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.