We read so many articles on how to transform your look from day to night. These looks can be especially tricky if you are going out to extracurricular events or other social activities straight from the office. I wanted to approach this issue from a young, modern point of vie—and what better test subjects for our little experiment than two young and modern ladies, the lovely Katie Costello and Sarah Burke of Buffalo.com.

Chic and Sweet (1453 Hertel Ave., Buffalo) recently celebrated its first year in business and has a fabulous variety of modern pieces sectioned into well-merchandised, easy-to-shop groups based on whatever kind of girl you are looking to be for the day. I was immediately drawn to the abundance of graphic prints and textures in black-and-white variations. Choosing the right color palette (or lack thereof) is the first step to creating sleek modern looks.

This powerful look channels the inner New Yorker. All black is always a great choice for office and out. Here we have slim black riding pants under a black sheer maxi tank and classic black trench. I used gold and tan accents to break up the black just a little bit. The focal piece of this outfit is this unusual black trench. Typically we find this fall staple in tan, but this shiny black trench with gathered waist details make this piece an instant sophisticated standout.

Here we have an edgy all black look in a fashion-forward black peplum dress and gold multi-strand chest piece necklace. The dress hits just above the knee, making it work-appropriate, and the eccentric gold-beaded multi-strand chest piece necklace make this look chic and edgy.

Black-and-white graphics are a powerful choice for the office or an outing. I think that they speak towards the confidence and decisiveness in the wearer. This cowl-neck knit dress is comfortable and flattering, perfect to pair with any blazer. I chose this tan blazer with striped shoulder and collar inserts because I’m a sucker for pattern mixing.

Maxi skirts in prints can be tough to pull off, but because this one is chiffon and in a muted black, white and opal snake print, the skirt is an ultra-cool choice. I paired the skirt with the same material in a solid tan color to ground the look and chose to style the blouse tied instead of tucked so to minimize any bulking.

In this look, I wanted to play with stark contrast and feature an overt detail repeated. Sometimes more is more, and in this case more pleats means more interest all over. The reason that this works is because the detail is linear. The multi-layer pleating on the skirt and the pin tuck detail on the blouse really compliment one another without competing for attention, giving us a feminine version of the power suit.

This look feels very classic Coco Chanel. Perhaps it’s the cropped structured blazer, or maybe it’s the black bow detail on the pleated mini skirt, but this look can work for anyone and any situation. Instant staple.

This look is a go to for a casual Friday look. A blousy tunic like this is an easy choice for a casual day-to-night option because it is simple to recreate and can be reinterpreted in a million different ways. This specific tunic top works well for casual and dressy because it is blousy, the appropriate length, and not cotton. Dress it up with a pop of color and you’re out the door to your next lunch meeting or happy hour!