Bright Working Wear For Summer

Happy Tuesday, friends! After finishing up finals and taking a week off of my studies for some much needed rest, I’m finally ready to get back into the swing of things as I start another summer work tour at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

If there’s one thing that gives me a little extra boost of energy when starting a new job, it’s reinvigorating my wardrobe with fun, bright colors to match my mood and the changing of the season (into summer!).

When it comes to putting together the perfect working wear ensemble, I’ve developed a formula of sorts that makes getting dressed in the morning a breeze. First off, I start with a simple cami or tshirt. Next, I pair it with a classic pencil skirt or fluted skirt. I then layer on my favorite cardigan to keep warm while in the office. Finally, I accessorize as necessary, but typically keep it pretty simple when dealing with an office appropriate look. And voila! A fail safe formula for getting ready in the morning. Case in point–here, here, here, here. Simple, no?

It’s no secret that I love color–and lots of it. I love putting together unexpected combinations and really letting my creativity flow. And while I typically tone down my love of color for the office, every now and then I just have to let it out, ya know?! For this look, I used my favorite colors of summertime for inspiration–purple, pink, and yellow with pops of neon red.

My favorite easy-to-mix separates are from J. Crew Factory if you’re ever in the market for some new pieces. I love that they come in such fun, bright colors while still being classic in shape and very reasonably priced. And no, this isn’t a sponsored post. I just really love the brand!

To add in some extra spunk to my classic pieces, I layer in pops of neon–like this red purse and this lime bracelet. Neon, in particular, has the ability to give just about any look a more summery vibe.

And a little flower power necklace with some bold red pumps (last seen here) really pack a punch and bring all the fun colors of this outfit together.

I’m asked a lot about how I put together different combinations of colors (especially with respect to my brighter outfits), and I can honestly say that I just experiment and have fun with it! Sometimes I find inspiration in a piece of jewelry (like this necklace). Other times, I just happen to be on a color kick of some sort–like putting together different shades of purple. I start with whatever inspiration I have and then slowly add in pieces one by one (changing them in and out several times) until I find the right combination that speaks to me.

My biggest advice is to listen to your inner personality and just have fun with it! Fashion should be an expression of yourself, so don’t be afraid to get creative with it! And if all else fails, summer is an especially great time to try out lots of new bright colors, as the blooming and budding of colors all around us serve as the perfect dose of organic inspiration!

What about you? How do your reinvigorate your working wear with the coming of summer?

Photos by Outside Ourselves

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Get the Look…

Top: J. Crew Factory | Sweater: J. Crew Factory | Skirt: J. Crew Factory | Shoes: J. Crew Factory (similar) | Purse: J. Crew (similar) | Necklace: Francesca’s (similar here, here, here) | Bracelets: J. Crew (similar here, here)