By Fashion & Style Contributor, Karen Curtis, YourStylistKaren.com

The best advice I have received regarding my career was given to me while I was a participant in an organization called INROADS. The advice still rings true, “Dress for the job you want, not the one you have now.” Truthfully, appearances and the items we select for our career wear matter; be assured that others (upper management) are taking note. Good grooming, flexibility, and hard work are important but equally important is your presentation.

Here are my top tips for presenting a polished professional look with your career wear:

1. Hem your pants.
Pants that are not tailored correctly can look silly if they are too short or sloppy if they drag on the ground. It is a rule of thumb that the same pair of dress pants should not be able to be worn with both flats and heels. Check out this article for suggested lengths and more examples.
2. Check your sleeve length.
Having your suit jackets and blazers tailored are a must. Sleeves that are too long or too short can also give the impression that you do not care about your appearance. A good measure is to check that the cuff of your sleeve hits just under your wrist when holding your arms by your sides.

3. Purchase blouses that flatter.
It is so distracting and not to mention unprofessional to have a button-up shirt that gapes and shows your cleavage or undergarments (see below). If you are well endowed then be extra positive to make sure your shirt does not gape by stretching your arms to test the blouse before purchasing. If your shirt fits perfectly in length but still gapes then try using fashion tape to keep everything in place.

 Sigourney Weaver (photo credit – Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez, Getty Images)

4. Wear appropriate undergarments.
There is nothing more uncomfortable than to see someone with bunched underwear or panty lines. Your slipped bra strap should also not be a regular fixture. Get fitted for your accurate bra size, make sure you are wearing the right size in all other undergarments. It is a good policy to have a black bra, nude bra and a white bra. If necessary, invest in good smoothing shapers, slips and even control top pantyhose.

L to R: Nicole Kidman, Cheryl Cole, Celine Dion, Rihanna (photo credit- Style 36)

5. Invest in good shoes.
As ladies, we tend to cross our legs. That elevates your shoes and makes any scuffs, holes, and worn heels very evident. Invest in two classic pairs of heels, two flat pairs and two pair of kitten heels that are comfortable enough to last through the day. When you notice that your shoes are looking worn, take them to be repaired or donate them to Goodwill.

Simply put:

“If you don’t have fit, you don’t have style.”- Stacy London

What tips do you have for selecting the right career wear to get the job you want?

The post Dress for Success: 5 Tips For Selecting the Right Career Wear appeared first on The Cubicle Chick.

As you may have read in previous posts, I am a fan of Ross Dress For Less. This Digital Debutante loves a fabulous deal, and I also like to be able to go to one place and find something for everything—me, my kids, my home—Ross Dress For Less is a one stop shop!

I recently visited the new Ross store here in St. Louis and got some good deals. I blogged last week about my purchase of Spring items that I am using to brighten up my home for the season, and with the prices at Ross, I was able to get a lot.

Ross is also in the midst of their Shoe Madness. You can vote what your favorite styles are and be entered to win $100 Ross gift card on their Facebook page. A winner is selected every week.

In addition, you can find plenty of steals and deals on shoes at Ross. Designer labels, too. Fresh inventory every few days guarantees that you will hit the goldmine each time you visit.

And because I am such a Ross enthusiast, they’ve partnered with me to offer one of my readers a $25 Ross Dress For Less gift card. Entry is easy, but you must be a TheCubicleChick and Ross FB follower.

To enter, simply leave a comment below letting me know what you’d like to purchase with if you won the gift card.

One (1) winner will be selected at random. U.S. residents only, void where prohibited. This giveaway ends on Wed., April 10th at 7pm CST and the winner will be announced on my Facebook page. The winner will have 48 to claim their prize or another person will be selected.

So—what would you purchase with a Ross Dress For Less gift card?

Disclaimer: TheCubicleChick.com was given a gift card in exchange for this review and giveaway. The opinions above belong to the author and are not indicative of the brand.

Photo credit: Ross Dress For Less

The post Ross Dress For Less Shoe Madness and $25 Gift Card Giveaway appeared first on The Cubicle Chick.

Written By: Style and Fashion Contributor, Coco Michelle

Is anyone as giddy about autumn as I am? After a long, hot summer it’s absolutely joyous to feel a crisp chill in the air! Whether you’re cuddling in the football stands with your sweetheart or taking the kids to a fall carnival, you will need warm and stylish outerwear. Here are a few ideas to get you excited about this year’s fall outerwear trends!

(1) Get in touch with your inner British with a Toggle coat and riding boots. Can’t you just see yourself taking the kids to school or attending an outdoor concert in a Toggle coat with a warm turtleneck underneath. What a great look!

Tommy Hilfiger Wool Toggle Coat

(2) Scarves are definitely a must. They are a great layering item and a fabulous way to show off your individual style. But have you ever noticed that it seems as though you can never tie a scarf quite right? I’ll admit that I’m in that unfortunate club. Here’s a helpful little hint…go to YouTube. Just visit YouTube.com and search for demos on tying a scarf. It’s amazing but true. Problem solved. Now, go ahead and get your scarf on!

Jessica Alba ties one on

(3) Sweatshirts are no longer for the sweaty gym. This stylish former-gym wear is a great way to wear layers when the morning is cool but the afternoon is warm. Or you can wear your sweatshirt alone à la Jennifer Beals in Flashdance. Either way, you’ll look trendy and stylish and have the comfort of a warm, cozy sweater.

Photo compliments of HarperBazaar.com

(4) You can never go wrong with a classic trench coat. The trench can be worn over almost anything and they never go out of style. Look in the back of your closet and you probably have a long-forgotten trench coat. Way back in the day, our grandmothers and aunties wore trench coats to flaunt their style. Nowadays, we can follow in their footsteps and add modern elements to update the classic trench coat.

The fabulous Audrey Hepburn rocking a timeless trench coat

BCatThreads.com

What fall outerwear trends do you find irresistible?

The post Stay Warm This Fall With These 4 Outerwear Fashion Trends appeared first on The Cubicle Chick.

School has been back in session for a little while now and Fall is officially here. We’ve been spending a lot of time around here preparing for the cooler weather, which has certainly been affecting the St. Louis area. Making sure that The Chicklet has the proper attire for school has been my priority—with her taking the bus and walking to the bus stop together, I have to make sure she is ready for whatever weather is taking place. Rainy mornings sure make for interesting wardrobe choices.

Recently, The Chicklet and I got the opportunity to do some shopping at Ross Dress for Less to pick out some great clothing items for school. She likes picking out her own clothes now, so I am giving her more responsibility in that area (although I have to co-sign everything she chooses, of course). It makes our shopping trips fun, and because she has a flair for style herself, we end up having a ball looking for fab clothing she loves.

I’ve blogged before about Ross, and as you know, I am a fan. Because if you can get fashionable and designer clothing and rock bottom prices, why wouldn’t you shop there? There is always a good selection and we leave with a bag full of items which doesn’t cost a mint. And since The Chicklet is growing like a weed, investing in a lot of money into clothing she may only wear a few times isn’t something I want to do.

A few weeks ago, we took a shopping trip to Ross Dress For Less to pick out some Fall items for The Chicklet. There was so much to choose from, she took awhile getting through everything.

The Chicklet picking out her clothing

Halloween stuff!

One of the outfits The Chicklet got from Ross Dress For Less

Ross Dress For Less is giving me a $25 gift card to give to one lucky reader. With Fall upon us and Halloween just around the corner, the gift card should come in handy. Here’s what you have to do to enter:

• Follow The Cubicle Chick on Facebook
• Follow Ross on Facebook
• Leave a comment below letting me know what you will be shopping for if you win the Ross Dress For Less gift card

That’s it!

One (1) winner will be selected at random. This giveaway ends on Wed., October 10th at 6 pm CST, and winner will be announced via my Facebook page shortly afterwards. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only, void where prohibited. If the winner selected doesn’t claim their prize within 48 hours, an alternate winner will be chosen.

Good luck! And remember to Fall Back Into Style with Ross Dress For Less!

The post Fall Back Into Style with Ross Dress For Less Gift Card Giveaway appeared first on The Cubicle Chick.

With an 8 year old busy little girl in my midst, there is always plenty of laundry to do. There’s school, ballet, gymnastics, and other extra curricular activities she is involved in, and it seems I am always doing a load of laundry. It’s important to me to have a laundry detergent that gets our clothing not only clean, but keeps them in good condition and leaves a fresh scent. I recently got the opportunity to try Tide Original with Acti-Lift, and while I have been very loyal to the current laundry detergent I use, I am always open to trying something new.

I used Tide Original with Acti-Lift for a full 7 days. We washed 6 loads of laundry.

One thing that I loved right from the beginning of my week with Tide was the scent. The scent of Tide Original is fresh and clean and almost—zen like. While folding the clothes, I kept sniffing them over and over, they smelled so good.

I also noticed that my clothes (especially whites) seemed more bright and vibrant. I always thought that my usual detergent was really good, but using Tide Original makes me see that maybe I could do better. My daughter’s clothes especially came out bright. With her wearing several new outfits for back to school, I noticed that after one wash with Tide Original, they held their color and brightness.

I was most impressed with my towels. They all came out fluffier after using Tide Original. And I wasn’t the only one in the family that noticed—my 18 year old (who washes his own laundry) remarked that his towels were like they were when we first brought them home.

Also, when reviewing a product, I try not to take the easy way out. When my daughter came home from school with a huge stain on her shirt from a Sloppy Joe lunch, I knew that it was time to put Tide Original to use. All of the Sloppy Joe’s stains were removed and the clothing looked fabulous.

I am not sure if I am going to switch completely to Tide Original, but I will tell you, after using my current laundry detergent for over five and a half years, I am now thinking about making the switch.

A clean you can trust. That’s My Tide. What’s Yours? Find Your Tide at tide.com.

For a brilliant clean every time.

The Tide Original you love.

It’s the Original Tide you love.

The Acti-Lift formula contains technologies to help lift off stains with ease.

Brand Statement:

For over 65 years, Tide has been caring for the clothes of families, and helping to provide the everyday miracle of clean clothing. Tide offers a variety of products to solve your individual laundry needs. There is a Tide that is right for you, let us help you find it.

Disclosure:

Compensation was provided by Tide via Glam Media.  The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Tide.

The post Tried and True: My Week Using Tide Original with Acti-Lift appeared first on The Cubicle Chick.

When I saw that a new Nordstrom Rack was opening off of Manchester Rd. in West County St. Louis, I was more than excited. Being the fabulous girl that I am, I love designer items at budget prices. Nordstrom Rack has become the go-to place for glam items that won’t break the bank, and since Manchester Rd. is just a hop, skip, and a jump from my house, I knew it would be the start of a great friendship.

The Manchester Rd. area in West County (which includes Des Peres and Ballwin) has a lot of hot and happening spots that I frequent. One of the places that I love to visit in between my shopping jaunts and errand running is Go Spa! Located just east of West County Mall on Manchester Road, Go! Spa offers premium spa services like manis and pedis, massages, and facials. They even have services like a Pedi on the Go that was created for busy gals who want to partake in a pedicure but don’t have a lot of time. The fab pink and white building is a great place to relax and unwind, and they also have a boutique of items including OPI nail polishes, clothing, and more.

If you are looking for a great place to wine and dine, The Elephant Bar located on Manchester Rd. and New Ballas Rd (near West County Mall) is a amazing spot. With a full menu of items that are tasty and a drink menu to dine for, I love going to The Elephant Bar in between my shopping trips to get a good meal. It’s also a hang out spot for me and my girls!

As you can see, the Manchester Rd. area in West County can keep a girl busy!

The new Nordstrom Rack Manchester is opening on Thursday, September 13th. Opening Day festivities include Golden Hanger, a game in which you can win $100 redemptions to be used in the store (one hanger per customer). These hangers will be hidden throughout the store! Also, customers can experience a Race Through the Rack, a sweepstakes opportunity which you can enter to win a 90-second shopping spree in the store.

The first 1,000 customers who make a purchase at the new Nordstrom Rack at Manchester Highlands will receive a complimentary Nordstrom Rack tote as a gift.

Breakfast and entertainment will be on hand during Nordstrom Rack’s ‘Rally Around the Rack’ celebration. So see, you want to be there on opening day to celebrate, possibly win some goodies, and shop for fab items!

Here’s what you can expect at Nordstrom Rack at Manchester Highlands:

+ Discounted apparel, shoes, accessories and cosmetics for men, women and kids

+ Premium denim for men and women

+ Tens and Thousands of pairs of shoes including designer shoes

+ Over 2,000 men’s ties

+ Over 1,000 handbags

+ Mobile check-out devices

+ On-site alterations

I hope to see you at the Grand Opening at Nordstrom Rack at Manchester Highlands!

Store Info:

NORDSTROM RACK 249 MANCHESTER HIGHLANDS – OPENING 9/13

100 Highlands Blvd Drive

Manchester, MO 63011-4379

Directions: On Manchester Road just east of Highway 141

Brand Statement:

Nordstrom Rack is the off-price division of Nordstrom, Inc. offering on-trend clearance merchandise from Nordstrom stores as well as items purchased specially for Nordstrom Rack. The store offers significant savings on great brands with most at 30-70% off. For more information visit www.nordstromrack.com.

Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nordstromrack and follow the @Manchester_Rack to learn about merchandise arrivals, promotions and events.

Disclosure:

Compensation was provided by Nordstrom Rack via Glam Media.  The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Nordstrom Rack.

The post New Nordstrom Rack Manchester: St. Louis Hotspots + Store Details appeared first on The Cubicle Chick.

Written By: Style and Fashion Contributor, Coco Michelle

After a long, humid summer, nothing feels better than a cool, crisp autumn breeze. Finally, summer is on it’s last leg and soon we‘ll happily pull out our sweaters and boots and scarves…oh my!

It’s time to go shopping for this season’s latest Fall fashion trends. There’s no better way to celebrate Autumn than by adding a few strategic fashion pieces to your closet. You can be on fashion’s cutting edge by adding these six hot looks to your Fall wardrobe!

Cinched Waist
A cinched waist is not only slenderizing, it is also one of the hottest Fall trends. The cinched, structured waist was all over the Fall fashion runways. From the androgynous military chic look to the tailored, matched pants or skirt suit. This season’s cinched waist conveys a touch of brawn with a hint of curvy sexiness. Pair this look with sky high heels and you are all set for Fall!

Say it with Nail Color
Make a style statement with bold nail colors and designs. Red nail color will never die! But you can expand your color palette with egg plant purple, navy blue or bright chartreuse. A twist on the bold nail color trend is the “reverse” French manicure with titanium-colored tips instead of the traditional white. Fabulous!

Color Blocking Fab
Another trend making a comeback is color blocking. I thought I’d seen the last of color blocking in a 1990’s Guy music video. But it’s back and amazing! The 21st century color-blocking interpretation is sleeker and less pronounced. You’ll notice this trend in shoes and accessories.

Necklaces & Chokers
Be daring and purchase a big, chunky necklace. The round, bibbed necklaces and chokers can be used to accentuate your décolleté and nicely accessorize a modest blouse.

Think Floral Prints
You’ll feel chic and feminine when you add bold, dark floral prints to your Fall fashion palette. Floral prints have been a trending item since the Spring. But Fall’s floral prints are moody, dark and mysterious with rich, Asian-inspired hues of red, green and purple.

Silver Metallics

Throw away convention and wear white and silver this Fall. White after labor day? Absolutely! Plus, this look is suitable for almost everyone! Young or old, thick or thin, there’s nothing more alluring than a woman ignoring convention and rocking white and silver on a cool, crisp day. To pull off this Fall look successfully, the silver (platinum, titanium)should be prevalent but not overbearing. Fabrics should be heavier and more substantial. Muted make-up and a long, sleek pony tail will complete the look!

You will be fly, fabulous, and fashionable with these 6 fashion trends that will surely be making an impact during the fall season. Purchasing a few of these signature trend items will take your looks further.

What are the trends you are most looking to see this fall?

Photo credit: Glamour

The post 6 Fall Fashion Trends That Will Make You Tumble for Autumn appeared first on The Cubicle Chick.

The first full week of school is now in the record books and The Chicklet is enjoying her 3rd grade class thus far. School shopping this year was a little interesting, because my daughter is growing by leaps and bounds and becoming quite the young lady. She is also growing out of her clothing faster than ever.

My usual go-to places for buying The Chicklet’s school clothing has always been Justice for Girls and The Children’s Place. This year, I decided to take advantage of the many sales I saw at both Gap Kids and Old Navy, allowing me to buy many items without spending a load of money.

Below is a rundown of each outfit The Chicklet wore during her first week of school. Each outfit is under $49 (not counting the shoes).

First Day of School: Gap Kids

Gap Kids London t-shirt

Gap Kids t-shirt and skirt

“I Love My Shoes” Gap Kids t-shirt

Old Navy Love Rules dress and polka dot leggings (I’ve rubbed off on her!)

5 days, 5 fab outfits that can be interchangeable and worn with other items.

Who says kids can’t be both cute and fab on a budget?

The post Back to School Style: Gap Kids & Old Navy appeared first on The Cubicle Chick.

Written By: Guest Blogger, Heather Smith

A lot of people do not realize it, but what color clothing they put on in the morning can affect their whole day. Not only do certain colors make you feel different when you wear them, but the colors also make people react differently to you. But what does each color mean? How can you pick which color to wear depending on what you need to get done that day? Well, here is a brief outline of a few colors and what wearing that color will do for your day.

1. Black – Black is the stand by color for many people. It is the first color they will pick out, especially for a formal event. That is because black stands for authority, it is timeless and it makes you look skinner. What more could you want from a color?
2. Grey –If you have a day where you really want to be seen as confident then wear grey. Grey equals confidence, sophistication, and harkens back to the good old days. A great color to wear if you are younger and want to be respected by a group of older people. Plus, this color can be paired with almost anything to brighten it up!
3. White – If you want to come across as clean, crisp and efficient, then white is the color for you. Not only is it light, making it cool to wear in the summer, but it also is a clean pallet to add additional colors or keep it simple and stark to stand out.
4. Red – We all know that red is the color of aggression and intensity, but did you know it also creates energy? Wearing red can make you more productive and also help you to stand out in a crowd. If you want to make yourself known, wear red.
5. Yellow –Yellow is the color of power. It is light and great to wear in the summer. It is also a fun color that can brighten up a dull outfit and show you have a creative side. Yellow can help with concentration, too, so if you have a long, hard day that needs to go well, wear yellow.
6. Green – Green is relaxing and calming. Since it echoes the primary color of nature, it can make you seem more approachable and easier to be around. Green is also the color of money, which is also attractive. If you want people to come your way, wear green.
7. Blue –Another peaceful color is blue. Since the sea and the sky are this color, wearing blue makes people feel at ease. Strangely, blue is also the color of loyalty, as in ‘true blue’. If you want to be trusted and calming, wear blue.
8. Purple – Purple is the color of royalty, luxury, and sophistication. When you wear purple you are saying you have money, culture and a romantic side.
9. Brown – If you want to look solid, dependable, reliable and genuine, then wear brown. Brown is a stable color that makes people want to trust you with important tasks and decisions. If you want more respect and responsibility, then wear brown.

You would not think that color has such a great effect on people, but it really does. A certain color can change your whole day and even your whole life. So, whether you want to stand out, fit in, show your loyalty, or make friends, make sure you pick the right color or color combination.

 What is your signature color? How do you think this color represents you?

Author Bio

Heather Smith is an ex-nanny. Passionate about thought leadership and writing, Heather regularly contributes to various career, social media, public relations, branding, and parenting blogs/websites. She also provides value to hire a nanny by giving advice on site design as well as the features and functionality to provide more and more value to nannies and families across the U.S. and Canada. She can be available at H.smith7295 [at] gmail.com.

The post Color Wheel: What Your Clothing Color Says About You appeared first on The Cubicle Chick.

Written by Fly11, Fashion Chick, The Cubicle Chick.com Style Contributor

Remember in preschool picking the loudest and most vibrant colors from the crayola palette and splashing them against paper until someone said “How lovely?” Well because we aren’t five, the onlookers might be a little more critical than nice when observing your latest attempt at color blocking. Worry not! It’s easier than you think and once you preview these Color Blocking Commandments you’ll be a walking billboard for what everyone else should’ve done this morning. “I don’t need to try color blocking. I’m happy without” you say? This is the part where I remind you that color used to be your favorite thing to do in preschool…tap into your inner child and fearlessly go where all fashionable closets have gone before.

Color Blocking Commandments…

1. Thou Shall Use Solids: mixing trends can be fun and a way to set yourself aside from the copycaters of fashion mag’s who do everything by the book. However, mixing the wrong trends would be style suicide. So as much as you may want to throw in a print or pattern such as stripes with your color blocking extravagance…please note that color blocking is most righteously done with solids for the full color effect.

2. Thou Shall Strive for Color Balance: yes fashion is both art and science. This color balancing aspect may very well be the trickiest of tasks. When color blocking, all items must have equivalent pizzazz. If you choose one pastel hue, all other colors must be of the same color depth. If you choose a bright cobalt blue, then your other colors must be just as bold such as a fire engine red.  Mixing pastel and bolds might turn out well for you but it won’t give you the color blocking look that has been haute for at least the last four years.

3. Thou shall Use Complementary Colors: these are the colors that appear directly opposite from one another on the color wheel. Check out the wheel below to get a few ideas on color combinations for your next color blocking attempt:

4. Thou Shall Start Simple: a cobalt blue dress matched with bright yellow shoes is probably the easiest road to take. As you get more comfy with yourself, you can throw in a bright red sweater or jacket but remember to stop there before you become an example of a “do not” listed below .  Of course you are not limited to the colors described above but try to stick with a solid brightly colored dress and shoes of a complementary color of you are a newbie to color blocking. This tip is also important because it is the least likely to cut your figure in places and areas that may not be as flattering. With a dress, you get a solid fit that either works or it doesn’t.

The post The 5 Thou Shall’s of Color Blocking: Tips For Rocking the Trend appeared first on The Cubicle Chick.