7 Sophisticated Ways to Power Dress Without Wearing a Suit

1. Turtleneck + Wide Leg Jeans

Finding a modest outfit combination that works during winter feels like finding a needle in a haystack sometimes, but there are fail-proof options! For example, wearing a turtleneck sweater with a pair of wide-leg jeans is something anyone can pull off. Both cover all parts of your body save your hands and feet, plus you can drape a winter coat over your shoulders!

2. Teddy Coat + Classic Button-Up Shirt

A classic button-up shirt add a naturally polished appeal to any outfit because they can be dressed up or down. Though this outfit features a 'white top and jeans' combo with black loafers, the short teddy coat gives it a casual feel. It's great for anyone who doesn't have time to change after work to meet up with friends for dinner and drinks!

3. V-Neck Sweater + Cargo Pants

Despite its seemingly plunging neckline, a v-neck sweater is for all the girls who love modest outfits. You can easily opt for a hemline that rests at the bottom of your waist, but the oversized or tunic look works too! Pair it with cute cargo pants and a pair of ankle boots, and you have an awesome outfit on your hands!

4. Denim Skirt + Lightweight Coat

There's no need to force yourself to like the mini bubble skirt trend just because it's included in a few holiday new arrivals. You can stick to a midi denim skirt, tights, and a lightweight coat if that feels more comfortable. As far as I'm concerned, it's a low-fuss outfit idea that can take you from family holiday pictures to date night.

5. Smocked Top + Ankle Boots

A smocked top can still be worn during winter, but you just need to make sure you have a nice trench coat to go over your entire outfit. Also, check to make sure the sleeves are flouncy enough to peek through for a modern renaissance moment!

6. Rib Knit Top + Bandeau Dress

Let's address the elephant in the room: I don't recommend that you wear strappy heels during winter if you're going to be walking through snow. But, you can absolutely wear a rib knit top under a bandeau dress. Just makes sure it's a longline option so your outfit remains modest!

7. Denim Jumpsuit

I love a good denim jumpsuit, especially if it has a similar features of cargo pants. However, that's not a requirement for anyone. The goal is to wear something that still speaks to your personal style as long as it's long-sleeved and doesn't have any cut-out action going on!

8. Barbie Pink Coat + Straight Leg Jeans

Lastly, a Barbie pink coat and a pair of straight leg jeans is one of the easiest modest outfit combinations you'll love wearing this winter. The only thing I recommend wearing is a sleek rib knit or cotton sweater with them so nothing feels bulky.

1. Tailored Denim

Ann Taylor The Denim Trouser

Denim is a timeless classic that's been around for as long as any of us can remember. It also comes in a variety of styles, making it easy to style no matter your age. What makes tailored denim so special — like this pair of Ann Taylor trousers — is it's ability to be appropriate for business casual work settings. The classic rinse wash is more ideal for cooler winter days while the flared hemlines give ankle books a nice peek-a-boo feature.

GAP Classic Button-Down Jean Shirt

A classic button-down shirt with non-stretch denim is another easy style to wear because it can go with almost anything you own. Bootcut jeans? Yep! A suede midi skirt? We love a western moment! However, the most important thing we appreciate about this shirt is that it's made of 95% cotton.

Banana Republic Pia Denim Midi Skirt

Denim skirtshave been been on the style scene for a while and we're sure they're here to stay. To avoid baring too much skin during winter, opt for a midi option like this piece from Banana Republic. It has a similar flared hemline like the Ann Taylor Denim Trousers, making it appropriate for 9 to 5 days, brunch with friends on Saturday, or church on Sundays!

2. Playful Textures

Mango Suede Leather Loafers

Loafers are an absolute staple during fall and winter, hence why we keep talking about them so much! They're a chic way to elevate even the most basic t-shirt and jeans outfit combinations, plus they work for everyone. Get a suede pair to add subtle texture to your outfit for a fun chic moment.

Old Navy High-Waisted Corduroy Wide-Leg Pants

Corduroy pants are another winter staple that continue to be recycled throughout the years. No matter how hard we try, we keep coming back to them which is why we think they're a great style option for women over 50. Because of their texture, these pants can also add subtle texture to your overall look without creating a huge statement.

Joe's Jeans by Dani Michelle Mia Crop Leather Pants

If you want to wear something a little bolder, you can't go wrong with black leather pants. They're a must-have during colder months, especially if they're lined!

This pair gives you the option to wear them with calf or knee-high boots so that they elongate your frame. Ankle boots are always cute, but they'd slightly throw off the dimensions of these pants! Once you have your chosen footwear, add a cute cardigan or sweater to it for a cozy look that'll receive compliments!

3. Animal Print

Tecovas Sierra Tote Bag

Leopard print is always trending, but that doesn't mean that's the only animal pattern you have to wear. Cow print is another fun way to add a pop of texture to your outfit if you're wearing something monochromatic. Or, you can easily copy the outfit above and look equally as stylish.

P.S. Don't be surprised if you see someone from B+C's editorial team wearing this look!

Banana Republic Oversized Snake Print Midi Dress

It's okay if wearing cow print feels weird to you because that's not your only option! Snake print is another pattern you can wear, especially if it looks like this Banana Republic midi dress. Instead of the typical depiction of snakes, this dress looks like someone zoomed in on scales and created something that feels more refined.

Sam Edelman Linnie Bit Mule

Add a touch of zebra print to your winter outfit with these calf hair mules by Sam Edelman. They still have a bold factor like the Tecovas tote bag or the Banana Republic snake print dress, but they're not as in-your-face.

4. Shades Of Green

J.Crew Daphne Topcoat

Everyone needs a nice topcoat in their life, preferably in the shade green! We're 100% biased about that because green brings out a person's inner glow and helps ground them based on color psychology. Also, the fact you could wear a sweatsuit with this coat and still look put together makes us excited to share it with you.

Target Bucket Crossbody Bag

Add a pop of color to your outfit with this cute crossbody bag found at Target, everyone's favorite place to shop. The minimal gold hardware gives it such a sleek appearance that we're personally fighting the urge to buy it in black too!

Abercrombie & Fitch Easy Funnel Neck Sweater

You can always rely on a sweater to be easy to style! Abercrombie & Fitch's funnel neck version is amazing for anyone who wants to wear a turtleneck without feeling like they're struggling to breathe. We understand they're not always comfortable, but you won't get that with this cute style!

5. Cardigan & Coats

Anthropologie Brushed Cardigan Sweater Coat

Are you ready to give up cardigans? We figured you'd say no so we're giving the best of both worlds — a cardigan coat. Anthropologie always has the cutest winter styles so this brushed texture was too cozy-looking to ignore. You know what's even more exciting about it? Anthropologie is literally giving you an OOTD idea you can easily recreate at home!

NA-KD Wool Scarf Detail Coat

Protect your neck from the brutal winter winds with NA-KD's scarf coat that'll keep you warm and chic. It's slightly oversized so you're able to wrap yourself up and not have to worry about looking like you didn't put any effort into your look.

Quince Double-Faced Merino Wool Scarf Coat

Go for a shorter option for the days where it's not as cold. You'll still get the same effect from a longer scarf coat without feeling like you'll trip over the hemline. Since Quince's design is wool, you'll still be nice and toasty! Just add a pair of gloves so that your hands don't freeze!

Opt for canned beer

This was one of my earliest discoveries in the world of fake drinking. No one can see your drink when it's in a can. You might read that and think, yeah so? Well, take that can with you to the other can, and dump it out in the sink. Fill it up with water and no one will be the wiser. In fact, they'll think — wow, she's really blasting through those Coors Lights. Pro tip: Be sure to wipe any water drips off the can before you leave the bathroom, and rinse the sink so there's no errant beer foam floating around.

If you have to order a real drink, choose a clear cocktail. This is the classic move. You creep over to the bar when no one else is around, and order a club soda with lime. Think of it as a mocktail. Be sure to ask the bartender to serve it to you in a cocktail glass — a giant water glass or plastic cup is a dead giveaway.

If it's impossible to get alone time at the bar, order a vodka soda (or gin and tonic). Then take it to the bathroom, dump out the liquid (use a straw to keep the ice and any garnishes in the cup), then fill it with water instead. Complain about the soda or tonic being flat if anyone questions your drink's lack of tiny bubbles.

Make friends with bartenders. At first, bartenders give you a bit of side-eye when you ask for a club soda in a cocktail glass. They won't ask you what the deal is, but you can let them assume what they like — especially when you order that second or third club soda in a cocktailglass.

If you're feeling cavalier, and you and the bartender have really hit your stride, you can even say, “I'll take anything non-alcoholic that looks like a cocktail." I actually made SUCH good friends with a bartender at a wedding where I was fake drinking that every time I came over to the bar, he immediately winked at me and gave me “my regular." My friends guffawed at the fact that I was already friends with the bartender. Pro.

Allude to a possible tannin allergy. Wine is the toughest thing to fake, so don't even try. Tell your friends about how, out of nowhere, you've started to get headaches immediately after drinking a glass of wine. When they're like, “Is it just when you drink red?" reply with a frustrated sigh, “No, both red and white make me feel crappy — maybe it's a tannin thing?" Then get your faux canned beer or clear mocktail, and call it a day.

Ginger ale is a GREAT substitute for Champagne. Ginger ale looks like Champagne, it smells kind of like Champagne, and if your friends are tipsy enough and take a sip, they'll actually believe that it IS Champagne. Don't overdo this one though — too much sugary soda is not a good thing for you and your secret babe!

Pretend to be getting over a cold (so no one asks for a sip). After all, it's sick season! [Insert fake coughs here]

Always be the one to order or serve a round of shots. Shots are one of the toughest things to fake. Like, really difficult. And you might be thinking, who still takes shots anyway? Well, the answer is: I do. Or rather, I did. It would have been impossible to be at my two besties' bachelorette party without at least one round of shots. So what's a preggo to do? Serve 'em up, of course.

Because shots are best served as a surprise to inspire a second wind in any given party, you can creep into the kitchen to set things up. Pour all but one, and fill that one with a substitute. Ideally, it looks like what you're serving, and if that's not possible, make 3-5 of them vodka shots including yours, which is actually… water! If ordering shots at a bar, you're probably already friends with the bartender, so just ask him to make yours a fake one and to put a napkin or coaster under it on the tray that comes out.

Keep a drink in your hand at all times. This is an obvious one, but it's worth mentioning. If you don't have a drink on hand, someone will either hand you one or give you a hard time for not drinking. DO NOT give them that opportunity ;)

Never leave your drink unattended. Hopefully, you already have this rule in your wheelhouse from your college days. In this case, the key here is avoiding two things: friendly refills and someone accidentally picking up your drink and finding out it's phony.

Avoid being the first one to hit the hay. If you've already been squirreling around on the beverage front, the next clear sign that you might be secretly pregnant is when you're the first one to go to bed. So don't do that. Don't go to bed. Ever! Okay, at some point you'll need to go to bed because you need a TON of sleep in your first trimester, but avoid being the first party pooper at all costs.

And don't use getting up early “for a run" or “to do some work" as an excuse for going to bed — friends that know you will see right through that.