My sister is about to start a new job with a strict dress code, so I’m dedicating this post to her. And deviating from the dress-only theme for a minute to talk about having fun with work clothes. Really, this is just an excuse for me to look at all the lovely, grown-up clothes of the office world that I have no excuse to buy because people would be like, “Where are you going? Aren’t you like, freelance? Don’t you work from a coffee shop?” Hmmph.

Anyway, Banana Republic is having a great sale, but a lot of their smaller petite sizes are already sold out. Luckily, the be all and end all of work-to-evening dresses – the petite jersey wrap dress — is still available! The best thing about this dress is that it’s totally comfy (yes, I’ve tried it on, despite having absolutely no reason to) so you don’t have to think about anything riding up in weird places while you’re sitting at a desk.

Two things I’m always on the search for: a great pair of black slacks and an unconventional white shirt. Banana Republic has the slacks taken care of in these sleek cigarette pants. They’d look amazing with little colorful ballet flats!

This shirt, I realize, isn’t exactly white-white, but close enough. The sweet detail at the neckline makes it a little less stuffy and a little more girly. Julie, I know you aren’t into ruffles, but I figured that it’s just a tiny tiny tiny bit. I mean, you can barely call it a ruffle. It’s more like…a little wavy neckline. Anyway, I think it’s fantastic. Best of all, it’s on sale!

And while it never gets particularly cold outside in Honolulu, people like to compensate by cranking up the AC to arctic on the inside. I’m all about this cotton cashmere cardigan for layering.

Or maybe this bright one, from La Redoute, for some color (make sure to wear pants, though!):

And if I know my sister, I know she’d prefer not to wear a heel, so I’m choosing this supercute (and close toed, yada yada) flat by Sam Edelman.

Good luck, Julie! Break a leg!

I love to wear dresses that are as comfortable as pajamas. Is this a crime? In fact, sometimes I’m so comfortable that I forget to change when I come home, and sit around at home in my dress all evening long. So I’m always on the hunt for things that look super comfy but chic enough to go into the city wearing. That’s why I’m totally smitten with the Merino Wool Sweater Dress ($45) from La Redoute. Not only is it cozy, but I love the light lavender color and the slightly slouchy neckline.

Cool colors like lavender look amazing paired with the warmth of gold, and that’s why I think that Stacey G’s newest necklaces will compliment this dress, while giving it a bit of edge.

And speaking of gold…

(Alyn Flat by Nine West $79)

As some of you may have noticed, a few posts back I talked about a coat that I found on the La Redoute website. Well, that was the first time that I’d ever heard of La Redoute, and since the coats were so cute I decided to have a poke around to see what else they have. Apparently, they have LOTS of great things, including an expansive dress section.

The site and the stuff on it reminds me a little of the Victoria’s Secret clothing section on their website, only less plain, and according to friends who have actually bought things from them, La Redoute’s clothing is of much higher quality. They also have a larger, and better, shoe selection, with lots and lots of boots!!!

I think it’s really important to have a dress that makes you feel pretty, even if you’re bloated, or you’re in a horrible mood, or are feeling plain miserable. The eyelet with the ribbon detail on the Eyelet Sundress screams pretty and feminine, and I’m pretty sure that it could be pulled off until late fall, even here in the Northeast, with a pair of cozy merino wool tights and a long, chunky cable knit cardigan. My shopping basket at La Redoute also contains the Double Buckle Boot, which are the perfect height and price…but sadly, on backorder in my size until the end of October.

Eyelet Sundress ($39.99) and Double Buckle Boots ($49.99) at LaRedoute

For a girl from Hawaii, finding a coat can be a feat. I’ve been through a few of winters ⎯ a couple of English ones, and more recently, one in New England ⎯ so I keep thinking I’ll get better at it without trying. Wrong! I decided to start asking the fashionistas I know about how they decide on a coat, and it seems that they all go through the coat dilemma each year, as well.

I decided to start out by making a list of things that are important to me in a coat, based on problems that I’ve had with past coats. The first and foremost thing was that it fit properly. My very first coat was a beautiful camel colored cashmere coat. It’s heavy, gorgeous, and warm. But it’s also about four sizes too big for me, so I look a little bit like I’m playing dress up in my grandpa’s closet. Last year, I bought a really cute black and white coat from the Gap. It was a freezing October day, and I had to buy something, quickly, so I got this one, even though I should have gotten a petite. One day, on the train, I saw a girl wearing the same coat but for some reason it looked so much better on her…and then I realized why: it fit! What came to my calves hit just above her knees, and she looked amazing. Fit. Is. Everything.

Well, almost everything. The color consideration is especially important when you have a loveable but very furry little one running around your apartment (and, consequently, rubbing up against your coat). I, for one, am tired of the mandatory lint roll each time I walk out the door. So, even though I found this adorable Kenneth Cole coat on Bluefly, I just couldn’t bring myself to buy it.

I then found this fabulous Angora-enriched three-quarter length coat on La Redoute, which I wanted to buy in grey (the same color as my cat, Imogen).

It’s actually the perfect color, and since it comes in a short length, it wouldn’t make me look like the incredible shrinking woman either. It was deep like, and it looked good on paper. I almost bought it.

In fact, I was in the shopping cart feature until I got lured out of my apartment to go shopping with my girlfriends. And then, I found it: THE coat. It was love at first sight, and I had to have it ⎯ the TwillTwentyTwo Chelsea Coat. Yum. Perfect fit, perfect color combo, and plenty of personality. Now, if only it would get a little bit colder.