Business Casual | Work Style

Whether you work in a casual environment or one that you have to dress up for, curating a stylish and quality wardrobe for work is important. I personally work in a fairly casual environment where jeans are acceptable on a daily basis, but by nature, I'm one to prefer dressing up a bit. I've long been an advocate for purchasing high-quality pieces if it's something I plan to wear on "the reg" such as jeans or everyday shoes. I like to combine my basics with trendier pieces or thrifted tops that I picked up for just a few bucks. In my opinion, it's easier for a top to go out of style than a pair of pants, so choose wisely where you spend your money!

Today I'm sharing one of my favorite outlets of late including some affordable pieces to build a versatile wardrobe for work. These black jeans are my new favorite!  They're comfortable, flattering, and there's just something about black denim that adds a touch of class. I had heard great things about the Madewell Roadtripper jeans from other bloggers, and I had been wanting to give them a try for a while now. Before Christmas, they were offering $30 off their jeans, making the Roadtrippers just $45! I of course finally snatched them up, and I am really pleased with how they fit. For reference, I am 5'9", and I am in the "tall" size. I read in the comments to size down a size or two, but I found that my true size was most flattering and comfortable, and I don't really want to be wearing skin-tight jeans to work. If you've never owned a pair of Madewell denim, I highly encourage you to try these out.

P.S. If you donate any pair of old denim (doesn't matter the brand), and drop it off at one of their stores, they will give you $20 off a pair of new denim! They then turn your old denim into housing insulation for organizations like Habitat for Humanity! How cool is that?

Back to the outfit... I paired the black denim with this plaid top from Loft outlet. It's only $17.99 right now on their website, so I definitely recommend snatching it up!  I've also been throwing this Banana Republic Factory vest (similar) over my dress tops lately, and it's such a versatile piece!

For a good while, I was not much of an earring wearer, but lately, I've really been into bold earrings. My mom got these beautiful gold statement earrings from Baublebar for me for Christmas, and I love how sassy they are! For trendy accessories like this, I'd recommend checking out Walmart. I've found that they have really cute statement earrings!

Last but not least, these blush flats by Vince Camuto are so perfect for the spring! They add a nice touch of color to an otherwise neutral outfit, and they would look cute with either dresses or pants!

When you're curating your work wardrobe, I suggest keeping these few things in mind:

• Focus on combining investment pieces with more affordable, trendy items or thrifted pieces! 
• Add a touch of color and personality with either your shoes or jewelry. 
• Wear what you feel comfortable and confident in! If you're not comfortable, you won't feel confident, so be sure to focus on those two things when picking out pieces for your work style! 

A special thanks to my friend Ashley over at Third Floor North Photography for capturing these photos for today's post! While she's a fabulous blogger photographer, she also captures weddings, families, and portraits, so be sure to check out her website and follow her on Instagram! 

XOXO, 

Emily