Business Clothes?

Currently Listening: "Everlasting Light"- The Black Keys from their new album Brothers. It's epic. I love The Black Keys and am so stoked (yeah, so much that I just used the word "stoked") to see them in October!!! Check them out, or at least the link I've posted!

My inspiration for this post is the month-long internship I'll be starting tomorrow. For the past year I've struggled desperately with finding business formal wear for interviews, internships, and the like, that are still stylish without being over the top (science majors freak out if you wear something edgy). I always used to see business majors running in and out of the McCombs School of Business building (UT Austin reference, holla!) wearing black patent leather stilletto heels (ew), flare bottom black slacks, and some variation of a white button down, and I would think to myself, is that seriously my only option?

On my long journey to find the middle between these two extremes (fashionable and well...hm...bland?) I've compiled some inspirations to help jazz up this style genre in need of serious revamping! Hopefully this will help you on your search to find professional wear without having to succumb to New York and Co. flare bottom slacks and a pastel colored button down shirt that sticks out like a box around your body.

1. Naeem Khan Fall 2010 Ready to Wear


Velvet is your friend, just this once.

I've always held a certain stigma towards velvet, usually I just think of gymnastics leotards and those black dresses your mom would make you wear to her office Christmas party (you know the one). But I think with embellishment as seen by Mr. Khan in the form of even a simple brooch you could easily liven up a simple outfit. I recently found a black velvet blazer of my mom's that I plan on pairing with tan (tapered!) slacks, an off-white embellished silk tank and black heels to pull off this look.







2. Chloé Fall 2010 RTW

Flares done right.

Still feel uncomfortable without those NY & Co flares? Or can't find a good, cost effective, tapered pair of slacks (aka the bane of my existence)? Get influenced by the '70s! After all, that's what Chloé did for this season, from the big, blown out hair to the bell bottoms. Go for tweeds and turtlenecks and try to match your pants and top. I would probably add a belt to that mix too. Make it truly disco inspired and wear it around your hips. So go ahead, make your mother proud!

At worst, someone (that guy who thinks he's the funniest thing since those quirky egg shaped eggbeaters) will ask you if you're dressed up for decade day, ignore the fool.






3. I-have-a-huge-crush-on-Joseph-Gordon-Levitt: Vests!
(image source)
Okay. Okay. Okay. For the record, this was not an excuse to put up a picture of JGL.

But down to business, why can't we wear sweater vests?! I think a sweater vest on top of that hideous shape defying button down blouse paired with gray slacks would be adorable on men and women alike (as seen in 500 Days of Summer)! Maybe add a brooch to the mix too (what, I like brooches). Many secondhand stores are full of vests, so this would be both cost effective and chic.

4. Rachel Roy Spring 2010 RTW

Rachel Roy wants you to know, TWICE, that it's okay to be matchy matchy. I prefer the solid black look on Lakshmi (right) to keep from stirring up too much attention. I would also encourage any solid neutral look, like solid beige, gray, tan (yeah, beige and tan are totally different), and maybe even white...maybe.

Well I hope this helps inspire you if you're on a quest for business formal wear and how to jazz it up if you've already got some!

Are there any major inspirations I've missed? Let me know!

Till Next Time,

Sati

All image sources are the same source unless otherwise indicated.