outfit post: Angeline on Gasoline~Inspiration ala The New Professional

The NEW Rosebud? Bella Q gets inspired by the New Professional's Angeline Evans

The Bella Q strikes a pose wearing her version of office appropriate attire.

You never know where inspiration can strike- Last week, it was on Twitter. When Sacramento's premier office blogger, The New Professional,  tweeted about her wearing jean trousers to the office, this Rosebud somehow felt inspired. I mean, I've never had to worry about "professional attire" in all my two decades-plus stint, schlepping it in cafes & food service. My dress codes focused more on donning a clean apron and skid-resistant shoes then the right blazer and skirt combo. 

I like to read The New Professional, but not so much for learning office ettiquette. It's most likely because Angeline herself is so damn likable, and I appreciate her focus. She works with the clothes she already has in her closet; Angeline Evans is so NOT into showing off her latest mall purchase. In fact she went all of last year WITHOUT BUYING ANYTHING. Can you imagine that? She either re-made an old wardrobe item, or got it from a clothes swap, and still managed to pull together office appropriate outfits. And, I might add, get a big mention at Forbes for doing so!

Angeline tweeted that she seldom wore jeans, especially not at the office, and I thought: I seldom wear jeans too. And ergo, the inspiration to put together an outfit, inspired by Angeline, The New Professional. The challenge is akin to a mash-up of Grey Gardens meets Wall Street, mixing chintz with pin-stripes: all a very unlikely team-up. A most likely foppish flop. Of course I was game. 

To dress "like" Angeline, I intended to:

• wear jeans, 
• sport a blouse, preferably with a bow, 
• put on a belt (she is always sporting a cute little belt around her cute little waistline) 
• and NO CRAZY FLORAL PATTERNS. 

I wanted to use the clothes out of my closet (just like Angeline does,) but wear them in a way I wouldn't normally wear them. The result: NOTHING like the New Professional, but a NEW spin on the Rosebud. Me likey. 

Since subdued and understated isn't really in my wardrobe vernacular, even my "profesh" outfit is off-kilter and kooky.  My idea of conservative was using classic prints (leopard, polka dots, stripes) that someone like Angeline would wear to the office; only I wore them all at once, like an amped-up secretary on amphatemines.

What worked: I liked the quirky effect of layering a silk button-up polka dot blouse UNDER a short sleeved secretarial cotton blouse with bow. A little uptown grunge, if you will. I LOVED the unusual mix of animal print with the stripes and polka dots and hope to mingle them again. I also realized that TUCKING IN YOUR BLOUSE and adding a belt really looks more grown up than my usual un-tucked business. And the bonus: showing off your killer kitty-kitty belt. 

What didn't: The sleeves on the silk shirt were too short and distracted from the polished look I was hoping to achieve. The red hat, once charming is getting a bit too nappy to keep wearing and the effect was anything but professional.

"My idea of conservative was using classic prints, only I wore them all at once, like an amped-up secretary on amphetamines."

Want to read more office-attire inspirations?  

Check out the New Professional- http://the-new-professional.blogspot.com

Putting Out Fire with Gasoline: There is no such thing as Casual Friday for the Citizen.

File it under E for Experience. This Rosebud is keeping her heat in the kitchen.

 

Now Wearing:

• Thrifted- red knit golf hat
• Thrifted- Vintage cheetah print coat
• Thrifted- Silk polka dot shirt
• Thrifted- F-21 cotton blouse w/bow
• Thrifted- animal print belt
• Joe's Jeans, closet staple
• Dr. Scholl's Platform Mary Janes