3-1-2026 MY WEEK: work and fun

 i was met with the highs and lows of work - having 3 days of just lots of supervisory tasks, adding endless bullet points onto my to-do list, putting out fires and just dealing with the delicate and often mentally tasking expectations of my work. don't get me wrong, i love what i do. it's proven during our conference - a yearly awards ceremony to celebrate the company's best of the best, added with fancy dinner, gala style, and party time - with love stories that inevitably make me cry, and inspiring keynote speakers that help me find the spark of leadership - and the answer for "why" i do what i do. 

anyways, i spent the end of the week in columbus to celebrate this work success - mainly to dish the tea with my work besties and celebrate our success. it's a networking opportunity, but let's be real for a minute - the best part is dressing up and having drinks during the weekday - among the big bosses.

i'm not going to brag about my position, i'm not super high on the totem pole, but you'll catch me being a social butterfly for sure.

how does one pack for a work trip that requires uniform-like dull blue t-shirts during the day but also formal during the same evening? how does one save face and avoid a hangover among your ceo? here's a few tricks on how to master the day-2-nite from a duffle bag and 24 hours in a hotel.

with limited time, my chances to sight-see are limited, even while in the heart of easton. the weather was better than what one can expect in ohio, but not comfortable enough to walk in heels and a skimpy dress in the middle of the night from one hotel to another.

i pack 3 outfits (1 formal fit), and choose a fourth for just in case. i bring the same tote bag for each fit, and for the 3 non-formal fits i style the same shoe. this reduces bulkiness and stress when styling. this trip, i chose sib's patchwork style tote bag seen below in my weekly fits. non-formal shoe of choice was my doc martens loafers.

the fits that i chose were intentionally layered. fit #1 was the simplest. dress code calls for a work tee in our infamous computer blue shade. in my 4 years of working for the company, i can't seem to stop accumulating these blue messes. i chose a long sleeve light sweatshirt, grey trousers borrowed from sib. the initial pant i planned to wear was just a bit too long, and since i didn't bring any other shoes with higher platform, i needed to avoid dragging. tote bag keeping essentials even when my toiletry bag is in my hotel room. arrival is noon, registration, snacks, and 3 hours of keynote speakers and inspirational speeches about successes follow.

fit #2 was for the evening ceremony dinner. after the 3-hour seminar, we are left with a mere 2 hours before cocktail hour. i historically make it to the tail end just before bar closes. i don't give me the option of picking and choosing too many dress choices. this year i chose a satin lbd and i always go with my trusty steve madden black platform heels. they're easy to walk in and i can stay in them all nite. since my dress was a strappy one, i added a ralph lauren brown houndstooth blazer - for a "smart" vibe. purse of choice was a magazine clutch which my coworker only realized mid-evening that i wasn't carrying a magazine around.

fit #3 was notably layered - a grey sweatshirt and a plaid shirt tied around the waist for a sense of elevation and added structure. baggy jeans and back to the loafers, with my army green jacket. sunnies are mandatory, as well as the free continental breakfast buffet, packed with carbs and hot sauce-drenched home fries to kill any leftover post-drinking nausea. running on 3 hours of sleep at this point, one fuels on coffee and post party-time laughter, such as comments from a coworker stating she heard my voice echo through floor 3 at 1am. sorry, can't help but be an outrageous woman

i was thankful for my work bestie who shared the room with me, as she owns a travel-sized steamer. i am notorious for not ironing my clothes, so this saved me from any raised eyebrows. when i'm at work tho, my coworkers expect me to run in 15 minutes late, with untamed bedhead and looking semi-disheveled. only my bravado and ability to laugh at myself is often my saving grace. 

what i'd change? i want to use the opportunity to make it a long weekend in columbus. and honestly, if it was a month later, conference could be held in the midst of early spring, with a higher chance of nice weather. 

in other fun fashion news, sunday was our window shop day and opportunity to thrift. sib needed some supplies for a sewing project, and i had a project in mind.

boyfriend recently told me i've been "reading too much" and haven't been doing any art projects in a while. i do enjoy battling the illiteracy epidemic, and as a rookie wannabe writer, my duty is to stay educated. but he is right. since christmas, and those brooches, i haven't done much since. 

i bought a pair of levi jeans. since i've been searching for something union jack related for the louis tomlinson concert this summer, sib had a wonderful idea i should recreate a bratz punk look:

here's my final result, and how i plan to wear it for the louis concert!

this week's looks

the week was defined by shades of black, lots of mesh, lace, and sheer details, and whimsy patterns breaking through the darkness. i enjoyed experimenting with layering tops on tops, whether it was tube top on top of blouse, or a peeking bralette under an off-shulder sweater. my punk-ish shoes were go-to this week. overall, expect whimsy looks inspired by goth bratz, 90s grunge, and even some oriental features which my coworkers described as "feeling turkish". that's what happens when you wear a knit turban to work. also, forgive the million different angles of these fit pics. i'm going thru an experimental phase.

monday inspo came from bratz midnight dance. under a mesh black/blue whimsical blouse i paired a black tube top. tadashi flowy pants with layered mesh. dark blue puffer and 90s style platform loafers. i tried to style a denim skirt for more accuracy, did not succeed. 

grungy layers on tuesday. suit trousers and a black top under a distressed vera wang grey top. super long, matrix style leather coat and steve madden loafers. 

"turkish" look for wednesday. cream maxi skirt, a patterned blouse with matching tank underneath, same matrix coat, gold bangle and purse. doc martens fisherman loafers. knit turban and ray bans

conference look 1. work logo top and grey trousers borrowed from sib. sib's patchwork tote and army style jacket. tons of jewelry to uplift such a usually dull look.

conference look 2. inspiration comes from a drawing from 5th grade found in my old diary. bebe satin dress, ralph lauren houndstooth blazer, steve madden platform heels and vintage magazine clutch. young me would be so proud. work bestie did the hair (she always vouches for a dramatic side part).

conference 3 - the hangover, inspired by influencer angie holden. levi's sweatshirt, baggy american eagle jeans, a columbia plaid shirt, army jacket, loafers and the patchwork tote again.

i woke up from my post-conference mid-day nap to toss on some neutrals for a fish fry dinner with boyfriend. that dinner revived me from zombie-mode. h&m turtleneck, vintage trousers, and surprise, surprise: the tote-loafer-jacket combo.

saturday sib and i ventured out to the cleveland public library to get a new environment for reading and blogging. i wore an asymmetrical off-shoulder sweater and my very bralette peeking. black trousers, fisherman loafers, kate spade tote with green hedgehogs. 

mom should be proud i take inspiration directly from her for my church fit. complete with her skirt sib took which is in the photo where she's posing proudly.

sunday's window-shopping called for a toned-down fit - but in similar shades. throwback fitspo

what am i looking forward to this week?

super excited to go to another mix - first one this year! one of my old work besties is celebrating her birthday, and the group seems to agree on escape room?!