In any corporate environment, you are somewhat restricted to what you can wear most of the time.  A conservative dress or a smart skirt suit is the most accepted outfits for the professional business woman of today.  With the use of accessories and makeup, you can however, bring a touch of individuality and personal style to your look.  Here are a few tips for stay stylish yet professional.

Jewelry
Bring a touch of individuality to a plain suit or dress with your jewelry.  A statement necklace is just one option.  Just make sure that you don’t overdo it, so avoid wearing more than one large statement piece.  Your safest bet here is to stick to wearing more conservative items.  Simple and classic bracelets, necklaces and a nice ring are all perfect for the office.

Watches
In the corporate world, a lot of men (and sometimes women) wear luxury watches as status symbol.  A nice watch is the ultimate accessory for the corporate environment, keeping you punctual and looking stylish.  Be careful here though that your watch isn’t TOO flashy.  You don’t want to make your boss jealous.  Luxury but tasteful watches are completely acceptable for the office.  Just keep them simple, feminine and classy, avoiding of course any garish colors like neon pink.

Handbags
Bringing a tacky, logo-covered handbag to the office, which screams ‘I’m all about labels!’ is definitely cheese.  You really don’t want to be giving your boss the impression that you’re overpaid and possibly have them reconsidering any bonus that you may be entitled to in the future (why take any chance).  Therefore it’s smart to opt for more simple and tasteful handbags.

Shoes
A fashionable pair of heels can make an office outfit, but heels above 3 inches are definitely questionable especially for those who prefer comfortable shoes.  Stick to classic yet conservative heels instead of killer stilettos in loud, busy prints.  Remember to keep comfort in mind.  After all, you will be wearing them most of the week, so make sure you find a pair which fits you well.  If you’re going to be on your feet all day, and can’t bear the thought of being in heels the whole time, then go for a nice pair of sophisticated and simple flats instead.

Makeup
The key to a professional look is keeping your makeup natural.  In the corporate world, there seems to be an unspoken rule that wearing a lot of makeup is just not professional.  As less is more, keep your foundation light, use a little mascara and use only natural lip-colors.  Keep your nails short and manicured and stick to nail polish colors like nude, subtle pink or sleek red.

photo via Nine Girl
Disclosure: This post was written in partnership with Linked Solutions.

As much as I love my iPad, the Macbook Air is where all my work gets done.  The obvious reason being is the iPad’s lack of hardware – keyboard.  This Bluetooth Keyboard and Case from Snugg is just what I needed in order to put my lazy tablet into full working mode.

The iPad turns into a stylish mini laptop as it docks onto the device.  The keyboard is also a protective cover for the iPad when not in use.  Smart!

Pros

• Aluminum finish and white keys to match the sleek look of iPad.
• Keyboard and protective case in one.
• Fast setup and charging time.
• Snaps easily onto the iPad.
• Lightweight (280g) & slim.

Cons

• The placement and smaller size of keys (especially the space key) requires some time getting used to.
• Inexpensive plastic feel.

I’ve used this keyboard to write blog posts, To-Do lists, emails and practically everything else I do on my laptop (except the Photoshop where I need a bigger screen).  Having an actual keyboard allows me to be more productive while getting things done quicker on my iPad.  Although I would like to try out other iPad keyboards as a comparison, I find this keyboard a decent value overall at the sale price of $49.99.

On a side note, Snugg’s live help chat was quite helpful along with their responsive customer service.

Disclosure: I received a sample for review purposes.  The opinions are completely my own based on my experience.

This post brought to you by John Frieda. All opinions are 100% mine.

I have a love-and-hate relationship with my hair. There is nothing like beautifully styled hair to complement my face yet it's the hardest part of my beauty routine after all. Since I have thick, full and frizzy hair, styling time is quite time consuming even more so than applying full-on makeup. I'm always in the market for new hair products to try out not only to target these issues (mainly the frizz) but to improve the overall hair styling experience.

When I had the opportunity to test out John Frieda hair care products, I was excited! I have been happily using the Frizz-Ease serum for years now so I was eager to test out other products. I rotated between two of John Frieda's collections – Frizz-Ease & Full Repair – over the last few weeks.

While serum alone helps smooth out the frizz, by incorporating the Frizz-Ease Smooth Start Shampoo & Conditioner along with the serum I experienced a better result all together. The weightless and silky feel of the hair was noticeably improved after washing the hair with these two products. The conditioner is one that really did the job with the frizz (I usually leave this on for 5 minutes or longer)! It will be hard to find other brands (expensive or cheap) to live up to the performance as to manage unruly hair.

I used the Full Repair Full Body Shampoo & Conditioner as a nourishing treatment especially the deep conditioner. The shampoo lathers well while washing off all the build up. The conditioner significantly softened the strands and made brushing a breeze. Each are suited for damaged or color treated hair which was perfect for my mother-in-law who just got her hair colored, and was also pleased with the result.

I'm looking forward to using the Brilliant Brunette Shampoo & Conditioner once I color treat my hair.

One thing I have learned from years of using a plethora of brands is that the "you get what you pay for" rule does not apply to hair products – and these John Frieda hair care products are a great example of that. You can find the products at local drugstores and grocery stores including Walmart, Target, etc. Also check out their helpful video tutorials and product videos to get that salon quality hair! Have you used John Frieda products? Any favorites?

For the price of only $51.75 $124, this wrap dress is a fashion steal indeed.  It’s an easy day-to-night dress to keep you looking chic for day, sexy for night.  The dress is among many workchic-worthy sale items from JNY’s Spring Clearance Event (additional extra 25% off on all sale styles).  My other favorites are this perfectly-sized small leather satchel in summery blue and priced just under $75, this tweed jacket is also a must-have.

Bermuda shorts are another big fashion trend of the SS 2013.  These flattering knee-length shorts come in abundant colors, print and fabric choices, from casual separates to short suits – think of tailored, streamlined shorts for the office.  Check out more styling tips (including my suggestions) as well for different ways to incorporate this trend into your wardrobe.

photo via Style