Think outside the cubicle...

Let's face it, most of us don't just go to work and then go straight home. We run errands, meet up with people for drinks and dinner or a multitude of other things afterwards. So being able to dress for work without having to stop at home to change is a beautiful thing!

Having staple pieces in your wardrobe give you more variety to mix and match with in the mornings. BB Dakota Stretch Denim Leggings and Patsy Blouse are a must for any wardobe! You can also pair these with the Luella Lace Cardigan, Audrey Floral Button Down Shirt or a BB Dakota Cora Sweater.

Try some of these combinations for your day to night looks:

















Accessorize these looks with some cute flats like our Thin Ice Black Flats or Vivienne Westwood Melissa Flats.





As you're leaving work, throw on a pair of Sylvia Benson Christie Earrings or a Sylvia Benson Nathe Necklace to finish out your night-time look.




Now you're ready to go from work to play with just a few key pieces.

how to wear it: the boyfriend look

Last week we showed you some of our new boyfriend-inspired items, now we're going to show you how to pull them off! We're obsessed with these new pieces and felt like we needed to snap a couple pics of our favorite styled looks:

This is a great way to sport a boyfriend cardigan while creating balance and keeping proportions in check! We put a fitted Free People Convertible Tank under the boyfriend-inspired BB Dakota Cora Sweater, and then layered two Hobo belts to cinch the waist and keep volume under control. Then we added our brand new Citizens of Humanity Jeans; so fitted and soft they're more like a legging! To top it off, we used the Mechanics Boot to keep the boyfriend theme going and add a little edge to this casual and comfy outfit.

Get this look:

Boyfriend Cardigan by BB Dakota, $64
Convertible Tank by Free People, $48
Jeans by Citizens of Humanity, $170
Boyfriend Boots by Bronx, $149

Menswear-inspired outfits are chic, and surprisingly versatile! With this look we decided to layer tailored pieces - a classic white BB Dakota shirt (an absolute must-have for any closet) with BB Dakota's Boyfriend Jacket. We love to mix elements of dressy and casual, so to compliment the top and jacket we added some new Citizens of Humanity Ava Jeans and our Mechanics Boots by Bronx.

Get this look:

Shirt by BB Dakota, $55
Boyfriend Blazer by BB Dakota, $82
Jeans by Citizens of Humanity, $174
Boyfriend Boots by Bronx, $149

One of our personal favorites: the boyfriend jean. The height of comfort, the Citizens of Humanity Riley Jeans are meticulously crafted to have the worn-in-boy-jeans look and feel. We love the way they look rolled up and paired with our Seychelles Denaise Heel. To add extra femininity, we topped them off with the bright and beautiful Noni Top by BB Dakota, Sylvia Benson's Christie Earrings and Sylvia Benson's Tread Bracelet.

Get this look:

Top by BB Dakota, $55
Bracelet by Sylvia Benson, $64
Earrings by Sylvia Benson, $56
Jeans by Citizens of Humanity, $226
Heels by Seychelles, $98

The Mechanic Boots by Bronx are genuine leather, amazingly comfortable, and an easy way to give an edgy and masculine charm to your outfit. With a wide top at ankle height, these are perfect with super skinny jeans like Citizens of Humanity's Phantom, leggings, or just bare legs! Here we decided to pair them with our new Free People Super Tank Mini Dress and the oh-so-opulent Sylvia Benson Nathe Necklace.

Get this look:

Dress by Free People, $68
Necklace by Sylvia Benson, $126
Boyfriend Boots by Bronx, $149

Use these as inspiration or get the exact looks at gladiolagirls.com! Let us know what you think of these, or tell us about your favorite way to create the boyfriend look!

weekly wink 2.24.2010

This week enjoy 20% off all of our sweaters and sweater tunic dresses! We have a lot of different styles to choose from so start shopping now while they're still here. Here's just a few styles on sale now:

Soda Blu Crossing Tunic
$52.80 this week! Normally $66

Panels of soft knit wool cross over one another and give a fresh shape to the sweater tunic. Short sleeves and a modest v-neck make this appropriate not only for all occasions, but all seasons.

Vanessa Sweater Coat
$171.20 this week! Normally $214

New from Indah, the Vanessa Sweater coat is a work of art. This ultra-loose knit material is just heavy enough to lend warmth and beautiful drape, while maintaining great movement. The collar curves elegantly away the décolletage, and the removable belt allows you to wear it open or with a cinched waist. Try the Vanessa Sweater Coat with jeans or a mini-dress if you're feeling daring. Boots or booties of any color will compliment this cream-colored beauty.

Soda Blu Cable Knit Tunic Dress
$57.60 this week! Normally $72

Another great piece for between-the-seasons looks, this dress by Soda Blu offers a fitted silhouette to contrast the chunky knit and thick collar. Layer with long sleeves, leggings, jacket and boots for colder days, and try with ankle boots when warmer weather approaches.

Browse the webstore for more sweater coats, sweater dresses, cardigans, and more from all your favorite brands; BB Dakota, Tulle, and Nick & Mo just to name a few. There's plenty to choose from, so take advantage of this week's deal online, or in-store with this coupon:

the boyfriend

We can't get enough of boyfriend pieces! Needless to say we're pretty excited about a lot of the items we just got in. Slightly oversized yet tailored at the same time; that's the magic of menswear-inspired looks.

But now it's not just boyfriend jackets and shirts; women everywhere are indulging in the comfort and style of boyfriend cardigans and (our favorite) the boyfriend jean.

Some may think that these pieces are only for the fashion-ambitious, but creating the perfect balance between the feminine and masculine is super easy.

Take this BB Dakota Reagan Jacket. When paired with the right items, this is a stunning piece that anyone can pull off. We suggest a pair of skinny jeans to counter the boxy shape and larger proportion of the jacket. Add a brightly-colored, ruffled or otherwise feminine blouse underneath and voila! Chic and sophisticated.

The Riley is a boyfriend jean from none other than Citizens of Humanity. Now we all know that CoH can make one awesome pair of jeans but this pair is a sure contender for the most comfortable piece of clothing in your closet. Made from the softest denim you've ever felt, these feel just like your boyfriend's broken jeans (sans the stains and holes).

The tailoring of the Riley is thoughtful and subtle. They aren't merely made a size larger, but are perfectly proportioned to create the same style as a pair of men's jeans. With the leg tapering out at the top of the thigh, a slightly baggier front, larger back pockets, and just slightly bigger fit, these give just enough of boyish charm without swallowing your body whole.

Our favorite way to wear these? Roll them up slightly above the ankle, add your highest heels and your chunkiest jewelry. This is such an instant classic, pair with your favorite fitted tee or your most elaborate blouse; either way you'll have a timeless and totally adorable look.

Ah, the boyfriend cardigan.

This particular version; the BB Dakota Cora Sweater, is truly a thing of beauty. It's another piece with subtle tailoring differences, like the longer length and dropped shoulder seam. It also has the perfect neutral color; an ultra light gray that maintains masculinity while inspiring versatility.

While the boyfriend cardigan may be the easiest to wear with anything, we love it with dresses. Short, tailored and brightly-printed dresses to be specific. But don't feel limited! This is also a great piece to layer over a colored top and skinny jeans with ballet flats or boots for the ultimate style and comfort.

Try rolling up the sleeves and stacking bangles or menswear-inspired watches (or both)! There are a million ways to wear these classic pieces.

Do you have a favorite way to wear them? Let us know! We love to hear from you!