Retail Roundup: Bold Yet Feminine For the Office

Buying clothes for work doesn't have to end at Ann Taylor Loft and/or be depressing. These inspired pieces will inject some fun statement femininity into your work-flow rotation: which (my studies show), combined with a spritz of Miss Dior, is the cure for those 9-5 blues...

Colorblocked Knit Pencil Skirt, HD in Paris, $98

 I love this skirt from Anthropologie. The asymmetrical colorblocking creates a slimming and very flattering silhouette that sort of disguises problem areas yet accentuates curves in the right spots. It's definitely wearable for the office, yet makes a statement. It's also available in a grey pattern, if you are lucky enough to have skin tanned enough to clash with the middle color.

Batwing Midcalf Dress, Norma Kamali Kulture, $150

This dress is amazing. The relaxed, batwing white top with a subtly sexy crossover-v neckline and a longline pencil skirt is the look of perfectly paired separates -  in the convenience of a dress. There is something a bit 80s/Working Girl about this look, with a modern twist.

Tube Skirt, Zara, $49.90

This high-slit pencil skirt from Zara might be a bit risque for business casual (depending on your body type - my thighs would not be happy in it) but it's a really sexy, modern look.

Stretch-woven jumpsuit, Cushnie Et Ochs, $1,795

This badboy is the 2015 version of a powersuit. Can I borrow $1800 bucks real quick so I can feel like a Bond girl?

Sleveless Tailored Jacket, Topshop, $85

A separate in the same family as the bank account buster jumpsuit above, this blush sleevless blazer by Topshop is so chic and a perfect way to show off your pilates biceps.

Retail Roundup: Crossover Strappy Shoes for Fall

If you've seen the fall lookbooks or have been shopping in the past two weeks, there is a staple that stands out just as much as burnt camel color patterns, warm golden dresses and boyfriend blazers for the fall: strappy crossover shoes are everywhere...and I want all of them.

Valentino, via Net-A-Porter, $995

Topshop $130

Zara $99.90

This looks really brings to life a pair of simple cropped ankle pants (I fully intend on wearing them with J. Crew Pixie Pants and a flowy blouse pretty much every day of fall). From breaking the bank with Valentino to Forever 21 (not pictured), there is really something for every budget to give this put-together fall look a spin.

Retail Roundup: The Sexy Black Maxi

Probably my favorite year-round pieces in my closet are my black maxi dresses. Open back, strappy, not too showy - more subtly suggestive - I feel instantly glamorous and put together with just one piece when I pull them out. Complete on their own, or completely versatile, you can dress up a black maxi up for elegant occasions with heels and accessories or throw on a denim jacket for a casual look.

Here are a few currently available looks that you are sure to keep grabbing for:

Avery Dress, Reformation $328

I realize some of you will think this sounds crazy, but I'd wear this dress by Reformation to a wedding or throw it on with sandals and wear it to Ralphs to pick up kale so my boyfriend and I can pretend like we are healthy one day a week.

Crisscross strap maxi, Forevs $19.90

This caged, cutout black dress from Topshop (below) is definitely a modern statement piece that will look like a lot more effort than throwing it on in the morning. Good old Forevs (Forever 21) has plenty of long black dresses, ranging from completely sheer, strappy and sassy to fairly modest. I love the back, and the price, of the Crisscross strap maxi (above). The almost as affordable Zara number at the bottom feels a bit more casual and the self tie at the waist is great for some subtle slimming.

Cutout detail maxi, Topshop $135

Long dress, Zara $49.90