As my extended summer vacation comes to an end, I decided I needed some “back to work clothes.”  I lost my job at the end of April, and I have to admit it was a blessing in disguise.  I was lucky enough to have the entire summer off to focus on family and friends, and take care of items that have been on the to-do list for a long, long time.

So of course when I get an email that LOFT was having a fantastic 40% off sale after I landed my new job, I started clicking away.  How could I resist?  Besides the fact that they carry a large inventory of petites (I’m only 5’0″), I’ve spent three months running around in cutoff shorts, flip flops, and bikinis, so to ease the transition into pants and pumps I figured a mini shopping spree would help.

First, I snagged this super cute Daisy Square Neck Flare Dress.  It has a small daisy print and a nice stretch, making it really comfortable to wear all day.  And, at 40% it was a bargain!  For reference, I’m wearing a 2 petite.

I also purchased a couple skirts.  Both are stretchy, which is nice if you’re sitting in an office all day.  The Navy Striped Wrap Pull On Skirt (sold out) will be a nice piece for these final days of summer and looks perfect with the cherry colored Textured Short Sleeve Sweater.  The sweater is under $50 and available in both regular and petite sizes.

This black Petite Ponte Flippy Skirt is going to get a lot of wear – I can tell already.  It goes with so many tops that are already in my closet, and it should transition to fall nicely.  It’s currently on sale for $49.99, with an extra 40% off, so it’s sure to sell out quickly.  And, it comes in Regular, Petite, Plus, and Tall!  I’m wearing a Petite XS

I also bought a couple pairs of pants to add to my work wardrobe.  I got these adorable  Slim Cuffed Marissa Fit Pants in blush.  Regularly $79.50, they are currently on sale for 50% off!  The light pink color is fun and will break up the monotony of my largely black and gray wardrobe!  They go perfectly with this light weight Striped Bell Sleeve Sweater (no longer available) I picked up last spring from LOFT.  They do have lots of other, similarly styled sweaters online that would look great with these pants.   I also snagged these Slim Custom Stretch Pants in the Marissa Fit.  The color is listed as “black” but it has textured white throughout, creating a tweed-like look.  I can tell these will also get a lot of wear, as they are so versatile – you can pair them with many different colors.  I’m wearing a 2 petite in both pairs of pants.

And, of course, I couldn’t be all work and no play!  I have been looking for a cute denim skirt for a couple months and found this Frayed Denim Skirt.  It’s currently on sale for $44.99 with an extra 40% off – it will definitely sell out.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve saved items in my shopping cart, then went back a few days later to buy them and they were no longer available.  With these fantastic sale prices, you have to act quickly.

It looks like I have my outfits planned for my first week in the office, as well as for Friday night out!  Wish me luck as embark on this new adventure!