This post was contributed by Cafe La Moda, the social space for fashion tips and beauty advice.

So Career Fashion Blog has posted a few times about bags that help accessorize your work outfit, and bring a touch of colour to your working day, but what about when your bag needs to mean business? Whether it’s client meetings, an interview, or business travel, sometimes the bag you carry with you is taken as part of your business attire, and it needs to be absolutely as well-thought-out as the rest of your outfit. You might just need a discrete clutch bag to stash your keys and cellphone, or you might also have to take a laptop, notebook or iPad with you, and dumping those things into any old laptop bag could ruin your carefully tailored look.

However, there’s no reason to worry, since bag makers are more than aware of the need for bags for business, and there is a huge range of sophisticated, businesslike bags available to you.

Covers and sleeves for iPads

If you’re lucky enough to have a work tablet that you take to meetings, don’t run the risk of it getting battered and don’t risk looking unprofessional with a shabby cover. Invest in a good black leather cover,  perhaps picked out in an accent colour that matches your outfit: like this beautiful black leather sleeve with red leaf detail. Go to product

Laptop Tote Bags

If it’s a laptop you’re taking to your meeting, invest in a good quality laptop tote. Gone are the days when all laptop bags looked like school bags or briefcases, now it’s possible to choose a high quality laptop tote that’s beautifully designed to not only look elegant but also to make carrying a laptop a bit less of a chore: like this stylish Kerri Mack Albina Design bag. Go to product

Shoulder Bags

If you’ve only got to stash your cellphone and your keys somewhere that doesn’t ruin the line of your suit jacket, choose a small shoulder bag which doesn’t draw attention to itself. Go for a classic style if your bag needs to mean business, leave the tassles, zebra-print and flowers for another day, and pick something like this Guess Lina Top Handle Half-Flap bag, which is the perfect balance of elegant and businesslike. Go to product

Carry-on Bags

If you’re going further afield on business, the chances are you’ll need a travel or carry-on bag, and if you’re being met at the airport or at the hotel when you arrive, you might need to invest in a travel-size bag that’s all business. You don’t want to rumple your suit with a hefty shoulder bag, so go for a stylish rolling bag like this Glen Ellyn two-in-one. The rolling frame disconnects from the bag once you’ve arrived at your destination, leaving a stylish tote. Go to product

What to accessorize a white blouse with – create contrast and drama with a black necklace. If you are going for a subtle, classic look, wear pearls. But if you want to give the outfit a little more pop, then a black necklace will add that extra contrast. You can also wear a thick garnet choker,  those dark red large stones against the white collar gives a similar effect.

And notice the thin red belt. It’s all in the accessories. Never look at a blouse just as a blosue. Look at it as a canvas. The same blouse can be given many different moods by just changing the accessories. When you try on clothes at a store, bring a few different sets of belts, necklaces and other accessories with you to the fitting room, to test different moods for the same blouse.

Are you running around the office? Do dart down the street dodging taxicabs to scuttle from one client to the next? Do you have to really hustle to make it from one meeting to the next? Try wedgie shoes for your work outfit. Doff your regular pumps and donn some cute leather wedgies, with a little height but less slip factor. Sometimes flats are just too informal for a woman’s business suit, and if your heels are killing your feet, then wedgies might do the job. (Unless your purse is big enough for a pair of emergency sneakers.)

1. The formal look – Get an accessory set with a fancy black stole (shawl) and sparkly little black clutch, and wear the dress to parties.

2. The warm winter look – Don’t let the weather discourage you from wearing a sexy dress. Make a warm winter outfit by wearing the dress with a pair of tall killer stiletto boots and a somewhat fancy black cashmere cardigan over it. The boots help keep your legs warm, but keep the cardigan open so you can see the dress.

3. The edgy leather jacket look – Create a completely different look by getting a pair of black stockings with a pattern (as opposed to solid) and wear it with a short leather jacket. Edgy make-up and a high pony tail. Don’t try to match it too much for this particular look, the purpose is edgy.

4. The black tuxedo jacket look – Wear a fancy blazer (not a suit blazer) made of black satin or black velvet, over the dress. Maybe a double breasted one. Keep it buttoned so that the jacket itself is the main feature of the outfit, but the dress becomes a skirt that makes the jacket more special. A choker necklace would go well with that.

(Never, ever regard a braidsmaids dress as a one night stand. It deserves a loving relationship like the rest of your dresses.)

If you are bored with your black business suit, then put some shock into it – wear it with a big, bright red or hot pint bag!  If your suit is too dark for you today, accessorize with a sreamingly pink purse. Nothing says “hello” more than that.

I’d have to say, the most basic jewelry you can accessorize a woma’s business suit with is pearls. A pearl necklace is a tried and true accessory that never goes out of style – it’s classic and elegant. Jewelry and accessories can do a lot to give personality to a business suit, but when building a professional work wardrobe, the first thing you should get is always, always, always a pretty and simple pearl necklace along with a pair of simple pearl studs. Don’t buy any other jewelry for your suits before you have covered these basics. The pearl studs and the pearl necklace are timeless. And they never make you look overdressed or undersdressed – they simply are what they are. I think that 100 years from now our grand daughters will still be wearing pearls with their work clothes. They go with almost evrything, and you can resort to your safe pearls in moments of dressing in a stressed-out rush when you just don’t have time to figure out what to wear. It’s a staple, a basic building block – kind of like the classic black business suit for your wardrobe, the classic pearl necklace is the main staple in your jewelry box. And keep in mind, your pearls don’t have to be white – they can be cream, slightly pink, brown, or dramatic gray (like Tahitian pearls).

When I have to pack lightly for business travel, often the only earrings I bring are pearl studs. They don’t take up any space, and go with almost everything. I sometimes wear a pair of inexpensive pearl studs when I do outdoorsy things, because they are small so they’re not in the way, it won’t hurt my budget if I loose them, and it adds just a little bit of elegance even though I’m in casual clothes. Some people call me a snob, I just call myself a “classy hiker”.

Do you feel restricted by having to wear a business suit for work every day? Well, if you are bound by business attire they way to express your very own fashion style is with jewelry. Accessorizing with your very own unique style of jewelry is where you can take license and be very creative. There are hardly any rules. Try to find your own style with a necklace that makes your suit pop.

Accessories is an important part of your professional image. They can make or break an outfit. They can make an old business suit look new. Someone said that the rule to have matching shoes and purse no longer have to be followed. It’s true – that isn’t a strict rule anymore at all. However, it still looks good. So if you see a pair of hot shoes with a cool matching purse – grab ‘em. Add some color to your professional wardrobe.

What are they for – is the belt there just to hold your pants up, or to accessorize your business suit? Sometimes wearing a belt even when it’s not needed gives a more put together look for your business attire. Accessorizing with belts can be bold and make a statement of it’s own, or it can be a very subtle enhancement to your work outfit – sort of, as if you don’t really notice that it’s there but it does something to create a complete and polished look. Belts can be worn both with pant suits and skirt suits, and also over a suit jacket if it fits you well. If the suit jacket is a little bit big on you, it will be more obvious when you belt it, so be careful about that. The skirt or pants don’t necessarily have to have belt loops – some look good when the belt just lays flat over the waist band (you have to experiment with that).

Basic belts – You need to have a couple of belts that are very simple in basic colors. Some people look good in black accessories, some better in brown. Some people can wear both black and brown. However, don’t wear brown shoes with a black belt and vice versa. When it comes to brown vs black the shoes and belt do have to match. This is not true of other belt colors though, like red or white.

The buckle – When you accessorize your business suit with a belt, pay attention to the shape of size and shape of the buckle itself. Do you prefer round or square buckles?

Bold belts – A belt can also be used to make a statement of it’s own. Experiment with giving a new look to an old woman’s business suit by wearing a bold belt that gives it a different edge. Find at least one bold belt. (In this case the shoes don’t have to match – that rule is only about not mixing black and brown.)

Some days you just don’t feel like wearing a conventional woman’s business suit. One alternative would be to wear a “suit dress”. Put on a straight, “pencil skirt type” dress, with a pair of smart pumps. If it comes with a matching suit jacket, then buy it too. If it doesn’t, then throw on a jacket from one of your standard woman’s business suits, and wear the jacket with the dress as suit separates. Black or charcoal gray suit jackets could be your reliable staple for this “suit dress look”. Accessorize with a pretty necklace and you are ready to go make things happen. This is a great way to vary your professional image.

Another version of this business look is the skirt with a long jacket (above).

While browsing around Nordstrom’s we found a couple of examples of nice casual work outfits in plus sizes that are very accessorized well. For plus size outfits we recommend long necklaces as accessories.

TOP: This work outfit consists of a staple black skirt, with a casual cardigan over a classic white blouse. This ensemble would have worked well by itself, but accessorized with the lime green multi string necklace it gets a completely different feel to it. Don’t under estimate how just one accessory can change the look of a professional attire outfit.

BOTTOM: The blue cardigan set is rather plain by itself, even though good quality. In this image it is the necklace and the purse that makes this work outfit what it is. Accessorize a plain work outfit with two accessories that don’t necessarily match, but that add spunk and class. When using un-matching accessories limit them to 2 – if you use 3 or more un-matching accessories, it will look messy.

Hurry while the sales are still on. If you are a clever shopper you should wait till after New Years and buy a winter coat for next season. You won’t know what colors will be in style next winter, so buy a winter coat in a neutral color, like black, white, gray, taupe etc. Then when the fall colors start showing up in the malls next October, you can choose an accessory set with scarves and hats that match the colors for that season. In other words, to plan out your look for next winter, buy your winter coat in a neutral color that wont go out of style NOW when they are on SALE, then when it is clear what the in-style colors for next winter will be, you can accessories the coat with a scarf and gloves for that season.

Are you getting cold? Here are some examples of how you can accessorize a casual work outfit with a shawl. These two sweater outfits that are rather casual. It’s just a simple sweater and cardigan over a pair of nice slacks. In the first photo the shawl matches the tones of the sweater and is tied in a rolled knot. It’s more of a polished look. In the second photo the shawl contrasts the color of the cardigan and becomes the dominant expression of the outfit. It’s a very casual and comfy look. Dress it up with pumps and it will be good business casual look for winter. You can have 3 different shawls to accessorize same sweater, and create various looks by changing the shawls around.

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So you are wearing a black power suit, but what color is your bag? Your bag is not just for hauling papers around, it’s part of your business outfit. Maybe your business suit is in a dark, traditional, conservative color, but your bag can be a in a strong bright color. It doesn’t necessarily have to match your shoes – it can speak on it’s own. Let your bag do some “talking”. It’s one accessory that can accessorize all by itself.

So what color will you use to accessorize your winter coat with this year? The standard is white, red or black (see below), but there are many other colors (see above) you can use to accessorize your winter coat. Many of you have probably chosen a black or gray long coat for work to look good with your business attire, but you shouldn’t wear a scarf the same color as your coat. For gloves,  a classic pair of black leather gloves is a good investment, but if you use a set of scarf and hat in a different color every year, it’s less noticable that you are wearing the same coat as last year. If your budget is tight, then stick with last year’s winter coat, but change out all the accessires to a different color.

You will find good quality at Bloomingdale’s (above).

But an inexpensive brand like H & M (above) may also do, as long as it is a matching set.

New Jewelry Choices for the Working Woman

In the quickly changing world of fashion, business jewelry design trends are relatively conservative. Business styles reflect a more elegant and conventional approach to wardrobe, which leads women to struggle with what to wear in the office. Many of the accessories worn outside the office don’t project the necessary image of power and success that help one to succeed in business. While they can keep some of the tried and true pieces in their jewelry box, women are learning to borrow some fashion ideas from from men for some surprising new choices.

 The Conventional Approach

Pearls are a must for any busy working woman. They help provide an aura of wealth and success that elude other types of jewelry. Pearls can be worn with a business suit, or a casual business dress. They tend to stand out without being too showy. Gold and silver jewelry is next, offering a little gleam to the attire. Understated jewelry works best for the business office, to provide fewer distractions. Most working women will avoid noisy bracelets or loops that can catch on office surroundings, and create an image of playfulness instead of serious business. They invest, instead, on a great pair of stud earrings, a statement necklace, and an office brooch as their standard accessories.

 The New Daring

Now, some women are starting to add cuff links to their business attire. Long held as a male accessory, women are finding they work well for their office suits too, particularly if it is a pants suit. Watches are a unisex jewelry accessory that always looks good in the office and replaces the dangling bracelets that are far too casual for women to wear at work. Men are wearing more rings while women are choosing fewer rings. As the sexes learn to share the workplace equitably, a new style acceptable to both will eventually level the field and give both genders the right look for success.

Rainy wheather is comming, we know it. Be prepared this season and get a pair of rubber boots that are not just practical, but stylish looking. Get a big purse to match it, and you have your out doors look ready. Make sure your purse is big enough for your indoor pumps and a plastic bag. When you arrive at the office take your rain boots off and keep them in a plastic bag under your desk, and put on your black standard pump that goes with your buisness suit.

Don’t miss your chance to wear open toe shoes with your business suit. For is who like to show our toes, now is the chance to squeeze the last bit of fun out of summer. Wear your open toe shoes while you can, soon it will be too cold for that. If your black power suit need some spice, then wear a pair of bright turquise pumps. and perhaps with a matching shawl or scarf.

A light business suit will keep you cool in hot summer weather. Keep your most comfortable white slacks at hand, and mix-match them with a cool, light weight, gray suit jacket. Use your white slacks and summer suit separate jackets to create casual business suit ensembles. But that alone could be a little bit bland. What makes this work outfit interesting is the accessory – the yellow necklace perfectly matched with the yellow top peaking out between the suit lapels. It’s worth spending time to find the right accessories for your business suit.

Belts can be a great accessory for a business casual outfit. You can accessories with belt both for skirts and pants. First we have a skirt and white blouse with a thin belt. Next is an example of a work oufit with a wide black belt accessorizing a pair of white slacks with a short sleeved blouse. Last we have a business casual outfit accessorized with a belt in a contrasting color, simply resting over the cardigan. A belt, as an accessory, can say so much.

Here are two examples of two pretty women, with two different body types, in two different white dresses – one for a full figured body and one for a skinny body. Compare the differences, and see how each dress compliments it’s wearer:

Michelle Obama is wearing a white dress that is flaired out at the skirt.

• Body type: Full figured.
• Dress cut: Dress with flaired out skirt.
• Accessories: A wide silver belt, that makes her hips look good.

Carla Bruni-Sarkozy is wearing straight dress with a thin belt.

• Body type: Skinny.
• Dress cut: The dress is straight all the way.
• Accessories: A thin black belt.

When you shop, buy work clothes with the right cut for the body type you have, not the body type you would like. We all come in different shapes and sizes. If the clothes don’t look right on you, it is never the body type that is wrong, it is always the cut of the garment that is wrong. There are no wrong bodies, only wrong clothes.

Compare how Michelle Obama’s white dress makes her hips look really good. Carla Bruni-Sarkozy’z hips aren’t so prominent but that belt makes them a little more noticeable. When you have a full figure, a wide belt is better. The thin belt looks better on Carla. The silver belt on Michelle makes a softer look and doesn’t contrast as much, whereas the thin black belt on Carla makes more of a contrast.

Photo credits: AP Thierry Chesnot

On those rare days that you don’t go into the office (you lucky girl) yet still wish to appear pulled together you can find yourself quickly lost in weekday fashion; somewhere between suits and sweats. Since you’re not in the office, there’s no need for the full hair and makeup: gloss, mascara, and blush are all you need at the most. For hair that’s done but not done up, dry your bangs with a round brush and simply pull the rest back in a loose ponytail. On days like this, linen, cotton, and organic cotton are a wonderful choice since they will move with you and the fabric will breathe well. Thin belts are your best accessory choice on these days since they can be that fun color add on and define your curves. Boots are always a great idea; brown flat riding boots with a small metal embellishment are not only popular this season, they are also hugely comfortable and can go with anything from skirts to Bermuda shorts to denim. This can also be a fun time to wear short sleeve jackets in colorful options and even white pants, it is spring after all.

By: Danielle Gonzalez

When you shop for a woman’s business suit, think ahead and plan out what else you can wear it with. Perhaps you have other suit separates at home that your new wardrobe addition can be mix and matched with. If not, you could look around the mall for other business suits, or separate jackets that can be worn with it. Don’t just buy one piece of clothing because you like it, think of how it can be recombined to make as many work outfits as possible.

Here are some examples of women’s business suits and suit separates in red, gray and white that can be mix and matched and recombined into many various work outfits.