Everyone should have a go-to outfit on days when they don’t want to stand in front of a closet, stare at it, and stress. If you have to dress for work 5 days a week, this scenario I just painted has probably happened to you. For most of us, the concept of the capsule wardrobe is not new – find what works for you, and stick with it. Whether you’ve gotten around officially defining what that look is for you,  it’s never too late to start thinking about it.

Today on Cubicle Chic, I’m sharing my “template” is, when it comes to something that ALWAYS works for me, Jessica, yours truly. But that’s not it. I have 2 other career blogger friends whose styles are just on-point and I absolutely adore. I am sharing what their go-to outfits are with you too! Keep scrolling to the bottom to see 2 more impeccably professional yet fashionable looks!

White Top + High-Waisted Pants + Leather Sneakers

Here’s the deal – the color white in an outfit always conveys professionalism and efficiency (think about what doctors and chefs wear). Plus, you and I both know it, white goes with everything.

High-waisted pants tend to elongate me and that’s why I love them. But I have to be very careful of where the hem of the pants hit – it has to be at a place that’s flattering for my body frame. And what kind of shoes I wear also makes a big difference.

Leather sneakers is a new trend I discovered lately. I’ve always secretly wished we could wear sneakers to the office, and when I saw the Nike Airmax Thea in leather, I knew it was the one. The leather material makes them look a lot less casual, and my feet always thank me at the end of the day in the office. But remember they’re still sneakers after all, so don’t wear them to an interview or a presentation.

Lastly, pair it with a simple, neutral-tone and classic handbag – you’re good to go!

 Top: similar @ Nordstrom Pants: Tobi Understand This Cigarette Pants Purse: C/O Coach Dinky Crossbody Bag Shoes: Nike Air Max Thea

Now, if this isn’t the type of look you see yourself wearing, I have two more – and I want to introduce to you Michele Lando from Write Styles, and Chanèle McFarlane from Do Well Dress Well. These are both fabulously stylish and total #GirlBosses who have amazing tips on how to dress for the office.

Structured Blazer + Flowy Blouse + Skinny Pants [or] Pencil Skirt

Michele has a simplistic and sometimes monochromatic approach when it comes to creating her go-to outfit. This look works for most body type, and as long as you find a quality blazer, and keep colors to a minimum, you are sure to look chic and professional like Michele does here!

Neutral Color Dress + Print or Floral Blazer + Statement Necklace

On the other end of the spectrum, Chanele is an absolute expert in mastering color in her outfits. Honestly, if you want to see how colorful outfits can be done professionally & tastefully, check out her blog!!

Here Chanele pairs a simple black dress with a super bright and floral blazer, and finished the look with a statement necklace. Voila – this outfit is bold and bright, but so meticulously chic and polished!

All Cubicle Chic Photography in this post are by Natalie Alvarado @ Stylenfuse

The post Having A Capsule Wardrobe For Work || Three Looks To Create Right Now appeared first on Cubicle Chic.

Experiences in the past have indicated something about my personality, and it’s that I may have a more serious demeanor, especially at work. I even had one person that told it to me directly, that I am an intense person to work with sometimes. Having been an outspoken person my whole life, I’ve taken comments like that as a compliment. That sentiment changed slightly in a recent incident. I had a 1:1 teleconference with someone I was trying to make a really strong impression with, and in the teleconference the video capacity was enabled. For the first time, I was watching myself as I spoke, in a way that I thought exuded confidence. I was mentally gasping at the image of myself on screen – I looked SO serious and definitely intense!

 Dress: Kit And Ace; similar here Vest: Boutique; similar here Mules: Asos; similar here  Dress: Kit And Ace; similar here Vest: Boutique; similar here Mules: Asos; similar here

Needless to say, there is a bit of a gap that exists between the internal visualization of myself and, when I get the chance to get a glimpse of, the way the world actually perceives me. It’s uncomfortable to face this realization, and quite honestly, a bit unsettling.

Working in Corporate America for half a decade has taught me a thing or two. Number 1, 2, and 3 are as follows: Your image is everything, your image is everything, and your image is everything. Yes, in case I didn’t make it clear, your image is everything. For me, the ideal image consists of the following adjectives: strategic, conscientious, and poised. The challenge, though, is that I am human and made of flesh. So while I can be strategic, conscientious, and poised, I am also passionate and dogged, and I really do care. So at times I have to be dial up certain qualities, in order to balance out the way I carry myself. As a result, I deliberately try to behave more assured, authoritative, and firm. This is reflected in the following ways: 

1. I am very conscious of something a lot of women fall victim of, something called “Uptalk” – where you raise the end of your sentence with an upward inflection to make it sound more like a question/suggestion, rather than a statement or a demand. (It’s a thing, officially called High Rising Terminal, look it up!) I do everything in my power to avoid it.
2. I pay attention to body language. Twirling the hair, sitting in the back of the room, crossing my arms, or sitting in a “minimizing” posture (including slouching, looking down, folding your arms) all indicate the lack of confidence. I do the opposite – I sit in the front, sit back and try to relax, make direct eye contact, and speak up toward the front of the room.
3. I keep small talks to the minimum. I have a select group of people that I would consider friends at work, and outside of this circle, I don’t engage in small talks too often. I prioritize being professional and effective over being someone’s pal to chat about the weekend with.
4. When the circumstances are so that I have to pick between making progress and keeping the peace or that “good feeling” environment, I usually default to the former. There are good ways, tactful ways, to create a win-win situation and achieve both, it’s true. But when deadlines are real and decisions need to be made, something’s gotta give. For me, making progress usually wins out.

 Dress: Kit And Ace; similar here Vest: Boutique; similar here Mules: Asos; similar here

So maybe, just maybe, in the process of upholding that image as a professional woman, I lost touch with the core of my being – the warm, open, caring, and easy-going side of me.

Or maybe, just maybe, in the corporate world, room for an individual to exhibit these characteristics is just limited.

Or maybe, just maybe, could it be because I am a woman, therefore the trade-off exists?

I would definitely be re-visiting this topic soon. What are your thoughts so far?

All photography by Natalie Alvarado (Stylenfuse)

The post How I Came to Be an Intense Woman at Work appeared first on Cubicle Chic.

Imagine answering this question as your 5 year-old, 10 year-old, and 15 year-old self. The answer may not have been the same, but I bet the certainty about whatever you wanted to become, dwindled over time. And what DID we want to be? A writer, an animal shelter owner, maybe a coffee shop barista. For me, it certainly wasn’t corporate marketing in the tech sector or even a lifestyle blogger.

 Top: High-end similar; affordable similar Trousers: Similar, similar Shoes:  High-end similar; affordable similar Bag: Banana Republic Tote (on sale now!!!)

But somewhere along the last 30 years, I gained more skills, learned more about myself, found out the possibilities of professions that exist out there. My options became plenty, but the certainty shrank in what I want to become when I grow up.

The one scenario in which we have to seriously consider this question, as adults, is often during an interview. When a potential job offer is at stake, this question becomes that much more delicate and difficult to tackle. So I’ve come up with a list of questions to help you shape your thinking and get closer to the answer. Answer to yourself honestly, and based on those answer, you can craft an interview appropriate response.

 Top: High-end similar; affordable similar Trousers: Similar, similar Shoes:  High-end similar; affordable similar Bag: Banana Republic Tote (on sale now!!!)

How do you answer “where do you see yourself in 5/10/15 years”, which is basically “what do you want to be when you grow up?” in the adult world.

I would segment your thinking into two areas: professional, and personal.

In your personal life, in 5/10/15 years:

What motivates you to get out of bed every morning?
How high does work rank in your overall life in terms of priority?
Who do you spend the most time with outside of work?
What do you do for fun?
Do you see yourself getting married and/or starting a family?
Do you live in the city, suburbs, the mountains, or a coastal city?

 Top: High-end similar; affordable similar Trousers: Similar, similar Shoes:  High-end similar; affordable similar Bag: Banana Republic Tote (on sale now!!!)

In your professional life, in 5/10/15 years:

Why do you have a job, is it just for financial support os is it a fulfilling cause?
Are you managing people, being responsible for their development?
What kind of hours do you work, 9-5 or freelance?
Are you a single contributor or do you work in a team?
Do you have entrepreneurial aspirations?
Do you work in a global setting or more regionally focused?
What does financial success mean to you?

 Top: High-end similar; affordable similar Trousers: Similar, similar Shoes:  High-end similar; affordable similar Bag: Banana Republic Tote (on sale now!!!)  Top: High-end similar; affordable similar Trousers: Similar, similar Shoes:  High-end similar; affordable similar Bag: Banana Republic Tote (on sale now!!!)

This is how I crafted my plan based on the approach above:

Having ownership over creative and challenging work is what motivates me every morning, the first thing I think of when I wake up. Work is a priority because it’s a source of (really good) income but also something that keeps me on my toes and hungry for intellectual growth. I hang out with friends that I share common interests within my free time, and spend just as much time with close family. I snowboard in the winter, surf in the summer, go on hikes, enjoy yoga, and rock climbing. I love being outdoors. I live in the suburb with my husband, possibly some kids, and not too far from my parents.

Work-wise, I work alongside a bunch of driven, inspiring, and kind people. I lead projects as well as people. I take ownership of my job and I trive to make an impact in everything I do. I find the idea of starting my own business interesting, but I think after my kids are older is probably the better time to take more serious actions toward the idea. I also work in a global setting in my work, dealing with people from different continents, and constantly applying my fluency in Mandarin Chinese. I think of financial success as having a good control over my daily budget and expense, and earning good enough an income where I can save, and occasionally indulge in nice vacations or occasionally more materialistic things.

With these two paragraphs as the basis,  I now feel much more confident answering the question “where do you see yourself in 5/10/15 years” now. What do your two paragraphs look like?

The post What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up? appeared first on Cubicle Chic.

I think I was lucky. I didn’t start my career in the corporate world until I was 26 because of grad school, so I think I got into the working world a little more matured and a little more ready. Maybe I was more ready to become, shall we say, a #GirlBoss?

But thrown into the midst of the workplace without much experience, I was facing a steep learning curve and some real growing pains. Like my manager told me on the day I started, “Be ready to drink from the fire hose.” She was not exaggerating. And this was how my career in biotech marketing began.

It wasn’t just the workload or the new processes and jargons I had to pick up. It wasn’t even the fact that I was hired to fill a position that required at least 2–3 more years of experience than I had. It was the fact that this is now a new environment where things operate based on completely different rules. I came to learn that the work place is a complex ecosystem with hidden intricacies. From what you casually mention to your boss, what you use as desk decor, to what perfume you are wearing; everything adds to or detracts from your reputation. And reputation, as I’ve come to know, could mean the difference between promotion and layoff, getting visibility and never being noticed, moving on and up and staying static in your position.

So here are a few things that I have learned from 5 years of working in the corporate environment. If I could go back in time and chat with my 25-year-old self, I would tell her:

1. Choose your work friends carefully

Your work friends are people you eat lunch with, seen going on coffee runs with, people that you actually directly work with (which you have less control over), and people that you do happy hour with. This is simple: birds of a feather flock together. If you associate with people that are lazy, overly casual, “loose”, and careless, you will be perceived as the same.

2. Don’t be labeled as “The Young One”

Even if you are the youngest on the team, don’t ever settle for a label as such. Labels like this often come with the association that you lack experience or even skills. Just because you are younger in age, doesn’t mean you don’t have more to offer. Labels like this are also very hard to get out of once you have it.  What’s worse, is that “the young one” is often used as a psychological crutch that hinders people’s growth. Stay away from it, for your development’s sake.

3. Know your core competency, and find ways to make it shine

In the early phase of your employment, try to find out why you were hired. Is it your analytical skills, sales experience, or technical know-how that got you your job? Find it out, and stick to what you are best at. Are you good at Excel? Add data to your presentation. Are you really good with PowerPoint? Create a presentation even when you don’t need to. And in your spare time, develop other missing skills. Not great at presentations? Volunteer to present. Not good at Excel? Find a co-worker who is, and ask nicely or bribe them – do whatever you have to do to have them teach you.

4. Know the job after this one

This doesn’t mean you start looking for the next job as soon as you find one. This means that the job you are interviewing for and preparing for should pave the way for your next one.  Never leave “figuring out what my next thing is” till after you get a job; you should do that prior to your interview. The reason is that so you negotiate terms that allow you to develop skills you are lacking (refer to the last point) and make you more prepared to go for a more senior, but similar position, or switch to a tangential kind of function.

Shoes: Kenneth Cole; similar here, here, here Blazer vest: Chelsea28 x Olivia Palermo; similar here, here, here Bag: Louis Vuitton Bag; similar here, here, here

5. Find a mentor

A good mentor can guide you through uncertain times and difficult decisions. They may have been in your shoes and know the consequences of taking certain directions  But finding a good mentor is not easy. Mentors are not floating around waiting to teach you the ropes or how best to climb the corporate ladder. Mentorships have to be sought out, fostered, and maintained. But mentorships could also come from places you least expect. If you’re lucky, your boss could be your mentor. Or our co-worker could be your mentor. The best mentor is the kind that is personally invested in your development.

Whichever direction you go in to look for a mentor, know to always prepare questions before you meet with your mentor. Your mentorship is as good as you make it out to be. It takes work.

6. Your boss is not your buddy

Don’t get me wrong – friendship can certainly exist between you and your boss. You can even have a friendship outside of work.  Your boss is there to make sure, as a team, you deliver results. Your boss may even be there to motivate you, encourage you, and help the team be efficient. What they’re not required to be, is to be your friend. They may look out for your benefits and crack jokes with you and that would be great, but they’re certainly not obligated to.  The point is to never default your boss to be your friend, or worse, your equal.  Because they are not.

7. If you think you are being underpaid… prove it

Rather than complaining about being underpaid, spend your time investigating your “worth”. Simply put, in the working environment, your “worth” is equal to what an employer is willing to pay you. Different employers may have different opinions. So if you think you are being underpaid, prove it by looking for other jobs and seeing if others are willing to pay you your ideal salary. If you do, you either have found a new employer or solid evidence that you deserve higher pay at your current job. If you don’t find an employer willing to pay you your ideal salary, then maybe it’s time to explore options to enhance your value and skillset, so that eventually you can find offers with your ideal salary.

Top: Zara; similar here, here, here Blazer vest: Chelsea28 x Olivia Palermo; similar here, here, here Bag: Louis Vuitton Bag; similar here, here, here

So what do you think? I used very specific examples that related to my particular experience. Do you have anything else that you’d share with your 25-year-old self if you could go back in time?

The post 7 Pieces of Career Advice I Would Give to My 20-something-Self appeared first on Cubicle Chic.

Last week we talked about how to stay graceful and chic when traveling through airports. Staying along the same line of traveling, and more specifically, traveling for business, I want to talk about one of the easiest Staying along the same line of traveling, and more specifically, traveling for business, I want to talk about one of the easiest piece to get in and out of when you’re getting ready for business meetings!

Psst… this ASOS piece is STILL AVAILABLE AND 50% off now!!! GET IT BEFORE IT RUNS OUT!!

So whether you’re going in the office and looking for a simple fail-safe outfit, or looking for something you can slip on quickly after you’ve landed in your business trip destination, this dress is it!

My favorite feature of it is how flattering it is without making you too curve-conscious. It has a ring on the left side of the wrap, and on the right is the piece of tie that loops through the ring to tie the dress together. It’s very comfortable, and do you see that slit there?? It makes the dress more interesting and adds just a little bit of sexiness!

 Dress: Asos Soft Wrap Pencil Dress with D-Ring  Dress: Asos Soft Wrap Pencil Dress with D-Ring  Dress: Asos Soft Wrap Pencil Dress with D-Ring

All photography by Arielle Levy

I’m headed to Boston next week for another business trip. I am looking forward to being in downtown Boston for business! Are any of you from the area?

The post Easy & Chic Wrap Dress for Business Occasions appeared first on Cubicle Chic.

Happy Friday, you!! I am sharing a Friday casual outfit with you today, quite unlike my usual office wardrobe outfits!

But before that – what are your plans this weekend? Doing anything fun? I am spending time with family and WORKING OUT. Yes, exercising has definitely been on my mind lately.  I blogged about how to stay healthy in the corporate office lifestyle here, and if you follow me on Instagram, you’ve probably seen a lot more sporty/athleisure type of outfits and accessories. For example….

THESE SNEAKERS. Can we just take a collective moment of silence in honor of how GORGEOUS they are?

*silence*

Anyhow… moving onto the outfit.

It was easy putting this outfit together, because the top basically speaks for itself. I just paired it with neutral and “quiet” type of pieces so they don’t compete with the top.

I’ve always believed in keeping a “Monday outfit” edge in casual Friday outfits. If you work in a relatively traditional and conservative environment, even if it’s Casual Friday, it doesn’t mean you should show up in ripped jeans and see-through or sequin tops.

The truth is, even on Fridays you are building an image, a reputation even, amongst your peers, your superiors, and your inferiors. It’s okay to be more comfortable and laid back, but being respectable and put-together should still be a priority.

Ok, the half-tucked-shirt trend may be a bit much if you are REALLY going to the office now. But I thought for the photos I would throw it in to make the ensemble a bit more interesting. Tuck it in otherwise!

This top was purchased from the outlet website of Saks Fifth Avenue, Off Fifth (all inked below). In my opinion, it’s one of the most underrated websites to shop at. They have a ton of designer stuff at heavily discounted prices, you just might be surprised!

What’s your casual Friday outfit principle? Do you have any? Share with me below!

All photography by Arielle Levy Photography

The post Casual Friday || Rebecca Taylor Embellished Top appeared first on Cubicle Chic.

What’s even more special is that this top and bottom together cost me less than $50… the secret is shopping on Poshmark! You can see how it changed my shopping behavior permanently in my last post.

I wanted to pair this outfit with shoes that would elongate me, so I went with my most recent Valentino Rockstud purchase that I made during Thanksgiving… And of course a part of me just wanted the occasion to wear them

I have more of these classic work outfits coming up.. stay tuned and let me know what you think!

All Photography by Ngoc M. Nguyen

Find similar items here:

The post Cream Blouse + Blue Patterned Pencil Skirt appeared first on Cubicle Chic.

A few close friends have noticed that lately I have been a tad obsessed with Banana Republic. Other than the renewed style and design lately, the only other thing I can attribute this to is seeing the series of collaborations between Wendy’s Lookbook and Banana Republic lately. If you haven’t seen them, you should! Or, maybe, just maybe, it has to do with me having turned 30 this year… In any event, I have my eyes on Banana Republic lately and I invite you office ladies to join in the chicness!

I love the silhouette of this knit top. It’s called the Textured Sweater Tank from Banana Republic. It weights quite heavy so it really accentuates my waistline in a flattering way. I have been reaching for this top and wearing it almost once a week in the past month. It’s starting to feel like my chic uniform!

For this outfit I paired it with jeans from Topshop, and some more blue hues with some d’orsay heels from Madewell. Literally, this is what I’m in almost EVERYDAY in the office – a comfortable top and jeans – and I love it! I’ll admit to a little secret though. I keep a pair of spare flip-flops under my desk and slip out of these heels when I am slaving away in front of my desk. It’s my way of staying in heels 8 hours a day plus my 1.5 hour of commute!

All Photography by Ngoc M Nguyen

Something that enlightened me this week…

If you’ve been following my Instagram, you may have heard me complain once or twice about how busy of a week I had at work. Despite all of it, I am finding some new found energy by reading a book a close friend/mentor at work had gifted me this week. It’s called Search Inside Yourself. I am currently reading the book and maybe I’ll share my thoughts here at some point!

The post Office Staple for Every Season: White Knit Top [Banana Republic] appeared first on Cubicle Chic.

BRIGHTS & PRINTS

It can very well be just brights alone or prints alone, the point is that they’re both sure-fire ways to instantly add more fun and dimension to your outfit!

Blue Blazer Similar
1. ASOS Soft Blue Drape Blazer
2. Halogen Seamed Back Linen Blend Blazer
3. Forever 21 Single Button Knit Blazer

Fun Print Silk Top Similar
1. Anthroplogie Girl from Savoy Top (found on Poshmark, Size 0, Size 6, Size 8)
2. Anthropologie Alexa Chung for AG Gordonderry Silk Blouse
3.. Anthropologie Palisades Button Down

Black and White Mini Skirt
1. Ro & De Pleated Stripe Skirt
2. WetSeal Classic Striped Bandage Skirt
3. Silence + Noise Textured Striped Mini Skirt

WINDOWPANE BLAZER

Needless to say, windowpane ANYTHING is trendy and eye-catching these days. (see windowpane trousers I styled in an outfit here) and this blazer is no exception. I bought it off of Poshmark from a fellow fashionista, and this is a boutique piece so I can’t find the exact one for me readers.. but I provided some similar ones below the pictures!

Similar ones can be find here

1. Finders Keepers the Label – “Speakerbox” Cutout Blazer 
2. Tommy Hilfiger Windowpane Boyfriend Blazer
3. A’Gaci Night Out Windowpane Blazer 

Animal Print + Whites 

If you find animal print too bold for your office or corporate environment, try pairing it with a white or pastel color piece to tone down the boldness. Sometimes an animal print piece that has a cute/lady-like shape helps reduce the “sexiness” in your outfit that you may not want in an office environment.

Similar skirts can be found here
1. ModCloth Has a Nice Wing skirt 
2. Michael Kors Giraffe Print skirt 
3. Neiman Marcus Geo Print A-Line Skirt

What are you office wear staples that you wear to state FUN in function? Share with me in comments section! Better yet, share a link with me so I can go shopping too!!

-Jessica

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All photos by Ngoc M Nguyen Photography

The post Putting the “FUN” in “FUNCTIONAL”: How to have fun with your everyday office wear! appeared first on Cubicle Chic.