An Olivia Pope-Worthy Look for Work

Earlier this week, a still photo of Olivia Pope in a white suit appeared in my Pinterest feed. Ah, the good old days, when outlandish political scandals were only common on TV. But I digress. The photo reminded me how much I love a white suit. So here is a modern look for those in office days.

To my surprise, I love the look of a high neck vest under a blazer. It’s fashion forward, with a vintage feel. It’s a great option for a professional office, a conference, or just to add a new look to your wardrobe.

Blazer, Vest, and Pants // If you want to rock this look, it’s extremely important that all the pieces come from the same retailer. Why? Because it’s important that they are made in the same material and same color. Ultimate glam cannot be achieved unless everything matches perfectly.

This set is from Aritzia (blazer, vest, pants). It comes in a handful of neutral colors, if white isn’t your thing. I love the high neck, the buttons and the sleek blazer with it. I know in the photo there is visible midriff, but I’ve seen this vest in person, and with high waist pants, there’s no midriff. (I still wear a nude camisole under the blazer I bought from Abercrombie that is cut in a similar way.)

Ann Taylor also has a similar look in a chic lavender and a simple black one. Abercrombie also has one in mocha brown. And LOFT has one in black or grey.

Shoes // I went back and forth on which shoes I wanted for this look. Black seemed obvious, but I wanted a softer look. Tortoise was my next choice, but the selections are limited. I then thought about a square block heel in a mocha color. Ultimately, I decided that these Cole Haan heels in a soft chocolate color were my pick. A slingback will move more easily into spring. However, if you want black, choose a shoe with lighter styling, like this punched-leather heel.

Accessories // You want a stronger earring here to continue the modern, cool vibes. I like this one Ettika because it’s still pretty. If this is a little big for you, I recommend these Pavoi studs for $14. I own these and they’re great.

Styling // For this look, hairstyle is dealer’s choice. Some days, I would probably wear it up. Some days, I would wear it down. It would just depend on how relaxed or formal I want the look to be. But makeup, makeup is important here.

First off, you’re going to need bronzer or contour. A little color will be necessary to lift the white and not have it wash you out. If you have darker skin, the contour is less critical, but make sure you have a good strong brow to provide that definition.

Second, you need a pop of color on the cheeks. This Merit blush looks so pink when you first apply it. But once you blend it out, it gives a flush of color.

A lot of women also recommend this Patrick Ta red blush (and I mean red). The trick is to swirl the brush around your palm to “warm it up” before applying it to the cheek, so you get a pinky flush instead of Bozo the Clown cheeks. This blush is great, and you know that because it sells out at Sephora every time they restock.

So how do you feel about this suiting look? For you, not for you? Also, how do you feel about wearing the top pieces with wide leg jeans? I think it could be a cute dinner look with big earrings and a red lip.

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