After a long weekend I am definitely not in a work frame of mind. I’m just not ready to deal with anything pertaining to work and, as luck would have it, I have this bear of a week ahead of me. In fact, I even found myself uninspired trying to come up for an idea for tonight’s post for this series.
Anyway, seeing that we’ll be back to the grind tomorrow I thought I’d give you an idea about how to incorporate some fresh fun into your work outfits by giving you some tips on how to wear leopard print at work. If you don’t feel like going to work at least you can feel good about the way you look.
Leopard print at work
Leopard print can be tricky in the workplace. On the one hand, seeing that this print will never go out of style, there certainly are plenty of classic styles out there to choose from that are work appropriate. On the other hand, you have to be careful with leopard print at work. Too much of it, or when it is worn in the wrong silhouettes, can be inappropriate. To be safe, I’d suggest airing on the side of caution and wearing it minimally. Here are some other tips to consider.
- Small doses: Go for leopard as an accent shade, especially if you work in a conservative environment.
- Keep it classic: Choose classic pieces in leopard print. A leopard pencil skirt can be elegant and classic. A low cut, clingy top can look inappropriate and trashy.
- Don’t overindulge in leopard: Choose one item to wear in leopard, like a pair of shoes, a simple cardigan or a handbag. This is your focal point. Keep everything else you’re wearing simple to avoid creating too many distractions. Nobody needs to wear more than one leopard print item in an outfit at once.
Leopard at work to update what you already own
Adding some leopard in work wardrobe is a great way to make what is old look new again. If you’re bored or uninspired with your clothes consider some small hits of this pattern. Here are some outfits to give you some ideas.
Look #1
Bored-to-death with your black pants and basic sweaters? Instead of struggling to layer a button down shirt underneath a slim sweater (does anyone else find doing this as annoying as I do?), try a CeCe Topping, which is essentially a modern-day dicky. Here I chose their classic leopard topping to add punch to the burgundy J. Crew cashmere sweater and Reiss black pants outfit. The outfit is finished with a pair of Corso Como cognac boots, Brahmin handbag, gold and cognac leather bracelet and gold earrings, both by Banana Republic.
Look #2
Basics are the backbone of any good wardrobe. But basics are only ever as good as the accents you pair with them. If you have a basic dress, like this one from Boden, even if it is a dress that comes with its own belt, give it an instant facelift by adding a novelty belt. Here I wrapped a leopard belt by Vince Camuto around the waist to give the dress a whole new look. To finish off the outfit, I added a pair of black Anne Klein boots, a Vince Camuto handbag, Banana Republic scarf, black and gold Melinda Maria bracelet and gold Yochi honeycomb earrings.
Look #3
I have had the same pair of leopard shoes by Joan & David for nearly a decade. They were an investment when I bought them but have more than paid for themselves. I don’t see myself getting rid of them anytime soon, either. Popping some leopard into your work wardrobe through way of your shoes is a great solution. My strong suggestion would be to choose a classic leopard shoe shape and not something you’d wear to party on the weekends. I just love that comfort-brand Clark’s is offering such cool leopard shoes like these. When we think of comfortable heels we usually assume they’re farty and orthopedic looking, but these are super stylish and, I’m assuming, super comfy.
In this outfit I paired these shoes with a black J. Crew pencil skirt and a Modcloth denim shirt for a casual work look. The outfit is finished with a black and cognac suede handbag from Mango, a gold bracelet and simple long necklace from Banana Republic.
