My life is sooo difficult. This month, I got to spend hours scouring the Internet for the best work style sites. Twist my arm, Precedent. But as enjoyable as it may be to kick back with a cup of coffee and look at clothes online, with a million style blogs in the digital world, it’s tough to know where to begin. Since I know your time is at a premium, I’ve done all the work for you. Read on and get browsing!
9 to 5 Chic
I’ve mentioned this site before, and I still love it. Blogger Ahn Sundstrom’s sense of style is classy, elegant and eclectic: she pairs traditional pieces with cutting-edge jewelry and sexy (yet refined) shoes. Best of all, the majority of her work outfits are accessible and appropriate for most legal jobs. She mixes high and low (think H&M with Burberry), and it’s easy to find cheap versions of what she wears. Best of all, her looks are never dated, so you can browse previous years and get tons of ideas (like her 2012 “black & tan” ensemble). She also recycles most of her closet, which inspired me to buy less and get more creative with what I have. Bonus – she’s preggo, so if any of y’all pregnant ladies need tips, she’s your girl. No muumuus for Ms. Sundstrom!
Style The Luxe
I am officially obsessed with this British website. Its “lookbooks” contain oodles of office, dressy and casual outfits (click here for an example). No matter how relaxed or conservative your workplace, you WILL find ideas here. Even the suit combinations aren’t boring; the editors inject pizazz with pops of colour and glam accessories, or an unexpected fabric or texture. Every single outfit oozes luxury, but most of the items are actually from places like Mango and J. Crew. Style The Luxe also offers “capsule wardrobe” planning for four different body types (a capsule wardrobe is basically a list of essential items that can be mixed and matched to create different outfit combinations). In addition to the “wardrobe planner” page, which assists you with a closet makeover, you can peruse photographs of celebrity fashion muses. Okay, you’re probably not going to get work style tips from the Kardashians…but it’s a nice escape during your coffee break!
Corporette
This site is on the, um, “corporate” side (which should please our more conservative readers!). Fashion-wise, Corporette is a bit bland, but it’s the go-to site for fashion etiquette in the professional world. Founded by a former Wall Street litigator, the site caters to professional women: it calls itself a “fashion and lifestyle blog for women lawyers, bankers, MBAs, consultants, and otherwise overachieving chicks who need to look professional but want to look fashionable.” In addition to answering readers’ etiquette questions (and hosting discussion threads/debates on topics like pantyhose at the office), Corporette contains shopping guides – such as how to buy the perfect interview suit – and posts on where to find a great sheath dress or briefcase. Want to know how to get pet hair off your clothes? Get answers to all your style quandaries at Corporette.
What I Wore
Much like 9 to 5 Chic, blogger Jessica puts together fab outfits for work and play. Click “work outfits” on the right-hand part of the home page, and be whisked away into a preppy wonderland of stylish dresses, trenches and blouses. Though a little more on the adventurous side, especially for lawyers, her site is like the Winners of work style blogs: if you’re willing to put in a little time, you will find inspiration (my personal fave is a pink skirt and navy striped top combo). What I Wore also boasts a helpful “Health & Beauty” section, as well as a “DIY” page if you’re feeling particularly creative.
And finally, because I just couldn’t narrow it down any further, check these out too….
Corporate Fashionista: An accessible, easy to browse website with style tips for corporate and business casual, together with punchy, to-the-point articles ranging from what to wear to a speaking engagement to how wearing colour can help to advance your career. Check out a recent post on incorporating Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In philosophy to your work wardrobe.
Work Chic: A go-to for tasteful and professional outfit ideas and blog posts on corporate style, natch.
And readers, if all else fails and you just want to look at pictures, Google “office work style,” “work attire” or any combination of relevant words you find most on point, and browse through the hundreds of images (many from Pinterest and Polyvore). Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna get back to surfing…
Emma Williamson is a fashion-obsessed corporate commercial lawyer at Dentons. Her mission is to inspire Precedent’s female readers to break out of a style rut while obeying obvious and not-so-obvious workplace dress codes. Follow her on Twitter: @EmmaWorkStyle. Have questions or a column idea for Emma? Send them here.
Image: pagadesign via iStockphoto