Two Ways: Watercolor Pencil Skirt

Skirt: Factory Printed Pencil Skirt (J.Crew, $75)*

From Left, Sunglasses: Vince Camuto CatEye Glasses ($70) Earrings: Lydell Turquoise Earrings ($20) Bag: Trump Top Handle Shopper ($150) Blouse: Freesia Tie Neck Blouse ($81) Shoes: Sydney Patent Sandals ($228)

From Right, Sunglasses: Cole Haan Aviators ($98) Necklace: Kenenth Jay Lane Statement Necklace ($102) Bag: Andrea Crossbody ($238) T-Shirt: Splendid Tee ($46) Shoe: Signature Carolina Flat ($185)

Polyvore Set Here.

For Casual Monday.  There is a lot of color in this skirt, so the first reaction for most women will be to tone it down.  But you don’t have to.  You can wear a bright blouse in pink or orange.  You could also go for an olive green blouse if you want some color but not the whole Crayola box.

A tie neck blouse and a patterned skirt is one of my wardrobe staples.  It’s easy.  Can be worn with a jacket or without.  Transitions to dinner out easily.  And no thinking is required to put it together.  As long as the pieces fit, it always looks good.

The accessories are simple.  I like the cloudy, aqua earrings.  They coordinate but don’t match, which is becoming a signature slogan for this blog.  I hate when things are too matchy-matchy.  I love this bag, the shape is really interesting and the size is neither too big or too small.

It’s a tie neck, so I’d wear my hair up in a loose, wavy chignon.  I’d do a light pink blush andlots of eyeliner.  If you like lippies, feel free to coordinate your lip color with the blouse.  This shade looks like NARS Schiap to me.

For Casual Friday.  It is my belief that you can wear a clean, crisp white t-shirt to work.  However, too many young women are buying the cheap, practically see through tissue tees and strutting around in those, and that’s wrong.  A t-shirt for work must fit well, be made of a heavy gauge cotton and be painfully opaque.  Not all t-shirts are created equal.

When I wear a tee to work, I always wear a statement necklace with it to dress it up a bit.  I debated doing an aqua or an orange necklace hee, but I decided to go with a chunky gold necklace.  It’s more versatile.

Add a pair of aviator sunglasses, a bright bag and a pair of cute gold flats and you’re set.  I especially love these flats because they are neither too dressy nor too casual.

If you’re going to wear a tee to work, everything else has to be on point including the hair and makeup. For the hair, I’d wear it in a low bun. For the makeup, a bright pink pedicure (the shoes are open toe after all) and contour eye-makeup (two steps below smoky) in taupe will bring it up a notch.