Office Chic for Fall

I once had a female executive boss who wore skintight print leggings with white stiletto pumps to the office. Of course, that was 1990 and leggings were in their original heyday. But, nonetheless, even in a creative fashion environment she only lasted a few months. I blamed the leggings.

Dressing for the office is tricky when you try to incorporate the latest trends. While most of us want to be taken seriously behind the desk, we still like to look like women.

Thankfully, there's a convergence of fashion and work-ready wardrobes this season:  great American sportswear – blazers, pencil skirts, trousers – in sophisticated cityscape neutrals like camel, charcoal and black.

There's no need to buy an entirely new office wardrobe this year because it's so easy to add in a few pieces to spice up what you already have. Here's how:

• Belt it. Everything from cardigans to jackets to coats look new with a belt. Narrower belts work on smaller frames, while larger women can carry a wider belt. No need to be matchy-matchy with your outfit either: for instance, a brown belt works over a black jacket.
• Add a knit. Chunky knit sweaters and cardigans can update your basic trousers and skirts.
• Pop in a hot color. The seasons "It" colors are camel, olive and gray. Buy a piece or two and mix it back in with basic black.
• Try a wide-leg trouser. You may have shied away from wider legs in favor of slim silhouettes, but nothing's more sophisticated than a wide-leg trouser with a pretty blouse. Try the wider-leg pants with a platform shoe for height (flats don't work with wide legs.)
• Get a designer look for much less. In a perfect world we'd all be buying Donna Karan and Ralph Lauren designer collections. But you can get the runway look for much less by shopping on-trend at stores like Zara, which has enough high-end concepts (chunky knits, camel pieces) that it works well for us grown-ups.
• Wear a pantsuit. Need instant polish? The matched pantsuit has returned as the go-to power look for women.
• Layer with a vest or cardigan instead of a jacket. Swap out jackets once in a while for a vest or sweater cardigan. It looks newest belted for waist interest.