Thursday, September 30, 2010

I’ll Be Back…

MyWallStStyle will be back in full swing Jan 2012. In the meantime check our the MyWallStStyle Facebook page that has ideas and inspirations.

Friday, September 10, 2010

Subway inspiration!

New favorite subway ad! I saw this Daffy’s ad last night and it made me smile!
New favorite subway ad! I saw this Daffy’s ad last night and it made me smile!

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

One Of My Biggest Secrets Is Out

So the NY Times have found out my secret weapon - Linda the Bra Lady!

Now the wait will be twice as long and probably by appointment only but who cares!!! Linda changed my life and I’m hooked!

Warning: while you plan on buying one bra for $30 you will leave Linda’s at least $100 poorer but pricelessly happier and “fitter”.
Check her out and let me know your thoughts.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/02/nyregion/02experience.html?_r=2

Monday, September 6, 2010

Labor Day Color Story: Natural Inspirations

Unlike many Wall Street girls, I didn’t spend my Labor Day weekend soaking up the sun pool side in the Hampton’s. Instead, I was vacationing in cell-phone free Andes, NY in a tiny little cottage amidst acres of farm land. Nothing distracted me from appreciating the simplicities of the land, well nothing besides the periodic smell of manure! When my friend Anna picked this gorgeous bouquet I couldn’t help but get inspiration for a work outfit.


Anthropologie Skirt; Victoria Secret Blouse; Emilio Pucci Scarf; Rachel Leigh Earrings

I love the combination of white, green and yellow in the flowers but the surprise of the lavender is what takes this to the next level. Nothing is more classic than a white blouse and a pencil skirt but the drapping and button details on the skirt add so much favor. Also, I love how closely the Pucci scarf reflects my color story, it will pop beautifully against the white silk blouse. I’m looking forward to trying this look at work!

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Parisian Inspirations: My Fall “Collection”

I’m back and full of inspiration! Paris was magical and luckily for me was quiet cold. Luckily? Yep, luckily because I got to see a preview of some of the fall trends on the streets of Paris. To start, I have to mention that the French are absolutely obsessed with Louis Vuitton bags. Everyone, and I mean everyone (including the airport personnel) have a Louis. 



Naturally, I did some serious shopping and here is a little preview. It rained almost each day when I was in Paris, so I desperately needed a pair of close-toed shoes. I bought these oxfords at Zara on a whim. Thinking of wearing them to work with a pair of slim cut slacks and a silk button-down.



I also bought a navy blue trench at a boutique called Axasa. I was inspired after I noticed that instead of black almost every single suit I spotted was navy. The french seem to really love their blues.  I love that this trench is double-breasted and has shoulder details. I have a feelings it will be my “go-to-work” staple in the fall.




I met Parisian bankers on the beaches of the French Riviera and my awesome husband even took pictures of a fashionable woman that was on her lunch break, but more on that tomorrow.

Monday, August 9, 2010

Power in the Shoulder Pads?

This past weekend was perfect. It was completely restful and fun. On Sunday, while lazily flipping channels, I was stopped dead in my tracks by the 1980’s movie Working Girl. Remember, the one with Melanie Griffith who is a secretary working to become a big executive? I stopped flipping channels not because I’m such a big fan of the 80s but because I saw this!




Lady Gaga sure did a good job bringing back the shoulder pads but I’m happy they haven’t really crept back into executive offices and trading floors. Lets keep it that way!

On another note I’m thrilled to report that I have survived my summer MBA classes, work and my first month of blogging. To celebrate, refresh and get inspiration. I’m flying to France! I hear that the Paris shops are already full of the new fall trends and I just can’t wait to get the inside scoop!
Isn’t it amazing how far women’s work clothes have come? Thankfully we no longer have to look like football players to play with the big boys.

Friday, August 6, 2010

Charity at the NY Stock Exchange

Last night I went to the Autism Speaks for Young Professional charity event hosted at the New York Stock Exchange. It was an amazing event that some of my coworkers helped organize! Great people, great food, great drinks and I have to admit being on the floor of the stock exchange was really cool! Most of the people that attended were 20 and 30-somethings for NYC. And like most of them I came to the event straight from work. So my work outfit had to serve double duty.

I wore this DVF dress that I bought on huge sales at Woodbury Common Outlets.


Other looks I considered were:


Dress #1: I like this DKNY Drape Dress because of the bold red color, with 800 people attending the event it still would have been easy to spot me in red!

Dress #2:  This Rachel Roy Signature dress has a really unique print but the cut is conservative so I think it would work. I like that its white, it would have fit in with the 90 degree weather we were having.

Dress #3: This Shoshana Lace Shirt dress is so versatile the length is appropriate for work and the flowy shape and print works well for the evening out. I’m thinking that in the fall it will be cool to wear this dress with a rocker-style leather vest for the weekend or to work with a black blazer, black tights and boots.

I might have more pics from the event later next week. Until then have a great weekend!

Monday, August 2, 2010

Start Shopping For Fall with 30% off!

Thanks to my girlfriend Maria, I got this coupon and figured it can’t hurt to spread the love. Enjoy and if you find something worthy send me a picture of your purchase to mywallststyle@gmail.com!

Don’t Waste Your Time!


Last week, while waiting for my name to be called with about 100 other NYers in the jury room, I got to thinking about time (since NY state was wasting so much of mine!) Did you ever realize how much time we spend styling our hair. The 30 minute blow-drying sessions at 5am are brutal but necessary…or are they?

I’m sure most of you have heard about Brazilian keratin treatment, you probably heard from your hair stylist and were skeptical. That’s how I heard about it but I took a leap of faith and paid the $300 to convert my frizzy curly locks into shiny and straight perfection. It was the best money I ever spent!

When I get out of the shower my hair is silky smooth and perfectly straight. Now I can use the extra 30 minutes to sleep or pick out a cuter outfit for the work day.  I have done the treatment 4 times already (it lasts about 3-4months and I had my first treatment May 2009) and I love it, in fact I’m not really sure I’ll ever be able to give it up.

 A lot of my girlfriends ask me for my salon contact so here it is:
397 3rd Avenue
New York, NY 11432
(212) 213-6050
Ask for Lana she is great!

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Would you be an animal at work?

Even though I’m not loving this heat wave, I’m not yet ready for summer to end. But I can’t keep fall fashion trends off my mind.  And I also can’t ignore all the new fall collections that are flooding stores and magazines.

One big trend that everyone is talking about is animal print. There sure is lots of leopard print out there!
So here is the big question, how much animal print can your office handle?

Let’s start with the skirt:


If you are going to go with a bold print on the bottom then make sure you keep the length super conservative. Notice that the skirt on the left from http://www.asos.com/ has a fairly small subtle print and is knee length. Pairing this with a black top/jacket and black pumps keeps the look professional. Do the same with the skirt on the left and the attention won’t be on your work!  The skirt is too short and the print too bold.

And what about on top? Can you really do a printed jacket?


What concerns me here is fit. The jacket on the left works because it is kept open and is paired with a solid color top and pants. However, on the right the model actually adds visual pounds to her look by wearing a printed jacket (no matter what the trend - if you are top heavy stay away from animal print tops!)

Plus, do you really want your coworkers to start thinking about the jungle while you are discussing the latest earnings reports?

But, if you are still not sure that you can pull off a leopard printed skirt or jacket (and believe me, I don’t blame you) then try incorporating the prints in small amounts through your accessories:

Watch: ASOS; Bag: Kenneth Cole; Scarf: by CCC; Shoes: Casadei
So anyway, keep in mind, while you might work with “animals” it doesn’t mean you should be one!

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Flip Flops? Really?

To date I have prided myself on keeping this blog positive. Believe me when I tell you, a ton of my readers would rather see me a blog about all the unfortunately dressed people in the office instead of the well-dressed ones (they claim its more fun).

Anyway, I don’t know if its the volatile markets, the midterm that I have this week or the cold that I have in the middle of 100 degree weather but I have been driven to negativity.

I have been seeing a lot of this in the office and frankly its just unacceptable!


Even if open toe shoes are exceptable in your office, flip flops should be forbidden.

And here is why:
1. Heels make your legs look longer and leaner (especially when you wear knee length skirts). Flip flops do absolutely nothing for your legs. In fact I personally think they make them look shorter.
2. They don’t match! A pencil skirt and flip flops do not a pair make. Same thing with pants!
3. It is just as important to have coworkers respect you as it is to have clients/ senior managers respect you. Would you wear these to a client meeting? I didn’t think so!

I prefer close-toe shoes at work but if you have the flexibility to wear open-toe shoes here are some professional options:

Antonio Melani Peep Toe $79 @ http://www.dillards.com/

BCBG Peep Toe: $99 @ http://www.dillards.com/

Sunday, July 18, 2010

To Golf and What to Wear? That is the Question!

Next Monday, I get to start my work week on the golf course! Now that is the kind of work I could get used to! I will be taking a client out for a game of golf, but the problem is that I am not much of a golfer and I don’t have the proper “uniform.” I decided to get inspiration from the ladies of the US Open.

I noticed a pattern.


All these pros are wearing short sleeve polo shirt and a skort (No, this is not a typo. A skort is a skirt & shorts combo that is especially made for women that play golf/tennis…). Also, notice that the golf shoes actually match the shirt and that the skorts tends to be lighter than the tops.

And then there are the “unconventionalists.”


Some of them wear shorts, long sleeve shirts under their polos and “little black dresses.” Also, great options for my golf outing, but I’ll probably play it safe.

I can guarantee, I definitely won’t be wearing this:


I plan to do some shopping for the event on Friday. I am not really sure which brand will fit me best but I’ll be making stops at the usual suspects: Nike, Adidas, World of Golf and Paragon.
If you have any suggestions let me know and stay tuned for pictures from the event next week.

Friday, July 16, 2010

Aging in Style: the French Way

I just read this amazing article in the NY Times about how to age gracefully: the French way. It’s a pretty amusing read, enjoy!
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/15/fashion/15French.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&ref=fashion

Casual Friday: The French or the 50s?

It’s finally Friday! Some of us, the lucky ones, get “Casual Fridays”. So I decided to take a break from the suits, skirts and cardigans.  After a full week of professional wear the casual part can actually be more difficult to pull off, but some of my friends in “the business” know how to do it right!

Meet Andrea! She was inspired by Bastille Day and let traditional french fashion guide her:

Top: JCrew; Jeans: Sevens; Shoes: Vintage

Andrea looks fashionable and most importantly Friday appropriate. If her jeans were skin tight and in light blue denim this look would definitely be a disaster but the dark denim flared leg on the jeans is just perfect!
Now Anne here was channeling a little 50’s with the dress, and I loved it! What I love even more is that she brought the dress at H&M for under $40!

Dress: H&M; Belt: H&M; Shoes: Aldo

Anne was so smart to keep the length to the knee, the shoulders covered and the neckline appropriate with a camisole.

Thanks, Andrea and Anne for the inspirations. Have a great weekend!
Oh and by the way I will be in France in August - so definitely more French inspired fashions to follow!

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Wild Prints For Wild Markets


The fashion magazines have been encouraging us to wear flower printed dresses all summer and on the weekends I sometimes follow this trend. However, I was convinced that I could never make a flower printed dress look appropriate for work. But then my friend and coworker Elizabeth came to work looking like this. Wow!


Dress: Calypso St. Barth;Shoes: Coach; Jacket: Ann Taylor: Sunglasses: Ray Ban

Elizabeth balances out the softness of the dress with a crisp white jacket which instantly makes this look so professional and put together. I also love that the dress has a larger print and a beautifully tailored collar. Not only is the neck line slimming but it also makes the dress feel slightly more formal.


You can copy Elizabeth’s look in just a few clicks at Dillard’s with these pieces:

Dress: London Times Printed Dress $80
Blazer: Antonio Melani “Shandra Jacket $120
Shoes: Jessica Simpson “Jessica” shoe

Thanks Elizabeth! It’s always so inspiring to see a smart, successful and well dressed woman!

Monday, July 12, 2010

Hedge that risk! Keep these in your desk drawer!


I’m sure most of your drawers are full of the obvious “life savers” : toothbrush, mints, advil, bandaids, hair brushes and maybe even a nail file. But consider some of these less obvious essentials.



1. Dry Shampoo: I like this T3 - Orlando Pita because it is designed to blend in with your hair color instead of making it look gray (available in 2 colors: one for brunettes and another for blondes). For those of you that aren’t familiar with dry shampoo, it’s magic! Its a hair product that takes all the grease out of your hair and makes it look as if you just washed it. Oh, and it smells good too!

2. Standard Black Blazer: you never know when you will get pulled into a meeting with clients or the Big Boss and you can never go wrong with a black blazer (just hang it on the back of you chair - it will save you one of these days).

3. Nude-colored bra: Not that I am speaking from experience or anything, but imagine the day that your bra strap breaks and you have to go searching for a safety pin all over the office. Instead you can just grab a spare bra that you discretely keep inside your desk drawer and change into it in the ladies room.

4. Nail Polish Pen: I love how my nails look on the first day after a manicure.  But after pounding on the keyboard for a day or so my nails start to chip at the edges. This pen is great for small touch ups. But ladies please don’t use this at your desk. This is a bathroom only product - just like the bra!

What did I miss? What kind of “life savers” do you have in your desk?

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Sex and the City at Work? The Grand Finale: Carrie!


Even though Carrie got married in the last movie she certainly wore a lot of white in the sequel. It’s as if she knew that NYC was going to have one of the hottest summers ever and in some subconscious way she was telling us that wearing white, even to work, is more that OK!

So first - the inspiration of white! Just in time for the summer:


This Thakoon dress is perfect for work and currently on sale from $2050 to $625 but only a size 4 is left.
Sorry ladies, but I actually found it difficult to find white “wear to work” dresses. I do recommend buying a white knee length strapless dress (they are everywhere now!). I bought a beautiful silk one for my wedding brunch and since then have been wearing it to work with a cardigan and pearls. Its a great way to get milage out of a dress that I thought I would wear only once. Oh, and also it kind of secretly makes me feel like a bride again!

These are the peices I would pull off the shelves of  JCrew to pull the look together:

All JCrew: Braided Fabric Belt; Cardigan; Dress; Shoes  

Thanks to Carrie, I also got this hair style inspiration. Most of us wear our hair straight down. Let’s try something completely different.

Finally, I found this sophisticated style that is so easy to pull off. It’s so great to get my hair off my neck and for all of my curly, frizzy haired sisters out there—nothing could be easier!

Friday, July 9, 2010

A Pause Before the Grand Finale!


I know what you are thinking! Where is the Sex and the City at Work Finale? What about Carrie? Don’t worry, I haven’t forgetten! In fact, I was out last night getting inspiration.

Instead of enjoying my air conditioned apartment, I crammed a bunch of fun activities into a 7pm-12pm time frame. I started with the gym and after a quick shower, I changed into a fun hipster outfit and rode my bike down to Chelsea to meet up with some friends (I felt very Brooklyn artisty yesterday). I basically copied this look.

 

Check out Frugal Fashionista to see how to get this look for less.
Oh and don’t worry I didn’t wear boots - that would have been crazy in this 100 degree weather.
I must admit it felt pretty funny talking “the markets” with a bunch of “suits” while wearing a fedora. But it was fun! And isn’t that what life’s all about?

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Sex and The City at Work? Part 3: Miranda!!!


Many women working on Wall Street can relate to Miranda’s drive and work ethic.  As an NYU freshman invisioning my first big Wall Street job, I expected to have Miranda’s fancy life: the designer clothes, shoes, bags and non-stop club hopping with the girls. Boy was I wrong!

Years later, as I schlepped myself to the trading floor at 5 in the morning and as my girlfriends slaved away in investments banking “bull pens”, we continued to marvel at Miranda’s ability to party all night, work all day and still look that good (investment banks seriously should consider having a makeup crew on hand).
To those of you who figured out Miranda’s secret, ex the makeup crew, please fill me in!

In SATC2, Miranda faces the dreaded sexist boss yet she refuses to fold. Her work outfits are gorgeously tailored and yet very feminine.  I used her as an inspiration for this look. Check it out!


I find that many of us at work tend to choose structured sheaths and shy away from draped dresses. Its time to bring on The Drape!  This Jones NY dress has a work appropriate neckline yet still has all the elements of Miranda’s dress. The draped skirt and the cinched in waist compliment the body and show off a trend.
I’ll be honest though, my favorite thing about this dress is how easy it is! No jewelry necessary, just through it on and go!
Tomorrow, I have saved the best for last!!! The great Carrie Bradshaw!

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Sex and the City at Work? Part 2: Charlotte

I absolutely love Charlotte; of all the girls from SATC she is the most natural choice to inspired a work outfit. However, I decided to challenge myself and picked one of Charlotte’s bolder looks: the red and white striped cocktail dress that she wears on vacation. The exaggerated A-line skirt and Southern Bell hat just can’t be used in the real world unless you are attending the Kentucky Derby! However, what caught my eye was the combination of red & white and the use of stripes in a non-casual way.

So here is what I came up with:

Marc by Marc Jacobs Decor Striped Top; Kenneth Cole white Pencil Skirt; Smythe Wool Blend Blazer from Nordstroms

 
Instead of a striped dress which would be too busy for the office I chose a bold striped top to be paired with two wardrobe classics: a well tailored jacket and a white pencil skirt. No need to go buy them you probably already have them in your closet.

Why this works: Horizontal stripes would have made this look too casual but the mix of vertical and diagonal stripes creates a more formal look. Also, the skirt-like waist line mimics Charolette’s multi-layered skirt almost perfectly.

Like Charlotte you can be playful with your shoes selecting a red pair or go conservative with a black pump. Don’t over do it on the jewelry! With three different colors and stripes in the look already, you don’t want to look like you are trying too hard.

Monday, July 5, 2010

Sex and the City at Work?


I must have been the last fashion lover out there who still hadn’t seen Sex and the City 2. So on Friday, before making my way to the beach for the July 4th weekend I made a pit stop at the movies. I knew that the SATC outfits have been driving trends since filming began. However, most of them were so outrageous that I feared few trends could be brought over to the work place. I was thrilled to be wrong!
This week is going to be devoted to the girls of SATC! Or should I say Menopausal Divas?

Today we start with Samantha!

You might be surprised to hear this, but one of Samantha’s outfits can be transformed into the perfect Wall Street Style uniform. Check this out!


This Jones New York dress is almost a replica of Samatha’s dress. It has a work appropriate neck line and I am sure is at a faction of the cost. What makes the outfit are the accessories. Cole Haan makes this amazing snake-skin bag which I have been lusting after for weeks (hint hint to my hubby who is hopefully reading this). The bag looks so similar to Samantha’s that I’m starting to wonder if in fact it isn’t the same one.

To me, this outfit is classic but a bit predictable. I’d spice it up with some color. Maybe add a chunky coral necklace and bangles or bright turquoise earrings like these by Kenneth Jay Lane.


Thanks slutty Samantha for the inspiration!

Stay tuned, tomorrow I will show you how to transform Charlotte’s red & white striped cocktail dressing into an outfit for Thursday’s big meeting.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

MBA Doesn’t Stand For: Masculine, Boxy and Asexual


Yesterday I started a new semester in my part-time MBA program. I always enjoy the first class, its kinda of fun getting to know a new professor. Most of my professors have really impressive resumes with loads of published research and consulting work. The professor for this class is no exception but she is also tall and slim with excellent bone structure. None of her positive physical features, however, were accented, in fact her shapeless black suit and blue button down were a complete snooze.

There are so many fun option for  ”suiting up.” Yes thats right, you heard me correctly, I love Barney Stinson (How I Met Your Mother) and have adopted some of his vocabulary. Anyway, back to suiting up.

Naturally, a black suit is a must on Wall Street. But if you are going to do it, do it right! Here are my two favorite looks.

#1: The Sexy Professional on a Budget: Victoria’s Secret Body at Work Essentials

Everything about this look screams I am powerful and I am beautiful. You can’t go wrong with that combination.

#2: The Luxurious Armani Suit - One of these days I will treat myself to this luxury

I love that the jacket doesn’t have a lapel and the wide band across the waist can help accentual a small waist.

No matter how much you spent and who the designer is remember that Fit Is King (or Queen :) so make sure you take the time to visit your tailor and customize the suit to fit your body

What kind of suits do you like?

Doesn’t Have To Be Black To Be Corporate!

Its the summer, yet I still see a ton of black outfits at work. Where are your summer colors, ladies!?! Today, my friend Allison wore the most amazing pale pink dress. She looked sexy, fashionable and most importantly professional. If you insist on keeping with the neutrals consider pale pink (it will show off that July 4th tan too!)
Dress: Paule Ka Paris, Shoes: Walter Steigler

It gets really cold in the office so Allison found the perfect complement to her sleeveless dress, a beige cardigan from Bloomingdale’s. I love how the softness of the top balances out the structured dress. If you have an important meeting though, you can add a blazer instead. And lets not forget accessories! Pairing a bracelet with her junky watch gives her outfit a cool youthful vibe. Thanks Allison for being my first fashion guinea pig, you look awesome!   



Steal the look:
*If you love the shape/cut of the dress check out this Reiss dress. Sadly it only comes in gold, red and blue.
OR
*Check out this pale pink number from Shopbop.com

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

The Desk Shoe Collection!!


I travel about an hour and 15 minutes to work each day, so as you can guess I don’t commute in my fancy stilettos. Instead, I keep a pretty extensive collection of pumps under my desk. My male coworkers, of whom there is certainly an abundance, are fascinated by the shear volume of my shoe collection. In fact, it was their idea that I pop my blogging cherry with this post. Thanks guys!
I’ll admit I definitely favor some of these pairs over others but all of them make it into rotation atleast twice a month. My favorite pair are the baby blue round toe pumps that I bought from Macy’s ages ago for $30. They have a really high heel so for a long time they were sitting in my closet collecting dust. It finally dawned on me that I can get a lot more mileage out of them at work; the walks to the cafeteria and to conference rooms are nice and short. The bright color never fails to infuse pop to my otherwise all black outfits; but more on that in my future posts. Stay tuned!