Would you be an animal at work?

Even though I’m not loving this heat wave, I’m not yet ready for summer to end. But I can’t keep fall fashion trends off my mind.  And I also can’t ignore all the new fall collections that are flooding stores and magazines.

One big trend that everyone is talking about is animal print. There sure is lots of leopard print out there!
So here is the big question, how much animal print can your office handle?

Let’s start with the skirt:


If you are going to go with a bold print on the bottom then make sure you keep the length super conservative. Notice that the skirt on the left from http://www.asos.com/ has a fairly small subtle print and is knee length. Pairing this with a black top/jacket and black pumps keeps the look professional. Do the same with the skirt on the left and the attention won’t be on your work!  The skirt is too short and the print too bold.

And what about on top? Can you really do a printed jacket?


What concerns me here is fit. The jacket on the left works because it is kept open and is paired with a solid color top and pants. However, on the right the model actually adds visual pounds to her look by wearing a printed jacket (no matter what the trend - if you are top heavy stay away from animal print tops!)

Plus, do you really want your coworkers to start thinking about the jungle while you are discussing the latest earnings reports?

But, if you are still not sure that you can pull off a leopard printed skirt or jacket (and believe me, I don’t blame you) then try incorporating the prints in small amounts through your accessories:

Watch: ASOS; Bag: Kenneth Cole; Scarf: by CCC; Shoes: Casadei
So anyway, keep in mind, while you might work with “animals” it doesn’t mean you should be one!

Flip Flops? Really?

To date I have prided myself on keeping this blog positive. Believe me when I tell you, a ton of my readers would rather see me a blog about all the unfortunately dressed people in the office instead of the well-dressed ones (they claim its more fun).

Anyway, I don’t know if its the volatile markets, the midterm that I have this week or the cold that I have in the middle of 100 degree weather but I have been driven to negativity.

I have been seeing a lot of this in the office and frankly its just unacceptable!


Even if open toe shoes are exceptable in your office, flip flops should be forbidden.

And here is why:
1. Heels make your legs look longer and leaner (especially when you wear knee length skirts). Flip flops do absolutely nothing for your legs. In fact I personally think they make them look shorter.
2. They don’t match! A pencil skirt and flip flops do not a pair make. Same thing with pants!
3. It is just as important to have coworkers respect you as it is to have clients/ senior managers respect you. Would you wear these to a client meeting? I didn’t think so!

I prefer close-toe shoes at work but if you have the flexibility to wear open-toe shoes here are some professional options:

Antonio Melani Peep Toe $79 @ http://www.dillards.com/

BCBG Peep Toe: $99 @ http://www.dillards.com/

To Golf and What to Wear? That is the Question!

Next Monday, I get to start my work week on the golf course! Now that is the kind of work I could get used to! I will be taking a client out for a game of golf, but the problem is that I am not much of a golfer and I don’t have the proper “uniform.” I decided to get inspiration from the ladies of the US Open.

I noticed a pattern.


All these pros are wearing short sleeve polo shirt and a skort (No, this is not a typo. A skort is a skirt & shorts combo that is especially made for women that play golf/tennis…). Also, notice that the golf shoes actually match the shirt and that the skorts tends to be lighter than the tops.

And then there are the “unconventionalists.”


Some of them wear shorts, long sleeve shirts under their polos and “little black dresses.” Also, great options for my golf outing, but I’ll probably play it safe.

I can guarantee, I definitely won’t be wearing this:


I plan to do some shopping for the event on Friday. I am not really sure which brand will fit me best but I’ll be making stops at the usual suspects: Nike, Adidas, World of Golf and Paragon.
If you have any suggestions let me know and stay tuned for pictures from the event next week.

Aging in Style: the French Way

I just read this amazing article in the NY Times about how to age gracefully: the French way. It’s a pretty amusing read, enjoy!
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/15/fashion/15French.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&ref=fashion

Casual Friday: The French or the 50s?

It’s finally Friday! Some of us, the lucky ones, get “Casual Fridays”. So I decided to take a break from the suits, skirts and cardigans.  After a full week of professional wear the casual part can actually be more difficult to pull off, but some of my friends in “the business” know how to do it right!

Meet Andrea! She was inspired by Bastille Day and let traditional french fashion guide her:

Top: JCrew; Jeans: Sevens; Shoes: Vintage

Andrea looks fashionable and most importantly Friday appropriate. If her jeans were skin tight and in light blue denim this look would definitely be a disaster but the dark denim flared leg on the jeans is just perfect!
Now Anne here was channeling a little 50’s with the dress, and I loved it! What I love even more is that she brought the dress at H&M for under $40!

Dress: H&M; Belt: H&M; Shoes: Aldo

Anne was so smart to keep the length to the knee, the shoulders covered and the neckline appropriate with a camisole.

Thanks, Andrea and Anne for the inspirations. Have a great weekend!
Oh and by the way I will be in France in August - so definitely more French inspired fashions to follow!

Wild Prints For Wild Markets

The fashion magazines have been encouraging us to wear flower printed dresses all summer and on the weekends I sometimes follow this trend. However, I was convinced that I could never make a flower printed dress look appropriate for work. But then my friend and coworker Elizabeth came to work looking like this. Wow!


Dress: Calypso St. Barth;Shoes: Coach; Jacket: Ann Taylor: Sunglasses: Ray Ban

Elizabeth balances out the softness of the dress with a crisp white jacket which instantly makes this look so professional and put together. I also love that the dress has a larger print and a beautifully tailored collar. Not only is the neck line slimming but it also makes the dress feel slightly more formal.


You can copy Elizabeth’s look in just a few clicks at Dillard’s with these pieces:

Dress: London Times Printed Dress $80
Blazer: Antonio Melani “Shandra Jacket $120
Shoes: Jessica Simpson “Jessica” shoe

Thanks Elizabeth! It’s always so inspiring to see a smart, successful and well dressed woman!

Hedge that risk! Keep these in your desk drawer!

I’m sure most of your drawers are full of the obvious “life savers” : toothbrush, mints, advil, bandaids, hair brushes and maybe even a nail file. But consider some of these less obvious essentials.



1. Dry Shampoo: I like this T3 - Orlando Pita because it is designed to blend in with your hair color instead of making it look gray (available in 2 colors: one for brunettes and another for blondes). For those of you that aren’t familiar with dry shampoo, it’s magic! Its a hair product that takes all the grease out of your hair and makes it look as if you just washed it. Oh, and it smells good too!

2. Standard Black Blazer: you never know when you will get pulled into a meeting with clients or the Big Boss and you can never go wrong with a black blazer (just hang it on the back of you chair - it will save you one of these days).

3. Nude-colored bra: Not that I am speaking from experience or anything, but imagine the day that your bra strap breaks and you have to go searching for a safety pin all over the office. Instead you can just grab a spare bra that you discretely keep inside your desk drawer and change into it in the ladies room.

4. Nail Polish Pen: I love how my nails look on the first day after a manicure.  But after pounding on the keyboard for a day or so my nails start to chip at the edges. This pen is great for small touch ups. But ladies please don’t use this at your desk. This is a bathroom only product - just like the bra!

What did I miss? What kind of “life savers” do you have in your desk?

Sex and the City at Work? The Grand Finale: Carrie!

Even though Carrie got married in the last movie she certainly wore a lot of white in the sequel. It’s as if she knew that NYC was going to have one of the hottest summers ever and in some subconscious way she was telling us that wearing white, even to work, is more that OK!

So first - the inspiration of white! Just in time for the summer:


This Thakoon dress is perfect for work and currently on sale from $2050 to $625 but only a size 4 is left.
Sorry ladies, but I actually found it difficult to find white “wear to work” dresses. I do recommend buying a white knee length strapless dress (they are everywhere now!). I bought a beautiful silk one for my wedding brunch and since then have been wearing it to work with a cardigan and pearls. Its a great way to get milage out of a dress that I thought I would wear only once. Oh, and also it kind of secretly makes me feel like a bride again!

These are the peices I would pull off the shelves of  JCrew to pull the look together:

All JCrew: Braided Fabric Belt; Cardigan; Dress; Shoes  

Thanks to Carrie, I also got this hair style inspiration. Most of us wear our hair straight down. Let’s try something completely different.

Finally, I found this sophisticated style that is so easy to pull off. It’s so great to get my hair off my neck and for all of my curly, frizzy haired sisters out there—nothing could be easier!

A Pause Before the Grand Finale!

I know what you are thinking! Where is the Sex and the City at Work Finale? What about Carrie? Don’t worry, I haven’t forgetten! In fact, I was out last night getting inspiration.

Instead of enjoying my air conditioned apartment, I crammed a bunch of fun activities into a 7pm-12pm time frame. I started with the gym and after a quick shower, I changed into a fun hipster outfit and rode my bike down to Chelsea to meet up with some friends (I felt very Brooklyn artisty yesterday). I basically copied this look.

 

Check out Frugal Fashionista to see how to get this look for less.
Oh and don’t worry I didn’t wear boots - that would have been crazy in this 100 degree weather.
I must admit it felt pretty funny talking “the markets” with a bunch of “suits” while wearing a fedora. But it was fun! And isn’t that what life’s all about?

Sex and The City at Work? Part 3: Miranda!!!

Many women working on Wall Street can relate to Miranda’s drive and work ethic.  As an NYU freshman invisioning my first big Wall Street job, I expected to have Miranda’s fancy life: the designer clothes, shoes, bags and non-stop club hopping with the girls. Boy was I wrong!

Years later, as I schlepped myself to the trading floor at 5 in the morning and as my girlfriends slaved away in investments banking “bull pens”, we continued to marvel at Miranda’s ability to party all night, work all day and still look that good (investment banks seriously should consider having a makeup crew on hand).
To those of you who figured out Miranda’s secret, ex the makeup crew, please fill me in!

In SATC2, Miranda faces the dreaded sexist boss yet she refuses to fold. Her work outfits are gorgeously tailored and yet very feminine.  I used her as an inspiration for this look. Check it out!


I find that many of us at work tend to choose structured sheaths and shy away from draped dresses. Its time to bring on The Drape!  This Jones NY dress has a work appropriate neckline yet still has all the elements of Miranda’s dress. The draped skirt and the cinched in waist compliment the body and show off a trend.
I’ll be honest though, my favorite thing about this dress is how easy it is! No jewelry necessary, just through it on and go!
Tomorrow, I have saved the best for last!!! The great Carrie Bradshaw!

Sex and the City at Work? Part 2: Charlotte

I absolutely love Charlotte; of all the girls from SATC she is the most natural choice to inspired a work outfit. However, I decided to challenge myself and picked one of Charlotte’s bolder looks: the red and white striped cocktail dress that she wears on vacation. The exaggerated A-line skirt and Southern Bell hat just can’t be used in the real world unless you are attending the Kentucky Derby! However, what caught my eye was the combination of red & white and the use of stripes in a non-casual way.

So here is what I came up with:

Marc by Marc Jacobs Decor Striped Top; Kenneth Cole white Pencil Skirt; Smythe Wool Blend Blazer from Nordstroms

 Instead of a striped dress which would be too busy for the office I chose a bold striped top to be paired with two wardrobe classics: a well tailored jacket and a white pencil skirt. No need to go buy them you probably already have them in your closet.

Why this works: Horizontal stripes would have made this look too casual but the mix of vertical and diagonal stripes creates a more formal look. Also, the skirt-like waist line mimics Charolette’s multi-layered skirt almost perfectly.

Like Charlotte you can be playful with your shoes selecting a red pair or go conservative with a black pump. Don’t over do it on the jewelry! With three different colors and stripes in the look already, you don’t want to look like you are trying too hard.

Sex and the City at Work?

I must have been the last fashion lover out there who still hadn’t seen Sex and the City 2. So on Friday, before making my way to the beach for the July 4th weekend I made a pit stop at the movies. I knew that the SATC outfits have been driving trends since filming began. However, most of them were so outrageous that I feared few trends could be brought over to the work place. I was thrilled to be wrong!
This week is going to be devoted to the girls of SATC! Or should I say Menopausal Divas?

Today we start with Samantha!

You might be surprised to hear this, but one of Samantha’s outfits can be transformed into the perfect Wall Street Style uniform. Check this out!


This Jones New York dress is almost a replica of Samatha’s dress. It has a work appropriate neck line and I am sure is at a faction of the cost. What makes the outfit are the accessories. Cole Haan makes this amazing snake-skin bag which I have been lusting after for weeks (hint hint to my hubby who is hopefully reading this). The bag looks so similar to Samantha’s that I’m starting to wonder if in fact it isn’t the same one.

To me, this outfit is classic but a bit predictable. I’d spice it up with some color. Maybe add a chunky coral necklace and bangles or bright turquoise earrings like these by Kenneth Jay Lane.


Thanks slutty Samantha for the inspiration!

Stay tuned, tomorrow I will show you how to transform Charlotte’s red & white striped cocktail dressing into an outfit for Thursday’s big meeting.

MBA Doesn’t Stand For: Masculine, Boxy and Asexual

Yesterday I started a new semester in my part-time MBA program. I always enjoy the first class, its kinda of fun getting to know a new professor. Most of my professors have really impressive resumes with loads of published research and consulting work. The professor for this class is no exception but she is also tall and slim with excellent bone structure. None of her positive physical features, however, were accented, in fact her shapeless black suit and blue button down were a complete snooze.

There are so many fun option for  ”suiting up.” Yes thats right, you heard me correctly, I love Barney Stinson (How I Met Your Mother) and have adopted some of his vocabulary. Anyway, back to suiting up.

Naturally, a black suit is a must on Wall Street. But if you are going to do it, do it right! Here are my two favorite looks.

#1: The Sexy Professional on a Budget: Victoria’s Secret Body at Work Essentials

Everything about this look screams I am powerful and I am beautiful. You can’t go wrong with that combination.

#2: The Luxurious Armani Suit - One of these days I will treat myself to this luxury

I love that the jacket doesn’t have a lapel and the wide band across the waist can help accentual a small waist.

No matter how much you spent and who the designer is remember that Fit Is King (or Queen :) so make sure you take the time to visit your tailor and customize the suit to fit your body

What kind of suits do you like?

Doesn’t Have To Be Black To Be Corporate!

Its the summer, yet I still see a ton of black outfits at work. Where are your summer colors, ladies!?! Today, my friend Allison wore the most amazing pale pink dress. She looked sexy, fashionable and most importantly professional. If you insist on keeping with the neutrals consider pale pink (it will show off that July 4th tan too!)

Dress: Paule Ka Paris, Shoes: Walter Steigler

It gets really cold in the office so Allison found the perfect complement to her sleeveless dress, a beige cardigan from Bloomingdale’s. I love how the softness of the top balances out the structured dress. If you have an important meeting though, you can add a blazer instead. And lets not forget accessories! Pairing a bracelet with her junky watch gives her outfit a cool youthful vibe. Thanks Allison for being my first fashion guinea pig, you look awesome!   

Steal the look:
*If you love the shape/cut of the dress check out this Reiss dress. Sadly it only comes in gold, red and blue.
OR
*Check out this pale pink number from Shopbop.com