The work wardrobe - flats vs. heels

Picture the professional office.  Dressing for work has become more creative than it was decades ago, yet in many work places the suit with button down meets the dress code. 

Most women in a conservative office environment, like banking, law or accounting, dress in something like this, or if they're lucky they get away with a slightly amped up version that incorporates a bit more color and slightly edgier pieces.  Still, there isn't much variation in the choice of footwear.  The uniform of the working woman includes some form of the pump. 

Being someone who works in this type of environment, I'm in a shoe with a heel daily.  I love shoes, I love pumps, and I have a vast wardrobe to choose from.  More and more I'm noticing that many designers are adding flats to their shoe line.  Not long ago I bought my first pair.  Not my very first pair, but my first pair that wasn't cheap, canvas, disposable.  I wear them often, always on weekends with jeans or shorts.  They're comfortable, they're stylish and they always garner compliments.  It got me thinking about the possibility of wearing flats to work.

Here are some options that might work.

Ferragamo

 

Manolo Blahnik

 

Prada

 

 

In or out?

The great necklace debate - inside the collar or outside? 

Outside looks a bit buttoned down but also rather sophisticated.  It's a showcase for fabulous gems.  It takes the right necklace, one that will lay well and show enough to be interesting.

 

Inside is a different feel altogether.  Less showy, a little sexy, letting a glimpse of collar bone show under the jewels or gleaming gold.

 



It depends on the shirt, the outfit and the mood.  The same necklace can feel completely different and be a more versatile piece worn inside the collar one day, outside on another. 

Washing leather garments

Is there anything more luxurious than a leather garment? Leather used to be less common, the province of motorcyclists and cowboys.  Now there is leather for everyone.  Dresses, tops, tees, skirts, pants, and of course, jackets.  Since designers latched onto it a few years ago, there are also numerous pieces that are trimmed in leather. 

A leather item can be worn a number of times before it needs to be cleaned, particularly if you wear something under it.  Eventually there will come a time when it needs to be cleaned and that can get expensive.  Very expensive, as in over $70 for a simple sleeveless leather tank.  Since the cows stand out in the rain without shrinking or stretching, it got me thinking about the possibility of washing leather.

It turns out I'm not the first person to think of this.  There are actually leather washes available, including this one by Leather Therapy. 

Another getting good reviews is this Moss leather cleaner.

 

 

The question is, am I willing to experiment on my leather clothes?  Well, no, but I would give it a try on a thrift store find.  It could be a worthwhile experiment.    



The black pump

Every girl should have a pair of black pumps.  I'm not sure every girl needs nine pairs of black pumps, my current total.  That doesn't count black booties, black flats or black sandals.  The black pump is a wardrobe work horse.  Depending on the style, they can go to the office with pencil skirts, out at night with body con dresses, and out running errands with boyfriend jeans.  They are the wear with almost everything shoe.

Despite having the aforementioned nine pairs, I find myself drawn to yet another.  Behold the Vince Claire choked pump.  Matte leather upper - not suede or patent - with a sexy d'orsay side, a very walkable heel, and my favorite toe style.

A little more foot coverage, great with pants or skirts.  Am I talking myself into buying them?  Oh yes.  Available at Nordstrom, Saks, Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, and if you fancy the front in hair-on calf, the variation is available at Nordstrom.

Making a statement

There's a lot to be said for accessories.  They amp up basics and give simple outfits personality. As far as I'm concerned when it comes to accessories it's go big or go home.  Dainty pieces are not me.  My oversized accessories fall into three categories - belts, jewelry and scarves. 

Lacking any semblance of a waist, I rely on belts to create curves.

Prada

Ferragamo

 

I go large with jewelry as well.  Cuffs are a personal favorite and rarely a day goes by that I don't wear one. 

 

Tory Burch

 

 

 

Tory Burch

 

 

Necklaces and rings also get the oversized treatment.  The trick is to choose a focal point - one large piece at a time.

 



J. Crew

 

YSL

 

 

Scarves are a new obsession and one that I'm finding can be very versatile.  A beautiful scarf can take the place of a necklace.  Google ideas for scarves and you'll find ways to use them you never thought of, everything from halter tops to sashes.  

 



Erdem

 

I'm trying to have a new approach to my wardrobe which is to buy fewer clothes and more accessories.  I'm not sure the wallet is spared but the variety of looks created makes up for it!



Evolution

What do you wear now that you didn't wear 3 years ago? Are there things you used to wear frequently that are no longer in your closet?  For many of us, style evolves over time.  Is there an ultimate goal, a point at which you have a defined individual style that doesn't change?

Of all the things to experiment with in life, fashion is the most fun. Nothing is forever, even a bad outfit.  In the 20s and 30s, trying new things, taking risks and enjoying trends is normal.  Even beneficial.  As you move into your 40s and beyond, the lessons learned earlier help you avoid mistakes.

Even those who didn't embrace the joy of fashion when they were young can end up stylish in later life.  People with no sense of style can be taught, rehabilitated if you will.  It is possible to learn from fashion faux pas.

Designer Rick Owens said, "fashion is a playground up until a certain age, but then you have to find your own signature and your own style."

After many years of trying things, discarding what didn't feel authentic and refining what did, I think I've finally got it.  Simple shapes, neutral colors, excellent tailoring. This is the type of look I favor.

 

 

More of my style inspiration here.

  

The one that got away

We all have something in our shopping careers that has eluded us. Or worse yet, we had it for all too brief a time and made the ill fated decision to return it and regretted it ever since.  It might have been a one of a kind or vintage item that we passed on and when we returned to the shop, it was gone.  Whatever that garment, pair of shoes or accessory was, it has seemingly been swept from the face of the earth and cannot be found anywhere.

My Exhibit A, the Yves Saint Laurent Charlotte pump.  Classic shape, soft leather, charming wood block heel.  From many seasons ago, they are no longer available from any retailer.  The usual resellers like Bonanza and eBay see a pair from time to time.  After much stalking I found a pair in my size, never worn with the original box.  And I forgot to bid.  FORGOT TO BID.  Since then I have never found them again in my size, let alone in such pristine condition.

You rarely regret what you do buy.  You regret what you didn't buy.