I can remember the first time I wore this outfit feeling so ridiculously put together. I felt confident, laid back, sophisticated, feminine, and masculine all at once. And I’m realizing more and more how much I enjoy that combination in an outfit.
Crazy thing is: there’s nothing crazy about this outfit at all. It’s a simple color palette: black, white, and tan. But there’s just something about that color combination that looks like you put some effort into your outfit without looking overdone.
Okay, since I am the office girl here let’s talk about where we can wear this outfit and how to make it work for your situation.
First, I can wear this outfit anywhere. I have worn it to work, to a Saturday night book club dinner, to grad school, and running errands. If this skirt is a little short for your office, no problem just swap it out with a pencil skirt or trousers. You could also layer this top under a black dress and top it all off with a tan cardigan.
To see how I wore this same color combination in a different outfit head on over to my blog!
Top: Express (portofino style shirt– similar)
Cardigan: old from the Limited (similar)
Skirt: JCrew Factory
Shoes: Bandolino (similar)
Necklace: old from Target (similar)
Earrings: old from Loft (similar)
Bracelet: Stella & Dot (one and two)
Gosh, thank you for posting an actually normal work outfit that’s very cute! So many times I look at posts with this sort of title, and it’s a completely impractical outfit. Yours is totally adorable and office-appropriate! Love it.
Well, gosh, you sure are welcome! Thank you!
Well you and your style are pretty darn adorable. So stoked to see what you guys can show us ( ontop of Caroline’s awesomeness)!!!
Also glad to see Aritzia representing so much!! #vancouverproud
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Good morning,
I love this outfit, and you look smashing. I am also delighted to see a capsule wardrobe for a woman with a full figure. NOTE: I saw this skirt at J Crew outlet and wondered how I could make it work, thank you for showing us all. I have a thick waist, and thought the style would be unflattering, but you made me realize the wide elastic is slimming and the boxy cut make the skirt stylish and not too Va va voom for every day.
Thank you! Confession: I have this skirt in gray, navy blue, and white with a blue pattern. And I wear them all non-stop… although the white has been put away for summer. When I first saw these skirts I was worried it would end up being too short with my rear and not roomy enough for my hips but I was surprised to find it worked! They offer them every season in different colors too!
This is my go-to color combo for work as well! Easy to mix & match, plus you can always add color with accessories. I find for work/life capsule style — it’s really only the bottoms that I need specifically for work (slacks, pencil skirts, etc), since the tops you can always make more casual with a pair of jeans or whatever.
So glad to have an office capsule inspiration on Unfancy!
PS – One of my cats is this color combo, so I joke that she is my style inspiration :)
I agree with the work/life capsule. I find pretty much all of my tops work for both aspects and almost all of my bottoms do too. I’m working on finding tops that are a bit more casual for the “life” portion but that aren’t tshirts. It’s hard and I’m starting to think they don’t really exist!
I love this!! Not only the outfit, but also the guest feature.
Thank you, Samantha!
Hi Jacquelyn!
I’ve been intrigued by the idea of a capsule wardrobe ever since I found Caroline’s blog, but wasn’t sure how to make it work with my need for a business wardrobe as well. Needless to say, I was excited to see this post. I love your outfit and look forward to seeing more from you!
Thanks, Laura! Hopefully I can help a bit!
Cute! Obsessed with that top.
Thanks! Me too! I wish they still had it!!
Cute outfit and your poses are adorable!
Thanks, Laurie! This was actually the first outfit we shot so I was feeling super awkward!
I had been looking at that skirt too but wasn’t sure how to make the elastic waist work…not that I don’t LOVE elastic waistbands! Ha. But it looks great with a shirt tucked in. Thanks! Love your brave style and attitude.
I’ve really only worn it with shirts tucked it… I tried untucked but the proportions seemed off!
I have that skirt from factory– excited to see how to wear it! I have only worn it once, but felt uninspired since. I really thought it would be a well-worn piece for my winter wardrobe, but not yet. Thanks for posting! Went through your blog the other day and I love your confidence and look on life. Excited to read more! :)
Thank you for the kind words, Whitley! I’m studying to become a teacher so I added your blog to my bloglovin feed! This skirt seems to be a popular topic in the comments so I might have to devote a week to it!
That top is really amazing, but it’s actually the necklace that makes it oh-so-great! Also, you remind me of the mum from “Home Alone” on the second picture, same super bright blue eyes + red hair combo, and that smile! :)
Oh my gosh hahaha I haven’t ever gotten the mom from Home Alone! Although I can totally see it. I was totally obsessed with her hair growing up… still am actually!
I need a skirt like that! I am hoping Jacquelyn is 6 feet tall? My boss will give me the death stare if I show up in something mid-thigh. :-(
Well, close, I’m 5’8″! I definitely work in a more casual office, I sit behind a desk all day, and I tend to pull this skirt a little lower on my hips when I’m wearing it to work. I think the tights help with the shortness too.
Cute! I need to wear more skirts. I have them in my capsule, but I don’t wear them often enough. You’ve inspired me!
You look great! I especially love the second picture, it is just so confident! I have worn a similar combination many times with a pair of jeans but I easily feel overdressed so I barely wear skirts in everyday life. But I am working on that :)
Thanks, Lina! It’s definitely easy to feel overdressed in a skirt. I keep trying to wear my pencil skirts casually but it just doesn’t work for me. This skirt feels pretty casual, though, so it works for me!
It’s great to see some business casual ideas for a capsule wardrobe! Thank you!
Love this outfit on you. You look great!
I do have a burning question though….how do you manage to wear tops under cardigans and sweaters without them bunching?
I would love to know this too! I can never seem to make it work.
Haha I wonder this too. I can’t do long sleeves under a thinish sweater, or even short sleeves under a cardigan where I get a line across the middle of my arm… For that reason I tend to wear sleeveless shirts under sweaters to work. And then a scarf because I’m cold.
oh my gosh this thread has me cracking up! I never knew this was a “problem!” But I did have to recently teach my brother how to put a sweater on over a shirt… and he’s 30. Okay, so I guess all I do is put the first shirt on (duh) and then I pull the sleeves down way farther than they go and I hold onto the ends while putting the second layer on. I don’t let go until both of my arms are in the second layer. Make sense? From there it’s a whole lot of adjusting. I’ll admit I sometimes don’t wear these kinds of outfits on days I’m short on time! If the shirt buttons I button it all the way to the collar too and I unbutton it after all adjustments are made. Hope that helps! Layering definitely doesn’t work for all pieces!
Jacqueline, what a great outfit!
I work in corporate law and the only tweaks I would make are shinier, pointier heels, a thicker weight skirt and an outer coat in camel – a short, wrap style would be lovely.
Caroline, I always thought I loved fashion too much to do a capsule wardrobes, but since I’ve read your entire blog I have created three! One for workout clothes, one for at home and one for ‘out of the house’ (not work as I am currently a mum at home and student). It was an eye opener when I used your ‘by three’ rule – one casual, one dressier, one fancy… seriously, I wondered why I didn’t wear items, now I know I had been envisioning ‘events’ to wear them to. It is a relief to know I can see my home clothes on casual days or if I am going somewhere, I have that small, loved selection to chose from.
I also felt so attached to my corporate law clothes, but as a capsule, not as a part of my entire wardrobe, they are just perfect and ready for when I need them again.
This outfit definitely doesn’t work for all offices but it so easily adaptable which is why I wanted to share it! I looooove the camel wrap coat idea!!
Cute- love the flexibility and the simple style!
Thanks for sharing outfits for all different body types. I love her style! Very put together!
I’ve been bemoaning a lack of good “what to wear to work” blogs. So, I’m very excited to see this!
Kristian, there’s a couple greats work blogs out there, Franish(www.franish.blogspot.com) is a med student who does a great job of work outfits, Adina (www.bluecollarredlipstick.com) is really fun and fabulous and has done work capsules and has a really amazing sense of style. ExtraPeite also has great archives with helpful advice. I know there’s quite a few others but those are the ones off thw top of my head. I haven’t had to work in a office in ages but I really wish I’d known about blogs then, i just always wore the same skirt, two pairs of pants and shirts – it would have been nice to have that resorce and I like seeing a capsule collection on work clothes.
I’m so excited for these guest bloggers! I love everything you do, Caroline, and am, of course, excited to keep seeing you as well. :)
Caroline, your guest bloggers are truly lovely, and I am excited you brought in contributors to add variety. But, as a working girl I was looking forward to some real professional-business outfits–not talking suits, but skirts of an appropriate length, shoes more appropriate to a work place environment. I’m not at all trying to be a hater, but I could never imagine wearing a skirt with an elastic waist band to the office! I know I could imagine this outfit with a pencil skirt, but I wouldn’t be looking at fashions blogs if I wanted to imagine outfits. The interwebs are pretty void of attractive professional wardrobes that don’t include too-tight black skinnies and other overly sexy pieces, maybe next time you could aim at the working girl audience?
I love this Jacquelyn! You’re awesome.
This is great! Its the simple office looks that often feel and look the best. I’m so glad you’re posting now, its nice to see folks with a regular 9 to 5 make capsule wardrobes work for them.
I’m really interested in this skirt, but I prefer to keep my skirt-lengths no shorter than 3-4 inches above the knee. Do you think if I ordered up a size it would look ok worn at the hip to provide more length?
Hi Maggie. The nice thing about this skirt is the elastic waist so if you ordered a size up I don’t think you’d have an issue with the waist being too big. As for the length, I’m just not sure how much a size up would add to the length. Might be worth calling customer service! I can also adjust where this sits on my hips pretty easily and I often pull it down. Also, in case you didn’t know, I’m 5’8″ so hopefully that helps you with knowing where it would hit on you!
Thanks for this info. I’m 5’9, but pretty much all leg. I think I’ll go for it. I’m still building my winter capsule. My only concern is it is non-exchangable and non-refundable. This morning when I was getting dressed, I was really wishing I had a sturdier, shorter skirt for layering. Funny thing is I prefer shorter skirts in the winter over tights and leggings and longer skirts (to my knee) in the summer so I can be free-flowing!
Jaq looks so happy! I’m concerned about this skirt for the workplace. Great for a cocktail after work or the weekends, I don’t think it’s wise for a professional setting, casual or not.
fab! <3
Yay! I’m so excited to see office style. Can’t wait to see more! Keep up the great work :)