Downtime at the office (Phew) - Take advantage of the slower week

The last week of the year, between Christmas and New Years, is one of our favorites to work. Since it tends to be much quieter, you can get yourself organized for the craziness January will certainly bring.

Both Lex and Ludlow consistently take their year end vacations the week prior, volunteering to work this week in order to get ahead of the new year.

Here is our top 10 list (ok, maybe 6), to take advantage of the downtime:

1. Organize! Your desk. Your client lists. The reference materials you always keep close by. Upcoming meetings will need some prep - you can get started. Also, get a handle on any future business trips so you know what you'll need well in advance.

Use the downtime at work to get home a bit earlier than normal, and organize your closet. Ludlow is hitting up the Container Store to FINALLY complete that project. Her poor clothes have been crammed for way too long.

2. Pamper yourself: book a massage and facial. It will be likely be a while before you get one of these in your schedule again.

3. Shop for food and cook dinner. Go food shopping (or order Fresh Direct, our favorite in NYC) and actually make yourself a proper meal.... for once. Shop for the week too so you can kick start your post December diet -- a week early. You won't feel so guilty about your calorie intake on NYE if you eat healthy the week before!

4. After Christmas Sales! There will be some good after Christmas bargains to be had - the best way to put designer pieces in your wardrobe without the sticker shock. You can stay away from the crowds and go online. Here are a couple of good links: Bergdorf's up to 60% off, J.Crew additional 20%, Net A Porter up to 70% off

5. Plan a trip, especially if you stayed local for the holidays. You will be itching for a break soon. Even if it's a long weekend, get something booked within the first 3 months of the year to look forward to. Jetsetter is the perfect site to get this done.

6. Thank you notes for the gifts you received from co-workers, family and friends. Call us old fashioned but hand written notes can come across more thoughtful than an email or text (if you can swing it timewise).

***We want to hear from you! What will you do this week, when you actually have a bit of downtime at work?

Timesaver for work, with an edge

Ludlow is a sucker for details. Since this Carven jacket and combo dress are full of them, she absolutely had to have them!

The designer just so happened to have earned his stripes in true couture, where details are the most important thing. Lucky for us, he's applied this same approach to his ready-to-wear collection.

Not only is the ensemble stylish, but also very warm.... the coldest months of the year are still ahead of us (ugh).

Details to point out:

1) The jacket's zip closure and leotard shape at the lower half. This is less noticeable from far away, like this shot, making it still appropriate for even the most stuffy of offices.

2) The grosgrain belt, seen again below, is attached to the jacket. That's right, attached to the inside of the jacket. This makes the jacket stay closed, without being zipped shut. 

3) The shoulders are cool and edgy. Reminiscent of Lady Gaga and also nicely balancing for those with broader hips. 

And the last detail (promise!): the interlacing on the back of the dress.. so cute. The jacket actually has the same detailed interlacing at the back.

For accesories, we'd keep it simple and recommend black stockings, a simple pair of gold earrings and a watch... let all the details make the statement.

Click here to shop the jacket, and here to shop the matching combo dress.

One stop dressing for work

Continuing on our theme of 'timesavers for work', the combo dress (dresses that look like two pieces in one) certainly have their interests aligned with ours.

Lex finds this combo dress from L'Agence (click here to shop it!) to be an easy transition from office to cocktails, so you really get bang for your buck. Also great for those holiday cocktails after work. Use your accessories, such as a bracelet, ring or pair of heels to add a pop of color.

Work Holiday Party Dressing

It's that time of year again! Holiday parties at work are here. Often these events carry only left tail risk, depending on the number of drinks you take on (can you tell we may have worked in finance at least once? OK, only downside). During her time in London, Ludlow's first holiday party included: 1) an actual fist fight that a senior manager had to physically stop and 2) a scandalous office hookup. Thankfully she wasn't involved in either. You can blame it on Europe, but we know of similar stories domestically.

With that in mind, here are some tips and recommendations for that upcoming holiday bash.

Do:
1) Take a few minutes to brush your hair, and even jazz up your makeup with some eyeliner and mascara. 

2) Take off the jacket or blazer, add some fun earrings or a bracelet.

Ludlow had a client meeting the day of her party,
so she added these pieces for the evening.

3) Don't be afraid to wear something cute, especially if it's more formal. Ludlow just picked this Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent dress up for a black tie charity event.

Lex will wear this Marc by Marc Jacobs dress to her holiday party - stylish and fun without being too risque. Notice the pretty detail on the back.

Don't:

1) Put on something short, tight or low cut. This rule applies at all times for work, holiday party or not. You are, after all, still in the same room as your boss.

2) Overdo the makeup- loads of eyeshadow might look like a costume to your co-workers, especially if you are still under the harsh lighting of the office.

3) Drink too much. You may be in the company of work friends and having a really good time but, you want to remember the juicy details for the next day and know you are in the clear from any bad gossip. Plus, you probably still have to work the next day. We're not trying to be moms, but make sure you eat and drink water.

Happy holidays!

How to wear animal print in the office

Animal prints are a trend we have fun with, incorporating into our weekend looks. It can be tricky to do the same for the office though. Here are some tips when attempting this for work:

Make sure both the print and the material of the clothing do not look cheap. Keep it simple! Only one piece of animal print per look. Never ever mix animal prints - anytime, anywhere (not just at work). You don't want to look like a walking advertisement for a safari tour...


This J.Crew cheetah print blouse is perfect for the office. The neutral colors of the print go great with black cropped pants for a more casual day or with a black skirt to dress it up. The material is a crepey silk so it's looks and feels higher quality. 

Lex accessorized it with this gold and pearl necklace, the hint of turquoise adds a great pop of color.

On the Weekend: Throw on stretchy black denim, flats and a black leather biker jacket and you are ready to go.

What a difference a belt makes.

Both Lex and Ludlow believe in the LBD as a staple piece for work and beyond. But, without the right accessories, it's really just a black dress. This one sat in Ludlow's closet for a year before she figured out what it needed for work.

 

The missing link: a skinny belt like the patterned one below from J.Crew  

 

Voila!: a cute dress, with a touch of a trend. Grab a blazer or jacket and you are good to go for that client meeting....or just cool weather. Add black tights for the winter.

The LBD is also a good companion for patterned tights. Just make sure the rest of the accessories are simple (aka, we wouldn't wear the belt above and patterned tights).

Because, when it comes to the office, there is room for only one major 'value add'.....for your outfit, that is.

Introducing 'Timesavers for Work'

We know how tiring a working woman's life can be. Timesavers, shortcuts - and sometimes even reschedules or cancellations - can feel like utter lifesavers.

Wardrobes should also include timesavers - like that dress that always looks good but is comfortable too. You can pop out of the shower and throw it on without having to think about it. Versatility is also important. We are always on the lookout for these and will continually feature what we find.

This oatmeal colored cashmere dress from Tibi looks great multiple ways and can be worn with or without a jacket. Throw on a strand of pearls and have some fun with the shoes, as Ludlow did here, sporting a pair of color-block Miu Miu pumps (Fall 2007 and still cute!).  

Adding a belt instead gives the dress a whole new look for the office.

Another option: throw on a colorful jacket, keeping everything else neutral.

You can even take this number from work to cocktails... that's versatility.

How we dress 40's at work

We have a special place in our hearts for fashion from certain prior decades and we absolutely love when they come back in to popular fashion. Gucci's Fall 2011 ready to wear (rtw) line is so fantastically 70's, Ludlow has her heart set on wearing Fedora's and silk dresses until spring.

A tidbit you may not be aware of is that fashion in the 70's, and particularly the late to mid 70's, was an update of the 40's. So, naturally we love anything 40's too. Of course, a lot of times what you see on the runway, can be difficult to translate when dressing for the office.

So, here is one example of how we would do 40s/70s in the office:

Lex found this super cute top from Tibi (that is actually a body suit) and matched it with a delicious belted pair of redish/burnt sienna trousers from J.Crew. Gold accesories, such as a thin gold necklace to accentuate the neckline, could be added.

Given the 40's was a decade where more women went to work, since their men were off at war, denim-like shirts became popular fashion. That also looks really good with these trousers and is a little more casual - for a Friday if your office is a bit more formal. A chunky gold bracelet would top off the look.

After we wrote this, we were interested in the employment trends during WWII. We found out that more than  an estimated six million women joined the workforce during the war - the majority of them married women. In 1940, before the war, only 36% of women workers were married. By 1945, after the war, 50% of women workers were also married. The middle class taboo against a working wife had been repealed.

Rainy day blues...and you have to get to work

With this weekend's out of season snow/rain storm in the Northeast, we thought it might be helpful to share how we dress for bad weather.

Nothing is worse than waking up to a gray rainy day......especially if it’s Monday.

By the time you arrive at the office, your shoes are soaked and the crease of your trousers has completely disappeared. Here’s how we’ve learned to dress for those rainy days, so you can still look presentable after you get to your desk.

• A skirt or a dress is always a better choice than trousers no matter what the season
• If you absolutely must wear pants on a rainy day, opt for a pair that are cropped with a flat front (no crease)
• Invest in a pair of wellies and carry your shoes in your purse or even a plastic shopping bag

Two 'investment' pieces for the rain, every working woman should have:

Wellies – these have become more high fashion (Jimmy Choo created a whole line for Hunter Boots) but we still prefer the classic tall boot which runs at about $125 and comes in a variety of colors (our suggestion, keep it basic with the color). Click here to take a look: Original Hunter Boot

Trench coat – a staple wardrobe piece that everyone should own. It's lightweight and will keep your clothes dry. Plus, it looks great on everyone. Like the wellies keep it basic with the color. Consider beige, navy or black only.

TIPS:

1)   If the belt of the trench comes with a buckle don’t use it. Tie the belt into a knot

2)   When not using the belt tuck the ends into the pockets of the coat. This way, the ends of the belt won’t flap around or get caught in a taxi door (like ours always do when we forget this trick!)

Where to find: Burberry carries the all time classic trench plus many really edgey styles that makes us drool....but the price tag can be hard to swallow (~$900-$1500)! So, below are links to couple of other choices we found, that won’t break the bank:

• Trench at Madewell

• Trench at JCrew

How to look like you do yoga every day - but still work all the time.

We HAD to share. The cut of this bright green top from Tibi is super flattering. The way it indents around the shoulder area makes your arms look cut up - just like the regulars at yoga. Even mini-shaped Lex looks all toned up.  Plus, you can get serious mileage out of it making it kind to a working girl's budget.

The back is really pretty too....

Notice the grosgrain detail around the zipper. So cute.

Taking it to work: Brighten up your black suit with a hint of green, and per-fect it with gold accessories. By the way, it's not an accident we chose a longer necklace. High necked looks can be lengthened with a long necklace - particularly important for bustier ladies.

Then on the weekend: take it for a spin at the bars, or on a date, with black jeans and a boyfriend blazer.

A rocker look - add platform clogs to complete it.
(Or, make it a bit more girly with patent leather heels.)

Woah..the perfect fall bootie. AND you can wear them to work.

While scanning the ground with laser-like eyes at Zara recently (where all the shoes are displayed), Ludlow stumbled upon these booties and slowly but surely fell in love. Just like you, she has to touch and inspect the shoe before making her usual swift and final decision. Beautiful and so versatile too!
It combines 3 Fall trends into 1: bootie, snake skin, burgundyish red. The slit up the middle helps lengthen your leg, rather than cutting it off.

At the office, wear them with black pants for a more conservative look:

Yum

Or for a slightly trendier approach (maybe for the days with no client meetings), pair with black tights, worn with a skirt or dress.

While taking the pictures, this is when Lex fell in love - the weekend look with jeans won her over. Shown here with dark skinny jeans - be sure not pair them with fashionably ripped jeans... that's just too Motley Crue.

Funny story: Ludlow wore them to work and had a number of admirers. One client actually said to her: "Those shoes must be from Europe, aren't they?"... Ludlow replied: "Ha, yes. Spain."

Can I wear white after labor day....to work?

A classic question.... one we have been asked a couple of times recently as we transition from summer to fall. The old rules say no... absolutely not. But this is 2011!

In doing some research, no one is able to actually pinpoint how or why the rule got started - hotter summers in the city?, the development of 'summering' from the emerging middle class in the post war era? Whatever the reason, the rule still exists. Therefore, it's appropriate to give creedence to it, when it comes to work.

To us, the answer is not "no". As far back as the 1920's, Coco Chanel was spotted wearing her classic white suit...in all seasons. We cannot argue with one of our idols.

To put it simply, the answer lies in the weight and/or the color of the fabric.

• Post labor day, the fabric should be a bit heavier or give that appearance. No linen! A white cotton skirt in the same material as your white cotton shorts or white button downs is not appropriate (in our humble opinion). 

White tulip skirt from Marc Jacobs...not a good idea after Labor Day at work

• Some appropriate fabrics are wool, wool crepe, silk.
• Cream, off-white, beige, winter white - these are all better choices than pure white.
• No more seersucker. Just in case you were wondering.

As an example, this skirt would be perfect post labor day: off-white and wool crepe which is a bit lighter than wool but not cotton, so it carries you in to spring. Yum!

Giambattista Valli skirt  

Our reasoning: In the summer months, work is just a bit more casual. On Fridays, the office is less populated. You hear clients often say "let's regroup post labor day and set up a meeting". Post labor day, it is back to the grind. Your wardrobe should be too.

Our First Post - Welcome to our blog!

We are on a mission for the working woman and we'll be writing this blog together. While we each share much of the same interests and passions, below is an introduction from our own perspectives.

Lex:

Fashion has been a passion and interest of mine for as long as I can remember. Though I don’t work in the fashion industry, I feel it plays an important role in everyone’s life no matter what industry you are in. Whether you like it or not, what you wear makes a statement.

I’ve worked in the financial industry for the past 7yrs and have always found shopping for work clothes more of a chore than enjoyment (as shopping should be).  From speaking with our colleagues, peers and friends we found out we are not alone. We launched this blog with the corporate lady in mind to show them looks that are easy to put together, ideas to get the most out of your purchases as well as a few tips we have picked up over the years.

Ludlow:

It feels like yesterday I started my first job out of college. A corporate environment yes, but during the tail end of the heady '90s, when there were more jobs than people and companies were paying 'reporting' bonuses to 21 year olds. This was a time when companies wanted to be nicer - casual fridays, ping pong tables and regular parties. Today, the economy is less robust to say the least. Thus, we the employed must ensure our outward image, both physical and the team spirit we project, is at the highest level it can be. "Dress for the job you want!" 

Unfortunately how you dress can be just as important as what you say, if not more (I hope, dear reader, that you don't know what I am talking about because you work in an environment of absolute encouragement and acceptance!). Of course, the best way to learn and understand this is actually making mistakes (in a future blog, see me in a fairy costume, in front of my new colleagues - I swear). I myself have learned many lessons along the way. So here, in this blog, we hope to share with you what our obsession with fashion combined with the corporate environment has taught us. Also, with age brings wisdom and the belief that practicality is probably better when you work a 12 hour day than those fantastic 5 inch heels!  We hope you learn, enjoy... or at least laugh.. and at us is ok.