Do you have an hourglass shape? What is that exactly? Well you can be defined as having an hourglass shape if your shoulder and hip measurements are roughly the same given a 5% variance. Your waist measurement will be roughly 25% less than your shoulder, hip, and bust measurements. Don’t hide those curves, highlight them! Some celebrities that come to mind with an hourglass shape are Salma Hayek and Jennifer Love Hewitt. Images are courtesy of Google images.
Here are some Workchic suggestions on what you can wear when you have an hourglass shape:
1.Flared trousers or jeans add some balance to an hourglass figure.
2. Wider waistbands whether on a skirt, dress, or pants places emphasis on your waistline.
3. A V-neck whether in a tank or even a button down shirt highlights your collarbone area.
4. Anything with smocking or ruching around the waistline will help accentuate that tiny waistline of yours!
5. Wrap dresses cinch at your waist and smooth over your curves.
6. A-line cuts are the most universally flattering silhouette in skirts and dresses no matter if you are tall or short.
Here are some great options at we found at Target that follow the rules above.
I love being a woman. I love that we can have the best of both worlds – being fun and feminine and a successful career women. This week, I’ve selected a round up of links that really represents the whole woman. From being natural and vulnerable enough to go without make-up as Style Symmetry does in her beautiful post, to The Demoiselles’ post about breaking body image and fashion rules. And for those of us that are caught up in this difficult job-seeking market, there are even work fashion posts from Work Chic and Fasshonaburu. But we can’t be so serious all the time right? So for us women just needing a fun and frivolous escape, there are loads of fashion finds and even some giveaways to help us bask in our glorious womanhood. Enjoy!
The Coveted: – Win a par of We Love Colors Tights!
The Demoiselles: – Calling all extremists! Jennifer Nicole tells us all why, in fashion, being “normal” is a bad thing.
Think Thru Fashion: – Farrah Fawcett’s Fashion Lives On: Spring trends reflect the iconic 70s style of the Charlie’s Angels actress.
Work Chic: – We show how you can incorporate vintage dresses into your work attire with our new video style series!
PLEASE READ IF YOU’D LIKE TO PARTICIPATE:
If you would like to submit your link for next week’s Links à la Mode, please register first, then post your links HERE. The HTML code for this week will be found in the Links a la Mode group (which you need to register firstto access it).
It’s rare these days that women wear actual slips, but it’s still good to have a couple in your closet. So when we received the question, “Where can a girl find nice slips and camis? I can’t find good ones anywhere!”, we knew we needed to find some answers.
For slips we turned to Lord & Taylor. All three of these styles are available in black and nude. The first is a SPANX Hide & Sleek Full Slip, the second is very simple and versatile from FARR WEST, the third has a pretty Vintage feeling and is a bit longer.
We have lots of cami’s on the site for layering under dresses and cardigans. These are generally the kind you want to show. What about under more sheer blouses? Try one of these camisoles out. The first, Turn-Me-Around Camisole, is reversible front to back depending on the neckline of your shirt. The second Yummie Tummie Tank has a satin trim, tummy control, and wicking technology to keep you cool in the summer heat. The last option we found from Modern Movement has a full built in bra allowing you to wear less layers.
These are the type of pieces you should include in your basics. Have them on hand because you never know when you are going to pick up a beautiful dress or blouse without realizing just how sheer it is. Don’t let that piece hang in your closet unworn because you don’t have anything to layer underneath it.
Do you have questions for the Workchic team? Send them to info@workchic.com to get some answers.
We can’t believe Workchic.com has officially been live for one year! We want to thank all of our readers for helping to make the site successful.
Over the last few months we have been networking on Twitter, Facebook, and Polyvore getting your feedback and answering your questions. This has allowed us to continually improve the experience on Workchic.com. Plus we have met a lot of great people!
We’d love to hear what your favorite part about Workchic is. Please leave us a comment with your feedback.
What do you have to look forward to this year? More great blog posts including answering your reader questions and our fitting room series, videos of us restyling peoples work wardrobes, stylish outfits, and more unique products. We are starting to speak with independent designers and small boutiques to continue to improve the assortment of clothing and accessories you will find throughout the site.
Please let us know what you like and what else you would like to see. Thank you for spending our one year Anniversary with us!
We just debuted our first Workchic style series video on Youtube this week! Our first series shows how you can incorporate vintage into your everyday work attire. With the help of our friend, Malie, who happens to own The Vintage Shopping Guide- we demonstrated how you can take a vintage dress and transform into your own modern look. Stay tuned for more of our WorkchicTV series that show how you can shop your own closet and create your own Workchic style!
We met Krissie McMenamin, a NYC blogger with amazing Workchic style, through Twitter. We were so impressed by the way she infuses her personal style into a conservative and corporate dress code that we had to share her looks with you. For those of you that feel business casual is boring or unflattering, take a page from Krissie’s book and visit her site, What Would Krissie Wear? Not only does she create amazing looks she does it on a tight budget! We asked her to share some of her favorite outfits with us, tell us how she creates them, and then pick out a few pieces from Workchic.com so you can Steal her Style!
Isn’t she chic! We were happy to talk with Krissie during the summer months when you can really see her style stand out. She called the first outfit Pretty in Pink and she sure is. Capped sleeve mock neck is conservative yet still summery. The white pencil skirt continues this seasonal feeling while the belt detail showcases her style without jeopardizing any professionalism. In the second outfit she plays with greens. This is where we relearn the lesson it doesn’t have to match it just all has to go. There is no mistaking that these shades of greens play well together. Anchoring them in a neutral trouser helps the feminine blouse take the spotlight. We asked her a few questions so you can understand how she gets inspired to create these looks.
1- Describe your business casual style and tell us what you feel makes it unique.
My business casual style involves layering colors and patterns, adding blasts of bright colors or unique jewelry. I try to vary the structure and cut of my outfit one day to the next, some days highlighting my waist with a belt, other days my legs with a slimming pair of pants or a just-above-the-knee skirt. The idea is to choose an outfit that features one part of the body at a time so that you look professional but also feminine. I say one of the biggest factors that makes my style so unique is that I do it for little money, which is especially relevant today.
2- You have a knack for putting together stylish outfits on a budget. If money was no object where would you shop?
I’m so used to looking for a bargain, I’m not sure I could stop! But if I had an unlimited budget, I’d try to support up-and-coming designers who have really interesting, funky, fun lines and the small boutique stores you can find all over New York City.
3- Most of us would prefer to wear our blue jeans to the office. Do you have any personal advice on how important it is to dress to impress?
As professional women, it’s especially important for us to dress well in the office. There have been several articles written on this topic lately (including one in the Wall Street Journal) and many people have argued that women should pay more attention to doing good work and less to what they’re wearing. But guess what? What you wear and how you look and present yourself are all about building your image and making a lasting impression on your peers, your boss, management etc. Of course you should wow them with your performance but it’s only going to help you and your career in the long run if you also wow them with how you present yourself on a daily basis.
We couldn’t have said it better ourselves! As women we have many more options on how to dress for work then men. This allows us to express ourselves. Krissie does this everyday and it only makes her stand out from her peers as she continues to produce examplory work. Ready to challenge yourself and Steal her Style? Use these pieces to get started.
Krissie says: “There is lots to choose from on the Workchic site in terms of clothes, accessories, jewelry, etc. I stuck to the basics, and of course the more affordable basics.”
“The black Rampage Belted Jacket is such a staple for summer and I picked two skirts and several blouses to pair it with. The black pencil skirt is a must have because it’s so versatile and I love the gathering in the tan skirt - perfect for tucking and belting. Which brings me to my two belt selections. The gold is for a bit classier look and the woven a bit more casual but I think either could go with almost any combination of blouses. I added the gold textured bracelet to play off either belts and the two turquoise necklaces to brighten up one of the more black and white outfits or that grayish jacket. I like that the necklaces sort of match too, so you may be able to double up on them, as well as pair them with the woven scarf… perhaps worn as a belt?”
Compiling this week’s round up of posts hit closer to home for me. I think we can all relate to the times where stress builds up and blocks inspiration. Reading each of these individually was the exact refreshment I needed (hence “lemonade”), especially with my birthday coming up next week – total outfit planning mode.
So what’s in the mix? Alixrose and Decline Designs offer personal style inspirations, Fasshonaburu teaches us how to get our budget-shopping on at high-end boutique sales, hkShoeGeek talks harnesses and Fashion Consciou$ inspires by reviving the culottes trend (so cute on her).
Links à la Mode : June 25th
39th and Broadway: Ever wonder who really determines how your clothes fit? An interview with a technical designer
alixrose: You have the perfect outfit, but whats the one thing that can keep it from becoming fabulous?
A Typical Atypical: A deep dive into the reasoning behind shoe obsessions
Awakened Aesthetic: Affordable ways to bring urban fashion into your decor without getting tacky
Bobbins and Bombshells: Fashionable History – A look into 1920’s swimwear and bathing suits.
Bonne Vie: When Bloggers Unite – The Hotel Max Edition
Decline Designs: Defining Your Personal Style – Having “Go-To” Outfits
Fasshonaburu: Digging through a high end sales to find purchase-worhty pieces, and tips on how to not go over budget
Work Chic: Chic hosiery options if you still have to wear them in the summer heat!
PLEASE READ IF YOU’D LIKE TO PARTICIPATE:
If you would like to submit your link for next week’s Links à la Mode, please register first, then post your links HERE. The HTML code for this week will be found in the Links a la Mode group (which you need to register firstto access it).
Jennifer and I both know from experience the perils of shopping when you are blessed with being petite and curvy. We both have spent countless hours shopping for the perfect pair of pants or jeans only to find one pair that actually fits well amongst the 60 pairs that we tried on. How do you solve this fashion dilemma? Here are some of our suggestions for those that are curvy and petite!
Silhouettes: A-Line silhouettes are always best for a curvy frame. Try to keep a skirt length at knee length or above to visually elongate your legs. Avoid full pleats. Skirt pleats should start below your hip bone so they work with your curves. The seams in your jacket sleeve should hit right at the end of your shoulder. If they fall in your mid forearm then the jacket is too big for your frame. The cut of your shirts or dresses should highlight your curves not hide them. Wearing big and loose clothing when you are petite and curvy will only make you look shorter.
Fabrics: Cotton blends work better than Jersey on a curvy frame. Skirts with a lining also help smooth over curves.
Colors: Avoid colorblocks which tends to visually cut the body in half making you look shorter. A dress or outfit in a single color visually creates an elongated frame.
Accessories: Make sure your accessories are in proportion with your shape. Large oversized handbags will just drown and overpower you!
We just received the following reader question below:
Hi I need suggestions for inexpensive wear to work belts. I work in a business casual office and I wear khakis a lot. I wear anything from a general chino to a dressier pant from Banana Republic. Also, can you provide comfortable shoe ideas too. The job requires lots of walking.
No problem! We found some great belt options that can be worn with your khakis to your dressier pants. All of the options below are under $50.
Now what about comfortable shoes? Are there chic yet comfortable shoes out there? We definitely suggest flats with a little of padding or cushion for when you are on your feet all day. The brands selected below (Ecco, Cole Haan Air Genie, Softspots and Born) are known for their comfort and adding some additional foam to the insole of their flats. They have styles that are appropriate for both the business casual and casual work days.
Summer does not make wearing suits a whole lot of fun. Unfortunatly most days this is your required ensemble. Don’t worry cooler fall temps are right around the corner; but for now we need to get you into Workchic Summer suits. Lawyers, legal aids, and even judges are required to keep a business professional demeanor in and out of the courtroom.
When you think of wool, you usually think winter. Wool is a natural fiber and will breathe better then synthetics in hot temperatures. Plus it will keep you comfortable if you are in a room with heavy air conditioning. Look for suits in light weight wool for the summer months. This style from Charles Tyrwhitt has a traditional pinstripe on light grey. The pants are only lined to the knee for added breath-ability. Soft Pink gives some subtle color to a grey suit. This style from Thomas Pink has three quarter sleeves so that it is still professional if you take off your jacket, yet cooler with it on. We finished the look with an Anne Klein pointed toe pump and simple silver jewelery.
Another great fabric in the summer is cotton. Again this is a natural fiber. Most styles that you find will be blended to improve the structure and hand of the garment. The style we found at Banana Republic is Cotton/Rayon/Spandex. We like the moonlight shade as opposed to white or khaki. Offsetting the light color with a deep plum blouse gives the suit dimension. We kept the belt and shoes in neutral shades and picked the plum back up in a structured tapestry tote for holding important paperwork.
If you have any casual days in the office, this probably actually means business casual. We still would not pull out blue jeans. Try a nice pencil skirt and ruffled blouse instead. This skirt has a sophisticated herringbone pattern. To give the neutral outfit some personal style we added a satchel with woven salmon sides and multi colored clover bracelet.
Working in a law firm and looking Workchic, no problem! You have all the tools you need to dress to impress this summer. Remember natural fibers will be more comfortable and keep you cool in heated situations.
