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Closet Confection: Show ‘Em Who’s Boss

Black Calvin Klein Dress, purple tights, BCBG spectator shoes, fox collar coat

When: Monday, January 3rd, 2010

Where: Work

What: Dress (Calvin Klein via Filene’s Basement), tights  (Tommy Hilfiger), coat (Marvin Richards via Loehmann’s), shoes (BCBG via Filene’s Basement)

As an account executive for a technology company, I spend most of my days talking bits and bytes with middle-aged IT guys.  In my world, the uniform de rigueur is khakis and a sport shirt.

Since Dockers and polos aren’t really my thing, I used to compromise by either wearing a stodgy looking suit (in an attempt to look older) or dressing in all black (in an attempt to blend in).  Needless to say, getting dressed for work was bo-ring.

Black Calvin Klein Dress, purple tights, BCBG spectator shoes, fox collar coat

Black Calvin Klein Dress, purple tights, BCBG spectator shoes, fox collar coat

Black Calvin Klein Dress, purple tights, BCBG spectator shoes, fox collar coat

Black Calvin Klein Dress, purple tights, BCBG spectator shoes, fox collar coat

I am a staunch believer in the adage “When you look good, you feel good.”  It took a lot of trial and error, but I finally found a workplace style that fits my personality but still looks polished and professional.  I can still talk shop with the best of them, but who’s to say I have to look like a dork while doing it? Not me.

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  • Anonymous January 6, 2011 at 2:03 am

    hello gorgeous! You’re the boss! You look great… love this outfit.

  • Anonymous January 6, 2011 at 2:09 am

    Yep, these purple tights are super chic. Unexpected and cool. I totally agree with the look good/ feel good adage! And you definitely “look good.”

  • Tracey Velt January 6, 2011 at 3:04 am

    Love it! I’m going to NYC for a girl’s weekend in February. I’ve been a million times but I’m sure you have some shopping haunts to recommend. Is it worth going to Century 21?

    • ClosetConfections January 8, 2011 at 1:09 am

      I love Century 21. It’s within walking distance from my job which sometimes provides way too much temptation. Definitely check it out during off-peak times, and be prepared to hunt! For designer discounts, I also love Loehmann’s (the one on 7th avenue in Chelsea, not the Upper West Side). And if you like thrifting and/or vintage, you should check out Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Feel free to email your shopping preferences and I can send you some specifics on wear i like to go.

  • jen. January 5, 2011 at 11:28 pm

    I love your brightly-colored tights! I am having the same work clothes issue. Everyone wears jeans everyday, and now… so do I. Boring.

  • AYoungBud January 5, 2011 at 11:50 pm

    Amen! A million times over. Establishing your professional reputation as a young person/black woman/anything different really while maintaining your values & personality= not always easy. I look up to you Madame Boss! You go 🙂

  • Law Mama January 6, 2011 at 6:50 am

    I am obsessed with those shoes – they look so great with the purple tights!

    • ClosetConfections January 8, 2011 at 1:03 am

      Aren’t they the cutest?! I snagged them on sale too!

  • marcella January 6, 2011 at 11:00 am

    those tights … BRAVE!!!! looks good 🙂

    http://urbanprettygirl.blogspot.com/

  • Kelly January 6, 2011 at 2:27 pm

    I love your work style! It’s professional but still has a bit of an edge. 🙂

  • Sing January 6, 2011 at 3:21 pm

    Adorable. Love how your office attire translates into your personal style. Nice vintage inspired look.

    • ClosetConfections January 8, 2011 at 1:02 am

      Thanks. All I needed were gloves and a cute little hat! 🙂

  • alexelizabeth January 6, 2011 at 8:56 pm

    I’m so glad you don’t wear khakis and a sport shirt everyday because I love those tights! I have yellow and hot pink tights but I always wear them with black (soooo boring). I really need to take inspiration from you and style them up in some better and more fun ways!

    P.S. did you use Tumblr2Wordpress to migrate your blog? I can’t figure out if I’m doing something wrong or Tumblr really is down that much hahaa

    • ClosetConfections January 8, 2011 at 1:01 am

      Glad you like the tights. And there’s nothing wrong with pairing bright tights with all black. It’s a combo I really on heavily. I used the application here to export my blog: http://benapps.net/
      But I noticed that it seemed to stop working after that last big outage Tumblr had, so I had to copy and paste my last 10 or so posts by hand. Hopefully, you can get it to work for you.

  • Elaine Hearn January 7, 2011 at 12:51 am

    That’s the Highline! I’m so jealous you live in NYC! Those magenta tights are AWESOME. You’re totally rocking them.

    • ClosetConfections January 8, 2011 at 12:53 am

      Ahhhh, I’m actually a lot further downtown than the Highline. But now that you point it out, I do notice the similarities. I tried doing a photoshoot there once (and I was one among many), but the photos came out horribly, lol! Oh well, I’ll give it another go when the weather warms up.

  • Natasha January 7, 2011 at 2:59 pm

    Love the lighting in this shoot! Very nicely done 🙂

    xo, Natasha

    http://hautetherapy.com

  • Iris January 7, 2011 at 4:29 pm

    I love the tights! I’m doing a rainbow tights week next week if you care to contribute 🙂

  • ClosetConfections January 8, 2011 at 12:50 am

    That sounds right up my alley. I will definitely check it out.

  • ClosetConfections January 8, 2011 at 12:51 am

    Thanks. I really lucked out that we had such a clear day that afternoon.

  • ClosetConfections January 8, 2011 at 1:04 am

    Thanks. You’re right, it definitely isn’t easy, but I notice that people respond better when I let my personality shine through rather than trying to fit a certain mold. 😉

  • ClosetConfections January 8, 2011 at 1:05 am

    Good luck branching out with your work wardrobe. We spend the majority of our waking hours at work, so we may as well look good!

  • Anonymous January 8, 2011 at 1:59 am

    Oooh I love your tights. Wait, I recall leaving a similar comment last week so I won’t go into why I think I can’t wear playful tights. I’ll just lust over yours. Lol.

  • Anonymous January 8, 2011 at 6:22 am

    I love mixing in my solid color dresses or skirts with awesome patterns and solid color tights.