Life can be busy and hectic, there’s no doubt about it. I’m sure on more than one occasion you’ve found yourself with a jam-packed schedule, and wondered how you were going to find the hours to get everything done. A social life in particular can be difficult to keep up, and when something has to give unfortunately it’s usually the first thing to go. However it doesn’t have to be this way! If you don’t want to live for the weekends and are bored of the same sleep, eat, work, repeat routine then getting out and about in the week is sometimes essential. But what do you do when you have a social occasion and need to go right from work? Bringing an entire outfit and all of your cosmetics isn’t exactly practical! Instead you want to be able to change quickly, and glam up so that you don’t look like you’ve rolled in straight from work. But at the same time you don’t want to be spending forever getting ready, or it defies the whole object of dashing off to the party, out with friends or to a dinner date straight from work. Here are a few ways you can transform yourself from work to partywear without having to go home, and with as little hassle as possible.

Outfit

The trick to this is choosing an outfit that’s appropriate for work, but is still dressy enough to go out. It’s a delicate balance, but it can be done. Your best bet is to wear something plain, relatively smart and versatile. For example, a plain black skater or swing dress could be dressed up or down depending on what else you were wearing it with. You could wear a white collared blouse and tights underneath, and then take these off at the end of the work day. The same applies to black trousers, you could wear a vest top with a formal shirt over the top. After work, simply take off the shirt, and you have a versatile outfit which can easily be glammed up. Wearing a blazer or formal jackets over the top helps to make any outfit look more conservative for the daytime. And go with black, it’s perfect for both occasions. Smart, sophisticated and perfect for just about any occasion.

Try a blazer over a vest top for a smart daytime look that can easily be dressed up- source

Footwear

An easy way to take an outfit from day to night, is by switching up your footwear. Change out your conservative work shoes to a pair of strappy heels and you will instantly transform your whole look. Your plain, dress or trousers with glamourous heels will no longer look the same as when you wore them to work! If you don’t want to take extra bags with you, wear a pair of thin flats to work and take your evening shoes in a carrier bag. After work, pop the flats in your handbag (they won’t take up too much space or weigh much) put on the strappy heels and throw the carrier bag in the bin. No messing around with extra bags and you have everything you need. If you’re wearing open toed shoes, don’t forget to paint your toenails the night before! The last thing you want is to realise at the last minute that you’re in need of a pedicure without any of the stuff you need with you. If you’re smart with your choice of shoes, you might even be able to get away with wearing the same pair for both day and evening. Some heeled black pumps for example would work well for both looks.

Black heeled pumps could work for both work wear and the evening too- source

Accessories

Accessories are another great way to transform a look. Add a statement necklace, some bracelets or earrings to your black dress for example, and you take it from day to night in an instant. Sites like Frost NYC have some unique and interesting pieces, allowing you to showcase your style and personality. Since your outfit will be quite plain (which allows it to work for both day and night), your accessories are really what will bring in some interest and are crucial for dressing it up. If you work in a professional workplace, chances are you won’t wear much jewelry or many accessories during work hours, so it’s another great way to distinguish a look between night and day. Another trick you could try if you’re wearing a dress is to add a thin colorful or metallic waist belt. Not only will this add some color and contrast to the black, but will also make what you’re wearing more form fitting too.

Add a statement necklace to instantly transform a plain outfit- source

Hair

For work, you could wear your hair in a tidy and professional looking French braid. This will keep it out of your face and look nice and neat. For the evening, undo it, and you’re left with voluminous waves. It’s a great way to transform your look and a way you can achieve texture and volume without the need for heat styling tools. Alternatively, you could wear your hair loose, and spruce it up at the end of your shift. If you bring a mini can of dry shampoo in your bag along with a teasing comb, you can volumize your roots. The perfect way to perk up flat hair and give if lift when you’ve been at work all day!

Makeup

Even with a simple outfit on, makeup can change your entire look and make it so much more evening appropriate. For your work makeup you could go with a simple, minimal look- some foundation to even out your complexion, some neutral eyeshadow, mascara and lip balm. Then if you bring a few essentials in your bag, it’s easy to glam it up for the night. Line your eyes with black kohl pencil, and add a cat flick along the upper lash line with a liquid eyeliner. A pair of false eyelashes will really finish the eye look and don’t take up much space in your bag. A swipe of bronzer to add definition and warmth to the skin, and some bold lipstick again will make you look completely different. A makeup bag with a couple of essential products is all you need. You could even go a step further and purchase ‘two in one’ products to save even more space. For example, a bronzer and highlighter compact duo. A two in one mascara/ liner with each product at either end. A few touches would only take five to ten minutes, and you could do it in your work’s bathroom at the end of your shift. It will make a huge difference and probably make you feel far more glamorous and confident too. If you think you might feel a little under dressed, a swipe of red lipstick will fix that in an instant!

A swipe of red lipstick can make any outfit look more evening appropriate- source

Perfume

Perfume is a great way to finish off your outfit. Of course, you need to keep it quite light at work, but in the evening you can go for something a bit heavier and more sultry. Don’t bring along a whole bottle with you, though, chances are you have samples and travel-sized fragrances stashed away since they’re often sent out as free gifts with purchase. If you’ve ever had a beauty subscription box, you’ll be drowning in these since they’re always included! While perfume sachets and tiny bottles might not be the most exciting, they’re so handy for times like this. A quick dab and you feel ultra feminine and ready for the night ahead!

Make the most of mini perfumes and samples and bring one in your bag- source

Freshening Up

After a long day at work, you might need to freshen up a little before heading out. A mini bottle of mouthwash and a travel sized deodorant are two other fantastic additions to your makeup bag. Chewing gum or mints will also do the trick, or if you’d prefer to actually clean your teeth, a travel toothbrush and toothpaste would also work. You can also buy ‘chewable toothbrushes’ from places like eBay and Amazon, they come in tiny spheres so good for saving space. Perfect for cleaning your teeth and freshening your breath before heading out.

A few simple tricks can save you hours of getting ready, and means you won’t miss social events even if you’re working that day! So say yes to more things, don’t just fall into a rut and devote your entire weekdays to work. Everyone has to work, but don’t forget to live too! Even if you have to push yourself to get out there, you’ll be glad that you did. After all, you work to earn money to give yourself the freedom to do these things!

Do you ever turn down social invites because they fall on a work night? Or are you the master of transforming yourself from day to night with a few clever hacks?