It's very rare for me to put together an outfit that doesn't have some sort of pattern in it - whether it's an actual piece of clothing, my shoes or an accessory like a belt. I love polka dots, animal print, floral print, stripes, plaid ... and the list goes on and on. I feel like dressing for news can become very formulaic, and it can be easy to fall into a rut or feel like your personality is being covered up. Incorporating patterned pieces into my work wardrobe is my way of letting my personality play a role.

One thing I think everyone should have in their closets is a pair of trouser jeans. I bought this pair a couple of years ago on sale at Kohl's. My preferred style is wide leg. Trouser jeans are an easy way to achieve business casual, especially when paired with a silk button-up shirt. I absolutely love this rose petal print. It's part of The Limited's Valentine's Day collection. This particular shirt has sold out, but they have this style in other patterns. I'm wearing a petite small. You can't tell from this picture but this shirt is collared. The sleeves can also be worn undone. My shoes are also new. I've been looking for a pair of light nude-colored heels for awhile now. After reading several reviews, I signed up for ShoeDazzle and settled on the Beatrice. The shoe itself is comfortable; it has a built-in cushion for the ball of your foot. The heel is about an inch higher than I normally wear but by the end of the day my feet weren't killing me so I consider that a win. This shoe comes in several other colors as well.

Details:
Shirt: The Limited - sold out but they have the same pattern in a dress and skirt
Pants: Apt. 9 c/o Kohl's (similar)
Shoes: ShoeDazzle (exact)

I have really been into burgundy here lately. I ordered this dress from Old Navy in October. I wasn't expecting the quality to be as good as it is. It's a nice thick knit but not so thick I can't wear it all year. Since it's sleeveless, I paired it with my leather mixed media jacket. It's a few years old. I got it for all of $10 at TJMaxx in the dead of summer. It's one of my favorite fall/winter finishing pieces. The leather sleeves add just the right amount of edge to an outfit; it looks great over jackets, with skirts or paired with a graphic tee and jeans. I just got these leopard print heels. They're replacing an older pair I bought and just don't wear because of the way the platform is shaped (I feel like I'm rolling forward). These are super comfortable, have a little gold detailing on the inside, and show just a peak of toe cleavage. I also own them in black.

Details:
Dress: Old Navy (similar, similar)
Jacket: TJMaxx (similar, similar)
Shoes: Target (exact)

I wear jeans at least once a week to work. These are the same pair I featured last week. Here, I've got them rolled under to hit above my boots. I fell in love with this striped sweater the moment I saw it. The black going down the sides has a nice slimming effect and the lace detailing at the neck adds a nice feminine touch. This sweater is sold out but I linked to some nice options below. These black booties are one of my best/favorite buys from the fall. They're out of stock but I linked to a bunch of options.

Details:
Sweater: Hannah c/o Goody's (similar, similar)
Jeans: Arizona c/o JCPenny (exact)
Boots: Target (sold out but lots of options here)