1. Dress pants by Ann taylor; 2. Blazer by Anthropologie, Blouse found at Shopstyle.com

Depending on the type of job you are applying for you will have some flexibility in terms of clothes. You don't always need to have a suit with matching pants and jacket. What is important is that you look clean, neat, and well put together. Your shoes should always be polished and avoid chunky and noisy jewelry that distracts from what is important: YOU.

You can opt for a nice pair of dress pants and a blazer. The colors do not need to match, but should be complimentary to each other. Underneath the jacket wear a nice blouse. Avoid sheer fabrics unless you are wearing a tank top.

You don't really have to spend much money. Lose items like the above can be found at outlet stores like Marshalls, TJMaxx, and Ross. The other day I saw a really nice CK silk-like blouse for $19. Invest in items that are NOT trendy, but are versatile. You can wear navy pants multiple times with different shoes and different blazers. Stick with neutral colors like nude, navy, gray, and black. You can always add colors by adding a pashmina or other accessories.

Most important do not wear high heels if you usually don't wear these types of shoes. You want to be comfortable and focus on your qualities as a candidate, not your sore feet!! One of the complains I have about women shoes and fashion is that there is a tendency to glorify and advertise high heels shoes, rather than fashionable flat shoes. I will rather see how an outfit looks with flat shoes than high heels. When I lived in London I saw many business women wearing ballet shoes. I opted for ankle boots with a short heel. You can always wear tennis shoes until you get to the office. Then switch to something a little bit more business appropriate. But the rule is that you need to be fashionably comfortable.

 

Week 3 Outfit:

It does not need to be Valentine's day to fancy up and be romantic. All you need is a nice red cocktail dress, a pair of high heel nude shoes like the ones from christian louboutin, a nice purse like See by Chloe, and some local Etsy jewelry.

We hope you all had a great Valentine's Day. And don't forget it can always be Valentine's. Just be thankful of those who love you around you.

Massimo Dutti

Massimo Dutti is a Spanish fashion retailer with more than 600 stores worldwide. The company partners with one of the larger fashion distributors serving also companies like Zara.  But Massimo Dutti is better than Zara. It's a step up in terms of quality and design. It's the Ralph Lauren of Spain, The J.Crew of Europe.

Regardless the more expensive tag, the prices are still reasonable and the quality is good, meaning that after one year you don't have to throw away your clothes because they are worn down.

What they sell:

The best way to describe the style is elegant, classy, and stylish work, evening, and everyday clothes. From leather jackets, to chiffon dresses and cashmere sweaters, Massimo Dutti is the American equivalent of J.Crew but with an European twist and cut.

I was introduced to the name from my friend who lives in London. When I walked into the store I liked every single piece of clothing. It is perfect both for edgy urban gals to a more traditional clientele both men and women.

Here some images







So what do you  think? And don't forget to like us on Facebook to see more pictures.

If you are in New York City go check it out at 689 Fifth Avenue, (212) 371-2555; www.massimodutti.com

Kate Spade Bag; Dress by Rexton; Necklace found on JewelMint; Ring found on JewelMint; hair clip; shoes by Max Mara.

 

What is style? What is fashion? We sometimes assume that if you are a celebrity and you are following trendy fashion then you have style and you are chic. However, these days than ever the concept of style has changed as new economic and social evolvement have occurred. Less money means that even fashion designers must produce at low cost and low quality (e.g. fabrics), and the emergence of new reality TV shows, while exposing us to minority groups (e.g. whether middle class, students, or factory workers) have created a new image of fashion telling us women that it is ok to wear Stripper shoes, neon colors, and just simple cheap materials. Just think about Jersey Shore, Kim Kardashian, or even Beyonce. I am sorry but these women are far from classy. Their fashion is forced and not natural as an Audrey Hepburn or Grace Kelly. This is obviously a personal opinion and a nostalgia for the old times of Mad Men, which has limits in itself. But a question remains. Where is fashion taking us? And what kind of woman is representing. Let's be aware that historical events have dictated women fashion. During WWII women had to abandon the homes and started working in factories, thus requiring a more functional attire. The 18th century saw women suffering from respiratory diseases due to corsets too small for their waist. These garments were designed by men to refine the female body to their pleasure. The late 1960s, early 1970s we observed the radical change of fashion with the mini skirts as social revolutions were taking place in Europe and the United States (e.g. feminism). So where are we now? This is for you to decide as you shop, as you flip fashion magazine, as you strive to find a piece of clothing that does not remind you a stripper or bad tripping experience.

In an effort to find the answer I wanted to show you all that good fashion exists, but it is hard to find. Local and small artists are the real big celebrities. I will share with you my picks and find, hoping to bring some elegance back in style.

Pick of the Week: Simplicity and functionality.

If you are not 21 anymore, you probably can't wear or just don't feel it is right to stroll down in jeans or PJ. The stores in your town if you are not from a big city are for young college students: dresses are too shorts at Urban Outfitters or even at Dillards. Ann Taylor is just too old looking for you, and BCBG is just too expensive. You are frustrated at this point and simply wear black everyday. This is how I feel and I am sure you might too. It's hard to find a balance. I picked this outfit because it is fresh and appropriate for young women or young adults. It is also fun. You don't need to be boring to be classy. I am a big fan of mixing prints together. It always worked for me and never looked 'odd.' You probably won't go to work dressed like this, but you definitely can use the shoes, glasses, coin leather wallet and scarf for other more suitable outfits. The point is that you are building a dynamic closet to use for multiple occasion.



 

Scarf from rstyle.me; shoes from t.shoemint.com (twitter user); sweater from rstyle.me (not sure if this is a real site or what); umbrella and glasses from jossandmain.com; and leather coin from vonmaur.com.

I tried to credit each picture with the information provided. If there are mistakes please let me know.

 

Thank you, and please comment. I want to know what you think.

 

Gin