Five Things to Always Have with You at Work

If there's one thing I've learned from working in the corporate world, there are certain things you need with you at work. How many times have we worn a new pair of heels to work; only to find out we can only make it half way through the workday in those shoes? Well, here are five things to always have with you at work and will save you from panicking halfway through the workday.

1. An extra pair of shoes -  Carry along with you to work or store in your desk a comfortable pair of shoes. It can either be your favorite pair of flats or comfy wedges. If you get that last minute call to run by the grocery store to pick up a laundry list of things for dinner, throw on your extra pair of shoes and you'll save yourself the pain of walking around the grocery store in your work shoes.

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2. Nail kit -  A nail kit is a must for me. I have a small nail kit and I carry it everywhere I go; work, travel, dinner, etc. There have been so many times I've broken a nail and it snagged my blouse or tights, only to be left frustrated and longing for a nail file or clippers. This little nail kit will save you from those moments! I also use the nail clippers as scissors to cut off threads from my clothing, instead of pulling out the thread or endlessly searching for scissors. 

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3. Chargers for your electronics  -  There's nothing worse than realizing your only have 5% battery left on your phone. Then you're left asking everyone in the office if they have an extra charger you could borrow. If you carry a laptop and/or tablet, make sure those chargers have a place in your bag. Chargers are fairly inexpensive. I'd recommend buying an extra charger for each device and storing them at your desk. 

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4. Makeup kit -  For those extremely stressful days at work, sometimes if feels good to go to the bathroom and freshen up your makeup.Cover up the dark circles from under your eyes, apply a fresh coat of mascara, slap on your favorite lip gloss and you're ready for round 2 at work. It's also great when your colleagues invite you to a last minute happy hour. Fresh up beforehand and you'll be more willing to say "yes" to the next invitation. 

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5. Snacks -  We've all had those days that you just don't have time to grab lunch and by the time 3pm hits, you're ready to eat someone alive. Do yourself a favor and grab a few bars and store them at your desk or take fruit with you to work. You'll save yourself from having hunger pains throughout the day. Another recommendation, buy a small container of protein powder and store it at your desk. If you skip lunch and don't have time to run to the cafeteria, put a few scoops of protein powder in a cup of water and that will fuel your body for a few hours. 

Hope these recommendations help make the workday a little less stressful. What are you "must haves" at work? 

Photo Credit : Emerson Fry

What to Wear to Work | Snakeskin + Grey Pencil Skirt

Express Top | Banana Republic Skirt | Nude Heels (love these) | Coach Bag (similar)

With my wardrobe I try and get the most wear out of each piece of clothing, especially when it comes to work clothes. This snakeskin blouse from Express is one of my staples when getting ready for work. It goes with everything. I consider it a neutral in my closet. It can be worn with a bright color pencil skirt or trouser. You can also keep it simple by wearing a neutral skirt. Clearly I love this combination, last January I wore the exact same outfit, just changed out the skirt.

Spring Weekend | Pink Coat + Black Dress

 H&M Coat | Zara Dress | Valentino Heels | Aldo Clutch (similar) | Banana Republic Earrings

 Hope everyone is having a good weekend! We've been doing a little exploring around New York City. This morning I wore this outfit to church. This is the coat I decide on! The H&M "bubble gum" coat. Thanks to everyone to helped me pick out the perfect spring coat. If you missed it, here the video I posted.

How to Wear a Tee Shirt + Jeans Two Different Ways

There are so many ways to conquer the tee shirt and jeans "look". Today I'm showing you two basic looks, starting with a grey tee, distressed denim, a bucket bag and heels.

Tee | Jeans | Bag | Heels

In look #1 I've added a black hat from Target. It's a good accessory to add without going overboard.

In look #2 I've added a white blazer from H&M. Personally this is one of my favorite looks. It makes a basic outfit ready for cocktails with friends or date night with your love.

  Photos by Matt

Which Pink Coat to Buy for Spring?

Last winter, pinks coats were all over the fashion world, from runways to fashion bloggers. As we move into spring, pastels continue to dominate the fashion world. We've seen beautiful powder blue heels, pastel yellow midis and mint green blouses this season. Last week I picked up a few pink coats of my own and wanted to get your feedback on which one to keep and which ones to return.

Check out the video to see a review on each coat. The first coat is from ASOS, love the texture! The second coat is from H&M, the sleeves fit me perfectly and the last coats is also from H&M, I'm in love with the structure of the coat, not sure how I feel about the bright color of the coat. Let me know what you like the best!

 I can only find the two coats from H&M in stores. 

Five Ways to Look More Professional at Work

photo credit: Emerson Fry

Perception is reality, especially when it comes to your image at the workplace. It's important to always look your best because you never know who you're going to meet. Here are five simple ways to look more professional at work. 

1. Makeup – it’s important to look “put together” at the office and one way to pull off this look every morning is to apply a light makeup; basic foundation, blush, mascara and lipstick/lip gloss. When you go to work without makeup, women tend to look a little tired or what people use to ask me, “are you sick?” I don’t think you have to wear a lot of makeup to look professional, but I do think you have to look like you got up early and spent time getting ready in the morning. On the other hand, don’t overdo your makeup. Try and limit the amount of eye liner, eye shadow and lipstick when getting ready for work.  

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2. Hair – A women’s hair is more important to looking professional, than one would think. Do you ever wonder why news women always have short straight hair? Because it looks professional and it’s not distracting to the viewer. If you’re running short on time in the morning and you have a rubber band crease in your hair, opt for a soft bun, sock bun or try something new like this style.  I often use dry shampoo throughout the work week. It gives my hair a little lift and refreshes my hair. If you don’t have dry shampoo, lightly apply baby power to your palms and use throughout your hair. Here’s a tutorial.  

Oh yes, and never go to the office with your hair, wet or damp. That basically tells everyone in the office, “I overslept this morning and only had 15 minutes to get ready. You’re lucky I even showed up today.”  

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3. Clothes – Wearing clothes that fit you properly are important for your professional imagine because it tells people that you’re important. It’s rare that you see Executives in oversized suits. Yes, they probably have a little more disposable income to spend on an expensive suit, but you can look just as presentable with proper alteration. It pays to spend $15-$30 for alteration on pants, jackets and dresses. A great resource on how to get your clothes to fit properly is Alternations Needed, by Kelly. Her outfits are always fitted perfectly and it shows that it pays to spend a few extra bucks to get the perfect fit. 

Along with getting your clothes tailor, make sure your clothes are ironed and static free. If you think a shirt is too wrinkled, don’t wear it to work. Working in a corporate office, I rarely see people with wrinkled suits. So just remember, if you notice, so will the people who might potentially hire you in the future.

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4. Shoes – Find a cobbler and make them your best friend. If your shoes start to scuff or the heels start to wear down, get them cleaned and re-heeled.   It generally costs $10-$15. It will be worth getting a facelift for your favorite work shoe. You can also invest in a shoe sponge, I have one near my closet and use it on a weekly basis. You’d be surprised how often people pay attention to your shoes, especially in the corporate world. So if you ever wonder why those men stop and get their shoes shined at the airport and mall, it’s important for their image to have a clean and shinny shoe.

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5. Bags – Limit the handbags you take into the office. Living in NYC, I see a lot of women walking around with 3-4 bags. I understand that before and after work you have a million things to do. But if you walk into the office with 3-4 bags every single day and your boss or your “future boss” sees you, they’ll  start to question your organization skills. If you must bring a bunch of bags to work, try going into the office early and try to beat everyone to the office. If you go to the gym in the morning, rent a locker to alleviate taking another bag to work. 

What to Wear to Work | White Sweater + Navy A-line Skirt

Banana Republic Sweater | Banana Republic Skirt | Zara Heels (similar here) | Vince Camuto Bag | Zara Necklace (similar here)

Over the last few weeks I've been adding a few new pieces to update my wardrobe for the spring, in the meantime I've also been getting rid of a lot of things on Poshmark. I'm a big believer in getting rid of things you never wear. It really clutters your closet and makes you think that you have nothing to wear. I do my best to sell most of my clothes or give it to the goodwill. Nothing I love more than selling old clothes to buy NEW clothes and donating clothes to write off during tax season.

One of the most recent updates to my closet is this bucket back from Vince Camuto. I've been eyeing bucket bags for three months, but I waited for just the perfect bag to pull the trigger. While walking home from a meeting last week I peeked inside the Vince Camuto store and saw white drawstring bag. The fabulous sales ladies are the ones who really pushed me over the edge, they tagged team me and told me how good it looked on my shoulder. They were right, I was in love!