Outfits for the Office from Brands You'd Never Expect

When you are shopping for new outfits for work, let’s face it you are probably familiar with brands like Liz Claiborne, Calvin Klein, Jones of New York, Kate Spade, Michael Kors, and Nordstrom. You probably aren’t familiar with brands like Petrol, Ariat, Wrangler, and Roper.  These brands are typically thought of as “western clothes” and not office attire. Yet my sister stopped by to Walker’s the other day and picked up a Wrangler shirt for work. The ladies in her office kept commenting “I didn’t know Wrangler made clothes like that!”  So that got me thinking, I bet a lot of people are unaware of the great office appropriate finds we carry from the so called “western brands”. Now you won’t find any suits and ties here, but if you work in an environment that is in between casual and suit and tie, check out these work outfits I’ve put together:

 

This ladies Roper shirt is perfect for the office! Pair it with dark jeans like the Wrangler Q-baby jeans pictured or with a pair of slacks or skirt.

So I love this Petrol Cardigan. It is so versatile. Throw a black and silver tank top like pictured, or throw in some color. Either way it looks great.

This Cruel Girl Tunic is a great top for adding some color into your work wardrobe.

Here are a few more tops that I think would be perfect in many office settings:

Ariat Braided Front Cardigan

 So this is another cardigan, but I love how versatile they are. You can throw over a button down like in this picture or rock a colored sleeveless underneath depending upon the look you are going for. This cardigan is also really light weight so it makes a great layering piece even in the spring/summer (those offices can crank the AC enough to make anyone reach for something a little warmer).

Ariat Callie Tunic

 This Ariat tunic is perfect for spring. I also like that you can dress this down with some blue jeans like in the picture, or pair it with some dress slacks and head to the office.

Ariat Rose Tunic

 Another great tunic from Ariat that is perfect for spring.

Wrangler Printed Chiffon Shirt

 This Wrangler shirt is great for throwing over a cami or tank top and heading to work. It's super light weight so you can wear it all year long and be comfortable. The picture pairs it with some light wash blue jeans, but just imagine it with some black slacks? Perfect office attire. 

Ok so for the men we have tons of button down work shirts that are perfect for pairing with or without a tie. Plus, many of these shirts wick moisture and sweat away from the body and come with some spf protection. So yes, you can wear these work shirts away from the office! Below are a few shirts I personally found to be well-suited for the office, but feel free to check through our entire collection here.

Ariat Mens Drew Shirt

 I just love the print of this Ariat shirt. As you can see it looks good with jeans, or you can pair it with dress slacks depending on your office environment.

Ariat Mulled Wine Twill Shirt

 This solid color twill button down shirt by Ariat is perfect for pairing with a tie and jacket if need be.

Ariat Trona Plaid Shirt

I am a sucker for plaid shirts. I just love the color pairings in this Ariat shirt. Makes this shirt stand out from all the other dress shirts you'll see in the mall.

So if you are in the market for something new and different to spruce up your work attire, don't hit up Nordstroms, Macys, or those other big box stores. Stop by Walker's either in person or on line and have fun looking through our racks! This memorial day weekend(5/22/14-5/26/14) is the perfect time to check out what we have to offer. It's 25% off anything you can wear! So pick up some casual clothes, work clothes, and some trendy boots all for a great deal!

 

Mother's Day Gift Buying Advice for the Uninspired

Has Mother's day become a routine of sending flowers every year? While most moms appreciate the gesture, don't you want to give your mom something that just screams "I appreciate what you have done over the years, here is something you can really use to unwind and relax from your normally hectic life"? While flowers are pretty and smell good, they seem to fall short of this mark.

So if you are now feeling inspired to go above and beyond this Mother's Day, here are some ideas to point you in the right direction:

What has your mom been complaining about lately? Assuming you actually talk to your mom on a regular or semi-regular basis you will know exactly what is on her mind. Then, find a gift that will help to fix or at least take her mind off of the problem. For instance, with all this rain my mother has been complaining about her back. So for this Mother's Day I bought her a Back on Track Therapeutic T-Shirt. This shirt uses ceramics to reflect body heat, increases blood flow to the affected areas and alleviates pain. It's basically like a heating pad, with the benefits of mobility.


What is something your mom hate's having to do or perhaps isn't as able to do due to age or ailments? Is it doing the laundry? Washing dishes? Scrubbing the kitchen floor? Mowing the lawn? Take note of these things and plan a day where you have some time to take care of these headaches for her. This option is perfect for those of us who find our wallets a bit empty this time of year. Bonus if you send her to get a massage or to get her nails done and surprise her with the completed tasks when she gets back.

Did your wife just have a baby? Then she's probably pretty stressed about her new motherly duties and very self-conscious of her body. She's probably mentioned a few times how much weight she has gained, how she needs to loose the baby fat, or how her clothes just don't fit right.  Go through her closet to get an idea of sizes. Then hit the stores and buy her an outfit she can feel good in. Here are my suggestions:

Shirt: Stay away from anything that is fitted. She will be pretty unhappy with her midsection right now, so grab her something loose fitting- yet doesn't look like a sack on her. This Cruel Girl Tunic is perfect because is is loose fitting to hide her midsection and feminine so she can feel pretty when she throws it on.

Pant: Stick with dark wash jeans. These have a slimming effect. If they have a bit of bling on the pocket even better- that's the trend these days! My pick would be the Wrangler's Booty Up Jeans. These jeans are designed to lift and define the rear view. Plus they are a mid-rise jean, further helping to hide that midsection.

Haven't seen mom in awhile? Whether it is because you moved to across the country, or just because work as consumed your life lately- now is the time to make an effort to reconnect. Book a flight home and surprise her with a visit for Mother's Day. She'll certainly appreciate seeing you in person more than receiving some flowers you ordered online. If you live close by but life has gotten in the way- set aside a day to visit. Take her out to eat, cook a meal together, go golfing- the possibilities are endless. And do me a favor, put the phone away during this time. The day is about spending quality time with your mom not catching up on work or stalking people on Facebook.

Hopefully these tips have steered you away from the flowers and towards something a bit more meaningful this mother's day. Be sure to take advantage of Walker's special Mother's Day Sale running 5/5 - 5/11 as well. Whether in store or online all womens apparel and accessories are 25% off, while gifts and home decor items are 30% off.

 Feel free to share your mother's day gift ideas in the comments section as well!