Two Ways: Business Casual Attire

Shoes: Nine West Speakup ($79)

From Left, Earrings: Henri Bendel Debutante Studs ($48) Sunglasses: Marc Jacobs Polarized Sunglasses ($98) Ring: Hammered Ring Set ($55) Bag: Ralph Lauren Double Zip Satchel ($298) Scarf: Love Quotes Scarf ($88) Jacket: Iro Kiana Jacket ($322) Sweater: Tippi Sweater ($79) Jeans: Dorothy Perkins Indigo Wide Leg Jeans ($35)

From Right, Coat: J.Crew Icon Trench ($298) Necklace: Stella & Dot Kimberly Necklace ($89) Ring: Elizabeth & James Northern Cross Ring ($95) Bag: Limited Dome Satchel ($80) Dress: DvF Raquel Dress ($175)

Business Casual.  Ivory, black, red and leopard…one of my favorite combinations.  Here, I mixed the palette with denim for a relaxed, yet professional, look.  If denim is a no-go in your office, try a slim-fitting pant like the J.Crew Minnie.  You can even sub-in a pencil skirt or a black trouser for dressier days.

I chose the Tippi sweater because it’s my favorite.  But mixing textures is a big trend this fall, so you could swap it out for a fluffy angora sweater from Topshop.  The contrast with the nubby boucle jacket would be right on trend.

Need a less expensive jacket?  Banana Republic has a Monogram Boucle Jacket for $140, or this under-$50 Mossimo tweed jacket.

As for the denim, these Perkins jeans look good, but I can’t tell you how good they really are without feeling the fabric or seeing the stitching.  The picture has promise though.  If you have a bit more money to spend, 7 for all Mankind Dojo jeans have a similar cut and look.

For accessories, I added an ivory scarf and some pearl earrings, as is my custom.  I also found these fun hammered metal rings from Gorjana; wear them on the same finger or different ones.

But the star of this show is the bag.  It is, without question, the best Prada knock-off I have ever seen.  It comes in black, camel and this lipstick red, and at under-$300?  Be still my racing heart.

For the hair, I would wear it up in a low twist or a high ponytail.  For the makeup, I’d match my nails to the bag with some OPI Red and paint my cheeks with Sand Pink, a dusty hue, from Bobbi Brown.

Business Casual.  A jersey dress with sleeves and a simple cut is a wardrobe essential for a relaxed work environment.  You can dress it up with heels and a jacket, if need be.  You can wear it in the spring and early autumn with a pair of flats.  Or you can pair it with opaque black tights and flat boots for the colder months.

I like the look of this Raquel dress from DvF, and while I chose this eggplant color for the post, I chose the cobalt for myself.  If you need to stay under-$100, give this Mossimo dress with faux leather accents and a half-sleeve a try.

I chose this long, layered pendant because it was substantial without being gaudy.  This Nine West teardrop pendant is also a good option, especially for $14.

I featured this cross band ring yesterday, but I loved it so much that I thought why not show it again?  Though I did try to find a cheaper option this time.  If you like the airy, geometric feel, check out this gold-tone swirl ring from Asos and this silver x-out ring from Macy’s.

For the hair, I would wear it down, wavy if possible.  For the makeup, I would go for a plum blush and a berry gloss, like Revlon Super Lustrous in Berry Allure.