The older I get the more emphasis I place on shopping for clothing pieces that will compliment my work wardrobe. I often made the mistake when I was younger of purchasing less versatile items, and ultimately would regret it Monday morning when I would struggle to find something appropriate to wear. But since I've also never been into the concept of a work-appropriate wardrobe, let alone any outfit that must be deemed appropriate by others, it was a struggle to figure out how to do so effectively.  

When I think of the typical 9 to 5, I think of power suits and this Charles Bukowski quote:
'How in the hell could a man enjoy being awakened at 8:30 a.m. by an alarm clock, leap out of bed, dress, force-feed, shit, piss, brush teeth and hair, and fight traffic to get to a place where essentially you made lots of money for somebody else and were asked to be grateful for the opportunity to do so?' But the truth of the matter is, I work in a creative office, where individual style is not only expected, it's praised. And therefore, my 'uniform' is rather lenient, allowing me to play with the brands that I truly love. 

I've always believed that style not only encourages the expression of self but also allows you to look and feel how you want when you want. And when it comes to a day in the office, I want to look and feel bossy, confident, and in charge.

As I mentioned, in the past I searched for workwear items in all the wrong places. And while I always managed to find an item that would give me the confidence I needed to take on a day in the office, theses piece rarely lent well to my day-to-day style. So now, I instead look for work appropriate items from the brands I already love and shop for. 

I recently grabbed this outfit, or the majority of it, from NEON Stores, a Canadian retailer that recently opened on Queen St. West. 

After an initial tour of the Toronto NEON Stores location, I locked eyes with this A-line denim Levi's skirt and knew I had to have it. The slit is undeniably sexy, but I think we can all agree that while I've styled it for the street, it would also work fabulously with a black blouse and pair of simple heels for work. Also from Levi's, I found this boxy white button-up. I feel like I've owned this shirt time and time again, but something about the red Levi's logo maintains an edgy enough vibe to keep me feeling street at work. 

Also from NEON Stores, I grabbed a pair of Old School Vans Classics and a Vans Bralette to complete the look. Although neither one of these items can truly be deemed 'work-appropriate', they act as the perfect accessories for spring/summer. 

Shown Wearing / Denim Jacket, Brandy Melville USA;  Shortsleeve Sidney Shirt, Levi's; Lady Bralette, Vans; Denim Skirt, Levi's; Old Skool Vans Classics, Vans; Ring, Vintage. 

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How do you maintain your sense of style at work?
Let me know your tips & tricks in the comment section below! 

[*]SOME OF THE ITEMS FEATURED IN THIS POST HAVE BEEN SENT TO BRATTY B FOR PURPOSE OF REVIEW. ALL VIEWS EXPRESSED REFLECT MY OWN OPINION ON THE PRODUCT/SERVICE. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE SEE THE DISCLAIMER FOUND IN THE ABOUT ME SECTION.