Savvy Belle: Sample Sale alert!

(Image from Femme-iniste)

Yesterday I got a call from a friend demanding that I hotfoot to a Ted Baker Sample sale  after work.

I'm not a huge Ted Baker fan, although I do think they have vastly improved in their styles, but I've been completely out of the loop when it comes to what's on (blame it on the new job / frugal lifestyle 2010 resolution), so naturally I whizzed my ass there sooner than you could say Ted Baker. :)

 I had to queue for about 10 mins to get into the hall  where they were having the sale (my friend was already inside having got there earlier) and one guy came out boasting about how he had just bought 20 (yes, 20!) tops for his girlfriend and the total came £97!!! Touched by his chivalry, and amped about the prospects of snapping up some bargain I was ready to go (and so were the other 60 people behind me lol).

When I finally got in, located my (overwhelmed) buddy, put my game face on and went hunting.

Oh the chaos! The mess! The queues! The BARGAINS!!!!! Tops at £10, Jeans for £20, (Silk) Dresses for £15, Suits for £30,.....

<-------This dress was only £15! (normal retail price £75)













The sale is still on today (LAST DAY) so if you fancy stopping by after work, get the details on the next page....

Belle Career: The terrible career advice women give each other

Open your eyes Belles! According to fellow blogger Penelope Trunk, tall hat advice your (female) manager is dishing out might scupper any chance of personal success....

Here's what Penelope has to say:


"When I was starting my career, I was in the software industry, where there are few women. And then I moved into the tech startup world, where there are even fewer women. The whole time, I have found that older men gave me great career advice and older women gave me bad advice. I am not sure why this is, but I am pretty sure that most women around my age (43) have had similar experiences. They just won’t talk about it publicly.
Here are the three worst pieces of advice I have received about how to succeed as a woman in the workplace. I’m passing it on so that when you hear it, you’ll know to toss it into the mental discard pile.

Belle Inspiration: First Lady Michelle Obama

All hail the superwomen of our generation!

  

Michelle Obama epitomises the ultimate achiever in my eyes...

Michelle Obama’s CV is impressive: she was Executive Director for the Chicago office of Public Allies - encouraging young people to work on social issues - she was also the former Vice President for Community and External Affairs at the University of Chicago Hospitals. The media are also taking a shine to her. She was listed as one of the World’s Most Inspiring Women by Essence magazine as well as appearing in Vanity Fair’s 10 Of The World’s Best Dressed People.

Dr Audrey Nelson: Code Switching

In a women's leadership event co-sponsored by the Lokey Graduate School of Business and the Financial Women's Association of San Francisco, Audrey Nelson discusses her coauthored book, Code Switching: How to Talk So Men Will Listen.

Dr. Nelson defines code switching as the ability to use your knowledge of two or more cultures or languages and switch between them, depending on the situation, to communicate. "Rather than telling women to be more like men - a recipe for failure - Code Switching offers a way of reaching across the aisle to open the lines of communication," says Dr. Nelson.

"It helps both women and men speak in common terms so work gets done, conflict gets resolved, and mutual understanding and respect prevail...in the workplace and beyond."




More about Dr Nelson when you flip the page....

Object of Desire

I struggle to find bags that work for me. Granted I'm quite picky but I'm also quite petite so most bags out there are end up looking like they are carrying me, which, I 'm sure you will agree, is not the look to be going for!

Anytime I do see a bag that makes my heart go "ooh", it ends up being in the £thousands and whilst I have a propensity to spend like I have money growing out of my armpits, my physiological composition is quite the opposite.

Today, I came across this cute little thing from Coccinelle. I admit I had never really paid attention to them in the past, but as I am looking for a simple black bag to trawl around everyday that makes me look smart and effortless chic/expensive, I think this "barrel" bag fits my bill (and wallet!)

Pretty no?

Workwear 101: Top 10 work fashion crimes

1. Micro minis and cleavage - Katie Price Jordan  called: she wants her outfit back!
2. Flip Flops - the office is not a beach
3. Slutty Heels - keep the bedroom out of the boardroom please
   
   

High Street Belle: The Devil wears Zara

Zara has it all: prices that you love and styles that you crave. First of all I have to say that I am a HU-U-GE Zara fan. Their clothes are always fashionable without being too faddy. I think the best thing about Zara that places them above all the other High Street Staples (your Topshops, your H&Ms,....) is that their clothes are always "High End" inspired and they never look like cheap runway copycats (yes I mean you Primark!). The clothes look chic, they look expensive and most importantly for these credit-crunch + recession times, it's AFFORDABLE :)

Here's a perfect look for the office:

Basic, elegant and discreet. But, at the same time, it is a modern and fashionable look. Perfect for young professionals who are beginning their career and want to get a sober look but without losing their fresh and young style.
As seen in the picture, Zara has been able to put several basic garments together and adapt them to the style of these current times. The result is a great choice for working women: A high-waisted short skirt in black (over-knee length), dark stockings, a shirt in light sky blue, and a fitted grey blazer with some details in white to add a very fashionable touch. :)

Tuesday Wardrobe: beat the 11.45 stress

Apparently, Tuesday morning at 11.45am is the most stressful time of the working week.

Researchers found that nearly half of British workers identified mid-morning on their second working day of the week as the moment when they were most under pressure.

Most workers coast through Monday getting their brain in gear and catching up with gossip from the weekend through social networking sites.

But on Tuesday reality sets in and staff spend the first part of the day going through emails they ignored on Monday before planning the week ahead.

And 11.45am is the point when everything comes to a head.

 This smart and sassy outfit that will keep you looking your best no matter how stressful the day becomes:

(Image:Businesselle)

STYLE: SMART AND SASSY

WARDROBE
Pleated Jersey Dress, Alexander McQueen
Black Elizabeth 1V Fitted Jacket, Elizabeth and James
Patent Dog Tooth Belt, Jaeger
Black Python Platform Shoe, Katia Lombardo
Black & Mint Snake Laptop Sleeve, Violet May
Coin and Pearl Necklace, Jaeger

Christmas Parties...

Steal the spotlight this season

Its raining in London again...

Surprise Surprise....

(Image: Life)

Don't forget to show off your wellies :)!