Contrary to popular belief, I will not be a professional student for the rest of my life. Today, Monday August 23rd, 2010, I start my first job with a salary. I hope you were sitting down for that. I'll wait a second while you process.

I received the job offer on Friday morning and Chris and I did a celebration dance around the dining room the second I hung up the phone. I'm thrilled - the work environment is casual, the people are interesting and fun, and I get to work downtown!

There was only one problem - what would I wear on my first day at work?! I thought of it like school shopping for the beginning of fall semester, only this time it was for the beginning of work. That makes sense, right?

I continued to reason with myself, attempting to justify the urge to go shopping that afternoon. On the one hand, I desperately wanted to treat myself for scoring such a great first job. On the other, one reason I sought a stable job was because I wanted to be more financially responsible. To me, this new financial maturity meant that I shouldn't spend money before I have it.

As you probably guessed from the images, shopping trumped staying at home on my last sunny, Friday afternoon off work for a long while. I bought this shirt, which was not a splurge. At the end of the day, it was a win-win; Financial responsibility meets a little treat.

This little top is by Left of Center from Anthropologie. I normally wouldn't buy such a long, loose, flowing top without putting a belt around my waist. However, because the side panels are a lighter, pale fabric, the shirt is surprisingly slimming.

I love how the batik-esque pattern is graphic without being stiff.

Paired with dark, skinny jeans, a pair of matching pointy heels and a cardigan or jacket and I'm out the door.

Happy Monday!