Hello! I graduated from college almost two years ago and started working in an office shortly after my graduation. I work as an e-commerce retail catalog assistant for a home decor retailer; I process our shipments, file claims, handle our social media and marketing and write our copy. It was exciting to be working my first "big girl" job but dressing the part seemed slightly daunting. I rocked micro minis and platform heels constantly (and still do!)- what was I supposed to wear to the office? Luckily, I work in a relatively laid-back office environment and am granted a lot of freedom in my style choices. However, I do like to do my best to put together "office looks" and have found myself trying to play around with these styles more and more lately. Who says that office attire has to be boring?
One office style element that I've been experimenting a lot with lately is neutral color. Neutral colors work wonderfully for the office but unfortunately, can often feel very "blah" if not styled appropriately. But there's no need for neutrals to be boring. I paired neutral colors with other interesting style elements in my look above to create an aesthetic that not only works well for the office but also feels fresh and hip at the same time. Wondering how you can take your neutrals away from "blah" and to a new level of office style cool? Well, I've compiled a list of my five best tips for avoiding the office "blahs" while playing with neutrals, keep reading to check them out:
1. Play with prints. Neutral colors on their own are boring. But neutral colors within prints? Simply charming! Go for more patterned neutral pieces rather than solids to create interesting looks. Even neutral prints tend to be relatively quiet but that gives you a lot of freedom to mix and match different neutral prints like I did above. When mixing and matching neutral prints, be sure that the pieces that you're styling together share at least one color in common. For example, the sweater and skirt that I'm wearing above both have white within their prints.
2. Experiment with texture. Mixing and matching textures is another way to create more interest when styling neutral pieces. Try pairing a cozy sweater with a silky skirt or a knit top with a cotton skirt. Add interest with a funky leather fringe purse or vinyl clutch. The juxtaposition of different textures is more visually appealing than a look composed of entirely one texture.
3. Use accessories to make a powerful impact. Neutrals provide you with a simple palette to accessorize, accessorize, accessorize. Since the emphasis of your look isn't on color, you can have more fun with accessories. Go for a bold pair of earrings or unique glasses. This also works well for the workplace because you often have more freedom when it comes to accessorizing.
4. Elevate the look with a cool pair of shoes. Details are key! A great pair of statement shoes can take neutrals from "eh" to "okay, wow" in a matter of minutes.
5. Add just a touch of color. A hint of color will instantly add visual interest. One thing I love about neutrals? They look good with many different colors so you have a lot of different choices. I paired subtle dark green accents with this look to keep it from feeling "blah."
What do y'all think about neutrals?
Photos shot by Elissa Rumford. Edits by me.
Skirt: Banana Republic, second-hand
Sweater/top: Madewell, second-hand
Green clutch: Vintage
Rings: Vintage
Aviator glasses: c/o Giant Vintage
Green booties: Urban Outfitters
"Tori" necklace: c/o Personal Necklace
Earrings: Wish
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