Fun Friday: Jeans at the Office?

Happy Friday!

Welcome back to Fun Friday, where we end the work week with a little bit of fun! I’ve been on an outfits kick all week, so I thought I’d share an outfit I wore to a business casual meeting.

Casual Friday / Business Casual outfit: jeans, denim top, coral cable knit, navy & cream flats and accessories.

This type of outfit can be worn for:

casual Friday
a business casual meeting with clients
Sunday brunch… and more!

So, what do you think? What are some of your favorite ways to wear jeans at the office?

Have a great weekend, and remember,

Stay Classy!
~A.C. Taylor

By the way: If you need an honest review of an outfit for an upcoming event, or in general, check out my Virtual Outfit Review.

Work It Wednesday: Holiday Office Party Dress Code

In last week’s Work It Wednesday I talked about ways to survive a holiday office party. This week I thought you might be interested in what to wear to those office parties.

For this post, we’ll focus on New Year’s 2013 — that is — assuming the world isn’t coming to an end… (I’m joking!)

3 Office Party Rules to Remember

The 3 key things to remember when dressing classy for the holiday office season are:

Work with classic pieces that you’d normally wear to work.
Everyone can wear something sparkly.
Stay away from theme/novelty items (unless it’s requested in the RSVP)

Here’s How To Do That

Rule #1 allows you to have fun with what you’d normally wear to the office. Consider pairing neutral bottoms (pant or skirt) with festive tops and shoes. Let the color do the speaking for you.

Rule #2 gives you the freedom to have some fun! You can show off your sparkle through accessories like shoes, jewelry or purses; or even wear a sequined top or dress. Just be sure it fits well (isn’t too tight) and pair it with muted pieces so you don’t look like a lit-up firecracker.

Rule #3 keeps you looking sane. (We’ve all had those pictures that make us cringe “Why on earth did I wear that?”) Let the party theme show in fun accessories like crazy glasses, hats/tiaras, etc.

I hope these help you bring in the New Year with classy style! What’s one of the craziest outfits you’ve worn to a New Year’s Eve office party?

Stay Classy!
~A.C. Taylor

P.S. If you’d like assistance with finding the right holiday outfit for your upcoming party connect with me to get started today!

Fun Friday: Casual Chic (Part 2)

Happy Friday!!!

A warm welcome back to those from Casual Chic Part 1 over in Thrifty Thursday. In case you missed it, today’s casual Friday outfit began in a local thrift store.

When I first saw this jean vest and cotton tee I knew it would go perfect with a “worn” jean skirt! (And wouldn’t ya’ know it… I just happened to have one in my closet?)

What’s great about this combination is that it’s classy enough for today’s “casual Friday” standards, and casual enough to enjoy on a Saturday out running errands or shopping.

So, here’s this week’s casual Friday outfit:

(Please excuse the terrible lighting and need for a mannequin.)

Glam it up with gold jewelry, a chocolate brown wide belt, cowboy boots, a coffee brown and white scarf and top it off with a perfect tote.

Have a wonderful weekend, and remember…

Stay Classy!
~A.C. Taylor

Would You Let Your Daughter Dress Like This?!

I came across this article and had to write about it, because it’s a great example how your daughter can be classy in the summer weather.

But I must admit that this mother’s post got under my skin…

Why?

Because with so many un-classy style influences out there, where it seems like every time you turn on the television or flip through a magazine, there’s “sexy this” and “teen pregnancy that”, and “show off more of this here”… It’s amazing kids can even just be kids anymore!

Yes, this woman’s post irritated me. Because her daughter, who is 14 years old, was sent home for being dressed inappropriately!

This outfit works! Can't believe this was improper dress for school...

What?!

She was sent home because (somehow) the principal noticed that her skirt (which is actually pretty cute and a versatile neutral) was a half an inch too short! Now, take a moment to visualize, or actually grab a ruler to measure out a half inch. Does that really make a difference on a day when it’s 80+ degrees outside? I mean, do pre-teens/teens now have to plan their outfits to the inch, along with social pressures, academic requirements, and everything else that goes along with being a teen?

I say kudos to the young woman who wore this outfit – it’s age appropriate, classy, cute and fun. And to her mom, thank you for sharing how ridiculous some principals can be. I know dress codes are there for good reason – and the principal would not want students to take advantage of the rules… but there has got to be some wiggle room here.

So, readers, my questions to you are:

Would you let your daughter dress like this?
What are some of the issues you’re dealing with regarding teens style these days?
What’s the funniest thing your child has been sent home for?

I’d love to hear your comments below! If you have questions on how to tweak your daughter’s wardrobe to something more classy, contact me for a FREE Image Assessment to figure out her style preference, and to find a look that makes you both happy.

What Do I Wear for Valentine’s Day?!

My dear friend George, from WhatsHappeningGeorge.com, asked the following question for his mom. I thought it may be a good fit for you all as well.

Dear Living The Classy Life,

My mom has so many choices to do something special for Valentine’s Day; dinner, dancing, movie, opera, symphony, a play or staying home by the fire. She is looking to spice things up a bit! Go MOM you little spitfire! Any suggestions?

Thanks!

George

Hi George!

Go mom is right! This is an excellent question, because the answer truly is different for everyone. You see, a classy lady lives her life by doing what makes her happy – and that can include spicing things up for Valentine’s Day! In my opinion, your mom should do what makes her and her significant other happy. What’s fun for the both of them? The whole point of Valentine’s Day is to reconnect and enjoy each other’s company, right?

Now, what she should wear depends on what she does… and that can get really interesting! If going dancing, a fun thing to do is to dress for the feel of the music. For example, if going to a jazz club – try a 60’s beatnik look. Or, if country is her preference, she can show off her cowgirl style with chic boots, a cowgirl hat and tight fittin’ jeans (not too tight though). Salsa dancing? A bold, red salsa dress (with a shawl) would be sexy, appropriate and have a “Valentine’s Day” feel as well…

And if you’re like me, it’s the perfect time to find a sassy new pair of shoes!

My personal favorite, though, is staying at home and enjoying a candlelight dinner by the fire. Why? Because you can relax in your PJ’s! But this also allows you to dress up for the evening as though you were braving that crowded restaurant, in the comfort of your own home.

Here are some examples.