This series is just one of several I have in the works for the coming weeks, supplementing our regular daily style content. Got additional questions or ideas you’d like to see me address in more depth than a regular outfit post? Let me know! E-mail narrowlytailored at gmail dot com, leave a comment or tweet @narrowtailoring. 

Congratulations! You landed your dream gig for the summer, or full-time after graduating [insert form of professional school here]. You’re moving to [City of Your Dreams] for [the next ten weeks/OMGtherestofyourlife]. The catch? It’s a sartorially conservative environment, and you’re meeting new people every day.

While plenty of people have put together lists of what to wear (and what not to wear!) in such a situation (like Kat Griffin’s list from Corporette that made the rounds a few years ago), I wondered if it was possible to come up with a list of more lived-in style suggestions…and ones that didn’t seem to require buying a whole new wardrobe for a job I was going to have for a relatively brief period of time. While, as always, your mileage may vary, this series focuses on incorporating the pieces—and the preferences—you already have, and dressing appropriately for what is often a complicated-to-navigate stylistic environment while dressing like yourself. To that end, over the next few weeks, I’ll cover topics like…

• My own wardrobe essentials list (to be taken with the appropriate grain of salt!)
• Some thoughts on navigating the office dress code
• Suit alternatives for when you do — and don’t — really have to wear one
• Dressing for work-related social events
• Business casual dressing, with a few thoughts on the emergency suit