How to Slay Like a Blogger at Work | By Toyin Alli

If you are anything like me, you follow a lot of fashion and style bloggers on Instagram and you’re constantly pinning all of their outfit posts on your Pinterest style inspiration boards.  However, you never try these looks out for yourself.

The reason is probably not because you aren’t stylish and it’s not because you don’t put thought into your workwear.  It’s mostly because the BIG bloggers that you likely follow don’t work a traditional job. They are blogging and traveling the world for a living.  So they can make different style choices for work than we are able to.

Hey ya’ll!  I’m Toyin, a Lecturer in the Math department of a university.  So I definitely can’t go to work in most of the looks my favorite bloggers put together.  

When I’m teaching, I’m walking around the room, bending over to help students with their work, and lifting my arms to write on the board.  That means no crop tops, no mini skirts, no sunglasses, and no uncomfortable heels.

So what’s a girl to do when she wants to look cute and express her style in the workplace?

Well, it can actually be really simple!  I’ve been following bloggers and YouTubers for a long time.  And I’ve discovered that it’s not actually what you wear that makes you look stylish and slay everywhere you go.  It’s HOW you wear your clothes and how they make you FEEL!

In fact, just a few simple tweaks to your outfit can instantly make you look more stylish.  And you don’t have to overhaul your wardrobe and buy new stuff!

I’ve come up with 5 tips that help me style professional outfits for work that are inspired by my favorite bloggers.  Don’t worry, they are super easy and you don’t have to follow them all.

5 Tips to Dress Like a Blogger at Work

Work Style Tip 1:  Find Your Style Crush

My first tip is to choose only ONE blogger (or two bloggers if you really can’t narrow it down) to be your favorite.  It’s very difficult to narrow down your own personal work style when you are getting inspiration from different bloggers with completely different styles and aesthetics.

Imagine yourself as Tyra Banks on America’s Next Top Model.  And in your hands are images of your favorite style bloggers.  Only one can win. Only one blogger can become your workwear inspiration.

When you choose your workwear blogger inspiration, create a collection on Instagram or a board on Pinterest dedicated to the outfits of theirs that you love and want to possibly style for work.  You can use this bank of images to help you choose outfits for work in the mornings or to guide you when you go shopping.

My workstyle crushes are Kate Ogata and Emma Hill. I definitely recommend checking out their accounts!

Work Style Tip 2:  Find a Color Palette

If you did choose a blogger, to be your style inspo, think about why.  Is it because they wear a specific color palette that looks good to you?  Check out all of your favorite bloggers, do they stick to a specific color palette?

Do you prefer more bright and bold looks?  Or do you prefer more muted and neutral colors?

I love how Sheila does this in her monthly capsule wardrobe series.  She chooses a few colors to work with each month to help her put outfits together to create an overall cohesive style for the month.  You can do this for work too based on your favorite style bloggers.

Work Style Tip 3:  Discover Your Styling Accents

You know, it isn’t really what you wear that makes you look stylish.  It’s how you wear your clothes. So study your favorite bloggers and discover their styling accents.  You know, the little things they do with their clothes that elevate their look.

Personally, there are three styling accents that I use almost every day!  This is me wearing one of my teaching outfits before and after I apply my styling accents.

Styling Accent 1:  French Tuck

Raise your hand if you are obsessed with Netflix’s Queer Eye!  I love all of the Fab 5! But I especially love Tan France, the style expert on the show.  Every episode, he advocates for the “French Tuck.”

A French Tuck is when you partially tuck in your shirt to make it fall better and, in turn, you’ll look a bit more stylish.  You can tuck your shirt in the front, on the side, or slightly off-center. I typically choose whatever looks best with the top I’m wearing.

French Tucking is a really quick and easy way to show that you put effort into your look without having to buy a whole new wardrobe.

Styling Accent 2:  Roll up your Sleeves

There is just something about rolling up your sleeves that makes your outfit look more intentional.  Whenever I’m wearing a blazer or cardigan, I like to roll or push up my sleeves.

Rolling up your sleeves adds an extra level of detail to your look.  And if the lining of your jacket is a different color or has a different pattern, you can show that off.  Also, you can highlight your arm jewelry like bracelets or a nice watch when your wrist isn’t fully covered.

Styling Accent 3:  Cuffed or Cropped Pants

Cropped pants are so in and have been for a while now.  Whenever I wear pants or jeans that aren’t cropped, I like to cuff my pant leg just once.  It makes a huge difference in my overall look.

If you have a strict (very professional) dress code at work, you can show off your style with a cute pair of shoes.  So when you wear cropped or cuffed pants, you can draw the eye to your amazing shoes. I love to do this when I wear booties to teach.  It’s my go-to look!

These are my 3 favorite styling accents for work: french tucking your shirt, rolling up your sleeves, and cuffing your pants.  I implement these tips almost every day at work! And they are so easy to do! It literally takes me 1 extra minute in the morning to do all three.  Do you have any other quick and easy styling accents to elevate your work look? Share them in the comments!

I go into more detail about these three in my latest YouTube video! Check it out below:

Tip 4:  Find Your Style Essentials

I believe that everyone should have their own style essentials that form the foundation of their perfectly curated closet.  Think of an outfit that you wear that is BOMB! Why do you love that outfit on you? It’s possible that the pieces of that outfit could be the basis of your new fabulous adult professional style!

For me, my style essentials are a flowy button shirt, cuffed skinnies, and booties.  That’s my go-to look. I literally wear at least one of those three pieces every day at work.  It’s my work style. If you are interested in discovering your own personal, professional style, I have a free workbook that walks you through discovering your adult style and curating a closet full of clothes that you actually love! Click here to download it for free! 

Tip 5:  Hire a Stylist

My final tip is to hire a stylist.  And you can choose the level of stylist you want.  You can hire a personal stylist and become their client.  Or you can use a service like Trunk Club or Stitch Fix. I personally love Trunk Club.  My Trunk Club stylist, Jessica picks out the best pieces for me. I actually shared my latest trunk on my YouTube channel.  You are more than welcome to check it out!

Those were my 5 tips for slaying like a blogger at work.  I hope that you enjoyed this guest post and found it helpful.  Also, thank you so much to Sheila for inviting me to share this with you all!  Do you have any additional tips to add to the list? What is your go-to work look?  Let us know in the comments!