Shecky’s

Sigh. Welcome back to Monday, the worst day of the week to get out of bed and get going. Mornings can be stressful…and panicking about what to wear will make them worse. Our tips turn an hour of stress into an organized 15-minute trip out the door.

Step 1: Shower and do your hair the night before.
We know this doesn’t work for everyone. Instead of showering, blow drying and styling in the a.m., you can just touch up your look in two-three minutes. If you must shower, make it snappy and let hair air-dry or wash your strands every few days or so.

Step 2: 5-minute make-up
Once you have your makeup routine down, you can probably organize it into a five-minute system—for example, concealer, eyeliner, mascara, gloss…go! If you’re struggling with this one, we recommend The 5-Minute Face: The Quick & Easy Makeup Guide for Every Woman ($6.63 and up at Amazon.com) by Carmindy.

Step 3: Love your clothes!
Now this is where Workchic really shines. It’s our goal to take the stress out of getting dressed for work.  This step has a few subcategories.

*Don’t buy anything you don’t really love.
This may seem obvious, but shopping sales items makes it easy to pick something up for the price instead of the style. Then when you’re getting ready you have a closet that’s just full of stuff. Instead, find pieces that speak to your own personal look.

*Great basics (Check out WorkChic for more!)
Filling your closet with work wardrobe basics means you’ll always have something to wear. These include black pants, white blouses, simple dresses and black heels.

*Unique Accessories
With accessories that are fun and interesting, you can layer them over even the most basic outfit and create a stylish ensemble.

*Organize your Closet
Some people believe in picking out your clothes the night before. We prefer an organized closet. If you can easily find the pieces you are looking for, getting ready happens in a snap. Organize based on your dressing style. Here are some great options:
- by color
- by silhouette
- by outfit

Step 4: Don’t stress
Stressing out takes time and energy (something you shouldn’t even be thinking about before you’ve had your coffee).  Your hair is done and your makeup is on. You have seven-eight minutes to put together an outfit.  You can do this!
Here are some easy examples of three outfits we bet you could pull from your closet today.

Black pants, your favorite blouse, drop earrings and black shoes.

Pants: 215 Martin classic trouser pant ($98) from Banana Republic

Blouse: Tattersall Ruffle Shirt ($69.50) from Banana Republic

Earrings: Fate Earring ($29.50) from Banana Republic

Shoes: ‘Jacky’ Platform Pump ($120) from Banana Republic

A dress, neutral heels, cardigan and bracelet.

Dress: V-Neck Stretch Sheath ($130) from Banana Republic

Heels: Hive and Honey Lorna ($89) from Piperlime

Cardigan: Textured Ruffle Cardigan ($124.99) from BCBGMAXAZRIA at Piperlime

Bracelet: Alex and Ani Spoonful of Sugar Expandable Wire Bangle Set ($58)  in Berrylicious Blackberry at Max & Chloe

For casual Friday: jeans, a tee shirt, statement necklace and ballet flats.

Jeans: The Stilt Skinny Jeans ($150) by AG Adriano Goldschmied at ShopBop

Tee: Modern Scoopneck Tee ($29.50) from Banana Republic

Necklace: Sequin Tie Back Metal ($99) from Piperlime

Shoes: Elizabeth and James Myra ($240) from Piperlime

With these three outfits we listed the pieces in a generic way so you can easily interpret the looks into your own work wardrobe. When we say neutral heels these could be nude, black or brown. We showed a short-sleeved ruffle front cardigan, but you could swap this out for a long sleeve cardigan or even a blazer.

Step 5: A go-to outfit
We all have at least one outfit that makes us feel fantastic. Identify what makes this ensemble special and try to create a second version or even a third. This way you’ll always have a look that’s always ready to go…even when you hit snooze five too many times.

We hope this helps you get ready for work in a flash and start your day off in style!

-Jennifer Diana & Melissa McGraw for Workchic.com

Workchic co-founders Melissa McGraw and Jennifer Diana have been immersed in the fashion industry for over ten years. They don’t expect anyone to look like runway models—just pulled together with a bit of style!

GIRL TALK TIME: What’s the biggest challenge about getting ready? What are YOUR secrets for getting dressed in a snap? Tell us now!