Fashion

4 posts
Office Fashion: Is It Time To Update Your Look?



If you're still dressing like you did in the 80s, it's time to retire that hair, makeup, or outfit…and instead embrace some new style inspiration.

Fashion Challenge: Older professionals who don't realize when it's definitely time to update their look and have a major style makeover. Example: someone who is clinging to a hairstyle or fashion trend that was fashionable fifteen years ago, thinking it still looks good.

SharpHeels Style Guideline


Don't make an office fashion flub—know when it's time to update your look. Anything older than 10 years, unless it's a gorgeous, classic Chanel suit, is outdated—and it's absolutely time to refresh your look.

Good example: The classic comedy Nine to Five, released in 1980, starred Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Dolly Parton, and tells the tale of three working women with diverse skills and personalities who rally together to change a dysfunctional business.

While the hilarious subject matter will never get old, and this is an entertaining film that should be watched over and over again, the styles these actresses wore in this 1980s classic are definitely outmoded, and should not be replicated today. Instead, gain inspiration from how these big stars are dressing now:

  • Jane Fonda – an amazingly beautiful woman, she always looks chic and sophisticated. We'll share some coat and jacket dresses that cinched at the waist for a flattering silhouette.
  • Lily Tomlin – an Emmy- and Tony-winner, as well as being an Oscar-nominated actress, she always looks both professional and absolutely appropriate for the event she's attending—while doing it with a casual ease.

We'll also look at some of our favorite television characters for added style inspiration:

TV Inspiration:

  • Coastal Chic - Andie McDowell plays Olivia Lockhart, a municipal court judge in Cedar Cove (Hallmark Channel).
  • Executive Leadership - Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Vice President Selina Meyer in HBO's Veep.
  • Courtroom Power - Julianna Margulies as Alicia Florrick in CBS's The Good Wife.
  • Bold Sophistication - Dana Delany stars as Megan Hunt in ABC's Body of Proof.


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Mastering Your Interview Attire: How To Dress For Success



Getting ready for an interview can be a stressful activity. There are so many things to do: research the industry and company, brush up on practice questions, and find something appropriate to wear, just to name a few.

I can address interview attire. The first thing you need to do is understand not only what’s acceptable in your industry but also the company you will be interviewing with. Attire in the fashion industry is quite different than in the architectural field. If you are new to the industry, check out people you follow on social media in that industry to see what they are wearing in professional situations.

Once you understand company standards, consider the company where you have the interview. Look for a company website and browse the employee directory. How are these individuals dressed?

My recommendation is to find someone in the position one level up from the one you are interested in and use that attire as an example. If you are interviewing within your current industry, you should have a good feel for what all levels of employees wear to work. However, companies have different dress codes. Again, I would look at a company directory to see how most individuals dress and use that as a guide.

Now that you know what type of attire you need, find it. If you’re on a budget, look in your closet first. There are probably options there. Don’t forget to look through pieces you do not wear regularly. Most people do not walk around in suits when not at work. Shop discount or thrift stores. Go to department stores and boutiques and find the sale rack. You may get the perfect blazer or pair of pants on sale. You want something stylish, so do not buy something just because it’s cheap.

Here’s an important note: If you get the job, you will have to dress in this manner on a regular basis, so invest in pieces you will wear quite a bit. If you are not sure what to wear, work with a store associate or personal stylist. We will make sure you are dressed well.

The title of this article is “Mastering Your Interview Attire” which means I want you to have multiple outfits. The reason is that many companies require multiple interviews before choosing a candidate. In fact, you may be contacted after an interview to schedule a second one within 24 hours of the first. Have a few outfits ready by creating a small capsule wardrobe for interviews. A capsule wardrobe is made up of garments that go together, usually in one color and accent color.

Take some of the anxiety and stress out of interviewing by BEING PREPARED mentally, emotionally, physically, and stylistically. Good luck and go get ‘em!

For more information on how to master your interview attire and dress for success, follow me on LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook.

Mastering Your Interview Attire: Expert Tips For Crafting The Ideal Professional Wardrobe


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The #1 Secret To Having A Wardrobe You’re Obsessed With



You should be obsessed with what’s in your closet because that’s how you create an image that gets you noticed—in a good way. When was the last time you looked at every single article of clothing and each accessory in your closet to determine if you love and wear it? Let’s be honest. It’s probably been a while.

A recent study showed women wear 20-30% of their clothes. So, for every 10 pieces of clothing in a woman’s closet, she’s only wearing two or three pieces. That’s crazy! Especially when we look at that closet full of clothes and think, “I have nothing to wear.” It’s probably time for a closet audit to see what you own and what type of use you’re getting out of it.

How To Build A Good Wardrobe


Closet/wardrobe filled with clothes

I highly recommend going through that exercise. Do it yourself or work with a personal stylist. You’ve probably heard the saying that if you haven’t worn something in the past year, get rid of it. I’m not completely stuck on that rule, especially with the pandemic. We weren’t going anywhere for a time but that’s no reason to get rid of your entire wardrobe. You may have been wearing the comfy uniform (sweatpants and a t-shirt) but now are getting back in the public eye and need to dust off the pants and blouses.

Going through your closet and determining what you want to keep should be easy. Discard things you are not wearing. Again, that won’t be too hard. Then you’ll have things in between. For advice on what to do with those pieces? Well, that’s what I get paid for.

One question is what to do with clothing and accessories you don’t wear anymore. Here are a few options:

  1. Donate them to a charitable organization that has a thrift store to resell your items.
  2. Sell them to a consignment store and make some money.
  3. Give them to family and friends.
  4. Host an apparel swap where folks come together to trade merchandise.
  5. Find organizations like Dress for Success that take gently used apparel and outfit people in need.

Ten million tons of clothing fill landfills every year. That’s deplorable. We must stop this and become better stewards of our planet. One out of every two articles of clothing is thrown away. There’s no need for that (see above options).

The average woman spends $960 annually on new clothes. (Depending on who you are, that may be a shocking statistic. Frankly, I wish I could get it down that low. I’m sure my husband does too). Where is she going to put them? She needs to have a closet audit and throw out the old so she can bring in the new.

A great time to do a closet audit is the change of seasons, spring and fall. Before you pack away the previous season’s wardrobe, make sure it’s all worth keeping. As a personal stylist, I help people with this process, organize their closets, and show them how to rotate their clothes so they never have to do another audit. It’s very liberating, by the way.

That takes me to another point of an efficient closet. ORGANIZATION. How can you responsibly dress if you don’t even know what you have? Categorize clothing. For example, all coats should be together as well as footwear like boots and sandals. It will help you get ready faster and become very clear on what you’re not wearing.

Don’t just stop at your closet. Go through drawers and sweater bins. You also need to do this process with jewelry boxes and armoires. There are vendors that travel the country buying metals like gold and silver. A friend recently brought old gold jewelry to one and got about $400 in cash. Pretty nice for less than an hour’s work.

Sustainability is really coming to the forefront in the fashion industry, and I’m glad to see it. Be part of the solution and not the problem.

Carla Biasi | LinkedIn

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