Fashion for Work: Chic Office Styles
Your Office Cheat Sheet
September 13, 2010 9:00 AMOffice Style
Lisa Finkelstein: Retro
Jewelry design director, J.Crew
HER SPLURGE: J.Crew party dress.
HER TRICKS: Invest in a simple A-line dress a clean canvas for your unique look. Snap up lots of fun, affordable baubles, like enamel pins, to pile upon neutral basics. Shop for steals in new color combos. Play up your femininity at work you can look just as confident in ribbons as in pinstripes. Enhance casual-Friday jeans with budget-friendly accessories, like a vibrant blouse, crystal belt, and big jewels. Emulate the late socialite Nan Kempner, who wore the same fabulous clothes over and over again in different ways. Transform a dress from party-frilly to polished with a shrunken jacket in a cool fabric. Keep everything the more to mix and match with!
Jacket, $298, dress, $225, cardigan, $110, brooch, $50, necklace, $150, bracelets, $25 to $85, J.Crew; jcrew.com. Shoes, $795, Valentino; neimanmarcus.com for stores.
Jewelry design director, J.Crew
HER SPLURGE: J.Crew party dress.
HER TRICKS: Invest in a simple A-line dress a clean canvas for your unique look. Snap up lots of fun, affordable baubles, like enamel pins, to pile upon neutral basics. Shop for steals in new color combos. Play up your femininity at work you can look just as confident in ribbons as in pinstripes. Enhance casual-Friday jeans with budget-friendly accessories, like a vibrant blouse, crystal belt, and big jewels. Emulate the late socialite Nan Kempner, who wore the same fabulous clothes over and over again in different ways. Transform a dress from party-frilly to polished with a shrunken jacket in a cool fabric. Keep everything the more to mix and match with!
Jacket, $298, dress, $225, cardigan, $110, brooch, $50, necklace, $150, bracelets, $25 to $85, J.Crew; jcrew.com. Shoes, $795, Valentino; neimanmarcus.com for stores.
Office Style
Jacket $410, Julie Haus at H. Audrey; (615) 760-5701.
Office Style
Dress $39.90, H&M; hm.com for stores.
Office Style
Cardigan $315, Rebecca Taylor; chiconline.com.
Office Style
Top $225, Kate Spade; katespade.com. Pink brooch $295, green brooch $160, Gerard Yosca; (212) 302-4349. Black brooch $130, Isaac Manevitz for Ben-Amun; (212) 944-6480.
Office Style
Lipsticks $20 each, Paul & Joe in Muse, Inspire, and Opening Night; (800) 558-1855.
Office Style
Shoes $667, Charlotte Olympia at Beckley; (323) 337- 9760.
Office Style
Glasses $169, Moscot; moscot.com.
Office Style
Skirt $59.50, The Limited; thelimited.com.
Office Style
Necklace $60, J.Crew; jcrew.com.
Office Style
Sepi Makabi: Sporty
Television producer
HER SPLURGE: 3.1 Phillip Lim cropped trousers.
HER TRICKS: Temper your one playful, color-happy piece with something structured and professional-looking. Search for seasonless fabrics — light enough to wear alone in summer and to layer in winter. Reinvent your wardrobe with cheap and cheerful souvenirs from your travels: scarves, vests, shoes. Put a menswear spin on your feminine favorites: Accessorize dresses and skirts with tailored vests, oversize belts, and a big watch. Give your clothes the utility test: Does it work for your lifestyle? Does it have the pockets you love? Don't buy unless it passes. Build a work wardrobe with accessories that show your style.
Jacket, $620, Reyes at Hampden Clothing; reyescollection.com for info. Tank, $85, Adam; (212) 229-2838. Trousers, $275, 3.1 Phillip Lim at Barneys; (310) 358-1988. Shoes, $785, Yves Saint Laurent; ysl.com. Scarf, $7.80, Forever 21; forever21.com. Necklace, $425, Bliss Lau; blisslau.com.
Television producer
HER SPLURGE: 3.1 Phillip Lim cropped trousers.
HER TRICKS: Temper your one playful, color-happy piece with something structured and professional-looking. Search for seasonless fabrics — light enough to wear alone in summer and to layer in winter. Reinvent your wardrobe with cheap and cheerful souvenirs from your travels: scarves, vests, shoes. Put a menswear spin on your feminine favorites: Accessorize dresses and skirts with tailored vests, oversize belts, and a big watch. Give your clothes the utility test: Does it work for your lifestyle? Does it have the pockets you love? Don't buy unless it passes. Build a work wardrobe with accessories that show your style.
Jacket, $620, Reyes at Hampden Clothing; reyescollection.com for info. Tank, $85, Adam; (212) 229-2838. Trousers, $275, 3.1 Phillip Lim at Barneys; (310) 358-1988. Shoes, $785, Yves Saint Laurent; ysl.com. Scarf, $7.80, Forever 21; forever21.com. Necklace, $425, Bliss Lau; blisslau.com.
Office Style
Pants $265, Adam; intermixonline.com for stores.
Office Style
Ankle boots $180, DKNY; dkny.com for stores.
Office Style
Dress $235, Ali Ro at Big Drop; (212) 226-9292.
Office Style
Skirt $145, L.A.M.B.; saks.com for stores.
Office Style
Scarves $95 each, DKNY; dkny.com for stores.
Office Style
Sunglasses $18, Fantas-Eyes; fantas-eyes.com.
Office Style
Shoes $348, Hayden-Harnett; haydenharnett.com.
Office Style
Andrea Tantaros: Classic
Political commentator and columnist, Fox News Channel
HER SPLURGE: Boy by Band of Outsiders double-breasted blazer.
HER TRICKS: Stick to one trend at a time so you don't mix style messages. Wear bargain tees and camis. Collect unembellished high heels and blazers in black or white that coordinate with every palette and outfit. Get mileage out of quality classics; extreme trends won't help you when finances are tight. Liven things up with accessories, like a trendy chunky ring or a supersize bangle. Devise a five-year plan: Ask yourself if your "dream" purchase will go the distance. Travel with basic pieces and one fantastic blazer. Be a stickler for tailoring — if it doesn't fit perfectly, it's not worth it!
Blazer, $1615, Boy by Band of Outsiders; bandofoutsiders.com for stores. Tank, $14.95, Gap; gap.com. Skirt, $99, Jones New York Collection; macys.com for info. Shoes, $750, Chanel; (800) 550-0005. Necklace, price upon request, Alexis Bittar; alexisbittar.com.
Political commentator and columnist, Fox News Channel
HER SPLURGE: Boy by Band of Outsiders double-breasted blazer.
HER TRICKS: Stick to one trend at a time so you don't mix style messages. Wear bargain tees and camis. Collect unembellished high heels and blazers in black or white that coordinate with every palette and outfit. Get mileage out of quality classics; extreme trends won't help you when finances are tight. Liven things up with accessories, like a trendy chunky ring or a supersize bangle. Devise a five-year plan: Ask yourself if your "dream" purchase will go the distance. Travel with basic pieces and one fantastic blazer. Be a stickler for tailoring — if it doesn't fit perfectly, it's not worth it!
Blazer, $1615, Boy by Band of Outsiders; bandofoutsiders.com for stores. Tank, $14.95, Gap; gap.com. Skirt, $99, Jones New York Collection; macys.com for info. Shoes, $750, Chanel; (800) 550-0005. Necklace, price upon request, Alexis Bittar; alexisbittar.com.
Office Style
Top $59, Guess by Marciano; guess.com.
Office Style
Bag $1995, Chloé; (212) 717-8220 for info.
Office Style
Jacket $775, 3.1 Phillip Lim at The Dress Circle; (412) 681-7799.
Office Style
Pants $39.50, Gap; gap.com. Belt $12.95, L.L.Bean; llbean.com.
Office Style
Bangles $145 to $185, Flutter by Jill Golden; flutternyc.com.
Office Style
Watch $6600, Cartier; (800) CARTIER.
Office Style
Skirt $246, Sretsis at Confederacy; (323) 854-7729.
Office Style
Cardigan $39.50, American Eagle Outfitters; ae.com.
Office Style
Ring $65, J.Crew; jcrew.com.
Office Style
Shoes $179, Boutique 9; ninewest.com.
Office Style
Agenda $49, Club Monaco; clubmonaco.com for stores.
Office Style
Elizabeth Hart: Rocker
Bassist, The Psychic Ills and Effie Briest
HER SPLURGE: Gryphon New York sequin skirt.
HER TRICKS: Adopt the ultimate rocker mantra: Always wear something black. Don't dress matchy-matchy; just-rolled-out-of-bed chic requires less thought and less shopping. Pair miniskirts with a long jacket legs are meant to be seen. Embrace sequins they're instant limelight-stealers. (And don't save them just for evening.) Move around in an outfit to make sure it will be comfortable all day. Style your look with eccentricity in a way no one else will. Fall in love with an item before you open your wallet; the less you feel for it, the less you'll commit to wearing it. Never worry about being seen in the same outfit again and again!
Blazer, $410, Lover; (212) 924-8515. Top, $85, Kain Label; shopbop.com. Skirt, $620 by special order, Gryphon New York; (212) 764-3059. Shoes, $865 by special order, Manolo Blahnik; (212) 582-3007. Hart's own jewelry.
Bassist, The Psychic Ills and Effie Briest
HER SPLURGE: Gryphon New York sequin skirt.
HER TRICKS: Adopt the ultimate rocker mantra: Always wear something black. Don't dress matchy-matchy; just-rolled-out-of-bed chic requires less thought and less shopping. Pair miniskirts with a long jacket legs are meant to be seen. Embrace sequins they're instant limelight-stealers. (And don't save them just for evening.) Move around in an outfit to make sure it will be comfortable all day. Style your look with eccentricity in a way no one else will. Fall in love with an item before you open your wallet; the less you feel for it, the less you'll commit to wearing it. Never worry about being seen in the same outfit again and again!
Blazer, $410, Lover; (212) 924-8515. Top, $85, Kain Label; shopbop.com. Skirt, $620 by special order, Gryphon New York; (212) 764-3059. Shoes, $865 by special order, Manolo Blahnik; (212) 582-3007. Hart's own jewelry.
Office Style
Necklace $372, Johanne Mills; kabiri.co.uk.
Office Style
Belt $575, Vera Wang Lavender Label at Diani; (805) 966-3114.
Office Style
Booties $1045, Giuseppe Zanotti Design; (212) 650-0455.
Office Style
Blazer $98, Gap; gap.com. Top $325, Dolce & Gabbana; dolcegabbana.com for stores.
Office Style
Skirt $248, Sweetface; sweetface.com for info.
Office Style
Top $800, Catherine Malandrino; (212) 840-1060.
Office Style
Sunglasses $270, Persol; sunglasshut.com for info.
Office Style
Clutch $525, Mulberry at Madison Avenue; (888) 685-6856.
Office Style
Jacket $298, Express; express.com for info.
Office Style
Dress $785, Vera Wang Lavender Label; saks.com.
Office Style
Watch $65, Timex; timex.com.

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