The goal for the clothing you buy is to be able to get the most wear out of them. One way to do this is to buy things that can easily transition from your work-week to the weekend. Of course, not all items will be able to go from one part of your life to the other but the base of your wardrobe should be able to do that. It is through buying the right pieces and accessorizing components that you should be able to achieve this. In today’s post in this series, of taking one item and styling it five different ways, I am going to show you how to take this J. Crew blouse from work to weekend.
I chose this top because it has an easy look to it but is also in a fabric that is perfect for the office. To get the most out of your wardrobe, look for items like this that can easily transition to most of the areas of your life. Here are some outfits to get you inspired and show you ways that you can do it. And, like all posts in this series, to also show you how to get the most out of what you may already own, I will also be using certain items in this post multiple times in addition to using items that were used in previous posts in this series.
How to take a blouse from work to weekend
While many women seem hesitant to purchase prints, prints can be great informers on the colors that can be worn with them; a helpful tool when combining color. In this outfit, for work, I took the blouse and paired it with a navy Boden skirt and Mango cardigan that acts as a jacket replacement. If your work environment is business-casual a cardigan is a great alternative to a blazer. The colors in the skirt and cardigan are chosen by the colors found in the print, as are the shoes by Vince Camuto (my favorite Ellen flats) and the earrings by Blu Bijoux. Taking the color combining a step further, I added a yellow handbag. While yellow isn’t found anywhere in the print, it is a versatile shade that complements any color with which it is paired. For more tips on how to wear yellow as an accent, here is my advice.
Look #2
Taking this blouse to the weekend, I paired this top with a pair of 7 For All Mankind bootcut jeans to give the top more of a bohemian look. I used the same Vince Camuto flats and, this time, added oxblood as the accent shade using a Modcloth handbag and J. Crew cashmere wrap scarf. The look is simply finished with a casual leather Stella & Dot bracelet and silver hoop earrings by Roberta Chiarella.
Look #3
Keeping with the weekend and the oxblood, this top is perfect with colored jeans, like this oxblood pair from Buffalo denim. Instead of a work cardigan, I chose this easy navy Mango cardigan and oxblood bag from the previous outfit. Lastly, the outfit is styled with a pair of Frye boots in distressed grey and a this grab-and-go necklace by Stella & Dot.
Look #4
Instead of wearing this top with black, gray is just as versatile and a lot less harsh. I styled this top for the weekend with boyfriend jeans by Lucky Brand a grey suede bootie from Sofft and a handbag from Jessica Simpson. Going back to yellow as a pop, it works beautifully with gray while complementing the top. I chose a mustard yellow scarf from Modcloth. The outfit is finished with a fun pair of earrings, also by Modcloth, that pick up the shade of the blouse.
Look #5
Taking this blouse back to the office, it works well with a pair of navy work pants, like these from J. Crew. To give the blouse more shape this navy belt from Lord & Taylor is added to cinch the waist and, for a punch, I added burgundy flats, also by J. Crew. The outfit is finished with a navy Furla tote and jewelry used in earlier looks.
