Casual Fridays Do’s and Dont’s

I’ll never forget that Sex and the City episode where Miranda’s office introduced casual Fridays. Her closeted gay co-worker showed up in tight leather black pants and a sheer black tank. Needless to say, her conservative New York law firm nixed casual Fridays from there on out.

Thankfully I work in an industry where every day is casual Friday. If I were a lawyer or salesgirl or some other kind of professional that had to dress to the nines everyday, I’d go bananas. If you are one of the corporate big-wigs who has to dress to impress at the office, casual Friday is a gift from the heavens above. Before rolling out of bed in your smelly sweatpants, take a look at our tips to be casual but still office appropriate.

1. Casual does not equal unprofessional. Keep the logo tees and marijuana leaves tucked away in your closet. If you are wondering … is this appropriate … ? The answer is usually always, just don’t wear it.  

2. Wrinkles, stains, and tears are never ok at the office. Your clothes should be clean, wrinkle-free, and fresh smelling. This is a rule you should take with you wherever you go, not just the office.

3. What’s the policy? Check your handbook and see if jeans, tanktops, and other questionable attire are cool. 

4. Skin is a sin at the office. Exposed midriffs, tube tops, and cleavages are a no no. (Save that for Friday night at the club.)

5. Avoid flip flops. Unless there is a beach party happening at the office, stick to work appropriate footwear. 

6. Sundresses and skirts. A great option for the ladies is casual cotton dresses and skirts. They are comfortable, casual, and corporate cool.

7. Khakis and polos. Guys should choose khakis and polos over shorts and a tee.

Think about your field, your office culture, location, and position before busting out the “Jesus is My Homie” tee. Clearly you know your office vibe best, so dress in a way where you (and your co-workers) will feel comfortable and accepted. As long as everyone feels respected, it’s all good in the hood.

Accessory Advice From Tim Gunn

After doing some primary research today (aka attending the Kate Spade fashion show featuring fashion icon Tim Gunn at NorthPark) I came to the conclusion that colorful accessories this Spring will add life to existing pieces in your closet or compliment some brand new threads.

Gunn disclosed some of his best tips for pairing accessories this Spring as well as advising Dallas fashionistas to revisit what we have in our closet and “take a chance” with color.  (Other secrets disclosed included having jeans of varying lengths and his political answer about which one of the Project Runway contestants were his favorite — (which was none, ‘they are all like his children’)– but he did divulge which contestant from each season he would NOT want to be stuck on a deserted island with; information we were much more pleased in hearing!)

The store debuted new lines of jewelry, bags, clutches and shoes ranging from hues of blue, pinks, yellow and citrus — just in time for Mother’s Day.

Here are some of my faves from the day:

The Sophie: Classic linen orange slingbacks with a polished burl wood heel are summer personified and are sure to make a statement. These would perfectly compliment a spring dress, skirt or and a pop of color to some skinny jeans. My favorite part? The beautiful heel with depths of color! These also come in a timeless black and white zebra print.

Idiom Bangles: These classic gold and enamel bangles celebrate some of KS’s favorite turns of phrase, delicately printed inside. Little idioms include, “The grass is always greener,” “Dive in” and “Walk on air” among about a dozen other fun and flirty phrases. I do believe Tim captured it best saying that these colorful bracelets are, “Fortune cookies for you wrist.”

Junebug Ladybug Rings: Out of a huge case of jewelry I must say these caught my eye and made me smile. A charming jewelry zoo of snails, fish and frogs dance on delicate gold chains in these delightful accessories. Although I wouldn’t want them hanging from my neck or ears, the rings were my favorite pick and in my opinion, a perfect way to celebrate the season being light-hearted and fun.

Other highlights of the day included transforming the LBD to fit three distinct settings. 1) From work, “Making it work at work,” said Mr. Gunn with metallic flats with perfectly pedicured feet to 2) a cocktail happy hour with a chunky red necklace and versatile clutch then to 3) an evening event pairing the black staple item with bright royal blue pumps; Why be like every other woman with a black bag and shoes? These are just a few examples of how accessories can define and shape your outfit.

Ms. Kouk’s review of the fashion event and seeing Mr. Gunn up close and personal?

Two thumbs up.

XOXO

Celebrity Style: Beyonce and Heidi in Plaid

One of the biggest trends over the past year has been plaid designs. We’ve seen the favorite print hit the runways from designers such as Lela Rose, Diane von Furstenberg, and Ralph Lauren and it doesn’t seem to be any different with ready-to-wear items for celebrities. Plaid and tartan patterns have been draping the celebs from Lindsay Lohan to Katie Holmes and it continues to be a celebrity fashion favorite into the changing seasons.

Plaid has definitely been our friend this past fall, winter, and can be versatile enough to continue on during spring and summer with different hues. Beyonce makes the print more glamorous with embellished embroidery, wooden bejeweled wedges, and gold hardware accessories.

Beyonce’s look is casual enough for a day of shopping or hanging around town, and can even be transitioned into night-life or cocktail hour. In our fashion widget we chose an embellished sleeveless plaid dress for the West Coasters, along with the Beyonce burnt red beret to shield the ocean breezes.

For a more casual look, Heidi Klum plays up a simple black and white plaid dress paired with a light cardigan, shiny rain boots, and classic black leggings and adds some aviator-esque shades for a “rocker” element to the look.  This outfit is perfect if you are relaxing and need the comfort of flats to do lots of running around or hanging around.

Our fashion widget is pretty straightforward, but if its too warm in your neighborhood to sport some boots, feel free to pair your plaid dress with this season’s hottest sandal trend – gladiators. Happy plaid trend-setting!

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