Styling with Separates

“The key to successful leadership today is influence not authority.”

Traditionally the “go to” for business style has been a suit (whether that is a pant suit or skirt suit doesn’t matter) – it seems to be the safe choice.  The great news is that you don’t have to own a business suit in order to look professional and classy.

Today’s post is a prime example of how you can pair a blouse, pants, and jacket that are not identical, but they certainly compliment each other and create a classy outfit.  I chose looser fitting pants with button detail on the waist, and paired them with a flowing blouse, and then a velvet jacket with zipper detail.  The pants and blouse look just as great with or without the jacket.  To spice things up a little I added a great Red crocodile skin purse, and my hair is pulled back into a loose chignon.

Just because pieces are not bought from the same place, bought as a set or even the same color, doesn’t mean that you can’t create your own business style that is just as great.  I sometimes prefer putting together my own business suit using mis-matched pieces, so that I can create something unique.

One rule of thumb is that you don’t want to try and match your pieces too closely – for example, if you have Black pants, don’t wear a Black jacket because chances are the Blacks’s will not be the same and it won’t look as good.  You can add a Black jacket though if you pick one that is a different fabric.  If you chose Black pants and then a Black velvet jacket, or a Black Satin jacket that would work.

The color of the blouse you choose can influence people’s responses to you – so you may want to choose a neutral color and add a pop of color by adding accessories, shoes or a purse in a bold color.

Pants:  Bebe      Jacket:  H&M     Blouse:  Forever 21     Shades:  Stylequeenie (My Shop)