There are two kinds of people in this world. In the first category you’ll find folks who scrolled through Skims’ latest campaign featuring Kim Cattrall or read an article about it and moved on with their lives. This is another category of people who freaked out about the campaign, read everything they could on the topic, googled video reviews of the long sleeve soft lounge dress Cattrall modeled, added the dress to their carts and are counting down the days until it arrives, imagining all along how fabulous they too will look in the dress. These tend to be the same people who have drawers full of serums that influencers promised would change their lives and may have ordered these “curve accentuating” leggings. I will report back on all of the above, but today is about what to wear to work when facing such long, stressful days that the only thing one has to look forward to is getting dressed in the morning.
When You Aren’t Allowed to Wear Jeans to Work but Decide “Chambray” is Another Matter Entirely
My made to order Ann Mashburn dress is one of my favorite things in my closet. It’s as comfortable as sweatpants, can be dressed up or down, can be worn all four seasons, and gives a stylish without trying to hard vibe IMO. I had the belt chain stitched with my name by the talented folks at Ranger Stitch when they were in town for a trunk show at a local boutique. “Is that in case you forget your name?” my husband likes to say every single time. For me, the white J.W. Anderson mules are perfection in a shoe and they are perfect with a dress that can lean a little “librarian” if I’m not careful. I have yet to wear these shoes and not receive some kind of comment or question about them. Granted it’s not always a favorable comment (my boss (a man) said, in the middle of a meeting, “Look at those shoes! They are …. um….. kind of like something Minnie Mouse would wear?”)
When You are Exhausted and are 600 Emails Behind but Want to Look You Have it all Under Control
These are old Sarah Campbell pants that I wish I had in every color. I’m not sure if they still make them because I don’t see the exact pair on their website but I love the shape and “crispness” for work. Paired with my beloved Ulla Johnson top from last season and pretty Rupert Sanderson heels - they are comfy because they have a block heel. I can wear them all day! My husband told me I looked like Suzanne Somers in this outfit and I chose to take it as the highest compliment one can receive.
When You’ve Tried on 472 Pairs of Cords That are Not Flattering and Remember That You Have This Pair! From Last Fall!
I ordered and returned Anthropologie cords, tried on three different styles of JCrew cords, have Madewell cords in my cart, and was this close to ordering these spendy Veronica Beard cords when I discovered these Anthropologie cords in my drawer from last season - hurray! They look black in the first pic but you can see how they are the perfect brown in pic two. I love blue and brown and paired it with my Molly Moorkamp cable knit sweater and Madewell flats. I’m a Florida girl and will always prefer a cotton sweater to wool or even cashmere. This one is dreamy and absolutely warm enough for Virginia winters.
When You Are Trying to Stretch the Life of a $$$ Spring Suit
Veronica Beard plaid pants from spring 2023, GAP t-shirt, Paul Green flats.
Mostly I wore this as a chance to debut my new Jamie Haller Loafers! Veronica Beard blazer from spring 2023 with denim dickey and Veronica Beard pants (old, similar).
When You Have a Big Event at Work and it’s Finally Cold Enough to Wear the Grey Influenced by Becky
I wrote about my mad search for head to toe grey after following Becky’s lead. I found the DEMYLEE top and skirt on Poshmark and ebay and the boots are old Marc Fisher.
No time for post scripts and Substack tells me I’m at my email limit anyway. Back to work, but I have some try ons and shopping updates coming!
Thanks for reading and Happy fall if you live somewhere that allows you to enjoy sweater weather and the end of humidity for a few months.
XOXO,
Tara
Love corduroy texture for fall—so sumptuous!
Love reading you as always. The chunky chain loafers such a good foil for your dress, too. XOXO