TheWorkingWardrobe.com

Links à la Mode: The IFB Weekly Roundup

Rachel — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:03:26 +0000

Spring Fever

Do you get spring fever? Oh man… the itch to run around outside in flowery prints and frilly laces gets greater and greater each passing day. To heck with chunky sweaters! This week we have a load of great spring style posts, Holier Than Now checks out cape coats, if you’re strapped for cash Out of Order gives the perfect 45min spring skirt tutorial, so cute! And girly clothes not your thing? The Demoiselles has a great homage to genderbending unisex looks. I’ve been thinking of doing a couple of days in menswear myself. Well, as soon as I learn how to tie the half Windsor knot.

There were so, so many great links this week, it really was hard to narrow it down to 2o. Check out the full listing of Links à la Mode here.

Links à la Mode : March 11th

39th and Broadway – Death By Over-Scheduling
Agent Lover – Mad Crushin’ on Pebelle
Bobbins and Bombshells – Shop News…Hand Recovery Sale AND Give-Away!!
Denim Debutante – Denim Advice: Why Should I Buy Premium Denim?
Diary Of A Girl Left Behind – Sorry We Don’t Have Your (Shoe) Size
Fashion Pulse Daily – London Fashion Week: Vivienne Westwood, Mark Fast & Burberry Prorsum
Fete a Fete – The Frye Company SS 2010
Glossary – Sipping tea with Sandra Beijer
Grechen Blogs – Isabel Marant, the Internet & Social Media
grit and glamour – Return to pretty, please!
Hello Beauty! – Shu Uemura Spring 2010 Égérie Collection: Sparkling, rock star chic (with makeup lesson video)
Holier Than Now – Spring (Transition) Shopping : Caped Crusaders
Independent Fashion Bloggers – What does your ideal workspace look like?
M.I.S.S. – Women Making History: Elisa Palomino
Oranges and Apples – Sustainable fashion part 1: conceptualising the issues
Out Of Order – DIY Tutorial – Spring Skirt
Previously Owned – a PREVIEW of Private ARTS la shooting for MINT mag!
Retro Chick – Vintage Hair Video Tutorial
SF Indie Fashion – Good Looks: Moody Winter-Almost-Spring
Shrimp Salad Circus – how to rock orange lips
Smiles Go With Everything – How to Search Effectively on Etsy
The Demoiselles – Gender-Bending: Menswear

Today’s Coveted Working Looks

Rachel — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:07:52 +0000

I made a shocking discovery today – I have no blazers! Well, I do, but not in the most professional sense. I used to have my go-to black blazer but I gave it away after having too many wears and years behind it. I primarily wear wrap cardigans, cap-sleeved blazers and statement jackets to work and I have a boyfriend blazer and cropped bolero for weekends – but alas the stereotypical basic black blazer I have not! How is this possible?! So therefore today’s lineup of coveted working looks will have a very obvious theme as I feel this situation needs to be rectified sooner rather than later. I do apologize that these looks may not be ‘thrilling’, but there are times we need to step our selfish style aside and concentrate on our basics. However that doesn’t mean our basics need to be boring. For example, I really like how this cotton blazer by Daftbird almost looks velour – a very nice option for the cooler months.

I wear skirts and dresses many times more than slacks and blouses. I love how this Elizabeth and James jacket is paired with a floral dress showing that the cut works perfectly for accentuating the waistline when not wearing the typical top and pant combination. I also roll my sleeves up 90% of the time either due to getting warm, them getting in the way, or the sleeve length being a bit too short for my lanky arms. I like how this jacket ends slightly below the elbow in a stylish semi-point. I would never be able to roll my sleeves up nearly as stylishly!

The same thing can be said for this Theory linen blazer. It’s a 3/4-length sleeve and it’s cropped and fitted at the waistline to work both with slacks and skirts and dresses. Plus it’s nice to have a lighter-weight jacket on hand for the warmer months, and what better material for those sunny hot days than linen?

Last Call Sale at Fix Boutique Chicago Through March 17th – Discounts Up to 60% Off

Rachel — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:02:12 +0000

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The Working Man: Incorporating Spring Into Your Working Look

Rachel — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:38:30 +0000

Springtime is upon us – well, almost. Most of us are finding ourselves in that frustrating seasonal shift where we feel between weather temperaments. It’s cold one day with flurries and the next day is excitingly sunny boasting a ‘balmy’ temperature of 56 degrees! In the business world, how does one work with these drastic shifts, sometimes in the same day? Well, first thing is first – if you haven’t layered in these past few months, now is the time to do so. You can go to work with a sweater and slacks, but make sure you have a light cotton button-down underneath it in case you find that you’re not in space heater season anymore. However as we are still pre-daylight savings time, the commute home may be a bit more chilly than your afternoon coffee break. Therefore you can put the sweater back on and cozy up with a convenient scarf around your neck.

How to stay warm while keeping a look of spring to your wardrobe? Dress in lighter colors! Don some light-colored slacks or Chinos with a complimenting lighter-toned sweater and a tan leather satchel. Or wear a slightly brighter-toned button-down shirt tucked in to your light-colored slacks. And of course, take your spring jacket out of its plastic bag and give it some fresh air! The dark reds and blacks with heather gray slacks are very sophisticated (and professional) looks, however there is nothing in those ensembles which shout, “SPRING!”.

This is a very exciting time of the year when we open our windows for the first time, we drive with the car window down, and we take the linings out of our jackets. Granted we may still have to don the winter coat a few more times in the next month or two – but this is at least the beginning or at risk of sounding cheesy, the spring awakening. So own it! And of course – work it!

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Rachel — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:46:35 +0000

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From the Classroom to the Cubicle: Express Yo-Self!

WorkWardrobe — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:35:44 +0000

By Jacqueline Rezak

Through out each of my internships I have experienced several different dress codes– ranging from the uniform, at home in PJ’s, casual, fashionable and much more. Some internships that take place in the entertainment industry (music, arts, and fashion) allow for a more relaxed dress code. By relaxed I don’t mean a hoody and sweats – more like the freedom to show off your style in a professional way. I have put together an example of an outfit below that I feel would express my personal style (urban chic) but still remains professional and could be worn to an internship in an artistic field.

Express Yo-Self! by WorkWardrobe featuring Prada bags

In this outfit you will find a variety of different materials mixed together such as cotton, denim, and leather. Don’t be afraid to combine textures. Doing so often can give your outfit more personality and make you stand out – albeit not in way that would send you home for a wardrobe change. This professional yet fashionable outfit consists of black denim skinny pants, a black and white striped tee (stripes are so in right now) with ruffled sleeves, a motorcycle-esque leather jacket (to be removed once you are at the office) and leather ankle boots. Accessories include a red rose ring, a basic nail polish, and big leather bag. In a more relaxed environment don’t be afraid to express yourself through your clothing. If you are more on the timid side, your clothing can be a way to show your superiors and colleagues that you fit the environment you’re in even if you are still building up your working confidence. After all, fashion is the best form of self-expression!

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Rachel — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:22:12 +0000

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Today’s Coveted Working Looks

Rachel — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:37:13 +0000

It has been a bit since I’ve shared my coveted working looks! My apologies in leaving you hanging, but now I’m back with SO many looks that I’m dying to have in my working wardrobe. I was inspired by this first look because…well…I already own it! Well, sort of. I purchased the original jacket in this style about a year ago from the esteemed blouse design label Kate Boggiano. Well I recently discovered that she made a replica of the shirt jacket that I wear and love but with stretch! I absolutely love this design as it works as both a shirt and a jacket thereby making a multi-faceted and completely fabulous item ideal for the working wardrobe. And with the added stretch, it’s also amazingly comfortable!

I love the look of the short-sleeved cowl neck and turtleneck tops, which I wear frequently with slacks or a pencil skirt at the office. Anne Klein turned this classic look into a classic dress – plus the dark tawny coloring gives it a gorgeous autumn-like twist! Let’s be honest, we have blacks and grays, but many times we ignore the importance of our browns. It’s a good thing we have labels such as Ann Klein to put our wardrobe palette right.

Anne Klein may offer a fantastic fall palette, however Moschino C&C offers some springtime skip with this adorable white blazer with red piping and detailing. We’re not into spring quite yet, so this blazer would be the perfect solution in keeping your shoulders warm while exuding a breath of fresh air we are all yearning for during the upcoming weeks ahead.

L’Occitane en Provence Featuring Organic Beauty Products

Rachel — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:29:49 +0000

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Toast to Tuesday: I Want Her Style – Giving Your Outfit an Accent!

WorkWardrobe — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:56:29 +0000

By Jacqueline Rezak

When you are rushing around the city trying to get things done at a rapid pace there is nothing that can slow you down, except when you see someone wearing an outfit that makes you say, “I want her style”. I know the feeling: You hate to love the girl who is dressed in an outfit that screams, I am so fashionable and didn’t even try because chances are that she definitely tried – very hard. The truth is that it’s not that difficult to make yourself stand out with your sense of style. All you need is an accent piece.

Giving Your Outfit an Accent! by WorkWardrobe featuring Bottega Veneta bags

Here’s one way to take your outfit from, “oh I love your shoes” to, “you have the best sense of style”. It is simple; let’s say you’re wearing a cute gray/brown dress, black tights, ankle boots, and a blazer. This is already an extremely adorable outfit for a work day. When deciding which piece to accent this ensemble, try to think logically. For example, a pair of hot pink shoes would certainly be an accent but would not be appropriate for the office. The idea here is to accent something that you aren’t going to have attached to your body all day – for example your purse. Try a purple bag to contrast against the rest of your gray/black/brown outfit. Once you get to work, that bag will be put under your desk or in a closet, which makes it an appropriate piece to accent for the office as it makes a statement but isn’t a full time accessory to your working wardrobe. Leggings or jewelry would be great accents too, but maybe not for work – keep it simple and tasteful. Give these easy tips a try and let us know if you get any positive reactions!