This month we’re giving you a few gift guides with our favorite things for loved ones this season, but every PR girl and guy has their own holiday wishlist. It can range from that perfect holiday entertaining segment to a new iPhone case. Adrianna and I have been talking about our wishes for the season, and while there are some things specific to us (we both want this SLR camera so badly!) there are a few things we’re sure you can relate to:
The perfect Today Show placement for a client with slow coverage
To be followed on Twitter by a minor celebrity
To actually go ice skating this winter in Central Park (Good luck to us!!)
A kiss under the mistletoe
A new coffee mug for the office
Praise from that stubborn client that gives two word responses to paragraph-long emails
New riding boots to trudge through NYC weather
A gorgeous holiday gift guide placement for one of our clients
It’s the time of year for gift giving, including your friends and frienemies in the office. While we’d like to think that we’re “close” with all our working girls and guys, be sure not to go too overboard when getting holiday gifts for those in the office. Our firm has a “secret santa” or “white elephant” every year, and we have to buy our chosen person a gift under $25 to share before our office holiday party. The hope is to be thoughtful, but still fun and not too personal. Below are a few budget-friendly ideas for any office holiday gifts or friends you would like to treat this season.
Also keep in mind it is a good idea to purchase a little something additional for your superiors in the office – even if it is just a card. Show your appreciation for the care they took in your career this year!
I am so excited for this weekend. Time with family and old friends, lots of great food, the start of Christmas season and that welcome chill in the air… it all is Thanksgiving to me. This also kicks off one of the busiest social seasons of the year, so of course my Pinterest board has been crowded with outfit inspiration. Below I’ve pulled some of my favorite looks from my “Stylish” page for the weekend ahead.
Casual sequins – I have to say I love this look, and bring it to work or parties often. One of my favorite purchases is J.Crew’s bell sequin skirt from two years ago (you can find similar ones here, here and here) which I pair with everything from a slouchy tee and flat boots to a silk blouse and heels. Can’t go wrong with sequins in the closet
Cabernet and a jacket - Having graduated from Fordham, the color “maroon” only reminds me of football games and the college cafeteria. This saturated wine color is much warmer, and pairs perfectly with black and a crisp jacket for a smart look. You can find a couple wine colored options here, here and here
Leopard accents – With the amount of leopard print on my Pinterest boards, you’d think I’d have leopard everything. Unfortunately, I have none. This season though, I am convinced I will be ruling the holidays with leopard and bright colors. You can find a scarf, a dress or a fun pair of heels to bright up any outfit
We get this question ever so often – what are some of the best styles for office wear? Our dear friend and fellow blogger at Vanilla Extract posted some style ideas and tips about work attire that are definitely worth sharing…
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I received an email from someone (who will remain nameless) and it went a little something like this…
“I want you to blog about work attire soon. It’s hard to find a middle ground between looking respectable and looking sexy. And then there’s this other fine line between looking like a young professional and looking like a grandma. I somehow end up dressing like a toddler and a grandma at the same time.”
Dear Lover of Toddlers and Grandmas,
The good news is that you’ve managed to bypass the whole skanky look altogether by opting for toddlers and tiaras grandmas. There are plenty of ways to still dress feminine and professional without diminishing your street cred. It’s all about starting with the basics, and then learning how to mix and match from there.
Back to Basics: You should own at least 3-4 of the following (and then build from there): blazers, cardigans, blouses, trousers, pencil skirts, dresses.
Fabric: Invest in seasonless fabrics so you can stretch your wardrobe across multiple seasons. I’m talking light fabrics that can stand alone in Spring, but be layered for Fall. Also reach for richer feeling fabrics like silk or wool over cotton.
Color palette: Black, tan, and gray never go out of style and can be easily carried from one season to the next. After you’ve mastered the basics though, it’s time to incorporate rich Fall colors like plum, burnt orange, and navy into your wardrobe. Too many patterns or pastels might tiptoe into grandma land, which is why I favor solids. They’re also less memorable incase you have to repeat them more so than you’d like. Make sure you wash dark clothes with Cheer “For Darks” detergent! It will save them from looking cheap and faded.
Accessories: Fun accessories like statement necklaces, stackable bracelets, or printed scarves will instantly add style to a basic dress or trouser and blouse combo. If you want to stretch your money, don’t buy one pair of pants; buy three necklaces, two bracelets, and a pair of drop earrings from Forever 21. You don’t have to spend a pretty penny to look like a dime piece. You just have to be a smart shopper.
And remember, it’s attitude over everything.
Xo,
Nichole
Original article posted here. Follow Nichole on Twitter at @nicholeciotti!
Adrianna and I are using The Hunt in Far Hills tomorrow as an opportunity to pre-celebrate her birthday. We’re getting up bright and early to drive over together, and spend some time with family and friends. I went to The Hunt last year with A as well, and I remember I could have been a tad more prepared for the festivities. This isn’t your usual tailgate – it’s a tailgate… at a horse race… in a mud pit. The occasion calls for some strategic thinking when it comes to wardrobe.
Last year, I was beyond happy that I remembered gloves since it got a bit chilly by the end of the day. This year is supposed to stay above 60 degrees all day, but I would still recommend at least a vest to keep warm, like these two from J. Crew (more preppy) and Michael Kors (more glam).
In terms of tops, it depends whether you want to keep chic with city style or classic prep for the race. These from Madewell and Topshop tops are both similar in shape to keep with the theme of the festive event, but drastically different prints to fit your taste.
A cross body bag is a must since you will be trekking from lot to lot each day, and just need to carry ID, cash, phone and sunnies.
Leggings are a must to keep comfy, and I would recommend a dark color like these from Topshop in case you slide in the mud.
Speaking of mud, be prepared to get a decent amount caked onto your boots throughout the day. This is not the time for the Tory Burch riding boots. Go with classic Hunters or “sh*t kicking” Fryes that were made to take on the mud.
Now that summer is donzo, I’m in the market for a new fall wardrobe. I have a pretty good start to a collection of cute clutches and cross body bags, but the perfect work bag is still far from reach. I am extremely picky when it comes to handbags – I want something classy, that will add to an outfit rather than distract from it. Below are a couple of my favorite structured picks to schlep all a PR girl’s daily needs in:
New York Fashion Week has come and gone, and a relief has washed over almost all the PR girls in NYC proper. Though NYFW certainly is glamorous, the stress of last minute errands, missing models, impatient fashion folk and nothing-to-wear syndrome loses its appeal after a week or so.
That being said, PR girls can certainly go through “New York Fashion Week Withdrawal” after 10 days of madness. Here are a few of the symptoms:
After experiencing the first night of undisturbed sleep, wake up in a panic thinking you overslept
Put on your brightest colors in your closet – anything other than black
Experience soreness in quads and hamstrings from (literally) running in heels. Feet, meanwhile, have gone completely numb. Choose to wear Converse to work
At about 11am, realize your one cup of coffee does not cut it for your new caffeine dependency, as you got used to having 3 cups of coffee before 9am followed by several cans of diet coke
Walk to lunch in Union Square, slightly disappointed no one has asked if they can take your picture
Eat a full sandwich from Potbelly, delighting in the fact that there is no judgment being passed on your eating habits
Experiment with a new lip color or eyeshadow effect you learned from backstage, even if just for happy hour with the girls
When I was getting myself together for Fashion Week, my style board on Pinterest was a huge help. Last week was humid and hot in New York, but this week is crisp and feels a little bit more like the transition into fall. Below are a couple things to keep in mind while dressing for any events at New York Fashion Week.
Don’t think you have to wear the designer – You don’t have to spend rent on a new dress. You can wear something that complements the designer’s collection without going broke. Just be comfortable!
If you’re working the show, go for dark colors/mostly black -I didn’t know this until this year, but almost everyone working hair/makeup/nails is donning black. PR girls running around wear the color too. Luckily, I was wearing a black silk blouse with a funky printed skirt, so I fit in without blending in. If you’re not backstage, go nuts with color!
Accessories are a must – Even if you are wearing mostly black, a statement necklace or great bag will make you standout when you get out from backstage. Or, a swipe of dark lip color is the best beauty accessory you can make in a pinch
Wear killer heels during the show -Even if you’re wearing flats running errands, be sure you change into your favorite/cleanest/smartest heels before stepping into the tent. You’ll stand taller, and be naturally more confident in your sexiest pumps
all images featured on Meg’s “Stylish” Pinterest page, via
This past Saturday, I had the honor of attending Christian Siriano’s Spring 2013 fashion show at Eyebeam Studios. As a huge fan of Christian’s designs, I couldn’t wait to see his latest collection. The designs were extremely feminine and delicate, inspired by ballerinas with romantic colors and elegant designs. The collection consisted of peplum, colorful blazers and lots and lots of tulle. This show was one of the most beautiful shows I’ve seen, especially since his last collection was extremely dark and vampire inspired. You can see some photos and a video of the finale here.
