It's so nice to meet you!
Get to know Kay...

Work Wear that Works for You

career
Comments(6)
March 26, 2018

Most days I’m dressed casually because I don’t even leave my home. The life of a writer is usually a solitary one. But as a speaker – the other half of my job – I have to step out of seclusion and into the spotlight. That’s when I make sure I’m dressed more for influence than comfort (although I still want to feel good in my clothes). I need work wear that communicates that I’m competent and I know what I’m talking about.

Office attire for the over 40 woman

Whether you work outside the home or not, you probably have times when you want to dress professionally as well. Maybe for church or an organizational meeting or that parent-teacher conference you’ve dreaded. You, too, want to make sure your clothing doesn’t send mixed messages, but clearly states who you are.

Accessorizing with a Tie Scarf

Maybe you wear attire like this every day. But maybe, like me, you just want to invest in a few good pieces that you can count on for those occasional days when you are giving a presentation or meeting with someone influential or attending a professional conference.

Women Who Work Clothing

I live in jeans, shorts, simple skirts and casual pants. But I always have at least one pair of dress slacks in my closet. For the fall and winter I have a pair of Liz Claiborne gray slacks that I must have bought 15 years ago. They’re still stylish and holding their shape beautifully. Do they even make Liz Claiborne clothes anymore???

But for spring and summer I love having slacks in a lighter shade. That’s why I love these taupe Talbots slacks with a pale pink pinstripe. They help me look professional and competent, but also feminine and approachable. I like that combination for work wear. Here’s what Talbots has now in dress slacks.

For this photo shoot I paired my slacks with this simple white Talbots tank. It’s a dressy tank top, silky and thick. I layered it with a three-quarter sleeve Charming Cardigan by Talbots in light pink. They’re not carrying a light pink shade right now, but Talbots always has classic cardigans in plenty of trending hues. In fact, below the next photo I’ve provided a clickable collage of a few other styles they have now.

Talbots business attire

I hate to tell you this, but my shoes and butterfly tie scarf are from Talbots, too. Y’all, I really am a Talbots woman! I shop other places, I promise. But Talbots is my go-to store for classic clothing that stands the test of time. In fact, the scarf and shoes both are probably over five years old. So their clothing isn’t just classic; it’s well constructed. And that’s what I need for work wear.

Talbots Career Clothing
Now that I think about it, I believe I’ve had this scarf about ten years! But as trends often cycle back around, these skinny scarves are very much back in style right now. Mine is long, so I put the midpoint at the front of my neck, took both ends to the back and circled back around to the front, and then simply tied a little bow. I love the way a scarf gives an outfit so much color and contrast of texture.

Brighton Eye Glasses

Do you have to wear reading glasses? Aren’t they a pain! While I have several drugstore cheapies I keep strategically in every room of my house (do you do that, too?), I invested in a couple of pair that are a little sturdier and more elegant. These white frames from Brighton even happen to have tiny butterflies right where the ear pieces connect to the frames. Ha! Didn’t even know I’d matched up my scarf and my glasses like that!

Working Woman Attire

By the way, my earrings are also from Brighton. And the tiny hook bracelet (which also features a butterfly!) is James Avery, as is my ring. The watch is Fossil. And needs a new battery…

Work Wear that Works

Whatever you’re doing today – conducting corporate meetings, making a presentation to a client, wiping little noses, cleaning toilets or grading papers – I hope you have a productive day. And I hope you feel good what you’re wearing while you’re doing it, too. After all, it’s Monday. We have a whole week ahead of us!

Kay's Logo


Blessed for My Day

Do you have a career or a job? You know the difference, right? It’s really just a matter of how you approach it. Or maybe it’s also a reflection of how long you plan to do that particular job, right? But whether you have a temporary, get-you-through-this-season-of-life job or a career you are passionate about, I know this. You have a calling. Wherever you put in a day (or night) of work, you have a purpose for being there that reaches beyond the actual labor. I encourage you to look beyond the projects, the schedule, the time clock, the stack of papers and the production quota and look into the eyes of whoever you are working with or for, whoever you’re serving or helping or guiding. Make a difference out there today. And if that’s a struggle, consider this scripture:

Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men. ~ Colossians 3:23



Spread the love
xoxo, Kay
Join the Conversation

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

6 thoughts on “Work Wear that Works for You

    1. Ahh. Good to know! We don’t have a Penney’s here. We have very little here, in fact. But maybe that’s why I haven’t seen that brand in a while. Well I do love my Liz Claiborne pants! Thanks Gail. ?

  1. I absolutely LOVE your blog and your look! I am in a new season of life, my husband retired last June after 47 years of ministry in the United Methodist Church. I have always started women’s ministries at our various churches, worked for 17 years as a director of campus ministry at three colleges plus all the other stuff in church, so now I feel a great loss. We keep our precious grands most afternoons after school, but I feel I have a new purpose, just not sure where God is leading me. Your words of inspiration encourage me. God bless you and your husband.

    1. It’s so nice to meet you, Sherri. It sounds like we have a lot in common. No grand kids here yet though. I’m so pleased you found my new venture. You are so welcome here and I look forward to getting to know you. ?

  2. Do you know that I haven’t stepped foot in Talbots in ages. And that’s too bad, because look at how fabulous you look with these items!!
    I do think we get into habits about where we shop. And when I was working I tended to visit Ann Taylor and Banana Republic!!!
    XOXO
    Jodie
    http://www.jtouchofstyle.com

    1. Lol! I agree Jodie…habits, maybe even ruts! But at the same time I think it’s great when a gal finds a brand she can trust and build a “relationship” with. Thanks so much for stopping in and commenting. I value your expertise. You seem to have really blossomed as a fashion blogger, creating a very unique niche for you and your mom and stepmom. You are so welcome in this space!! ?

@dressed_4_my_day