STYLEnosh

SAVE TIME: WEAR ONE OUTFIT FOR WORK AND PLAY

This little black dress is the perfect thing to wear to Work. With the striped cardigan and black and leopard pumps, there's just enough edge to keep it interesting but still works at the workplace. The look then easily transitions into Play by removing the sweater and belt to reveal the sexy peek-a-boo back. Helloo, sexy!

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WILL WEARING THAT COCKTAIL DRESS TO THE COMPANY HOLIDAY PARTY LEAVE YOU JOBLESS?

There's nothing like an office, holiday party to get you all in a dither. What should I wear? Is my dress too short? Do I have to wear black? All good questions. Ask 20 different people their opinion and you'll get 20 distinct answers. That's what makes this wardrobe challenge such a pain. Do you follow your mother's advice or side with your more fashion risk-taking friend?

Maybe you're thinking you should just stay home.

 

                                    

   SAFE

   vs.

   RISKY                                                                                                        

Before you forego the party all together, consider these key factors for looking fabulous at your work holiday function while keeping your income source intact.

Just ask  The easiest way to find out what's appropriate to wear to your work holiday shindig is to ask. This tip is especially useful if this is your first time going to the party. Garner the opinion of someone you trust at work and inquire if there's anything you should absolutely stay away from.

Consider the corporate culture  Every company has a culture. Is the office conservative, fun, laid-back, etc? Think about what's encouraged at work or deemed important. If you're company likes to party, they're probably more lenient on the dress code. If you work at a religious-based company, you may not want to wear your slinky, gold dress and 4-inch stilettos.

Cover up  I'm what you'd call a fashion risk renegade. I live for the opportunity to do something different and mix it up when it comes to what you can wear in the work environment. But I still don't think it's a good idea to have body parts hanging out when you're around your co-workers. Save your super sexy wear for your personal parties. (Ah, no pun intended.)

Still confused about what to wear your holiday party? Leave your questions in a comment or send me an email at stylenosh@gmail.com. I've been tackling these questions for many people and I'd love to help you too!

Images: Both at Bloomingdales.com.  Sequin dress by DKNYC for $119.

WHAT TO WEAR: EASY WAYS TO GO FROM WORK TO PLAY

The weather is starting to break. Yes, I see it, spring! With warmers temps comes more social events. And don't many of them seem to fall during the work week? If your calendar calls for you to fly from work to dinner or to a networking event, keep your wardrobe changes to a minimum. It's enough to juggle traffic from one place to another without worrying about what you should wear. Here are some simple tips for taking your look from work to play.

Take off your jacket or cardigan   These items can scream stuffy or cubicle. Which is not the vibe you want to exude when you're out mingling. Wear your graphic or ruffle top to work with the jacket and leave it in the car when you hit your after work activities.

Change your footwear   We all know that shoes can take an outfit from okay to outstanding. Unfortunately, most jobs outside of NYC don't tend to embrace super high, sexy heels in the office. So save those lovelies for after hours. And watch your confidence shoot up a notch too. There's something empowering about wearing heels while balancing an appetizer on a tiny napkin and talking about your next project.

Upgrade your jewelry  If you're like me and you tend to go small when it comes to earrings, swap out those scrawny studs for a pair that dangles or shines. Or grab that chunky ring or arm full of bangles. Don't be shy when it comes to piling on the accessories. Remember, you're not at work anymore.

1 CARDIGAN, 2 WAYS

One of the styles I've been gravitating towards lately is the preppy look. School blazers and tassled loafers offer that classic preppy style reminiscent of my Catholic school days. And this two-toned cardigan from NY & Co is the perfect way to achieve the look (at only $10)!

In the pic on the left, I've paired the gray cardigan with yellow trim with a button-down floral shirt, and gray pinstriped skirt. It's the perfect look for work.

And in the pic below, I've used the cardigan as a topper for a brown sleeveless shirt and a pair of denim shorts. I'm ready for play.

STYLE TIPS: FOR WORK & PLAY

I snagged this simple royal blue dress from the Target clearance rack. It's from the Converse One Star line and the color is just gorgeous. 

By itself, it's the perfect casual dress that can worn to a lunch date with the girls or browsing the stacks at your local bookstore. But add a blazer and some chic pumps and you're ready for work. I chose the red handbag to invoke a little pop of color and steer clear of the generic choice of black.

STYLE TIPS: WHAT TO WEAR TO WORK & PLAY

Now that summer is here, our social calendars tend to get a little out of control. And often our schedules require us to go directly from work to dinner, networking events, or maybe a date or two. If this sounds like a typical day for you, consider making a few changes to an outfit to create a look that carries you from work all the way through play.

For Work, I've taken a skirt and shirt combination and added a pair of strappy sandals. Since I always get cold during this time of overworked air conditioners, I have a sweater handy to complete my look. 

The tweaks I make for Play will depend on where I'm headed after the workday. If I'm inclined to keep my wardrobe changes to a minimum, I'll simply switch the shoes to a sexier and/or more colorful option and I'm done.  If my goal is to go from corporate casual to date sexy, I would replace the skirt with a pair of fitted, knee-length capris and an open-toe shoe. It's a little extra effort but depending on the company, it may be worth it.

STYLE TIPS: WHAT TO WEAR TO WORK & PLAY

Usually I only take a picture of an outfit idea for Work & Play but this time, I thought I'd show a look that I actually wore one day.

Mixing bold patterns at Work can definitely be a gamble. But you know I like to keep things interesting so what the hey, right? The great thing about this look is it completely transitions into Play. I parlayed this plaid and floral outfit right into tapas and drinks with friends. Sweet!

Tips for mixing patterns:
* Pair patterns together that share similar colors and tones
* If you're wearing a large print, contrast it with a smaller print so the two patterns don't compete
* It's easier to mix completely different patterns like florals with plaid or checks. Pattern mixing becomes a huge gamble when you attempt to pair prints that are in the same group like floral with floral or plaid with plaid. However if you do like living on the edge, be sure to make one of the patterns more subtle.

STYLE TIPS: WHAT TO WEAR FOR WORK & PLAY

This Alice Temperley for Target blouse has fantastic detail with its victorian style collar. For Work, I paired the blouse with a pleated black skirt, patterned tights, and green pumps.

In order to switch it up a bit for Play, I replaced the skirt with gray, wide-leg pants and added an evening bag and red, kitten heel pumps. Can you say, "Ready for after work schmoozing?"

STYLE TIPS: WHAT TO WEAR TO WORK & PLAY

Here's a basic way to add a little interest to your wardrobe staples like these brown, tuxedo pants. A brown and white print top and pink shoes make this Work look more fun. And the paisley-like print bag by Kate Spade has so many colors in it that it complements just about any outfit you can think of.

Replace the button-down shirt with a pink sequined DKNY tank (snagged at Loehmann's for under $20). Swap the large, work tote for a sleek, metallic bag and you're ready to Play.

STYLE TIPS: Work & Play

I know what some of you are thinking. Which one of these outfits is supposed to be suitable for work? I may be pushing it on this one but that's exactly what I'm here to do. So here's what I'm thinking (follow me on this one).

I've selected a casual tennis-style skirt from The Limited and paired it with a basic slim fit Polo shirt from the Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store. If your office is a little too conservative for this look, you may be able to wear this option to Work on casual Friday.

Wearing this skirt for Play is a little easier to pull off. Keep it simple- I added a v-neck t-shirt from Club Monaco and a colorful beaded necklace. Now you're ready for all of your weekend activities.

STYLE TIPS: WORK & PLAY

The more I interact with people, the more I realize that most people aren't like me. I cry while watching sappy commercials. (That Wal-Mart Christmas commercial a few years ago about the kids not having toys, gets me every time!) I like walking across my furniture. (It's the kid in me, what can I say.) And I like figuring out how to take an outfit from day to night while remaining stylish. Oh, what fun!

Here's my idea for a great, work to after-work event outfit: Take a basic suit, like the navy Calvin Klein one pictured here, and pair it with a printed tank in a dressy fabric. I chose this silk nautical print tank from the Proenza Schouler Target line. Add a complimentary gold pump and your look is almost complete. The best thing about this work to evening look is its easy transition factor. You can carry the smaller purse (with a bit of color) inside of the hobo bag. And when it's time to hit the party, shed the jacket and large bag. Looking good!

STYLE TIPS: WORK & PLAY

I bought this jacket a couple of weeks ago at Forever 21 for $9.99. Yes I know, it's a store for the teens but I can't help walking through there on occasion to see if there's a gem waiting to be rescued from the clothing clutter and loud music. This cropped, houndstooth jacket works so well in my wardrobe, I've worn it at least 4 times in two weeks. I might just wear it today.

Since the jacket has a lot of style with its houndstooth print and cropped look, the black shirt and tuxedo pants create a sweet Work outfit. The green pumps add a little hint of color.

For Play, pair the jacket with a simple white tank, denim mini, and black slingbacks with a gold medallion. Now you're chic and ready for a day of shopping.