FIENDMONDAY: Careerwear

PENCIL ME IN

The pencil skirt is a timeless staple that should be in every well-dressed woman's wardrobe. It's the most sleek and professional skirt silhouette and works for most body types. Pair it with a crisp white shirt tucked in, or loose with a waist-cinching belt. Throw a blazer over it [Louis Vuitton square-shouldered blazers anyone?], or a cropped jacket, and you have a chic and functional uniform you can wear from the office to dinner.

In addition to the many playful and voluminous skirts and dresses offered in Lanvin's Spring 2009 collection are two functional basic pencil skirts [top left and right] that can be incorporated into any wardrobe.

Of course, if you don't have the disposable income necessary for a Lanvin pencil skirt, there's still the basics-reliable Gap to turn to for a basic pencil skirt in black [bottom left] for a mere $44, or if you still need the designer name, there's Isaac Mizrahi's plaid pencil skirt for Target [bottom right] for even less, $20.99.
















Photo Credits: Lanvin from style.com, Gap from gap.com, Isaac Mizrahi from Target.com

FIENDMONDAY: Careerwear

Fall's bold androgynous trend, which was perfect for the modern career woman, segues this spring into something a touch softer but still assertive: the square shouldered blazer.

It's easy for any working woman to fit into her wardrobe. Look for it on sales floors come spring. This is a trend just bold enough to make a statement that also has an obvious utility factor.

You can wear it with a pair of wide leg trousers à la Louis Vuitton [top left], or you can take a cue from Balmain [bottom left] and pair it with jeans. Add a pair of gladiator sandals (yes, they're still around) and a crisp white shirt and you have a casual weekend/shopping look.













Photo Credits: Louis Vuitton and Balmain, www.style.com