Work Wear that Works for You

Most days I’m dressed casually because I don’t even leave my home. The life of a writer is usually a solitary one. But as a speaker – the other half of my job – I have to step out of seclusion and into the spotlight. That’s when I make sure I’m dressed more for influence than comfort (although I still want to feel good in my clothes). I need work wear that communicates that I’m competent and I know what I’m talking about.

Whether you work outside the home or not, you probably have times when you want to dress professionally as well. Maybe for church or an organizational meeting or that parent-teacher conference you’ve dreaded. You, too, want to make sure your clothing doesn’t send mixed messages, but clearly states who you are.

Maybe you wear attire like this every day. But maybe, like me, you just want to invest in a few good pieces that you can count on for those occasional days when you are giving a presentation or meeting with someone influential or attending a professional conference.

I live in jeans, shorts, simple skirts and casual pants. But I always have at least one pair of dress slacks in my closet. For the fall and winter I have a pair of Liz Claiborne gray slacks that I must have bought 15 years ago. They’re still stylish and holding their shape beautifully. Do they even make Liz Claiborne clothes anymore???

But for spring and summer I love having slacks in a lighter shade. That’s why I love these taupe Talbots slacks with a pale pink pinstripe. They help me look professional and competent, but also feminine and approachable. I like that combination for work wear. Here’s what Talbots has now in dress slacks.

For this photo shoot I paired my slacks with this simple white Talbots tank. It’s a dressy tank top, silky and thick. I layered it with a three-quarter sleeve Charming Cardigan by Talbots in light pink. They’re not carrying a light pink shade right now, but Talbots always has classic cardigans in plenty of trending hues. In fact, below the next photo I’ve provided a clickable collage of a few other styles they have now.

I hate to tell you this, but my shoes and butterfly tie scarf are from Talbots, too. Y’all, I really am a Talbots woman! I shop other places, I promise. But Talbots is my go-to store for classic clothing that stands the test of time. In fact, the scarf and shoes both are probably over five years old. So their clothing isn’t just classic; it’s well constructed. And that’s what I need for work wear.

Now that I think about it, I believe I’ve had this scarf about ten years! But as trends often cycle back around, these skinny scarves are very much back in style right now. Mine is long, so I put the midpoint at the front of my neck, took both ends to the back and circled back around to the front, and then simply tied a little bow. I love the way a scarf gives an outfit so much color and contrast of texture.

Do you have to wear reading glasses? Aren’t they a pain! While I have several drugstore cheapies I keep strategically in every room of my house (do you do that, too?), I invested in a couple of pair that are a little sturdier and more elegant. These white frames from Brighton even happen to have tiny butterflies right where the ear pieces connect to the frames. Ha! Didn’t even know I’d matched up my scarf and my glasses like that!

By the way, my earrings are also from Brighton. And the tiny hook bracelet (which also features a butterfly!) is James Avery, as is my ring. The watch is Fossil. And needs a new battery…

Whatever you’re doing today – conducting corporate meetings, making a presentation to a client, wiping little noses, cleaning toilets or grading papers – I hope you have a productive day. And I hope you feel good what you’re wearing while you’re doing it, too. After all, it’s Monday. We have a whole week ahead of us!

Blessed for My Day

Do you have a career or a job? You know the difference, right? It’s really just a matter of how you approach it. Or maybe it’s also a reflection of how long you plan to do that particular job, right? But whether you have a temporary, get-you-through-this-season-of-life job or a career you are passionate about, I know this. You have a calling. Wherever you put in a day (or night) of work, you have a purpose for being there that reaches beyond the actual labor. I encourage you to look beyond the projects, the schedule, the time clock, the stack of papers and the production quota and look into the eyes of whoever you are working with or for, whoever you’re serving or helping or guiding. Make a difference out there today. And if that’s a struggle, consider this scripture:

Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men. ~ Colossians 3:23