Updating Your Work Wardrobe

Perhaps one of my least favorite things about the winter is my boring work wardrobe. When December hits, save for a surge of Christmas party energy, I am wearing the same black slacks every single day, the same cable knit white sweater multiple times a month, and a plethora of kind of old and tired looking long sleeve blouses. I crave some kind of massive fall/winter shopping spree that'd allow me to update a totally cohesive winter wardrobe with jacquard skirts, turtle necks, and silk drapey blouses to wear under a blazer. 

I do find that my best bet is to invest, like I've suggested before, in the same color palette. That way when staring at the closet in the morning, every single top goes with every single dress/skirt/pair of pants. I also try to look for flattering shapes and styles that can be worn in similar ways - blousey tops with tighter pencil skirts; tighter turtlenecks with larger-volume skirts.

I've come up with some suggestions below for reinventing your work wardrobe in a cream, grey, white, and black palette. Hope you enjoy and get inspired!

Ami Dans La Rue Handknit Sweater; Rebecca Minkoff Triston Top; Acne Studios Valeria Shiny; Club Monaco Ceri Shirt; Rag and Bone Adela
Madewell Solid Petra Rib Turtleneck; BB Dakota Almont; 525 America Rib Turtleneck;Theory Staple Cashmere Sleeveless; Frame Le Drape Blouse
*Shop all tops here.

I absolutely love a great work blouse in white and cream because they literally go with everything. A white blouse with a purple skirt, mustard skirt, grey pair of slacks, you name it, looks fantastic! Though they take a bit more maintenance (think stains, spills, sweat, make-up), they definitely make up for their issues with versatility.

I am also absolutely loving these sweater options in soft cashmere and turtleneck styles. Though the turtleneck gets a bad rap, in the cold northwest where we spend a lot of time shivering and wanting to cover our pasty skin, it can look smokin' with a pencil skirt or for a Christmas party. It's also a great avenue to layer statement jewelry over.

BB Dakota Sennet; Theory Rhin Austell; Bec and Bridge Heartbreaker; Theory Lorywash Lillane; Tibi Jacquard Skirt

Line Dot Hillary Pleat; Joa Jacquard; Bailey44 Snuggle; Torn by Ronny Kobo Nili; Dagmar Dania Skirt
*Shop all skirts here

And on to the critical bottom half! I find I have these old, tired pencil skirts and one rather smudgy pair of black slacks that just aren't cutting it anymore. I usually try to invest in one or two nice pencil skirts for the fall/winter season and last year added a navy tweed/wool skirt with a black faux-leather waistband and a grey crochet pattern longer pencil (like some of the pencil skirts above). This year, I'd love to add in some new shapes to my wardrobe. Pleats are always awesome for feeling flirty and swishy during the grey months. I am also digging the fuller, long circle skirts in jacquard or quilting. Though you may need a more forward thinking office to rock them, they are ultra-flattering and do double duty for holiday parties!