How to Be a Fashion-Forward Business Femme Fatale

Climbing the career ladder can be a tough feat, but is made easier when you have a killer outfit to work with. Gone are the days when female business attire was composed solely of neutral colored pantsuits, and in are the days of having fun with what you wear. There are plenty of options for those working in a business setting to mix things up and be proud of what they are wearing, and here are some examples of what to try out next time you head to the mall.

Do not conform to your office

The first rule in fashion is that you must always be who you are. There is so much pressure for women to conform to their office surroundings, but doing so will only prevent you from being your authentic self. That being said, make sure to dress in line with the office dress code, but don’t be afraid to play things up. If you’re a fan of color and prints, go for it. Same with fun shoes and a bold swipe of lipstick.

When in doubt, go for florals

Florals always put fresh spin onto any outfit, no matter if you’re dressing up an old pair of slacks or just black heels. Don’t think that you have to keep your florals in hiding until the spring and summer — any time is a good time for florals to make their office debut. Just keep in mind that when you wear a floral print item, keep that as the focal point of your outfit and dress in neutral colors everywhere else.

Add a pop of color with jewelry

There’s no need to stick with subdued gold and silver jewelry for our business attire. Feel free to pack a punch and invest in some cool costume jewelry to make an impact. Anything from bauble necklaces, meaningful sister bracelets from CA Souls with a personal story behind them, or long, dangly earrings can make a tired wardrobe feel fresh and fun. 

Invest in a staple bag

Your work bag is the cherry on top of the cake, and will bring everything about your outfit together. With this in mind, it only makes sense that you’ll need to invest in a good quality, structured bag that can hold everything you need. You can never go wrong with a leather bag in a neutral tone such as black, chestnut, mahogany, or tan, and make sure it has enough pockets and compartments to make it easy for you to carry home your laptop and any files you may have. Another detail to look for is the inclusion of expandable straps. You may have to lug your bag around to business lunches and meetings, and longer straps will ensure you’re comfortable when doing so.

Play by the three-toned rule

The three-tone rule is simple; never wear an outfit with more than three colors in it. This will make you look busy and most often prints this wild aren’t necessarily office appropriate. So when buying new items, consider what you already have in your closet and how they can match and compliment each other, as it is never a good idea to buy an item you can only wear once. 

With these fashion rules in mind, you’ll be on your way to dressing professionally no matter if you are a doctor, lawyer, teacher, or even a student enrolled in a RN-BSN program. Remember, just as Rome wasn’t built in a day, neither will your wardrobe. Be patient, and have fun while shopping because you’ll never know what treasures you can find.