Chiconomical

Can you believe we're already halfway through 2017! I can't! It seem that time's been flying away somehow and we seem to still be doing the same thing. However, how can blame us, when the same old looks so perfect! Today's outfit is actually a teaser to what's coming up for you guys. If you don't know already, let me give you some info. The Chiconomical Newsletter is your one stop guide to all those ways you can squeeze extra looks out of your wardrobe. Think you've got nothing to wear, think again!

A white shirt is forever a girl's go to for business ocassions but I know countless conversations where a shocked voice asks me with mild horror when I suggest they wear it to a party or the weekend brunch. "But, but.... isn't it too formal for the weekends?" they ask. Honestly, if you've got a knack for it, you can turn a plain old boring white shirt into a beautiful weekend piece. And yes, that's what I'm teaching you in the Newsletter this week. But enough of that, I'm sharing FIVE ways to wear a white shirt without being boring!

1. The Devil is in the Details



Honestly, it isn't just my #TheDevilWearsPrada influence talking, I honestly think that any outfit can be made unique by the details. The best way to wear a white shirt and not look boring is to look for those little details. I am a huge fan of getting a simple white shirt with key details that mean you can still wear a classic, and make a statement, simply by buttoning up a shirt. Yes, always remember, the devil is in the details and the details make the outfit!
2. Sleek and Sassy
Okay so you cannot actually afford to go buying white shirts with pretty details. Well don't you worry, we've got your covered. A white shirt can actually be elevated by what you pair it with. Yes, you've heard it a million times before but no really. Try pairing your white shirt with a fun bowtie like me or a statement necklace in bright colors that are a surefire way to chase away the Monday blues! Anything from a necklace to suspender can work to take your white shirt look from normal to unique. Remember, the accessory you choose is a definition of your personality!

3. Go Bold


When in doubt, go bold! I love wearing a long white button down and adding a few bold trinkets to make the look pop. There's nothing simpler than this when it comes to the classic white shirt. The possibilities are endless. You can add a few earrings like I did, or add a few random buttons to it's pocket. You could even use a bit of spare fabric in a bright color to add highlights, it's really all about your imagination. Go bold with colors and prints thrown in. Oh, and how is this a quick morning outfit you ask? Well my friend, you just superglue on the print/style for the day and you've got a new look! Yes, it's all about the quick fixes!

4. Twist To New


There are countless ways you can upstyle a white shirt, one of the easiest is to knot it up. Yet another way is to layer it under a dress. This is something we don't do nearly enough off and with windy rainy days just round the corner this is a great cheat to upstyle your white shirt. I know you're probably wondering if you'll boil in the layers but the trick is to find fabrics that work together. Think cotton shirt under a simple sundress. It's also a great way to use your weekend wardrobe and turn it into a work appropriate look.

5. Classic Chic

Finally, if all else fails, simply pair your shirt with classic pieces. You can't even really go wrong with a white shirt and pairing it with a statement piece such as a full skirt or a classic tux, you've got an outfit that makes a statement and still looks perfect for work. Pick a shirt that sparks joy in your heart and really, you'll be set to rule the world!

I hope these tips have helped you figure out your work outfit! I certainly loved sharing them! In fact, if you still feel you need more inspiration or just want to have a chat (any questions from the right way to tuck in a shirt to where to get one for less than 200 bucks, it's your direct line to talk to me), sign up for the Chiconomical Insider where you get access to TEN more ways to wear a white shirt absolutely FREE!!

Have you ever bought striped trousers that looks fabulous and were on sale and then suddenly when you had them felt lost and kept searching for ways on how to style them? Then this post is for you. Here, I'm sharing my experience with a pair of absolutely gorgeous white striped trousers with stripes! Yep, simple, effective ways to wear stripes on stripes without looking like a jailbird.

Can I actually go a week without wearing stripes? I highly doubt that. If there was one print, and one print only that I could wear for the rest of my life, my choice would always be stripes. Feeding my stripes loving frenzy, I bought a pair of striped trousers last year during the Koovs #CantGetEnoughSale for somwhere around Rs. 500 (yay, bargain!!) and then once I got them, somehow I ended up having a road block on styling them. And that's the reason why we're here today where I'm sharing not one, but three ways on styling striped trousers... with stripes! Yep, these looks work just as well with other prints too but since stripes are life, I've got three really simple ways for you.

1. Beach BossBabe


There is just something about summers that calls for going to the beach and letting your hair down. The nicest thing about the beach in summer is well, the water. The worst is that for someone like me, you've probably got a hundred meetings after. That's why my beach looks are usually transitional. I decided to style my white striped trousers with a powder pink top that has so many cool details on it that the look instantly feels breezy. I added a pair of loafers, Koovs again (seriously, the company should offer me stock options by now) and a hat and I was ready to go from a breakfast on the beach to a working lunch with ease. This look is for everyone who loves to steal a few moments of peace with nature in the midst of their busy lives. Oh, and lets all take a moment to admire the top which has eyelet lace, stripes, a boxy cut (to hide all our leftover fat from winter for ab-less people like me) and is made of cotton! (Best.Summer.Croptop.Ever)

2. Working Professional

Now I knew the three ways had to feature a work look that was stripes on stripes but still had a very corporate feel to it. This is the perfect look where you can play around with stripes of different thickness. Seriously, if you've got a bunch of different sizes of stripes lying around, get creative and try wearing them together. Here, I paired my striped button down shirt with the white striped trousers. I decided to turn the button down shirt into a surplice top (Psst, I'll be sharing how I did this on TheChiconomicalInsider so go sign up right now to get the deets). I've seen a lot of these surplice tops everywhere and while they retail for around 500-600 in stores at a minimum, its so much easier to turn something you already own into a trend. Oh, and it's actually an off shoulder surplice top created from a button down shirt. Definite win in the trend box checklist!

3. Prudent Party Jumper

This final look is something I was hesitant about. It was a last minute inspiration and I can't believe how much I love it. So I knew I wanted to do a look that had the same size of stripes to create a look that was a little bit like a jumpsuit or a co-ord piece. However, since I can't quite afford to go out and buy new clothes for every shoot (nope, nobody actually finances my clothes although I sometimes wish Koovs did) I had to dig deep and suddenly there was my striped dress from last year. Yes. This top that you see is actually a knee length dress. I decided to unbutton the front and wear it as a top tied around my waist to make the look like a faux tie front jumpsuit. Tie front tops and skirts have been around for a bit of time now and this trend works great for turning simple dresses into interesting new outfits. The final look is more of a jumpsuit and it works great for parties (heck you can actually go to two parties with two completely different looks without ever taking off your dress) and also weekend brunches (which are the best thing about weekend, right?).

That's all folks. Those are three simple looks that have stripes paired with stripes. I know this print mixing is something that is difficult for a lot of people but it's actually not that hard. It's super simple when you know the rules for print mixing and stripes on stripes is a look that every stripes lover much try atleast once.

Will you be trying any of the looks shared? Show us how you've styled yours using #Chiconomical and we'll share the best ones with our readers!

PS: The Chiconomical Insider launches this week. It's a free newsletter packed full of styling tips just like the ones here. Actually, it's got all those steps that don't always make it to the blog! Don't forget to sign up today to get Free Insider Access!

It happens to the best of us. We start the weekend with goals, we really do. The goals include setting out the week's wardrobe well in advance so that we don't spend mornings looking for something acceptable to wear. Cut to Monday morning and you're somehow frantically combing through your mile high pile of clothes and wondering if your dress from last night can turn into something acceptable to wear. You see the dinner with the family, the big game on television and the endless hours of staring at the fan whirl were all so time consuming, of course there was none left to sort out your work clothes on the weekend. Right? Believe me, it happens to the best of us. That's exactly why it's handy to have a fall back outfit, especially for Mondays!


There is a very simple rule when it comes to perfecting your workwear on Manic Days. Simple is better, and less is more! The easiest way to dress for work after a long break/weekend is to wear monochromes. I find black to be a bit much on Mondays so I try to wear white or maybe a navy blue like here and keep the whole outfit minimal. You can actually just throw on a vest and a pair of trousers with a blazer on and still look put together. I can't count the number of times I've worn exactly that to work after a rather frantic morning. Add a pair of heels that you love and keep the look mess free. It's really that simple.

I hope this look's given you a bit of Monday Inspiration. If you've got a monday morning outfit formula then I'd love to hear about it. Why not share in the comments and inspire others!

PS: Just in case you haven't done it already, don't forget to go sign up for The Chiconomical Insider. It's your access to all those little style tips and the best part, it's FREE!!