Casual Workwear // What I Wear to Work: Spring/Summer 2018

     I've been having a lot of fun over on my Instagram sharing my work OOTDs most weekday mornings! I love seeing what other bloggers who work full-time wear to work each day, so I figured I'd do the same and share my daily outfits. I started doing this sometimes while I lived and worked in Vermont, but I've been better about documenting this almost daily since moving to Virginia.


     It's really fun for me to put together dressier or more creative looks for some of my outfit posts and photo shoots on the blog, but the reality is that I do have a day job and I definitely don't dress up every day of the week! I do however like to look cute, classy, and colorful each day for work. Radio is an extremely casual industry- truth be told neither my current job nor former job actually had dress codes for radio personalities! Seriously... isn't that crazy? The freeing thing about that is that I can make my own dress code for work! If there ever is a morning where I have a lot going on before work and don't really have time to get ready, I can show up in athleisure clothes and be totally fine. Or on the other end of the spectrum, if I feel like looking really dressed up and wearing a Lilly dress and wedges to work, that's fine too! That's the beauty of making my own dress code. Sometimes I do wish I worked at a job with a business casual dress code and I could wear heels and traditional workwear everyday (I had a business casual internship while in broadcasting school which I loved), but at the same time, I know that a lot of people are jealous of my current dress code situation, so I try and enjoy it!


     So you'll notice that many of my outfits are very casual! Lots of jeans and casual tops and dresses comprise my workwear- and often the things I wear to work are some of the same things I wear on the weekends. With having no dress code at the radio station though, I have had to set a few personal dress code rules for myself. We are allowed to wear shorts at work- but I try to wear them only on Fridays in the summer, or if the weather is like 90+ outside. For skirts and dresses, I use the fingertips test to determine if they're too short for my personal preference to wear to work. Anything below where my fingertips end, I usually don't wear, just as a professional personal preference! And I also try not to wear spaghetti straps or any top that shows a lot of cleavage at work. When I do wear a spaghetti strap top or dress, I always wear a cardigan or jacket over it, and I just don't think anything that shows a lot of cleavage belongs in any type of workplace- casual or not!


     Alright- let's get to it! Here are most of my work outfits from May. A lot of the things I'm wearing are older pieces from my closet, but I've tried to link similar items for everything:

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I love wearing casual dresses to work in the warm months! Originally from this August 2015 blog post.

SIMILAR PIECES: Dress // Jean Jacket // Necklace // Shoes //

I bought this dress at a Charlotte boutique for The Blog Societies Conference that I went to in 2016. I still love wearing it because it's so colorful! Originally from this August 2016 blog post.

SIMILAR PIECES: Dress // Cardigan

Everything I'm wearing here has been on the blog before- I'm obsessed with this kimono! I actually bought it while studying abroad in France. An outfit similar to this from this May 2017 blog post. 

SIMILAR PIECES: Kimono // Top // Jeans // Earrings // Necklace {exact linked} // Sandals // 

Lilly for Target was three years ago now, but I'm still obsessed with both dresses I bought from that collection! This is about as dressed up as I'd get for work in the summer. Originally from this April 2015 blog post.

SIMILAR PIECES: Dress // Sandals // 

I liked wearing this dress at the end of winter in Vermont with tights and a coat (back when I was craving spring!), and it's been great to wear here in Virginia for nice weather too! Originally from this February 2018 blog post. 

Dress // Shoes // Necklace {similar} //

I've worn this striped dress multiple times a week in spring and summer since I bought it two years ago- it's such a closet staple! Originally from this July 2016 blog post.

SIMILAR PIECES: Dress // Jean Jacket // Sandals // Scarf // 

A very casual jeans look! I ended up doing denim on denim and wearing my favorite jean jacket with this because I'm always cold at work with the AC. 

SIMILAR PIECES: Tank // Jeans // Sandals // Necklace //

A cute shorts outfit for a very hot day in Charlottesville! I tried to dress up these shorts and make them a little more dressy by pairing them with wedges and one of my favorite white blouses. My top originally from this June 2016 blog post. 

Top {similar} // Shorts // Shoes //

Pink and navy is a color combo that I really do love but don't wear as much as I should. This little scalloped leather blazer from Zara is a favorite item in my closet, especially for work! It's originally from this May 2017 blog post. 

SIMILAR PIECES: Jacket // Tank // Jeans // Sandals //

Here's a Casual Friday outfit from a couple weeks ago! I love mixing old and new pieces from my closet for work. This denim skirt is new, and I've had this button down top for I think four years? This skirt originally from this May 2018 blog post. 

Skirt // Top {similar} // Sandals // 

     Please let me know if you enjoyed this type of look into my work wardrobe! I'm happy to do another post like this for the fall and winter months. And in the meantime, you can keep up each day on my Instagram Stories! 

     Have a great rest of the week! I have posted only three times each week on the blog this week and last... things have been so busy for me over the last few weeks. I haven't had much time to breath between work, social commitments, and some not so fun stuff like car maintenance and doctors appointments! I'm so excited though to be working on a very fun blog collaboration in Richmond this weekend... and to be getting back to posting four times a week soon! 

     God Bless,

      xoxo Annaliese 

Shop Your Closet for Wedding Season: Part 3 - Weddings.

      If you have a wedding (or lots of weddings!) coming up this season, you don't have to break the bank to find a new outfit for each one. Chances are you probably have wedding-ready dresses hanging in your closet already- I definitely do! I've already shared on the blog how to shop your own closet for bachelorette festivities, bridal showers and rehearsal dinners, which are important pre-wedding events. Today's post will share style inspiration straight from my closet if you're a guest for the main event!


     You'll probably see from these outfits that I'm a fan of dressing up for all weddings, even for the more casual dress codes. Weddings are grand occasions that deserve to your finest fashions!! If you do receive an invite to a wedding with a more casual dress code, I still recommend doing your makeup a bit differently than normal, trying a fun hairstyle, and wearing some fun heels and accessories. 😊


     One last wedding fashion tip! Check with the bride or someone in the bridal party to see what color(s) the bridesmaids dresses are- in addition to not wearing white (#duh), I'd recommend not wearing a dress that looks super similar to what the bridal party is wearing either.

This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting Southern Belle in Training! 

Photography by Deeana Kourtney Photography and Melissa Lynn Images

     As much as I love Lilly Pulitzer, I find a lot of their classic shift dresses to be a bit casual for weddings, and more suited for other wedding festivities such as bridal showers. However, some of Lilly's dress styles are made of different fabrics and are more formal in nature, making them perfect for weddings! I modeled this gold beauty during a collaboration last winter with Pink Colony in Stowe, Vermont. The dress is now out of stock, but this Lilly dress is very formal and would be perfect to wear to a wedding!

     All weddings have different dress codes, depending on the venue, general ambiance, and time of year and day. Sometimes morning or early afternoon weddings can have a dressy-casual or semi-formal dress code. I think a lace midi dress like this would be a perfect for a daytime wedding, especially one outdoors in the spring! My exact dress is still in stock here, and it's also available at another retailer in more pretty colors! 

     Midi dresses are just good choices in general for weddings- they're a little bit classier than short dresses. My mom has always told me that green is one of the best colors on me, so I've kept this green pleated midi dress in my closet for a couple years now for formal events as needed! It's no longer in stock, but this dress is similar.

     I might actually wear this exact dress for the wedding I have to go to this summer! Dresses of light, flowing material are ideal for summer weddings, and they won't hinder you from hitting the dance floor. I love the colors in this dress as well. 

     Ah- the Black Tie Wedding. I hope to have one of these myself someday!! If you're lucky enough to get an invite to such a glamorous affair, go all out! This is why it's good to always keep a floor length gown (or two!) in your closet. It's very fun to do a dramatic updo or half-updo with your hair for a black tie style as well. (Similar dress linked here)

     Do you have a lot of weddings to attend this year? I have just one on the calendar for this summer, but I feel like a lot of my close friends are *just about* to be engaged.... like wedding-mania will be COMING for me in 2020 and 2021, haha! 

      God Bless,

      xoxo Annaliese

Shop Your Closet For Wedding Season: Part 2 - Showers + Rehearsals.

     It's time to talk wedding attire again! More specifically, how to restyle pieces from your own closet for weddings. Today's post will focus on two more important pre-wedding events: bridal showers and rehearsal dinners. 

     Unless each of these events has a specific theme or dress code specified on the invitation, it's a general rule of thumb to wear something nice and seasonally appropriate for the event, but not as nice of an outfit as you'll be wearing for the wedding. I'm personally a fan of really dressing up for weddings themselves, so events like showers and rehearsals are a great time to break out some of your more casual (but still classy) dresses and skirts, or even jumpsuits if you have them! 

Photography by Deeana Kourtney Photography and Melissa Lynn Images 

This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting Southern Belle in Training! 

     I think that a midi skirt and coordinating top with heels could be such a fun option for a bridal shower! I love printed midi skirts, but sometimes it's hard to find occasions to wear outfits like this to. I would probably wear a different colored blouse than white if I wore this to a bridal shower (just since it's best to avoid wearing white if you're not the bride 😉), but I could definitely see myself re-styling this outfit for a wedding shower. 

     Here's another skirt and top combo that I loved wearing on the blog that could easily be worn to a bridal shower!! The off the shoulder top paired with such a bold ruffled skirt makes for a really fun outfit. An all-pink outfit just screams "girly things" - and a bridal shower is super girly!

     A cute sundress in a summery color like bright yellow could be a darling choice for a summer bridal shower! I styled this look with a turquoise clutch and earrings to add even more pops of color. This dress or one like it would definitely be too casual for a wedding, but could be a great option for a shower. 

     You can NEVER go wrong with Lilly Pulitzer for wedding related festivities! Especially those in the springtime. I do find a lot of Lilly dresses to be on the casual side for weddings themselves, but many are perfect for bridal showers and rehearsals. This specific dress is actually still in stock! 

     For holiday or winter wedding events, Lilly or bright colored dresses might not be the best choice. But you can still have fun with your outfits! This look was from a holiday blog post that I did a couple years ago, but I think it would be a great outfit to wear to a winter bridal shower or rehearsal dinner as well. The polka dots and bell sleeves give this dress such a fun twist. A similar dress is available here! 

     This was actually what I wore to a rehearsal dinner that I attended last spring! The dress is from one of my favorite fashion lines, CeCe. I added a coordinating cardigan to make it a bit more modest for the church portion of the wedding rehearsal, and then wore it as pictured for the dinner part of the evening. My dress is now sold out, but this one and this one from CeCe would be cute for this season!

     Be sure to check out the first post in this series if you haven't yet, it's all about shopping your closet for bachelorette party outfits. The final post, all about weddings, will be up soon!



     Hope that you're having a great end to your week! My mom is coming to visit me in Virginia this weekend- this will be her very first visit to Charlottesville! Neither of my parents had ever been to this part of the state before, and I came here solo on my job interview trip this winter. My mom is really excited to see where I moved to, and I think she will like it here a lot.



      God Bless,



      xoxo Annaliese 

What I Wore for Visiting the DC Cherry Blossoms.

     Happy Saturday! I'm popping in with a surprise weekend post today. I wanted to share more about the outfit that I wore for Easter Sunday in DC this year! It ended up being chillier than I hoped that weekend, but I still wanted to wear something that reflected springtime, and was perfect for a day of cherry blossom sightings and city exploring. FYI: this outfit was made up completely of older pieces that I already had in my closet so for most items I'm linking similar things, but I was able to find similar pieces for just about everything! 

This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting Southern Belle in Training! 

Sweater c/o {older style, very similar linked} // Skirt {from Zara, similar linked} // Scarf {older print, very similar linked} // Coat {not online, similar linked} // Necklace // Purse // Boots {similar} // Bracelet // Lipstick c/o //

      I purchased this white wool skirt on a shopping trip in Canada last fall, but I actually never wore it once this winter! Easter weekend in DC had high temperatures in the upper 50s, so I knew that might be my last chance for this season to finally wear this cute skirt (this one is really similar from another favorite retailer of mine!). I brightened it up for Easter with one of my favorite colorful sweaters, and finished the look with a Lilly Murfee scarf (which I later realized the one I wore looks very similar to the DC scarf!). Normally as y'all know I'm all about getting dolled up for Easter with a new dress, but as I had untraditional Easter plans this year and the weather was cooler, this was a much better outfit choice! 

     In case you missed my DC travel posts, here is my guide to visiting the cherry blossoms, and here is my post about FREE things to do for a 24 hour or weekend trip to Washington! 

     Enjoy your weekend!! I hope it's a great one!

     God Bless,

     xoxo Annaliese 

Shop Your Closet For Wedding Season: Part 1 - Bachelorette Parties.

     Welcome to my first blog post mini-series of 2018! Wedding season is officially underway, which was the inspiration for this. When I was a little girl, I seriously couldn't wait to be in my 20s and have friends that were getting married each year- yay weddings!! Now that I actually am an adult, weddings are still a ton of fun and I do love them, but it has hit me how expensive they are. And I'm not even talking about planning one- I just mean attending them! Of course there are expenses involved if you're in a wedding party, but just being a guest can be expensive! There is the wedding gift(s), travel expenses, and not to mention finding an outfit to match the dress code. It could also be multiple outfits if you're attending the bridal shower, Bachelorette Party and other pre-wedding festivities! 

     Anyways, this week I received a wedding invitation in the mail for this summer, and my mind already went to thinking about if I had anything in my closet that would fit the dress code for the wedding. That got me thinking- most of us girls probably all have things in our closets already that are perfect for wedding season!! It is so easy to forget about the things we already own. I wanted to create this series to show how many things I discovered that I could re-wear for this year's wedding season that I already had, and hopefully it will inspire you to shop your own closet as well! If you don't own anything that looks like the outfits in this post series, it might also inspire you to try a new trend or style if you are buying something new for a wedding this spring or summer.

Photography by Deeana Kourtney Photography and Melissa Lynn Images

This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting Southern Belle in Training!

     This mini-series will have three posts. Today's will focus on one of the most fun pre-wedding events: Bachelorette Parties! 

     Traditionally speaking, brides-to-be wear something white or in a bright, fun color at their bachelorette, and their best girls wear something chic and black, so that the bride really stands out! This is a great time to break out your favorite sexy little black dress. If you wear a cute LBD, a pair of black heels, and a dark clutch- boom! Complete Bachelorette Party-ready outfit. I always have a couple black "going-out" dresses in my closet, the one above is one of my favorites! It is made of the softest and stretchiest material, and it really sucks in your stomach to create a flattering silhouette. This dress is still in stock and it's under $15- is that not the perfect price point?!

     A different take on wearing black for a Bachelorette Party would be to wear separates instead of a dress. If the party festivities are in a very warm weather location, an outfit like this could be ideal! I mixed black dress shorts with a strapless black peplum top for a cute look. I think black dress shorts are so versatile and I wear them frequently in the warmer months!! These exact shorts are still in stock here!

     I'm loving the matching sets trend that has gotten popular in the last year or two, and this chic culottes and crop top set would be so fun to wear for a Bachelorette Party! It's made of stretchy, flexible material, so it would be perfect for dancing the night away. My exact set is older, but this one is very similar and from the same retailer!

     In all the outfits I've worn on my blog over the years, the one above is one of the most out of my comfort zone- haha!! But sometimes (for the right events) it's good to wear something a little bold and daring that makes you feel sexy and confident in your own skin, and this romper made me feel exactly that. If you're headed to my favorite city, LAS VEGAS, or somewhere with similar vibes (Miami, New Orleans, etc) for a full on Bachelorette weekend experience, a black romper like this one could be perfect for nights out on the town! This romper is a couple years old, but I found a very similar one that's under $30!

     And last but certainly not least, an option for if you aren't limited to wearing black at the Bachelorette Party! If you're away on a weekend trip with the bride that involves many nights out and activities for example, you probably won't have to wear black for all of the events. And some brides who just have a one-night Bachelorette Party don't care what their bridesmaids wear!! That was the case for the Bachelorette Party I attended last spring actually- ironically I wore this exact outfit pictured above! You can never go wrong with a flattering pair of skinny jeans, a cute OTS top, comfortable wedges for dancings, and some fun statement earrings and a bold lipstick to finish it off. You can shop my off the shoulder top here!




    Stay tuned for parts two + three of Shop Your Closet for Wedding Season coming soon!

     Did y'all have a nice Easter weekend? Easter is my very favorite holiday and I can't wait to share more about my weekend and little trip to Washington DC soon!



     God Bless,



      xoxo Annaliese

One Maxi Dress Two Ways: Summer Wedding Look.

      I'm so excited to be sharing a second look today with this beautiful watercolor maxi dress! I shared a more casual look with it in last Monday's blog post.

Photography by Melissa Lynn Studios

This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting Southern Belle in Training.

Dress c/o // Shoes // Purse c/o // Earrings c/o // Bracelets c/o // Lipstick 

      Good morning friends! I'm keeping today's post short and sweet, as I'm busy all day working at a 4th of July event here in Burlington for work. Burlington Vermont as I recently learned celebrates July 4th on July 3rd... interesting huh? I'm still not really sure why, but either way I'm excited for it, since the 4th of July is a holiday that I look forward to every year! 

     I loved this gorgeous dress from Chicwish so much that I decided it had to be styled not once, but twice on the blog! I dressed it down for a casual look in last Monday's post, but I wanted to show y'all how versatile of an item this is, and how easy it was for me to dress it up for today's post. By adding the waist tie (which comes with it), throwing my hair up, and adding a fun clutch and pumps, this look is instantly perfect for a summer wedding, or the rehearsal dinner if it's a formal wedding!

     Wishing you all a happy 3rd/4th of July! I kind of blew it in terms of editorial calendar content for the blog based around the holiday this year... but that will change for next year! 😉 No blog post here tomorrow because my former roommate Ciera is flying into Burlington tomorrow, and we will actually be headed out of town for the night on Wednesday for an exciting overnight road trip! I can't wait to share with y'all where we're going and what we're doing.

     God Bless,

     xoxo Annaliese (or Charlotte XO on the radio!)

One Maxi Dress Two Ways: Breezy Daytime Look.

Photography by Melissa Lynn Studios 

This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting Southern Belle in Training.

Dress c/o // Shoes // Clutch {old, similar here} // Earrings {Not online, similar here} // Lipstick // 

     How beautiful is this amazing watercolor maxi dress? I knew as soon as I saw it online that I had to have it. The way that the purples and blues blend together in the fabric is even prettier in person than on the website! 😊 These photos were taken when I was out for a mid-morning stroll in Burlington's Waterfront Park. This is a public park that runs all along the part of Lake Champlain that borders the downtown, and it's a lovely place to hangout at in the spring and summer! 

     Last fall, I wrote two fashion posts where I styled an off-the-shoulder top two different ways: one for a casual daytime look, and one outfit perfect for a girls' night out on the town. Since I love this beautiful dress so much, I wanted to try doing that again! A dressier look #2 with this maxi dress will be on the blog next Monday, but today's look is the more casual one. I wore it without the waist tie that it comes with, and paired it with these flat sandals, a bold clutch, and some fun statement earrings, and let my hair go free! This look would be great for lots of summer activities- dinner outside, errands, a casual party, or of course a stroll by the lake like I'm doing! I can't wait to show y'all how I made this dress look completely different and quite fancy in next Monday's post. 

     Getting real for a second... last week was a bit of a rough one for me. I truly LOVE my day job and the radio industry- for the most part since I started my job in April every week has felt like "fun" and not work. Last week was the first week that I had a rough week at work, and it actually started to feel like work. Fortunately it wasn't anything to do with the radio aspects of my job (which is 90% of what I do!) - I still love that. 😉 Just some of the other parts of having a job... the things that quite honestly everyone deals with no matter what industry! It was a rough week, but I am thankful it's now DONE and a new week is here. And a special treat came my way this weekend- I was able to get a surprise last minute visit here in Burlington from one of my sorority sisters! My ADPi sister Hannah moved to Boston almost a year ago to attend grad school, and this weekend happened to be free in her schedule for her to head up north to visit me. This was such a lovely thing to look forward to after a harder week! Today is my day off, so you can see what adventures we're up to on my IG stories (and Snapchat too!) @miss_alk. 

     Hoping your week is off to a good start!

   

     God Bless,

      xoxo Annaliese (or Charlotte XO on the radio!)

HOW TO: Restyle Something From Your Closet.

          If you've been reading here awhile then you know that I love to restyle older fashion pieces. When you're a gal on a budget, it's not always within your means or practical to always go out and buy completely new outfits, so that's where creativity and your sense of style comes into play! It's no fun to keep wearing the same thing over and over and styled in the same way, but if you take something that you've worn before and make a totally new outfit with it, it can be both fun and rewarding, and also good on your bank account! I'm walking you through that process in today's post, and also styling this cute new skirt!

This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting Southern Belle in Training!

Top {Old and restyled! Similar here} // Skirt c/o // Shoes {Old, similar here} // Purse {Old, very similar here} // Necklace {Not online, identical here} // Ring // Lipstick // 

      The key to restyling beloved fashion pieces can be broken down into just a few simple tips: 

     1. Always mix a restyled item with something new. In the case of this outfit, I rediscovered this paisley bell sleeve crop top that I've had for a few years during my recent move! When I received this adorable lace-up skirt in the mail recently from Chicwish, I was already envisioning pairing the two together. 

     

      2. Make the end goal a totally new outfit. You need to make sure that the restyled outfit looks totally different then how you used to wear the item! This top was one of my go-to's for going out looks during my junior and senior years of college, especially in the winter months. Since it's such a statement top I used to throw it on with a pair of skinny jeans and wedges and call it good! By wearing it with a mini skirt and sandals, I gave it a totally different feel, and if college friends saw this outfit I bet they wouldn't be able to tell that it was my same beloved nightlife top of a couple years ago! The key is to make something old "new" again... not to repeat old outfits!

     3. ACCESSORIZE! Accessories, makeup and hairstyles are your best friend when restyling! Don't be afraid to change things up from your normal look. Again- the more different that these things look, the newer or more different it will make your restyled piece of clothing look! 

     Another note about the new piece that I'm wearing in this outfit- which is the darling lace-up skirt! This is my first item that I've received from Chicwish. I have heard of the website from other bloggers shopping there, so I was so excited to try some things for myself! This is such a fun and flirty little number and I think it would be great for Girls' Nights Out. (I am wearing a size S- I do think it fits more like an XS though.)

     

     Hope y'all are having a great week! Midweek Ramblings will of course be up tomorrow. I am so excited that the weather is finally supposed to be sunny and start to warm up in Vermont for later this week/weekend! It has been in the 50s for much of the past week- isn't that insane?

     God Bless,



     xoxo Annaliese (or Charlotte XO on the radio!)