JANE BY DESIGN Style Challenge #5: Snazz Up a Plain White Buttondown Shirt for the Office & Out for Cocktails

Fashionistas who juggle work-life with an active social life know the secret to making it flow is clothing that multitasks! A white buttondown may not seem that glamorous, but it's kind of like cooking a dish with tofu - it takes its flava from whatever you pair it with. For the Jane by Design blogger Style Challenge #5 - here are the previous challenges if you want to check them out: #4 world's ugliest Xmas sweater, #3 my most "me" handbag, #2 a Chanel-inspired DIY tee, #1 video of a creative shopping haul - the task was to take this plain white buttondown and use our own accessories & wardrobe items to style it two ways: (1) for a day at the office and (2) for a dressy cocktail party.

Before I discuss my styling choices, let me ask you: how would you style it from day-to-night? Share your own fabu styling tips on the Jane by Design FB page & be sure to mention that Fashiontribes sent ya. If you tweet it, the official Twitter hashtag to use is #JBDStyleChallenge. (Also, here's another sneak peek of the show to check out!)

For this transformation, I kept two of the key pieces in both outfits the same: the black lace-up booties & the asymmetric leopard clutch.  Plus, the coat & gloves (see bottom) for arriving & leaving in style!

FOR THE OFFICE:

A dark & drapey wide-legged pant looks great for work IMHO. Plus I've always like the way white & fuchsia look together, so I layered on a magenta 3/4 sleeve tissue-weight V-neck sweater and then added a cheery blue paisley scarf tucked into the collar ascot-style (I love when Gwen Stefani rocks them). Ascots got me to thinking about men's foulards and the fact they always wore them with a pin, so as a finishing touch, I added this pin I made a while back during an artsy phase.

The leopard clutch is roomy enough to hold everything for day, including a laptop, while the animal print makes it perfect for going out later.

Which brings us to...

THE SHIRT DRESSED UP FOR COCKTAILS:

Black with white is always a winner at night, so I switched out the pant for a black pencil skirt and tucked the shirt in, adding a wide leather obi-belt in the same color to both dress up the shirt & make the waist look teensy. To make the look fun & flirty for evening, I added one of my personal fave pieces, a black tuxedo-shirt/jacket by Viktor & Rolf. A Eugenia Kim fedora with a tone-on-tone sparkly hatband seemed the perfect topper, plus a pair of diamond studs set into silver "washers" (as in from the hardware store...so cool!) that Dawn from i wear...do you? gifted me a few years ago.

Dressed & ready for cocktails! Won't you join me?

- Lesley Scott

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