Penny Pincher Fashion

Fashion, Beauty and Style

  • Home
  • Fashion
    • Popular Posts
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • SAVE or SPLURGE
    • Mom Style
      • Outfit Ideas
      • Beauty
  • Capsules
  • 365 Outfits
  • Shop
    • My Feed
    • Gift Guides
    • Under $100
    • Under $50
  • About
  • Contact
    • Amazon
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter

Fashion· Summer

From Office to After Hours

This post is sponsored by Express & ShopStyle.
All opinions are 100% honest & completely my own.

summer pastels

I just celebrated 8 years of blogging a few months ago & that milestone really got me thinking about what it’s taken to grow my business & what I’ve learned along the way.  If I had to choose, I’d say one of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned is about the importance of balancing that entrepreneurial drive with selflessness (even though that sounds like an oxymoron).

One example of this was about 4 years ago, I had volunteered to put on a Valentine’s Day luncheon for some widows in our area.  I was planning the menu, purchasing decorations and organizing entertainment when I received an offer from a brand for a very lucrative campaign that would have paid my kids’ school tuition for the entire year. The kicker was that it required me to be in NYC the same weekend as the luncheon I was putting on.

Suddenly, I was faced with a choice – was I going to pursue my career goals and monetary gain above all else or was I going to follow through on my commitment to bless those women in need?  In the end, I chose the latter – but, I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t a tough decision to make.  Of course, I could have taken the work opportunity & asked around to see if friends could pitch in & help pull off the event in my absence.  But I would have missed out on one of the most special afternoons with a room full of amazing women who needed to be encouraged & uplifted on what was such a difficult day for them.

I’m not telling you all of this to pat myself on the back, but I’m sharing because it was such an important lesson I learned & it helped me realize the type of businesswoman I want to be – one who works hard and sets goals, but also one who says yes every time I’m presented with an opportunity to choose generosity over ambition.

I was honored when Express reached out to me about partnering together for a workwear campaign because the theme was centered around my unique ambition story. So I wanted to take this opportunity to encourage you, wherever you are on your career path, to elect to serve others, even when it means making a hard choice that might not make any business sense at all.  I can promise you will never regret it.

Although I no longer work in a traditional office anymore, I can certainly remember & appreciate the struggle of finding good workwear options that still let your personal style shine through. Personally, I always feel my most confident and like I’m putting my best foot forward when I’m wearing sophisticated styles that flatter my shape without being too showy.  This post is focused on items that you can wear both to the office & after hours, so even if you’re not working from 8-5, these classic staples will give you a polished, chic look no matter where you’re heading.

 

polished workwear from Express

A classic camisole is one wardrobe staple that every woman should own in multiple colors.  This layering workhorse can be worn year-round and is a chameleon that can be dressed up or down for any occasion.  The Downtown Cami is a top seller at Express and it’s easy to see why – the double-layered fabric means it isn’t see through; the silky finish drapes beautifully & the adjustable straps ensure a perfect fit (plus, it’s machine washable).  I have these in multiple colors (runs true to size) & right now they’re B1G1 50% off, so it’s a great time to stock up!

I paired it with these high-waisted culottes, which are arguably the most comfortable pants I’ve ever worn (and how pretty is this soft lilac hue?!).  These are ideal for the office because they’re polished without being restricting + they are endlessly flattering.  If you’ve never tried a wide leg pant before, these are a good option to ease into the trend with because the shape isn’t overly exaggerated.  Other high-waisted styles that would work for both the office & weekend: this knot-front pair (wear with this puff sleeve tee), these striped pants (wear with this ivory top) or these belted ankle pants (love the dark red color!).

Express Downtown Cami

Express High Waist Culottes

Express work wear

What I’m wearing:
c/o Express Cami (also in floral, polka dot, eyelet & button-front),
c/o Express High-Waist Culottes (more colors here, here, here & here)

Express Boyfriend Blazer

Boyfriend blazers are so easy to dress down because they have a looser, slouchier & more open fit than the classically tailored styles.  This makes them perfect for pairing with denim when grabbing drinks after work or if your office allows for casual Friday attire.  I love the color of this one, but it also comes in four other colors.  This does run a bit big, so if you prefer a more tailored fit, I’d recommend sizing down.

If you’ve never tried their jeans before, you are missing out!  They hug in all the right places and don’t stretch out with wear – this pair has a high rise that really helps suck everything in (the reviews speak for themselves!).  They run true to size, but if you’re under 5’7″, you may want to order the short length as the inseam for the regular size is longer than most denim (30.5″).  And if you’re on the taller side, the great news is that these also come in long!

For those of you who are on your feet all day, you could skip the heels & instead opt for comfortable flats or loafer mules.  As the weather gets warmer, you could also swap out the jeans for these white shorts, which would give it the feel of a modern short suit.  Another way to wear this for work is paired with this jacquard skirt & then I’d add a belt on top (like this or this) to cinch in & define the waist.

Express Skinny Jeans

how to style a boyfriend blazer

how to dress up your denim

snake print saddle bag

Express spring style

What I’m wearing:
c/o Express Boyfriend Blazer, c/o Express Downtown Cami,
c/o Express High Waisted Jeans, Similar Heels

MY EXPRESS FAVORITES

06.20.19 Kimberly

Related Posts

  • spring outerwearSpring Outerwear
  • jewel tones for fallWeekly Top Finds
  • Recent Purchases
  • Lilac Bijoux Giveaway
« Deals Under $25
Weekly Top Finds »
SALES ALERTS

Disclosure

Penny Pincher Fashion is a part of several affiliate networks. This means when you click on links to various merchants on this site and/or make a purchase, this may result in a commission that is credited to PPF. Also, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I take the responsibility of recommending products very seriously & will link to items that I personally love.

Instagram Snapshots

Let’s connect

Copyright © 2011–2023 Penny Pincher Fashion LLC · All Rights Reserved · Privacy Policy · Terms & Conditions · Design by High Note Designs, LLC

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings.

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.

3rd Party Cookies

This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages.

Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.

Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences!

Privacy Policy

More information about our Privacy Policy