fashion advice needed!

Tomorrow morning I have my big interview at School #1. My mom works with some people who have gone through this program and they have told her mixed information about what happens during the interview. So I'm not sure what to expect. Surprisingly I am not that nervous, since I really want to do this I don't think I will have any problem answering questions and I have questions to ask too, always a plus in an interview.

Here is the issue. I don't know what I should wear.

I hate suits, they look horrible on me. When I wear them I look either frumpy or like I'm going to a slutty office mixer. For that reason I only have one that I got at The Limited when I was job hunting post college. Normally for those interviews I wore the suit, which is basic, black with a very small pinstripe, with a white button down shirt. I prefer to wear the suit pants instead of the pencil skirt. I just don't know if I should go super business-y for a school interview. Plus, I am trying to be a teacher so I want show some personality.

So here are my ideas for tomorrow...tell me what you think:

1) Wear the suit with a white shirt. Traditional and kind of boring but safe.

2)Wear the suit with a colored button down. It's a slight variation.

3)Wear the suit with a bright colored turtleneck and perhaps a black statement necklace. A little more of a fun look.

4) Don't wear the suit at all and figure something else out. Maybe a black dress.

Help me please ladies!

Random Thoughts on a Thursday Afternoon

-Only a few more hours until my 4 day weekend begins! Jealous?

-I found out today my boss got promoted, I liked him a lot and he definitely deserves it, but I am happier about the fact that when I get a new boss it will take him/her a couple months to get used to the team. Thus they won't be pressuring me to apply for other jobs. I don't want to do that because I am planning on quiting if/when I get into school. My current boss was talking to me about it yesterday and I had to semi-lie. I wish I could be honest about my plans for the future, but I don't trust that I wouldn't get fired. Not sure if that made sense...but oh well.

-Speaking of schools, I still haven't heard anything. Boo.

- My outfit today is really cute (I think.) It's a dress I got from Express a couple years ago and I think was supposed to be for summer, but it is black and brown and I am wearing a black turtleneck and black tights under it. With black booties. Too bad no one at my office ever compliments my clothes...sometimes working with all men sucks.

-All of your comments on my business idea were very sweet! I don't think I will ever want to start my own business but you never know!

-Does anyone know where you can get dog stairs? Hanna sleeps on the bed and likes to get up and down at night. She will jump down but then whine for us to pick her up because the bed is too high. It's getting old.

-The Shred is going well, I have done 3 days so far and am definitly sore. It's not as bad today but last night I was in serious pain. I'm going to stick with it though and even do it on my 4 days off (normally I slack off working out on the weekend but I really want to see this through for 30 days.) Even after 3 days I totally would recomend the Shred to anyone, it seriously kicks your ass.

Quest for Black Flats

First of all, thanks so much for all of the super sweet comments on my last 3 posts. I feel so lucky to have such awesome and supportive bloggy friends.

Since you are so awesome, I need your help. I am in desperate need of new black flats. Mine are currently completely falling apart and I am scared someone is going to think I am a hobo. Do hobos still exist? Because, if they do I need to join their merry band, as last week I had to tape a pair of Micheal Kors moccasins together when they fell apart at work. Time for some shoe shopping I know...but I am trying not to spend money so I am limiting to things I really need...and black flats fit into the category.

Anyways, my current pair are Steve Madden and I got them about a year ago. They started falling apart very quickly but it only now has become noticeable.

Here are my requirements: basic (they can have some embellishment but nothing too wacky as I wear them mostly to work), not completely flat to the ground (a la ballet shoes...my feet will start to hurt), and under $40.

Any ideas?

These would be nice...

If I had an extra $455 laying around to spend on..black flats.

Oh wait, even if I had that there is no way I would spend it on black flats.

Rainy Friday Rambling

It's pouring rain here today and doesn't seem to be stopping anytime soon.

Too bad the rain boots I ordered are not getting delivered until Monday. What do you think?

I have been really wanting Hunter's but just couldn't justify spending that much on rain boots. These seem to have the same style and were much more reasonably priced, yet not just cheap knockoffs. They also had really good reviews from the other people who bought them. I'm pretty excited since I can't even remember the last time I owned rain boots and they will definitly come in handy walking Hanna!

Since it is so yucky out K and I are going to hang out at home tonight and start watching Season 1 of True Blood. As if I don't have enough TV shows already!

Happy {rainy} Friday!

The Case of the Over Accessorizer

There is this girl at my office...now she is a very nice person and seems to be good at her job, but her wardrobe is in crisis. The first problem is the fact that she is larger lady and does not dress appropriately for her body at all, but that is pretty common. The bigger problem is the fact that she completely over accessorizes...every...single...day.

While over accessorizing is never good, in a professional setting it is just horrible. I was in a meeting with her this morning and to be honest I found myself paying attention to all the jewelery rather then listening to her talk.

For example...today she had on huge silver dangly earrings, a long strand of pearls wrapped around her neck twice then knotted, 2 three inch wide silver colored plastic bangles on one arm and a two inch wooden tribal-ish bracelet on the other. To top it off her nails were painted purple, except for one nail on each hand which was painted white.

I like this girl (although I do not know her well) and I wish we were friends because she is desperate need for someone to talk to her about the perils of over accessorizing.

Here are my rules (compiled from personal experience and advice from others):

1) If you are wearing big earrings you don't need a necklace (conversely if you are wearing a big necklace wear small studs if you are going to wear earrings)

2) Bracelets should only be worn on one arm at a time (I know some may disagree, but it is my preference.)

3) Rings should be worn on no more then two fingers on each hand (at the very most!)

4) When accessorizing being too matchy-matchy is too much!

5) If you think you may be falling prey to over accessorizing, take one thing off before you leave the house.


So what do you all think about over accessorizing?

Who wants to treat me to a shopping spree?

I am loving the new Kate Spade dresses...amazing, especially paired with bright colored tights. Now if only I had a couple extra hundred dollars around. *sigh*

On Suits...

Tomorrow is my company's annual stockholders meeting and on the off chance that someone important may walk our lowly cubicles we had to clean our desks and have to wear "business formal" attire. In true bureaucratic fashion at least 17 different emails went out explaining not only what "business formal" means, but why we need to wear it, what we should be wearing normally, then further clarification that the email about what we should wear normally did not mean that tomorrow is a normal day, and on, and on, and on. Yawn.

Apparently for women this means a suit or a dress with pantyhose. To be honest, I really dislike suits. Every suit that I have owned...which fortunately haven't been many...have made me look like a man, a character from "Men in Black," or like I was on my way to an "Executive Bros and Office Hos" mixer (yes, I have been to one of those by the way.) Hence I am going to wear a dress tomorrow. And I only wear suits to interviews...then hope for the best.

Why can't I look like this in a suit? Fabulous.

[Marie-Helene Arnaud wearing a black Chanel suit 1959- Henry Clarke photo ---courtesy of flickr]

Fashion Friday---Business Casual

Ever since I started working at a company with a "business casual" dress code I have developed a new pet peeve...people who wear clothes to work that are so extremely far from business casual it is almost obscene. We are working at a conservative financial company and people really should make a little effort to fit the part. As much as I would love to wear whatever I want I think about where I work when I am shopping and getting dressed.

Our company's definition of business casual is pretty loose, the only things they are really stringent on for women are jeans and shoes that go between your toes (i.e. flip flops and their dressier friends.)

Just because the definition is loose however does not mean you should wear any of the following:
1) Crocs---I love crocs for around the house but not for work

2) Yoga Pants---they are not the same as dress pants folks, and wearing them with a button-down shirt doesn't change that.

3) Leggings under skirts or dresses---I have no problem with this outside of work but please not a work, tights are much more appropriate.

4) Super tight or low cut tops---you are at work...need I say more?

5) Sneakers---I understand some people have back problems or whatever but there are a lot of options out there that are comfortable and look much better with dress clothes. My mom goes to The Walking Company for her shoes and while they may not be the height of fashion they are waaay better then sneakers.

I buy the majority of my work wardrobe at The Limited, they have amazing sales and cupons and it's a great place to buy essentials as well as fun pieces to mix in. Limited also has awesome jewlrey that can jazz up an otherwise boring work ensemble.

Target and Old Navy are also great for work clothes. Sometimes when I am bored with my clothes I can go in there and pick up a few things for cheap.

Here are a couple of looks I created on Polyvore with clothes from Target and Old Navy, both of them would be cute for work in the Spring and include items that could be mixed and matched with other things.

For more Fashion Friday fun head over to Big Mama's blog! I am off to my alma mater for the weekend, hope you all have a happy Friday!

Fashion Friday---Springing into Trenches

The warm weather we have been having lately has been giving me hardcore Spring Fever and with that comes the urge to go shopping. One wardrobe staple is a trench coat, they are so versatile and purchasing one is a great investment. Especially with how stocks are doing right now. In the Spring I love nice bright trenches but it is important to consider your budget, it may be smarter to put more into a classic neutral trench and look for deals on some colorful options that may not be in style for as long.

Here are some options I would buy if money was no object (well excluding the Old Navy which I had to include because it is reasonable and cute.) My favorite is the Moschino...love the bow details and the fact that is looks like a classic khaki trench but with just a little something extra.

If you are like me and can't quite spare $700 right now there is always Target...this is classic, and it comes in a variety of colors. The best part is at $39.99 you can get two, or three!

Gap also has adorable 3/4 length trenches in several colors, and they are on sale. They seem to be pretty versatile and I just love their suggestion to cinch with a ribbon instead of the belt.

One of my favorite places to shop is The Limited, so I love this bold trench, it would totally jazz up my work wardrobe and would look nice with jeans.

For more Fashion Friday tips head over to Big Mama's blog! Happy Friday Everyone!

Fun New Discovery

Maybe people know about polyvore.com already, but I didn't. If you don't know about it you should totally check it out. It's a super fun way to waste time, play with fashion and get ideas.

This was my first attempt...I was thinking about St. Patrick's Day. And I just loved the dress. If you click on it you will go see the orginal and can see the prices and brands of what I included.


Green Chic - by Cee61885 on Polyvore.com