Going Deeper

I thought I was the only one who was more than ready to see 2012 end until my casual "good riddance" comment on NYE was met with a resounding "cheers" at the dinner table. Since then, many people I've crossed paths with so far this year have said the same thing.  So on to a new year! 

I kicked off the new year reading a couple of books with more spiritual biases: Proof of Heaven and Unbroken (highly recommended). While they are both very different yet true stories, their messages were similar: love, patience and positive thinking can help you get through anything and allow you to enjoy your life despite adversity. It's a message that probably a lot of people already know. But like many things, you need to learn it on your own to know it.

To maintain this inner learning, I plan to do more yoga and take up acupuncture. I am on a mission to not stress from work as much as I did last year too. I have adopted a new work mantra: be patient with yourself, you are doing the best you absolutely can and if you can't get to it today, tomorrow will have to be ok. I have a theory that the less you 'care' about work, the more success you have.  I'll let you know how that goes.

2013 is the year of the snake (same as my birth-year - and I'm going to take it as a sign that it's going to be a good year)... More specifically, the black snake. No wonder I've been so focused on black. I picked up a versatile black cami from Madewell - perfect for slithering around the office under jackets at work, but flattering tucked in to a skirt or over skinny jeans for weekend.

2013 will be a year of rebalancing and learning for me... What will it be for you?

Adopting Holiday Spirit

Some years can feel super holiday - where you've had ample time to think about it, have fun parties and get-together's planned and generally happy to hear Christmas songs when walking in to a crowded Gap. Other years, the holiday period seems to have snuck up on you. All of sudden there are small white lights everywhere, your getting cards from people and charities in your mailbox and all you can think is, wasn't it just August?

This year I am in the latter camp. But instead of maintaining a deer in headlights stance, I've decided to combat it head on. I will get in the holiday mood! I will not be annoyed by the music and the crowds and the forced office party! Here is my 5 step action plan:

• Buy a Christmas tree. I will withstand the pine needle mess and soak in the natural pine fragrance like an aromatherapy treatment.
• Ignore the Scrooge in me and organize my calendar, RSVPing yes to most holiday invitations.
• Buy a great day to night dress for the office party and actually dress it up after 6pm: 

Click here for sources.

Some other options here at refinery29.


• Be a secret santa and give to charity - with all the people in need right here in NYC, this is easy.
• Write out my blessings this year. Everyday includes a running list of all things I still need to do or all the things I wish I had (time, money). My soul will be reminded of all the things I am blessed with!

I'll let you know how it goes...

Change From the Outside In

If you've ever experienced a loss of something or someone profound, you might identify with my current desire for physical change. The magnitude of change I seek is often directly correlated to the depth of emotional impact a loss carries for me. After a big breakup a few years ago, I adopted a weekend rocker style with leather jackets, ripped t-shirts and skinny jeans. Today, I've been thinking about dying my hair from blonde to red. Pretty significant. 

Thinking Emma Stone like red.

BUT, can a drastic change to your appearance impact your career? I've always believed if one buys a new well-fitting outfit or gets better glasses, this positive change can have a positive impact on their attitude and thus their career. But what if its just a change for the sake of it? Would I be perceived as going off the deep end or unfit for client work? No one will actually tell you that if they do. Doing some research online on the topic resulted in general consensus that as long as the change is natural looking enough, it doesn't matter too much. I'll soon find out.

How does the redheaded me dress? Still thinking about that but so far, a new coat from Helmut Lang for the new me: light colored to highlight the new hair, casual when worn open but formal when closed, with edgy leather sleeves:

Post Sandy: Putting the Office in Context

Life just never stops. Just when you think there are certain staples in your life, like electricity and public modes of transportation, Mother Nature reminds us all that nothing can be taken for granted.

After 2 days of downtown candlelight living,  I decided to go to work on Wednesday.  Since the office had electricity, it was a chance to reach friends and loved ones, charge my devices and go to my gym for a shower. Dressing for work in situations like these have limited rules. I went for comfort, a black skirt and sweater with flats, because I didn't know how I was going to get home. Plus, all client meetings were canceled and the firm was lucky to have staff in.

I got lucky with a cab in the morning and as I passed 39th street on the east side, the vibrancy of midtown smacked me in the face. It never lost power. People seemed to be living like the last few days were just a bit of rain - with nail salons full and restaurants busy. The difference in the city was indescribable.

The commute home was even stranger - a reminder of how close to the edge of chaos a city like New York and life can be. I caught a bus headed downtown only to learn that it would not be going below 23rd street given it was night fall. As we got below the demarcation line of electricity, the bus turned quiet, cell phones lost signals and everything got dark. My 25 block walk down 1st Avenue in the dark, on Halloween no less, was overwhelming. The only lights were from the few cars going by and the couple of pizza places and bars open by candlelight. An older gentleman in front of me literally walked in to some scaffolding because he couldn't see it. There were certainly a few times I sped up because I wasn't sure of the guy next to me on the street. My cellphone was only good as a light, so that I could let cars know I was crossing a street. You could feel the emotion in the air: a couple more days of this, and not everything would be so tame. All I could think was that if something happened to me, it would take some time for anyone to find me. The next day, after hearing this commuting story, my company got me a hotel room near the office.

Pic from the walk home

Yet, I am one of the lucky ones. A couple of days of no electricity, warm water or cell service is survivable. My neighborhood got power back on Friday night. And while many bodegas have hand written signs saying the food is spoiled and not for sale, things are almost back to normal. There are so many people with worse conditions that have no end in sight. My prayers are with these families and I've donated supplies to nearby shelters.

The worries of work, clients, annoying internal meetings and office politics all mean absolutely nothing when you lose everything, even if temporary.  Mother Nature steps in when you least expect it. I learned that... no, I've been reminded of that again in more ways than one this week, as a very personal tragedy coincided with this turn of events. You've got to take what's important - like a loving husband, a warm home, a beautiful child - and hold it close to you. The rest will be there.

Wear it now, Wear it later

We've found some really great pieces for work lately that are built for fall but with some tweaking, can be worn now in warmer weather and later, when temperatures are lower. It's a great way to stretch your clothing budget (if only we were so structured that we actually mapped out a budget!).

3.1 Phillip Lim, Phillip Lim's lower priced line, has some really great pre-fall and fall numbers. We grabbed this timesaver option that's perfect for cooler weather: a navy ponte peplum long sleeve top and matching pencil skirt (on the right below). It's stretchy and so comfortable. 

On the left, we've taken the top out of the equation to wear the skirt now. Roll up the button down's sleeves, add a belt and you have a summer work outfit. 

For info on where to find each piece, click here.

Looking like you splurged for work

We came across this perfect example of looking like you spent a few thousand dollars on your clothes for work without actually doing it. 

The keys to this example:

- lovely neutral color palette, 

- a vintage piece (the blouse is her friend's grandmother's), 

- the skirt and bag are basics from commercial brands like Anne Klein (=cost savings)

Notice the booties (Calvin Klein, so the mixed-in expensive piece) have a cutout, elongating the leg, just like we featured last fall. 

You're bound to get the question "Love that, where did you get it?". Whether you want to reveal the secret is entirely up to you.

What Not Not to Wear

...or said another way, what TO wear. While perusing the WSJ series "Work Wear" again, we came across a well put together lady and some sage advice. We thought it worthy to share both.


From lady of style Rachel Roy to women dressing for work, we couldn't have said it better ourselves: "Dress for the job you'd like to have, not for the job you currently have. Dress for the story that you'd like to have people know about you before you even open your mouth. And dress so that your taste level comes across, because people with impeccable taste also have impeccable intelligence."


Loving her outfit too. If you can't wear sandals to your office, black pumps are an easy replacements.

All items from, of course, Rachel Roy, except that necklace. That's Givenchy.

You're As Cold As Ice...

...You're willing to sacrifice"..style? No way! 

Sure, when I first get in to the office on a hot summer day, the cool corporate air is a welcome relief. But by the time I've settled in to my desk and begun my day, which usually entails very low levels of physical activity, I am on my way to freezetown. Hello goosebumps. 

If you are a hotblooded chick that reaches a sheen easily, then read no further. I envy you (particularly in the dead of winter).

But, if you are like me (and you could conceivably find a chill in the desert), here are ways to manage around the cold office during hot summer days: 

Blazer: May be obvious but a good blazer can make a trash bag dress from Project Runway look structured. Keep a black or white cotton one at the office for warmth, and that client meeting you didn't know you would have. Then leave it behind before heading to dinner or drinks for the evening.

Loving this linen blazer from Loft. The modern cut with no lapel means it should work with everything and the pushed up sleeves is a nice effect.

 

Structured Cardigan: somewhere in between a basic cardigan and a blazer... The most versatile thing you can own (ok, one of).

Zara has a number of these to choose from and all are reasonably priced. This one is cozy and neutral enough to match with almost anything.

Scarf: Well, not the one your grandma knitted. Think a thin cashmere or cotton/silk mix.

Like this one from ASOS.

Of course, these aren't mutually exclusive so layer up if it feels right.

Big props to Foreigner circa 1977.

Opportunities in Office Style

The Wall Street Journal's "Heard on the Runway" Work Wear series has been documenting office style around NYC. We've been tracking it with interest as firms from varying industries are profiled.

We wondered, how were these people chosen? Were they the best dressed in the whole office (aka "office hot")? Were they perhaps the best performing for the year to date? Or did everyone throw their business cards in to a fish bowl and 15 or so of them were picked? 

While many photos have been interesting and entertaining (like the very serious looking man with hot pink socks). We have to say that some of these were disappointing as examples of good office style and we just couldn't resist pointing out opportunities for improvement... So here goes.

Behold, Subject A:

• Sandals with a full on grey wool suit? They are totally out of context. Wear them with a floral sundress? Perfect. What about linen trousers? Lovely. But, not a classic grey suit.

Our suggestion: charcoal grey closed toe heels of any kind (like these)

• This brings us to another matter. Even in this shot, it's clear that inside the sandals are not just feet but feet inside white stockings. It makes us cringe on a number of levels. 1) Sandals are open and airy for your feet and feet alone 2) stockings inside sandals are so very grandma 3) WHITE stockings?!!

Our suggestion: If your office is too conservative to show your toes, just don't wear sandals. Even if it's not, wear charcoal grey closed toe heels with this (or at least please take the stockings off!).

• The cut of the jacket is a bit loose around the shoulders and waist. The most flattering jackets are where the arms are cut a bit higher in to the armpit. This makes arms look thinner, creating a smaller silhouette for the whole top half (like this one).

Our suggestion: This jacket could use some further tailoring, to make it a bit more fitted.

As a side note, the subject's pose is certainly interesting. They look as though they are warming up for ronde de jambes at the barre during ballet class.  Maybe they take classes in the evenings after a hard day's work? Ooh, that might explain the white stockings.

The Summer Work Commute: You never know who you'll run in to

Commuting to work can range from easy to downright sh#tshow on any given day. Like when the train just won't move due to "train traffic ahead". What? In this day and internet age, train traffic can't be "planned ahead"? 

No matter how late you are running or how hot it is this summer, it remains important to look somewhat professional. We're not suggesting you always (or ever!) deck yourself out in full makeup and a dress everyday. But, in our experience following a few rules and resisting the temptation to be too summer casual can make the difference the next time you bump in to a fellow colleague, the head of your division, or even your CEO.

1) Don't wear flip flops, no matter how tempted you are to throw them on while running out the door. Ballet flats present a more polished look.

While it seems everyone has a pair of Tory Burch flats, we like this lower cost leopard print pair from Steve Madden.

Neutral enough for almost anything

2) No jean jackets, no fleeces. These should really be for weekends only. Only old school traders can get away with them at work. For cooler mornings, throw on a scarf, cardigan or blazer, like this one Ludlow just picked up from Zara.

We LOVE the button detail on the cuffs.

3) No messenger bags, backpacks or anything made of nylon. The bag you carry should be professional, but it doesn't have to be expensive.  We like this canvas and leather hobo from Madewell - neutral, summery and reasonable!

May your summer commute be happy and stress free!

My Evil Shoes

We can safely say spring is here! With that comes an urge to clear out the old, making room for the new. Unearthing the warm weather pieces you forgot about is like finding money in an old coat (OK, maybe not exactly, but you could find that too!). For many of us, this cleansing takes the form of both mental and physical - as the memories associated with these items run through your thoughts.

Ludlow began her project a couple of weeks ago. Her shoe obsession had become a space problem, leaving her to rationalize each pair in her inventory. It was then that she stumbled upon them. 

The pair Ludlow had buried back in 2006 after a steep fall from grace. Like many things in her closet, she couldn't quite let them go. Besides, they had cost too much to give away. They were Jimmy Choos! They'll probably come back in style! 

The culprit(s)

What's that you ask? OK... we'll tell you so that we may save you from a similar fate:

In the fall of 2006, before the financial crises the world was a happier place. Blissful economic ignorance pervaded. Ludlow was living in London and traveled to Greece to present to a group of investors. Included in her suitcase was a new pair of shoes from the Jimmy Choo A/W 2006 collection. Due to their height, she couldn't walk very fast in them, but speed is usually a reasonable cost for fashion.

The morning after her arrival Ludlow walked up to the stage in her Jimmy Choos and launched in to her presentation. At it's conclusion, the Q&A session started. She listened to the first question, and in an effort to engage her audience, took a few steps closer to them while starting her answer.... and then, she walked a bit too far. 

She stopped feeling the ground under one foot and immediately began trying to balance backward. She couldn't manage it and fell right off the front of the stage. That's right. As she fell, she could hear the entire room in unison go "ah". 

She landed on her feet, with the first row of the audience stopping the momentum from the fall.  The entire room froze. Ludlow looked at a colleague in shock. He looked back in shock, then mouthed the words "are you okay?!". Ludlow nodded and pulled herself together, slowly walking back to stage left, up the short set of stairs and back on the stage. 

"As I was saying, the current environment lends itself to..." Right then the audience rose to their feet and clapped. A standing ovation! Ludlow curtsied in thanks. Then she noticed, in the back of the room, were the rest of her colleagues, red with laughter. Ludlow had to fight not to laugh as hard as them.

Later, a mortified Ludlow mustered up the courage to mingle with the lunch crowd. The guy next to her said, in between drags of his cigarette (it is Greece after all!): "We won't forget you now! Don't worry, you were just nervous. A very good presentation otherwise."


Ludlow wasn't nervous. She was just klutzy... and in a new pair of shoes with Mt. Everest-like views. Readers, please note: only wear shoes you've already test driven for a speaking event!

Lesson learned... these things are going in the goodwill pile.

Pre Purchase Self-Styling for the Office

If you are like us, your wardrobe for the office may stump you from time to time. You find yourself staring at your closet, uninspired, holding a new top and figuring out what to wear it with. The added pressure of it usually taking place in the morning, when you have to get going, can further arrest your decision making abilities. So what can you do to mitigate these occurences?

Well, we have a secret weapon (ok, maybe not so secret): Polyvore.

This is an amazing site that allows you to search from a gazillion different pieces of clothing and accessories, from all around the internet, to assist in figuring out what could look good together. We've actually used it here too. You may have noticed some of our posts recently have been using ''sets'' (like the one on 'favorite trend from 2011'and 'pop of pink') which have helped us offer you suggestions on cute pieces for the office and what to wear them with.


Lex has been eyeing a coral silk blouse from Equipment, and used Polyvore to figure out if it's worth it. She put the below set together showing it can definitely go from the office into the weekend. It's worth the purchase!

It's also a great tool to find inspiration. Polyvore's database is full of opportunity! We recommend you try it yourself.

Office Nail Etiquette

The popularity of nail polish, particularly as part of one's look, has been growing exponentially. The variety of up to the minute shades grows almost daily and the creative names of all the colors are just pure fun to discover (who doesn't want to be...oops I mean wear, 'rock star skinny'?). We would love to meet the people who's job it is name nail polishes!

With this trend, comes important decisions at the nail salon, particularly if it's a Sunday and your looking at a busy workweek ahead. Ludlow herself has kept a manicurist waiting for what feels like an eternity while she tries to make a decision on what color she lives with for the next 5 days or so. 
Here are some rules and suggestions we hope are helpful:

• This spring, we see brands like Essie and OPI featuring pretty yellows and greens. Of course, the blues are also hot. Unfortunately ladies, if you are in a professional environment, these colors should really be for toes only.
• Neutrals are the safest way to go. Clean and pretty without being a distraction. Our favorites are: 
• Essie's south of the hi'way

• Lex likes to layer her neutrals. One of her favorite combinations is limo-scene with mademoiselle. 

• Reds, browns and plums (except lilacs) are all classics. Make sure your nails are on the shorter side when wearing them to work. Both Ludlow and Lex LOVE Essie's wicked. Tip: 3 coats are best with this color.

• On the trendy end, our favorites are differentiated colors that are still low key such as Essie's mink muffs, sew psyched or chinchilly, shown on Ludlow below. 

• To make sure your manicure lasts the longest it can, pay the extra $1 and ask for a quick dry top coat. Also, we like to get a 10 minute massage after the manicure, purely to distract us of course, and to ensure our nails are dry before leaving the salon.
• To keep nails healthy, we use NailTek in between manicures. It's less expensive than Nailtiques and does a better job (in our opinion).

Finally, if you can't tell after reading this, our favorite nail polish brand is Essie : )

Patterned Tights in the Office

With winter in full swing finally, tights become an integral part of any work wardrobe.  

Firstly, it's another great accessory for the LBD. These pattern tights from Wolford (Ludlow's fav) dress up a simple LBD for the office and cocktails (or dinner). Notice the belt is black this time. Generally, other accessories should be toned down with patterned tights.

A couple of our other favorite tights, from Hue (Lex's fav):

Some tips when it comes to tights at the office:

• Fishnets are fine as long as they are small patterned.
• Personally, we don't love nude colored tights, but love nude colored fishnets (again small patterned) which are also great in trouser socks.
• For plain black tights, we tend to do them a bit cheaper and go for Leggs from our local drugstore.
• Colored tights are really tough to pass off at the office. We suggest sticking to blacks and grays.

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?