Work Outfit: Spring Colors

Jacket: J.Crew 'Sidney' (most similar current style) | Blouse: Banana Republic
Skirt: J.Crew | Shoes: L.K. Bennett | Bag: Givenchy
Sunglasses: Karen Walker | Watch: Michael Kors | Bracelet: Loren Hope
Earrings: Trina Turk via Rocksbox (use my code helloframboisexoxo for a month of free jewels)

I am enjoying this early spring we're having in Denver and trying to incorporate some springy pieces into my work wardrobe. This pretty blush skirt was a recent sale find from J.Crew, but in a classic style of theirs that fits me well without alterations. I like my work skirts to have a little breathing room in them so I can tuck in thicker blouses or shells and not have anything look too tight or lumpy.

As I mentioned in my last work outfit post, I like the way shorter jacket sleeves work on my petite frame. The look is more proportional and feminine, and it leaves my wrists exposed to display a watch and a bracelet or two. I am a huge fan of J.Crew's old 'Sidney' blazer, which I'm wearing here, but sadly, it was discontinued after the AW 2014 season. I've bought two on eBay since then, but I wish I'd had the foresight to get one in every color when I saw them on deep discount. The new 'Campbell' blazer is the closest jacket in their current line, but when I tried it, the shoulder area didn't sit properly on me, and my tailor thought altering it would be too risky and expensive. I'm doing my best to take good care of my Sidney blazers so they last a long, long time, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that J.Crew's next slim-cut blazer will be a better fit for me.

Hope you had a great weekend--happy Monday!

x, Tam

Work Outfit: Neutral Separates

Jacket: Ann Taylor (old, similar here) | Blouse: Ann Taylor | Skirt: J.Crew (on sale!)
Shoes: Loeffler Randall (current version) | Bag: Valentino | Sunglasses: Karen Walker
Bracelet: Vita Fede | Watch: Michael Kors | Necklace: Roberto Coin
Earrings: Trina Turk via Rocksbox (use my code helloframboisexoxo for a month of free jewels)

Today I'm sharing a work outfit I wore to the office last week. The warm weather in Denver lately meant I could skip tights with this look (which feels completely crazy in February).

The jacket I'm wearing is one of my favorites. Although it can be worn just like a typical black blazer, the tweed fabric, grosgrain trim, and shorter sleeves make it look more interesting and feminine. I've found that three-quarters or bracelet sleeves can be more flattering on a petite frame than full-length sleeves, so quite a few of my jackets have shorter sleeves. I also like how a shorter jacket looks proportionally.

Suits are a mainstay in my work wardrobe, but when I'm not in trial, I wear a lot of separates to the office. The look is a little less formal but allows for more variety in my outfits. Mixing and matching lets me get more use out of my work pieces, and putting together just a couple neutral colors keeps the look appropriately professional.

Hope you had a great weekend--happy Monday!

x, Tam

Building a Work Shoe Wardrobe

I've recently had a few readers ask about what kind of shoes I have in my work shoe wardrobe and whether I spend entire days in high heels. Short answer: I only spend the day in heels if I absolutely have to--so most days, I wear both heels and flats. (Very) long answer: settle in with some popcorn and get ready to go through several years' worth of wardrobe building. I'll be discussing all the shoes pictured above--these are all actual shoes I own and wear to work (the photos are all clickable links).

A little background: I am a full-time lawyer who goes to court 1-5 days a week. Whenever I go to court, I'm dressed "business formal," although the particular court I usually work in has a somewhat relaxed version of business formal, so there's a little leeway for bolder fashion choices. I always wear a jacket and closed-toe shoes in court.

The environment in my office is more relaxed. If I don't have any meetings or court appearances, I am able to wear nice jeans or business casual attire. Unless I have clients coming in, I am usually in flats at my office to try to save my feet a little. Read the whole breakdown after the jump!

Work Outfit: Wraps + Wide Legs

Blouse: Ann Taylor (similar solid color or collared version)
Pants: Arden B. (old, similar from Ann Taylor in petite and regular)
Bag: Givenchy (the exact version I have is on a great sale now at Bluefly or you can find the new season's blue for pre-order at Nordstrom) | Shoes: L.K. Bennett 'Sledge'
Sunglasses: Karen Walker | Necklaces: Brian Gavin, Roberto Coin | Watch: The Horse

Today I'm sharing a very simple, but still chic, work outfit. The interest in this looks relies upon the draping of the wrap blouse and the wide leg pants. I paired simple black pumps (my favorite work shoes, the L.K. Bennett 'Sledge' pumps) with my black trousers to keep the focus on the drape of the pants, although I think many other colors of shoes could have worked well with this outfit.

If could definitely wear this look to my office, but for court, I'd need to add a black blazer (like the J.Crew 'Rhodes' I wore in this post) and probably a larger bag that can fit files in it (like my workhorse Longchamp Le Pliage Neo). Confession: I usually have walking shoes along with my in my workbag to make my commute a little easier. Right now I've been loving my Steve Madden lace-up Eleanorr flats--they're on-trend, but still very comfortable to walk in, even for several miles.

Thanks for reading! Happy Monday!

x, Tam

Work Outfit: Red + Navy + the Madewell Transport Tote

Blazer: J.Crew 'Rhodes' | Blouse: Banana Republic | Skirt: J.Crew (on sale!) | Tote: Madewell | Shoes: L.K. Bennett (currently available on sale in other colors) | Earrings: Gorjana via Rocksbox | Watch: Michael Kors

I realized I haven't posted a work outfit in ages! Winter is a tough season for work outfit photo shoots since I'm usually out of the house not long after sunrise on weekdays, and I return well after dark. I was inspired by Tara's recent #WorkDoesntMeanBoring Challenge to share this cheery and colorful look today.

J.Crew's workwear line has been a longtime favorite of mine with its extensive petites collection. I have been loving the addition of the Petite 000 size to many of J.Crew's work-friendly pieces; it meant that I didn't have to have this pencil skirt or blazer altered at all. In many items, the 000P is too small for me, but in these two pieces that are known to run large, it's a nice option to have.

I recently jumped on the bandwagon and added the Madewell Transport Tote to my closet, and I've been testing it out as a work bag. Several other women in my office swear by theirs, but I think I'm still partial to my Longchamp Le Pliage Neo. Although the Longchamp doesn't have the same buttery-soft, pretty leather as the Madewell tote, it is such a workhorse. I carry a ton of stuff to court and meetings every day, so my work bag is always heavy and full (I'm a little embarrassed to admit that I often schlep around a rolling briefcase in addition to a tote bag). My Longchamp has survived some serious abuse with next to no signs of wear, and I don't have any concerns about setting it on the floor or exposing it to rain, snow, or the occasional leaky pen--I just wish it were a teeny bit bigger. I'm planning to treat the Madewell tote to make it a little tougher, but I'm not sure I'll make it my full-time work bag.

Do you have a favorite stylish carryall that holds all your work necessities? Let me know if you have any suggestions for me to try out!

Happy Tuesday!

x, Tam

A Casual Workday with Maxwell Scott

Coat: J.Crew (last seen here) | Sweater: J.Crew | Denim: J Brand '620' | Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bag: thanks to Maxwell Scott | Sunglasses: Karen Walker | Necklace: Ann Taylor | Earrings: Kendra Scott

As a lawyer, I am always on the lookout for a bag that will both a) look stylish and b) easily tote the piles of papers, technology, and other essentials I have to schlep around every day. While some days this means I have to resort to my (not stylish) rolling brief box, on other days, a large work bag will suffice. Enter Maxwell Scott, a British leather goods company that specializes in gorgeous, classic bags that are both fashionable and functional. I've teamed up with them today to show you one of their pieces that fits seamlessly into my busy day.

I chose the chestnut-colored Rivara because its description, "large leather work bag," sounded like exactly what I needed. My bag is 16" x 11.8" x 4", perfect for fitting legal-sized files, a laptop, a large planner, and all my daily essentials, including an extra pair of flats for commuting. The leather on this bag is divine, and I loved that I could add a monogram to personalize it.

While I ultimately decided on a work bag, Maxwell Scott also has a lovely selection of travel bags as well, including some leather duffles that look perfect for a weekend getaway.

Hope you have a great week!

x, Tam

Work Outfit: Navy + Nude

Dress: Anthropologie | Jacket: Arden B. | Shoes: Stuart Weitzman | Bag: Givenchy (also here and here) | Sunglasses: Karen Walker | Watch: kate spade | Lips: NARS 'Yu'

Sharing a favorite work outfit today! This Anthro dress is beautifully made and makes looking put-together so easy. I love finding dresses that are conservative enough for the courtroom, yet still have a few unique details to add interest. Hope you're having a great week so far!

x, Tam

Work Outfit: Coral and Black Dots

Jacket: Zara (previously styled here, here, and here | Top: Banana Republic | Skirt: Ann Taylor | Shoes: MICHAEL Michael Kors | Bag: Reed Krakoff | Sunglasses: Karen Walker | Necklace: Brian Gavin | Bracelets: David Yurman, Tiffany | Watch: Michele | Lips: NARS "Red Square"

The last time I posted about this polka-dot top from Banana Republic, I talked about how easy it was to style it casually, as I did in my previous post, or for work. After a reader encouraged me, I decided to show you how made this top appropriate for work as well. I think it'll be a great transition piece for layering into fall, so I'm looking forward to wearing it several more times before the cooler weather takes over.

Hope you're having a great week!

x, Tam

Work Outfit: Bright Accessories for Summer (with a Manolo Blahnik BB Pump Review)

Jacket: Arden B. (old) | Skirt: Banana Republic (old, but similar style here in my favorite Sloan Fit) | Blouse: Ann Taylor Factory (recent, and with a lovely flutter sleeve detail) | Sunglasses: Karen Walker | Bag: kate spade new york | Shoes: Manolo Blahnik BB Pumps (available via Saks or Nordstrom) | Lips: NARS 'Yu'

I'd been regretting missing my opportunity to take home a pair of Manolo BB Pumps when they were last on sale after Christmas (although I did end up grabbing the Carolyne Sling-Backs, which I love and have been wearing a ton). When they were back on sale at Saks recently, I decided on a suede pair in a fun aqua color for summer. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to make them work for the office, but as long as I keep the rest of my palette fairly neutral, I think a bold, summery color fit right into my seasonal work wardrobe.



The Manolo BB's, named after screen siren Brigitte Bardot, are an incredibly flattering shoe, and I found them to be surprisingly comfortable, especially for shoes that are narrower (my feet are not narrow!). Most of the higher-end department stores sell them in a wide variety of colors, heel heights, and materials. You can also design your own BB Pumps at Neiman Marcus. So far, I've stuck to purchasing most of my higher-end shoes on sale, but it's hard to tune out the siren call of the customizable BB's!

Note: I normally wear a 35-35.5 in this shoe brand. I was told to size down despite my wide feet, and the 35 ended up being the better size for me as this style seems to run a little long in the footbed.



Although I generally try to stay away from accessories that are too "matchy," I loved how this turquoise bag and shoes looked together. With gray and beige in my suiting separates, and my subtly-printed blouse with its hints of turquoise, coal, and lavender, I thought the shoes and bag took the look up a notch.

One word of caution: when opting for bright accessories at the office, make sure the design of those accessories is clean and simple, like I did here with a sleek pump and classic structured satchel bag.

I'm very excited it's a short week this week! Hope you all had a lovely weekend and that my fellow Americans have fun plans coming up for the Fourth!

x, Tam

Work Outfit: the Shirt-under-Dress Look

Shirt: BCBG | Dress: LOFT (similar here) | Shoes: Stuart Weitzman | Bag: Reed Krakoff | Bracelets: David Yurman | Watch: Michele | Earrings: Vintage

Today I'm sharing a simple work look that puts a favorite sheath dress to work as a grown-up, chic rendition of the classic schoolgirl-style jumper.

I don't often wear this type of structured collared shirt with my suits because of their tendency to quickly become untucked and unkempt-looking when I'm constantly moving around a courtroom (yes, you really do have to stand up every time you make an objection or speak at all, then sit right back down). Under a dress, however, it's a non-issue, and with the sleeves rolled down and a blazer on top, the whole look is very professional and put-together.

       Tweet

P.S. I am linking up with Mix & Match Fashion this week for her What I Wore to Work Linkup.

Introducing The Limited Petites

Cardigan, Top, Skirt, Bag c/o The Limited Petite | Shoes: Stuart Weitzman | Sunglasses: Karen Walker | Bracelets: J.Crew, David Yurman | Watch: Michael Kors

I'm excited to introduce all of you to a new petites collection from The Limited. Debuting last month, The Limited is now offering a large selection of their work-friendly pieces in petite sizing. This was great news for me, as it means I have another option for stylish work attire. The petite collection mirrors the regular sizing line, but for now, it is only available online.

The line comes in sizes 0P-12P for dresses and suiting pieces (with some pieces available in 00P), and in XSP-XLP for blouses, tops, and other pieces. I found that the sizing is comparable to standard petite sizing, which meant that some of my pieces required alterations. In these photos, I have the skirt pinned back a couple inches and belted, and I'm planning to have it slimmed down the sides. The sweater top I'm wearing was a perfect fit in an XSP--not too long or wide. The cardigan in an XSP had a more casual, looser fit than I like for the office, but it should make for a comfortable weekend piece.

Note: at the moment, many of the pieces in the current collection are on sale or buy-one-get-one promotions as they are making room for new spring pieces (I recently took a sneak peek at the upcoming collection, and it looks great!).

You can also check out a few more pieces from the current line styled by Jean of Extra Petite, Kelly of Alterations Needed, and KT of KTRstyle.

       Tweet

Disclosure: this post was sponsored by The Limited. All opinions my own.

Banana Republic Review: Sloan-Fit Ankle Pants

Jacket: Ann Taylor Factory (last seen here) | Blouse: Ann Taylor | Pants: Banana Republic "Sloan-Fit Ankle-Zip Pant" c/o | Shoes: Stuart Weitzman | Sunglasses: Karen Walker | Bag: Reed Krakoff | Flower Pin: F21 | Bracelets: David Yurman, Tiffany, Swarovski

I'm trying another piece from the Banana Republic slim-fitting Sloan line today--these ankle-zip pants in black. A 00P fit me pretty well--the inseam and the fit down my legs were both perfect, but I did experience some gapping at the waist in the back, which resulted in a little bagginess through the seat. I'm planning to have them taken in at the waist and possibly in the seat to get them to a perfect fit.

As I mentioned in my last post, I am really liking the Sloan fabric. The extra thickness and stretch makes for a flattering and comfortable fit. I'm definitely considering adding a few more of these pieces to my workwear wardrobe.

Hope everyone at NYFW right now is staying warm and having a great time! Wish I were there!

       Tweet

Windowpane

Cardigan: Crewcuts | Dress: Anthropologie | Belt: kate spade new york | Sunglasses: Karen Walker | Tights: Topshop via Nordstrom | Shoes: J.Crew | Necklace: Amrita Singh | Bracelets: H&M c/o, J.Crew (similar here), David Yurman

This post has a couple new pieces I'm loving: a new pair of Karen Walker sunglasses (sadly purchased after my last pair disappeared), some metallic cap-toe bow pumps from J.Crew's recent sale (still available and 30% off!), and this great work dress from Anthropologie Petites (also still on sale!).

I hope all of you had a great Thanksgiving, and I hope you got to take advantage of some of the Black Friday sales and deals! I went out and did a little shopping in person, but I've tried to mostly shop online (a safer and more comfortable option, in my opinion!). I've been posting my favorite sale finds, discount codes, and gift ideas on Twitter, and I'll continue to do so over the next couple weeks, so make sure to follow along for more holiday shopping updates.

       Tweet