Conquer Your Office Party in Style With These Celeb Inspired Looks
December 13th, 2012 by Fashion StaffFor many of those who work in corporate America, this time of year can be exceptionally festive. Business may be up or it might be down, but no doubt about it the office Holiday party is often the “happening” event of the season. It’s the time where showing your co-workers that you are more than just business suits and glasses. Check out a few different ways to “conquer” your office party in celebrity style.
This past week Fergie sparkled in a Monique Lhuillier red sequined dress at the Voli Lights Vodka “Cell Phones for Soldiers” Benefit Party. This look is perfect if you are going as the “attention” grabber for the nights.
If Fergie’s $3500 dress does not fit your budget, no worries you can still get the look-for-less with this Alice + Olivia dress for only $300.
If sequin is your thing, but you would like to tone it down a bit, sequin pants are always a great way to go for the party. They still provide the oomph, but at a less eye grabbing rate.
One of the trends you can also use for holiday party this season is the layering effects, glam up your plain white blouse with a sparkle sweater to achieve the layering look. You can also brighten the outfit with a punch of color with colorful booties.
If you’re the host ‘When in doubt’, always grab the trusty cocktail dress like Alicia Keys was seen rocking and off you go. Cocktail dresses are so versatile and allowed to be dress up in numerous ways with different earring, clutches, shoes, watches, necklaces, the options are endless.
Famed fashion designer, Rachel Roy will visit the Wendy Williams show tomorrow and will be sharing a few ideas on how to take your office look from day to holiday party night with these few tips…
TIP #1. Make sure to use your shoes and statement jewelry as stand out accessories. They’ll take any outfit from drab to fab within seconds.
TIP #2. Make your holiday cocktail dress, office appropriate with a few layers. You can opt for a thin turtleneck underneath a strapless dress or a quality cut blazer and extend the lift of your dress all year long!
TIP #3. Make your look pop with a high color jumpsuit! You can tone the look down in the office easily with a blazer and turn it up after hours with a body chain, pumps and more…
Now that you’ve got a few ideas you can use…How will you dress up to your holiday party?
Office Tech Etiquette 101: Tips To Keep You From Becoming THAT Person!
June 28th, 2012 by Christen
Technology has simplified communications for most businesses, but the increased use of conference calls, video conferencing, and instant messaging has created a new list of off-putting behaviors that could land your business in an awkward situation.
Video Conferencing
1. Video conferencing is more widely used in recent years in an effort to save on travel costs. It’s best to always assume the microphones and the cameras are on. That means don’t do or say anything you don’t want on camera.
2. Sit still, please. You may know someone who constantly fidgets. You may even have threatened to tie them to a chair during a videoconference. Simply put, excessive movements can be extremely distracting to others on the conference, so avoid rocking, pacing, or making dramatic gestures.
3. Avoid bright, flashy, patterned clothing. Play it safe, wear neutral tones in solid patterns.
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Speakerphone
1. Don’t place someone on speaker without first telling all parties involved in the call, and don’t assume everyone knows who is on the call. An obvious solution is to use a conferencing feature that prompts attendees to announce themselves when they arrive.
2. Mute your phone if you dial in from a public area, or if you need to multi-task while on a call. There is nothing worse than feeling like the person on the other end of the line is not engaged.
3. Refrain from having side conversations while participating on calls. It makes it difficult for those on the call to understand the dialogue if there is more than one conversation taking place in the conference room.
4. Avoid loud snacks, smacking of gum, slamming of office drawers, crying babies, barking dogs or basically any noise that will be magnified and hinder communication with other participants.
5. Don’t shout into the speakerphone. Today’s high-definition phones are particularly sensitive and you may come across louder than you intend. And, if you decide to move the phone around the room, keep in mind that the audience on the other side will hear it.
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Smartphone
1. Don’t use your speakerphone. If you assumed that using the speakerphone on a cell phone was something that only happens on reality TV, think again. It seems to be a growing trend among many cell phone users — and an annoyance for anyone standing close by. While it’s fine that you can work from just about anywhere now, don’t make everyone else part of your work day.
2. Be careful what you say in public. For starters, you never know who might be listening when you happen to be discussing confidential information about, say, customers. It’s a bad idea all around and most of the time the people near you don’t want to hear it. Believe it or not, some people are at Starbucks for the coffee.
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Instant Message
1. Knock before entering. Most people know better than to barge into someone’s office or cubicle. The same applies to using IM. Before launching into a conversation, send a polite “ping” asking if the person is available for a quick chat. If you are on the receiving end, learn to say no if you can’t be interrupted and offer the person an alternative time to talk.
2. Keep it short. IM works best for quick questions and updates. If the message is complicated, and takes more than a few sentences, pick up the phone or get out of your chair and walk down the hall to discuss.
3. Hang the “Do Not Disturb” sign. If you are unavailable then simply set your status to invisible, away, or out to lunch.
Five Spring Cleaning Tips To Invigorate Your Workspace
March 19th, 2012 by Christen
This post is sponsored by Pine-Sol® Clean & Disinfect with Pine-Sol®: The Powerful Scent of Clean.” I was compensated for this post as a member of Clever Girls Collective, but the content is all my own.
The sun is shining a little more and it’s become a little more clear than ever before, the first day of Spring is only a few days away and you haven’t begun Spring cleaning the one space you spend most of your day each and every week. YOUR WORKSPACE. Call it a desk or cubical (if you’re lucky, you call it your office…) but either way, it deserves proper Spring cleaning just like everything else this time of the year. Why not invigorate your workspace with these spring cleaning and stylish tech-infused tips.
5. Eliminate Clutter - Clutter has a way of eliminating the desired mood and effect of any room. Find storage spaces for papers, paperclips, and other items that take from the personality potential of your workspace. TRY this NeatDesk Desktop Scanner and Digital Filing System or this Rubbermaid 12-Slot Organizer.
4. Add a Digital Photo Frame – Typically hanging pictures that reflect your personality is a great way to create a custom workspace. Tech savvy divas know that “less is more” and the best way to eliminate multiple frames is to upload your photos digitally by utilizing a digital photo frame. Looking to add a little more inspiration at your station? Try adding screenshots of your favorite Pinterest boards, inspirational quotes or snarky comments to break the monotony and position the frame so that it reflects an interesting architectural element to your space. TRY adding this Coby DP700WD 7-Inch Widescreen Digital Photo Frame (Wood Design) for less than $29 bucks.
3. Bring In Plants - Greenery always adds a breath of fresh air to a room. If you don’t have a green thumb, try silk plants and trees. There’s nothing like a fresh element of nature to breathe life into a dull dreary desk. TRY this Lucky Bamboo & Silk Orchid arrangement or if you like the real thing Fresh Cut Flower Deliveries.
2. Replace The Usual Suspects – Lamps are unique workspace accessories that offer an inviting environment. Additional workspace accessories like post it note & tape dispenserscan also be easily replaced with stylish alternatives. Update your space with new and stylish accents like this Post-It Pop-up Purse Dispenser or iHome Colortunes Desk Organizer Speaker Lamp with iPod Player that make a statement & showcase your personal style.
1. Update Your Computer Desktop – Locate artwork that encompasses the theme of your workspace. It could include elements of color from photos, a lampshade, flowers or more. Adding an element of your style to your computer desktop makes completing tasks more inviting, not to mention a completely stylish work environment. Check out tons of royalty-free stock photos from Fotolia.com.
After spring cleaning my workspace, I was able to infuse a few stylish additives that makes my desk fashionable yet functional. Now if only I could apply a deep spring cleaning to my kitchen & bathroom… #DomesticDivaUnderConstruction
Practice What Your Preach: My own workspace has been spring cleaned with a hint of style this season.
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