Long gone are the days of the stuffy pants suit, shoulder pads up to here and a sea of gray, black and navy. Today’s workingwoman has so many options when it comes to dressing professionally and stylishly that it can be hard to know where to start. Whether you’re considering revamping your entire office wardrobe or just looking to add more stylish pieces to an existing closet - we’re here to help.

It’s important to first consider the type of office setting. While colorful slacks and a cute cloche hat might work at an art gallery, your boss at the bank might send you home for a wardrobe change. For casual or creative workplaces, you may be able to take more liberties with your wardrobe, while you might have to get creative to inject some personality into your style if you’re clocking in at a more traditional office environment.{relatedarticles}

What Not to Wear: The Work Issue

On that note, no matter where you work it’s imperative to understand what NOT to wear to work. There are exceptions for all of these, of course, but for the most part you don’t want to get caught strutting to your cubical or the boardroom in any of these faux pas.

• Flip-flops - Unless you’re a lifeguard or high school swim coach, just don’t do it. Toes do not need to be seen under the harsh glare of the fluorescent lights.
• Shorts - You might want it to feel like you’re on vacation at work, but shorts are usually a big no-no. They scream “casual” and it can be too tempting to wear them more “Daisy Duke” than “Department Head.”
• Mini-skirts - Even if you can still pull them off, some co-workers may be offended or even get the wrong message from a skimpy skirt.
• Crazy holiday attire or anything else that might be called “cheesy” - There’s a time and a place. Christmas morning with the aunts and uncles? Sure. In your next big meeting? Not so much. Introducing religion as a talking point at an important client meeting is not recommended. Also, you want people to respect you, right? Rudolph antlers are not the thing to wear when your boss pulls you into his or her office for an impromptu review of your work.
  
• Workout wear - It might be easy to come back from your afternoon workout in your sweats, but nothing says “I don’t care about what I’m wearing” more than sloppy gym shorts and scuffed up sneakers. Also, when people see a disheveled, sweaty person they automatically assume that person does not smell the best and whether you do or not, this is the wrong thing to put into the heads of any clients or co-workers you need to esteem you.
• Political/controversial items - Remember when your mother told you never to discuss politics or religion in mixed company? Well, if you don’t, consider this your reminder. Leave the propaganda at home where it belogs.

Now that we covered what NOT to wear, let’s focus on incorporating your unique personal style into your work environment. After all, why shouldn’t you inject some of your personality into your professional attire?{relatedarticles}

Invest in the Right Work Pieces

Cheap shoes falling apart or a sheath dress made of shoddy material can quickly ruin any attempt to look professional.

Splurge a bit on wardrobe classics like:

• a black mid-heel pump;
• white-collared dress shirt; and
• tailored black work slacks.
  

They’re the timeless workplace essentials for which you’re sure to get your money’s worth. These can even be the foundation on which you can add trendier items like scarfs or handbags.

Rework Overlooked Items

That sparkly party dress from New Year ’s Eve in the back of the closet may seem office inappropriate, but pair it with a belted cardigan, tights and a ballet flat and you have an outfit that’s stylish and still appropriate. A fun cocktail ring or blinged-out pair of dangly earrings can add just the right amount of color or pop to a blah black pantsuit. Another perk of reinventing out-of-the-box items is that it can make the transition from day to evening that much easier. Stash your heels in your purse, lose the cardigan and you’re ready for dinner with the hubby or happy hour with the girls.{relatedarticles}

Be Creative with Layers

Just because the main color of a suit is neutral doesn’t mean you can’t play with color. Think about wearing hues in jewel tones, pastels or even polka dots under your jacket as a way to stay feminine and flirty but still look sharp. Not comfortable straying from whites, grays and blacks under a suit? Then stick with them, but you might consider interesting textures like ruffles or lace to change it up a bit.

Stay Classy

Experimenting with bold, bright prints in the office is a great way to interject personality into your look. However, to keep from looking like you’re wearing a costume, opt for classic cuts. Go for office staples like a wrap dress or pencil skirt in a geometric pattern or bright color to make a statement while staying office appropriate.

Accessorize

One of the easiest and cheapest ways to add pizzazz to an outfit is with accessories. Add a bit of visual interest to a traditional suit to give yourself an edge in the breakroom with:

• a studded leather purse;
• colorful scarfs;
• costume jewelry; and
• colorful baubles.

Don’t Forget the Details

The right suit and perfectly matching accessories don’t mean much if your hair, nails and makeup are a mess. Make sure you keep your hair styled and healthy. Keep nails clean and neat and try to avoid makeup that conjures up images of circus clowns.{relatedarticles}

Being successful in the workplace doesn’t mean you have to forget about your feminine self or love of style. It just means you’ll have to look for fun and smart ways to work your own style into your everyday work wear in a way that suits your career and professionalism. Hopefully, these hints and tips will keep you looking great from 9-5.