Lookbook: Office looks

I get a lot of questions regarding what to wear to the office.  I know that recently I haven’t done too many office looks as when I’m home, I don’t go into an office and when I do go into an office, I’m away so I have no one to take my pictures!  I thought that these 3 could easily illustrate some office looks for those of you that want to look professional but still add a bit of style to your outfits.

These days, I’m working at offices where everyone dresses business casual to casual but it’s also very “standard” where fashion/style is not on anyone’s list.  At every office that I worked at I’ve always stuck out as the “stylish” one but these offices I would stick out way more.  Also, because I’m working in a different capacity now as a consultant, this means that I’m visiting my clients’ offices thus I feel the need to blend in more than stand out.  When I first got this job and my boss told me where my first clients were located (a much more rural/rugged city than Seattle), he warned me that I would have to dress down and maybe leave the heels at home.  I told him I’d try my best to “dress down” but going to work and dressing down just isn’t something that I do.  It took me a bit to get used to it but I’ve since learned to compromise as to what I will and won’t wear to the offices but the heels are always coming with me!

I usually fly the day that I get to the office so I try to wear something work appropriate on the plane.  I don’t like traveling in nice trousers as I don’t want them to get wrinkly or worse, spilled on since I go straight from the airport to the office.  Here’s what I wore to get on the plane then just changed into the J. Crew Minnie Pant before I went in to the office.  You can’t see the top very well, but it’s got great details with pleats and a vintage-y looking lace down the center.  I love those kinds of details on a blouse.  (You can see it better here.)
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Blazer: Forever 21 | Top: Beyond Vintage | Jeans: Rag & Bone | Shoes: Cynthia Vincent for Target | Bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs

Here’s what I wore to the office and then back onto the plane to go home.  This cardigan-blazer is one of my favorites for work, it’s great for those cold air conditioned offices!  I really like the look of slim trousers but most I find are still a bit baggy.  I found these that are probably a bit more casual but since they are black, you can’t really tell and they work fine paired with a dressier top.
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Cardigan: Rag & Bone | Top: Forever 21 | Pants: RVCA | Shoes: Dior

My go-to lazy day kind of outfit for the office (also good for Casual Fridays) is a fun top and cardigan.  You could easily mix it up with a slim knee length skirt for a more dressier look.  Thank you to Sharon of elisharon who hand made the adorable headband that I’m wearing.
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Cardigan & Top: J. Crew | Pants: Zara | Shoes: Miu Miu | YSL Arty Ring

I’ll do some skirts/dresses for my next office looks!  Any other requests?

I also get this question a lot:  What do you do for a living?
The easy answer is that I’m the Director of Human Capital for a management consulting firm.   The more complicated answer is well, much more complicated.  When companies don’t have the capacity/time/expertise for a certain project, they come to a company like us to create, run and administer programs or to find solutions to current programs that aren’t working to their standards.  I manage several clients and accounts all in regards to their Human Resources departments but I also work on other things like business strategy and change management.  I have to visit my clients in whatever locations they are in so that’s why I travel so much.  When I’m not traveling I work from home.  I am more of a project manager type role as I’m the one that’s responsible for the overall strategy and implementation of each project and I have several employees that report to me.  They are the awesome people that actually do all the work that makes everything run.  I can’t say much else but I love this job.  It’s definitely the right step in my career and a huge change from my last job.  This one has given me so much more freedom to let me do what I want and I get to travel, meet new people and work in different industries.  I also love being able to work from home and set my own hours.  I can’t imagine going back to a mundane office day after day after day again.

Most of you know I also have a side business as a wedding photographer with my husband.  This is only the 2nd year we’ve been doing this professionally and it’s been fun for me to be doing both of the things that I love, the business side and the creative side.  To be honest though, I was over ambitious with all the weddings that we booked and I’m a bit burned out by working all week and then shooting weddings on the weekends.  Although the majority of our weddings are destination weddings which is a lot of fun but I’ve been home very little this entire summer so I’m looking forward to September when the weddings start slowing down and I can rest!  We are limiting the number of weddings we are booking for next year so I don’t get into the same situation. 

AND if you can believe it, my husband and I (along with my parents and brother) are in the midst of creating a new business!  We are super excited about it and I don’t want to tell you what it is just yet but it’s related to photography.  We are hoping to launch at the end of summer so I’m hoping I’ll be able to share the news sooner rather than later!

Wow, this is a loooong post.  If you got through this entire post, THANK YOU!  🙂

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  • curls-and-pearls
    August 5, 2010 at 12:11 pm

    I really, really love your blog. You style everything so well and your multitasking is making my head spin LOL!

  • Melissa
    August 5, 2010 at 1:35 pm

    You're very easy to read so it wasn't hard to "get through" the entire post. 🙂

    I love all of the outfits that you showed. Simple, classy, professional and appropriate.

    So glad that you love your job. That's important! You must be incredibly busy between your hired job, your photography business with your husband and the new business that you're starting. You're an inspiration for doing it all! 🙂

  • Shortiee31
    August 5, 2010 at 1:39 pm

    Ooh loving the office look series! Looking forward to some more 🙂

    Good luck with your new business, wish you guys all the best! x

  • Pauline
    August 5, 2010 at 1:44 pm

    Congrats on the new business! I have been reading your blog for about 1 year now and you honestly inspire me a lot career wise! I am only half way through my degree but you have so much dedication/motivation and it inspires me to do well…Sorry sounds so corny but it's the truth!!

    Loving these outfits…everything you wear I love!

    And thank you for checking out my blog…it means a lot 🙂

  • Jessica
    August 5, 2010 at 1:47 pm

    This post was very interesting and informative so it wasn't hard to read at all. I currently work in HR and love that you did a post on outfits to wear to the office. I'm definitely saving these into my style inspiration folder! xo

  • Jaime @ La vie...J'aime
    August 5, 2010 at 2:15 pm

    I adore the Marc bag! The birds are adorbs.

  • mommyjlee
    August 5, 2010 at 2:34 pm

    So busy yet you manage to stay so stylish and chic! 🙂 I work in marketing – well used to before I went on mat leave, and our office is so casual and young that it seems more like a fashion show than a working office. Keeping up with the styles is what I think employees worried about most at our place.

    Can't wait to hear about your new venture, and best of luck getting it launched!!

  • MUA
    August 5, 2010 at 2:34 pm

    Wow you're a busy lady ! I understand it very well when you talk about "dressing down" : I had the impression I was dressing down but I receive a compliment last time : "she is always fancy but she is FRENCH " hahaha. So it seems that I have a good excuse !

    Caro xxx

  • janettaylor
    August 5, 2010 at 2:34 pm

    I agree with Jaime. Love Ur bag, deareat Tiffany!

    Please don't forget to enter for my actually giveaway.

  • Ashley
    August 5, 2010 at 2:43 pm

    I LOVE the last look, especially since it is such bright colors! 🙂 ps, I love the new layout!

  • BuduarKamizu
    August 5, 2010 at 3:13 pm

    You look sweet , kisses

  • chibi
    August 5, 2010 at 3:42 pm

    I can't wait to hear about the new business you are creating.
    Good luck and congratulations!

  • Angeline
    August 5, 2010 at 3:52 pm

    Love these looks! I'm always fascinated by what other bloggers wear to work. As for my job, I'm a communications manager and magazine editor for a statewide educational nonprofit. It's business casual, but loose enough where I can dress up jeans on any weekday as long as I don't have any meetings. So excited for your new project…can't wait to hear what it is!

  • Alterations Needed
    August 5, 2010 at 4:08 pm

    I'm excited to hear about your new project! I've always thought your photography (at least, what you've shared on your blog) has been phenomenal and that you could go at it full time if you really wanted. Best of luck!

    PS. I'm a Google Reader and just visited your blog for the first time after your blog redesign! Looks great! Makes me want to tweak mine some more!

  • Andee Layne
    August 5, 2010 at 4:24 pm

    love those Miu Miu's! your looks are always relatable and polished! love it!

  • Blushing Zebra
    August 5, 2010 at 5:23 pm

    I LOOOVE the third outfit.

  • Katie
    August 5, 2010 at 5:35 pm

    Great outfits, I really love the first one. Not a long post at all, it's fun to read about your "real" life if that makes sense!

  • Ari
    August 5, 2010 at 7:44 pm

    Love the outfits! That fact that you do all of that and still manage to update the blog is amazing! Holy Toledo woman, do you live off of Red Bull?!

  • Nina
    August 5, 2010 at 8:00 pm

    love all the looks. great for both the office and casual wear.

  • FASHION ICE
    August 5, 2010 at 8:33 pm

    love it, looks great! come follow xo

  • Lau's
    August 5, 2010 at 8:36 pm

    I like how your style is fun yet sophisticated. Your posts have "inspired" me! =)

  • Diane
    August 5, 2010 at 8:45 pm

    wow i'm WAY behind with catching up with the blogs…i LOVE your new layout!!!
    and SOOOO excited to hear about your new business 🙂

  • WendyB
    August 5, 2010 at 10:29 pm

    Intriguing to find out what you do!

  • Chloe
    August 5, 2010 at 11:16 pm

    Great outfits, Tiffany! Love all of them. And excited to hear about the new biz, too!

  • Londyn
    August 6, 2010 at 1:36 am

    How are you so amazingly adorable in every look?!?!? I'm always so jealous!! Love it. Keep up the inspiration girl and thanks for the tip on The Limted pants – I'll have to give them a try!

  • Savvy Gal
    August 6, 2010 at 2:47 am

    love your new layout and can't wait to hear about your new venture. : )

  • milk tea girl
    August 6, 2010 at 3:46 am

    Love how you dress up your f21 pieces!! Look #2 is my favourite!! 🙂 and you always have killer shoes!!

  • Today Hilary...
    August 6, 2010 at 4:14 am

    You're welcome…. lol

  • Schnelle Couture
    August 6, 2010 at 4:25 am

    They're great office looks. i love that F21 blazer and th ruffle top in the second pic. Your job sounds like fun. I don't know how you juggle everything- Good luck with your new business venture!

    Love your blog!

  • Laureen
    August 6, 2010 at 5:56 pm

    You are too cute and definitely an inspiration!! I get into ruts with my office clothes as it's a very casual atmosphere.. Thanks for the ideas to pump it up a little. 🙂 Can't wait to hear about your new business!!

  • Really Petite
    August 6, 2010 at 6:55 pm

    I always love your outfits! You are just too adorable!!!

  • Youa
    August 6, 2010 at 10:12 pm

    hi tiffany!

    congrats again on your new job! sounds fabulous! i would love to apply for the Sr. Comp. Analyst but i love my current job too much! your job sounds perfect for you!

    did you recently update your blog? i like the new layout. 🙂

  • PetiteAsianGirl
    August 7, 2010 at 1:09 am

    Great work outfits…and I cannot wait to see what you and the hubs are working on next.

  • Kyah, Your Style Finder
    August 7, 2010 at 1:49 am

    Great content…and I love the pale pink blazer!

    http://www.wearsleeveless.com

  • Steffi
    August 8, 2010 at 6:29 pm

    By the way, the top look is my favourite look yet!

  • MizzJ
    August 10, 2010 at 6:56 am

    Oooh loving the new layout – it's so perky and girly just like outfit #3, which is my fav!

  • Sara
    August 11, 2010 at 4:26 pm

    Great post! Congrats on all the work successes in your life 🙂

  • Karen Cai
    August 15, 2010 at 2:17 pm

    I love this post, Tiffany. You seem to blend professionalism and style so harmoniously.

    I am a teacher so I need to dress business casual, yet I still want to be stylish, without trying to look like one of the kids! Sounds easy enough, but tough as the year drags on.

    I like how you combine girly blouses with the right pants. You look comfortable and on point!

  • SarahElizabeth
    January 7, 2011 at 12:15 am

    Your job sounds like a lot of fun! As a soon to be recent college grad, I am curious though: where did you start out in order to get where you are now? Were you always interested in human resources? What type of work did you do just out of school?

  • SarahElizabeth
    January 7, 2011 at 12:16 am

    P.S. I LOVE your blog and have been reading for quite a while now! You have the best fashion sense! =)

  • iamstylish
    January 8, 2011 at 7:16 am

    Hi Sarah Elizabeth! It's been a crazy path to get to where I am but yes I've basically always been in HR. When I got out of school I worked in an administrative kind of job and then moved to the HR department of the company and moved on from there.

    Thanks for the kind words! 🙂

  • Anonymous
    June 19, 2011 at 10:11 pm

    Hi Tiffany, I think you're such an amazing inspiration. I have been procrastinating for the longest time but have finally started my blog on food (my biggest passion) and have also been wanting to teach cookery. I kept putting my ideas off, making excuses about how tired I was from work. You have so much energy and drive which inspires me to really get out there and pursue my dreams! Kayee 😉