LOFT Georgetown Grand Opening

A Saturday in Georgetown goes a little something like this:

Nice weather  + shopping + tourists = mass hysteria!

Perhaps a sane person would learn this formula and try to avoid Georgetown on a sunny Saturday, but what can I say, I love a chaotic outdoor shopping experience.

My best friend, Robin, and I decided to head to the grand opening event of LOFT Georgetown, one of my fav thrifty stores. I’m a member of the Capital Area Fashion and Beauty Blogger group (CapFABB) and got wind that our co-founder Lacey, from A Lacey Perspective, was hosting the grand opening event. Fun, right?! (ps – how do I get thaat gig??). The store had champagne and Georgetown cupcakes on hand, and Lacey teamed up with Lucky magazine stylists to help us in the dressing room.

I picked up a really cute red blouse for 30% off. Love a pop of color during the fall and winter months. Plus, red goes with my cheapo cheetah print flats from Target perfectly!

It was hard to settle on just one new piece from LOFT, so here are my favorite items from their fall collection:

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Lunch with the Governor

Reader Question: I have a meeting at the Governor’s office and am panicked about what to wear? I don’t want to look overdressed — my office is usually super casual — but obviously want to look nice.

Style Me Thrifty: My immediate thought to your fashion dilemma? — it’s impossible to be overdressed here!

Frankly, I’d be more worried about being too casual. A meeting at the Governor’s office (btw, hellooo, look at you!) calls for a full-on business professional outfit. In fact, any important work function falls into the “dressier is better” category.

Do you own a black blazer? A well-fitted tuxedo-esque blazer with dress pants and a colorful top would be perfect. A woman in a blazer radiates maturity and confidence. It’s also a timeless piece — which is key. You don’t want to go bonkers with anything too trendy (your hip fashion sense will be lost on the Governor!). Instead, pick classic, well-fitting items. Here’s a great outfit for any professional meeting:

Where to shop: Old Navy blazer, Target top, LOFT brooch, Express pants, Anne Klein Wedges.

One more note: you can easily up your dressy level with the material of the pants you pick. Chino pants are okay for any regular day, but to up the ante, pick dress pants (think: suit material).

If I had $98 to spare, I’d buy this LOFT dress. It’s perfect for a work function. Too much money but wanted to show you it as another idea!

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Look Polished at Work

Reader Question: What can I wear to the office to look put-together but not overdressed? I don’t want to be the most casual person in the office, but I also don’t want to show up in a suit when everyone else is in casual khakis!

Answer: This question came from a sweet coworker of mine and I can totally sympathize. There is such a spectrum of business clothes available today — how does a working gal (on a budget!) navigate all the options, while keeping in mind the norms of her office? It’s enough to force you into a rut of dumpy black pants and worn out cardigans.

Style Me Thrifty is here to guide you on how to look polished at work. I’ve got a tip for every day of the work week.

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Monday: Wear Heels
Have you ever noticed that heels make women stand up straighter and walk with more authority? These are both stellar traits to have around the office. If you have a job where you’re on your feet a lot (like a teacher), go for a sleek wedge to take the pressure off your toesies.

Tuesday: Rock a Blazer with Confidence
I have a fitted black blazer in my closet that I hesitated to wear to work for months because I was worried it would make too much of a statement at my casual office and then I realized… why is that a bad thing?! A chic blazer is a classic piece that can dress an outfit up OR down. If your office skews more casual, pair the blazer with light grey dress pants or even jeans!

Wednesday: Tuck Your Shirt In
This trick instantly preps up an outfit. It is polished, put-together, and totally free to try! Bonus points if you wear your shirt tucked into a Mad Men-esque skirt, like the cute outfit below from The Limited.

Thursday: Give a Skinny Belt a Try
This look is super flattering because the skinny belt cinches in the smallest part of woman’s waist. I suggest brown, beige, or a fun color for the summer — and wear it over a blouse, open cardigan, or dress. So classy.

Friday: Wear a Pair of Dressy Jeans
If your office has “casual Friday,” resist the urge to wear your fav pair of weekend jeans. Up the ante with a nice-fitting dark pair of jeans. If you’re tripping over the length of your pants, get them hemmed! Most dry cleaners hem pants for less than $20. It’s a worthy investment on your road to career domination.

These jeans would look super cute with this crisp top. Just sayin’…

Bonus Tip! Add a Little Color to Your Professional Life
Don’t be a ninja and dress in head to toe black. Use your go-to pair of black dress pants as the base for an outfit. Everything else you add should have color and personality. Try a colorful scarf or bright jewelry. OR — brace yourself — skip pants all together in favor of a colorful dress like the one below. Love this with a white cardigan. So fun!