Two Ways: Meet the Perfect Blazer

A few weeks a go, I started a new job at a law firm.  The dress code is business casual, but I like to wear a blazer as much as possible.  When I started the gig, I realized that I have a plethora of black and white blazers, but not much else.  So I snapped up this Cinq a Sept blazer in a slate blue.***  And, ladies, this jacket was worth every single penny.

So let’s style this blazer for work two different ways.

The jacket is more slate, and less periwinkle than it looks in the photo.  And it pairs perfectly with black pieces.  So I brought in a textured blouse and some black separates to keep it chic at the office.

Shirt. I bought the Rebecca Taylor blouse in the photo almost three years ago, and it’s still a favorite.  The closest thing I could find to that style is this Parker blouse in a black velvet burnout.  I also like this WAYF lace blouse with a wide floral pattern.  For something simpler, try this Scotch and Soda sheer blouse.  Plus?  Try this Poet blouse from Anne Klein.

Pants. In real life, I wore black, pull-on denim.  Yes, they look like real jeans.  Yes, they’re more comfortable without the button or zip fly.  But for this outfit, I thought I’d add in a pair of my favorite dress pants — the Spanx flare leg trousers.  These are a great purchase.  As comfortable as leggings, but professional looking.

Accessories. Close the look out with a cool black bag (this Tory Burch Radziwill is perfection) and a sleek black flat.  I like these Annika flats from Botkier, they’re sleek and fairly comfortable.  Wide feet?  Try this Journee Collection flat.  And finally, complete the look with these awesome earrings from Missoma.

Styling.  As you can see, I wore my hair up for this look.  I also am masking outside my office while at work, so I like to keep a mask chain at the ready.

For this look, I paired a great black dress with the blazer.  In the spring, I’ll probably go with a navy dress, but I’m really feeling black this winter.

Dress. The dress in the photo is my MM LaFleur Taylor dress, but it’s sold out in all but a handful of sizes.  So I swapped in this classic Calvin Klein dress, also available in a v-neck version.  Plus-size? Kasper makes a nice sleeveless dress.

Need a dress that can do day-to-night?  This Reformation dress would be perfect for cocktails, a wedding, or a dinner date.  And the straps are wide enough to wear a real bra, definite bonus points.

Boots. I own the predecessor to these Loeffler boots, and they’re one of my best purchases ever.  The Gia boot has a block-shaped two-inch heel.  The Goldy Boots have a 3.5-inch heel.  Looking for an out of stock size?  Try Zappos.

Need a boot under-$200?  Try these Franco Sarto boots.  Wide feet?  They also come in wide widths.

Tights. Recently, I went through my closet and chucked everything that pinched, bunched, or didn’t make me feel confident.  As a result, I ended up with all new tights in a larger size.  I should have made this change a year ago.  I was so uncomfortable.  It’s amazing how much pain we will stand from our clothes.  The Spanx Blackout Tights are the best.

Accessories. To finish out the look, I like these Freida Rothman Studs in a black pave.  I also love these Wolford masks for long wear.  They’re silk, so they’re easier on the skin, and they’re reversible to black.

Styling. Because the outfit was dressier, I wore my hair in its natural style so it was a bit more relaxed.  This dpHue gloss is really keeping my color in tip-top shape this winter.

***If the blazer is sold out in your size at Nordstrom, try it Neiman Marcus, Saks or Amazon, they all have a few sizes left in stock.

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