Get Carried Away

As the school year is drawing to a close and the start of my first grown up job is inevitable, I started to think of the one thing I don’t have to complete my wardrobe, the perfect purse!  My Dooney and Burke satchel has been a trusty sidekick of mine since last Christmas, but I mostly use it to hold my iPhone, wallet, and camera for my, while rare, downtown outings.  Lately, I’ve been thinking that I’ll need something to carry all my things for work (aka hopefully the new iPad I’ll buy after graduation), and still be stylish enough to take out on the weekends.  Trying to find the perfect purse can be a daunting task, because you’re walking the fine line between style and function.  On one hand you want something big enough to carry all of your things, but not something so big it’s obnoxious to carry around for a night on the town.  I don’t know about you, but for me a number one requirement is that the strap has to fit over my shoulder (I’m not trying to carry the weight of the world (read: my purse) in the palm of my hand… a girl needs some shoulder support!)  So all my choices this week of course include that requirement!

                Thinking about what’s to come can be scary at times (note my few freakouts this past semester) but it can be exciting too.  Having the right wardrobe, down to your purse, cannot only help you transition more easily to your next job, but help you succeed in it too!  My advice this week (which I’ll certainly be taking myself):  check out my steal, spend, splurge choices, grab your purse on the way out the door, and step out into your first day of the crazy world that lies ahead… fashion guns blazing!

Xoxo

Dorothy Perkins Navy Quilted Cross Body Bag ($35.00)

Upwardly Mobile Satchel ($134.99)

Kate Spade Cobble Hill Kori Handbag ($478)

Crazy for Cardigans!

I’ll just say what we’re all thinking… why the heck are offices always freezing cold??  This summer I worked in an office that was nearing temperatures close to those of the Antarctic, and I felt like a penguin could pop out from under my desk at any moment.  Being from the south, I naturally am overdramatic about cold temperatures, I mean I consider anything under 60 degrees to be bordering on freezing status, but my office was no joke, and I wasn’t just being crazy.  But since the mornings in Atlanta outside were still nearing the 70s, there was no way I could pull out my fleece and still look like a sane person walking into work.   So the next best solution I found was, of course, a cardigan!  I love cardigans, and they are good to wear almost year round (except for when those temperatures do actually drop close to freezing, a rarity in the south, but it happens).  I found that it kept me warm during the day, and the sleeves weren’t bulky or overpowering, so I could get all my work done and move around easily.   I had to wear business casual to work pretty much every day (so nice pants and a top), and I am not lying when I say that I essentially wore a cardigan over every single one of my outfits, for the near 100 days that I worked there.  Granted, I have been a fan of cardigans for as long as I can remember, so I own a superfluous amount in different colors and patterns, but I pretty much stuck with the basic black unless it was casual Friday.  It matched everything, and while it was comfortable, it was definitely still dressy enough to wear into the office and to go to meetings around town.  So if you’re like me and definitely NOT a fan of the cold, I would suggest time and time again adding a cardigan to your wardrobe.  This week I don’t really have an opinion on the color, because it mostly depends on what your closet looks like, but I definitely suggest buying a black and a white one if you’re on the fence about it!  Check out my steal, spend, and splurge choices for my favorite item, the cardigan!  

Old Navy Cropped Lightweight Cardigan ($19.94)

American Eagle Soft and Light Cardigan ($39.50)

J.Crew Factory Shawl Cardigan ($44.50)

Button up Buttercup!

What can I say, I love oxfords.  They are so functional and paired with the right accessories they don’t have to be just a “plain Jane” button down.  I’m not lying when I say I wish I had more.  I love pairing them with a cardigan, or simply just tucked into a pair of my J. Crew chino shorts with a skinny belt.  But besides fashion, they are a definite go to in the office, especially when we’re talking about just a classic white oxford.   Don’t get me wrong, I love my Vineyard Vines colorful button downs, but I have probably worn my white one with every outfit combination imaginable, and I know it will always be a classic underneath a suit.  To me, a crisp, white button down will never go out of style, and will look professional to any interviewer.  It’s definitely my go to if I don’t know the company culture all too well and don’t know what kinds of outfits are appropriate.  I love pairing mine with pearls for a classic look, or with a metallic necklace for a funkier vibe.  So, if you are entering into the real world next year, a white button down is something I definitely suggest having in your closet (even if it’s just a back up)! 

Check out my steal, spend, and splurge choices below!

Target Long Sleeve Fashion Shirt ($21.00)

Old Navy Poplin Stretch Dress Shirt ($24.00)

J. Crew Three- Quarter Perfect Shirt ($65.00)

Flat out Fabulous

So if you’re like me, you’re probably someone who would rather wear a pair of worn in flip flops to work, rather than that fabulous pair of heels everyone will be talking about, just for the sake of comfort.   Of course, in the real world, this is not an option, so where are we to turn to?  The answer is flats!  Flats offer the same comfort that your beloved pair of sandals do, but are acceptable to wear to mostly all jobs, especially on casual Fridays!  Granted, there may be some jobs with the unfortunate requirement of having to wear heels to work every day, but for us lucky ones where flats are acceptable, there are still some rules to be followed with it comes to wearing them:

1.       They need to be structured.   I mean come on people, we aren’t rolling out of bed, putting on our slippers, and driving to work.   However, even though they have some form, flats are still my number one shoes for more dressed up events.

2.       They need to be functional.   While I’m dying to get my hands on a pair of cap toed ballet flats, you need to buy basic before moving onto trendy.  Black, nude, and metallics match with everything, so choose one of these colors for your first flat purchase!

I mostly love flats because they can be as fashionable as they are functional.  I will definitely be wearing them almost every day to my job come June, and I couldn’t be more ecstatic.  If you’re in the same boat as me, check out my steal, spend, and splurge choices, and you’ll be on your way to working (and walking comfortably) all day!   

Target Sandee Bow Flats ($19.99)

Banana Republic Ashley Bow Ballet Flat ($98.00)

J. Crew Viv Patent Flats ($198.00)

Wait for it...

… because this post is going to be legendary.   For those of you who are familiar with the television show How I Met Your Mother, you should also be familiar with Barney Stinson, the scotch drinking, cigar smoking, and suit wearing best bro to Ted Mosby.  Over the past 7 seasons of the show, it’s safe to say Barney has taught us one thing, suits are cool.   While I probably wouldn’t be seen wearing a suit everyday like Barney does, I do enjoy the rare occasions where suits are a requirement.  What can I say, suits give me a sense of confidence, and when I am wearing one I feel like I can do anything. 

                Suits are one of those pieces of clothing that are essential to a women’s wardrobe.  It doesn’t matter if that’s what you’ll actually be wearing for your job, but they a requirement for most, if not all, job interviews and career fairs.  The night before my first career, I specifically remember running out the Kohls to get a suit, because in my mind being there without one would be the end of the world.  Luckily I found a suitable one (no pun intended), and I excelled the career fair, talking with many people at a lot of companies.  It may not have been the suit itself, but it was the feeling the suit gave me that made me confident. So if you’re about to have an interview or be at a career fair there are a couple of important things to remember when looking for a suit:

1.       For your first suit get black- it matches everything!

2.       Make sure you find a suit that the store always carries; just in case something happens to one piece it can be easily replaced!

3.       Don’t be afraid to spend a little more… remember, this suit is giving a first impression to companies.  You may have bought the suit, but the suit is selling you to the employers!

This part of your wardrobe is probably the most important, so make sure you get a suit that’s well tailored to your body, and that you’re comfortable in.  So let’s suit up, and get down to business with my steal, spend, and splurge choices this week!

If you're younger in school or just getting started with career fairs, this suit from Kohls is perfect for you! I had one very similar and it got me through everything from interviews and company visits until I got my permanent suit!

This suit from New York and Company is the perfect step up from your first suit.  It's not too expensive, and the skirt adds a feminine aspect to an otherwise male oriented piece of clothing!

My splurge is this beautiful suit from The Limited.  This is the suit I currently have, and I love it! The collection has the jacket, and different style skirts and pants that you can mix and match!

Skinny, Bootcut, and Flair… Oh my!!

                Today’s blog post is about something that is certainly near and dear to my heart, jeans!  It’s safe to say I may own an excessive number of jeans, but sitting there on the top of my shelf is that one pair that I know will always be reliable.  Y’all know the ones I’m talking about.  The ones that are the perfect color, make your butt look good, and never have that too tight feel after you pull them straight out of the drier.   With these you could wear them with just a t-shirt and flip flops and feel like you could still go out and conquer the world.  They are the ones that you fall back on for a night out when you feel like there is nothing else in your closet that’s acceptable.

                You’re probably thinking to yourselves “Why is she talking about jeans when this is supposed to be about a working girl’s wardrobe?”  Well the fact of the matter is, are that many companies you’ll end up working for will have casual Fridays.  For some people when they hear the word casual their mind immediately drifts to shorts, a comfy shirt, and flip flops.  Well, I hate to break it to you, but casual has a totally different meaning in the wide world of jobs.  At the moment, casual Fridays at a real job for me would be equivalent to dressing up for school.  It will I know it's definitely going to be a hard adjustment to the real world casual, but knowing that I have that one great pair of jeans will help me along the way, and will certainly help all of you!  Granted, we all have different body types, so this week I have picked stores I know have types of jeans for every shaped girl!  Simply pair them with a cute cardigan or blouse, and some bright color cap toe ballet flats, and you’ll be on the way to being the envy of all the girls in the office every Friday! 

Old Navy jeans are definitely a steal for such a great value!  Since they're made by the same people at Gap, they are great quality for an even better price!

If you are looking to up the ante for not too big of a price jump, American Eagle jeans are great choice.  The darker denim gives a casual piece of clothing, like jeans, a sleek, office ready look!

If you're willing to spend a little more, J. Crew jeans are great.  They are so comfortable and come in every shape and size! (Tip: If you love J. Crew jeans but don't love the high price, try J. Crew Factory!)

PUMPed up Kicks

So ladies, let’s take a minute and get real about heels…We all know the positives about them: they can give us an extra boost of confidence, and obviously they make our legs look great, but unless you have a designated place to sit for hours at a time, I believe the overwhelming majority of us would opt to say they do more hurt than good.   Basically, I think we can all agree that heels stink.  During my time in college, I’ve had the same pair of uncomfortable black pumps, and frankly, I cannot wait to get rid of them.  I have had to endure countless recruitments, chapters, interviews, and formals in these terrible shoes, I mean really, you name it and I’ve done it.  If someone gave me the option to not wear heels for the rest of my life, I think that I would be the happiest girl on earth.  But the bottom line is as women in the workforce we’re going to have to wear them.  Whether it’s with a suit, a skirt, or just wearing them to a company dinner, heels are a requirement, so why not try to find the most comfortable pair you can, even it means spending the extra dollar or two.  Looking back on it now, I have absolutely no idea why I decided to wait this long to invest in a good pair of basic heels.  Even though they can be painful at times, I do have to say, you can wear them with anything at anytime.  So after looking up what color most women feel are the best to start out their heel collection, almost all agree that black and nude are the two most optimal colors.  Given this, for this week’s steal, spend, and splurge, I have chosen pumps that come in both options!   So check out my picks for this week, and take your next step to building a fabulous closet :)    

For a pair of good pumps, Nine West is always a great option.  I love the added bow detail at the toe that takes a basic pair of heels from functional to fun!

If you're looking to take a little step up from Nine West, try these Pressley Patent Pumps from Michael Kors.  I have seen these in stores, and they are just as beautiful in person as they are on the website.  I would definitely buy these in a heartbeat!

For my splurge, I chose these Leah Mid- Heel Pumps from Tory Burch.  I love the timeless look of the round toe, and the mid sized heel is perfect for those busy days on the go!