because one www.sukarinewyork.com
is never enough
consultant’s letter
A
s the editorial consultant for both print and digital publications of TheWorkingWardrobe, it is not only my duty to provide my expertise on magazine publishing, but also to provide, along with our editor, Rachel Yeomans, a keen attention in keeping the aestheticallypleasing design consistent and making sure that all content is relevant, engaging, and continuously lives up to the high expectations that TheWorkingWardrobe is known to produce. Thus, the reason I am completely satisfied with what TheWorkingWardrobe.Digital #2 (TWW.Digtal #2) is offering to our eclectic target of readers this time around. As you virtually flip through the easy navigational layout of TWW.Digital #2, you will be taken through a literary experience from what travel apps to put on your radar, to how one company is paying it forward through its fair trade and sustainable practices with African-created accessories, to seeing the work week through the Instagraming eyes of TheWorkingWardrobe staff. All in all, your second foray into TWW.Digital will be one of informative relevancy‌at the very least. ENJOY!!!
Tenisha Anderson
| President, TenStyle Media, Inc.
Editorial Consultant, TheWorkingWardrobe
www.TheWorkingWardrobe.com
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editor’s letter
T
his past March, I was reading an article in Marie Claire on how Kate Spade is working with women in Africa to design featured items for her upcoming collections. Not a week later, and I discovered that one of my colleagues started working with the company Nakate. This outfit works with women in underdeveloped regions to bring their jewelry designs to the high fashion industry. Coincidental timing? Or is this a presence that has been around for awhile, and is now being presented to the mainstream fashion world? Whatever the case, I wanted to learn more, and to share it. Read the fantastic article on the subject within TheWorkingWardrobe.Digital #2 written by Contributor, Ruthie Kott. It not only introduces you to Nakate, but other companies and amazing women who are working to bring fashions from Africa to fashion houses near you. There’s even a nod towards Africa Fashion Week! As a magazine that celebrates and works to inspire working women around the world, I am very honored to have this article as this issue’s main feature. And speaking of Fashion Week, you won’t want to miss the gorgeously illustrated journey put together by Contributor, Kate Jacobsen, and Illustrator, Linda Cassady. They have worked together to take you through the Fall Fashion Weeks from New York to London to Paris, and to take them to your office! That’s right, we have deconstructed the fashion trends for the Fall of 2012, and show you how to wear them to work.
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This and so much other content in TheWorkingWardrobe.Digital #2 was created and curated based on inspiration and ingenuity. Therefore I asked each contributor to share with us what inspires each of them the most. You can read them next to each of their biographies on the following pages. As for me, what greatly inspires me are stories not of successes, but of failures and mistakes. Why? Because most of these stories not only show strength, but they detail true success through courage, perseverance and pure stubbornness. You have to fall down before you can fly, right?
Rachel Yeomans
| Editor in Chief
TheWorkingWardrobe . digital
issue
02
05
:
our workplace
08
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diy dyed tights
09
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tech tea time with tessa
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fashion gps: Fashion’s Global Position Navigates Towards Africa
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fashion week 9-5
25
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a week at work told through instagram
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pantone your office
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recipes for working women
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:
outfitting your event
Fashion GPS page 11
our
workplace what INSPIRES you the most?
Kate Jacobsen | Fashion Week 9-5 My greatest inspiration is living each day with an open, free mind all while doing what I love, which is all things fashion. Working as Fashion Assistant at a modeling management company, Agency Galatea, and managing PR for TheWorkingWardrobe, Kate continuously reminisces on how she adores fashion. Kate has held numerous internships in the fashion industry and has loved redefining professional dress through her quirky sense of style. Emma Pretto | DIY I’m inspired by everything from the color palette of my sushi dinner to the texture of my favorite wool skirt. A born-and-raised Floridian growing up on the sandy beaches of Pensacola, Emma Jane Pretto learned to love fashion at a young age from her glamorous and trend-setting mother. She now finds herself in Chicago, pursuing a degree in fashion design and hosts her own Etsy shop. Emma is eager to bring a hint of nostalgia, resourcefulness, and creativity to the working world. Sayeh Pezeshki | Pantone Your Office I’m inspired by nature, completely. I find my best ideas come to me when I’m sitting in my backyard or on a hike. In Sayeh’s “The Office Stylist,” advice ranges from a quick revamp to the desktop to full office makeovers. Her advice has appeared in top media outlets such as Lucky Magazine and Better Homes and Gardens. www.TheOfficeStylist.com ruthie kott | Fashion GPS I’m inspired by people who aren’t afraid to do/try/be anything. Ruthie Kott is a freelance writer in Chicago who spends way too much of her time shopping online and way too much money on clothes. She earned her BA from Colgate University in Hamilton, NY, and a master’s in anthropology from the University of Chicago.
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Ryan M. Beshel | Working the Event I’m always inspired by the concept of stylish surprise. Mixing classic styles with modern ways of dressing inspires me every day to show who I am inside by what I wear on the outside. At any illustrious Chicago event, Ryan is the man with the bow tie. He is also the man whose drive and ingenuity have led him to hold the position of Public Relations Coordinator for the 900 N. Michigan shops, a recent shift from his role as Director of Runway at Agency Galatea. Ryan has made a name for himself in the social scene - you can follow his fashionable ventures through his blog, TheBowTieMemoirs. blogspot.com.
Tessa Auza | Tech Tea Time Author Madeleine L’Engle wrote: Inspiration usually comes during work, rather than before it. I find more in the work, in the process than in the hours and days of sitting on my duff pondering. Tessa Auza is a Social Media Community Manager. When not wrangling tweets or posts, she enjoys a solid swing-out on the dance floor on a regular basis. She recently picked up the ukulele and has no plans of ever putting it down.
Linda Cassady | Illustrator I’m inspired by the visually exquisite... in all things. Linda Cassady is a Chicago-based illustrator who has spent a lifetime noticing, and believes everything has the ability to be great, given the right attention. She bring this need to “make it better” to every project or idea.
Kristen Koch | Recipes I am inspired everyday by the people in my life. Listening to their stories, sharing in their joy, and watching them chase their passions: there’s nothing more fueling than that! Retail has been a part of Kristen Koch’s routine since earning her degree in Textiles, Fashion Merchandising, and Design from the University of Rhode Island. Through manager positions at Bloomingdales (and two Golden B Awards), Iridesse, and now Henri Bendel, Kristen has worked long hours and long days, and has loved every minute of it. But that still means she needs to eat - her recipes started as her own hobby. They then turned into a sensation amongst her friends and family through postings on Facebook. She is thrilled to bring her creations to print, and hopes to bring them to your working kitchen!
www.TheWorkingWardrobe.com
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THE
WORKING Editor-in-chief editorial consultant managing editor art director
public relations manager
contributors
WARDROBE
Rachel Yeomans Tenisha Anderson Alan Neff Stacey Dowgray Kate Jacobsen
Kate Jacobsen Emma Pretto Ruthie Kott Kristen Koch Tessa Auza Sayeh Pezeshki Ryan M. Beshel Linda Cassady
Thank you to my wonderful colleagues and partners, my dear friends, my supporters, and my absolutely outstanding family. I wouldn’t be here without you, and nor would this magazine. I love you all.
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D
DIY dyed
by Emma Pretto
tights
Supplies: tarp, shower curtain, or other plastic covering; rubber gloves; liquid or powdered Rit dye; hot water; mixing cup and spoons; glass bowl, plastic bucket, or stainless steel pot; pre-washed white or light-colored tights (nylon or cotton blend).
clean i n g
I nstr uct i o n s 1 To avoid stains, cover your work area with plastic and wear rubber gloves. 2 Prepare your dyebath by fully dissolving the dye into hot water. For one pair of tights, use 2 Tbsp liquid dye in 4 cups hot water (or 4 Tbsp powdered dye). 3 Rinse tights with warm water, squeeze out excess, and add to dye bath. 4 Let the tights soak for 5-7 minutes or until desired color is achieved, stirring frequently. Remember, colored tights will appear darker while still wet and before the first wash. 5 Remove tights and rinse in warm water. Switch to cool water until water runs clear. 6 Hand wash in warm water with mild detergent and hang to dry.
NOTE: There are other brands of dye available. If using a different brand, follow the instructions on the package, as they may differ from those above.
ti p s
During the dyeing process, rinse and hand wash tights in a stainless steel sink or outside with a hose. To avoid stains, do not use a porcelain sink or bathtub. Clean up work area and sink with chlorine bleach after dyeing. For the first few times, wash dyed tights by themselves. Always wash your dyed tights in cool water and with similar colors.
extras For an ombre effect: dip tights briefly in the dyebath, remove, and hang over a bucket or stainless steel sink for about an hour. Gravity causes the dye to run downward, with a gradual fade from light to dark as it moves toward the feet. Don’t stop with tights; try dyeing other garments! Rit dye works with cotton, linen, silk, wool, rayon, and nylon. You can even dye polyester and acrylic blends, but they’ll dye lighter. Just follow the instructions on your dye package, as larger garments may require a different process. While packaged dyes are available in many colors, you can also experiment with mixing your own. Rit has a great guide to mixing custom colors: www.ritdye.com/colorit_color_formula_guide. www.TheWorkingWardrobe.com
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tech tea time
by Tessa Auza
with tessa While I don’t get to travel as much as I’d like, I love being prepared to hilt when I do have the chance to voyage to the great unknown. These fantastic apps help me plan my adventures and keep me on track without losing passports, papers of itineraries, or piles of tickets. I could put George Clooney’s travelefficient character from Up in the Air to shame!
H ip m u n k HipMunk conveniently organizes the best possible flight combinations on just a single screen. I love spending time on this app planning trips. It has an easy-on-the-eyes user interface and well-organized analysis. HipMunk takes the confusion of travel planning and makes it into an understandable and surprisingly entertaining process. It’s also been very helpful in looking for reasonable and local housing. g o o g le
Maps
Google Maps is the best most functional app for me because, as an Android user, all of my planning on my desktop is updated in real time onto my phone. So, when I plan and favorite all the sights, restaurants, and events on a Google Map that I created specifically for my trip, I can see the results are ready to go when I am Searching for reviews of local spots has been a handy way to explore an neighborhood before I even set foot in a town. The handiest feature is the ability to look up the public transportation from my current location to a favorited spot.
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s can
You r Tick et
If you’re lucky enough to fly on an airline that can scan your ticket on your mobile phone or iPad, you can save a lot of time and trouble searching for tickets as you’re rushing to board the plane. American, Continental, Delta, Southwest, United Airlines are a few of the airlines that do this. You will want to check with these airlines to make sure all the airports on your itinerary have the equipment to scan your phone or iPad. tr i p It
TripIt has saved my sanity on many occasions, simply by being the go-to app for my important travel information. First, I’ve set my TripIt preferences to grab automatically travel-related emails in Gmail, so I have all my confirmations and itineraries for flight and hotel reservations, as well as car rentals. All this information then is available in my phone with its mobile app. Otherwise, you can cut and paste all your travel information into a single document, so your trip folder is nicely organized with links for tracking your flight status, checking seating charts and displaying a map of the local area that you can view if you have no network connection.
Packi ng
pro
Packing Pro ($2.99, iTunes) helps me make sure that I don’t forget a thing as I’m packing for a journey or a return flight. This app provides handy, pre-populated lists. Or, you can customize your own list. I can make a list for for a snow-
bound adventure, including all my snowboarding gear or build a short list of “sunscreen, bikini, towel” for a summer-day trip. I even have a special list - which is very useful - to remind me to repack all my various chargers. Save these lists to use again for another exciting crusade.
Gate g u r u Described as a Yelp for an airport, GateGuru is invaluable for any travel time spent in an airport. Its flight-tracking notification alerts you about crowds or unexpected delays. There’s never a need to miss a flight (or a snack) because you can’t find your next departure gate or nearby food options. GateGuru even helps map out retail and service choices available to you. wifi
Fi n der
In frustrating moments where I haven’t found a wifi network connection, Wifi Finder has come to my rescue! This free app has helped me find paid or free hot spots from my phone. But, if you can’t access any sort of network, the downloaded version you can choose to add to your phone’s memory can still map out where to reconnect to the internet. These apps are all in my arsenal to guarantee an enjoyable and stress-free journey. I hope you find them helpful wherever you go. b o n voyag e !
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fashion gps:
Fashion’s Global Position Navigates Toward
Africa by ruthie kott
Photographer Barry Druxman Model Yordanos Akalu Make-up Ernesto M Casillas Hair Mitzi Spallas Art Director Antonio Esteban Wardrobe Stylist Antonio Esteban
a www.TheWorkingWardrobe.com
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Last
year, a friend showed me a beautiful set of 18 bracelets she’d bought from M Z Wallace, an accessories shop based in New York City, for just $28. The earth-toned, recycled rubber bracelets were made by a women’s cooperative in Djenné, Mali, and sold through Made With Love, an organization that works with women in Africa, Brazil, and Haiti to provide them a fair-trade income. Made With Love is one of many groups working with women artisans in African and other third-world countries to increase their income and quality of life. Some of these, including Made with Love and Indego Africa, are nonprofit organizations, partnering with cooperatives of artisans who make fashion accessories and home décor. “We purchase products from [Rwandan craftswomen] on a fair-trade basis,” says Indego Africa president and COO Conor French, and then market and sell the items through an e-commerce site. Indego also builds partnerships between the artisans and high-end fashion designers such as DANNIJO and Nicole Miller, who sells woven bangles, beaded necklaces, and printed booty shorts, all made by Rwandan women’s cooperative Cocoki. In early May, J. Crew released textile bracelets crafted by Indego Africa cooperatives.
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Nakate, on the other hand, is a for-profit company that works with women in Uganda—in the city of Kampala and a small village called Kakooge. Created by Shanley Knox in 2010 after spending six weeks in Uganda, Nakate buys paperbead necklaces and bracelets from Kakooge and shoes, bags, and cow horn jewelry out of Kampala. “We treat the artisans as equal business partners, and they name their price,” Knox says. “We pay more than what they could sell it for on the street in Kampala.” Knox, who also has a Ugandan partner working in the village, then sells the pieces in boutiques in California and New York and on Nakate’s website. Whether run as a nonprofit or for-profit, all of these organizations are social enterprises, working to change lives rather than maximize profits. In the short term, Indego’s French says, he’s seen women, over a three-year period, move from making under $1 per day to about $5 per day—more than a Rwandan schoolteacher makes (which, French says, “reminds you that in every culture schoolteachers are underpaid”). “I’m really inspired by [Indego Africa’s] model,” says consultant Jerryanne Heath, the founder of ConceptLink Consulting, which works with Africa-interest organizations and social entrepreneurs. (Indego Africa is not one of her clients but Heath is personal friends with the social enterprise’s founders Matthew Mitro and Benjamin Stone.) Mitro and Stone, she says, have built a really strong foundation for what can be a sustainable business model.
We purchase products from [Rwandan craftswomen] on a fairtrade basis
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These organizations operate on a “trade, not aid� mission. They believe that real economic and social change comes from introducing artisans to larger markets and building entrepreneurial skills.
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In part, that foundation comes from partnering with Generation Rwanda, a local Rwandan organization, to run training programs. “Where many nonprofits go wrong,” Heath says, “is going into the country thinking that they have all the answers,” and ultimately not being able to connect with the local population and communities. But it’s smart, she says, to partner with a local organization, which works according to social and cultural dynamics that foreigners may not understand. Kathleen McGinn, a professor at Harvard Business School, agrees. After following Indego Africa for six months for a 2010 case study, McGinn is optimistic about the company’s success. “Women themselves are making the decisions about what they want to do and what they want to make,” she says, “and they’re able to do it while maintaining the way they live.” Part of Indego Africa’s goal is to eventually take themselves out of the equation completely, by educating the women in the cooperatives to run their own businesses, in terms of managing money and keeping records. “The education piece is really the driving force behind” Indego, French says, “taking the raised standard of living and making it a long-term and a sustainable solution to poverty for these women.” In their 2011 social-impact report, released in late May, Indego Africa had found that 61 percent of the women at Cocoki had learned to speak English, while just three years earlier, none of the women
in the cooperative could speak English. Nakate also has an educational component: Knox has started paying artisans in Kampala to go to Kakooge and teach women how to make more items, other than the paper-bead jewelry. “Part of the goal,” Knox says, “is to transfer over our buying completely into just the rural areas of the country.” These organizations operate on a “trade, not aid” mission. They believe that real economic and social change comes from introducing artisans to larger markets and building entrepreneurial skills. Aid doesn’t seem to have made life better for people living in Rwanda or Uganda— and, arguably, may have even blunted the entrepreneurial creativity of African women. For a long time, Knox says, a white person coming to Uganda meant donations. Because of that, the women who live there never thought that they had anything worth trading. They never thought, Knox says, “I have something beautiful and handmade that the global market could benefit from.” Through Nakate, Knox is helping the local women see the value of their creations, through the direct effect on the lives of Ugandan women living in poverty and by showing them they have made a beautiful piece of jewelry or a woven basket that is desirable in a wider market. “There is a global movement, especially from the African diaspora,” says Heath, “to start businesses on the continent and give resources to entrepreneurs.” Organizations and companies have begun to realize, she says, that business and entrepreneurship are crucial for sustainable development to occur.
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9 5 fashion week
to
How to incorporate the trends of this year’s Fall Fashion Weeks into your working wardrobes
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by Kate Jacobsen
B
eing a fashionista is a tough job for any girl. There is a reason that the Twitter hashtag #FashionGirlProblems was created. I, for one, happen to be a frequent abuser. A typical fashion week (actually month) for a fashionista goes as follows:
Fashion Week kicks off in New York. Attend or watch live streaming shows of all of your favorite designers. Process trend round-ups from New York. Attend/watch London Fashion Week Attend/watch live streaming shows of all of your favorite designers. Forget trends from New York. Process trend round-ups from London. Attend/watch Milan Fashion Week. Attend/watch live streaming shows of all of your favorite designers. Forget trends from London. Process trend round-ups from Milan. Attend/watch Paris Fashion Week. Attend/watch live streaming shows of all of your favorite designers. Forget trends from Milan. Process trend round-ups from Paris. Favorite retail stores begin carrying their Spring and Summer collections. Discover your newly re-instated excitement for mint green, floral prints, neons and the life aquatic. Wait! What were the Fall fashion trends again?
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See a pattern here? #FashionGirlProblems, indeed. As quickly as trends go in and out of style is how quickly you will forget about fall fashion. We’re all working women, so we’re naturalborn multi-taskers and planners, right? Luckily, at TheWorkingWardrobe, we love to foresee problems such as these and help eliminate them before they get out of hand. I took it upon myself to become your Fall fashion forecaster and personal style advisor so you can flawlessly incorporate the hottest INTERNATIONAL trends into your work wardrobe. I believe I have put together the ultimate fall style guide to help you reach internationally-acclaimed style status at your office.
Trend: Patterned Pant Suits Designers: Miu Miu, Anna Sui, Prada As much as we all appreciate Miuccia Prada for taking a standard business suit and transforming it into a wearable Pablo Picasso painting, organized chaos doesn’t always translate well to the typical office environment.
The trick to making this bold trend work for your work wardrobe is to incorporate at least one solid piece into the ensemble to act as a neutralizer. Because patterned pants are so popular right now, I used the daring pattern on the pant instead of the blazer. Also, from a practicality standpoint, patterned pants can be mixed and matched more effectively with other items in your closet. To incorporate another popular fall trend, I mixed contrasting patterns with a button down shirt to go underneath the blazer. And, instead of pairing the pants with a matching blazer as Miu Miu and Anna Sui did on the runway, I swapped it for a solid-colored plum blazer. Keep in mind that sporting a patterned business suit is a stylish way to wear fall’s boldest and trendiest colors. Have fun with your look by
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choosing a color palette as shown. Here, I opted for burnt orange, plum and accents of turquoise and grey. You may still need a little bit of gumption to wear this look to work as you will attract lots of attention; however, the apparently impossible can be possible and stylish.
Trend: Sheath Dresses Designers: Michael Kors, Luisa Beccaria For fall, there are definitely trends that will be harder to mix into your work wardrobe than others, the patterned business suit being a prime example. A trend that made its way to the runway internationally that will be simple to integrate into your work wardrobe is the sheath dress.
The styles ranged from sleeveless Lela Rose, to long-sleeved Michael Kors and structured Lanvin, to straight-fit Erdem. I was particularly drawn to the long-sleeved sheath dresses because they require less styling to make them appropriate for the office. Hassle-free and stylish?? It can’t get much better than that. Even though we saw a lot of black and oxblood and other rich colors for fall, pale neutrals held their ground, with a significant presence on the runway, i.e. in winter white and champagne. A champagne colored sheath will serve as a great investment piece because it’s a color that can be worn during fall and winter and will carry over well into the spring. Also, the lace detailing makes the sheath dress an effortless option. All you will need to do is slip on the dress, add www.TheWorkingWardrobe.com
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a pair of demure gold earrings and a mint green skinny belt, and you are good to go. In the colder months, the dress can be paired with boots, sheer tights and a blazer. No stress involved, and you will still look super chic and stylish for work. Watch out Kate Middleton! TheWorkingWardrobe readers are about to give you a run for your money and your style title!
Trend: Glossy Glitter Designers: Marc Jacobs There is a saying, “All that is GLITTER is gold,� which in my opinion, gives anyone and everyone unprecedented permission to wear glitter to the office. Kill that age-old myth now that you have to be a pre-teen to wear glitter. If worn properly, it can add an air of elegance and sophistication to any outfit. A little glitter never hurt anyone, right?! Be prepared to draw the eyes of all of your co-workers.
I was wildly inspired by a magenta Marc Jacobs glossy glitter double-breasted pea coat that transports a dreary cubicle from drab to fab. I adored it so much that I included it as part of look #3. A spectacular statement piece like this coat is not meant to be mixed with anything bold but simply muted by neutrals. Your overall outfit will look more put-together when you are complementing - not trumping or obscuring - the best piece(s) you are wearing. You will be showered with compliments while all of your friends are secretly taking notes behind your back. Try pairing the coat with a high-collared button down white oxford shirt and a grey tweed pencil skirt. Not crazy about wearing it as a blazer to the office? Use it as your staple outerwear for Fall! But if you muster up the courage to glitz out, then your outfit will definitely do all the talking for you.
Trend: Embellishment Designers: Dior, Christopher Kane, Peter Pilotto If you can muster up the courage to wear glitter to the office, then why not indulge in another luxurious and statement-making trend by incorporating embellishment into one of your work outfits? Embellishment, like glitter, is another trend that will take some courage to wear, but it’s definitely attainable.
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Once again, crush the idea that embellishment is meant only for your next gala event or a night out with your girlfriends at the club. I wear embellished skirts with leather jackets and round toe pumps one day to the office and then distressed boots and a denim vest the next. My office environment may be a little bit more casual than most, however, so I’ve come up with another option for you, TheWorkingWardrobe reader. Inspired by the pre-Mad Men era and Dior’s “new look,” I took a full-skirted shirt dress and paired it with an embellished sweater. Dior was ahead of his time with his design. This “new look” will never look outdated, especially in the office. Dior revolutionized women’s fashion because he foresaw the growth of a workforce that included sophisticated working women. Peggy and Joan’s office looks and even Betty’s stellar stay-athome mom looks were influenced by this era of fashion. If you’re still worried about looking too dated at the office in such a 50’s-inspired look, then the solution is to incorporate modern elements i.e. color combinations, shoe choices, accessories, etc. Leave the gloves, head scarf, clutch, red lipstick and cat eye sunglasses at home and opt for gold bangles, leather laptop bag, magenta lipgloss and aviators instead. To make this look absolutely up-to-date, I incorporated yet another popular fall runway trend: black and gold. This outfit will be your perfect go-to for those nights that you have to jet to an after-work event. No outfit modifications needed.
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Trend: Modern Military Designers: Salvatore Ferragamo, Max Mara Every look discussed to this point has been very feminine, with glitter, glitz, gold, brocade, and bold colors and patterns. It’s time to bring a little bit of edge to the office. Typical of most fall fashion weeks, there is once again a military-inspired trend on our radar. Don’t fight it; surrender to the trend.
Military-inspired looks tended to be the most popular with the Italian designers including Max Mara and Salvatore Ferragamo. Don’t be fooled into thinking that military-inspired looks are too harsh for the office. Due to the elaborate detailing of the buttons, structured shoulders, neutral colors, impeccable fit and the use of luxe fabrics, military jackets are a no-brainer when it comes to your work wardrobe. Be sure to invest in one that fits the listed qualifications. Military jackets can be long and worn belted, like a trench coat, or cropped. They can also be paired with dresses, skirts, and cropped skinny pants. I personally was drooling over a Burberry Prorsum military trench that could easily pass for a dress. For the perfect office look, I pair a cropped leather military jacket with a simple blouse and high-waisted flared tweed trousers. The jacket can be buttoned up or left open and accessorized. Sporting a look like this will leave you victorious in any office setting. A piece of advice and a secret: Wear at least one item a day that you know you will draw compliments. The secret is that you can look stylish in any outfit. You just need the confidence to own your look. With the key styling tips I’ve provided, I hope I’ve eliminated your use of the hashtag #FashionGirlProblems - at least until Fall Fashion Week brings us the Spring 2013 trends!
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A Week at Work told through
instagram You may think that we at TheWorkingWardrobe are chained to our computers and do nothing but spout content all day long. Well, that’s partly true, but we also have a work routine! Follow us as we document our work days through Instagram. Yes it was work, but golly It WAs Fun!
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r. kott
s. dowgray r. yeomans
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r. yeomans k. jacobsen
r. kott
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CHIC pantone your
by Sayeh Pezeshki
office
As The Office Stylist, I come across some amazing products for any and all workspaces. Whether you have a cubicle, kitchen office or corner office, you’ll love these amazing Pantone supplies and accessories. Want to add a bit of color and life to an otherwise dull workspace? Pantone is your best friend. Take a peek at my top Pantone picks for any workspace.
amazon.com Pantone Spiral Notebook $15.98
dickblick.com Metal storage boxes $19.95
popdeluxe.net Pantone Chips Journal $9.95
popdeluxe.net Pantone Universe Bone China Mug $14.99
pantone.com Honeysuckle Journal $9.95
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recipes for
working women
by Kristen Koch
Here are two of my FAVORITE stove-top summer dishes - no hot ovens required!!
No-bake saute e d s h r i m p w ith ar ug u la an d tomatoes toss e d w ith an g e l hai r pasta
(Notes: The key to this dish is the shrimp: You need 1 lb of large uncooked shrimp, peeled and deveined. Also, remove the tails prior to cooking, because no one wants to pause every 10 seconds to take the tails off while eating their pasta!) 1 Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat 1-Tbsp + 1-tsp of olive oil over medium-high. 2 Add 1 of cup of cherry or grape tomatoes and cook, stirring often until tomatoes begin to blister (approximately 2 minutes). 3 Add 1 minced garlic clove and cook until fragrant (approximately 30 seconds). 4 Add shrimp and cook, stirring often, until shrimp is almost opaque throughout (approximately 4 minutes). Add 4 oz (4 cups) of baby arugula. Toss until wilted (approximately 1 minute). 5 Season with salt and pepper, then toss with angel hair. Makes 4 servings.
lasag na
w ith z u c c h i n i
(Note: When selecting lasagna noodles for this recipe, do not use the no-boil kind.) 1 Cook 8 lasagna noodles, cut in half crosswise according to package directions; drain. 2 Combine 1/3 cup ricotta cheese, 3 Tbsp grated parmesan cheese, 2 tsp of olive oil in a small bowl, and salt and pepper to taste in a small bowl. 3 In a large skillet, heat 2 Tbsp of olive oil over medium-high. 4 Add 1 small garlic clove (minced) and 2 pints of grape tomatoes (halved). 5 Season with salt and pepper and cook until slightly broken down (approximately 3 minutes). 6 Transfer tomatoes to a bowl. 7 Add 1 Tbsp olive oil and thinly sliced rounds from 2 zucchini to skillet. 8 Cook, stirring, until zucchini are tender (approximately 5 minutes). 9 Transfer to a second bowl and stir in 1 Tbsp torn fresh basil leaves. 10 Spoon tomatoes onto 4 plates. Top with a noodle. 11 Spread cheese mixture on top. 12 Layer zucchini and more tomatoes and then another noodle. 13 Repeat layering twice, and then top each with remaining noodles and tomatoes. 14 Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and little balsamic vinegar (be careful not to over-do the balsamic - a little dash is all you need!). www.TheWorkingWardrobe.com
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SCENE outfitting your
event
Events come and go. That … is a fact. Something that is too often overlooked is the planning that happens weeks (or even months) before an invitation ever hits your desk.
For a moment, put yourself in the shoes of the event planner - a role you might play yourself one day. Planning the perfect event can be quite a task. For starters, drop the word “perfect” altogether. Know right now that, just like any production, many things will go right - but most of them will go wrong, or at least change beyond your expectations for them. I studied film for a bit before I went into fashion, and my professor used to say, “10% of movie-making is actually filming – the other 90% is problem-solving.” Always remember this when you are in your event planner shoes. (Preferably Louboutins or a nice pair of Allen Edmonds!) Now that we have dropped the idea that this event will be the perfect, we can move on to the real deal. This calls for a list:
1
The Venue: When scanning invitations, I always check the venue first. Partnering with the perfect soiree location is pre-eminently important. Think of the venue as the outfit for your event. What do you want your “outfit” to say about your party? Elegant and subdued? Casual and tipsy? Earthy and philanthropic? The venue will set the tone for the entire event. What will your party be wearing?
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TheWorkingWardrobe . digital
by Ryan Beshel
2
The Sponsors/Partners: If the venue is the outfit for the event, then the partners are the accessories to the outfit. Like accessories, partners or sponsors can make - or break an outfit. Choose partners that highlight the theme and brand of your event and are consistent with the tone of the event. You wouldn’t give out tequila shots at a couture fashion show at Four Seasons, now would you? (I certainly hope not.) An example: Cotton Candy Couture (http:// www.cottoncandycoutureshop.com/#) is a new clothing brand, made by a local Chicago designer. Jenna (the owner/designer) has announced the launch party. She has the perfect venue: a candy store. She has the perfect sponsor: Cotton Candy Liqueur. She has the perfect name: “A Night of Eye Candy.” This outfit works with its accessories.
3
The Attendees: Now that you’ve laid out your outfit and selected your accessories – you have to decide whom you’ll be partying with. The saying, “You ARE the company you keep,” – is a saying for a reason. (Because it’s true.) The attendees at your soiree can very easily determine whether the outcome of your event is positive, negative or - worst of all - “okay”. (Work to avoid the phrase “okay” ever being applied to your event.)
The guest list should be created with your goal in mind. Is this an event to raise money for your favorite charity that saves the whales? Then, invite board members from the local aquarium and people who are not, er..”financially challenged” (and who are in the giving mood). Is this a personal party to celebrate your birthday? Then, invite all your friends and the attractive individuals with whom they hang out. (Especially emphasize those individuals who are single and date-able. Think doctors here.) Is this an event to expose your new garment collection? Then, invite the most fashionable people you know - the city’s top editors and a handful of social media stars. (You can never have too many people talking about that amazing dress you made.) Now that your event is dressed, accessorized and equipped with its posse – it’s time to make this party dream a reality. Enlist a solid support staff to work with you at the event. Though we all like to party, you must impress on your team that they are there to work – not to drink too much and pass out under the cotton candy machine. You also must be sure to hire staff to record the night’s events. An event photographer – with a video crew – is a must! These photos and video can be circulated, post-event, to those editors you invited. Plus, what good is it to have an amazing party that you can’t remember? (Because, believe me, it will FLY by.) Finally – and most importantly – be sure that you’re the best-dressed person at the party. Find an outfit that emphatically declares, “I am THE Party Planner and I am here to handle business!” After all, you wouldn’t want the event itself to be better dressed than you, would you? Now … go get ‘em, tiger! www.TheWorkingWardrobe.com
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STOCK
LIST
fashion gps photographer
Barry Druxman
model
Yordanos Akalu
make-up hair
Ernesto M Casillas Mitzi Spallas
art director
Antonio Esteban
wardrobe stylist
Antonio Esteban
Page 13 Image courtesy of Indego Africa Page 15 Images courtesy of Indego Africa Page 14 Necklace: Nakate, $110 Africa Bib: Indego, $395 at www.dannijo.com (“Kamanzi Bib� From our DANNIJO collaboration) Cuffs: Nakate, $80 Page 16 Baskets: Indego, - $11 at shop.indegoafrica.org
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most of these stories not only show strength, but they detail true success through courage, perseverance and pure stubbornness. You have to fall down before you can fly, right?