I Want: Sailboat by Equipment

 

Top by EQUIPMENT

Available @ The Outnet

65 % OFF

perfect top for my move to the sunshine state.

electric blue, white sailboat print.

i would definitely wear this to one of my interviews with my black Gap trousers rolled up and white pumps ... AND if i only had a white blazer (sigh)

too cute!

What NOT to Wear: Fashion Job Interview

yesterday i went to a (fashion) job interview and the girl walking in after my interview was wearing jean shorts. sorry, but in my book that is a no no. i feel like, it's an honor to be considered for a position (you really want) and respectful to wear a office chic somewhat formal attire. yes, the company is laid back, loves prints, eclectic, from New York, and young - but shorts...really!? i'm not telling you to wear boring black trousers and a white long sleeved top. but you can certainly, go for a Jenna Lyons look. slimmed trousers, casual summer blazer, striped boyfriend tee and loafers. idk? mix it up. it's fashion. you can have fun but not be lazy about it. i also know it's relatively hot in NY right now - but i just can't. whatever happened to "dress to impress" or "dress for the job you want and not have"? therefore, here are some samples of jean short looks NOT to wear for a job interview (well according to me). and here are some samples of looks (featuring Jenna Lyons) you can try for your next fashion job / internship interview.

Jenna Lyons - J CREW

Jenna Lyons - J CREW

Jenna Lyons - J CREW

ThrowBack: 80s Power Suit

Photo Via: Who What Wear

Photo Via: streetfsn or jak and jil

Photo Via: ELLE Sweden

Photo Via: "Head To Toe" - Blogger, Atlantic Pacific. She is wearing RED Valentino.

ever heard of the term "power dressing"? it stems from the 1980s working woman who started hustlin' and dressin' to get ahead in the game....seen the movie, "Working Girl"? designers like Ralph Lauren, Giorgio Armani, Donna Karan and Anne Klein made it happen and the 80s woman splurged on sharp "matchy/mactchy" blazers, pantsuits or midi skirts, which eventually led to striped and softer power suits due to Madonna's "Blond Ambition" era and don't even get me started on Ally McBeal...a show my sister still watches! at this time, my sister was a newlywed and her whole team and company was all male (i remember because she had to babysit me and take me to work). her closet back then was jam packed with a colorful array of fuchsia  dark red, black, pin striped, gray, lily, purple, navy blue, light blue, olive green, cream, yellow, white, baby pink and many more power suits that differentiated her from the rest and lead her to bigger roles. till this day, she still has them (well not ALL of them) and I can tell she found them at Macy's. 

little by little i've been vintage browsing her closet for blazers or adding tailored trousers to my everyday look and now, the whole look is making a comeback! except now in floral, bolder stripes, palm prints, animal print, all prints, and with shorts! simply wear a crisp white bottom down, button it up all the way, add a bow tie if you like, pintate la boca (literally: paint your mouth) as my mom says, throw on leopard or silver pumps, pick up your tote and don't forget your i-phone! 

my favorite example of power dressing is Hillary Clinton, I saw the picture below over a month ago and thought, is power dressing really dead? So, I started cleaning up my interview look and felt a lot more confident. I felt a little too confident, that I started trying on blazers completely out of my budget around the Meatpacking district at DVF, Alice+Olivia and had a pricey but delicious lunch at Pastis.

So thank you, Bianca Jagger, YSL, Giorgio Armani, Hillary Clinton and Coco Chanel for the original crisp power suits but ... I'm kinda obsessed with the spunky, Jenna Lyons (J. Crew) working girl look. 

But I'll never forget,

DRESS FOR THE JOB YOU WANT NOT THE JOB YOU HAVE.

"Wall Street may be 95 percent men, but don't dress like one. But don't dress like a girly-girl either." - @marieclaire

    

What to Wear: Interview Looks

Last week I had an interview at a PR agency and I was once again stumped on what to wear. I believe I am very careful yet creative with what I wear to an interview because you want to feel comfortable while hiding those uncomfortable thoughts of "i need this job, please hire me, what are my best skills" and you have to leave a professional and unique flavor to the interview when it comes to attire, resume look, speaking abilities, and personality. 

Interview looks are about you and the job you want - so don't be afraid to step out of the 'normal' white long sleeve button down, black blazer, black trousers, and black pumps. Add some 'paaazzazz' with a cobalt button down or funky classy earrings or color block shoes or dress. My friends and I have different interview looks but as you can see we add a little something different - graphic print, bold jewelry, and textured fabric.

need some interview look pointers? read this! ---> Interview Dress Code

Items all from Net-A-Porter

Nude Pumps: Giuseppe Zanotti, $550

B/W Ballet Flats: Pierre Hardy, $645

Earrings: Oscar de la Renta, $225

Block Print Dress: Proenza Schouler , $895

Cobalt Blouse: Tibi, $285

B/W Blouse: Haute Hippie, $285

Black Blazer: Girl. By Band of Outsiders, $635

Net-A-Porter Model Look: 3.1 Phillip Lim top and pants, Eddie Borgo bracelet, Alexander Wang shoes, Alaïa bag, and Bottega Veneta bracelet.

Mad Men actress, January Jones celebrates her 34th birthday look while out in West Hollywood, California.

Interview Dress Code Pointers

Here are some tips on how to dress for an interview from what I've learned.


MEN & WOMEN:

• Should always have a Sharp, Clean, and Tailored Pant, Suit, and/or Blazer
• Solid classic colors like Gray & Black (you'll never go wrong)
• Closed Shoes (A little peep toe isn't too bad)
• Minimal detail (exception explained later)
• Mani & Pedi
• Natural makeup (and shower)

WOMEN DON'T even try this:

• No-No to Tight, Body-Con dresses (unless you are looking into the late night entertainment industry)
• No-No to Sheer or Cleavage baring tops (its an interview not a party)
• No-No to worn out shoes, thigh high boots, flippy-floppies, sneakers (if you are going to show a little peep toe make sure you have a presentable pedicure)
• No-No to excess and bright makeup
• No-No to New shoes? or do you only have sky-high heels? If you can't walk in them, you might look like a drunk so leave them at home.
• No-No to Animal print (I love love animal print but for some reason I don't its acceptable)
• No-No to Boring suits (Be original!)
• No-No to Tank tops and jeans (they are for BBQs)
• No-No to showering yourself with your perfume bottle
• BIGGEST NO-NO to FAKES of the company you want to be hired to

WOMEN try this:

• Bow tie tops
• ONE Statement piece (ring, necklace .... this is a great conversation starter)
• Graphic print dress or blouse
• Vintage handbag

Here are some more ideas from Net-A-Porter & Forever 21

Paul & Joe Petitpot Ruffled Dress from Net-A-Porter for 360 euros

Blue Basic Silk Top from Forever 21 only for $22.80

Most importantly be on TIME, dress to IMPRESS, keep it REAL, .... you want to be memorable just like that amazing cover letter you wrote to get the job you want. GOOD LUCK! ;) 

Patrick Robinson, Creative Designer for the Gap, says "You need to dress in a style that works for the brand you're interviewing for. If you're going into the Gap, you should look like the Gap. but don't come in dressed like one of the ads. You need to express you own style as well." (Source: Teen Vogue, An Insider's Guide to Careers in Fashion) 

What to Wear to an Internship Interview

Last week, I had no idea what to wear to my internship interview with Pucci and started googling and going through Vogue, Elle, and WhoWhatWear for ideas but not a lot came up. So I'll give you some ideas based on what my friends and I wore, plus some rules on what to wear and what not to wear.

First Look (Me): Gray Tee (H&M), Black&Blue skirt (Forever 21), Bib (MaxMara), Shoes (Stella McCartney)

My Inspiration: Lauren Conrad of The Hills

 

Second Look (Megha): White short sleeved Top, Brown Houndstooth stretch skirt, Tan pointy pumps

Megha's Inspiration: "50s Secretary" Let's take Joan Holloway from Mad Men. She's viewed as a mature, stylish woman who knows how to use her sexuality to control her life.

Third Look (Crystal): Graphic dress (H&M) with Sergio Rossi Oxford "Shoeties"

Crystal's Inspiration: Pop Abstract Expressionist with a Jackson Pollock inspired print dress