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Four Work Outfits for Modern Career Women

by Lindsey Schickner (Subscribe to Lindsey Schickner's posts)
Posted Nov 11th 2010 at 6:10PM  
33 Comments
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Rachel McAdams is business casual in a scene from her new flick "Morning Glory." Photo: Macall Polay, Paramount Pictures / AP

Women far and wide will be flocking to the theaters this weekend to catch "Morning Glory," the Harrison Ford, Diane Keaton, Rachel McAdams comedy in which the latter stars as a newbie television producer dealing with two seasoned on-air vets.

In honor of the film, we've culled together four outfits for fashionably-inclined working women. Whether you are cutting your teeth at a major broadcasting station (as McAdams' plucky Becky Fuller does) or are a seasoned vet of the fashion industry (a la Rachel Zoe), here are some professional looks that would be office-appropriate.

Which career gal look do you lean toward? Find the outfit that matches your job description below.

TV PRODUCER:
If you tend to channel McAdams' "Morning Glory" character on a daily basis, you may need a look that says "I mean business" even if you are young and fun. To pull off a professional facade, pair a pencil skirt with a classic button-up shirt. If you're brave, take liberties with accessories to show your youthful side. But if you prefer to play it straight, then a simple pair of studs and a thin gold chain watch will do. Pull it all together with a Kate Spade quilted tote to lug around all those scripts.

FASHIONISTA:
If you're an editor, a stylist, or even an intern at a top fashion mag, looking cool is the name of the game. Don't be afraid to dress up some denim by selecting a slim-fitting pair of black jeans as your foundation. Add a sweet turtleneck sweater (it's practically winter after all!) and top it with a fur (of the real or fake) variety. Oversized sunglasses and sassy black booties will provide the added edge to look like you just stepped off of a runway.

ARTIST:
For the creative darlings who spend the days wiling away the hours in their studio - writing, painting and generally reveling in the arts, here is a comfortable and cute version of lounge wear. A slouchy pair of pants complimented by a chunky knit sweater. The laissez-faire look is perfect to go from art class to the coffee shop and the addition of patterned clogs and a funky hat will solidify your status as an impressive bohemian princess.

BANKER:
For the high-powered financier, an expertly tailored suit will show that pesky old boy network that you're not only a threat in the boardroom but also the wardrobe. Peek a sleek black number that looks Savile Row-worthy and add some strategically placed accessories for some subtle style nuances. Those could come in the form of a cluster of brooches (a la Michelle Obama) or a fun animal print scarf for a dash of color.

Meanwhile, for more celebrity style shopping tips, check out Julianne Moore's look for less.
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Filed under: Fashion, Celebrity, Celebrity Style, How to Wear, Shopping
Tags: banker, blazers, fashionista, holiday 2010, Holiday2010, morning glory, movies, pencil skirts, PencilSkirts, pumps, purses, rachel mcadams, RachelMcadams, shopping, sweaters, work outfit
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READER COMMENTS

(33)Add A Comment

anne vitasek, 11-12-2010, 12:49AM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
anne vitasek

hello. have a great day everybody!

Reply »

Lisa, 11-12-2010, 4:53AM

3 stars vote downvote upReport
Lisa

Oh yeah....and I can afford those outfits....?

Reply »

mamyoung, 11-12-2010, 6:54AM

2.5 stars vote downvote upReport
mamyoung

what you mean a $348 fedora hat thingy is over the top?

»

anne, 11-12-2010, 7:02AM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
anne

All these outfits are for girls. What about real women with a real bust? None of these would look good on a DD.

Reply »

David A, 11-12-2010, 7:52AM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
David A

Exactly, She looks like a child, And do something with her doo

»

Abraxus, 11-12-2010, 8:13AM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
Abraxus

So glad someone mentioned the hairdo - it looks so eighties and to be honest not very professional at all - most women I work with (and some of them have gorgeous hair like Rachel) where their hair back or clipped in some way (one of them does this amazing twist thing that I could never do in a million years). I think the clothes they showed are OK for Rachel McAdams, but not really for most of the rest of us who are short, or busty, or skinnier, or super tall. Rachel is the average size that companies make clothes for - she isn't the average size of real people of course, only Hollywood and Glamour average!

Would like to say, enjoyed this movie at a preview a lot!

»

Abraxus, 11-12-2010, 8:19AM

3 stars vote downvote upReport
Abraxus

The TV producer outfit is close to $1000 - is it any wonder our young people get into so much debt when people are spouting this kind of garbage at them? There is one pair of pants that is under $30 (the grey pair) and they are just plain FUGLY! So, say you want to mix and match from other items like the TV producers, you have to spend $10K just to have a few outfits to switch around - get real people, TV producers starting out like Rachel is in the movie cannot afford this, and even if they could it's immoral to spend that much on clothes. Find the stuff on sale or cheaper versions of similar items and buy a fricking house with all the money you have saved, you'd have the deposit in no time at this rate of spending on clothes!

Reply »

karenmurr, 11-12-2010, 9:10AM

3 stars vote downvote upReport
karenmurr

Almost $600 for a purse?!? You gotta be kidding me! That's food for the entire month for my family!

Reply »

sunderwoodmiller, 11-12-2010, 9:20AM

3 stars vote downvote upReport
sunderwoodmiller

If you're 20, anorexic, want to be crippled by wearing shoes like that and, oh! have an unlimited budget, this is excellent advice. :-(

Reply »

homeschoolmom1130, 11-12-2010, 12:34PM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
homeschoolmom1130

They seem to forget that the people who can afford these items don't need their advice--they have personal style advisors. The people who need their advice, can't afford these things and, most likely, are not pale, anorexic waifs with a trustfund!

»

Roxy, 11-12-2010, 9:45AM

2.5 stars vote downvote upReport
Roxy

Lindsey! Sweetheart! I don't know how much you make, but let's just say that the average woman doesn't make as much as you do. Who are you trying to impress? I don't know of too many intelligent, hard working women who would pay these prices for accessories. Please take the time to get outside of you circle of friends to see what real people are actually buying.

Reply »

William, 11-12-2010, 10:26AM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
William

Rachael McAdams is in my opinion a very beautiful woman. She is a class act!

Reply »

MClark, 11-12-2010, 11:06AM

1 star vote downvote upReport
MClark

You guys, the writer is not telling everyone to run out and spend thousands of dollars on a new wardrobe. These items are the sort of top-of-the-line pieces that really show fashion at its finest. The trick for everyone else is to reproduce that style within their own budget.

Reply »

Blonde Ambition, 11-12-2010, 11:11AM

2.5 stars vote downvote upReport
Blonde Ambition

Oh, good grief ... if I wanted fashion/style advice, I'd still read magazines. There ARE still magazines out there, even if some people find it creepy or inconvenient to read something that isn't online.

Reply »

Digi, 11-12-2010, 11:31AM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
Digi

LOL no wonder you're a 2 bit 'story teller' (article writer) for AOL with ideas like those

Reply »

Jo Ann Piceynski, 11-12-2010, 11:39AM

2.5 stars vote downvote upReport
Jo Ann Piceynski

what on earth makes a plain skirt worth 250.00? have women bought into madison avenue hype? all the fashions shown are for the very young, skinny girls. i agree that the state of dressing for work as gone to hell in a handbaske. take a look in any average office. most women go to work dressed like they are road crew workers. no bra, torn jean, revealing clothes, flip flops. gee! show me more practicle clothes that are buyer friendly, basic. then, show accessories that are reasonable in price. i was a office manager for many years. i dressed for the office. slowly all the clerks started to cleanup their act. few businesses have dress codes but if they were implemented, our young workers would slowly trade their saturday night outfits for more suitable attair. okay, okay, i'm a old broad with 60's ideas. but i noticed that my clerks felt better about how they looked and they did not have to spend 1,000.00 for a outfit. get real fashion people.

Reply »

Digi, 11-12-2010, 11:44AM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
Digi

....looks like someone lost their 'harry potter'..ha ha....ha ha

Reply »

janna, 11-12-2010, 12:48PM

3 stars vote downvote upReport
janna

Cropped slouchy trouser pants? Are you kidding me? You have to consider the source. Do you think the little girl who did the wardrobe for this film has actually functioned in a professional business office setting? Do you think she has any concept whatever of "You never get a second chance to make a first impression"? Can you imagine a lawyer, for example, showing up in court in these pants? One woman lawyer was actually kicked out of the court room by the judge for wearing those Bermuda shorts that were "in" after Julia Roberts wore them in "Pretty Women". I haven't seen "Morning Glory" and probably won't until it's in reruns on cable TV, but it looks like the "business wardrobe" she came up with is much like the "business wardrobe" the girls on "Sex and the City" wear to work -- you know those low cut tops with spaghetti straps and skirts that barely cover their assets. I hope there's no young woman out there who takes this kind of advice seriously. The little girl who wrote this article and the little girl who did the wardrobe for this film just don't know what they're talking about, so ignore what they're saying and writing. I will say this about that: Most national network anchor women are well dressed and dress appropriately for their job and if one wanted an example, many of these women might be good examples (like Diane Sawyer and Katie Couric). (Local news anchors don't do quite as well, presumably because of their limited budget that does not allow for professional advice). Professional businesswear for women includes suits with skirts just below or just barely above the knee, pantsuits in navy, gray, black or other dark color (no patterns please!) Heels should be no more than 2.5" high so you can walk with authority without your ankles wobbling. Shirts and blouses are not see-through and have high necks (this is not the place to show off your cleavage). If your rear asset is jiggly, wear a panty girdle and you must wear panty hose with skirts -- no bare legs. No jingly bracelets, necklaces or earrings. You don't HAVE to dress like this, of course. You have the freedom to dress as silly and as provocatively as you choose -- this advice is only for women who want to be taken seriously and are serious about being succesful in business. Save your sexty, sultry looks for after 5:00 PM and weekends -- a business wardrobe is all about business. You can express yourself more creatively on evenings and weekends when you can show your true self.

Reply »

Jim, 11-12-2010, 12:48PM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
Jim

I guess these clothes are nice for most ladies, but what do the old women in their 40s wear? I guess if they manage to stay slim after having kids they might be able to fit into these clothes.

Reply »

Hjt, 11-12-2010, 1:15PM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
Hjt

Rachael McAdams is a beautiful talalented young woman -inside n out.
IT showed in her inteview.

Did she not star in the THE NOTEBOOK also?

Reply »

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