As a professional, I have always found it difficult to come up with looks that fit both my career and my workplace on a day to day basis. When I was a designer with a “nine to five” (more like nine to nine!) kind of life, I brought a different look to the table every single day.

How many days was I late to work because I couldn’t figure out what to wear? About 3 out of 5 days. I used to blame the New York Subway systems on being late, but the real culprits were the time and effort it took to craft unique outfits. Shh, don’t tell my old bosses.

We all struggle in the morning sometimes putting together a look that is appropriate for your office or professional setting. Both men and women suffer from wardrobe exhaustion. Thank goodness, then, that the tips on how to make wardrobe choices easier for you are geared towards both men and women. So in light of that, here are five official Laurie B Style tips for achieving professional style.

1. Stick to the classics. Remember, classic pieces are your best friends. From pencil skirts and shift dresses for women, slacks and blue button downs for men, and the Camel trench coat for both genders. Investing in pieces like this for your wardrobe is always a smart idea because you can wear them in so many different ways.

But the key to keeping you looking updated and contemporary is in the fit. For men, fit is getting slimmer in everyday menswear and that may take some getting used to, but rest assured that the perception of you that you get out of it is well worth it.

2. It’s all in the timing. Wear a watch. Nothing says prestigious and professional like a beautiful watch. Watch faces are getting bigger, so go big or go home. For women, consider it a jewelry piece and invest in something that matches your typical bangle regimen.

3. Show your colors. With classics being important, blacks, navies, tans, olives seem to be common in our closets. So when dressing for your professional setting, don’t forget to wear some color to add some interest to your neutrals! A pop of color gets you noticed in the sea of darkly dressed professionals.

For men, go outside your boundaries and try a bold tie or shirt. Women, try colored skirts with your structured suit jackets, colored and printed blouses; also, you can’t go wrong with bright and bold accessories. All these little details will liven up your look!

4. Crisp and clean – A crisp white shirt goes a long way. It can be styled in every way possible, paired with every color, and worn on most occasions. Both men and women should have at least two to pull from. And going back to point one, remember that the key to making classics look new is fit, fit, fit.

5. Mind your shoe – What do women look at, upon first meeting somebody? Shoes. So keep that in mind. Men, clunky square toes are out, and don’t forget to shine your shoes. Women, if your heels are scuffed get them fixed. Can’t fix them? Invest in new shoes. And please give your self some heel. Nothing beats the powerful feeling of wearing a perfect heel.

Guest Post By Laurie Brucker. Laurie Brucker is an image consultant and celebrity stylist based in Los Angeles, California. She is the international brand ambassador for Sense of Fashion, you may follow her on Twitter @LaurieBStyle.

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