Fall on the Horizon

It's hard to even think about fall when it's so damn hot and humid outside. All you can really think about is; how long do I have to be out of the A/C before I can go back in? 


However, coming off the back of a weekend research shopping trip, the stores are starting to fill up with clothing for cooler weather from 'pre-fall 2012' collections. Comfy greys, deep burgundies, emerald greens and mustard yellows are everywhere. Refreshingly, bold bright prints are also a trend for fall... which means some of the items you wear today can be converted as temperatures cool down. More on that later.

Inevitably, each research trip we do, we find an obsession... and of course its usually something out of budget. We can't stop thinking about it, partly because we shouldn't buy it and partly because it's so beautiful. This season, it's a colorful and bright work-appropriate dress made by environmentally aware designer Stella McCartney.  


Behold... 
worn with some simple black pumps and small gold earrings, hair up... lovely.

Give us a second to wipe the drool... Maybe I could put it on a credit card and pay it back over time?

Power Trousers

Printed trousers seem to be on racks in every store. We love how light and airy they are - particularly for those hot summer days you don't feel like shaving your legs before work (wink).

They are a great way to spice up your wardrobe too, but make sure you style them to stand out for themselves and the print doesn't stand out more than you!

These are a great option from Zara, shown styled for work with a navy cotton jacket. We purposely chose a jacket that matched the darkest of colors in the trousers and was on the shorter side given the wider legs.

Here's how we styled for play too. We took off the jacket and added a vintage gold belt - easily done when your day is too (or on the weekend).

A Side Note: Clothing from Zara is highlighted often in this blog. They really do carry great stuff for the trendy parts of your wardrobe and well within most budgets. But a caveat: be careful regarding 1) quality: the fabric can be cheap and not wash well, and 2) sizing: I often have to take a size up. 
So be discerning and if you can swing it, take the pieces you like from there home. Ensure it fits rights and can blend with what you already have, particularly because the dressing rooms usually have a long line. If it doesn't work, there return policy is pretty generous at one month.

Looking like you splurged for work

We came across this perfect example of looking like you spent a few thousand dollars on your clothes for work without actually doing it. 

The keys to this example:

- lovely neutral color palette, 

- a vintage piece (the blouse is her friend's grandmother's), 

- the skirt and bag are basics from commercial brands like Anne Klein (=cost savings)

Notice the booties (Calvin Klein, so the mixed-in expensive piece) have a cutout, elongating the leg, just like we featured last fall. 

You're bound to get the question "Love that, where did you get it?". Whether you want to reveal the secret is entirely up to you.

What Not Not to Wear

...or said another way, what TO wear. While perusing the WSJ series "Work Wear" again, we came across a well put together lady and some sage advice. We thought it worthy to share both.


From lady of style Rachel Roy to women dressing for work, we couldn't have said it better ourselves: "Dress for the job you'd like to have, not for the job you currently have. Dress for the story that you'd like to have people know about you before you even open your mouth. And dress so that your taste level comes across, because people with impeccable taste also have impeccable intelligence."


Loving her outfit too. If you can't wear sandals to your office, black pumps are an easy replacements.

All items from, of course, Rachel Roy, except that necklace. That's Givenchy.