matchy matchy..

My week started out with a Monday where I turned green with envy over our new intern's fabulous black and white houndstooth dress (and sorry, spellcheck.. but houndstooth is one word.  And so is spellcheck, as far as I'm concerned). 

I asked her where she got it, only to hear the dreadful response that almost always seems to be the case: "Macy's." (That answer is fine.  Lovely, actually). Then I asked, "when?" and held my breath. "Forever ago." Such a sad, sad thing to hear. Worse than a breakup really. The number of outfits missed out on so vastly outweighs the number of ex-men worth being sad over (we're talking goose eggs here people).  

So last night I optimistically headed for the mall. I've been quite the "glass-half-full" gal these days.. unless we're talking about wine. I headed for the Calvin Klein section, hoping to find the dress, as our fabulous intern assured me she saw the dress there in other prints and colors. Maybe, just maybe I could find something I liked more. Maybe.

Well, no luck there, but my bloodhound (compound words are so in today) schnoz was able to unearth a fabulous little Anne Klein number in.. wait for it.. houndstooth. In all its navy and white gloriousness and thin little patent belt, this dress and its inappropriately low clearance tag had my name written all over it. I pulled it on over my clothes right by the register (we will save the Pavlov's Dog-related conditioned response to hating dressing rooms discussion for another post) and rung that ish up. With a coupon. Bam.

So I'm topping my morning off with a speedy little trip to the Thomson Reuters cafeteria, and, lo and behold! My fleeting desire for healthy food resulted in a breakfast that so flawlessly coordinates with my new frock. And yes, I see that I need a hairbrush so very badly in this photo. But I dropped it on the floor of the bus this morning, and Lord knows I wasn't picking that up.. Don't judge me.

When was the last time you matched your food to your clothes?  

point of difference

I always find it funny that it seems people only tell me I look "so put together" on the days when I sprinted around my room, collecting items to assemble an ensemble [yeah, that just gave me chills too], attempting to look like I didn't hit the snooze button longer than I actually slept.  I suppose that's because when I am attempting to look like I made an effort, I actually do.  I tend to have a fairly boring wardrobe, which I accent with ridiculously busy accent pieces.  Apparently the result is some fabulous illusion of put-together-ness.  

This morning I was in the mood to fully take advantage of our "workplace casual" dress code.  I pulled out one of my favorite Winter-to-Spring transitional jackets, which happens to be made out of some magical version of sweat pant material, tailored like a fine blazer [roll up those sleeves like you mean it!], and tossed it over one of my many many many Tahari white knit tee shirts. They may be an investment, but spending $16 on something so versatile and blogworthy, that can be tossed on with jeans, or tucked perfectly into high-waisted work trousers, is a purely great idea.  And even if you calculate its worth based on the number of times you will wear it before you spill spaghetti sauce on it, well, that's $16 per wear.  A steal!


So what's the point of a "point of difference"?  I pondered this over my morning frapp.  Here's what I decided.. The world can be super boring.  And clearly, a bit of a problem arises when you are about to spend the day in gray, white and denim. I recently and unnecessarily added to my already obscene collection of scarves, by adding a simple cream colored pashmina to the mix.  And I'll tell ya'... I don't care what anyone says. Whites all match.  Blacks do not all match.  But whites all match.  Something about cream over white just looks lovely to me, and appears effortlessly classic.  In any case, even cream, white, gray and denim is still boring.  The answer?  A simple splash of color.  Some like to mix it up a little with jewelry, hair accessories, pink socks, that don't appear to match until you reveal the lining of your jacket..  Me? Well, today, my outfit was pulled together and made exponentially more interesting with my newest pair of shoes [and matching beaded hoops which remind me of accessory shopping in Israel] which could have been featured in this recent post.  

I'm not sure what's more fun: red loafers, or sitting with your feet on your desk like a serious boss [king in the castle, king in the castle].  Or the fact that it's Friday.  You decide.

orange and blue

It's casual Friday, y'all. Not sure where the Southern accent came from, but I have a lot to celebrate today. It's Good Friday, in the Christian sense, but it's also a great Friday, because I woke up to some fabulous news of the success of the Syracuse Orangemen. 'Cuse beat (or as the New York Times would say, "smothered" see..Syracuse Smothers No. 1 Seed Indiana..) number one ranked Indiana last night, in a game I couldn't watch because I go to bed at nine, in order to wake up at 5:00 a.m. for this new-ish job. I'm not a big sports fan, but Syracuse the only team I love and follow. My neighbors invited me to join their March Madness pool, but I claimed that I would basically choose Syracuse to win the whole thing, because my love for the team wouldn't allow me to do anything different, and it would end up being a waste of precious cash that needs to go toward my property taxes. Looks like it would have been a good gamble now. 

Given the new dress code at work (lovingly blogged about here), I anticipated copious quantities of hoodies at work today, and even considered sporting (pun intended) my favorite Orangemen shirt under a blazer. Instead, I opted to don my team's colors in a more appropriate fashion, pairing dark jeans with a basic white tee, topped with a navy Loft blazer and a nice orange pashmina scarf. Finishing the outfit off with my favorite Gap city flats (previously blogged about here.. funny, I wore that same scarf, too) provides comfort and team spirit in one easy step. Really, nothing goes together quite like blue and orange.

Save the hoodies for 5:00 p.m. friends (and the "it's 5:00 somewhere" rule doesn't apply here!). Go 'Cuse!

temptation: spring into Spring in flats

Most of my friends and family know I gave up shopping for lent. It has been a surprisingly rewarding experience, and in addition to saving some serious dough, I've learned to live a bit leaner, and think twice about the things I spend my moolah on.


However, we all know that in times of fasting, temptation happens. Oh, does it. Even Jesus was tempted after being in the wilderness for forty days (see?). Well this morning, I was perusing an innocuous little blog (Daily Candy to be exact.. and I was kidding about the "little" part) and a crazy ad, surely sent by satan himself was right at the top of the page, shouting at me and beckoning with its evil little finger.

My latest weakness slash obsession is loafers. They go with jeans, they go with skirts, they go with dress pants. They are the perfect shoe.. just the right amount of meanswear. Coach, which is a brand I've been over for a while (I just don't get why they charge so much.. you may as well buy a louis) rolled out an amazing spring line. I was captivated by the devil ad, and when I saw the price I may or may not have whispered the Lord's name in vain. But oh, the beautiful woven texture.. it reminds me of the outdoor cafe chairs in Paris. Be still, my heart. I just had an out-of-body experience while searching google images for "Paris cafe chairs." Try it.


Meanwhile, I'm saying prayers of thanks to the good Lord because there is no way, even if it wasn't lent.. even if I was willing to spend a month's grocery budget on one pair of shoes.. that I would ever be able to choose between the three versions of the lovely and talented and Paris-inspired "Catrin" Woven Slipper, (pictured way above). Though, I'm leaning toward the navy, red and beige. Oh, how lovely I would be on the fourth of July.. You know I traded another day in Paris on the way home from Israel because I insisted on being on American soil on Independence Day. 

And of course, everyone knows I have an obsession with penny loafers (do you see the coin in those?.. it's Coach), and tassel loafers, and mint, and navy. Technically, the hue is called "ink." Amazing. And her name is "Nicola." So lovely, I just might name my first child after her, if I ever have one. For now I'll just keep dreaming (of shoes. Well, both I guess. And Paris. Ohh, Paris.). I just had to be there on the one day the Louvre was free admission for the public. Meaning I arrived an hour before opening to a four-hour long line. Mona will have to wait until next time. And if I make it back there, you better believe my shoes will match my outdoor cafe chair.

Au revoir for now dears.

donate a bra: give a former slave a job

This year, as tax season drew near, I found myself tallying my volunteer tasks, and wondering how I could do more. As I had been involved with human trafficking and sex slavery prevention groups in the past, I always found it to be an impossible cause with no imaginable way to make a real difference. Then I learned about Free the Girls.

Each day, as you sip your pre-work coffee, 27 million men, women and children are being held as slaves around the world, and 80% of those slaves are women and girls. While human trafficking and sex slavery are often considered to be largely international issues, recent events have shown that this issue is one that affects our local community. Many organizations seek to provide prevention and rescue efforts, but few are involved in assisting rescued victims. Thomson Reuters will soon be involved in an opportunity to make a worldwide impact in a simple way.   

During the month of April, Thomson Reuters will be collecting gently used bras and camisoles for Free the Girls, a non-profit organization that provides job opportunities to women rescued from sex trafficking.

Participation in the Free the Girls campaign is easy, and benefits many. Not only does it free up some valuable dresser drawer space from a simple act of “Spring cleaning,” but it provides victims of human trafficking with a new hope for the future. In a country where even your previously enjoyed “unmentionables” are worth five times minimum wage, women are able to experience the compassion that results from knowing they are supported by strangers right here at Thomson Reuters.

Sex trafficking is not a “women’s issue.” These victims are someone’s daughter, mother, sister, and friend, and they now will have the opportunity to attend school and make a sustainable living thanks, in part, to our collection.

I hope many, male and female alike, will feel encouraged to participate, if not by donating bras, by donating a small amount of money (“a bra or a buck”) to offset the cost of shipping our donations to the Free the Girls headquarters. Thomson Reuters, through this collection event, will be one of the first Rochester area organizations to support this growing grassroots effort, which brings awareness to this local and world issue. If you would like to collect for Free the Girls, visit http://freethegirls.org/get-involved/help-collect-bras/ or contact me to donate to our drive.

Thomson Reuters shows how much it values its employees by supporting the efforts we care about the most, and I am proud to work for this company for this reason, and so many others. For more information visit www.FreeTheGirls.org.

say it with me, "jeans plus blazer equals workplace casual." good.

Although this post was penned specifically for my blog on my company's intranet, I thought I would generously share share share. (Note, it's lovingly titled, "Encyclopedia [and Fashion] Editing). Enjoy.

_______________________________________ 

This morning, my human resources department announced an adjustment to the dress code (also referred to here as a "Professional Appearance Policy") for the Legal division.

Here's a snippet:

Legal is implementing a new dress code. Beginning immediately, all of Legal will adopt a “workplace casual” dress code. This means that you are welcome to wear casual clothing to work, including jeans, on days when you don’t have customer meetings or other important events where business attire is more appropriate. Some parts of our organization have already gone to this dress code; this change is simply to make it available across our entire business.

I know that there is a wide range of casual attire, and I trust you to use good judgment when it comes to choosing your attire. We’re calling it “workplace casual” because the way you dress should reflect the care and professionalism with which you approach your work.

I'm a traditionalist through and through, so I was a bit saddened by it all.  My most difficult morning for getting dressed is Friday. While in law school, most of our professors encouraged us to dress like lawyers, and due to my involvement in many organizations, and the short-notice invitations to exciting lunches and cocktail hours, I donned business attire or dresses most days. For years now, I have limited nearly all of my clothing-related spending to business attire. If something wasn't work-worthy, it didn't make it into the cart. I just didn't have the funds for a fabulous casual wardrobe, and an equally wonderful work one. My first job, as an Assistant Marketing Manager for a major cosmetics company, (unofficially) required us to be dressed to the nines, or nine-point-fives, and there was no "casual Friday." Dresses were the norm, and life would be less than worth living if you were caught in the elevator with the CEO without a shade of our company's lipstick or nail polish on. And you had better know the shade name.. At least, this is the way I remembered it. 

Obviously, the legal world is a different place, and it took some time to figure out how to find my sense of style among the charcoal pinstripes. I will never claim to be the "best dressed," or the most put-together person around, but what Ican say is that I firmly believe you work your best when you feel your best, which is usually when you look your best. My work-style reflects the pride I have in myself, and in my job at this company. I'm sure many can relate.

My Friday gear usually consists of dark jeans and a blazer. The closest I'll ever get to sweatshirts at work is a cotton blazer. And as I'll elaborate in a later post, dressing well doesn't have any relationship with your bank account. Nearly everything I own was purchased on sale, or at a thrift store. My prized oxblood tasseled loafers (which I happen to be wearing today --pictured--) were fifty whole cents at the salvation army. There's a sticker inside that says, "property of such-and-such golf club." I like to imagine some fabulous old man (maybe even a lawyer) drank a gin martini in the clubhouse in these, after a nice round of 18 played with his lucky irons. Lest we forget, when people leave their dry cleaning too long without paying and picking it up, it ends up at Goodwill. You didn't think all my Brooks Brothers non-iron button-downs were from the outlet, did you? Seven dollars later..

So obviously, this post is my measly two cents. But I've included, below, some of my favorite images of outfits, incorporating casual denim for the workplace. The first one is me, today. Yes, that was taken in the employee bathroom. I keep a collection of my favorite style images on my pinterest board: My Style

It's all in the details. Opt for colored or dark jeans, trouser or skinny styles, metallic or patent accessories and lots of jewelry. Layer a sweater, or toss on a scarf. Voila! "Workplace casual," as easy as that. Thoughts?

black is for mourning (the fact that Spring is fashionably late)

Punctuality is beyond important. One of my favorite and most influential professors, who is also a master of both international commercial arbitration law ("master," figuratively, Doctor, literally) and wearing cowboy boots with suits, would say to those who were late, "surely you don't believe your time is more valuable than mine." Harsh, but true; We all have better things to do than wait for others. And honestly, if you're going to be late, you better look fierce, as opposed to showing up late with wet hair and no mascara.

Spring has not sprung. I suppose in New York, we get used to snow on Easter. Thankfully, this weather has allowed me to dress in head-to-ankle black. Now, hear this: black is always in. Black is not seasonal per se, but normally, I would have celebrated the first day of Spring with some apropos pastel garb. Instead, this morning I was pleased to pair my natural-waist above-the-ankle pants with a structured, ribbed, black, zippered-back shell. Wow, that was a lot of adjectives. I purchased this top in Europe, and it has graced its hanger in my closet for almost two years, mostly because it's not the right shape for under a suit. Again, fabulous to have some "leeway" (the word severely makes me miss sailing) in wardrobe rules, as my days in the courtroom are on a long-term hiatus.

My recommendation, when wearing all black, is to keep hair and makeup simple, and accessorize with anything-but-boring jewelry and shoes. This morning, while opening the shoe closet in my pre-caffeine coma, I almost made the mistake of reaching for black quilted flats. I suppose worse things have happened (like wearing two different shoes to work). Instead, my better judgment kicked in and my hand led me to reach for my leopard loafers. Rawr. See exhibit 1, in which I am clearly and realistically busy reading some super old book in the hallway near my office.

This necklace was a to-die-for vintage find for a buck --yes, a buck-- at a great antique store near Verona, New York. Here's a closer look at "one (wo)man's trash," and the fabulous ribbed detail in my top. Apologies for the glare in this image. I didn't do as good of a job with my front-facing iPhone camera as my fabulous co-worker, Sarah did in the other. You can check out her amazing work at https://www.facebook.com/SarahndipityImaging. Anyone else match their shoes to their encyclopedia today? Just wondering..