I'm Entering a New Professional Era—These Five Pieces Have Been Essential
They carried me through my first book tour, and might just help you through any career transition, too.
This month, my debut romance novel, Exit Lane, hit shelves. This project was a labor of love—something I’ve been working on for almost two years—and being able to celebrate with readers and friends was the highlight of the experience. Being eight months pregnant during my book tour? Well, that was just a challenge in sartorial creativity.
Career transitions of any kind can bring about all sorts of questions when it comes to how we dress. Working in tech, I used to find my Rachel Comey jumpsuits and Batsheva dresses deeply underappreciated by colleagues. Now, the bulk of my work is done from my sofa or a desk in a co-working space. It’s great for flexibility, but not ideal for outfit inspiration.
Gearing up for the launch of Exit Lane, I didn't know how, exactly, to show up in the world as an author. As I was figuring it all out and finding what worked—while being pregnant for the first time!—I kept coming back to a few key pieces that helped me reorient myself (and my style) in this new professional chapter.
Some of my tried-and-true favorites, like my Levi’s and structured blouses, are tucked away for months in the future, but I did my best to embrace not just what fit, but also key accessories that were dependable, versatile, and really grounded my outfits.
Dressing for your higher self—or at least, your ideal self—can really inspire confidence, professional and otherwise. These are the five pieces that helped me do just that.
A Great Watch
Slipping on my vintage Cartier Tank means the work day has started. I don’t even wear mine on the weekend most of the time—it’s that closely associated with clocking in for me. As cheesy at it sounds, the weight of it on my wrist reminds me that I’m lucky enough to do the thing I love the most for work.
You can get a great quality watch secondhand, but I recommend starting with something more affordable until you know you’re a Watch Person for real.
A Proper Work Bag
Nothing against canvas totes—I’m a big fan!—but showing up to meetings with a leather bag filled with everything you might need for a day of work is a quick way to go from running errands to getting shit done. I keep a little pouch inside mine that I can easily move to other bags with business cards, a charger, pens, and an emergency protein bar.
Running around from promo event to promo event while not quite feeling like myself (being in my third trimester), a work bag that did the outfit heavy lifting made a big difference. Plus, there’s never the surprise of it not fitting any more!
An Elevated Layer
Wearing a white T-shirt under a dress or blazer is a great base, but I love reaching for something a little more refined to build an outfit over.
I knew I wanted to wear the DVF mini pictured because I loved the way it looked with my new Prada lug loafers. The only question was what I’d wear under it. I first tried a cotton T-shirt underneath, but it read as totally off. This top from Nordstrom, with its collar and slight puff sleeve (what I'm typically after in shirting), completed my launch party look perfectly. Pro tip: I keep my workwear layering pieces in my dry cleaning rotation so they’re always crisp.
A Blazer That Fits Perfectly
There’s a lot of trial and error when it comes to finding your personal platonic ideal of a blazer. Trust me, I get it—I’ve had a tailor recreate a vintage blazer from scratch.
I’m drawn to something a little oversized so there’s room to play with layering. If I’m shopping secondhand, I’ll always opt for something a little bigger and work with a tailor to align the shoulders to a place that feels modern. Internal pockets are also a must. My advice is to try dozens on—new, used, men's—and take pictures in all of them. This will help you be as objective of a judge as possible in establishing your signature silhouette.
Shoes That Are Equal Parts Comfortable and Cool
I love wearing Sperry Top Siders. They’re a little more formal than sneakers, but not as structured as a brogue. And once you’ve worn them in, boat shoes are impossible to beat in the comfort category. They might be a little too preppy for the average work day, but it’s important to have a pair of shoes you can slip on for a big day out of the house. I like something simple that plays nicely with suiting or skirts. Bonus points: You can wear them solo, or with tights or socks.
