This guest post was contributed by Sara from Star Costumes after reading my article about being in a Fashion Depression and thought that adding a little flair to your office outfits can help break the corporate monotony. THANK YOU SARA.

Dealing with a conservative office environment? It can be tough when you want to spice up your outfits but are constrained by the oh-so-boring black pumps and senator cardigans that everyone else at your workplace is sporting. Never fear, though . . . it is possible to add some flair to your everyday outfits and still keep them work-appropriate.

Some of these items might be a little too flashy for the stiffest offices, but you know your work environment best, so don’t be afraid to toe the line and see what you can get away with in the name of fashion!

Accessories are prime pieces of flair because they can add personality to an outfit without completely taking it over. Plus, they’re rarely included in a manual’s dress code, so you can use that to back yourself up if you happen to get busted.

Try a showpiece ring like this one (Pave Movable Turtle Ring, $24, Urban Outfitters):

Or throw on a fabulous scarf that’s rich with color and goes with anything (Smocked Rainbow Scarf, $8.80, Forever 21):

Hair is also a natural place to put some flair. If your office allows hats, try wearing a chic fedora or a 1920s-style headpiece with an elegant flower or a bit of lace. If you don’t want something taking up your whole head, try a unique headband (Wide Feather Headband, $5.80, Forever 21

Finally, don’t neglect your lower half! If it’s chilly at your workplace or you feel uncomfortable showing a lot of leg when you wear a skirt, tone it down while spicing it up with a really interesting pair of tights, like these two from ModCloth (Nocturnal Tights, $31.99, and Rad to the Herringbone Tights, $34.99):

So remember: no matter how conservative your office is, you can strive to stand out at least a little bit. Who knows? You might even get a few compliments and shake things up enough to inspire a mini fashion trend!

This post was contributed by Sara Bimmel, who writes about Halloween costumes over at StarCostumes.com.

If you Seek Style is a personal fashion diary of Caylee Marie. I would describe her style as a simplistic edge. Her choice of color palette are very neutral. White, Black, and Greys are her main colors of choice.I discovered her blog through a photo that she uploaded through her Chictopia profile.

I was most intrigued by her style because she is one of my personal “STYLE ICONS” in the blogosphere. What I enjoyed most about Caylee was her color choices. I am a very neutral color lover myself. Black being my most favorite. Caylee definitely knows how to a whole outfit together with looking what other would consider to be “Gothic”. She has a nice edge will still have a great element of femininity. So I approached her to guest post on Fashion Without Guilt. She kindly accepted and she gives Fashion Without Guilt readers a look into some of her personal street style inspirations while still sharing some of her key places to shop on a budget.

Hi Fashion Without Guilt readers! I’m Caylee; I’m 23, live in Indianapolis, Indiana, I am a recent college grad working at H&M, and of course have my own little fashion/style blog, ifyouseekstyle.blogspot.com I was asked to do a guest post for Fashion Without Guilt (whom I love since I’m on a strict budget and therefore everything I wear is affordable!), and since the site is so kindly doing a post of their own on my personal style, and thought this would be a good opportunity for me to show you guys some of my inspiration in the form of street style photos.

My absolute favorite thing about fashion taking over the Internet is all of the personal style blogs and street style photos – everyday girls from around the world showcasing their outfits for all to see. You’re hard pressed to find inspiration in a small Midwest city, so these blogs couldn’t be better for someone like me, who two years ago struck an interest in fashion (versus just shopping and clothes in general) and used these street style shots to figure out my own personal aesthetic. My style grew to what it is today – always casual, comfortable, and chic with a rocker edge, a mix of tough and feminine, and maybe a little vintage inspiration thrown in. I loved style blogs so much that I had to start my own blog! It’s been really great and I hope to continue contributing for a long time.

The photo collage here contains some of my favorite street style looks at the moment, and I’ll go through them one by one.

1)The first look is the perfect casual chic outfit, and I am all about the denim shirt; they’re so versatile. I wear this look to work all of the time since it’s not only easy, but comfortable, a big must when you work in fast-paced retail.

2)This is my idea of THE perfect outfit. I’m a huge fan black clothing (my favorite color), and stripes are always stylish. Again, I’ve worn this outfit multiple times. Could be why I love it so much

3)Oversized black coats are my ultimate winter outwear, and dressing up all black with a neutral colored scarf is a great way to add color. I’d do a leopard print scarf here too.

4)White shirt, fur vest (I have this exact one), and skinny black pants – all are three essentials in my book that happen to look incredible together too.

5)Leather motorcycle jackets have been popular for a while now, and they don’t seem to be going anywhere. I can see why – they are perfect over everything and that must needed touch of edgyness I crave.

6)My biggest fashion obsession right now is leopard print and oversized cardigans, and I’ve been looking a combination of those two ideals for months now. Here’s to hoping I find one like hers soon!

7)Again with the oversized cardigans. Who wouldn’t love something so stylish yet comfy? Great with shorts in warmer weather too.

8)The long and lean maxi dress silhouette is not something you would normally think would work in the winter, but it’s been seen on bloggers everywhere and I can’t think of anything prettier right now. Adding a black maxi to my wishlist!

9)Throwing a denim vest over your leather jacket has also been around for a while, but it is just so darn cool that I can’t help but still love it. You can always update like she did with a graphic tee and booties.

10)Last but certainly not least…..ahhhh pants are taking over the fashion world right now. A tailored pair in black with cuffed hems is on my current wishlist too. Especially love that they show off yours shoes.

Hope you guys enjoyed my favorite street style looks of the moment and were inspired as much as I am by them.

See you around!
Caylee
http://www.ifyouseekstyle.blogspot.com

Photo Source: collage made by caylee; image sources: mr. newton, linn gustafsson, columbine smille, natalie off duty, mr. newton, alice point, the haute pursuit, columbine smille, le blog de betty, nana in wonderland.

I recently approached some fashion bloggers that I personally admire. I approached Jasmin of Friend In Fashion and she gladly obliged.

I chose Jasmin to guest post for Fashion Without Guilt because I loved her feminine and fun fashion personality while still keeping affordability in mind.

Friend in Fashion is a blog that features great fashion ideas and moderately priced independent fashion designers.

Fashion Without Guilt asked Jasmin, What is shopping philosophy, I know you are affordable but how do you view fashion?

Jasmin: I guess for me shopping is a bit of a release, its my avenue to be creative, to escape reality and admire the designs and creativity of designers. Fashion to me is one of the ultimate forms of self expression. It is a visual forum to display exactly who you are, how your feeling at any given point in time, the things you like and that which inspires you.

For her guest post, Jasmin shares some of her retail secrets to “stretching your FASHION DOLLAR“.

Please Check out My Friend In Fashion

I was thrilled when I was asked to contribute to Fashion Without Guilt, as much of my style philosophy is centered on ways of getting more mileage from your fashion dollar.

With this in mind, I thought I would share my 5 tips to shopping retail.
1. The best way to look stylish and fashion forward without spending the earth is to know where to shop and what to shop for. A combination of new and vintage clothing and accessories will allow you to grow your wardrobe inexpensively to create a diverse and fashionable collection.

2. When shopping retail, I generally opt for chain stores, some of my regular retail hotspots include: Target, Forever 21 and Cotton On (in Australia). You will find that the stock in these stores will reflect current fashion trends at a more affordable price point. You will generally also find a lot of variety in these stores, catering to a range of different tastes.

3. Do your research – An educated shopper will always walk away with the best bargains.

* Know when the sales cycles are and keep an eye out for times when retail outlets need to clear floor stock- i.e. end of financial year, change of seasons.

* Find out how often your favourite stores deliver new stock and how quickly your size sells out. If you know your size never sells, wait until stock goes on sale before purchasing.

* Think DIY – sometimes stock will be reduced, because a button is missing, or a hem is loose– use this to your advantage, pick up a bargain and inject your own handy work into your fashion.

4. Build strong foundations – fill your wardrobe with good basics that you can build upon. A white shirt, a pair of good fitting jeans, tights, tank tops and a black dress form a great base. You’d be amazed at just how many stylish combinations you can get out of these fashion must-haves.

5. Mix and match – I absolutely adore vintage dressing, so I love incorporating vintage finds with store bought pieces to create a truly unique, and affordable look. If you are new to vintage shopping and not confident in pulling together a vintage outfit, take small steps and start by updating one of your favourite outfits with vintage accessories, brooches, necklaces, belts or bags.

And finally, the most important thing about fashion in my opinion is to have fun expressing your personal style – you need to feel comfortable, and don’t be afraid to inject your own personality!

Your Friend in Fashion
x

Photo Courtesy: Friend in Fashion