Pushing Boundaries – How To Pull Off Non-Traditional Pieces At Work

By Brian Maynor

 

Workwear can get a bad wrap sometimes for being stiff, boring and uninspiring, but that doesn’t have to be case. You can pull off some amazing drama with your work look if you know what you’re doing.

For most of us getting dressed for the office does not top our list of ‘most exciting activities’ but it should be. In a world of predictability, it’s energizing to know you can wear cool, creative, commanding fashion in the workplace that can help boost your creditability and authority, not jeopardize it. Here’s what you need to know:

1.    Find Your Inspiration. No matter what you love about fashion, it is possible to incorporate it into any look. Take gowns for example. If you love the look and feel of an evening gown, but it’s not really 9-5 appropriate you can create the same elegance and feel with silk draped blouses. Often they will incorporate a sash or other construction detail that set it apart for your typical work blouse, and to pull it off you just need to pair it with classic, understated work pieces.

2.    Wide-leg Pants. Fewer things create more of a statement than palazzo pants, but instead of a thin, wafting material like chiffon, choose a pair in wool or cotton. The sturdier fabric is more work appropriate and will change the feel of the pants. Also stick with traditional colors like grey, blue and black. Playing on a monochrome theme will elevate the elegance of your look and keep it from going over-the-top.

3.    Mixing Prints. Sometimes it’s hard to create a cohesive look when you mix prints, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try. It’s perfectly acceptable to mix your prints at the office as long as you tie them together. We often talk about contrasting proportions balancing each other, but sticking to a single color family also helps create an ‘outfit’. Another trick is to ground your patterns with a solid accessory like a belt in a complementary color.

4.    Athleisure That Works. You can’t walk by a store today without being bombarded with joggers and hoodies crossing over from workout wear to street wear, and now we’re seeing them transition further into professional wear. This doesn’t mean jogging pants made of cashmere are office appropriate, but an elastic-waist trouser or layered hoodie can create an entirely unique look that works for work.

 

Creative, fashion-forward office styles are all about finding ways to make non-traditional pieces have a traditional feel. While you never want to completely go against the grain of your environment, it is okay to push the boundaries as long as you stay firmly grounded in acceptable norms.

 

Click here or on the images below to learn more about the outfit.

 

 

 

Click here or on the images below to learn more about the outfit.

 

 

 

 

I am always curious to hear from you and what you see in the workplace. Send your questions, comments and pet peeves to [email protected]. Also find each of these storyboards at http://brianmaynor.polyvore.com with links to purchase each item.

 

 

About Brian Maynor

Brian Maynor has built a reputation as one of the leading style coaches in the Southeast and is quickly expanding his eponymous company, BRIAN MAYNOR and his FIND, FLATTER & FLAUNT line of image consulting services. A professional with a fresh, upbeat and down-to-earth personality and boundless creative energy, he works frequently with with local celebrities; Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit organizations; modeling agencies; fashion designers; production companies; record labels; media and individuals. A regular contributor to various fashion blogs and online communities, Brian Maynor is one of the most trusted and recognized style experts in the region, utilizing his education and training as a broadcast journalist to serve as a style lecturer, emcee, and commentator for over a decade. He has appeared at fashion shows, expos, and charity fundraisers, as well as events with big brands like Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Chico’s and Macy’s. His approach is innovative, creative and fashion-forward, balancing fresh, modern styles with classic pieces to keep one’s look grounded. To learn more, visit http://www.brianmaynor.com.