Skirt:  & Other Stories (similar in blush here); Shirt:  Cuyana; Scarf:  Longchamp (similar colors here; here and here); Earrings:  Tiffany; Sunglasses:  Kate Spade Outlet (similar here and here);  Shoes:  Sam Edelman; Bag:  Coach

The pleated midi skirt trend is one that I wish would never go away!  I feel like such a lady whenever I put them on and love how graceful and elegant they make me feel throughout the day with their beautiful movement.  I also love this trend because it was relatively easy to translate to the office.  While I often see (and love) them paired with a cami and sandals, simply swapping the cami for this dressed-up silk shirt, popping on nude pumps, and finishing it off with a coordinating scarf were some easy tweaks that make this look ready for the workday.  It's hotter than hot in DC right now, but if you're in a chillier climate, a classic white button-up would also do the trick! 

As you can tell, I don't shy away from feminine outfits for work.  I don't think there's anything inherently less work-appropriate about an outfit that is not an adaptation of the men's business uniform (which, no matter how beautifully you cut and tailor it, is what a suit is!), so long as the fabrics and accessories match the formality of the rest of the people in the office.  This skirt, paired with the beautiful silk t-shirt and silk scarf, is.  I'll note that there are some situations in which it's best to stick a little more closely to the business formal uniform, and I'll be discussing ways to personalize those outfits in later posts.  Let me know if you think it's always better to stick to more traditional workwear, even on a day-to-day basis. 

In other news, I will be going to Paris next week for a girls' trip with my mom, my aunt and my sister :-)  I'll keep you up-to-date on any workwear shopping I do both here and on instagram (@thepolishedblog).  If you have any shops to recommend, please let me know in the comments below!