The Thursday Outfit: Easy Business Casual

You know those mornings when you just need to get dressed…right now…in a hurry…get out of my way…I have to go. Of course you don’t. But I know that morning. I have lived that morning when I slept through my alarm on by Boss’s first day as chairman of his committee. I have lived that morning on a business trip when the wake up call didn’t come (remember hotel wake up calls?). I have lived that morning so many times. And on those mornings, you just need to grab the clothes and run.

This is the outfit for those mornings.

This outfit, once again found on Pinterest, perfectly encapsulates my “new” style. It’s like my “old” style, but a little more relaxed. It’s the cool Mom doing pickup. It’s the effortlessly pulled together attorney walking into work on Friday with a coffee in her hand to close out a good week. It’s breezy enough for casual lunches with friends. But it’s nice enough that you won’t look unprofessional if you run into a work colleague while waiting for your order.

And should you need to dress it up, you can swap the jeans for trousers. I like rust or a steely blue. But black is always an option.

The Jeans // If you haven’t bought a pair of wide leg, trouser jeans yet, you need to. You need them for dressier days, for casual work dinners, for showing that you’re in the know. I have light washes for daily wear and dark washes for evening or travel.

These Frame wide legs are the epitome of a fashion jean. The fly, the belt loops, the stitching, the pockets, all are heavily styled for a jean that makes a statement. These are “fancy” jeans, “cool” jeans. These are first date jeans. But if you just want a simple jean with some contrast stitching to make them look a little bit more chic, LOFT has an affordable pair you will love. Plus-size? Torrid has you covered.

The Blazer // I need a new white blazer. (I can no longer lift my arms in the other one.) And this sleek blazer from Nordstrom gives me a classic look in an under-$200 price. The color in person is slightly ivory which makes it wearable in any season.

I also love this Aqua blouse for under-$100. But a long, lengthening white blazer is always a good idea. Plus-size? I love this Talbot’s blazer that gives you two buttons with the sleek look of one.

The Tee // Hanes sadly does not make a scoop neck tee. And to pull off this look, you need a scoop or a v-neck. Luckily, Madewell has this simple scoop. If that dip is a bit too deep for you, Quince has a slightly more demure option.

The Shoes // Staying true to the inspo image, I wanted to pull a sandal. My husband starts wearing sandals as soon as the weather crests 45-degrees, so I think his influence is rubbing off on me. These Stuart Weitzman block heel sandals are sublime. They’re sleek, comfortable, and under-$150. This is not an affiliate link. I can’t make a dollar off these shoes, so please enjoy them, because the deal is that good.

Need more of a “work” shoe? These Ann Taylor buckle slingbacks are where I am headed.

The Accessories // This bag is an affordable basic from Quince. I have several friends who own it and love it. Comes in three colors.

As for the jewelry, we are layering jewelry right now. This short Asscher cut pendant is a unique but simple statement. Add the long beaded chain (I own this and love it.), and this sweet little bee pendant (really fun if your initial is ‘B’). Not loving the bee? This Tiger’s Eye pendant is a classic.

For the earrings, I cannot do the big hoops. They massively overwhelm my face. But these oblong-shaped hoops are the perfect replacement. They give the same punch without looking like giant disco hoops, which might be a bit much for many of us.

Styling // I like this look with the hair up and sleek in a low ponytail or chignon. The center part gives it that big city vibe. I have bangs though, so I have to cut a bit off to the side.

As for the makeup, I love this coral-pink lip. I found this cherry blossom pink Glossier lip color that gives you the same vibe.

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