Got this One in the Bag!

Deep, dark colors and jewel tones are SO in this season! Get your hands on a cross body, satchel, or flap closure bag to be your arm candy during the work week. There are tons of options out there and they are all a little bit different, so find the one that best shows your own personal style!

We had to Give em’ the Boot

These little booties give a new meaning to fancy footwork! Most women drool over the site of all the new boots this time of year and wish they could have them all but, if you only could choose one style these should be the ones! Booties leave room for designers to add extra detail, embellishments, and play with different heel heights so that every on- trend woman can choose her favorite.

I Feel the Need, the Need for Tweed

Oh so Chanel-esque and perfect for the job, tweed is professional and fun at the same time. Today, tweed comes in any color and almost any fashion form. Opt for the classic blazer or try a new take on these mangled yarns with a dress! Accessorize with a statement ring, skinny black pants, a toned down skirt, mary janes, or booties.

Minimum Wage

After all the busy prints and bright colors of neon and pastels we have seen for the past two seasons, it’s time to scale it back and keep it a bit more simple. Winter whites are luxurious, sophisticated, and a great way to keep you feeling cozy! Choose a chunky knit cardigan, blazer, poncho, cape, trench, military or peacoat to wear on your way into the office.

Gold and Lilac by jenshort featuring stud earrings

Friday night and you have to rush from the office to your best buds rehearsal dinner. This outfit can do double duty. Add a cardigan or blazer in the office with a simple black flat. Then swap your shoes and ditch the cardi for dinner and drinks.

Feminine Perfection by Workchic featuring sleeveless dresses

A pretty feminine dress like this one from Moschino is perfect for a fall wedding and can double in the office. It’s simple and sophisticated. Even these accessories work for both, though we’d probably take a clutch to the wedding.

Rehearsal Dinner Options by Weab featuring j crew dresses

Here are two more dresses that could work in the office, a bridal shower, rehearsal dinner, and even an afternoon wedding. Remember to pull back out that cardigan for the strapless style when wearing it to the office.

Enjoy the October wedding season and have fun shopping!

Traveling for work and leisure has become a regular part of life for most of us.

But luggage seems to be something that you either inherit, have had since your first apartment or you got at the last minute for the last vacation you took — 4 years ago.

It’s time to invest in quality, chic luggage that won’t break the bank and will be the best possible choice for your travel needs.

Zip it up in Style!  

One of the best is Helen Rae Carry-On Luggage for Women.  Designed by a woman for women, it is the ultimate for traveling in comfort and style with its black or brown body and pink piping. 

First of all, it weighs only 10 pounds, so you won’t feel that drag that you’ve felt with other luggage.  It rolls smoothly and effortlessly and has an adjustable handle so no matter what your height, you can find a comfortable length.  Ahh! 

With a front laptop pouch, you can save having to carry one more thing, and the handles lie flat, so you can place your purse or briefcase on top without worrying about it slipping off.

Inside, it’s got removable shelves and suitor and hanger, so that you can get your clothes and personal items in and out in a flash and most likely, wrinkle-free.  There’s a plastic-lined pocket so that if any of your toiletries leak, they won’t get all over your clothes and an expansion panel allows you to get one more outfit, one more pair of shoes into the case. 

And the best part?  It fits in most overhead bins (sideways), so you can take your stuff with you and not worry about whether it makes the trip or not and you’ll save waiting at Baggage Claim.

If you’re looking for something for heartier travels, then the Zuca Pro is a great option. 

It has a built-in seat in case you’re up against long layovers or waits in remote areas, and a drawer packing system (removable, washable and replaceable pouches) that is like having your own wardrobe right at your side!

It is light (8.75 pounds), has a comfortable handle and has wheels that make for a very smooth trip.

It comes in two colors, fits into airplane overheads and comes with a toiletry bag that makes going through security a breeze!

If you like something really rugged, but with a bit of edge and lots of style, Heys Luggage is for you.  There are a number of hard cases to choose from with different looks — metallics, plastics and wild, exotic skins.

They are well-known for their metallics and bright colours, and this luggage offers a great, sassy alternative to what everyone else has — so it’ll be easy to identify as yours at the baggage claim — and it is made from polypropylene, one of the hardest plastics you can get so it can take being thrown about and show no signs of wear and tear. 

The push-button release aluminum handle makes it easy to get up and go in a snap and big inline skate wheels that will keep up with you should you be rushing towards your gate. This luggage has several combination and key locks so that your belongings remain yours and yours alone.

You are allowed one carry-on plus a personal item (e.g. purse, briefcase or laptop)

You are usually allowed two checked bags/luggage.  Each should not exceed 60 pounds.  If it is over, you will be charged a fee.  Check with the airline you’re traveling with about their regulations and restrictions.  

So what’s better, rolling or folding?  How to you keep your suit for tomorrow wrinkle-free?  What should you always remember to bring?

Tips to keep your travels stress and wrinkle free: 

First of all, make yourself a packing list.  There is a great one that you generate based on your travel needs at The Universal Packing List site as well as at TravelSense.  Or check off the items on this list from Frommer’s and this one for specific activities.  If you are more a paper person, Knock Knock’s Pack This! Pad and Buttoned Up’s TravelPrep.pad make packing fun and easy — just check off what you need to bring!

And be sure to enclose a copy of your list in your bag, so that you ensure that everything you came with returns home with you.

For the ultimate in packing tips, check out advice from One Bag, where traveling light — and with only one bag — is possible!  And to make sure that you are in accordance with current regulations, check the TSA (Transport Security Administration) site for packing tips for both checked and carry-on luggage. 

Now, to fold or roll?  If you fold, fold two things together so each faces the other.  This, along with placing tissue between the items will prevent wrinkling, as will placing them in plastic bags.  And roll items between folded ones — the tighter you pack, the less room they have to move and wrinkle.  Roll up items such as nighties and clothes that are made from lycra and other stretchy materials.  These fabrics can take it and come out completely unscathed.

Another thing you can do to make sure that you pack lightly is take advantage of lightweight fabrics that are easy to clean, fold flat and are just as warm as the bulky fabrics you grew up with.

Easy solutions for packing just enough to be comfortable and still have enough room in your luggage for bringing new found items home: 

1. Check the weather of your destination.  If it’s calling for cool and rainy days, you can pack warmer clothes than if you’re heading only for sun and sand. 

2. Take the number of days you’re traveling and pack for just over half those days.  So if you’re going away for a week, pack for four days.  If you’ll be away for two weeks, pack for eight days.  This way you’ll have enough clothes to wear a couple of times — which you’ll end up doing anyway.

3.  Remember that hotels stock items such as shampoo and conditioner and that you can buy items when you arrive.  And they almost always have a hair dryer. This will save you packing these essential items, but not without them.

4.  Have smaller, travel size items such as hairbrushes, wet wipes or antibacterial gel that will save on space.  You can also keep them in your luggage, saving you from having to look for or repack them.

5. Utilize company’s innovative products that save you space such as La Fresh Travel Wipes and Flex Flops, flip flops that fold up. 

6.  Bring clothing that can double as more than one item — a sweater that can be worn as a jacket, a skirt that can look like a dress with a matching top.  This will save you from having to pack — and think about more outfits.  So take that great suit that makes you feel like a million bucks to the convention, but wear the pants again to dinner with that cap-sleeve blouse and throw on the sweater you wore on the plane.

You can carry the essentials in your purse and carry-on and leave the bulky and/or heavy items in the suitcase.  This will make traveling not only to and from the airport a breeze, but will make for an easier time getting around wherever you may go.

Bon Voyage and safe travels!

Amanda Guralski is a career coach, public speaker, and co-founder of bizme.biz, an online magazine for young professional women.

She says while summer can be a time to have fun with color and accessories, it’s also a time when women can run into real trouble trying to stay cool, but professional-looking in an office setting.

For one thing, summer-weight material can be far more see-through than fall and winter garments. Guralski advises women to do a quick check in the dressing room before making a purchase.

“Kind of take a step apart when you walk, so you can see if light is going through the skirt,” says Guralski, who also says you should sit down in that skirt or dress to make sure it doesn’t ride up so far as to be distracting.

She says the hemline itself can be an issue for younger women used to mid-thigh lengths for more casual wear. “Mare sure that it’s (the hemline) is an inch to an inch and a half above the knee,” advises Guralski. “Anything else, mid-thigh, unacceptable, and you need to put it back on the rack because there’s no place in the office for short skirts.”

While a more casual work environment might permit bare arms, other offices don’t. Guralski says there’s no need to be caught off guard.

“My rule of thumb is always to have something at your desk, whether it’s a jacket or a sweater or a scarf, because not everyone wants to look at bare arms,” says Guralski.

She says a jacket is handy for client meetings, and also gives you the option of removing it later if you need to be outside the office in the summer heat.

Guralski also likes separates like jackets, sweaters and more trendy accessories that can change up an outfit for the office to one appropriate for an after hours event.

Guralski says job seekers who are preparing for an interview want to make sure whatever they wear is not distracting.

LinkedIn might be one way to find employess to ask them what the office culture is like.

Still, a general rule for a job interview, and the workplace in general is, no low necklines, or otherwise revealing outfits.

Find out what the company policy is regarding bare arms, pantyhose, even shoes.

“I like to stick with the totally enclosed, possibly a peep-toe shoe,” says Guralski, who says strappy sandals aren’t appropriate for office wear.

For more information on office style for the young woman, interview tips and other job-related advise, check out Guralski’s online magazine, bizme.biz.

Fashions shows by Amanda Guralski came from White House/Black Market, Macy’s and Ann Taylor.

Although many offices require a professional look, no need to give up on stylish self-expression. Chunky jewelry is making a come back. These eye-catching bangles will certainly make a stylish addition to your look:

Encanto Hinged Bangle- Brighton Accessories ($44.00)









Patent Leather Trim Bangle- Forever 21 ($6.80)

Bangle Set- The Limited ($16.50)









Elsa Peretti® bangles in pine, persimmon and orchid lacquer- Tiffany & Co. ($395.00)











Bold and beautiful cuffs you’ll love:

Caramelo Bracelet- Brighton Accessories ($68.00)









Animal Print Metal Bangle- Forever 21 ($5.80)









As always, simple, classy jewelry can stunningly complete your ambience. Ornate floral pieces are gaining popularity. Here are some of our delicate, yet flashy favorites:

Rose Rhinestone Hinged Bracelet- Forever 21 ($13.80)









Multichord with Metal Bracelet- The Limited ($22.50)









Sapphire and Diamond Bracelet- Tiffany & Co. ($195,000.00)











Stack them, wear them separately. Dress up or dress down. Either way, these fashion bracelets will do their job, leaving you looking fabulous.

One look that I found to be a constant throughout my week-long stay in London is the ultra mini skirt, dress and even a shirt used as a dress. If the ultra mini hasn’t already made a comeback in the U.S., I imagine it will not be long before the fashions translate and cross the pond.

If you’re not sure about bringing back the ultra mini and showing a little extra thigh, here are some looks for you that are edgy, classic and casual. You can do the mini for a fun evening cocktail party, a formal event and even to work.

“For as long as I could remember, I have always been passionate about fashion,” Anna Medeiros said when explaining her love for aesthetics. Only after her sudden layoff at a software company was Anna able to take this passion to the next step. Her situation, an all-too-familiar circumstance in our struggling economy, can leave many a reserved person completely bewildered but Anna concentrated on the positive.

As she attempted to come up with a new professional strategy, Anna’s focus began to flit back to the idea of pursuing living on another continent. She had been toying with the idea of moving to England to enroll as a student at the University of the Arts in London.

Her dream of living in London became a reality when she earned her postgraduate Fashion certificate in Fashion Marketing and lived seven months in London. “I always wanted to live overseas,” she said. “I definitely think that it enhanced my career.” Her fashion portfolio was also improved when she worked for Nordstrom’s and Anne Taylor. Her time in London broadened her fashion knowledge by not only attending school but also by working for Ralph Lauren located within the world-famous Harrods.

Starting Point: London and Harrods!

“It feels almost like an amusement park,” Anna said of her environment at Harrods. When she tried to compare the store to that of one in the states, she said she would compare Harrods to Neimen Marcus but really it’s a store of its own. The customer service was also amazing. “If you want it they’ll get it for you,” she said. Another perk to her job at Harrods was making some great contacts with people in the industry. Some of the people she came across were more quirky then others.

Harrods is known for telling a story and they create stories around their merchandising she said. One manager in particular that she worked with had an interesting way of interpreting how to tell the story of her clothes. The manager would name all her mannequins and she also created story plots.

Though she found her time at Harrod’s rewarding, she knew she couldn’t stay indefinitely. Before she moved to London she had already started thinking about opening a boutique but wasn’t ready financially. “Honestly I never thought of myself as an entrepreneur,” she said. “I sort of kept hitting this wall in my professional life and I didn’t see a direct track for growth.” Opening her own boutique would afford her the ability to showcase all she had to offer and she thought she could do it all on her own.

The start of her launching her business, Muito Fino, was a lot of work and for a year and a few months she continued to work full-time while trying to launch her business in her free time. “I worked in the evenings and weekends. I could have worked 80 hours in a week and I would use my vacation time to fly to speak to vendors,” she said. Although it was work, she said that it was also fun.

Reality Star: Muito Fina

As for her clientele, Anna said that the majority of her customers are based on the east coast. She believes the reason behind this may be that the clothes that Muito Fina (which means very fine) features are dressier. Californians tend to be a little more casual possibly due to the climate.

In regards to fashion and her target audience, she tends to think of the Sex and the City girls but her inspiration also stems from her experiences abroad.

“Being in London completely opened my eyes to a different consumer,” she said. While living abroad she realized the differences in American fashion as compared to European fashion. “Americans are a little more conservative and are pretty simple when it comes to fashion,” she observed. She also got a lot of her fashion inspiration when she visited Portugal. On a particular trip when she was five years old, she remembers being so excited about the shoes she got while there because the shoes were completely different from what her classmates were wearing. “I like being different, a little more fashion forward,” she said.

Her style has matured and the clothes she sells reflect that fact. Anna characterizes the clothes sold through her online boutique as young contemporary fashion items for women who are are transitioning from college to the workplace. Her pieces are a little more conservative but at the same time classic with staying power.

As for parting wisdom that she feels she could share with other young professionals, she said that knowing your market and who your competitors can be instrumental in making or breaking a business. In addition, knowing your resources can be very beneficial to a company’s growth and so is educating yourself when it comes to the industry. “One thing I would say is I definitely did my homework,” she said. In looking back, she could have done things a little differently and there were times when she had been in tough situations but no matter what her mistakes she always found that no matter what position she was in that she always had an opportunity to learn and grow.

1. Kristin Davis for Belk Long Matte Silver Seedbeed Necklace Sale $21.00



2. Banana Republic Bib Necklace $69.00








3. Urban Outfitters Beaded Collar Bib Necklace $34.99






4. Citrine by the Stones for Bloomingdale’s Agate Drop and Gold Disc Necklace $295.00


5. Forever 21 Pretty Posies Necklace $12.80






6. JCrew Canopy Necklace $98.00






7.Anthropologie Gardenia Bib Necklace $198.00










8. RJ Graziano for Bloomingdale’s Coin Bib Necklace $165.00






9.Anthropologie Windflower Necklace $38.00

Any way you look at it, sunburns are bad for skin. And since summer is upon us, now is a great time to arm yourself with sunscreen protection and prevent any further sun damage.

Sunlight contains damaging ultraviolet B and A rays. Both UVB and UVA rays damage skin and can lead to skin cancer in addition to premature skin aging, wrinkling and age spots – even on cloudy days! Ladies we work so hard to keep ourselves looking young, why let sun damage age us? Our solution – using sunscreen daily!

A good sunscreen product should be “broad spectrum” – containing ingredients that protect against both UVB and UVA rays. All Mary Kay sunscreen products provide this broad-spectrum protection, so check them out online at www.marykay.com/lindsay.rugg.

Another important consideration when choosing a sunscreen is the SPF, or sun protection factor. This number is calculated by comparing the amount of time needed to produce sunburn on protected skin to the amount of time needed to cause sunburn on unprotected skin. The amount of time it takes you to sunburn depends on your skin type, and the SPF number you need depends on how much time you expect to be outdoors.

To help prevent premature aging, use sunscreen every day! An SPF 15 or SPF 30 is recommended and of course, all Mary Kay daily use sunscreens meet this criteria! A good rule of thumb is to apply about one ounce of sunscreen to liberally coat all exposed areas and to reapply at least every two hours.

So ladies, be sure to protect your skin. The best sunscreen is the one you actually put on! Use a broad-spectrum SPF 15 or higher sunscreen daily on all exposed skin because every day is a sunny day!

Each year at this time, Barbara Pachter a business etiquette expert and author of the NewRules@Work: 79 Etiquette Tips, Tools, and Techniques to Get Ahead and Stay Ahead (Prentice Hall Press) issues her comments on professional summer dress. And every year women’s clothing choices remain a “hot” topic.

Pachter states that “sexy is not a corporate look” and warns that dressing seductively in the workplace can severely damage a woman’s credibility.

Although warmer weather is often to blame for unsuitable work attire, Pachter also blames inappropriate television role models, fashion designers and a lack of self-awareness as some of the reasons why many women dress seductively.

But she stresses, you can still be feminine—just without flaunting your figure.

The key, Pachter suggests, is to ask yourself what you may be drawing attention to via your clothing. “Are you promoting your ideas and your competence or your sexuality? Regardless of your company’s policy or the particular item of clothing that you are wearing, your clothing still needs to project professionalism.”

Here are 7 suggestions to ensure your business wardrobe stays professional, regardless of the weather:

1. No Cleavage—Period. I am amazed that I need to tell women that cleavage is not appropriate for the office. And it’s not!

2. Avoid Short Skirts. Showing too much leg (even really good ones) is never an appropriate way to dress for the office. Avoid high slits and keep your skirts no higher than the top of your knees. When the skirt is significantly above the knee, the knee becomes a visual anchor and draws people’s attention down to your legs. Is that where you want people to look?

3. Make A Smart Decision About Stockings. Michelle Obama usually doesn’t wear them, but should you? Some offices require them, others don’t. Stockings provide a cleaner, more finished look, but they are not always necessary in today’s business casual environment. Stockings won’t help an outfit that shouldn’t be worn to work in the first place. And the issue becomes moot when you wear pants. But the appearance of your legs should be considered. Legs with lots of veins, scars, moles or very pale skin are usually better covered up.

4. Less Really Is More. The less skin you show, the more professional you’ll be, so no exposing your belly, no see-through tops, and no spaghetti strap tops. (And, ugh, no thongs showing from the tops of your pants. We just don’t need to see it!)

5. Stay Away From Skintight Outfits. Your clothing needs to fit, and not overemphasize body parts. Fabrics bulge and buttons pull when the item is too tight.

6. Shoes Count. People notice shoes. It’s one of the little details that add polish to your professional presence. No flip flops or sandals. It’s not the beach; it’s work. One manager said, “I do run a casual place, but when a job candidate showed up for the interview in flip flops, I just couldn’t hire her.”

7. Know That Sex Appeal Has It Limits. If your road to success is being based on how sexy you look, you are dooming yourself to failure. Eventually you won’t be able to compete.

###
Barbara Pachter is the author of numerous books, including The Power of Positive Confrontation ($14.95, paperback, Marlowe & Co.) and When The Little Things Count…And They Always Count ($13.95, paperback, Marlowe & Co.) second edition.

Pachter is a speaker and coach specializing in business etiquette and communication. Her client list features major organizations worldwide, including Microsoft, Pfizer, Cisco, and Genentech.