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...

The Best Holiday

With Halloween approaching, excitement abounds. Dressing up as someone else, being someone else even for a short period, is true pleasure (maybe I should have been an actress). The daily corporate routine only makes it that much sweeter. Costume choices for the last few years have been real people: Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, the maid who was sexually harassed by the head of the IMF... This year is still undecided. 

Inspiration from 2012 events include the tanning mom and Clint Eastwood with an empty chair. However, this year, with all the change in my personal life (and I mean big things... worthy of changing your health insurance outside of the annual enrollment period type life events) I am thinking of simpler alternatives to balance these big events. Maybe a sheet with a couple of holes?

Of course, my year wouldn't be complete without some acknowledgement to a character. So I found this fantastic dress at Zara to wear on 'All Hallow's Eve' Wednesday the 31st to the office. I like to think it's what Lara Croft may have worn if she had a corporate job by day. Structured with its paneling, modern with its leather sleeves. Edgy and sexy all at once. The price is right too.

Now, all I need is a long braid. Happy Halloween!

What's Up with All These Collars?

Just like in the 80's with plastic charm necklaces and big hair, and in the 90's hypercolor t-shirts, slap bracelets and plaid flannel shirts, this decade has had a number of fast trends already. We're not ashamed to say we love sporting the newest fad, but with age has come some maturity in wearing them. 

Unlike the days of spending all our savings on a new pair of Z.Cavaricci's, we spend more on the lasting items and look for lower priced versions of the fads. Right now, the collar is in focus and not just ones that are attached to shirts. You can find them studded up or even sold separately as a necklace (for a shirt or not). We featured a version of this in February of this year with Karl Lagerfeld's line and the idea has flourished in to mainstream.

We found this gold studded silk button down shirt at Zara and love it. And it's only $90! 

We've worn it buttoned to the very top, to emphasize the studs, with a demure shin length tan pleated wool skirt. It would also look great with black pleated trousers or an olive leather skirt (there are two great ones at Riess). 

On the weekend, wear it untucked with skinny jeans and heels.

So go for that next fad... Just not at the designer end of the spectrum.

Did You Mean Broke?

"No, I said Baroque. As in the style in art and architecture developed in Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries.  It emphasized drama and elaborate ornamentation so the trend is extravagant and ornate".

"Ahh, now I get it... Doesn't sound like I can I wear that to the office though."

"You can, it just depends on your interpretation. For example, none of these would likely instill confidence at your next meeting with a potential investor:"

"Yeah, probably not, unless I was working at an 18th century circus... which sometimes i think I do. And I I don't know if I look all that good in that much gold and shine... Plus all the embellishment looks pricey."

"Yeah, it can be. There's an awesome McQueen dress and cute pointelle clutch from D&G with extra dollar signs. It's a trend... not a basic so no one should overdose on it in their closet anyway and go broke! BUT, you can work it in your closet and at the office in a couple of pieces. Take look at this little ensemble."

Click here to learn more about each piece.

"If you are feeling daring, you could wear a leather pencil skirt here instead of a plain one".

"Hmm, yeah I'll think about that one... This does look like the trend and I like it. Thanks lady!"

...An obviously very deep discussion on trends between Ludlow and a friend. We hope you enjoyed.

Word Association

What comes to our mind when we think of leather: 
-a luxurious fabric
-a topic of controversy
-often makes items more expensive than other fabrics
-Sandra D
-bikers
-popular in white on coaches in the 80's and
-can now be found as trim or the core of many ladies' fashions today. 

Does it pass the officewear test? YES. We tried it and it worked well. You just can't go overboard - the same for many other items when dressing (eg., too matchy matchy, too much jewelry, too many different colors etc.).

We paired this lovely reddish/burgundy leather skirt from Madewell wth a black silk top and black jacket. We toyed with the idea of a cream top but went the safer route for the first try.

Click Here to find out where all these pieces are from.

We kept the shoes low-key and low-heeled and added a traditional linked bracelet to contrast the other pieces.

Madewell also had a super cute leather dress in the same color - absolutely wearable with a black jacket to the office and both great for a work to cocktails/date look.

Brighten up your day

Nothing says it better than the song "Summertime" from DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, from 1991 (can you believe that was 21 years ago? the song is of drinking age now!):
"school is out and it's a sort of a buzz,
a back then I didn't really know what it was,
but now I see what have of this,
the way that people respond to summer madness".

Warmer weather generally makes us as humans happier. Even the air in NYC smells better as the weather improves. Weekdays can start to become something to look forward to with longer hours of light for outdoor workouts or dinners.

How we dress is often a reflection of our mood. With summer almost here, we wanted to share a great piece that reflects that higher level of cheeriness.

This tie dress from DVF does the trick.

The bateau neck and tie waist flatters any figure. And of course, we love the button detailing in the back (since we are suckers for detail). Wear it with a neutral pair of heels and a chunky bracelet.

This dress is reminiscent of 70's styling too - a remake if you will - just like the DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince song was a great remake of a 1974 Kool & the Gang song.

Lace-it-Up for the office

Like animal print, lace is often associated with sexiness, lingerie, candles and maybe even silk sheets (for some reason we are now picturing a cheesy 70's sex chamber like the one Elvis Presley had...). All light years away from the fluorescent lighting of an office building. But with the warmer weather this spring, the lace trend of this season is slowly moving in. 

So like anything we show you, as long as you keep it professional and simple, with limited accessories, you can make a stylish, appropriate look in lace. 

One option is to go with a detail of lace. Lex found this cream silk and lace blouse at Madewell (it also comes in black but the cream color is closer to sweet versus sexy). Since the lace is really only on the sleeves, you can wear a jacket over it, with the lace peeking out during the day. It then nicely transitions from the office, to a client dinner/drinks in the evening. 

For the weekend, wear it with dark blue denim bell bottoms (Rag and Bone) and platforms (Ash) for a 70's feel (which we still love!). 

Ludlow wanted all over lace and found this demure number at J.Crew. The 'neon azalea' color makes it fun (and less sexy). We love it with a pair of ankle length blue trousers (also from J.Crew).

A note on those trousers: Notice the pleating and button detail. The fit is also amazing.. something about the fabric that is sort of stretchy and forgiving.

For weekend, untuck it and let the scallop edging on the bottom show - worn here with a pair of skinny jeans (and neutral flats).

So go ahead and lace it up ladies! Show em whatcha got.





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!

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 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."