Go for Gold
Less-is-more makeup is practically synonymous with summer, so the idea of adding gold to the mix may seem too garish or hard to wear. Yet, if done correctly, gold can be, oddly enough, soft and neutral.
A Touch of Bling
Nothing pumps up your work wear like a signature piece of jewelry. For everything from dainty necklaces to eye-catching studs that set your look apart, take a peek at these inspired, independent jewelry lines.
Destiny Ray Jewelry: Look to Portland-based designer Destiny Ray for simple, organic silver pieces that give your look a subtle shine. From cascading, hammered silver-disk earrings to an open-circle necklace, these pieces each have a one-of-a-kind feel…
The Do’s and Don’ts of Clothing Care
Too often we buy sophisticated, expensive clothes for work only to stain them, shrink them, or stretch the pieces out in the wash—usually right before a big presentation or interview. But keeping a wardrobe looking shiny and new isn’t so hard with the help of a few expert tips. By heeding how you care for and store your clothes, you’ll lengthen the life of them, and continue to look classy, clean, and presentable for every occasion. Here’s our list of tips to get you started.
Sunscreen 101
Most dermatologists would agree: In a perfect world, everyone would wear sunscreen daily—clear skies or cloudy—whether you’re headed to work or a week in the West Indies. Slathering it on is, after all, your best protection against skin cancer and premature aging—aside from not going out in the sun at all (and, really, how realistic is that?). The thing is, whether you’re a 365-day-a-year addict or just a part-timer (most likely to apply only at the beach), sunscreen won’t do you any good unless you choose it and use it correctly.
Office Party Attire
Just because your office party is at the beach, backyard, or pool doesn’t mean you should lose your business casual. While you can ditch the suit, think twice before donning a bikini or shorts in front of your boss. Here, our picks for appropriate—and fun—out-of-office attire.
Self-Tanning Tips
While looking tan will never be passé, getting tan the old-fashioned way—basking in the sun for hours on end—certainly is. And for most of us who are time-crunched, work-obsessed, and over-scheduled as it is, who has time to hit the beach weekly to maintain the real thing?
The Best Beachwear
It’s time to step away from the desk, put away the Blackberry, and relax. Ditch that stuffy suit for a sexy bikini and kick the pumps off for cushioned jelly sandals. WORKS guides you through everything you need to be just as fashionable on the sand as you are at the sales meeting.
One-Piece Bathing Suits: No longer just for curvy girls, a sexy one-piece is a must-have for the summer…
Summer-proof Your Hair
Nothing ruins a poolside weekend like a mop of dull, straw-like hair come Monday morning. While it may take more than a few days of summer fun to wreak havoc, all that sun, salt, and chlorine will eventually take its toll, especially if you have color-treated hair. To keep hair healthy all season, prevention is everything (and, luckily, really easy).
Get Ready in a Hurry
We all have those mornings when the alarm doesn’t go off, or our response to its droning blare is to hit snooze eight times. Those are the days when it would probably be best if you just stayed in bed. As hard as you try, you still end up getting to the office late, with a bad case of bed head and a foul disposition.
Sexy Skirts
Whether you’re headed to the office or hitting the beach, skirts are versatile enough for almost any occasion. Mix and match casual or classic tops with some of our favorite skirts for summer and you’ll be ready for your day, wherever it takes you.
Caring for Your Shoes
Whether you wear professional-looking pumps or pretty ballet flats, shoes account for a major portion of your fashion budget. And unfortunately, the level of couture often seems directly correlated to a lack of comfort. Those adorable strappy sandals or pointy-toed boots that looked so enticing from the store window can do a number on your feet (not to mention your bank account).
Laundering Your Lingerie
Forgive us for mentioning the unmentionables, but today’s lingerie is big business. From bustiers to bras, slips to stockings, camisoles to catsuits, lingerie may take many forms, but it all serves the same purpose: creating a foundation for the knockout outfits worn on top.
Flirty Spring Dresses
This season the dress is in, whether it’s short and sassy, bright and playfully patterned, or refined yet subtly sweet. Update your spring wardrobe with one—or two or three—of these perfect picks.
Helluva Halter: This flirty halter-top dress might be listed as part of J. Crew’s bridal party collection, but its crisp cotton cady fabric and hidden pockets easily extend it to everyday wear. It’s available in eight colors from sour lemon to bright berry…
Eco-Friendly Fashion
We know you care about the environment. You clean with nontoxic products, have compact fluorescent lightbulbs throughout your home, and bring your own bags to the grocery store. But wearing eco-friendly clothes? Well, you haven’t jumped on board that train just yet.
Spring-Clean Your Closet
It’s the first day of spring, and you know what that means: Time to start unpacking your warmer-weather wear. Not sure what’s still in style from last season? WORKS helps you decide what to keep and what to store for the brighter days ahead.
Keep: Gladiator Sandals
Last season this quirky trend was a bit questionable, but this time around it’s here to stay. Invest now! The strappy sandal looks great in a heel or a flat…
Jewelry Care 101
Whether it’s a discreet pearl necklace or a brooch that doubles as modern art, jewelry is one accessory that can make or break your work wardrobe. Though many of the traditional dress-code maxims have gone out the window (goodbye, skirt suits only, and good riddance!), one of the easiest ways to add a little sparkle to your style is with a nice piece of jewelry. And whether those baubles cost you big bucks or just look like they did, keeping them in good condition should always be on your to-do list. Here, a few tips to keep in mind.
Business Trip: What to Pack?
When you pack for a vacation, you tailor your choices to the destination’s climate, right? You wouldn’t put a parka in your suitcase if you were off to Puerto Rico. Well, the same goes for preparing for a business trip.
It’s in the (Laptop) Bag
For some women, finding a fashionable yet functional laptop bag is rumored to be harder than choosing an engagement ring. Not only does such a bag need to be business-appropriate but not boring, affordable but not cheaply made, and distinctive but not childish, it also needs to survive storms, the subway, and possibly even scrutiny from co-workers (and that might only be on the morning commute!). If you’re having trouble finding a wonderful yet workable laptop bag, take some inspiration from these perfect picks.
Winter Weather Wardrobe
Just because it’s snowing out doesn’t mean you need to lose your sense of style. Yes, you’ll need to forgo your suede heels on days when it’s super-slushy out, but there are plenty of cold-weather choices out there. We scoured the racks of ski jackets and snow boots to come up with the chicest choices for you. Whoever said bundling up couldn’t be beautiful?
Can’t-Miss Coat: The secret to looking proportioned and keeping warm in a puffy winter coat is to go with a belted style…
Perfect Party Clothes
The invitations for after-work holiday events are piling up, and you have absolutely nothing to wear—at least nothing that’s both office and party appropriate. All of that’s about to change, with WORKS’ guide to hot holiday attire (the kind that won’t make your co-workers blush). So relax and focus on what really matters—’tis-ing the season!
Before-Work Beauty
Cultivating a responsible beauty routine is a lot like nurturing a healthy relationship. There are things you need to check in on every day, and things that only need your attention once in a while. Here, the five tasks that should be a part of your everyday beauty routine, and what you can get away with addressing just once a week. The result: a head-to-toe gorgeous glow.
The Perfect Winter Coat
Winter is almost here, and though darkness comes more quickly, your wardrobe doesn’t have to follow suit. An easy way to add color to your look is with a brightly colored coat. Not only will you look great, but it’ll make braving the cold a little more bearable. Here, our top picks.
A Scarf for All Seasons
The scarf is the most underrated accessory. While it will keep your neck nice and warm during winter, a scarf can also dress up a simple T-shirt look or add a much-needed pop of color to a boring suit or little black dress. So why wait until the temperature drops to tie one on? This WORKS guide will help you select a superb scarf for any occasion. Your neck will be forever grateful.
Buying For Breast Cancer Awareness
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the fashion industry is doing its part for the cause by donating a portion of its proceeds to breast cancer research. In other words, when you go shopping, you’re helping to save lives. (Get thee to the mall, ASAP!) Here, a few products worth picking up.
One Sexy Thing
What follows is one of the least controversial statements of the 21st century: Angelina Jolie may very well be the sexiest human being on the planet. But just what quality makes her sizzle? Her pouty lips? Her ever-present oversize sunglasses? Her multiple adoptions from underdeveloped nations? Her ultimate accessory, Brad Pitt?
Rainy Day Do’s
We know the patter of raindrops against your window is enough to make you want to call in sick. But dressing for foul weather can be fun, and even stylish.
Fashion Mistakes We All Make
Who doesn’t have a “What was I thinking?” moment in their style archive? (And if you think you don’t, we’re sure your friends could produce photographic proof of one.) Yes, ladies, even the most fashionable among us have stumbled at one time or another. But while some faux pas can be blamed on the era (wasn’t everyone wearing acid-washed jeans in the late ’80s?), others are just plain bad, no matter when you wear them. Here, Nahila Chianale, stylist to our own Nicole Williams, tells WORKS what five mistakes you should never make again.
Splurge vs. Save
With the change of season comes a desire to update your wardrobe. But deciding what trends to spend your bank on is always a problem. Remember that pink poncho you bought in 2003 that cost a fortune and is now relegated to the back of your closet?
Make Your Summer Clothes Fall Friendly
Fall is almost here, but there’s no need to pack away your summer splurges just yet. The trends haven’t changed all that much, so all you need is a little seasonal updating. WORKS has taken some of our favorite summer trends and made them fit for fall.
Peasant Tops. The airy linen kept you cool and dry throughout the summer, and the thought of replacing it with wool sweaters makes you cringe—so don’t…
It’s in the Bag
With all of the running around you do in a day, it’s no wonder your handbag has become more than an accessory. Chances are your carry-all functions as your office, closet, and makeup cabinet, and it needs to be able to handle some serious heavy lifting. (And look superchic while doing so!) Here, WORKS has scoured the shelves to help you find the best bag for your buck, whatever your lifestyle.
Bye-Bye, Blisters!
Admit it: There’s a love/hate relationship between your feet and your favorite shoes. And though you normally favor cute over comfort, these days your peds just can’t take the pain anymore. Luckily, we at WORKS love nothing more than a chic shoe that doesn’t leave our feet a throbbing, blistery mess. So we’ve scoured shelves of scarpe to find the best fit for you—whatever your style. Here, our top picks for…
Taking Trends to the Office
Celebrities always look impossibly chic, don’t they? But since your job probably doesn’t involve posing on a red carpet, the celebrity look may not fly at your office. Here, we’ve taken five of the season’s hottest trends—as seen on your favorite stars—and made them office-friendly. Repeat after us: Professional doesn’t have to look plain…
The Urge To Splurge
You’re completely and utterly burned-out, and it’s going to take more than an energy drink for you to re-attack your life with unbridled enthusiasm. It’s time to bring out the big ones: the A list of splurges.
Brand You
...brand-building isn’t just the miracle tool of multinationals and their in-house marketing machines. If you’ve got some career ambition, it’s more than worth it to develop your own personal brand and be the definition of your career for other people. And guess what? It’s easier than you think with these tips…
Don’t Sweat It
Sweat can be more than just an embarrassing beauty blunder. When it strikes at the wrong time (as it almost always does), it can send out the wrong signals. After all, it’s hard to appear calm and commanding while mopping your brow with your shirtsleeve…
No-Melt Makeup
It happens every summer. You create a makeup masterpiece only to have it become an oily mess the second you venture out of the air-conditioning. Think it’s impossible to beat the heat when it comes to beauty? Not so. The good news is that the latest formulas really hold up without making you look or feel like you’re wearing a heavy mask. It’s going to be hot this summer, but with these products your face won’t feel a thing.
Warm Weather Wear
Why is it that dress codes always seem to be watercooler fodder? One woman’s fashion statement is another’s faux pas. This never-ending debate seems to heat up (pun unapologetically intended) the minute the temperature starts to rise. Your co-worker wears a revealing tank top, which prompts your superior to send an e-mail detailing proper office attire. (Flip-flops and tube tops are definitely not on it.) What’s a fashionista to do? Here, some tips on how to rock the business-casual look without being boring.
Flip Flop Nation
I don’t have the right to tell you what to wear any more than your mother does, so you’re going to have to decide on your own. Don’t take the decision lightly, though. After all, wearing flip-flops out of the house is the equivalent of wearing a thong bathing suit or a low-cut top; your goods are on display for all to check out. Here are some things to think about before daring to bare…
Wedding Wear That WORKS
With every RSVP comes the nagging question of what to wear. If you’re like me, you want to look drop-dead gorgeous at each one. After all, weddings are often mini-reunions where we mingle with people we haven’t seen in years. But if (also like me) you’re tired of buying beautiful dresses that just don’t work in your regular life, here’s a guide to help you find frocks that pull double duty—taking you from desk to dance floor.
Supply Closet Fixes
Torn stockings? Broken heel? Coping strategies for on-the-job wardrobe malfunctions.
Cocktail Etiquette
Less clearly defined than an official company party – after work drinks can be a bit tricky to negotiate. Mixing cocktails and coworkers can be a deadly brew. But with a few simple guidelines you can actually enjoy yourself while ensuring that your name isn’t whispered around the water cooler the next day.
Summer Style Secrets
Alas, your wallet is still struggling to recover from winter spending, and a complete summer wardrobe overhaul is not in the (credit) cards. The solution? Limit your spending to the following five fashion fixes and you’ll look at what you already have like you’ve never seen it before.
Death By Bikini
If you’re the type who buys a new bikini without bothering to try it on (you know, the girl who’s never found herself blinking back tears in a dressing room stall…) then read no further—this article is not for you. This is for those of us who flat-out dread shopping for bathing suits. So if you’d rather pull your fingernails out one by one than suit up, here are a few tips to help get you through it.
Makeover Madness
It began innocently enough – with a stylist-directed shopping trip. High off the experience of a brand new below-the-neck and with my stylist recommends in hand, I went hog-wild (think haircut, makeup, microdermabrasion, and just a smidge of Botox for good measure). To say that I got swept up in the spirit of change would be an understatement…
Getting Dressed: The Big Meeting
Anything goes in the fashion world and on any given day you see it all: women in short pants, army fatigues, leggings, barely there lace tops – and sadly, we’re not talking weekend wear. If you have a big meeting, interview, presentation to make – get dressed.
Spring Beauty: Looks You’ll Love
Spring is the flirtiest season and it’s the perfect time to lighten up. Think gauzy fabrics, shorter hemlines, and a more streamlined approach to beauty. Here are my top picks to toss in your bag for low-stress, no-fuss spring beauty.
Optimizing Your Closet
It is 8:30am on a Thursday morning and I am staring blankly at my closet, dissatisfied with the sea of options. Even though the closet is packed, nothing is jumping out at me, unless of course you count the two boot boxes that cascade down from the top shelf, the minute the door is opened. I make a mental note to stop at Bloomingdales on the way home, because once again, I have nothing to wear…
Lessons from a Stylist
Just weeks after inking a deal with my investor and business partner, he pulled me aside and asked if I would mind meeting with his wife’s stylist. Having put a full-on effort into my outfit that day—new Tod’s heels, black pencil skirt and Tory Burch sweater—I seriously thought he wanted me to meet with her to discuss our business or give her career advice…
Resuscitation: Purse 911
Give your handbag a much-needed makeover from the inside out.
The Power of a Blowout
A top notch professional blowout is more than the sum of its parts: a great blowout leaves me feeling powerful, together and even bullet-proof.
Cold Weather Jackets
While it’s hard to believe with mountains of snow on the ground, spring’s just around the corner. And this means that retailers are discounting their winter garments in order to make room for new stock- great news for cash-strapped consumers still recovering from the holidays. With sales galore, spring is the perfect time to add the always-crucial winter jacket to your wardrobe – even if you need to wait until next year to don your new duds…
Commandments of Style
From double-checking the mirror to knowing your style and balancing it with the latest trends, you are your own stylist.
Power Suits: Today’s Uniforms for Success
Once upon a time, when medieval knights went into battle, they protected themselves in shining suits of armor. If one interlocking link was out of place, their lives could be kaput. For today’s career woman, the power suit is the modern equivalent of the shining armor of yore, and while a wrong move at the suit rack won’t endanger queen and country, a poor choice could cost you crucial battles in your career…
What is Your Office Saying About You?
A few months ago, I received a frantic call from a client needing to get organized in a hurry. The next day, I waited for forty-five minutes in reception before encountering the world’s messiest office space; unopened mail covered the desk, paper obscured the furniture and boxes lined the floor. I was sitting directly behind one of the largest stacks, unnoticed as the client answered email. As soon as she realized I was there, she asked, “What do you have for me…
Fall Fashion Trends
Five Retro Trends for Your Workplace Wardrobe
Fall Fashion Week may be over, but a bountiful harvest of trends remains. Autumn 2006 resurrects some of the more easily overdone trends of the 1980s, providing a second chance for those of us who didn’t get it right the first time around. But before you cram your closet full of this season’s hottest, take a good look in the mirror…