A woman's dirty little secret for the business casually confused

 

Hello Ladies.  So now that I've enlightened you with my words of wisdom on getting the job and how to pull it off on your first day, let's get down to the meat and potatoes of the situation..what to wear. I see fashion offenders everyday marching their sad little selves into the office. Be it ugly shoes in the wrong color or something my grandma would wear, unflattering tops or inappropriate cleavage bearing ensembles, and clueless cover girls in disguise. I have to admit, I myself thought I was going to become one of these black and white dressed people the rest of my life, reduced to neutral colors in the corporate world because standing out isn't always accepted in business.

Image courtesy of Google: Film still from Beauty and the Briefcase(2010)

Then I had an epiphany when I saw for the first time Beauty and the Briefcase (Junger, 2010) you can watch for free through Netflix instant or Youtube. Great movie by the way if you're into chick flicks starring Hilary Duff. In the film, Hilary is an executive admin for an investment banking institution. Despite this boring outer appearance, she dresses very chic and amazing in the film. My favorite outfit she nailed to this day, is the teal silk blouse, thick red belt, purple structured tote, and leopard pencil skirt and pumps she wore to work. After seeing the new realm of possibilities, I quickly began scouring  Ebay, Amazon, Forever 21, Express, Burlington..you name it, for these pieces I saw and wanted. After a killer trip to Ross, I can say my bargainista senses led me to a Jones New York silk blouse similar to the one she wore in the film I scored for $12 that retails for $100! Oh yes. Shut the front door. I also recently found a leopard pencil skirt for $15 at Forever 21. Does this give you ideas? Now, not every boss or work environment is going to take kindly to cat lady walking the floor or pink,yellow, and red being a staple in your wardrobe. Feel out the appropriate colors and attire you can get away with, and when in doubt, check with Human Resources, since they will know if it will fly for sure or not.

Mary of The Classy Cubicle in Fall Brights

Another form of inspiration I've been using lately is this woman from the Midwest or East Coast, forgive me Mary I forget, called The Classy Cubicle who Instagrams and blogs her daily outfits for work I can't get enough of. When I got a stuffy office gig, I turned to the internet for ideas on how to keep my unique style and be work appropriate. Then I found her. My work attire angel. I subscribed the day she posted this outfit on the left, I was shocked you could wear to the office. Those red pants and sailor stripes were my eye candy I had to have. Warning for those young professionals with limited budgets and student loan debt, her selections are more for Macy's minded ladies than working girls in terms of price and brand. Don't let that stop you, I have personally found most of her pieces at middle class retailers for a fraction of what she paid that look as good.

For instance, a while back she had this post of a stiletto like shoe with an adorable plaid pencil skirt. I was in love with the skirt and shoes at hello. Then I saw the sticker shock and was taken a back, but never fear, Just Fab is here! I found those exact heels for $40 in black and mint. Cha-ching!

 So there you have it ladies. Some weekend inspiration for you all to go out and blossom. My dream one day is to post Youtube videos and Instagram photos of my outfits like her to share with you all on how you can afford to look good at work. You can even be my shopping buddy for the day.

So some food for thought. When putting together a new work wardrobe follow my rules of success:

• own a black pencil skirt
• Plan on buying fabric softener, color safe bleach, and dryer sheets
•  buy outfits  by the piece
• Purchase things that can be worn with many different looks
• shop around online to check for specials, clearance items, and deals
• look at films starring career minded women or look at fashion magazines for inspiration. Some of my personal favorites are Sex and the City, Bride Wars,The Devil Wears Prada,101 Dalmations starring Glen Close, and Beauty and the Briefcase.
• Think of current trends and your favorite looks and tailor them to the workplace
• Avoid " Stripper heels" meaning anything over 3 inches is excessive.
• Don't show your buns or sweater puppies off to the world. Think of things you could wear to an event or to your mother and grandmother's home
• When buying jewelry, small is best. You are not Lady Gaga and this is not the Grammy Awards.
• Get properly fitted bras and underwear. Your appearance will change dramatically if these are done right. My dear friend Victoria can help you with that.
• Keep a lint roller, Tide to-go stick, and Wet Ones handy at work. You never know what might go wrong
• Follow the care instructions on garments
• For the love of all that is holy iron your pieces please! Wrinkles are not a good look.
• You can be a string bean or size sassy and still look fabulous!

Be on the lookout for Instagram and Youtube links in the future and have a beautiful day ladies!

-Kate

To-Do Checklist for your new job

Image courtesy of Google

Congratulations! You've made the cut! Out of all the talented individuals you were chosen for the position. Whether it was your witty personality or composed interview answers that swooned the boss off his feet, you now are onto the next scariest part of being employed: the hidden rule book of the working world. Don't worry, I'll walk you through the ins and outs of everything you'll need to know to be successful on your first day.

Goodbye snooze button, hello commuter traffic, showers, and coffee!

The first day of work is always a little scary. Especially for recent grads. Before you make haste at the first crack of dawn, here are some things to pack and prepare for the night before the big day.

• Go to bed early-Getting yourself prepared for a earlier schedule is easier by winding down no later than 10 p.m. This prevents headaches, stress, and thoughts overpowering your ability to get a good nights' rest to be awake and ready to learn your new position the next day.

Image courtesy of Google

• Mapquest and GPS your work building- Chances are your new employer is in a unfamiliar city and street location, so by making sure to have a hard copy of your directions in case, God forbid, your cell reception goes awry, you can still make it on time. Another helpful tip would be to Google map the building and include a photo of it with your physical directions so you can be on the lookout for the place if your GPS lands you nearby the address, leaving you to figure out which building to go into yourself.

• Wash and Iron 3 days worth of work attire- For obvious reasons and this also gives you a chance to contact HR and find out what type of attire is to be expected for that day. If for instance, you start mid-week at a place that does casual Friday, showing up in trousers is a bit overdressed for that day and will make you stand out and not in a good way. If your job is cut and paste corporate, avoid street clothes at all costs!
•  Personal Items- Believe it or not, they're obvious items people forget all the time you will need day to day on the job at your desk, a company will not provide always. These include lint rollers, tissues, hand sanitizer, breath mints, pens (oh yes, you can never have too many), post-it-notes,sun glass case, a watch ( some businesses do not keep giant wall clocks handy),a compact mirror for the ladies, and deodorant. The last item is more needed than you think. Under high pressure environments, you sweat more, meaning if you buy cheap deodorant and it wears off, your cube mates suffer. You know what I mean if you've ever come across a man during lunch hour in line who smells like he forgot to take a shower this week...ew!
   If you are a dude that does not want to be caught dead carrying a purse-like bag of things into work, stick your deodorant, mints, and hand sanitizer in your trouser pocket for convenience and unload them in a junk drawer at your desk

• Cubicle Personalization- Working in a a small area also has some benefits besides claustrophobia and vitamin D deprivation. For those who like to leave their personal touch on everything, plan on bringing your small box of goodies with you 15 minutes before your shift starts to get situated and make the place your own for the next few months or so. This could include, magnetic file holders, bobble heads, picture frames of family, small art, office supply holders, and fabric to place on the inside of your cubicle. stay tuned for ideas from my own cubicle makeover for ideas on how to recreate your space. If you are lucky enough to land your own office, consider temporary wallpaper or a mural. For ideas, try Murals your Way or Temp Paper.

Things to do your first Day

• Arrive 15 minutes early. Find your suite number or building, find parking, setup your cubicle or office.

• If you are an early bird and arrive extra early, grab coffee and breakfast before work- Nothing interrupts a business meeting more than a growling stomach.Trust me, I know this.
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• Smile or wave high to new co-workers you meet on your way to your desk. First impressions are important and a great way to start off your day and perhaps make a new work acquaintance.
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• Take a tour of your building and office. Learn where all of the exits are in case of a fire or work place shooting. Also become familiar with locked entrances,break rooms, and bathrooms. 

• Ask your boss or fellow co-workers what time lunch is- As this varies from place and people, it is best to go with the majority. If someone invites you to lunch, try to take them up on it to bond with your new co-worker and fit in.
• Put your phone someplace safe on silent and do not look at it at all on work time-This looks unprofessional and shows bad ethic. Want to know the time? Wear a watch.
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•  Meet/shake hands with all of your bosses and supervisors you will be working under- Establishes good re pore and is a generally accepted business practice.

• Bring  your own music device- Do not wear headphones that zone out co-workers from reaching you or make you seem distant, keep the volume at a minimum and tuned into something people would generally enjoy such as classical, soft rock, jazz, and top 40 hits minus rap and hip-hop. Save Jay-Z for the drive home. Bluetooth docks or battery powered radios work best.
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• Write or schedule your tasks for the first day- People will dump work on you the moment you arrive sometimes so be prepared to jump right in. Be detailed with instructions, ask questions, and write everything down because under new job stress, you will forget!

• Wear Comfortable Shoes- Ladies this implies to you more then the men, consider opting for a kitten heel or flats rather than pumps and for both sexes invest in Dr. Scholls..trust me they are a life saver!

Do all of this and you just might survive your first day. Good luck, kid!