or gold jewelry, and you are ready for your board meeting.
The perfect black dress is an important part of your work wardrobe. It can even be taken up another notch with the addition of a blazer.
The blue blazer brings back the fun, though you could just as easily substitue a gray or camel colored blazer if you want to be a bit more conservative. See how Jess added leggings and gray booties to complete the look.
Jess knows that we all don't enjoy wearing dresses, so she put together another look for those of you who prefer to wear pants to work. The key to this look is tailoring and accessorizing. See for yourself.
The dark wash of the jeans helps keep this look professional, while the camel sweater with the addition of the tailored white blouse underneath creates a crisp silhouette. The black beaded necklace, bracelet, and snakeskin flats complete the look. Not allowed to wear jeans at the office? No problem. Jess created this look specifically because it would work with jean or with fitted black pants.
The Bottom Line
According to Jess, office fashion doesn't have to be dour or dowdy. Be creative and have fun. Be sure to fill your closet with classic pieces that are the staples of a strong work wardrobe: tailored pants, a black shift, neutral sweaters are all a good place to start. Just don't be afraid to add in a pop of color to reflect who you are.
Tell Us What You Think
We want to hear from you! What look created by Jess is your favorite? Have fashion questions? Leave a comment or head over to Fresh Jess for more fashion-forward tips from a savvy business woman.
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