Holiday Office Party Dresses!

It's not easy to choose the best dress to wear to the annual office holiday party. Remember that when you're choosing the dress that you want, shop for comfort, cuteness and warmth. Short, strapless dresses are better left for your own personal holiday party.
Obviously red, green, gold, black and white are always great colors to choose for your dress, plus anything shiny and sparkling works well too! Feel free to get creative but continue to keep it classy and somewhat conservative for the office!

Fall Boots for the Office!

                         

                  A. PROFESSIONAL                                     B. INAPPROPRIATE  

                   (Brown Suede Boots)                                 (Black Leather Boots)

       

There is a fine line between professional and inappropriate boots in the workplace during the colder months. Shiny platinum leather should always be avoided as should heels over 4-5 inches. Stick with boots that are snug around your calf but not super tight like picture B.

Classy Tip: For an extra polished look, invest in a skirt that barely covers the top of your boot. This will allow for a bit of skin to show when you are moving and sitting down.

Polka Dots & Pleaded Skirts!

Do you have an evening event and need to transition from the daytime to the evening without going home to change? Black and white polka-dots are a great transition from daytime to evening. Pair a pleaded skirt with a tucked in blouse for an extra classy and polished look.

Classy Tip: Opt for a shoe that compliments the color of your polka-dot blouse but that isn't too busy so as not to detract from your blouse. Throw on your black blazer in the boardroom or when you feel that chilly fall breeze!

 

Pink & Brown Is The New Black & White!

A simple and flowing pink pastel top works well with a fitted brown skirt. The key here is to accessorize with shoes that pop like these lovely Chanel shoes...then throw on a string of pearls for a timeless look.

Classy Tip: Remember to keep either the top flowing and the bottom more fitted or the top fitted with the skirt flowing in order to keep your outfit from appearing baggy and unfitted.

*Don't like pink pastel? Try a pink that pops a bit more!

*Don't wear skirts? Throw on a pair of fitted brown dress pants!

Fall In Love With Fall Dresses

The easiest way to get ready for work in the morning is to throw on a cozy, long sleeve dress wrap during the chilly fall months. A solid color dress will allow you to accessorize by changing up your shoes, jewelry, tights, and jacket to give your dress a completely different look each time.

Classy Tip: Banana Republic has wonderful, cozy fall dresses for sale. Don't want to spend full price? Wait until November and December to take advantage of holiday sales in the US. In France? Wait until the sales in January to stock up!

Avoid Baggage!

All too often us ladies have a bag for everything. A bag for our personal items, a bag for our gym clothes, a bag for our laptop, and the list goes on.... 

Avoid carrying multiple bags by carrying a bag with diversified pockets with a main pocket for your laptop and side pockets for personal items and a separate for gym clothes. A single, multifunctional bag will ensure that your outfit stays classy, polished and professional while giving your back a break!

NO Tattered Flats!

Unfortunately, while walking around DC during the work week I see the worn and tattered flats fad all too often. Although some of these ladies may change their shoes upon arriving to work, many of them take this unprofessional look into the work place.

Instead of wearing these tattered flats, opt for a more comfortable and supportive shoe to get you to work. A nice pair of Aerosoles is classy, comfortable and affordable.

The below Abracadabra Aerosoles are perfect to wear with most summertime styles and are extremely comfortable for long distance walking. They're so comfortable that I have been wearing them most days to work.

Appropriate Hemlines for the Office

Both of these outfits would be more than appropriate for the work environment but the hemline of the skirt is several inches above where it should be. 

*Your skirt or dress should never fall higher than an inch above your knee.

It's equally as important to remember that when you sit down or bend over, you reveal one to two inches of more skin.

Office Tight Faux Pas

                                           A. Fishnet tights                B. Plain Black Tights

Fishnet tights should not be worn in the office, regardless of the length of your skirt or dress. Instead wear plain black tights and if you feel as though your outfit is in dire need of some color, opt for navy blue or brown tights!