A Girl's Guide To...

A Girl's Guide to Dressing for Success

As a 20 or 30 something year old, we've all been there- staring in our closets thinking, "what should I wear...?" 

After growing up in a house with 4 girls (2 trendy sisters and a very fashionable mother) and living with friends in college, I have such a hard time picking out my own outfits! I like having someone to help me figure out what to wear and then to reaffirm my outfit choice. But since I am getting married in August (eek!) and will have a BOY roommate, I'm going to be relying on my staple pieces for when nothing else works and I don't have someone else to dress me. 

Here are my go-tos. You can't go wrong with these classy pieces. 

Clockwise: Trenchcoat is from Burberry, the jeans are Citizens of Humanity, the white button down is from j.crew, the red lipstick is from MAC, and the black pumps are from Ann Taylor.

(Cheaper Alternatives: trenchcoat- forever 21, H&M, Banana Republic. Jeans- Urban Outfitters. White Button down- target. Lipstick- Revelon. Shoes- Target.)

Well, obviously we can't wear the same things everyday, and since we can't dress ourselves in new outfits from j.crew everyday, I thought I'd gather some other ideas and tips for figuring out what to wear. Here is my guide for dressing for success:

-Go with classy over trendy. I definitely support staying up with the trends, but to avoid looking back ten years from now and thinking "what was I wearing? And why?"- go with something classy. 

-You can never go wrong with a nice white top and jeans. Now this can take many forms- you can wear a blouse, button down, or just a white v-neck from j.crew- but this go-to outfit will never fail. You can dress it up with heels or down with comfy flats, but either way, you'll look good. 

-That being said, invest in a good pair of jeans. Or three. Jeans are a wardrobe staple, and if you're going to be spending a lot of time in them, why not make sure you look good? 

-Also, it is better to invest in classic pieces, than to buy lots of pieces that are not high quality. Don't get me wrong, I love spicing up an outfit with a fun find from Forever 21, but when you are stocking up for the season, think quality instead of quantity. 

-You can never go wrong with a LBD.  The little black dress is universally flattering and is appropriate for a mirad of occasions. I like bold colors and fun florals as much as the next girl, but when in doubt, the LBD is a winner. (Ask your man, he won't protest the little black number either.) 

-Lipstick dresses up everything. Whenever I am about to walk out of the door, my mother often calls after me- "Don't forget your lips!" To which I snarkily answer in my head, "I can't. They are on my face." But the woman has a point. A dash of color on your lips instantly makes you look pulled together. Not sure that you can pull it off? Start with a pretty light pink or a flirty coral. Want to ramp it up a notch? Go with red. It is always classy. 

-Blazers are a good idea. It's taken me a while to be convinced of this, as I was never sure how exactly to wear them. They looked good on other people, but I wasn't sure if I could pull it off. But a blazer over a v-neck or a striped top, helps you look snappy without being too dressy. 

-Decide which pieces you are willing to spend more money on. For example, I am willing to buy expensive sun glasses that make me feel like a movie star, and Alli is willing to buy expensive purses that always look good on her arm or over her shoulder. Whether it is your flats, your purse, or your bag, decide what you're willing to shell out for. A few fancy pieces always help you feel put together. 

-Like everything in your closet. I know that seems obvious, but often we girls hold on to things that have sentimental value, but don't actually look good on. If you haven't worn it within the last year, chances are good that someone else would get more wear out of it. So gather up the clothes cluttering your closet and give them to the Goodwill (it's tax deductible) or sell them to a consignment shop. This will make some room for any new purchases of yours. 

-When you're in the office, it is best not to show cleavage. On top or bottom. If you want to look office appropriate, keep it covered up. Especially up top. I am not a big toe cleavage fan, but others might be okay with it. 

-When you are on a date, if it's showing, it's on the menu. If you would like him to keep his hands off, don't put yourself on display. Guys' brains just work differently than ours. Only show what you're okay with him putting his hands on.

-Lastly, don't be afraid to have your own style! My co-worker regularly rocks the blazer and pencil pants, while I favor blouses and heels. Whether you prefer trendy, dressy, or comfy, don't be afraid to embrace it. 

I know this style guide was forever long... but hopefully it helps! 

xo, The Attic 

What are your go to pieces? We'd love to hear!