Over the past couple of weeks we have been posting pictures and articles from our friend Mallory who just graduated college and already scored her first real job.  Monday night we all went shopping to help her spend her 1st paycheck on some new, more work appropriate, clothes.  After posting this we started receiving emails from friends and family commenting about how they have appreciated our help in similar situations, or just asking for our help with their work wardrobes.  One comment in-particular caught our attention.  It was from my mother, and here is what she had to say.

“So this has probably happened to other busy women.  Your one great go-to suit (the dry clean only one) gets accidentally mixed into the laundry.  Now perhaps you have done this to yourself or perhaps you had a little help but, either way, there is now a glaring hole in the closet where that suit used to have a place of honor.  So, In October I decided to fill that hole.  I wanted classic with a touch of, I’ll remember her.  With the help of my Workchic consultant, I purchased a Navy Blue Suit with a great red bag, just large enough to slide a resume folder, and planner in.  And red shoes.  Nothing says hello, like seeing red shoes under the conference table.  I pulled it together with a couple of great knit sweaters for the nice line, comfortable fit and pulled together look.I was off to a great start, very excited about what I was accomplishing. One problem, I forgot to fit my body.  (My Workchic consultant may have been phoning in her advice and couldn’t see the actual fit.)  A one button blazer just doesn’t look right. It moves uncomfortably and looses the pulled together look.  So it seems like I’m back to the drawing board on the suit.  The concept is great.  Just need to find a new navy blue suit with two or three buttons.”

So, now we obviously need to help Mom get ready for those interviews.  With the state of the economy and so many people out job hunting; the first impression you make is more important than ever.  We even read an article in the NY Times the other day about the return of the interview suit.  So here are some of our favorite high impact styles in Plus Size suits, all with 2 buttons or more.

TAHARI ARTHUR S. LEVINE Women’s 3/4-Sleeved Skirt Suit
TAHARI ARTHUR S. LEVINE Stand-Collar Tweed Pant Suit
ANNE KLEIN SUIT Mandarin-Collar Skirt Suit
JONES NEW YORK Womens Jacket & JONES NEW YORK Womens Flat Front Pant

Any one of these suits from Lord & Taylor will give you the confidence to ace your interview.  Those red shoes and bag will even look great with most of them.  We would stick with Black on the Raspberry suit though.

Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Shopping!!!

These coupons should help you get started.
50% off Almost All Designer Suits For Her
Extra 20% Off Ladies Cashmere Sweaters nowhere but Lord & Taylor (Online Only)
Extra 50% Off Already Reduced Ladies Suits
25% Off Hosiery & Intimates

Coupon code: FSNOV1, expires tomorrow

Well it is week 4 since our friend Mallory landed her first job out of college. Last week we posted some outfits that she was planning on wearing to work.  We received some feedback from our readers and let’s say any feedback is good feedback no matter what the comment.  So we took Mallory on a shopping excursion to one of her (and ours!) favorite stores-H&M- to find some basics to add into her wardrobe without causing a monetary breakdown.   Here is what she had to say below..

“Today was great! I had a great shopping experience…and let me tell you that working pays off-because I was able to finally buy some new clothes! The first paycheck came and I got down to business. I thought of where I should go and buy clothes in my budget but still feel stylish and appropriate for work. So with a little help from the workchic team we decided on  hitting H&M. They really brought to my attention how to play up my figure and cover up areas I don’t want exposed.  I know my last outfits weren’t up to par but that is all I could afford. I had to make it work.  Then I realized that buying a few pairs of pants and a few different tops can give you a weeks worth of clothes.  You can then mix and match those and you have even more outfits!  I needed to enter this store with my eyes wide open my eyes rather than just making a hasty purchase.  Before I wouldn’t even consider buying a pair of  pants if they had to be hemmed.  Now I accept that I need all of my pants hemmed!  Another example was that I got a colorful a-line skirt today that I would have never picked up before, but trying it on as an outfit made it easier to see how great it actually looked. I also got a great tip from Jenn -the co-founder of Workchic-she said that a shirt that has a great design or pattern does not even need an accessory because there is already so much to it, the outfit will look great in itself.  Before this, I did my best with what I could find in my closet and now with a little help I was able to start building up my wardrobe.  But for all you girls out there that still need wardrobe help- when you feel comfortable financially, call up one of your friends or family members and go shopping.   They can really help and pick out things outside of your comfort zone.  After today I would agree that is a very good thing!”

Here are some of Mallory’s finds below.  We would love to know your thoughts!

Our friends at ideeli.com have given us the inside scoop on a Treesje Handbag sale they are having tomorrow 11/24 starting at 11am EST.  Just log onto ideeli.com  and use private invite code: Workchic.  Not quite sure if you heard of Treesje handbags?   Here is some info the Ideeli team provided us on the brand.

Long before she was Carrie, Sarah Jessica Parker was SanDeE, Steve Martin’s much younger love interest in the iconic film LA Story. Though the fashions of 1991 have cycled out of (and recently back into) the editorial pages, the overarching LA aesthetic has remained constant. This West Coast entertainment mecca has long been established as New York’s younger, more laid-back sister, always stylish and never stuffy.

This is precisely the spirit captured by Laura Darrah and Sheila Nazarian, the designers behind the accessories collection Treesje. Though the pair attended the University of San Diego at the same time, they didn’t properly meet until they were both bridesmaids at a mutual friend’s wedding. In typically relaxed LA fashion, it soon became clear that they should join forces and create a handbag collection; thus, Treesje launched in January 2005. Coined for the middle name of the bride who brought them together, Treesje aims to present feminine charm with an urban twist. The result is handbags that work as well with broken-in jeans as they do with a classic LBD, reminding us that fashion can actually be practical, and starting a new kind of LA story.

Happy shopping from your friends at Workchic!

Ok I missed last week’s episode but I got totally up to speed tonight.  Tonight’s episode was titled -”It’s all about who you know.”  Isn’t that the truth?    The mini assignment for the fashionistas was to search for the perfect gift for Anne to give to Amy Sacco-owner of such exclusive restaurants in New York such as Bungalow 8.   Johanna and Megan win the task with their gift idea of presenting a  cashmere throw.  I personally felt DyShaun and Kate came up with a more creative idea with the vintage Chanel brooch. However I do agree jewelry is a more personal gift and maybe not the best gift unless you really know someone’s taste.

Then for their editorial challenge, the fashionistas were to attend a party with Joe and Anne and help them identify the guests.  They needed to memorize a dossier full of 85 names and a few facts about that person. Can anyone say Devil Wears Prada?  Surprisingly Megan’s team won the challenge.  They worked extremely well together.  The drama was on Johanna’s team and of course the force behind the drama was Kate.  Why is she still on this show by the way?

But the real issue that I know myself and others that have worked in the fashion industry experienced is what Danielle was going through in this week’s episode.  The team was told to utilize Elle’s sample closet for their party outfits. Danielle being a larger size was only able to pick selected items.  Obviously she is not a size 2.  Of course she was upset about it.  Who wouldn’t be?  What she did show was courage to go into the closet and grab a few items.  It conveys a message that everyone deserves a chance in this world no matter what size label is in their pants or shirt.  It doesn’t mean you are less talented than the person who is a size 2 standing next to you!

I am kind of disappointed with Anne Slowey’s decision below.  Do you think this person should have been voted off?

(photo of Danielle courtesy of cwtv.com)

Best of luck to you Danielle! 

The snow is getting ready to fall and we haven’t talked about winter accessories.  Before you reach into the closet for last year’s scarf and mittens, let’s look at some pieces perfect for accessorizing your new Workchic outfits.  While you probably don’t generally think of these as being part of your office wardrobe, they are just as important as the shoes on your feet.  Keeping warm is the 1st priority, but there is no reason you can’t look stylish at the same time.

Think about when you take off your coat, do you make it all the way to your desk before you un-bundle?  Did you say good morning to the CEO in that get-up?  Make sure you make the right impression this winter.  Remember, your going to the office, not snowmobiling!  Here are some of our favorite accessories.

Some hot trends this season are purple and houndstooth.  Get them both is this chic scarf from Charlotte Russe.  We also found a cable knit scarf in deep purple at Target with matching gloves.   And another twist on a classic plaid is this scarf from Preston & York in a vibrant purple hue.  Any of these options will keep you looking chic while minding your holiday budget.
 

Charlotte Russe, $8.99, Houndstooth Plaid Scarf
Target, $16.99, Merona Cable Knit Scarf
Target, $10.99, Merona Cable Knit Gloves
Dillards, $24, Preston & York Plaid Scarf

How about some fun patterns?  This scarf from French Connection will look great against coats in any shade of grey or charcoal.  Pair it with chic leather gloves.  From Lucky we found a wool scarf with a bold geometric design in Navy. 

 

French Connection, $58, Lofty Knit Scarf

French Connection, $68, Long Button Gloves

Lucky Brand Jeans, $68, Navy Geometric Scarf

For all of our cashmere lovers, check out the amazing colors and styles Banana Republic has to offer in wool/cashmere blends.  Be sure to Get 20% off when you spend $125 at Banana Republic. Just enter promo code: CELEBRATE when you checkout.

Banana Republic, $98, Women: Striped cashmere-blend scarf - Royal
Banana Republic, $49, Women: Cashmere-blend ribbed glove - Royal
Banana Republic, $49, Women: Knit beanie - Cocoon
Banana Republic, $98, Women: Ultra-soft color-block cashmere-blend scarf - Cocoon

Pick up these accessories for yourself or a friend.  We love gifting Workchic style!  Plus take advantage of the free shipping offers listed below. 

Our friends at ideeli.com gave us the inside scoop on their latest sale that starts tomorrow Tuesday, 11/18 at 11am EST.  You can save up to 75% off shoes and boots.  Prices start at $82!  Just click here http://ideeli.com/in/media?mi=Workchic and use invite code:Workchic to get started!

Here is a small selection of what you can find at the sale..I know which pair I am getting!  Do you?

Happy Shopping from Workchic.com!

Our friend Mallory enters into her third week of her first job out of college and faces the challenges we are all too familiar with-what do I wear now that I have worn all of my clothes?  Here’s Mallory’s take on how she gets through this mini wardrobe crisis:

“After now 3 weeks of work I realized one thing…I need more work clothes! Since this is my first job and I am waiting for my first paycheck- I decided that I just needed to get creative!  I already have the basic Black and Brown dress pants plus a pretty sufficient collection of shirts.  They definitely have made their rounds in the past few weeks so I thought it was time to add more accessories to the mix.  Hopefully it will just look like I bought a week’s worth of new outfits! First I needed to do some sort of research on what type of accessories would transform my outfit. Who better to find out this information from other than workchic.com!  Looking through all the options, I picked out examples of what I already owned and then of course what I needed to purchase.   For example, I learned that adding a scarf to a simple dress or taking a summer dress and adding tights and boots you can create an entirely new outfit.  After opening my eyes a little more, it was real easy to see that adding something little like a necklace or scarf can add a lot to any ordinary outfit.”

Mallory provided us with a few of her work week outfits.  Let us know your feedback!

Our friends at ideeli.com gave us the inside scoop  on select jewelry pieces from Vivienne Westwood that go on sale today starting at 11am EST.  Prices are up to 60% off.   Find out where here- http://ideeli.com/in/media?mi=Workchic . The invite code is: Workchic.   Here is some information they provided our team at Workchic below:  

A designer who once called her London boutique Sex and named her perfume Boudoir is clearly a woman who likes to provoke. In the 1970’s, British designer Vivienne Westwood began creating her unmistakably outrageous line of avant garde clothing.

Though she started out at the height of the punk movement, even teaming up with Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McClaren on designs, Westwood’s fashion sense quickly moved beyond safety pins and ripped t-shirts. In addition to her strict attention to tailoring and technique, her main influence has always been proper, Victorian fashions. Think feminine garments like corsets and bustles as well as whimsical accessories. Fashion forward ladies can’t get enough of her unique pieces. It’s no surprise that Women’s Wear Daily has called her one of the six best designers in the world and in 2004, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London featured a retrospective of her work. Not bad for the first lady of punk!

Happy shopping from your friends at Workchic and Ideeli!

For the last couple of months, every other Thursday, we have told you how to update the basics in your closet. We feel this is very important. Creating a work wardrobe is not just about buying fun fashion pieces, though we want you to have those too, you have to first build a great foundation to add the more stylish items too. So today we are going to go back and recap the basics we have discussed so far while putting together great outfits using these basics and a few of the fashion pieces you have been craving. Ready to shop?

We started with:
White Dress Shirt * Black Pants * Cardigans * Black Pumps * Black Skirts
and showed them to you in contemporary, petite, and plus sizes. Now we are going to make two some business casual outfits in each of these sizes.

Contemporary Sizes: Let’s start with black pants, red cardigan, and black flats. Then add a plaid blouse, splurge on a grey handbag, and accessorize with a black watch.

Banana Republic, $98, Women: Martin lightweight wool trouser - Black
Old Navy, $26.50, Women: Women’s Rib-Knit V-Neck Cardigans - Crimson Red
Piperlime, $50, Women’s shoes: Rampage Hipster - Black


Quicksilver, $77.99, Plaid Ruffle Front Shirt
Piperlime, $269.50, Women’s handbags: Olivia Harris Tubular Ball Hobo - Grey with black and green
Ladies Leather Watch, $66.50, Buffalo - B542LBLK

Next let’s but together a look using your full black skirt, white dress shirt, and black boots. Then we will accessorize using a black belt and opaque tights. Wear this dress shirt updated with the bow, or remove the bow and add a beaded necklace instead.

Lord & Taylor, $38.69, LAUREN RALPH LAUREN Ozzie Silk Skirt
Lord & Taylor, $99.59, Ellen Tracy Button Front Shirt with Removable Tie
Naturalizer, $55.99, Black Boot featuring N5 comfort system
Lord & Taylor, $40, Betsey Johnson Wide Black Patent Belt
Bebe, $24, Textured Rib Tights
My Jewelry Box, $44.99, Multi-color Fresh Water Beaded 7-10mm Pearl Necklace 36 inch

Petite Sizes: Slim black pencil skirts with a belted cardigan look amazing on petite frames. Wear your black pumps and add jewelry for more personal style. Don’t forget to add a cami underneath this cardigan.

Petite Sophisticate, $27.65, Stretch Twill Pencil Skirt

Fossil, $58, Wine Logan Cardigan
Old Navy, $7.99, Women: Women’s Cinched Waist Camis - Stainless Steel
Onlineshoes.com, $89.95, Trotters Nadia Black Pump


Lucky Brand Jeans, $65, Enamel Plate Necklace

Lucky Brand Jeans, $64,

Next let’s make an outfit using your black pants, white dress shirt, and ankle boots. We’ll add a purple tote and belt to accessorize the look.

Banana Republic, $79, Petites: Petite jackson stretch trouser - Black

Banana Republic, $69, Petites: Petite fitted ruffle-front tuxedo shirt - White

Piperlime, $55, Women’s shoes: Unlisted by Kenneth Cole Ready To Spike - Black

Piperlime, $99, Women’s handbags: Melie Bianco Frame Lock - Purple

Brooks Brothers, $168, Striped Silk/Wool Oblong Scarf

French Connection, $55.99, Croc Belt

Plus Sizes: Before selecting these styles, we spoke to Johara from Luvin’ My Curves. Here’s what she had to say. “Basics are essentials to ANY girl’s closet, whether she loves or loathes clothes; they are the perfect combination of versatility, serving both as a foundation to build upon or the perfect add-on to make that outfit “just right”. It can tone down a loud outfit or add a touch of elegance to something that’s extra casual - If you have no basics, you have no foundation. If you don’t have a foundation, your closet needs some help!” Now, let’s put together an outfit utilizing these great foundation pieces. We will use your black pants, white blouse, cardigan, and black flats. Then we will add a red bag, sleek black belt, and red beaded necklace.

CJ Banks, $45.50, Textured Stripe Pant

CJ Banks, $39.50, Fitted Layering Shirt

Old Navy, $39.50, Women’s Plus: Women’s Plus Rosette Cardigans - Light Heather Gray

Piperlime, $98, Women’s shoes: Boutique 9 Stanton - Black suede
Piperlime, $62, Women’s handbags: Chinese Laundry Ring Tote - Red


Old Navy, $22.50, Women’s Plus: Women’s Plus Leather Belts - Black

Old Navy, $12.50, Women: Women’s Faceted Bauble Necklaces - Crimson Red

Next let’s use your black skirt and pair it with a blue knit top and jacquard jacket. Then we will add some oxford pumps, a dark blue wallet, and fun printed scarf.

Lord & Taylor, $53.09, Calvin Klein Yoke Skirt
Kohl’s, $21, daisy fuentes pintuck tee
Kohl’s, $42, Sag Harbor Jacquard Jacket
Endless, $98.90, GUESS by Marciano Women’s Yerex Pump

Endless, $95, Lodis Veloce French Wallet
Fossil, $34, Green Dots Leslee Scarf

Now that we have put together a few great business casual looks, you have no excuse but to have a workchic closet at your disposal. We aren’t quite done building out this foundation, but we are going to give you a break until after the holidays. In January we will talk about cleaning out your closets and picking up some more necessary basics. You still don’t have a go-to blazer, or great bag big enough to slip a fresh resume into. Not to mention our ladies with more casual offices who made need a new pair of dark wash denim. We assume anyone with a business office has a wardrobe full of suits, but how is that go-to black suit looking these days? So we have lots more to talk about. Until then we will let you have some fun. Look for blogs on stylish accessories, gift guides, and all your favorites like recaps on the CW’s Stylista over the coming weeks.

Speaking of the holidays, have you signed up for our Workchic Newsletter? Our first round of coupons went out today!

Remember, start with your basics, then have some fun with prints and accessories so you always look Workchic!

 Update: 11/14/08: Sales ended last night, but we still love these great layering items for the office.  Plus Shopbop still has free ground shipping.

 It’s a rare event, so everyone is talking about it. 30% off EVERYTHING* with code EARLYGIFT at shopbop. *excludes sale, jewelry & accessories We want to make sure our Workchic ladies get in on the action. Don’t miss this sale!

With the freezing temps outside and blasting heat inside, layers are important. Here are some of our favorite items from Shopbop.com that will keep you looking Workchic and comfortable.

So what are you waiting for? Pick up something for yourself, or get started on your holiday shopping. We’re sure someone in your life could use a little something. Fashionable and professional gifts are a great way to share what you’ve learned about Workchic office dressing with a friend or coworker.

Plus, remember to sign-up for our Workchic Newsletter for more great sales and coupons throughout the holidays.