Workwear Inspo with The Cubicle Collections

Sustainable and ethical fashion is coming more and more to the forefront of designs and clothing as of late. Christian Siriano just sent down the runway an entire collection of dresses made from recycled material. Levi launched denim jeans that are made using 96% less water. And local shop owners like the ones at Ash + Rose are creating a space where you can shop local and global ethical brands all in one place.

Ash + Rose is a local Boston boutique that was unfortunately flooded at the start of the pandemic. If you recall (because I have a soft spot for local businesses) I sported one of their specialty masks in 2020 that helped to raise funds for them to get back on their feet. As the world continued to shut down, they had to make the decision to close down their physical store and move everything to their digital site. Since then, they have grown their boutique with new ethical, sustainable and beautiful pieces that will last over time and an inspiring assortment of clothing and accessories.

So what makes it ethical and sustainable fashion? I think that Good Housekeeping defined it best, “It takes into account the full lifecycle of the product — from the design, sourcing, and production processes — and looks at everyone and everything being affected by it, from the environment, to the workers and communities where it’s produced, to the consumers who purchase it.”

I know that we are all used to ‘fast fashion’, but after trying some of these pieces on and styling them into beautiful outfits, I can see myself buying more sustainable clothing. I partnered with Ash + Rose to pull together three outfits for my working ladies that are all from sustainable and ethical fashion. I hope that it inspires you to look into it and try it too!

The Daily Grind Look

Here’s an outfit for the day in and day out at the office. It felt so good to put on a pencil skirt again and this beautiful skirt is such a treat. The navy raised dot textured skirt is directly from the Ash+ Rose Collection which is locally designed and made in Boston! The fabric is very flattering and the details really elevate the skirt and the outfit as a whole. It actually has a stretch to it so it doesn’t fit tight at all.

I paired this skirt with a cream colored blouse that has a puff sleeve detail. The organic cotton shirt is blended with a little spandex which makes it really soft and luxurious.  Final touches with accessories add more depth and texture to the overall look. I went with the Latif necklace because I love the delicate layers in a leaf-like shape and the gold medallion adds another dimension to the outfit.

Lastly, these beautiful Celestia Crawlers are great for a little peek-a-boo of bling. I always wear a rhinestone stud for my daily zoom calls, but this takes it to a whole new level. AND, I am a total space and NASA nerd so the nod to the constellations is right up my alley! I am wearing the set of white crawlers, but it’s also available in red, black, and champagne. Simple yet elegant is such a great way to think about work wear. Chai tea in hand – ready to ace the day!

A Day to Night Look

Now THIS is a dress for a total girl boss. It’s like taking the little black dress concept and bringing it up to an executive level. Don’t be fooled by its simplicity, the up close and personal details of this organic cotton sheath dress really makes you walk just a little bit taller. The boat line neck makes a statement, but the slit in the front is what makes it slightly sassy.

The sheath dress also has a seam around the waistline that draws the attention of the eye. I was thinking that this dress would be a great option to pack if you had to travel for work. I can imagine going from the hotel, to meetings, to hosting a business dinner and this dress can make the transition throughout the day seamless.

I accessorized this dress with a brass chunky necklace since they are all the rage this season and a quartz infinity band for that elegance and touch of sparkle. Sparkle always makes the day better. I grabbed the vegan leather wristlet and headed out the door! The wristlet is also available in teal, red, silver and sierra leone. Girl Boss on the MOVE – watch out!

The Weekender Look

When you work all week long, you deserve a fun and casual weekend outfit that screams ‘Spring is here’. To me, a head to toe denim look gives off the perfect vibe for all the weekending there is to do this year.

Have you ever seen a chambray top with pleats? This top is so unique with the pleats under the pockets and the fabric is buttery soft! Most people may want to throw this on over a pair of jeans or shorts because of the shape of the shirt, but I opted to tuck it into a pair of split seam, flare jeans! You read that right – flare jeans are making a comeback! I feel like I am back in high school again but with a much cooler high rise cut.

To break up the shades of blue, I wanted to bring in a more earthy and warm tone to the outfit starting with this gorgeous camel leather tote bag. Talk about a weekend bag that is just perfect!

I added cool hoop earrings that are inspired by the sunsets of the serengeti and are made using brass and ethically sourced bone materials. I love the contrast it brings with the split between solid white and just air space. I offset it with a minimalist style layered necklace made of labradorite and a modern cage style ring that resembles the same “stacked” look.

If you ask me, this is an outfit for for wandering the beautiful neighborhoods of Boston. Now all we need is the sunshine to stay all season.

What do you think of these three outfits? Which one would you wear?

Thank you to Ash + Rose for an amazing experience with this try-on haul and sponsoring this post!