ba-roque.

Shopping on a budget can be difficult. However, it doesn't mean you have to throw style out the window just because you can't buy that $200 Tory Burch purse. I think online shops, particularly those that are headquartered in the UK, are perfect for those of us that may be a little ba-roque. Here's an outfit that features many of my favorite online shops, along with some traditional ones, with items all under $50. Enjoy!

Earrings / Purse / Shoes / Top / Pants / Belt / Bracelet / Ring

save the tatas.

October is breast cancer awareness month. And while I don't suggest walking into work in a whole pink-on-pink outfit, I do promote showing some support for the cause. Along with your pin, here are a few other suggestions to help save the tatas.

Clockwise L to R: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6

think like a man.

Today I was thinking about what it means to "think like a man." So many have said that it's important to be more like a man to be successful in the workplace. But what does this mean -- to be more assertive, self-confident, and aggressive? If so, then I totally agree with the claim, just not the categorization of it. I definitely believe someone should be able to assert themselves in the workplace and be confident of the work they produce. However, that doesn't mean you're thinking or acting like a man. It just means that you have self-worth and believe in yourself.

Just my 2 cents...

Blazer / Shoes / Watch / Top / Pants / Suspenders / Bag

mixed prints.

You can mix prints and not look hoakey! Here's a great example:

Bag / Shoes / Top / Belt / Skirt / Earrings / Bracelet / Ring

wednesday wear: blue and gray

Bag / Shoes / Top / Skirt / Earrings / Bracelet / Nailpolish / Lipgloss / Blush

Happy Hump Day everyone!! Here's a peak at an outfit that's very similar to what I'm wearing today. Enjoy!

inteview with shop it to me's tamra feldman.

One of my absolute favorite recent discoveries has been Shop It To Me. It's a shopping site that features the latest markdowns, secret promotion codes, and even VIP sale events. About two weeks ago, I had the pleasure of speaking with Tamra Feldman, Shop It To Me's VP of Marketing, where she let me in on some great career and fashion advice while sharing some of her favorite items on Shop It To Me.

1. Can you tell us a little about Shop It To Me, and your role in the company?

Shop It To Me is basically your free personal shopping assistant. We ask for your favorite designer brands and sizes. Then your work is done! We check over 150+ online sites each day and send you emails (Salemail) that show you all the latest sales in your sizes.  Our members tell us that they've saved a lot of time and money by using Shop It To Me…and had a lot of fun while doing so!

I am the Vice President of Marketing and I also do quite a bit of Product work - which basically means that I focus on spreading the word about Shop It To Me, and keeping our subscribers happy through a variety of initiatives and new features.

2.  How did you start out in the marketing field?

I majored in marketing in undergrad so had a lot of formal coursework around the topic. What I think was even more important though was early work experience.  Even during college, my summers were spent interning at various companies within their marketing field. I think that this real-world experience helped me understand if indeed it was the right field and role for me, and also gave me some solid work experience!  I first worked for a minor league baseball team, then for Pepsi, followed by full-time roles at Gap Inc, and now I'm at Shop It To Me.

2. Considering the risks involved were you scared to join a start-up? If so, how did you overcome that fear?

Joining a start-up can definitely be scary!  There's a lot more uncertainty about what your role will entail, but I personally love that each day is truly different! You learn by doing and can't be afraid to try new things. From day one, I really focused on the positive aspects of what I'd be able to contribute by being part of a small team.

3. What's your advice for other women seeking a career in this industry?

My advice is to find a role that aligns with your personal interests, that you can be passionate about. In my case, I've always enjoyed shopping and focusing on consumer problems, so retail was a perfect industry for me to develop my career in.  I also think it's important to work for companies that you truly believe in. If you're going to put your all in each and every day, it's important to feel that you can really get behind what the company stands for and feel proud of being an ambassador and representative for wherever you are working.

4. Did you have a mentor or role model when you started in the field? If so, how do you feel they helped you in reaching your professional goals?

Throughout my career, I have had a few mentors and role models. These individuals were helpful for me to bounce ideas off of when I've considered changing companies or roles, and they've helped connect/introduce me to other individuals to learn more about their roles.  I've also always made an effort to connect with my direct manager on a personal level as well as professional and I think it has made a difference. Even when I've moved on to new roles, I've kept in touch with these individuals and continue to foster my relationship with them.  

5. Not only are you a successful woman, you're also pretty young. How have you worked to assert yourself in a professional world that is filled with high level executives that tend to be older men?

I think that age doesn't matter as much these days, and there are a lot of young people in the work force and in very senior positions.  That said, I've learned that people appreciate curiosity and asking questions, particularly when you aren't familiar with something or don't immediately know the answer. Instead of pretending like you know information you don't, it's much more well-respected when you show interest and learn.  It's important to be assertive and confident, and not be intimidated even if you are in a room full of people older than you.  I think attitude also goes a long way - coming to work with a positive go-getter attitude makes you shine!

6. How have you managed to maintain a good work-life balance?

I try to maintain a fairly regular work schedule, starting and ending each day around the same time.  This can be tricky at a start-up, as it's important to keep yourself available to troubleshoot any issues that arise, but overall, I try to block my schedule so people know generally when I can be counted on to be readily accessible. In my spare time, it's important to me to exercise regularly, see friends/family, and spend a lot of time with my husband. All of these are priorities, and although it can sometimes be challenging, I think making your workplace aware of other aspects of life that are important to you generally helps people to be more understanding. 

7. What style tips do you have for women in the workplace?

At Shop It To Me, we have an incredibly casual workplace, which is fun! We still enjoy putting together fun outfits, but it's much less restrictive than some careers - pretty much anything goes!  My main advice for women in the workplace is to find versatile items that you can make flexible and wear both to work and after-work/weekends, as I think you'll enjoy these items more. You'll associate them not just as "work clothes" but also with fun times.

8. What's the biggest fashion blunder you've seen at work?

I've worked at pretty hip places and around a lot of stylish women, so not too many fashion blunders!  Working in both San Francisco and New York, I've worked with quite a few people who walk or take public transportation to work…so I have seen a number of broken shoes from the commute, and people who have needed to do things like tape them together or borrow a friends extra shoes when they get to the office that don't necessarily match their outfit!

9. As a marketing executive, do you have any suggestions as to how the professional woman can market herself better in the workplace?

It's become more important to maintain a "personal brand". I think that to market themselves better, it's interesting to think about what you want to be known for/have a reputation in, and try to make your online presence revolve around this. Is there a particular industry you have expertise in? A particular role? Ensuring your LinkedIn, Twitter, and other profiles on social networks reflect this can help cement people's view of you. I also think that women shouldn't be shy about asking for introductions to people who may be of interest for you to meet with. People are often very willing to help share more information about themselves or their career - it just takes taking the initiative to ask, which all too often women don't do. There's a great book "Women Don't Ask" which I encourage others to read.

Tamra also shared with us some of her favorite work-appropriate items (Thanks, Tamra!).

Shoes, Bags and Accessories

L to R clockwise: 1 , 2 , 3 , 4

Blouses

L to R: 1 , 2 , 3

Blazers and Cardigans

L to R: 1 , 2 , 3

casual friday.

Purse / Shoes / Top / Belt / Skirt / Necklace / Earrings / Bracelet

This post goes out to a Hill staffer I met a year ago that has a great sense of style. My love of maxi skirts started when I saw her in an outfit similar to this during recess on the Hill. For those of you that have very casual Fridays or something similar to a Congressional recess at work, this is a great and comfortable option. Enjoy your weekend!

Wednesday Wear

It's so muggy out today in D.C. that I felt I had to wear a little yellow to brighten up the day. Maybe if we all wore yellow on muggy days, the sun would just have to come out and say hi!

Here's what I wore today:

Blazer / Shoes / Top / Dooney & Bourke Bag / Bracelets / Earrings / Necklace

last days of summer.

Alas, our days of summer are winding down. Where we once saw airy chiffon and bright flowery prints in our favorite stores, we now are confronted with the blunt realization that darker colors and thicker fabrics will soon be dominating our aesthetics. In the meantime, let's rejoice in the last days of summer, and milk it for what it's worth. Here's an airy, summery outfit for work that I hope you'll all love.

Purse / Belt / Shoes / Dress / Earrings / Bracelet / Necklace

what i wore.

I'd like to start posting what I actually wear to work (with a few minor changes if I can't find the actual item online). So consider this my first in a series (maybe weekly?) of posts featuring my outfit for the day. Enjoy!

While this is a silk shirt from piperlime, I'm actually wearing a similar one (sans pockets) from Zara. It's such a great top because it's not too sheer, but light enough for the hot summer D.C. sun. 

I just got this skirt from ebay!! It was my first ebay clothing purchase. Look out for a future post about my ebay escapades in the next few days. It's a j.crew skirt that was new, with tags, and more than half off the original price. 

And while I'm wearing different, but very similar versions of these items, here's what else I've featured in this post: Purse / Shoes / Necklace (out of stock at BR) / Earrings / Bracelet. 

the golf outing.

When you're in an environment outside of work where your boss and coworkers are present, it's really important to still look professional and wear work-appropriate clothing. This thought brings me to the Business Golf Outing. Whether you're with clients or people you work with, it's smart to look smart. Here's some fashion inspiration for your next time on the golf course.

Golf Gloves and Visor / Shoes / Top / Pants / Necklace / Watch / Earrings / Sunglasses

indiana jones and peplums.

While watching Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade last night, I fell in love with Dr. Elsa Schneider's classically chic style. There's something about the late '30s and '40s that exudes professionalism and highlights great tailoring for both men and women.

By 1930, about one out of every six married women had a job, a number which continued to increase with World War II. Pintucked waists and skirt suits were all the rage. In fact, the modern peplum became popular in the 1940s (and you thought this was a new trend, shame on you). Here's a great example of some cute peplums:

source

And here is an outfit inspired by Dr. Elsa Schneider, and the working women of the 30s and 40s that paved the way for us today. Wear this with a light, cropped cardigan or blazer for a work-appropriate look.

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happy weekend.

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Hellooooo Weekend!!! I am so excited for this weekend because it's my first weekend in 3 weeks where I can do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! Don't you just love it when that happens? ::sigh::

I hope you like this outfit post. The light blue and the salmony-mauve (?) color are so unexpected yet very complementary. 

p.s. If you know the name of this color (or can come up with your own creative name), please let me know in the comments section. I've been struggling with that all day!

Have a great and restful weekend, everyone! 

monday blues.

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Yes, I know it's not Monday, but this was a perfect representation of how I felt yesterday. I spent an awesome weekend with my family out of state, but got home feeling exhausted for the work week to come. I used that as inspiration, and came up with this great outfit. Blues and whites make such a beautifully bold statement when paired together. Enjoy!

carolina herrera in the summer.

The Limited Skirt, $69.90; Old Navy Shirt, $27; Ellen Tracy Shoes, $47; DSW Handbag, $50; JCPenneys Earrings, $10; Endless Watch, $34; JCPenney's Necklace, $12; Forever 21 Belt, $5.80


It is getting so sticky lately. Summer hasn't started and I already feel like I need to take 3 showers a day. Once the weather gets warmer, I see pencil skirts all over the place. But pencil skirts naturally stick to your body, making for a number of women walking down the streets with sweat marks where there just shouldn't be any! So, today I'm pulling out the airy, breezy a-line skirt. It's a great staple for summer, and doesn't feel restrictive like a pencil skirt often does.


I was inspired by Carolina Herrera's trademark white dress shirt and long, black a-line skirt. It's so classic. I hope you enjoy it!