Remix, Recycle, Rinse, Repeat

White Button-Up: QMack (Macy's) | Suede Belt: Vintage | Silk Skirt: Rag & Bone (Consignment) | Handbag: Coach | Shoes: 3.1 Phillip Lim (Consignment)
White Button-Up: QMack (Macy’s) | Navy Suede Belt: Vintage | Wrist Scarf: Levi’s | Silk Skirt: Rag & Bone (Consignment) | Handbag: Coach | Shoes: 3.1 Phillip Lim (Consignment) | Faux Pearl Earrings: The bargain bin (Eleven Consignment Boutique)

Whenever I shop, I catch myself oscillating between romance and practicality. I get dressed to dream, to transform, to audition a new identity. But when it comes to retail reality, the bulk of my purchases are workwear — and blazers, blouses and briefcases aren’t the stuff of dreams. (Just TRY making “slacks” sound appealing.)

I prefer to save my purchasing power for the really fun stuff (like the sequined L’Wren Scott gown I spotted at the Barneys Warehouse sale), so my dollar REALLY has to stretch for my office wardrobe.

Today’s ensemble is the perfect example of a wardrobe remix: I’ve worn the entire outfit elsewhere in the blog — but in completely different combinations. (See here for skirt, here for the shirt and here for the shoes and bag.)  Luckily, a well-rounded closet can constantly refresh the workplace “skirt and shirt” uniform — without a steady influx of new purchases.

The inspiration for today's look. Jennifer Lawrence is wearing a Joie top and a skirt by the now-defunct Holmes & Yang line.
The inspiration for today’s look. Jennifer Lawrence is wearing a Joie top and a skirt by the (now-defunct) Holmes & Yang line.

To make my life easier, I stock up on core mix-and-match colors for work: white, black, navy and gray. It’s very pragmatic, but terribly unappetizing when you’re peering inside the closet. (And in turn catalyzes a chain reaction that starts with “I have nothing to wear” and ends with shopping addiction rehab.)

To stop this cycle, you’ll need some closet Prozac: accessories.

Bag: Coach | Shoes: 3.1 Phillip Lim (Consignment) | Wrist Scarf: Levi's
Wrist Scarf: Levi’s | Bag: Coach | Shoes: 3.1 Phillip Lim (Consignment)

For this outfit, I relied on a red, white and blue palette — it’s timeless, which explains why Betsy Ross picked the combo. I tied the scarf onto my wrist as an experiment in this new-to-me trend. Bonus: it’s a cheap version of aromatherapy (spritz scarf with perfume and inhale before a meeting). The red Coach bag is as close to a briefcase as I’ll ever get.

I’ll continue to share how I remix my working wardrobe, and you can keep taps by clicking the Work category on the blog menu. In the meantime, I’d love to hear how YOU keep your office style fresh day after day… week after week… year after year.. without breaking the bank or going bonkers with boredom.

bluewhite1