Weekend Casual | T-Shirt + Jeans

I appreciate everyone's feedback with my 30 day Shopping Challenge. It's good to hear I'm not the only woman out there with a tiny shopping addiction.  When I first had this idea, the purpose of it was to minimize shopping all the time and adding useless things to my closet. However, what it's turned into, is a realization that I'm slightly addicted to shopping. It's something I think about all the time. A constant thought, "hat am I going to buy next?"

A few things I did to minimize myself from browsing the internet; unsubscribed from email lists and replaced my internet browsing with reading material. I've spent the last few days unsubscribing from email lists and I cannot believe how many companies have my email address(es). This little experiment has been fun. I've done a lot self reflecting and I'm slowly starting to realize how I've been spending most of my time, money and energy...

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This casual outfit is one of my favorites. When I want to be comfortable going out to meet friends, this is what I wear. Trying to find the perfect grey tee was challenging, but I finally found one at GAP several months ago. Being assumptive, I figured they'd always carry this tee.  I was wrong.  I've been on the lookout for another one and I found this t-shirt from French Connection, that looks equally comfortable.

 Have a good weekend and see everyone on Monday!

Gap Tee

Current/Elliott Jeans

Zara Heels (similar Steve Madden)

Rebecca Minkoff Jules Satchel

Nixon Watch 

Banana Republic Bracelet

Photos by Lydia Hudgens

What to Wear to Work + My 30 Day Shopping Challenge

My 30 day shopping challenge.

It started yesterday. I'm challenging myself NOT to shop for 30 days. When I wrote my sister-in-law today and told her that I'm not shopping for 30 days, her initial response was, "Noooooo! Why???". Well, like most women, I've succumbed to fast fashion. Shopping at every online sale, buying the latest trend and stretching my dollar to buy one more pair of shoes. With Instagram, email marketing and fashion blogs, I'm always after the next piece to add to my closet.

Over the years, I've minimized shopping at places like Forever 21, buying t-shirts and other random things on the sale rack. However, I've noticed that I'm so quick to click on an ASOS and J.Crew ad. Inevitably this ends up with me adding 2-3 pieces to my cart and then justifying a purchase. And don't even get me started with living in New York City. The temptation to shop is at a whole new level.

What if I started making more strategic purchases? For example, investing in more pieces that I can wear over and over again.

When looking at my shoe collection yesterday, I noticed there is a group of shoes I always wear. The rest of my shoes, they collect dust. The best example to use for investment pieces are my Valentino pumps, Fendi 2Jour bag and J.Crew skirts. I wear these pieces ALL THE TIME.

The point of not shopping for 30 days is to challenge myself to think about what I "need" to add to my closet. Opposed to making a purchase on an emotional high.  I'm going to set aside funds that I'd otherwise use to make a purchase on a whim, to purchase a nude pair of pumps and a nude bag. Two things I'd really like to add to my closet and I'd get a lot of use out at both work and after hours. In my Friday blog post, I'll share a few things I'm doing to minimize myself from shopping at the next Piperlime summer sale.

The outfit above is a perfect example of "shopping your closet". I've had this skirt for years, but it's been buried between the other five black skirts I have hanging up in my closet. I love these heels and wear them once a week to work and/or out with friends. The bag I use as a purse and a computer bag. In the last year, I haven't gone to work once without this bag.This shirt has been in my closet for a month and just wore it to the office on Monday.

I'll be sure to keep everyone updated on my progress. Till then, have a great day. I'm heading to an interview. See you on Friday.

Ann Taylor Shirt

The Limited Skirt (ASOS Skirt, Nanette Lepore)
Zara Heels (splurge at Pour La Victorie)
Fendi Bag 
Nixon Watch 
Prada Sunnies (Sole Society)

Photos by Lydia Hudgens

Casual Outfit | Black + White

Good afternoon! I'm taking a short coffee break to post a few photos and share some motivating words to start the work week. This morning while talking to a mentor, I saw several motivating posters, books and quotes all over his office. One thing I've learned about highly successful and happy people, they CONSTANTLY surround themselves with encouraging words.  There was one poster that stood out above the rest; 10 Things Winners Do Differently. 

Never underestimate your persistence and determination. Those days you want to throw up the white flag, dig a little deeper, you'll be surprised what a new day and bright attitude will bring in the future. 

On their relentless road to victory, winners…

1. Take 100% responsibility. – Your life is your statement to the world, representing your values, beliefs, and dreams.  It is yours to create, to enjoy or not enjoy, to fight or to be at peace.  In the end, the very best years of your life will be the ones in which you decide your problems are your own.  You do not blame them on your parents, society, or the economy.  You realize that you control your own destiny.  Read The Road Less Traveled.
2. Focus on the controllable. – Life is a balance between what we can and cannot control.  You must learn to live comfortably between effort and surrender.  Life does not owe you anything; it has already given you everything you need.  Freedom is not overcoming what you think stands in your way;  it is understanding that what is in your way is part of the way.
3. Eliminate the wrong things. – The true price of anything you do is the amount of time you exchange for it.  If something you’re doing or thinking isn’t fixing or improving the situation, then it’s wasting your time.  There comes a point when you have to choose between turning the page and closing the book.
4. Maintain control. – Start shaping your own days.  Start walking your own walk.  This journey is yours.  You know you were born, and you know you will die.  The in between is all up to you.  Stop wishing, and start doing.  Either you run your days, or your days will run you.
5. Keep good company. – It’s not always where you are in life, but who you have by your side that matters most.  Some people drain you and others provide soul food.  Be sure to get in the company of those who feed your spirit, and give the gift of your absence to those who do not appreciate your presence.
6. Think constructively. – Change your thoughts and you change your reality.  Our thoughts are the makers of our moods, the inventors of our dreams, and the creators of our will.  That is why you must sort through them carefully, and choose to respond only to those that will help you build the life you want, and the outlook you want to hold as you’re living it.  Read Learned Optimism.
7. Conquer oneself. – Being yourself is the foundation of happiness.  Knowing yourself is the foundation of wisdom.  Pushing yourself is the foundation of success.  It is better to conquer yourself is these ways, than to win a hundred battles elsewhere in life.
8. Practice self-love. – We need to fix ourselves first before we fix others.  Caring for yourself is not an act of self-indulgence, it’s an act of self-respect.  The day will finally come when you have to accept that you need to be your own caretaker.  There will be times when you’ll have to work hard to mother yourself with the compassion and patience that any messed up kid would need.  Doing so will prove to be a great challenge, but a happier life is your reward.
9. Work through the pain. – One day this pain will make sense to you.  Sometimes it takes the worst pain to bring about the best change.  The strongest people you know became strong because of the pain they once faced, and conquered.  So in spite of all the put-downs and negativity you’ve heard from others in your life, stay focused on your goals, and remember that how you rise up is no one else’s business but your own. Read Man’s Search for Meaning.
10. Keep going. – No matter what you do, no matter how many times you screw up and think to yourself that there’s no point to carry on, and no matter how many people tell you that you can’t do it – keep going.  Pick yourself back up.  Don’t quit.  Don’t quit, because a few months from now you will be so much closer to your goal than you are now.  Focus on the road ahead.  Do something today your future self will thank you for.

I'm heading back to the office. Have a good rest of the day and see everyone on Wednesday!

Zara Top

TJ Maxx Pants

The Limited Heels

J.Crew Necklace

Fendi Bag

Prada Sunnies

Photos by Lydia Hudgens

Weekend Casual | White Button Down + Skinny Jeans

Ann Taylor Shirt

GAP Jeans 

Zara Heels

Forever 21 Fedora  (similar Sole Society)

Fendi Bag

J.Crew Necklace (similar at Bauble Bar)

Prada Sunnies (similar Sole Society)

Photos by Lydia Hudgens

What to Wear to Work | Pleated Skirt + Cardigan

The last few days I've been in Baltimore for quarterly business reviews with my colleagues. Being the youngest on my team by twenty years, it's great to learn from years of business experience. As much as we joke that I'm a "kid" and they're "old men," I've had the ability to learn from some of the most talented sale people and executives in the industry. But, more importantly it's an opportunity to network and build comradery with your peers. Working in a large corporate office, I'm always surprised when and where I cross paths with people. After working in Corporate America for only four years, I can already attest to the fact that you never know who you'll run into, or when you'll need someone down the road.

Right now I'm taking the train back to NYC and looking forward to seeing my husband and sleeping in my own bed. Tomorrow morning I'm on an early flight to Pittsburgh and then coming back to Manhattan for Hitha's birthday bash. Looking forward to hear about her recent trip. If you're planning a summer trip, take a look at her blog for travel expertise.

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Some of you might have noticed a trend with pleated skirts in my wardrobe. When I first bought the black pleated skirt from Zara, it was my default skirt I wore to work. It's a great alternative to the traditional pencil skirt. If you missed my previous outfits in pencil skirt, take a look here, here and here.

Ann Taylor Cardigan
Zara Skirt (similar at Shopbop, NeedSupply, RiverIsland & identical at Farfetch, but comes with a price tag)
Louis Vuitton Bag
Karen Walker Sunnies
Zara Heels
Rose Mirabella Lip Pencil

Photos by Lydia Hudgens

What to Wear to Work | Knit Sweater + Navy J.Crew Pants

Hope everyone had a great holiday weekend! For the 4th of July we went to DUMBO, Brooklyn to watch the firework over the Brooklyn Bridge and on Sunday we went to Ocean Bay Beach on Fire Island to soak up the sun. It's always hard to say goodbye to a beautiful summer weekend and get ready for the work week. I will say that I have some exciting things happening at work, so this morning I was ready for the alarm clock. Hopefully by the end of the week I'll have more good news to share in my professional life.

One thing I'd like to share with my daily readers is that Corporate Catwalk blog posts will move to Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. As things start to change in my professional and personal life, I'm finding it difficult to balance everything I want to do in life. Matt and I have decided to try and learn Spanish and start to volunteer in NYC on a regular basis. We're also going to be redecorating the ENTIRE apartment and explore all over the Northeast. It's going to be a fun summer! I continue to post daily on Instagram.

As for today's outfit, it's been one of my "go to" outfits for the workplace. The Ann Taylor knit sweater and J.Crew pants look professional for the workplace, but you can also be worn with a pair of white shorts and nude sandals for the perfect summer outfit. For those women on the lookout for summer sandals, check out Piperlime. They have a great sale going on, and most of their sandals are on super sale. These Joie sandals are one of the things I bought over the weekend.


Other professional women might be able to sympathize with me, but this year I'm finding it more difficult to figure out what to wear to work, especially on hot and humid days. It's sweltering hot outside, and then the office is below zero. I think I'm going to go back to wearing dresses, cardigans and pumps to the office. Speaking of pumps, I've had a crush on these DvF Bethany pumps for a few weeks. The nude heels are perfect for the workplace. Now I gotta find them in my size. The search begins...

J.Crew Pants
Ann Taylor Top
Banana Republic Heels (similar Kate Spade heels)
Karen Walker Sunnies
Coach Bag

Photos by Lydia Hudgens

5 Work Flats to Survive the Summer

Working in New York City, I've learned a little trick of the trade...the shoe swap. You carry an extra pair of flats in your purse and swap them out before you get to the office. It's the only way to preserve your heels from the cobblestone, concrete and anything else you come across in NYC. Here are five pairs of flats that will look great with all your work outfits.

Sam Edelman Felicia Leather Ballet Flats
Michael Kors Kors Kiera Ballet
Kate Spade Metallic Penny Loafer
Dolce Vita Pointed Toe D'Orsay Flats
Elorie Bow Tie Flats