We found this classic skirt suit but it just has that modern twist with a layered hem jacket and skinny belt.   What would you add to this outfit to give it your own personal twist?  Would love to hear your thoughts.  Just email us at info@workchic.com or post a comment below!

Gap.com is a great source for business casual sweaters, pants, and more.  For a limited time only! Get 25% off regularly priced Gap merchandise. Enter GIFT123 at check out. Shop now while supplies last!  

We selected some of the best styles to create chic business casual looks to carry you stylishly through the winter.

This colorblocked cardigan can stand on it’s own or stand out with a scarf highlighted in hot pink. Finish the look with black wide leg trousers and pointed toe ballet flats.
Women: Colorblock cardigan – heather gray
Women: Wide leg trousers – true black
Women: Striped scarf – comet blue
Women: Sparkle flats – caviar

Feminize a military jacket with subtle ruffle trim then up the volume in a textured blouse. We paired this with denim trousers. This outfit is ideal for a business casual office, if you have a meeting on a casual Friday. You’ll still be in denim like your coworkers, but you’ll be dressed to present.  Red duffle bag is an unexpected pop of color and can have you ready for the weekend.
Women: Ruffle-trimmed military jacket – charcoal
Women: Ribbon-trim textured-stripe shirt – optic white
Women: Hip-slung flare leg denim trousers – denim
Women: Wool-blend duffle bag – cinnabar red

Shop now before coupon expires on November 22nd. Use coupon code GIFT23 at check out and save 25%.  Happy Shopping!

We read this interesting article on WSJ.com on should you carry your handbag/purse into a  business meeting at your office?  Can it be seen as unprofessional? Believe it not, there are still some offices and employers that still see it as unprofessional and even sometimes distracting.

If you were called into a meeting and went straight from your desk into the conference room chances are you might grab a pen, notebook, water or your phone/ blackberry.  But what if your boss asks you for an impromptu meeting as you are literally walking in the door from lunch?  If you work in a very traditional and corporate office,  we suggest definitely bringing a professional looking tote bag to work that way if you are in this situation you can put the tote discreetly under the table if you are called into a last minute meeting.  You are also not rifling through your handbag or having to dump its contents on the table or your lap to find a pen.  Keep a small notebook in the bag that way you are always prepared.

Here are some suggestions of great workchic totes that look organized and professional no matter where you are!

While cropped, short sleeve, and light weight coats may seem counter productive they can be warm and chic.  Especially this time of year, when the temperatures shift daily.  We found a few styles in punchy colors and patterns perfect for heading into the office. 

Cropped and swing jackets are ideal for layering over bulky sweaters. Floral brocade, Women’s shoes & accessories: Kensie Floral Tapestry Swing Jacket – Black mix, or wool plaid and velvet trimmed SWING COAT, feel luxurious and professional.  We also like the more tailored version in this red herringbone BB Dakota Stanwyck Coat. Black on black piecing details are fashionable and chic for the office in this Cropped leather & suede jacket.

Longer trench styling with wide three quarter sleeves are great with dresses and skirts.  Try long gloves when you wear short sleeves under these coats. Wool swing coat feels fresh in bright raspberry and over-sized Plaid Wool Coat.

For casual office outfits right through the weekend, take the bright raspberry into a bomber style coat from New York & Company Women’s Wool Blend Bomber Jacket – Green, Brown, Pink, Black.  Another options is Women’s shoes & accessories: MM Couture Red Checker Jacket – Red belted at the waist with cuffed sleeves and warm hood.

We love wearing these styles of jackets and coats before the temps drop below freezing. They’re also great to travel with when your not sure what the climate has in store. Shop now before winter hits and enjoy the bright colors and trendy patterns in a cropped coat.

Wow, imagine our surprise when we learned that we were awarded for being a Kreative Blogger! It is an honor that we are happy to share with the many amazing bloggers out there. We were especially honored to be selected by one of our friends, fellow blogger, and woman with amazing style; Sydne Summer of Think Thru Fashion. Sydne thank you for nominating us for this special award!

 
Now there are rules to accepting this award, and here they are:

1. List 7 things that you (our readers) don’t already know about us.
2. Name 7 other blogs to receive this award.
3. Leave a comment on each of the blogs we nominated.
4. Thank the person who gave us the award
 

Between our blogs, twitter, and facebook updates there probably isn’t much you don’t know about us and the website, but here are a few, or seven, things you might not know.

1. Melissa and Jennifer met in 2007 while taking a class at FIT to learn more about creating a website. They became fast friends and dreamed up what is now Workchic.com shortly thereafter.

2. We volunteer at Dress for Success as personal shoppers. Our responsibility is to help job seekers find a donated suit that best fits them and the job they are interviewing for.

3. Our office is generally located at a coffee shop in NYC. Our current favorite spot is Think Coffee near NYU.

4. Workchic.com has just launched a directory to help you find image/wardrobe consultants, personal shoppers, and stylists in your particular area.

5. People mistake us for sisters all of the time.  Maybe we are starting to look alike after working together into the wee hours of the morning?

6. Jennifer enjoys sewing and making unique quilts in her free time.

7. Melissa loves exploring flea markets and antique fairs for that unique vintage find!

Now that you know a little more about us. We want to share seven of our favorite bloggers with you. Be sure to visit their sites and learn why we nominated them.

Vintage Shopping Guide:  Find tips on buying vintage, and a list of vintage shops in your area.
Shoe Smitten: She loves shoes more then anyone we know.
The Office Stylist: Style more then your wardrobe, learn to style your desk and office space.
Fashion Grail: Shows you how to redo or improve on celebrity style.
The Looks for Less: The name says it all, we especially like her steal the real segment.
Working Girl: Your typical, or not so typical, day at the office.
What Would Krissie Wear: See her nail Workchic style for her conservative corporate job.

We can’t thank Sydne enough for nominating us for this award! Be sure to check out Think Thru Fashion today!

We have been getting a ton of reader emails asking us about wearing the latest trend for Fall: Sweater dresses.  Though the dresses can be clingy and may appear too risque for work for some employers, we do feel these dresses can still be worn  tastefully and professionally at the office.  However here are some tips to look for depending on your size or body shape:

Petite

Avoid a baggy cut and loose or open sweater knit weaves.  They tend to overwhelm a petite frame. Show off that waist of yours with a belt!

Large Chest

In this case, downplay your cleavage since knit dresses already show off your figure. Pick neutral colors and simple necklines.

Small Chest

In this case, you can carry off all details with ruffles, ruching,  bows, embellishment, and patterns.  

Tall

Chunkier knits work best for this frame.  They add volume to a tall frame.  The longer and leaner the silhouette the better.

Stay tuned for more Fitting Room Series!  Happy Friday!

We just discovered a great new website called The Diva Toolbox where Dayanne Danier and Susan Kanoff host a radio show called The Clothes Line every other Monday night at 7pm.  Want to know some information about the duo?

With a passion for fashion and a natural flair for style, Susan Kanoff has the innate ability to create fabulous outfits for women of all shapes and sizes. Working with Susan will help you to look and feel great, inside and out. Whether you’re updating a wardrobe, revamping a closet, or shopping for new clothes, Susan will teach you how to put stylish outfits together to suit your body type and lifestyle. You will always get honest and objective guidance without pressure to conform to fashion trends.
In addition to her work with private clients, Susan has participated in fashion events for women’s clothing stores and boutiques and frequently runs fashion clinics for local groups and organizations. Susan also styles for television including New England Cable News (NECN) and PBS specials.
Susan’s background in social work and life coaching provides her with an in-depth understanding of women’s issues relating to self-esteem and body image. Her warmth, sensitivity, and positive energy make her the perfect partner for a wardrobe make-over.
Recently Susan expanded her business to also work with men and outfits her male clients with custom fitted luxury shirts and apparel by J. Hilburn (www.jhiburn.com).

         
Designer Dayanne Danier has been in the fashion industry for over 10 years. With a strong background in men’s fashion, Dayanne made a transition into women’s sportswear with the launch of her collection Bien Abyé (which means Well Dressed in French Creole). The line is a combination of tailored silhouettes with a distinctive feminine twist that demonstrate a strong attention to detail. Each season, Danier creates sophisticated designs that look great for business, casual, and special occasions and illustrate her vision of the feminine mystique, the spirit of every woman. “My focus is to create garments that make a woman look graceful, by allowing her to project her inner beauty,” says Danier. “It’s all about setting the right tone, painting the right picture, and always being Bien Abyé!”

We couldn’t wait to find out more about their collaboration.  Here is our interview below: 

Workchic: Tell our readers more about DivaToolBox.com and your radio show- The Clothesline

D/S: Diva Toolbox is a fabulous internet site designed specifically for women. It offers a wealth of information (including articles, stories and tips) on just about every topic from health to financial advice. The website recently started hosting internet radio shows, which offer women yet another way to stay connected and informed. When we heard about the launch of Diva Toolbox Radio we decided to collaborate on a style & fashion show called The Clothes Line. The Clothes Line is an hour long talk show that gives women tips and advice on dressing their best. So far, we’ve covered “building a basic wardrobe” and “dressing for your body shape” — our next segment will be on “dressing for the holidays”. Our goal is to make the show fun &interactive, so we invite our listeners to call in with their questions & fashion frustrations!

Workchic: How did you come to collaborate together on your radio show?

S: We have known each other for a few years dating back to when I was involved in a boutique that showcased pieces from local designers (we carried Dayanne’s blouses). When I started doing work at New England Cable News wardrobing Danielle Niles, a young meteorologist, I immediately thought Dayanne’s line would be compliment Danielle’s youthful yet professional image. We collaborated on Danielle’s TV wardrobe which was a lot of fun. The first day we started working with Danielle, The Boston Globe came to cover the “make-over”!

http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/fashion/articles/2009/03/12/todays_outlook_smart_and_chic/
About a year later, Dayanne and I were having coffee at Starbucks. We were supposed to spend about an hour together but because we are both so chatty and love to talk clothes, one hour turned into three hours of non-stop talk! I had just learned of Diva Toolbox’s new radio shows and a light-bulb went off—we needed to have our own show on fashion! When I told Dayanne about this idea, she immediately was on-board. Thus a fashion talk show was born!

Workchic: What do you for a living when not on your radio show?
D: I am a fashion designer of a line called Bien Abyé. A women’s sportswear line of tailored silhouettes with detail that process a unique feminine twist. I work direct with clients and offer an array of styles from blouses to bottoms, jackets to dress.
S: I have my own business as a wardrobe stylist. I work with private clients, for TV, and run seminars & workshops on dressing for success. My newest venture is to offer phone and internet fashion coaching. I also recently branched out to work with men on their wardrobes and represent a new luxury men’s clothier called J. Hilburn Oh yes, in my spare time I’m a social worker

Workchic: What is the most common fashion faux pas you see in the workplace?
D: I would have to say wearing inappropriate clothing for the type of job the individual is employed in. For example,wearing tight clothes when someone is in a managerial role.
S:Dressing too casual. Somewhere along the line we’ve totally turned into a society of sloppy dressers. In the workplace this can have a very negative impact both for the company and for the employee. A professional look is essential when it comes to success in the workplace. 80% of first impressions are visual. Experts say that opinions are formed within 10 seconds of meeting someone. The way one dresses can actually reflect on self-esteem, self-respect, creativity, confidence, organizational skills, judgment, and reliability.

Workchic: Why do you think business dress has become so casual over the past few years?
D:I think it is the move of the internet. We have become more about conference calls and let about business meetings that when people do come to the office, rather than looking the part, we are just rolling out of bed.
S: I think that our society has become so casual in general. Some say technology has created this, some say that people are so overworked that they’re looking for a way to relax….I’m not sure exactly what the real answer is, but there definitely has been a decline in the way that many employees dress. I also think that companies have exacerbated the problem by having “casual Fridays” and loosening dress codes.

Workchic: What should someone always have in their work wardrobe?
D:I would say a great blazer. This is the one item that can be dressed up and dressed down but always look put together. And in business you want to look Well Dressed…Bien Abyé.
S: Of course this answer depends on what the woman does for work, but for most businesswomen I recommend the following:
• Great fitting suits in neutral colors
• Skirts
• Basic dresses that can go from the office to dinner
• The perfect black dress
• Blouses
• Cardigans
• Silk tops
• Good quality cashmere sweaters
• A great fitting pair of black trousers
• Great fitting trousers in neutral colors
• Tweed jacket
• Trench coat—wool for winter
• Shoes (pumps and boots), a leather tote and great accessories

Workchic: What topics do you plan on covering on future shows?
D/S: The week of November 16th we are covering dressing for the holidays, coming up we will cover how to make something old look new with accessories, dressing for work, how to transition your wardrobe back into the work place from being a stay at home mom. We also want to hear from our listeners regarding the topics they would like us to cover.

Workchic: Where can our readers find out more about you?
D: You can find me on http://dayannedanier.com. Email me at contact@dayannedanier.com or tweet me @bienabye.
S: You can contact me at susan@agreatnewlook.com. My website is http://agreatnewlook.com  or via twitter @Fashioncoach

Catch The Clothes Line radio show on Monday, November 16th at 7pm ( new time will be 7:30pm on November 30th).  Click here to listen to the show on Diva Toolbox. We’ll be there listening and we hope you will too!

Thanks Dayanne and Susan! 

We love how ruffles can bring a feminine touch to your business suit.  The First Lady, Michelle Obama, shows us below how she adds ruffles to her wardrobe.

We love this suit below from the Limited. The ruffle trim jacket just adds the right touch to make this black pantsuit modern and fresh.  Is it too dressy for work? What would you add to this suit? Strand of pearls? Black Tote? Red heels?  We would love to hear your thoughts! Just leave a comment on this post below or email us at info@workchic.com.

If you missed our last sale on Agapantha jewelry, you are now in luck!  The fabulous owner, Dani, of Agapantha jewelry has extended a special discount to our readers- 15% OFF using special code: WORKCHIC.  Here are some of Agapantha’s best sellers below:

Don’t forget to check out Agapantha’s Deal of the week for extra savings.  If you happen to be in the NYC area here are some of the jewelry events Dani will be attending before the holidays.

Wed, December 2 – Gen Art shop NYC – 7 west 34th St, New York – http://genart.org/shop/shop-nyc-with-styles-awards

Fri, December 11 – Toots and Tallie – 5pm-8pm – 1006 Washington St. Hoboken, NJ 07030
Sat, December 12 – 3rd Ward handmade holiday craft fair – Williamsburg, Brooklyn -

http://www.3rdward.com/special-events/2009/12/12/2009-handmade-holiday-craft-fair.html
Thur, December 17 – Trunk show at Plum – 124 Ludlow Street, New York – http://plumstyle.com
Sat, December 19 – Trunk show at Neda – 302 Court Street, Brooklyn – http://shopneda.com

Happy Holidays and Happy Shopping!   

Our friend Paula at The Vintage Scarf is offering 20% off to all Workchic customers through December 31st. Use exclusive code Work20 to start saving today!

Vintage scarves are an excellent way to update your work wardrobe with original style. They can be used in professional, business casual, and casual office settings. Here are a few scarves we love from her site.

Pair simple and sophisticated scarves with your business suits and more professional outfits. Sheer black scarf with velvet floral is only $12 and maroon and white long scarf is $20.

Patterns can be more bold in a business casual office. Blue and brown printed square scarf and long floral scarves are each available for $12.

On more casual days go wild and really play with color and pattern. You can tie them around your neck, use them as a belt, or tie one onto your handbag.  Orange and white polka dot scarf is $12 and pink geometric scarf is $10.

Not sure how to tie a scarf? You can try a vintage tie clip or pick up one of these books that show you multiple ways to tie a scarf.

You can also find more vintage scarves on Workchic.com. They also make great gifts for the holidays. Save 20% off The Vintage Scarf with code Work20 today! Shop now, these are vintage- there is only one of each scarf in her inventory.