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On the Road: What to Wear for Many Months Away From Home

01/10/2013 By 137 Comments

Cruise Luggage, originally uploaded to Flickr by flamingbear.How do you pack for a business trip where you’ll be gone for MONTHS? Reader B has a great question on long business trips:

Can you give tips or do a post on how to prepare for short-term assignments? I’ll be based in Hong Kong for 2-3 months for a project and I’m clueless on what to bring or how to pack. I tempted to take my entire closet! Help!

Excellent question.  We kind of got at this in our discussion of what to wear for a month-long trial, but that’s a bit different because a) you have to be on your best behavior, sartorially speaking — conservative, vanilla, “don’t notice me for my clothes” kind of clothes — and b) well, that was a trial.  We also kind of addressed this in our advice to the person who was going to school abroad for a summer, but I suspect your need for backpacking-friendly clothes is slightly less. (Pictured.) [Read more...]

Filed Under: Basics, Layering Pieces, Organization, Professionalism, Style, Suits, Travel, Wear to Work

Navy Skirts… and Tights?

12/18/2012 By 63 Comments

1What color tights do you wear with a navy suit? Reader B wonders…

I’m a skirt suit kinda girl, in part because I prefer to commute in flats and then switch to heels at the office. (Since I’m short, most of my suit pants are hemmed for heels.) Winter isn’t a problem for my black and grey suits; I just trade the hose for black tights. (Side note: the Commando tights you recommended are now my absolute favorites.)

Here’s the issue: two of my favorite skirt suits are navy or navy pinstripe (similar to this J. Crew and this Banana Republic). Pairing navy tights with a navy suit seems crazy monochromatic, and most of the heather or grey tights I’ve seen feel a bit casual for the office. So I end up wearing plain old hose, and my legs freeze on the way to work.

Hmmn.  Great question — this is actually the combo that led me, many moons ago, to wear purple fishnets to work (pictured, in a random picture I happened to take that day – navy sweater, navy wool skirt, purple fishnets, purple shoes), although the last time we took a poll on fishnets at the office readers were really against ‘em.  (Although, if you want, you can get a pair of purple fishnets here, or a crochet set here.) Poking around a bit online, here are a few more ideas: [Read more...]

Filed Under: Commuting, Family Planning, Happiness, Jewelry, Layering Pieces, Outerwear, Pantyhose, Reader Favorites, Stress, Suits, Tights, Wear to Work, Weather

Staying Cool in a Hot Office

12/04/2012 By 54 Comments

Fan, originally uploaded to Flickr by Ryk Neethling.How do you stay cool in an overheated office? Reader L — who notes that she is nowhere near “hot flash” territory — wants some advice on working with some overactive radiators:

You’ve written about staying warm in a cold office. What about staying cool in a hot office? The weather outside is frightful, but my office feeling as hot as fire is not so delightful.

Great question, and I’m curious to hear what readers say. (Pictured.) Some tips off the top of my head:

  • Dress in layers. Obviously. You may want to particularly look into breathable fabrics like cotton, linen, and silk (which can block cold winds outside but still be comfortable inside).

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Business Etiquette, CoWorker Problems, Layering Pieces, Office Supplies, Weather, Work-Related Pain

The Hunt: Black Cardigans

10/09/2012 By 73 Comments

shrunken SIMONE CARDIGANSure, we all know what basics professional women are supposed to have in their closets, but if you’re buying one for the first time or replacing one you’ve worn into the ground, it can be a pain to find exactly the right incarnation in stores. In “The Hunt,” we search the stores for a basic item that every woman should have.

It’s boring but basic: the black winter cardigan. Whether you prefer them as part of a twinset, worn buttoned up beneath blazers, layered on top of button-fronts, worn open over dresses, or belted over skirts, there are a ton of ways to wear the basic cardigan sweater. Readers, where is your favorite cardigan from? Have you gotten any great deals recently? [Read more...]

Tagged With: , Filed Under: Basics, Layering Pieces, The Hunt, Under $150

The Hunt: Work-Appropriate T-Shirts

06/18/2012 By 86 Comments

Sure, we all know what basics professional women are supposed to have in their closets, but if you’re buying one for the first time or replacing one you’ve worn into the ground, it can be a pain to find exactly the right incarnation in stores. In “The Hunt,” we search the stores for a basic item that every woman should have.

Ever since I found The Limited’s highly-rated t-shirt, I’ve been thinking about that perennial summer question: which are the best t-shirts for layering under suits and otherwise wearing to work? In my mind, the perfect work t-shirt:

  • is opaque
  • is thick enough to not see the outline of your bra
  • keeps its shape throughout the day (and after several washes)
  • retains color evenly after numerous washes
  • looks like a perfect basic — not too memorable or trendy

I’ve rounded up some of my favorites below — but readers, which are your favorites?  (Psssst: check out The Corporette Guide to the Best Tops Under Suits if you haven’t already!)

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Basics, Business Casual, Layering Pieces, The Hunt

Walk on the Wild Side with Prints

04/10/2012 By 46 Comments

Fabric, originally uploaded to Flickr by ChristopherTitzer.How do you start wearing prints? Reader T wonders…

I’m wondering if you can do a post on incorporating prints into one’s wardrobe. I looked at my closet the other day and realized that about 90% of the clothes I wear are solid colors. I seem to always gravitate toward very saturated bold colors, but never to prints. I guess I sometimes feel that wearing prints looks loud” or will make me stand out too much at work. I know how to use prints with accessories (shoes, scarves) but I’d like to specifically see a post on buying clothes with prints.

We’ve talked about how to mix prints, but we haven’t really talked about how to start buying prints.  I think T has a fear that is shared by a lot of women — looking too loud, too out of place.  So here are my suggestions for how to dip your toe into the waters of dressing with prints… (Pictured: Fabric, originally uploaded to Flickr by ChristopherTitzer.)

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Basics, Fashion, Layering Pieces, Scarves, Wear to Work