2013 Adventures!

Hi Friends,

So 2013 has many new things for us already!

Remember that little flood we had last fall?  Well, since then we've been on the hunt for a new place to call home here on the West Coast.  After much praying and much much searching, we've finally found our new apartment and we moved in over the weekend!  I can't wait to share photos with you once it's a little more unpacked and complete - until then here is a pic from my instagram.

Aside from the apt hunt, I've taken on some other things as well.  One of them being an opportunity to volunteer weekly at our local pregnancy center.  It's been such a different ministry for me to dive into, but one I'm excited to be part of.

AND if that's not enough, I'm exploring a new and exciting business venture!  {More on that later.}

With that said, we've been a bit busy over here and PinkPeonyStyle has been a little neglected *sad face*.  But with a pretty new apartment to decorate and a new design project for a client underway, I'm excited to share my fav design projects and inspirations with you over the next few months!

So tell me - has 2013 been full of change for you as well??

Looking forward to posting again soon!

XOXO

Fashion Friday: Nine to Five

Happy Friday, dear reader!

This is the last post of my September Nine to Five segment - at least, for now! I will possibly be back for future endeavors. But it has been my pleasure to share my workplace fashion favorites with you, and thank you to all who read!

9-5: Working with Color

Okay, working bright color into my professional wardrobe has been very hard for me - you're reading from Queen Matchy-matchy herself. When neons and loud patterns started becoming popular, I didn't know what to do with them! But after some experimenting, and of course, some inspiration from J. Crew, I've fallen in love.

Here are some tips: if you don't feel comfortable being bright head to toe, color tastefully splashed can be just as effective (see above.) Or, choose one half to be bright and soften it with a warmer version of it, a pattern, or a neutral shade.

 

 

If you're feeling on the braver side, why not try mixing a bold pattern with a simple pattern?

...or just mix it with some layered solids for texture:

Last thing - I'm really loving colored suits. They sort of remind me of 1940s secretaries, and I love anything that puts me in a past era! Here's a modern take...

{all via *J.Crew}

That's all for today folks! Don't be afraid to incorporate bright colors into your work closet, as long as you style it with the workplace in mind. Keep it classy, keep it modest, keep it professional. Wear something that puts you on the right foot for your workday! 

Xo!

Chesli

*Quick note! If you think I'm crazy out of my mind for suggesting J. Crew to you, you're right. Look for J. Crew factory stores and outlets, which are ballparks cheaper than the real deal. Little known fact: all J. Crew stores offer a 15% student discount, and if I'm not mistaken, a teacher discount as well. I am always scanning their clearance sales, which most of my pieces have come from!

Fashion Friday : Nine to Five

9-5: Dress Me Up and Take Me Out! The Work Dress

{via shabby apple}

Hello there from FL, Chesli again for your Fashion Friday!

Probably the easiest outfit to put together for work is a dress...because you don't actually have to put it together. It's like the pop-tart of outfits. It's done in a ding, and I leave my closet singing, glory to the heavens, I'm going to be on time!

{via J.Crew}

But the best part to me about work dresses is that they can so easily transform into a dinner outfit, party outfit, anything-after-work outfit! If you need to, you can always throw on a blazer or cardigan to make it work appropriate, such as with a strapless dress. 

I just stumbled upon the darlingest website of classy women's clothes under $100, shabby apple. Here are some of their looks...

I like to bring a change of shoes, a clutch, and fun accessories to exchange with my simple work accessories. Work dresses make such good bases to build upon.

Kick off your flats and strap on your boots!

 Or dress it up! I adore this feel of old, Hollywood class...

{all via shabby apple}

Would you wear a dress to work?

Happy dressing!

- C

Fashion Friday : Nine to Five

9-5: Take me to new heights! The essential high-waisted skirt.

Hi All! 

Chesli again.

I cannot tell you where I would be without my straight-as-a-pencil, waist-high skirts. I have come to find that these are essential to my work wardrobe and make any day more breezy. Skirts are my go-to when I want to be effortlessly professional and comfortable.

I ADORE adding a jacket to a high pencil skirt. It's such a great way to bring in texture and dimension.

all via J. Crew

You really can't go wrong with a high-waisted skirt. Just find one that flatters your curves and pair with any shirt: loose and easy button-downs, cap-sleeved, or a modest tank with a cardigan. Don't be afraid to try differently textured skirts.

via Modcloth

I'm also loving the new peplum look, especially Modcloth's "Work With Me" dress that gives the pencil skirt + peplum top illusion but is really a dress. So cute and easy!

     

via Modcloth

This brand, Nauticoco, even makes reversible and detachable peplums! How do ya like them apples? I'm thinking you could add them to a fitted dress, or even use them as a handy cover up for a too-short shirt or too-bunchy shirttail, or a skirt that takes a belt. I haven't seen these locally yet, but I sort of hope they come around soon!

via Nauticoco

That's all for today, folks! Skirts are about as feminine as it gets, so claim it and have fun with it. In the words of my aunt, "Whatever blows your skirt up!"

Fashion Friday : Nine to Five

Happy Friday Friends!

So as I mentioned yesterday, my lovely sister is sharing her voice with PPS today and I cannot wait for you to hear what she has to say!  New to the blogging world, but a seasoned writer with a passion for fashion, I knew you would love her spin on staying chic in the workplace!

Enough from me...hope you have a wonderful weekend!  XO - d

--

Let me introduce myself!  I'm Chesli, sister to Ms. Pink Peony herself, Danya.  I love to write and I love fashion, good food, and traveling!  As a working woman, I've learned a lot about how what you wear in the workplace can affect your mood and even your productivity.  I'll be sharing some ideas with you over a 4 part series to see if we can't liven up that professional wardrobe of yours!

Fashion 9-5 Tired of feeling as blah as your office?  When you work a full-time load day after day, sometimes you start to blend in with those taupe walls and muted-toned paintings on the wall behind the copy machine.  

May this be a lifeline to your fashion sense!  I've learned that looking sharp and like you, helps keep the blues at bay in the workplace, and keeps you energized with confidence.

via

Work fashion basics. Every female professional should own a suit of some sort - just one goes a long way!  If you're shaking your head at me, know that I didn't want one either.  It seemed like giving in to the boring norms of the workplace.  But my dear mother and sister convinced me I needed one.  And gosh, I used that sucker all through college and graduated with a 3.8!  It is now a staple in my wardrobe, and I mix and match with it all the time.  

via

The fun part is mixing in your favorite pieces from your wardrobe and bringing your touches to it.  Love scarves?  Add a floral one to your crisp, white button up (one that matches your pretty pink nail polish, of course.)  Adore nautical?  (Me too!)  Match brown leather flats or heels with your favorite brown leather belt and put it over your navy blue and white striped crew neck or cardigan.  Don't forget the red lipstick!  

Here are a couple of my favorite creations...

Don't get bored. Browse for inspiration often.  My go-to for inspiration is J. Crew.  I also like Banana Republic's professional wear (I got my grey skirt suit there.)  The goal is to love what you put together, put it on in the morning, and go from there.  It's so nice being able to forget my exterior because I am confident in it and be myself.  

I leave you with a quote from F. Scott Fitzgerald : "When a girl feels that she's perfectly groomed and dressed, she can forget that part of her.  That's charm."

via