Hey, girl! School starts back up in less than a month (cringe) and that means a multitude of things. It means it’s time to stock up on school supplies, new backpacks, new shoes, etc.; It means it’s time for me to beef up my work wardrobe. It also means that there are a lot of you that are teachers and you, too, are doing some shopping of your own!

So, I decided to dedicate today’s post to all my teachers! But, even if you’re not a teacher, you can 100% benefit from today’s post and tips! Today I am partnering with Clotheshorse Anonymous to share with you who to purchase key pieces that you can wear to work and then style differently to wear out with friends or on a date.

I talk in this post about how to tackle consignment shopping to get the most out of your experience, but I’ll share a bit more here when you’re looking for specific wardrobe items. Luckily for teachers or moms, your workwear is more on the casual side, so it tends to be easier to buy pieces that work for both work and play.

Upgrading/Adding to Your Workwear Wardrobe:

1. OUT WITH THE OLD/WHAT DOESN’T FIT: Go through your entire workwear wardrobe. Try on each piece. If something doesn’t fit or you haven’t worn it in years, give it away. Chances are very low that you’re going to wear something that doesn’t fit or something you haven’t liked enough to wear in the last few years.
2. TAKE INVENTORY: Take inventory of what you have versus what you need. Literally. Write it down. Get out a pen and pad or use the notes in your phone and make a list of all the items you have versus the items you are lacking. For example, you may have several bottoms, but lack a pair of black pants.
3. THINK CLASSIC: Making sure you have some workwear basics will make your workwear wardrobe a heck of a lot easier. These items include a pair of black pants, a skirt, a blazer or cardigan, a white top, a neutral dress, etc.
4. LOOK FOR WHAT YOU LACK: Now that you have a list of what you need, you can start to search for those specific items. If you’re wanting to find pieces that will last for several years, I recommend shopping for quality brands. Luckily, you can find great, quality brands via consignment and can save a ton of money!

How to Shop for Versatile Pieces:

Now that you know the pieces you need to complete your workwear wardrobe, keep your “after hours” life in mind when you’re shopping. For example, if you are in the dating scene, keep in mind how items would work for a date night. If you’re close with your co-workers or are social, think about how you can transition your work outfit to dinner with the girls or a fun movie night with friends.

As most of you know, I am a part-time Speech-Language Pathologist and contract part-time during the school year. So, that means that I am also looking for wardrobe staples I can wear both to work and then out on a date. During my most recent shopping spree at Clotheshorse Anonymous I found several versatile pieces I can wear for work or play.

What I found:

One of the pieces I got was a lace top from Free People. I actually eyed this top all last year, but couldn’t bring myself to buy it during COVID knowing I wouldn’t wear it much. So naturally, it was a no-brainer for me to grab it when I saw it. I plan on wearing it with white jeans and a cute pair of sandals this summer. Then during the fall I’ll probably pair it with jeans and a leather jacket or my go-to cardigan. I love that I can also wear it to work with a midi skirt or a nice pair of black jeans.

I also found the cutest neutral midi dress from Vince. I think neutral dresses are great staples to have in your work wear wardrobe. They act as a blank canvas. You can layer almost anything over them – denim jackets, cardigans, leather jackets, etc. You can always dress them for date night by adding a fun bag or a cute heel.

HOW TO STYLE FOR WORK:

HOW TO STYLE FOR PLAY:

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This post was created in partnership with Clotheshorse Anonymous. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting those brands that support Fleurdille.