Blazer: Gap [similar] | Dress: Renvy | Tights: DKNY | Boots: Naturalizer

Happy Monday, friends! Today’s outfit gives you a hint of my new job’s dress code – after nearly five years in DC’s nonprofit sector, where not wearing jeans meant you had an important meeting or a job interview, I’m in an office with a more formal aesthetic. This outfit is a new recipe, and I think I like it.

First, the dress: LEATHER. Y’all, I love leather. Aside from how much I love meat, I think the main reason I’d be an unconvincing vegan is my love of wearing leather. This dress was purchased with a Gilt.com credit, and I LOVE IT. The leather and ponte paneling is so of the moment, and it’s a very forgiving shape and fit. It’s really more of a party dress – see the low back that exposes some tattoos – but its high neck and knee length make it totally work-appropriate with a blazer on top.

This blazer, also, has gotten SO MUCH USE since I started my job. With Gap’s 40% off promotion over the weekend I made a point of ordering it in two more colors. There’s something so utilitarian about a well-fitting blazer – in addition to turning an almost-cocktail dress into something professional, it can dress up slacks and a t-shirt or give an extra something to jeans and a big scarf.

Recognize these boots? They’re the black version of my beloved Damaris boots, and they remain the most comfortable thing I own. Be prepared to see a lot of these and their cognac-colored counterparts throughout the winter.