Wearing neutrals to work doesn’t have to be black and white, even if you’re wearing black and white! Today on the blog, I’m showing you how to breathe new life into the tuxedo suit trend for the office, or if you’re a reporter, in the field.
It was a Friday afternoon, which for someone who works the nightside shift as an on-camera reporter really means morning. And for someone who works weekends, it is also actually a Tuesday. For me, it was all of the above, plus a big break. Our station’s assignment editor gave me a call and told me I’d be covering Governor Gavin Newsom’s visit to Kern County (as many of you who follow me on the blog already know, I’m an on-camera reporter at an ABC affiliate. That’s my day—I mean night job.) Viewers would later discover on our newscast that he was specifically visiting the CSUB vaccination hub to provide an update on California’s vaccination efforts. I broke all this news in our primetime newscast at 5 and 6 p.m. as the reporter of the leading story.
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But before breaking the news, I had to break out an outfit to wear. Believe it or not, what I put on any given day on-air can have an impact on my confidence, my performance, and of course the obvious: how I look while I’m delivering the information. The outfit in these photos is not what I wore on that particular day, but I did sport a similar salt-and-pepper combination in the form of a fitted tweed dress. Mark my words, that wasn’t the first or the last time I wore black and white in the effort of neutrality.
Neutrals can mean toned down, in the sense of the optics, or the objectivity of the message. As much as I love wearing red or blue because the colors look good on me, I tread carefully when covering politics, or even covering a politician (disclaimer, covering politics or not, I never wear red or blue to take a stand, especially as a journalist. I remain neutral. But I do own a lot of both colors because they complement my skin tone and raven hair quite nicely).
When combining the hues of yin and yang, there’s a power in the aesthetic of contrast. It can really make you pop when you’re on-air, despite the colors being muted. This black jacket, save the usual blazer collar has a crisp and blunt cut that further emphasizes the off-white turtleneck beneath. The top acts like the cream of an Oreo when sandwiched together with this black mini skirt with a subtle slit. I switched in this skirt with the mid-length one initially paired with the outerwear for a more unconventional work suit that can be worn with go-go boots. I like the way the boots give this look a mod feel (another ode to mod fashion on-camera in this post). This ensemble, to be sure, will give a traditional black-and-white suit (which I also love) a run for its money. As we approach warmer months, you can easily switch the turtleneck out for a ribbed white T-shirt and a three-quarter-sleeve blazer for the same effect.
What color should I wear on-air next?
Keeping it Krischic,
Kristin Vartan
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P.S. These photos were taken by and with my best friend, Mari Makatsaria. If you haven’t checked out her fashion blog, you’re missing out.
Style Speaks 