The Closet Coach

I call Level 4 of the 5 Levels of Working Mom Outfits “Client Meeting” because it instantly communicates a specific kind of dressed-up-for-the-office. No matter how casual the workplace, we tend to dress better when we’re going to be meeting with our clients and customers.

That’s exactly what this outfit was for. It doesn’t get much career dressier than a DVF wrap dress, does it?

Once again, I was looking for ways to make this sleeveless wrap more office appropriate. In the winter I put a turtleneck underneath; for spring, a T-shirt did the trick.

It was neither warm enough nor the appropriate situation to skip hose, so I opted for these tights in a lighter taupe rather than the chocolate brown ones I wore in colder weather.

Because the dress is a pattern of black and brown, I went with contrasting black shoes. I love the shape of these!

The perfect jacket to go with the dress was this cream-colored faux leather one from the Limited. It almost looks like the jacket and dress were made to go together!

T-shirt: Gap (similar, $15, American Apparel).
Dress: Diane Von Furstenberg (similar, $218, Bluefly).
Jacket: The Limited (similar, $50 on sale)
Necklace: Stella & Dot (similar, $54 on sale)
Shoes: Indigo by Clarks Plush Weave ($109.99, Zappos).

Working Mom Outfit Level: 4/Client Meeting

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I have frequently extolled the virtues of finding a great tailor to make your key wardrobe items fit like a dream, especially a garment as important as the black blazer.

This one is a case in point. I found this blazer at a fantastic markdown at a local boutique, Luna in Bethesda. I loved the shape and the unusual details. With such a deal, I couldn’t pass it up.

Although it fit me perfectly at the waist, it was a little loose at the bust. I could have gotten away with wearing it that way, but I intended to make this my primary black blazer and really get good wear out of it. The blazer it’s going to replace had never fit exactly right and I didn’t want to repeat the error.

So I got the name of a tailor from the boutique, took it in to be altered, and now it fits like couture.

In the end, the cost of the alterations exceeded the cost of the jacket itself, due to the shape and layering of the garment, but it was totally worth it. I can wear this jacket for years.

Besides, super sale + tailoring = still less than a full price blazer that doesn’t fit quite right.

With this outfit, I wore my new jacket with another fab new sale find, these adorable kitten-heel Bettye Muller sandals, discovered through Polyvore. (I first used them here.)

What’s better than wearing 1 new thing? Wearing 2!

Blazer: MM Couture by Miss Me (similar, $40, sale, Coldwater Creek).
Skirt: LOFT (similar, $90, Bluefly).
Shoes: Bettye Muller Escape sandal ($88.50, sale, JildorShoes.com).
Working Mom Outfit Level: 4/Client Meeting

[Disclosure: Some links are affiliate links.]

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Her Royal Highness
Catherine Windsor
The Duchess of Cambridge

Dear Cathy:

(May I call you Cathy?)

On behalf of women over 30 everywhere, I’d like to thank you for bringing back sheer, nude pantyhose.

After years of following trends and wearing colored stockings–or none at all–we forgot why we were originally grateful to have sheer nylons. (We used to call them nylons, but you’re probably too young to remember. Ask the Queen or your mum.)

We forgot how a fine denier hose in a flattering flesh tone gave legs a smooth finish with an even tone. You know, like those skin-smoothing lotions claim to do.

But now they’re back, thanks to you.

Even better, they’ve allowed some of us to get in on the trend for nude pumps. They just don’t work with any other stocking color, do they? What’s more, flesh-toned stocking + flesh-toned shoe = very long leg line.

So thanks again for helping every woman feel like a duchess.

Cheers,

Heidi

Sweater: LiaMolly Wren ($248).
Skirt: LOFT ($49.50).
Shoes: Ivanka Trump Indico ($120, Zappos).
Hose: Nordstrom ($10).
Working Mom Outfit Level: 4/Client Meeting

[Disclosure: Some links are affiliate links.]

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On the day the Missoni for Target collection was launched last fall, I stopped by my local Target after work to see what was available.

I’d heard the buzz on Twitter that items were flying off the shelves but I thought surely my humble little suburban outpost would be immune from hordes of descending fashionistas.

Boy, was I wrong. The shelves were picked clean. The lady in the checkout line said they had been emptied within 2 hours of the store’s opening.

So much for that, I figured.

Flash forward to early February when I saw a tweet go by saying that Target was closing out the remaining inventory from the collection and it was all on clearance. I’d assumed it had been long gone before then, so I quickly went to target.com to see what was available.

And that’s how I got this cardigan and pleated skirt for half off.

I was surprised by the quality of the pieces which were quite inexpensive, even at full price. The cardigan is a beautifully delicate weave of a soft silk-like synthetic.

The skirt is my favorite, however. Look at how fabulous the pleats are! They come down vertically and then divide horizontally into chevron shapes at the hem. (Don’t ask me how I will ever be able to iron this when it has to be washed.)

Moral of the story? Sometimes good things do come to those who wait, or, in my case, to those who completely forget about a thing in the first place!

Turtleneck: Mossimo ($12.99, Target)
Cardigan: Missoni for Target (some available on eBay; similar knit, $20, Kohl’s).
Skirt: Missoni for Target (some available on eBay; similar, $51, Zappos).
Shoes: Aerosoles (I can’t find anything remotely similar but these Weitzman booties are super cute, and on sale for $160).
Working Mom Outfit Level: 4

[Disclosure: Some links are affiliate links.]

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Like anyone offering style and wardrobe advice, I’ve sung the praises of including a classic, flattering Little Black Dress (LBD).

But after I wrote my post on how to buy a new LBD, I realized I needed to follow my own advice.

The one hanging in my closet was at least 15 years old–and about one size and 4 inches too short. What works at 26 does not always work at 41, n’est-ce pas?

I am here to tell you I feel your shopping pain. Even knowing the kinds of silhouettes that look best on me, I ordered and sent back 6 different dresses from 3 different online stores, no farther ahead than when I started.

Then I discovered Calvin Klein, one of my favorite labels, was having a sale. I ordered 3 dresses, hoping at least one would work–and I kept two.

I should have started at Calvin Klein. After all, another piece of advice I offer is to find which stores or labels work for you and start your shopping there!

This is one of the two dresses. Although it’s dressy enough to wear to a cocktail party, it’s of a softer jersey material and covers enough of the body that it would be entirely appropriate to wear to work as well, especially with a blazer or cardigan on top.

The detail of the criss-crossed V neck works on me because it helps balance my smaller top half with my bottom. The side shirring defines the waist and is especially forgiving of the midsection. And the length hits perfectly just above the knee; short enough to avoid looking dowdy, but long enough to avoid looking inappropriate, especially at the office.

Shoe selection is always tricky in the winter time. Most of my more evening appropriate footwear is a strappy sandal–weird with hose, but too cold to wear bare-legged in February (even if it was mild enough on this Saturday to take a few photos coat-free).

• What do you think? What shoes should I wear with an LBD in cold weather?
• Black hose or tights only? What about a nude hose, a la the Duchess of Cambridge?

Dress: Calvin Klein surplice wrap V-neck sheath dress, $139.50.
Shoes: Nine West (similar, $47, 6pm.com).
Necklace: Tiffany oval tag necklace, $425.
Outfit level: 4/5

[Disclosure: Some links are affiliate links.]

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