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Casual Friday: Tread Lightly, My Friends

So, you're one of the lucky ones that gets to dress down on Fridays in the office...great!  But let's remember -- you're still at work.  Here are a few tips and ideas when it comes to dressing casual for Friday at work.

Ladies...

Three-piece rule!! Denim paired with ANY two peices on top will save you from looking "too casual" and feeling out of place.  Please, please, PLEASE, no tears in your jeans or holes anywhere in your clothes!  The darker the denim, the better.  Colored jeans are hot right now, so feel free to play with "safe" colors (blue, grey, brown, dark green, burgundy, mustard yellow) until you can get a feel of how fun you can get.  
Think: cardigans, scarves, blazers, button down shirts, basic tees, and chunky necklaces (yes, I said chunky necklaces!)  For footwear, start off with simple flats and venture as far out as a basic color pair of Tom's or boat shoes if your office environment is ok with it (running sneakers should stay in the gym bag).

The overall idea of casual Friday is to make you feel more comfortable before you start your weekend, but still keeping you focused on the fact that you are at work.  You don't want to be that girl that gets casual Friday taken away.  (I've seen it happen!)

Gents...

Keep it boat-house friendly.  Jeans and a tee shirt can send the wrong type of work vibes to your boss on any day!  If you would wear it to meet your spouse's parents on a weekend trip, more than likely, it's ok for work (unless your spouse's parents are the President and First Lady, or the like). 

Think: sweaters, polos, cardigans with a basic tee, leather footwear with or without laces, and stright leg jeans (again, no holes/rips/tears) or khaki pants or chinos.  NEVER EVER EVER GYM SNEAKERS!

Think about it like this, if you had to be called into an unplanned meeting on a Friday with the CEO of your company, would you be ok with how you look?  Your boss will think higher of you if you know how to keep your Friday casual as close to business-friendly as possible.

I hope my little tips help!!

From Online to In-store!!!

I know, I know...this is nothing new, right?? Wrong!

It seems that even though the economy is "tanking" or we are in a "recession" or whatever you want to call it, retail chains aren't swaying. So much that piperlime.com (a Gap, Inc. online only brand) opened its first physical-hands-on-try-on-merch store. And where else but good ol NYC!! They opened the boutique-esq store in the beating heart of the East Village. Although not as expansive a selection as the online store, it's pretty damn dead-on with the size of the venue.

I suppose this is a test-run to see how people catch on and also a way for those living in a bubble to discover the online store.

The one thing missing is menswear, which I really hope they begin to carry by Spring 2013. Guys, don't fret... piperlime.com is always open for your stylistic pleasure!!

Here's a little snapshot collection to entice you to shop the store!!

Work Your Prints!

When is print too much print for the workplace? This is a commonly asked question and commonly poorly executed by men and women alike. Mixing prints at work can be risky, but just as rewarding, if done correctly.

The first thing to consider is what's appropriate for your work setting.

If you work in an artistic environment, mixing prints in a bold way can be totally fine. HAVE FUN! Feel free to mix stripes with florals; animal prints with camouflage; geometrics doubled up. Be as expressive as you'd like.  As long as you feel comfortable with your look, then wear it with CONFIDENCE!

If you work in a more conservative environment, subtlety is your best friend. Going wild with prints may not be as welcoming at those 8:30 exec meetings! Stripes and florals are totally fine, but pass on the animal print and camouflage.  If you keep your color scheme similar, your mixed prints look will be flawless!

Balancing Act: How to Soften a Hard Look

When pairing a leather jacket with motorcycle boots, adding the perfect soft touch can make your look go from "Hard Rock" to "Rocker Chic" with ease.

Just think 2:1 ratio. Don't be nervous- this is NOT a math lesson! For every 2 "hard" pieces you have on, add in 1 delicate piece. For instance, if you have destroyed jeans and a motorcycle jacket, grab a pearl necklace or lace top to layer on. Don't forget, makeup and your hair style also play a major part and can be included in your 2:1 equation. The right ballerina bun can also play down the toughness of your look.

Color choices must also be considered. Pastels and cool colors add an instant delicacy to any look and can be inserted to tip the scales in the right direction for your completely pulled together look!

Wingtip Gone Weekend

I absolutely love the idea of a wingtip with MOST men's looks. So naturally, the weekend wingtip immediately grabbed my attention in a good way. This is a great alternative to your boat shoes or sneakers when you want to still keep your weekend looks polished.

See below for some examples.

Men's Style Tip: Denim Shirt Swap-out

The Perfect Chameleon

A denim shirt can be your saving grace!  Denim shirts now come in so many different shades, prints, weights and washes, which make them very easy to dress any way you want. Substitute a denim shirt as jacket or cardigan and it will work like a charm each time!!

image source: http://www.shopstyle.com/users/iDreamChanel