“My number one inspiration is my customer,” Tracy Reese said backstage before her show. That seems to be the major theme during the Fall Fashion week.  It is all about being practical and going with what works for the customer. 
Tracy Reese focused on layering in her Fall collection—stirrup pants, ruched dresses, arm warmers, chunky cardigans, and cozy scarves—and played on the use of texture with jacquard, lace, embroidery, and faux-fur trims. We loved how she popped in color into the collection which seemed to fill the color void amongst the other collections we viewed this week.  We loved how this collection is extremely versatile and each element can be worn with key pieces in your work wardrobe.  Here are a few chic work looks.  All runway images are courtesy of Style.com.

Love the scarf and the burnout pattern of this dress.  We love how Reese mixes feminine and rugged by pairing the dress with boots and opaque tights.

Loving how this outfit above would be perfect for those casual days at the office.  The ruffles give the right amount of feminine detail to a shrunken blazer.

Who knew that mixing plaids and polka dots could look so chic?

We love how Tracy Reese designs office friendly attire.  Don’t wait until Fall to shop her collection.  We found these must haves right here on Workchic!

Stay tuned for more New York Fashion week coverage!  

When re-entering the job market whether you have been unemployed or just have taken time off, it may be a strong possibility you will have to work with co-workers that are often younger than yourself.  We loved the WSJ article An Older Woman in a Youthful office because we often get emails from our readers asking our advice on how to fit in without trying too hard or appearing too youthful.   We love this suit below from Anne Klein because it doesn’t scream traditional or an older, boxy fit.  The darts, sleeve and pleating detail update this skirt suit.  Paired with opaque tights and skinny belt gives the suit a modern edge.

Would you add anything different to the suit to give it a more youthful or modern feel?  We would love to hear your thoughts!  Leave us a comment on this post or email us at info@workchic.com.

Rebecca Taylor knows how to dress women.  Even though some of her criticis said she played it safe this Fall 09 season because of current economic conditions, she still managed to be right on trend with her sweet with an edge collection.  The collection was focused around eight major pieces: two dresses, two skirts, two pants, one blouse, and one jacket.  They were shown mixed and matched so it shows you can create mutiple outfits from just a few pieces in your closet.

 We loved the leopard print coat with ruffle trim below accented with a skinny belt and worn over a printed dress.  Perfect for the office!

 We loved the frilly blouse paired with the slouchy trousers.  Just pair it with a cardigan or jacket for the business casual look.

The blue floral print is a dres you can have in your wardrobe for all season.  We love how it was paired with a crewneck sweater.  You can easily wear it with the pants above or a black pencil skirt.  We would add black opaque tights and boots for those chilly fall days.

We found some great looks from the previous Rebecca Taylor collections below. The pieces fit all of your wardrobe needs! The Black Laser Cut Jacket, Plaid Car Coat, Tweed Tank Dress were all found on shopbop.com.

We definitely see a recurring theme this week..Rocker chic is back.  Her previous collections were more Upper than Lower East Side   As she explained on nypost.com “this is the way I want to dress.”  We can definitely tell by the use of skinny pants, bolder prints, and stylish dresses that she is up for change.  We still loved the collection and had a hard time choosing our favorite outfits.  They are perfect for your business casual days or when you just want a chic work outfit. All runway pics are courtesy of elle.com.

 Love the print on this dress paired with black opaque tights and worn with a wide nautical theme belt.  Skip the combat boots for work otherwise this is a perfect business casual outfit for the office!

This picture below displays how to use classic separates to create a timeless outfit.  Pair the black pencil skirt with long cardigan, black belt (with detail) and polka dot blouse.  Mix and match these pieces with your items in your wardrobe for numerous outfits.

 We love the simple yet classic Tory black dress.  Perfect for that meeting you have to attend.  If you want to make it more casual pair with a more casual bag as shown below.  We always like how the second outfit was styled with use of a more elegant skirt with a printed cardigan. The outfit is dressy but it perfect to take it from the office to a night out with friends.    We love the slouchy boots since they don’t scream super casual and are perfect for the office.

Find the latest Tory Burch shoes and accessories at http://www.shopbop.com.  We think these below can be worn from Spring to Fall.

Get runway inspired from Workchic.com!

Leave it to Marc Jacobs to deliver a fun filled runway show complete with oversized shoulder pads, slouchy trousers, day-glo colors- that quickly led us back to the days reminiscent of Madonna in the early 80’s.  Now you may haved liked the 80’s-music that is- but there were some fashion trends -shoulder pads, slouchy socks, stirrup pants- that you may never want to relive again.   Most of the pieces from the collection were geared towards those who wanted to channel their inner 80’s icon.   However we did find some pieces that were workchic for your wardrobe.  All photos courtesy of zimbio.com.

Though the color combination of the outfit below may read more Spring than Fall, we loved the kelly green coat with the pink paisley shift dress underneath.  Love the scarf and gloves-would pop a charcoal grey or navy winter coat and instantly look workchic.

This is a great business casual look below.  It’s very simple and understated.  Maybe just try the hairstyle on the weekend and not for the office.  Love the boyfriend cardigan with zipper details paired with black trousers.  How creative was the slit in the placket of the cardigan-so easy to neatly tuck your scarf in there? Why didn’t we think of that?

We loved the modern elegance of the third outfit.  Love the dusty mauve/rose capelet with the contrast navy/cream printed shirt underneath.  It looks great paired with a black straight skirt and black opaque tights.  The outfit and color combos just flow together.  Even the use of plum suede boots look great but we would suggest trading them for a boot that was not over the knee for the office. 

Marc utilized accessories to complete his looks above.  We found the same Fall 09 influences on his Spring shoes and handbags found below.  The Mustard flats with nickel detail were found on 6pm.com.  Not only do they have the same attention detail on the outside but check out that fun print lining on the inside! We found the next pair of printed Ballerina Flats at endless.com.  The next pair of Acid Yellow ballerina flats  from 6pm.com foreshadow his Fall 09 collection and can be worn all year round. The Faridah Slouchy Hobo in Natural Linen  also from 6pm.com, channels his 80’s influences above.

We can’t wait to see what Marc has in store for 2010!  Get inspired from Workchic.com!

Our favorite friend Mallory is well on her way into the four month mark into her new job.  She is trying to utilize her work wardrobe in many ways.  That way she can still save money and have an outfit to wear for work and date night.  Here is what she has to say..

“When I go out shopping or shop online, a few things are always going through my mind, one of the most important is especially on how to save money. The one thing that stands out for me most of the time is: what clothing can I buy that I can wear for more than one type of occasion? In my mind that means what can I wear to the office and out on a Friday or Saturday night. When you are buying clothes on a budget try to make smarter decisions when making your purchases. Obviously going out on the weekend you want to wear something more fun or maybe even a little revealing (but of course in a classy way).  It can’t always fit your work attire, but there are many options out there that can. To try this out, look into your closet and pick out shirts that you wear to work and try them on with a pair of jeans. It may end up looking really cute for a night out with your friends. Sometimes it may just be the simplest shirt too, like a plain black shirt that you can dress up with accessories and cute shoes. Another good idea is to take a cute jacket that you wear to work with a skirt or nice pants and put that with jeans and heels, it would most likely look great to go out with! I have been using this method of shopping forever because most likely there will always be a budget to follow. So keep this in mind, it has definitely been helpful when I’m shopping. “

 
Pic# 1  Mallory can simply add on black opaque tights, black tall boots, a statement necklace and voila- instant date outfit.
Pic #2- We loved when Mallory bought this shirt at H&M.  Not only does it look great for work, she can also pair it with jeans, a blazer, chunky bracelet and even a red clutch to pull the look together for a casual night out with friends.You too can utilize your work wardrobe when you have one of those “I have nothing to wear meltdowns”.  Stay tuned for more tips from Workchic.com!

We just had to share some of this article we found on the following employment website: theladders.com . If you are a member, you can find it at the http://tinyurl.com/dg67ce.  For those of you that are not members we have included an excerpt of this article written by Joyann King below. It offers great tips for those who are getting back into the workforce or are looking for a new job.  We added our own examples from bananarepublic.com, shop.com, and newyorkandcompany.com to some of her suggestions. 

Lose the ‘Frump Factor,’ Win the Job The right look can increase your confidence, show your personal style and make a lasting first impression. Joyann King  In a perfect world, we would all be judged on our inner beauty and the most qualified candidate would always get the gig. Unfortunately style, charisma, connections and the proverbial cool factor all play an influential role when considering job candidates. If you haven’t thought about your look since the ‘80s (or even within several years), chances are your go-to-interview look could use an update. You don’t want to dress too young for your age, but who doesn’t want to appear 10 years younger?It’s true you spend hours revamping your resume, researching the company and practicing your selling points, but if your outward appearance does not reflect your energy and enthusiasm about the position, chances are someone else’s will. The right outfit can increase your confidence and make a lasting first impression.
1) Choose shapes that flatter your body.
This tip seems obvious, but unfortunately we have been programmed to reach for certain silhouettes when it comes to dressing for a formal interview -pencil skirt and button down, check. The truth is these two cuts don’t look great on most women. Pencil skirts are unforgiving if you have even the slightest of hips, and button-downs are notorious for bulging open in all the wrong places. Instead, if you are curvy, opt for A-line skirts and dresses that provide a slimming effect on the lower body. If you are petite, try a fitted sheath that falls just above the knee. It will highlight your feminine figure while elongating your legs.

 2) Hose are a thing of the past.
Yes, you can start celebrating: Hosiery, at least any that is visible, is no longer a requirement for women in the workplace.  In that case, they should be very sheer and match your natural skin color. (No tan, please!) On the other hand, opaque tights are acceptable and encouraged during the winter months.  They also look chic when worn with patent leather pumps. But unless you want to look like Rainbow Brite, stick to black tights.
3) Shoes and bags are your style outlet.
It is a myth that an interview requires a basic black shoe and masculine briefcase. In fact, when keeping your clothes simple and chic, your shoes and bag are a great way to add sophistication and style. Have fun with oxford-inspired booties; patent-leather pumps; peep-toed Mary Janes; and tastefully colored totes and animal-skin satchels (faux if you prefer!) The only rules are no white shoes and no strappy sandals, ever.
 4) Wear a dress.
While a skirt or pantsuit is always appropriate, so is a great dress and jacket. From simple sheaths to A-line styles, a dress is the most flattering silhouette a woman can wear. Stick to solid wovens, tweeds and delicate pinstripes. If you are more fashion-forward, try a cocoon shape, ‘60s shift or a ’50s-style dress with a fuller skirt and wide belt. Bonus: A dress takes the guesswork out of the what-blouse-to-wear dilemma.
5) Wear navy, black and gray — together.
Navy, black and gray should be the three staple colors of your professional wardrobe, with a few brightly colored accent pieces. These colors look great with everything and even better when worn together. 

6) Add some flair.
The right belt or earring can make your otherwise boring and predictable outfit impressive and memorable. Wear a wide belt in patent leather or a skinny gold belt to accentuate your waist. Try delicate gold hoops instead of pearls to modernize your basic jewelry. Wear a necklace in gray beads or any soft color to highlight your neckline.
7) Experiment with fabrics.
Rayon and polyester are not executive-worthy textiles. Fill your closet with lightweight tweeds, linen blends, silks blends and even boucle. Texture in a suit or dress can add a personal touch and keeps your look seasonal. In the winter opt for a tweed jacket over a black wool sheath, black opaque tights and patent-leather sling-backs. In the summer, a linen pencil skirt, crisp white blouse and neutral pointed-toe pumps look elegant and fresh.
 
8. Purchase a versatile go-to.
There is no need to purchase a whole wardrobe just to update your look. The key is working with a couple investment pieces to create a versatile, modern look. Invest in a black sheath that flatters your body type, a navy A-line skirt and a black tailored jacket with slimming bracelet sleeves.  Shop for solid basics in flattering silhouettes.