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The M Dash

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On Duty/Off Duty, Winter Edition: Part 1

February 15, 2019 | Filed in: Your Closet

This time of year, it’s hard to resist the urge to hibernate—why make post-work plans when you can curl up on your couch in pajamas, instead? On days when you’re feeling motivated to socialize, we’re here to help with transitioning your wardrobe from the office to the (wintery) real world. We challenged MM senior stylist Nyjerah to bring back our On Duty/Off Duty series to show how to wear MM pieces both formally and casually. First up: Nyjerah puts together two outfits for our team member Maddie. “Maddie’s style is preppy, but in a modern way,” says Nyjerah. “I wanted her looks to reflect that clean, polished aesthetic, so I built her outfits around a classic white button-up.” Read on to see how Nyjerah styles Maddie for on duty and off duty in our Lauren top.

On Duty

white button up styled formally

Maddie wears the Lauren top, the Pippa pant, the Ginger pump, and the Vanderbilt earrings.

“To amp up the Lauren top for Maddie’s ‘On Duty’ look, I paired it with the Pippa pant, a sleek culotte with a wide-leg fit. Some people assume you have to balance a blousy top with a fitted pair of pants, but I like to pair two looser silhouettes together. These pants have a defined waistline, and when you wear them with a relaxed top, it creates a really flattering, hourglass-like shape.”

white button-up styled formally

Maddie wears the Lauren top, the Pippa pant, the Ginger pump, and the Vanderbilt earrings.

“To finish the look, I added classic black pumps and elegant earrings. This outfit isn’t your traditional take on business formal, but the black and white color palette and the sophisticated silhouettes still check all the office-appropriate boxes. I wanted to show that you can add a fashion-forward edge to a more buttoned-up outfit and stay true to your personal style.”

Off Duty

white button-up and jeans

Maddie wears the Lauren top.

“In the office, I always see Maddie wearing reading glasses behind her computer, so for her ‘Off Duty’ look, I wanted to accentuate her bookishness in a casual way. I styled the Lauren top with jeans and loafers and rolled and cuffed the sleeves to make the shirt feel less conservative.”

Maddie wears the Lauren top and the Grace loafer.

“Since we’re in the thick of winter, I wanted to incorporate layering into the look, so I had Maddie wear the Lauren over a black turtleneck. I left the top few buttons open so that the turtleneck peeks through as an accent. The color palette is the same as in the ‘On Duty’ look, but the overall ensemble has more edge. I also had Maddie tie her hair back for a relaxed feel.”

Feeling inspired by Maddie? Our new collection, For the Win, also transitions seamlessly from on duty to off duty. See our latest pieces here.

Photographs by Christine Han. Styling by Nyjerah Cunningham.