Friday, September 27, 2013

Frock Fridays: Workwear

Finances are a bit tight right now and I really shouldn't be purchasing new clothes.  You know what that feels like, right?  Of course, that didn't stop me from grabbing the last trench coat from the Philip Lim 3.1 collection from Target the other day - I can totally make a case for keeping it but the sensible thing would be to return it.  An impulse buy is just not an option for me at the moment!  However, I've picked up two dresses recently that don't make me feel at all guilty...

There are three levels to my weekday wardrobe: Casual Fridays, Everyday Professional, and Big Meeting.  Last weekend, I started switching out the summer clothes in my closet for my winter ones and discovered that at least a third of the frocks I wore last autumn are now too big.  (Yay!)  The pieces I choose on Big Meeting days are, for the most part, worth the investment of proper tailoring, so I'll take my J Crew and Theory dresses to a seamstress; my Casual Fridays outfits are pretty transitory, so those pieces are updated regularly enough anyway.  But now that I have a stack of dresses to go to Purple Heart, it's the Everyday Professional level that's feeling a bit thin!

Thank goodness for Target (again) and Old Navy, right?  I'm clearly on a caramel kick, because I bought this striped dress two weeks ago with my mom and this colorblock shift online just this past Monday.  (I think I can justify a total of $46.89 for the two!)  The color is such a classic for autumn and both frocks can remain in the rotation through the end of the year - paired with opaque tights and boots or flats, I suspect they'll see me well into cold weather.  It is a Casual Friday but I have a meeting, so I'm going to wear one of them today with my Longchamp and nude heels.  Make sure you're following me on Instagram to see which I choose!
caramel dresses

26 comments:

  1. I like that trench. (the Phillip Lima one). AND it's 100% cotton! There are some cute clothes in that collection. (no, I hadn't looked until just now.)
    I like your striped dress. I'm not a big colorblock person, though, sorry. But stripes! I like stripes! Happy Friday!

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  2. the striped dress!!!!!! LOVE it. i still need to go to target and pick it up. happy friday! xo jillian

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  3. I almost got the navy and red one at Target. Infact I may have to get it the next time I go in if it is still there. I Love it!

    Friday's Fancies

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  4. I saw the striped dress the other day and thought it was so cute! What's the length like though? I thought it might be a little short for me to wear to work--but fall is here so tights will be a necessity shortly!

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  5. I'm seriously considering getting the navy and red one too - SO cute!

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  6. I'm 5'10" and a bit and it hits just above my knees - there's not much hem to take out but I don't think it's inappropriate anyway! you might have different standards though haha

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  7. haha you are NOT helping my poor wallet :P


    the shift dress hasn't actually arrived yet (oops - I gave away what I'm wearing!) so I'm not sure how it will fit but fingers crossed because I like it :)

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  8. Just above the knees would be totally fine! I only get nervous when it starts edging up to mid thigh, and since the dress has a high waist I wasn't sure. Now I might have to stop at Target after work...;)

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  9. That striped dress is from Target??? We might be twins here in another few days...adorable!

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  10. I really loved that bracelet until I saw it's $2000. Way to get my hopes up, Betsy!

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  11. Both dresses are gorgeous!!

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  12. Love Target! Just got a pair of black pumps AND nude pumps for $45 total! I also approve of your outfit choice today :)

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  13. you and I share a deep and abiding love for Targé :)

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  14. haha there has to be at least ONE fantasy component to my FF posts!

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  15. I have been wearing my tan trench all week and loving it so I say keep it!

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  16. Oh, jeez, I love ALL of these! Now I have to keep coming up with more excuses not to go to Tar-jay {other than impending government shutdown - sigh}.

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  17. Yes to both dresses, for sure! I've always loved this classic color combination, but for some reason it's all I want for this fall... Also, if you don't already have a trench coat, I vote keep it! I've been looking for a good (and also on-budget) replacement for my old one for ages. Somehow easier said than done, but a total wardrobe must-have in my opinion. (Sorry for being an enabler, ha.)

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  18. Ooh, now you had to go and make me want to go shopping for dresses (as if I need so much prodding). The Target dress is so cute!

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  19. haha I'm sorry! I'll try to be less of an enabler... not like Anne... haha

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  20. That striped dress is the bomb. We're taking a trip to Target tomorrow and I'm totally going to veer off-grocery procuring course to try that baby on! Great picks. And damn if I great nude heel isn't completely necessary for like every season .

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