Polyvore Set Here.

If you work in an office where denim is allowed ( I do not. Grumble, grumble.), you need to dress up your denim for work.  Because while I love a pair of jeans as much as the next woman, you can’t wear them to work the same way that you would wear them in your casual time.  

Here, we have a pair of trouser jeans in a dark wash, which, in my opinion, are the ideal work jean.  However, the key to making these jeans work for the office is to sub them into a pre-existing work outfit.  

For example, I would wear this light blazer and tie-neck blouse with grey or navy trousers.  For a casual day, I simply replace the trouser with a trouser jean and sub-in a pair of more relaxed suede wedges for high heels.  No need to burn off precious brain cells creating something from scratch.

Business casual lesson number one: When wearing jeans, treat them as if they were slacks and bring your casual denim into your work environment with ease.

This look would be ideal for most of the Hill staffers (during recess), office dwellers (if only on Friday) and teachers who I know.  Yet, some of you will probably think it’s too dressed up.  I don’t believe that there is anything wrong with being a bit more put together than your office mates, as long as you don’t go overboard.  I certainly wouldn’t recommend a suit if everyone else is in khakis, but I don’t think a sturdy pair of shoes and a linen blazer is reaching for the stars, especially if you’re a working professional.