Belle Meets World

BEAUTY MUST-HAVES

DENIM ALTERNATIVES FOR THE WORKPLACE
STYLE

DENIM ALTERNATIVES FOR THE WORKPLACE

Do you work in an office where jeans are acceptable? Me too – and at first, I hated it. I like getting dressed up for work. But now I’m getting used to it, and I’m seeing all the benefits that allowing your employees to wear what makes them comfortable brings. I actually see a difference – they feel like their choices are respected, that their requests were heard, and they act more confident with their peers. It’s so cool! SO – I’m on board. For the most part…

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MODERN SUITING, TWO WAYS
STYLE

MODERN SUITING, TWO WAYS

I’ve been traveling a lot for work lately – 9 cities, 14 planes, 2 months, LOTS of toiletries. The biggest challenge has been getting creative with packing interchangeable looks that can go from day to night, meeting to meeting, and climate to climate. All without over-stuffing my teeny little carry-on. Then I had a thought. What if I packed my best neutral(ish) suits, mixed-and-matched the tops and bottoms, then changed out the shirts and the shoes? 

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BELL SLEEVES AT WORK? YES, BUT…
STYLE

BELL SLEEVES AT WORK? YES, BUT…

I have really come to love the bell sleeve look, but it is so trendy that it’s a little tricky to nail for a more traditional work place. If you work for a fashion-forward office, I say go for it all the way! For the rest of you who work in business casual or non-creative offices asking, ‘Can I wear bell sleeves at work?’, I’d say the answer is YES, but make it as professional as you can.

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STYLE FAIL – WHY THIS DRESS DOESN’T WORK
STYLE

STYLE FAIL – WHY THIS DRESS DOESN’T WORK

I usually write about styles that do work, and things you should wear. But every now and then, I’ll choose something for myself that does not work and fails in an epic way. Rather than not post about it and sweep those pictures under the rug, I’m going to share the fail with you today. I had the highest of hopes for this dress when I rented it – it’s a navy sleeveless trench dress with an extra flap of fabric on the front and an asymmetrical neckline by Opening Ceremony. I thought for sure the extra details would be fashion forward, yet work appropriate AND that they’d hide and flatter my worst parts. WRONG…

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CASUAL WORKPLACE – LOOK CLASSY & POLISHED WITHOUT FAIL
CASUAL STYLE

CASUAL WORKPLACE – LOOK CLASSY & POLISHED WITHOUT FAIL

One of my readers recently gave me some very important feedback – that she works in a casual environment and that, while my professional wardrobe posts are somewhat interesting, they don’t apply to her. This was really good to hear because I LOVE talking about how to protect and promote your image in the workplace – I don’t want to stop doing that. But I do want to do it in a way that helps more of my readers than just those who work in the corporate world like me. We’re not all the same, and less and less workplaces are requiring uber-business attire. I hear you – so let’s talk about what to wear to look classy yet casual at work.

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TV’S BEST PROFESSIONAL WARDROBES
STYLE

TV’S BEST PROFESSIONAL WARDROBES

I often look to my favorite TV characters for wardrobe inspiration. Sex and the City was eye candy I just couldn’t get enough of. And while SATC was certainly a trailblazer in terms of making the clothes a character unto themselves, they weren’t exactly realistic options for us plebes. Since then, there have been so may nstrong female TV characters that KILL it in the professional wardrobe department, and I look to them for inspiration when I get dressed for the office. Let’s have a little fun today while I share my go-to TV icons with the most amazing professional wardrobes out there!

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