Purple, grey, pink and silver are at the top of the color charts this season, but not all aspiring fashionistas can get away with these color combos without breaking the office dress code. Fortunately, there are several ways to accentuate an otherwise simple outfit with Fall's top color choices, and all you need is a little creativity to sport some of the hottest looks for the season without pulling off a fashion 'don't.' Whether you're anxious to wear a pencil skirt or the oversized cardigan at the office this season, make sure you're choosing your key pieces in the following colors and styles:

The Grey Pencil Skirt
Pencil skirts are acceptable in most office environments and are a great match for Fall in either light grey, black or pewter. Pair the grey pencil skirt with a lavender blouse, purple cardigan or stick with the basic black top for a Fall-friendly look.

The Purple Vest
Purple is a top color choice for the Fall and winter season this year, so invest in some simple pieces in a deep purple or lavender color for an eye-catching, office friendly look. Purple knit vests can be coupled with a cream-colored blouse for a fresh look at the office.

The Pink Blouse
Pink with purple undertones is a hit for Fall and is a great match for an otherwise neutral office ensemble. Look for pink polka dot or printed blouses that you can wear under an oversized cardigan or wrap, or wear it tucked in with a pencil skirt for a chic and trendy look this season.

The All-Black Suit
The all-black suit is a staple of any Fall and winter wardrobe, and is one ensemble that will never go out of style. However, you can dress this up with the latest trends by wearing a contrasting v-neck purple shirt or sweater underneath the blazer, or wear it with a ruffled blouse for a fashion-forward, stylish look.

High-waist pencil skirts, ruffled blouses and knit vests are among the office wear must-haves for the Fall season. Invest in these key pieces to update your office wardrobe and show off some of the latest trends.

If your navy suit with the pencil skirt is feeling oh-so-blah, and you also want something cute to wear with friends for lunch or shopping, it's time to look for that special top that puts everything together. And stylistas, we have the top for you!

This navy and white bias cut flutter-sleeve top from MICHAEL by Michael Kors is just the thing to perk that old suit right up. Add some dangling white earrings like these from Tarina Tarantina, and a chunky white bracelet, and you're ready to go. Oops, wait a minute, what about your shoes? Dress that new look up all the way down to your toes with these T-strap pumps by Donald J. Pliner. Between the 3 ½ inch heel and the hint of a platform, your legs will look terrific and your suit will look retro and brand new. Don't forget to carry a bag with a pop of bright color, although with too much navy you're right back to blah.

Keep the new look going on a Saturday, or any fun day, by pairing the top with jeans, or with navy capris or cropped pants. Lose the dangly earrings and go for pearl or faux diamond studs. Swap the bracelet for a fun white watch (think Dooney and Bourke or Betsey Johnson), and add a few cute rings to your fingers. Add a pop of color on your feet with shoes like these totally adorable red ballerina flats from Timberland, with their soft suede uppers and completely comfortable design. You can shop all day in these babies. Add a red clutch or a patterned tote, and you can go anywhere.

And you were ready to throw that suit out! Sometimes it takes a little out-of-the-box thinking to keep your clothes from getting in a rut. And that's why you're reading this!

The pencil skirt first emerged as a style with a name after World War II. With the end of cloth rationing, clothes could once again be luxurious and used fabric in ways more inventive than utilitarian military styling. This led both to the full, crinoline skirts of the 1950s, but also to longer, sleek styles that echoed pre-World War I silhouettes with their full busts and corseted waists. These styles also emphasized hips and were made even more dramatic by a fishtail flare around the ankles.

By the end of WWII, a more casual world filled with more active women only supported the fishtail detail for evening or formal occasions, but the long narrow skirt, now dubbed a pencil skirt, was ready to make a comeback. These tight skirts in their most extreme form were essentially hobble skirts -- difficult to walk in and almost impossible to sit down in. The look was emphasized by a corseted waist, emphasized by how this fashion of the times was photographed with the model standing with one foot behind the other and angling their hips forward to make the skirt look even narrower than it was.

As the sixties approached, skirts began to change again with hemlines going up and structure and tightness going down. These more freely moving skirts became the dominant fashion statement in the 1970s, but the pencil skirt was far from dead.

The pencil skirt reemerged as a fashion item in the 1980s as a curvier look became fashionable for women again, and highly structure clothes appealed as women became more focused on taking leadership positions in the workplace. The pencil skirt of the 1980s, though, was slightly more practical, often being styled with buttons or even a zipper up the back to allow the woman to adjust the skirt to make it easier to move in.

While the 1990s saw a retreat from structured clothing with retro-70s styles and the emergence of the grunge look, structured clothes returned with the turn of the millennium -- a trend inspired both by an interest in the fashion of the first half of the 20th century and the fact that war-time fashions historically tend to be structured. Today's pencil skirts, often paired with a "secretary blouse" (tight waist, short puffed sleeves and loose but suggestive bust line) are shorter than the hobbling pencil skirts of the 1950s, usually coming in at about knee length, but their strong silhouette continues to be appealing.

Staying fashionable in a recession seems like it would be impossible to do, but it is actually very easy. The key is to build a versatile base wardrobe with pieces of clothing that will last, that will coordinately easily with the other pieces in your wardrobe and that can be accessorized. Your base wardrobe will carry you from season to season and fashion trend to fashion trend and will allow you to quickly and inexpensively update your wardrobe each season with only one or two minor purchases.

The Base Wardrobe
Your base wardrobe is what will be the heart of your fashion statement. These pieces won't be show stoppers on their own, but they will provide you with the base on which to build a great looking and fashionable ensemble. Your base wardrobe will include a great fitting pair of dark denim jeans that are the right shape and fit for your body type, camisoles of various colors, a structured jacket in a neutral color, a pair of black dress pants, a black pencil skirt, a pair of black pointy toed heels and a collection of neutral colored pants and tops.

Jazzing Up Your Seasonal Wardrobe
Since your base wardrobe is constructed with clothing items that have neutral colors, you will jazz up your seasonal wardrobe by buying colorful accent pieces that have the colors that are "in" for the season. For example, if you are trying to update your spring wardrobe, you can buy scarves, tops or skirts that have pastel colors that are in this spring. These pieces can be used with your base wardrobe pieces to create a variety of new outfits that will look fresh, crisp and fashion-forward for the current season.

Accessorizing on a Budget
If you have pieces that will work for this season then you can upgrade or update your wardrobe by purchasing a few simple accessories. By adding accessories like a great pair of earrings, a necklace or a simple scarf, you can turn a basic outfit constructed from a tank top and a pencil skirt into an outfit that is appropriate for work, a night on the town or a beach picnic. The key is to select items that have colors that will work with more than one piece or outfit in your wardrobe and also make a statement.