Can you believe January is over already?  This month we challenged your reinvention into the professional, feminine, and chic career women we know you are. To help you in this mission we started providing career development tips along side the fashion advice you’ve come to expect.

Have you taken the time to reassess your closet, identify key basics, or revamp your resume? If you haven’t, now is a great time to go back and read our articles. They can all be found under the category New Year 2010. Looking for even more Workchic advice? This month we had some amazing contributors that taught us better time management skills, how to eat healthier and stay energized at the office, and even how to ask for a raise. We’ve written a few guest blog posts that may interest you:

At ShopItToMe.com you can learn How to Incorporate the Wild Accessories you love into your Work Wardrobe.

Turn to TheOfficeStylist.com for our tips on Packing for your next Business Trip.

To Make a Lasting Impression with your Interview Attire, check out our post on the Execu|Search blog.

We would love to hear your opinion on what was your favorite reinvention post this month!  Just leave us a comment below.

Don’t forget, you can always connect with us on twitter, facebook, polyvore, and join our group Workchic on LinkedIn. Send us your questions and comments through these networks or email us at info@workchic.com.

We all have our days. Sometimes you don’t want to get out of bed, let alone dress to impress. We understand. That’s what we’re here for- to take the stress out of getting dressed for work. Even when you don’t want to put in the effort to look presentable, you should have a couple of simple outfits that always look polished and chic. After all, you never know who will be standing behind you in the line at Starbucks.

So how do you achieve truly effortless style? It comes back to your basics. They will be a lifesaver time and again, even if you are running late to the office.

One of our favorites is the little black dress, always classic, always chic. And it’s one piece! It doesn’t get much easier then that! All you need is shoes, maybe a necklace, grab your favorite bag and you can leave the house.

Not a fan of all black? A printed dress can have the same impact without even adding accessories.

For another last minute option, you should always have a pair of black pants ready. They go with just about anything. If you’re truly having a bad start to your day, shimmy into these pants. Then we have two options for cheering yourself up so you can start your day with confidence. Our first choice would be to wear your absolute favorite shirt (graphic tees do not apply) under a blazer to add a bit of professionalism. Option two is a basic blouse or tee and pile on the necklaces. A little glitz is sure to wake you up. Again a blazer or cardigan can take this look from casual to office appropriate in the blink of an eye.

Don’t let running late ruin your day. Instead try one of these simple suggestions to turn your morning around. Presenting yourself professionally is always important. It will also lift your spirits so you are more prepared to take on the day. This month we have focused on ways you can reinvent yourself the Workchic way. Don’t let one hectic morning come between you and your Workchic style. Organize your closet so that these outfits are ready and waiting for you.  Good Luck and Happy Shopping!

Over the last months you have been working to improve your professional image. This includes your personal presentation and the level of work you are executing. Your plan is to continue with self improvement, but you may be starting to wonder how it will pay off. So we turned to J.T. O’Donnell founder of Careerealism.com to answer this important question:

How do I ask for a raise in this economy? When will it ever be appropriate to ask for one?

J.T. had great advice.  She says, “Don’t ask for a raise! Instead, ask for the protocol for earning a raise in this economy. Seek an opportunity to speak to you boss when he/she is in a good mood. ie. end of business day on a Friday. Seek their advice on whether they think getting a raise will be possible with the org in 2010, and what an employee will need to do to earn one. Then, loop back every month or so with an update to your boss on what you’ve done to do what he/she suggested in order to earn that raise. That way, you are gently reminding them that you are making the effort to get that raise. Better still, it gives them the opportunity to give you feedback on your performance so that when the time comes, there’s no choice but to give you the raise!”

We recommend utilizing your outlook calendar to give yourself gentle reminders to follow through on the goals that you will set with your supervisor.   It will also make sure you don’t miss a check point to review your progress along the way.

Thanks J.T. for providing this advice. It’s never an easy topic. Especially with the current economic climate and proliferation of hiring and salary freezes.  JT O’Donnell is the founder of CAREEREALISM.com, a top 10 career perspective site for professionals, ages 18-40.  She has also provided valuable advice to Workchic readers on making your resume stand out, commanding a presence as a young professional, and deciding how to utilize facebook in your career.

Most of us are using facebook at this point. That includes our coworkers, bosses, and even parents.  Not to mention that certain information is now showing up in search engine results. So we wanted to know how to handle it when:

My boss friended me on facebook. What do I do? And what is the right way to use social media with regards to career?

So we turned to our distinguished panel of experts and asked them to share their advice on the topic.

  This is actually a very easy question for me to answer because I use Facebook and other social media sites strictly for business. Therefore, I would welcome my boss as a “friend” on Facebook.

One of the things I coach my clients on is how to keep yourself marketable; how to create visibility and credibiltiy around your personal brand. The way you present yourself on social media is the key to being successful at creating this credibility. The first step is to take the time to develop a professional profile for your social media sites and be cognizant of the image that you want to present. The next step is to ensure that all your communications mirror the image you want to convey.

I think it’s somewhat difficult to use the same social media sites for personal contact as well as business and do it really well. The answer might be to use selected sites for each and not to mix the communications and messages.

Bonnie Marcus, M.Ed., CEC, is a Certified Executive Coach, motivational speaker, and radio show host. Her weekly show, Women Mean Business, airs live on the VoiceAmerica Business channel Tuesdays 2pm Eastern. The show explores how women can thrive in the business world and features advice from experts on the key issues and challenges women face in their careers.

Certified Executive Coach, Motivational Speaker and Radio Show Host
www.womenssuccesscoaching.com

Listen to Women Mean Business Radio
http://www.voiceamerica.com/voiceamerica/vshow.aspx?sid=1612

 Everyone uses social media differently. If your Facebook account showcases your personal life in a way that you don’t want to share with your boss, simply ignore their friend request, BUT, go to them and say, “Hey. I saw you friended me. Thanks for that. However, I hope you don’t mind, but I’m actually moving away from Facebook as a networking tool and trying to build my LinkedIn account instead. So, could we link up there?” This way, they won’t be offended.

JT O’Donnell, founder of CAREEREALISM.com, a top 10 career perspective site for professionals, ages 18-40. Connect on twitter @jtodonnell.

 There is no escaping social media for the simple reason that we’re addicted to the reality of sharing our daily adventures whether we’re twittering our thoughts or catching glimpses of our friends’ weekend through facebook photo albums. Before you upload another photo or write a little something on a wall, remember that social media is personal branding at its finest. That’s you in the picture, that’s your grammar and communication skills in that tweet or poke. If your facebook page represents the ambitious, passionate and professional person you are at work, then there is no reason why you cannot be-friend your boss. If your facebook page shows you and your friends drinking, dancing on the bars, making out with people and wearing “clubbing” clothes, I highly suggest you clean that up. Not only because your boss or co-workers might see that but also what if your clients have access to facebook. My rule of thumb with facebook and other social media outlets is if I meet you in person and then find you on the Internet, you need to reflect the same person. Conversely, if I find you on the Internet first and then meet you in person, your onscreen image should be the same reflection as when we meet in person—in sync!

Amanda is the co-founder of bizMe.biz, an online magazine that is the bizgal’s career coach—guiding and mentoring the young professional as she gains her career savvy, budgets her paycheck, and acquires her lifestyle. It’s like having the honest, real-world advice from a trusted professor and the encouraging support of a best friend all packaged together in articles that reflect a “just like you and me” conversation. Please visit www.bizme.biz or @bizmebizgal on twitter.

 This is a very tough question: For the most part I would not have Accepted an invite from my boss on a social media site such a Facebook. I would simply decline by stating; “I have many people on this site who may say things or post stuff that is not work/business appropriate and I would be embarrassed if it ever caught you off gaurd…”  I would then follow up by inviting them to join me on linkedIn, Plaxo.
Melenee Suarez Burns, Executive Recruiter at a High-End Retailer
To learn more tips from Melenee, check out our previous interview: Notes from an Executive Recruiter

 If your boss sent you a friend request on Facebook, you should probably accept, or else you run the risk of alienating or disrespecting him or her. But that’s when the real fun begins…

Because you are now attached electronically to your boss, you need to be sure that what you write on your wall is positive an professional. You want to avoid being seen as derogatory, condescending, arrogant, hostile, and/or bitter. You also want to avoid cursing, even if you’re just trying to be funny. And, ensure that any picture posted on your Facebook page is professional. Avoid posting pictures of you dressed up like SpongeBob on Halloween drinking a martini.

The good news about receiving an invitation from your boss is that there’s probably a good chance that he or she thinks highly of you, enough to consider having you as a “friend”. And, being connected now means that you’ll be connected when you need a reference for your next job. Just don’t post the fact that you’re looking on your wall!

Abby Kohut , President and Staffing Consultant, Staffing Symphony, LLC
Her websites include www.AbsolutelyAbby.com and www.CareerWakeUpCalls.com
You can also connect with Abby on twitter @Absolutely_Abby and you can also purchase her newly published book 101 JOb Search Secrets.

We want to thank Bonnie, Amanda, J.T., Melenee, and Abby for contributing to this discussion.  We hope it helps you make smart decisions about utilizing your social networks.

You may enjoy dressing up everyday, or want to present yourself in a more professional light, but your office is very casual. You are afraid that you will stand out if you’re “overdressed” in this environment. For those who have never worked in a truly casual office, this may be hard to comprehend. Just as an office full of suits can be intimidating, you can feel uncomfortable dressed for success when you’re surrounded by blue jean clad, flip flop wearing coworkers. There are ways to fit into the corporate culture and still rise above wearing Uggs to the office.

Trouser style denim, wrap dresses, and printed full skirts lean toward casual but can also be very sophisticated. It’s all about the styling. The following two outfits highlight the casual side of business casual. They are also great suggestions for Casual Friday dressing. You don’t always have to wear 5-pocket denim.

In the first outfit, we found two solid alternatives to traditional denim. As mentioned above, trouser styling is one option. Additionally you can try a pleated denim skirt. Tuck a basic t-shirt into a belted bottom and then layer on a fleece cropped blazer. This look is a little dark so we added a bright coral statement necklace to pop the outfit around your face. For a more casual feel select flats as opposed to heels. Here are links to these products which were found at Dillard’s, New York & Company, Gap and Piperlime:
Calvin Klein Jeans
New York & Company Women’s Blue City Style Ribbon Trim Denim Skirt
Gap Button cuff roll-up T
Fossil Suede Belt
Marc by Marc Jacobs Roxie Knit Tux Blazer
New York & Company Women’s Pink Triple Strand Flower Necklace

This punchy pink shirtdress is yet another alternative. We piled on some bangles and more casual accessories like a loose tie dye scarf. We also went with a casual alternative to a tote bag, and selected a fringe cross-body or messenger style. The outfit is completed with a low heel, wrapped peep toe style wedge. We shopped this outfit from Dillard’s and The Limited. Follow the links below to recreate the Workchic look.
Side Tie Shirtdress
Tie Dye Scarf
Matte and Shine Bauble Bracelet
Joe’s Jeans “Giselle” Cross-Body Bag
Antonio Melani “Keira”
Delicate Drop Earrings
 
Either of these suggestions should have you feeling like a confident professional while still fitting into the casual atmosphere of your office. We’d love to hear how you merge the dress codes in your office to create your own sense of casual yet professional style.  Remember whenever you need that extra polished feel- grab a blazer to compliment your look. You can also turn to our outfit suggestions for the perfect solution to dressing Workchic in a casual office.

Have you ever found yourself being the first one in the office and the last one to leave at night?  If you don’t have three times the workload as everyone else then chances are you might not be managing your time effectively.  We reached out to our friend and Certified Life Coach, Stefanie Ziev, to help us give us some tips on time management. 

6 TIPS TO MASTERFULLY MANAGE YOUR TIME

Oh, time management… the ever-elusive, seemingly unattainable beast we battle every day. Where does that time go? Why does it feel so impossible to get everything done in an efficient, calm and easy manner? And how do you become the grand master of your time?

When it comes to the workday, whether you’re going to an office or working from home as a freelancer, we sometimes think the answer to getting the most done is starting earlier and ending later. The real opportunities for masterful time management, though, lie in the answers to the questions: How are you are spending your time? How much time are you spending? And what’s it costing you?

Here are 6 tips to help you masterfully manage your time:

1. Set an intention – Each day before you leave the office or complete your workday from wherever you are get clear about what you want to focus on the next day. Think about what you want to accomplish, what values you want to embody as you go through your day, and the time in which you want to achieve it. Setting an intention shifts your thoughts to what you want, like efficiency, productivity, and time for you, instead of getting lost in and distracted by the things you don’t want, which becomes a vacuum sucking up valuable time. It’s important that you write your intention in the present tense so you can feel like it’s already happening. Examples include: “I am inspired as I complete a rough draft of one, full chapter of my book by 5 pm or sooner” or “I am peaceful and present as I complete the tasks of my day with ease by 6 pm or sooner” or just simply, “I am happy, grateful and present to the good in my life.”

2. Consciously design your day – Once you have set an intention – which is the overall theme of your day – now you can consciously design the action steps to support that goal. Before you leave work, make a list of the top 4 action steps that will let you reach your intention for the day. The point here is to set yourself up to succeed by bringing your awareness to the table and creating an attainable plan. One or more of those steps may include personal time for you. If you know you don’t normally take a moment for yourself during the day, set one aside. When you have 4 steps you’re consciously committed to taking, look at your calendar for the next day and assign each step to a time slot. If you find 4 steps are too much, find the right number for you. Print or write your next day’s schedule with these action steps in place and also note a concrete beginning and end time of your workday. Leave this front and center on your desk for the next day.

3. Get present – When you come to work the next day, sit down at your desk and before you do anything else, take a deep breath. Become present to how the chair feels under you. Take another deep breath. And as you do, read your intention for the day. Know that this is your time and your opportunity to be the commander in chief of your day. Look at the day’s schedule. If something feels too demanding, put it to the side. Commit to what you know you can and are willing to complete for the day.

4. Set a timer – For each task you’ve committed to taking, set a timer for it. Tell your assistant you are not to be interrupted during that time. Do not answer phone calls. Focus 100% on completing this step. And when the timer goes off…

5. “Put your pencil down” – You remember this, right? The teacher says it and wherever you are, the pencil goes down – mid sentence, mid math problem, mid thought. For some of you, this may feel like someone is cutting your arm off, which I for one can totally appreciate. I invite you to try it, though. Just to have the experience of disconnecting so that you can start to get a sense of freedom. Choose to move forward trusting everything will get done when it’s supposed to.

6. Reward yourself – If your mismanaging your time then you’re probably the one who’s suffering. Most likely, you are sacrificing fun, self-care, time with friends and loved ones, right? And at what expense? Designing a conscious day allows you to carve out time for you. So give yourself one or more daily gifts throughout the day and most importantly, one directly after you end your workday at a reasonable hour. This will help you to consciously shift from work to play as you celebrate the expansive time you now have.

Here’s to you being the master of your time.

For more information about Certified Life Coach, Stefanie Ziev, Ziev Coaching’s services and upcoming events including a magnificent 1-day workshop designed to help you design your time called The Big Boards™: Plan Big 4 Big Plans, being held on Saturday, February 6th in NYC, please visit http://ZievCoaching.com.

You just invested on some great new wardrobe basics. Now how do you make sure they last? We called upon Christie Ressel from Personal Power Image Consulting to get her expert opinion on this frequently asked question!

Congratulations on splurging on yourself – that’s wonderful! Making sure you take care of your beautiful pieces is now the key to making sure they last. Here are a few simple tips to help you out:

Have a look on the tags of each of the garments that you purchased and see what the manufacturer recommends for taking care of each garment. You’ll definitely want to take that into consideration. I do recommend using wash products that are more “eco friendly” as they are not only better for the environment but will also be gentle on your clothing!

This especially goes for “dry clean only” clothing. What most people don’t know is that clothing that needs to be dry cleaned or is a more natural fabric (i.e. silk) can usually clean itself! You can easily put the item on a hanger and leave it near an open window over night and voila – the piece will be clean by morning! This will make your clothing last MUCH longer – why? Because the more chemicals you use when washing your clothing – the faster your clothing will deteriorate as the chemicals will alter the fabric. Now, this doesn’t mean you don’t need to ever take clothing to the dry cleaners or wash it – you absolutely do. You just don’t have to go as often – which will not only save you time and money, but will save your wardrobe too! Some of the more natural fabrics can even be hand washed, instead of dry cleaned, such as;

• Cashmere — turn piece inside out and hand wash, or machine wash gentle cycle
• Corduroy — hand wash
• Wool — hand wash
• Silk — hand wash
Always make sure that you wash in cold water. Wash your lingerie in cold water by hand also, instead of tossing it in the washing machine. This will prevent padded bra “clumping”(really, who wants lumpy boobs?).
When drying sweaters, make sure that you do not hang them up – lay them flat so they don’t lose their shape by stretching.
When you take of garments – the clothing will be warm from your body heat. This can make some fabrics more delicate and susceptible to being altered. It’s recommended that you either hang or fold it right away so it doesn’t stretch, get lumpy and/or lose its original shape.

Follow these tips, and your clothing will not only look and feel brand new for quite some time to come, but it will help you feel fabulous while doing so. Enjoy!

Thanks Christie for contributing to this amazing post! 

Christie Ressel is an International Image Consultant and personal style coach that has always craved fashion, glamour, and personal development. Thrilled about the fact that her job meshes these passions together, she created, “Personal Power Image Consulting©™”. Here, she helps women feel chic, elegant, confident, stylish, and strong in all situations through her personalized style coaching. Christie is also a freelance writer and is the Senior Editor of Style and Beauty for ChicGalleria.com. She has delivered over 150 workshops and lectures across North America on women’s empowerment and is regularly featured in the media and press. Check out http://www.personalpowerimage.com.

Join us this Tuesday evening at 8pm est for our first live chat on twitter. We will be discussing work place fashion’s with you. Some topics we plan to cover include:

- How do you plan to incorporate Spring’s hottest trends into your work wardrobes?
- What’s the most inappropriate outfit you have ever seen in the workplace?

You’ll have the opportunity to answer our questions, hear how we handle our Workchic looks from day to day, and meet other fashionistas striving for the perfect polished professional look.  We hope to have a candid discussion with you about workplace fashion.  Don’t miss a minute!

Who: @Workchic of course!

When:  Tuesday, January 26th from 8pm to 9pm EST

Where: Twitter, tweetchat, tweetdeck, or your favorite twitter app. Use #Workchic in your tweets to stay in the conversation.

Why: It’s a New Year, a New Decade, and we have challenged you to Reinvent Yourself the Workchic Way. It’s time to talk about how you have progressed, where you’re still finding challenges, and how you can overcome. Plus laugh about some of the missteps we have seen along the way.

If you have any questions send us a message through twitter @Workchic or email info@workchic.com.  Melissa and I look forward to sharing our first twitter event with you!

Inspired by Project Runway’s return to the Big Apple and our television sets, we decided to pick up The Style Strategy by Nina Garcia; A Less-is-More Approach to Staying Chic and Shopping Smart. We know Nina has a strong eye for detail, as she notices every frayed hem on the Runway, not to mention her always impeccable style.  This book seemed like the perfect fit to our New Year’s resolution to Reinvent Yourself the Workchic Way!  We were not disappointed.

Nina’s guide hits on three main themes-

1- What Do I Have?

2- What Do I Need?

3- What Do I Want?

Seems simple, right? This time it actually is. She walks you through step by step ways to assess your wardrobe and answer these three simple questions while having a party or two along the way. We enjoyed the quotes from some of our favorite designers. Even more then that we couldn’t get enough of the quick fashion history lessons on how great trends have been born out of necessity. In our current economic times it is important to remember that women have had it worst and still managed to look chic everyday. Whether they wore a potato sack dress or worked the line in a factory, during WWI and WWII ladies of all backgrounds filled in where their men couldn’t and always looked Workchic!

In this book, Nina talks about everything from altering and mending the pieces you’ve invested in to cheap thrills like the makeup aisle in your local drugstore. Looking stylish while maintaining a budget means knowing when to splurge and when to save.

Her easy style of writing was like having a conversation with a friend. We loved how she drove home an important point about investing in quality shoes. In one of Nina Garcia’s In the Know sections she says, “Of course you want to look fabulous, but you need shoes you can wear all day without severe pain. Nothing makes me crankier then uncomfortable shoes, and crankiness is highly contagious in the office.” Well said Nina! You’ll have to pick up her book to read all about her top tips for identifying the most comfortable shoes.

We recommend adding this book to your collection. Read it in a relaxing bubble bath or pick it up when you need a quick tip before heading to the mall. Anyway you reference it, and every time you do, something will stand out as fresh advice you needed to hear. Will leave you with this last piece of advice from Nina, “Shop smart, stay chic, and make it last.” We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. Happy Shopping!

So far this month you have cleaned out your closet, updated your basics, and dropped off select pieces at the tailor. Now you want to make your work wardrobe feel fresh but don’t want to spend a fortune. Don’t worry; we are here to help you with that too.  We recommend setting a seasonal budget and allocating between basics, tops, and accessories to maximize your impact.

Once you’ve taken the time to get your basic foundation pieces in place- have fun with accessories. A statement necklace makes a tee and cardigan feel fresh. This Double Stranded Bead Necklacefrom Charlotte Russe is only $6.99. The
Beaded Dangle Earrings are only $4 and will draw attention up to your face.  Never under estimate the power of a scarf to update your look. This Linen style from Silk Road Spirit is $27.95 and can be styled in many ways.  That’s less than $40 on three new looks.
 

Blouses are what make the biggest change to your work wardrobe. After all you spend most of your time seated at a desk.  Selecting one piece in a fun print will liven up your look mid week.  To learn which prints are right for your age and office, check out our post on trends at any age.  New York & Company Women’s Grey Floral Drop Shoulder Slouchy Sweater is available for $39.95.  Brustroke Blouse from Apt 9 is $21.99 and AB Studio Circle Yoryu Blouse in green chiffon is $24.99 at Kohl’s. 

Color makes a big impact, but so does style and texture. That’s why this Bow Detail Crew from The Limited caught our eye at $29.99 along with Laura Ashley CROSS PLEAT BIB BLOUSE.  Our final blouse selection is from Modcloth.com.  Love ‘Em and Leaf ‘Em Top top is $29.99.

If you’re on a tight budget and want the maximum impact, keep your bottoms basic.  Use your budget on high impact accessories and unique blouses.   The six styles we selected add up to less than $200. Select your favorites, add on some accessories, and maximize your basics.  Challenge yourself to create as many unique looks for the office as you can. Happy Shopping!