Workout Clothes to Business Attire
OK, so I wrote this post Thursday evening and it was supposed to post yesterday but then THIS HAPPENED so I am posting it a day late because it’s still a fun post (I think) 
I’ve also slightly edited it!
Proposal story coming Monday!
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Aron did a fun post the other day about the runners guide to business casual!
I have to admit, I’ve been known to use a few of her tricks before. Including wearing running shoes with dress pants for “casual Friday” and wearing compression socks under boots!
Yesterday Thursday was a classic example of how I take my workout gear (i.e. COMFY clothes) to the next level and make them appropriate for my business-casual office setting!
On the bottom: Leggings from Zellers (which I am 99% sure are knock-offs of lululemons wunder under pant!) With my favourite brown boots over top!
On the top: A lululemon racerback tank top!
And I dressed it all up with a cute black sweater and dangly necklace!
An INSANELY comfortable outfit that was still totally work-appropriate. Just what I needed after getting up at 5:00 AM yesterday Thursday morning to go swimming!
Side note: Holy crap I am out of swimming shape. It’s crazy to think I used to swim upwards of 2,300 metres an hour when I was doing Masters Swimming a couple years ago. Yesterday Thursday morning it took me 45 minutes to do 1,600 metres. I’m going to start going at least once a week to get ready for my triathlon on May 7 (I’m doing the Super Sprint distance!)
Also? You know what happens when you try to get your boyfriend fiance (whoa, that felt weird to write) to take your photo? You get a whole lot of bloopers…
Sigh. I think the self-timer would have been easier.
I had grand plans of going to yoga last night, but I just couldn’t justify taking 2 hours out of my evening when I have so much work to do lately. So I came home, made homemade granola bars (which didn’t turn out very good, too crumbly. I think I needed more peanut butter in them), and got back to work last night. Until 9 pm. Fun, fun! And in the middle of doing work, Eric came home and proposed, and well the rest of my night was kind of a crazed and full of emotions and lots of hysterical laughing, crying and jumping-up-and-down!
Happy Friday! Saturday!
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Is your workplace casual enough that you can dress up workout clothes for work? Do you?
The Monday Meeting: Workplace Fashion (2)
First, the Monday Meeting posts will be a little more sporadic throughout the summer and not necessarily posting every Monday.
Welcome to the second installment of Workplace Fashion (see the first one here). This installment of the series has a theme: Work Dresses!
I personally LOVE wearing dresses to work in the summer. It’s too hot for pants, and a dress is just so easy to grab out of your closet in the morning and throw on. I’d say a dress is my go-to outfit in the summertime!
I’ll share my absolutely FAVOURITE work dress, first.
My mom actually picked this dress out for me at Winners. I LOVE it. The material is so comfortable and it’s so easy to throw on in the morning. I also like that its kind of funky with the different colours and lines.
Here are the other fashion photos for this week! They are all fabulous.
Jamie
“When you work as a professional, you have to look well put together.When you look well put together I think people feel more confident in you and feel you are more organized, presentable and approachable. Confidence is key in the business world!“
Jamie works as a junior staff accountant at a public accounting firm. She got her dress from Suzy Shier, her necklace from Dynamite and her flats from Aldo.
Emily from Emily Jane
“I like dressing up and more formally and business like than I would usually – when else do I get to do it?? I’m also a big advocate of dressing for the job you want, not the job you have – when you look like you take your appearance seriously, I find people are more likely to take YOU seriously, too”
Emily works in the pre-employment field providing assistance to people with gaining skills to find employment. She got her dress at Smart Set and the white shirt at Ricki’s.
Leigh from All You Need is Love
“While I was working for a temp agency, their motto for dressing for different placements was “no boobs, no butts, no belly” and I think that perfectly sums it up. A normal work dress week for me means dress pants, skirts or dresses. On Fridays we are allowed to wear jeans, which I take advantage of. If I wear jeans, I will wear a dressier top or jacket. There are people in my office who take advantage of the casualness of it by wearing sweatpants or yoga pants, which I do not find appropriate”
Leigh works in a union position. She got her dress from H&M and her shoes from Superstore – Joe brand.
Jolene from Everyday Foodie
“Fashion in the workplace should be professional, yet still reflect the personality of the person. I tend to dress more “bland” at work than I would on the weekends, but I jazz up my outfits with accessories”
Jolene is a teacher and she got her dress at Superstore – Joe Brand.
Paula from Insert My Blog Name Here
“My workplace fashion personally doesn’t vary too much from what I would wear outside of work most of the time. But my company isn’t very strict about dress code, so this is fine. I once got into trouble for showing my midriff but that was an accident (my top had rode up while I was walking.) I wouldn’t generally turn up at work wearing a crop top or a micromini without tights or anything like that – it’s just not me!“
Paula works at a non-profit and she got her dress online at www.asos.com.
Ashley from Ashley as Aurora
“Our dress code is “business casual” with Fridays being a “jeans and t-shirt” day. I work primarily with kids between the ages of 5-17 who have been removed from their homes by Child Protective Services, so I do a lot of play/art therapy. It can be tricky when choosing my outfit for the day because when I’m not working with the kids I spend most of my time completing paperwork, attending meetings and returning phone calls and emails. I try to balance a casual wardrobe (so it’s not a big deal if a kid spills paint all over me) with some more professional outfits when necessary.”
Ashley works as a counselor at a non-profit agency. She bought this dress and belt at Kohls for under $35!
Do you wear dresses to work? Why or why not? If you do, do you tend to wear colourful summer-y dresses or stick to more professional ones?
The next time I do a workplace fashion post the theme will be Casual Friday. If you want to participate, send me a pic of your favourite Casual Friday Outfit with the answers to the questions found here.
The Monday Meeting: Workplace Fashion (1)
Welcome to a new sub-series of the Monday Meeting: Workplace Fashion.
Lately, whenever I’m shopping I’m on the lookout for great pieces that I could wear to work AND dress-down for the weekends and fun. I thought it would be fun to start a series that features different bloggers and their favourite work outfits.
Today I have a few lovely participants who have sent me photos of themselves in outfits they typically wear in to the office. This series will be running every few weeks and the best part? It’s going to have themes!
The next time we do this the theme will be Work Appropriate Summer Dresses. So, if you want to participate, send me some pictures in your summer dresses that you wear to work and I’ll post this series again when I have enough submissions
If you are interested in participating please email me a photo of yourself in your work attire and in the email state the following:
1. First name or blogging nickname
2. URL (if applicable)
3. Where you got the outfit
4. Business or industry that you work in
5. Your thoughts on workplace fashion
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Here are some of the workplace fashion photos for this week.
Olivia from Blissful Runner:
Olivia works in the construction industry as a Marketing and Business Development Coordinator and she believes that, “sometimes our first impression is the only one we will ever make – so make it count.”
Nora from Walking with Nora:
Nora works as an Events and Marketing Manager for a small business. Her top is from Ann Taylor Loft, her pants are from Gap, her shoes are from Macy’s, her earrings are from Etsy and her ring is from Disney, by Macy’s.
Finally, here are three of the outfits I wore to work last week!
I hope you enjoyed the first post of this new series! I’m looking forward to seeing what you come up with for workplace dresses!
So, tell me, what’s the dress code in your office? Is it business-casual, super dressy or super laidback? What’s your typical work outfit?
You can usually find me in some variation of the above outfits all week: Nice pants, nice blouse? Done!