Thursday, September 29, 2011

Corporate Fashion: Dressing for the Rainy Day

Last Tuesday, I woke up to howling winds and heavy rains. By 7 am, power in our house went down so I had to scramble to assemble an outfit for work. Lesson learned: prepare your outfit the night before. Typhoon Pedring raged across the metro causing havoc in its path. And here's what I wore to work:


As you can see, I obviously dressed for comfort.

My gray jacket is another export overrun find. It's by a brand called Apt. 9. Did some internet research and this brand is available at Kohl's. You can get my jacket in black for USD48.10 (on sale from USD 74). I got mine for way less. Other color available was an olive green. The jacket is in a ponte material which has a very knitty feel to it. It kept me warm throughout the day so was pretty happy.

I added the floral printed top to put in a better mood in the dreary weather. I love how the floral pattern transforms me to happy summer days. The ruffle at the neck adds a nice detail. I plan to wear the top with jeans in the future. My top had no label but you can find a similar one in a different print at Banana Republic.

My black pants are another K and Company sale purchase. Invest in basics like these for your office wardrobe.

Finally, my shoes. Ah, the perils of dressing in the dark. Struggled to find pumps to wear and just grabbed the nearest pair. The shoes are O Oscar by Oscar de la Renta. It's his lower-priced line which does not seem to be available. They're round toe, patent platform pumps in BROWN. Sigh, it's a good thing it's not so noticeable in the picture. Yes, I know that I black and brown can be worn together.

Thanks for stopping by!

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Weekend Finds: Prints Crazy

Weekend Finds
The Corporate Fashion Slave was very busy last weekend. Made a trip with friends to our favorite store and, as you can see, I went a little overboard with the prints. With the weather this gloomy, prints are definitely one way to brighten your mood.

Catch these prints in my next posts.

Thanks for stopping by! 

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Corporate Fashion: Red Trench Coat

Rainy days and Mondays get you down? Wear a red trench coat like I did:


Red trench coat by Mango
Got the red trench coat when Mango went on sale last year so I don't think it's available anymore. The fabric is waterproof and perfect for trudging around in this rainy weather. Check out the beige and blue versions being sold by Mango on their website.

I wanted rain boots to go with my outfit instead of plain heels but I had a sneaking suspicion that I might end up looking like Paddington bear. What do you think?

Here's what I wore underneath the trench coat:



Dress by New York and Company
 The dress is from my favorite export overrun store and is from the brand New York and Company. They have similar dresses now on their website. Check here, here and here for the animal print version. The dresses on the website go for about 70 to 80USD but I got my dress for only 600php (USD15, approximate).

Heels are from Nine West and my ring is from H and M. Actually, it's my sister's ring which I borrowed. I'm hoping wearing this ring will cure my obsession for the YSL Arty ring but I doubt it.

Thanks for stopping by!

Monday, September 26, 2011

Fashion Inspiration: Wedge Booties

I'm subscribed to Shefinds and they recently did a feature on wedge booties. Here is blogger Rumi of Fashion Toast wearing wedge booties:

Photo from Shefinds
Literally screamed at my computer screen when I saw the feature.Going on a trip in the near future and I am on the hunt for fashionable but comfortable shoes to bring along while I go sightseeing. Will definitely be on the lookout for wedge booties.

My requirements:
- a basic color. Black is the safest but I'm thinking a tan color would help elongate the legs
- a good wedge. The wedge must be stable enough to go walking in for a long periods of time.
- a good fit - I don't want to cut off my ankles too much. My legs are short enough as it is.

The hunt commences.


P.S., I also love the Givenchy Nightingale bag she's carrying.

Thanks for stopping by!

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Casual Friday: Statement Shirt


Kept things casual for a Friday outfit to work. It didn't help that I was running late... again. I decided to go with one of my statement shirts. These are what I call my shirts with unique details that don't need dressing up. This shirt from Tyler has rolled up sleeves which you then attach to a button near the shoulders.

My jeans are from Dorothy Perkins with a good stretch material with a dark rinse and no feathering effect. All the better so as not to highlight the legs. Tied everything together with a belt from SM Department Store and brown wooden platform heels from Lyn which can't be seen in this photo but I'm too lazy to ask Carmen, my officemate, to take another shot. How do other bloggers take self-portraits?!

Thanks for stopping by!



Saturday, September 24, 2011

Fashion Inspiration: Really Petite's Leopard Print Cardigan

One of the blogs I love following is Really Petite. I find that her aesthetic is a fit to mine and that she features a lot of her corporate outfits which I can try to recreate using pieces from my own corporate wardrobe.

She recently featured this look on her blog:

Source

A leopard print cardigan! It was love! I have all the ingredients to recreate this look:

Necktie blouse - check
Dark-colored pencil skirt - check
Black clutch - check
Colored belt - check
Black pants - check

... except for the key ingredient - a leopard print cardigan.

This will be on my list this weekend. Any leads, ladies (and gentlemen)?


Thanks for stopping by! Have a great weekend.

Friday, September 23, 2011

Corporate Fashion: White Pants after Labor Day?

One of the fashion rules I find funny is the "no white pants after labor day" rule. If you were here in the Philippines, that would mean you can't wear white pants after the first of May? So weird. Hehehe. (Yes, I know it means that no white pants after the first Monday of September since this is a US holiday.)

For the past week, I've been perusing fall collections and seeing the return of darker colors. I wanted to give a shout-out to sunny summer days by wearing white pants. Here's how I wore my white pants:



My white pants are by K and Company which I got on sale several years ago. While K and Company is more popular for their office-appropriate dresses, do check out their pants. The pants are tailored and have a good fit to them. I grab a pair of pants whenever the store goes on sale. I like the fact that the material is not see-through.

My silk top is a Banana Republic overrun I got for only 150Php (USD4, approximate)! Yes, it's a steal. I love good finds like these.

My pink belt is from the SM Department Store. I love the accessories they carry which are all very affordably-priced.

The bangles are from Vita Fede and Janina Dizon. My pearl and ruby necklace is a gift from mom.

Thanks for stopping by!


Thursday, September 22, 2011

Corporate Fashion: Touch of Pink

Nearly forgot to take an outfit post today. Still new to capturing my daily outfit posts. Here's what I wore:

Sorry for the blurry shot. I need a new lightweight camera. But thanks to my lovely officemates, Kathy, for taking time out from work to take this picture.

What I'm wearing:



The top is by Religioso. I bought this over 5 years ago! At that time, it was around 2500php (USD60 approximate). A bit steep for just a top but I fell in love with the cowl neckline and the flattering cut. I'm happy it's turned out to be timeless and wearable even until today. I guess it pays to invest in some classic pieces.

The belt is from SM Department Store for under 300php (USD8 approximate). I loved the pop of pink it brought to my outfit. I love how wearing different belts can change the look of an outfit. I have a feeling my pink-loving sister will be borrowing this belt.

Cream pants are from K and Company. It's also more than 5 years old. Been thinking of doing the colored bottom trend but since I'm very conscious about the lower bottom part of my body, this may be as far as I would go in that department. But never say never.

Thanks for stopping by!

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Casual Friday - The Black Dress

Just a quick post on what I wore last Friday. We can get away with slightly more casual outfits on Fridays but I wanted to dress it up a bit. So here's what I wore:

Dress by K and Company, Gray Cardigan from Landmark, Blue and snakeskin belts from SM Department Store, Shoes from Stella Luna
 The black dress I'm wearing is jersey and super comfortable. The drapey cardigan from Landmark keeps me warm as the office can get chilly.

I layered two belts from SM Department Store to keep things interesting. I love the pop of blue while the snakeskin belt matches the overall gray and black tones of my outfit.

The details of my shoes aren't very clear from the photo but it has working zippers. Gives some visual interest to what could be classified as neutral shoes.

The orange Twilly worn as a bracelet adds a bit of color.

Thanks for stopping by!




Monday, September 19, 2011

Corporate Fashion: Amazon FSG - The Flirty Blouse

Here's the Amazon Fall Style Guide (FSG) on how to do the Flirty Blouse:

Photo from Amazon

Using items from my closet, here's my take on this look:



My pink dotted blouse was an old purchase from K and Company. I love this store and actually pick up a few pieces from their collections every year. They are a local Philippine brand and have stores in Rockwell and Glorietta in Makati. The pink polka dots are very feminine and I usually wear this blouse under a very somber black suit for a touch of whimsy.

The wide leg pants are from Topshop and I picked it up several years ago from a trip to Singapore. At that time, skinny jeans were the trend but I rebelled since skinny jeans do not work with my body type. Several years later, wide leg pants are now on trend. Do try to buy and wear items that work for you. The belt is a random belt I found at home and probably belongs to one of my two sisters. I like the touch of tan.


The black peeptoe heels with ribbon details are by Schutz. Bought them from Tyler when they were doing a buy 1, get 1 free promo. The suede material makes it very comfortable for the whole day but are a hassle when it rains.



Finally, here's a close up of the bangles. The blue bangle is from Vita Fede, purchased from Ava. The rest of the bangles are from SM Department Store for only Php399 (US10 approximate).

Thanks for stopping by!




Saturday, September 17, 2011

Corporate Break: Weekend Look using Miss-Match

 Trying out Miss-Match. It's the local version of Polyvore. Here's a weekend look I created:

Key pieces to the look:

White shirt - I love the clean and simple look of a good white shirt. The rolled-up sleeves are a bonus.
Long Skirt - I'm more comfortable wearing a skirt over jeans. Loving how easy and breezy this skirt feels.
Leopard print wedges - I love the leopard print. Wedges are perfect for the weekend.
Printed scarf - This colors of this scarf are a perfect complement to the leopard print wedges
Earrings - I love hoop earrings. I really think they jazz up a look.
Red bag - The red splash of color is refreshing and the polka dots feel so happy. 
Do you also create looks on Miss-Match? The best part about it is that all items are available locally. Really bad for the wallet but it makes creating the looks you want less aspirational and more achievable with the click of a mouse.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great weekend!




Thursday, September 15, 2011

Corporate Fashion: Amazon FSG - Luxe Cardigan

Here's the Refined Cardigan look from the Amazon Fall Style Guide:


And here's how I recreated the look for less:


Key pieces:

Outdoor Shot

The original cardigan recommended by Amazon is the Joie Liz cardigan for USD248 (Php9920 approximate). My wallet would have cried. The green cardigan is the Camilla boyfriend cardigan from Plains and Prints (Php995, USD20, approximate). I went with green as I wanted to update my color choices.  It worked really well with the navy tank. The cardigan also comes in black and gray. Tempted to get all colors.

My navy silk tank is a find from the Shopaholic! brand at the Girls Teens Wear section of SM Department Store. It retails for (Php499.50, USD13, approximate). It also comes in lilac. Here's a tip, if you plan to buy items worth Php1000 or more from the Girls Teens Wear department, ask the salesladies for a coupon to give you Php100 off. Every little bit counts.



More finds from SM Department Store include the snakeskin print belt (Php149.50, USD4 approximate). I went a little crazy at the belts section because I wanted to update my look with new belts. SM really has it all for you! You can't beat this price.

The pleated skirt is from Iora, a Singaporean brand. I bought this several years ago when I went to Singapore for vacation so I can't remember the price. I do know it was under Php1000 upon conversion and was 70% off.

My shoes are by Dolce Vita, purchased from My Habit. I only wore the shoes to fully recreate the essence of the look for this shot since I don't own booties. The shoes are surprisingly comfortable despite the 5" heels. However, I actually used a more conservative pair of gray peep-toe pumps for work.

The long necklace is my mother's. Grabbed it (with permission) from her dresser.

Have a nice day and thanks for stopping by.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Recreating the Amazon Fall Style Guide

I was checking out the Amazon website and saw their Fall Style Guide feature. I was so happy to see that I can recreate many of the looks featured.

Here are the looks in case you want to recreate them as well:






 All images from Amazon.com

I checked the pieces they recommended for these looks and with prices at the USD200 range for one item, it was time to shop my closet and find similar items to recreate. Do check out future blog posts as I try to recreate these looks with items from local brands.

Monday, September 12, 2011

Corporate Fashion for Less: Bag Look-alike


On her recent trip to Seoul, South Korea, my sister brought home this bag for me. Doesn't she look familiar? Here's why:

Oak Mulberry Alexa in Buffalo Leather (Buy here)

My sister knew that I was obsessed with the Mulberry Alexa so she got me a look-alike which she got from one of the popular shopping haunts there. Having seen the actual Alexa up close and coming within five minutes from getting it (my mother found me just in time and gave me the "look"), nothing really compares to the soft, supple leather of the Alexa. Also, the colors are not an exact match with the Korean bag having a more orange-y tinge than the Alexa. However since the Korean bag was only Php3000 (USD 75 approximate), it was a good way to try out the cross-body bag trend without committing to the Alexa's 785 pound price tag.

Been using the bag for a while now for work and for weekends and it's getting pretty beat up. I actually like the fact that I can sling the bag across my back since it's very convenient. The bag does get heavy and I think the Alexa will have the same problem. 

I may still get the Alexa in the future when I see one for a good price. Since the Alexa is looking to be a part of the permanent collection of Mulberry, I'm hoping to get the real thing very soon...unless my eyes wander towards the Celine Luggage Tote. But that's another blog post all together.

Do you buy look-alike bags to test trends?

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Corporate Vanity - A Good Haircut is a Must

As a Corporate Fashion Slave, one of the first things I splurge on is my hair. Many would disagree but I say otherwise.

First, your face (and your hair) are the first things people see. You do want to make a good corporate impression. Although, I must admit that I've been guilty of dragging myself to work with bedraggled, wet hair which I then proceed to tie into a bun.

Second, unlike clothes which you can't wear everyday, you "wear" your hair 24/7. If you splurge on clothes which you wear maybe 2 to 3 times a week at most, why not splurge on your hair as well since it's a part of your corporate wardrobe everyday.

Third, a good haircut frames your face, accentuating the good points and neutralizing flaws. It makes me feel good that my hair looks good. A good haircut also grows out well and can turn out to be a better deal than getting cheap haircuts every few weeks.

So, who does the Corporate Fashion Slave entrust with her hair? Louis Phillip Kee.

I tried Louis on a whim almost 7 years ago. Back then, he was just one of the stylists at Salon de Ken. One afternoon, I popped into Salon de Ken looking for Ken but he was away. The receptionist referred me to Louis and we really clicked. Since then, I have followed Louis to any beauty salon he transferred to until he finally opened his own salon in Bonifacio City. I have since recommended my family and friends to Louis and he has done wonders for their hair which is why they have become loyalists as well.

Here's a picture of his pretty salon in Bonifacio City. I love the wallpaper!

And how much was the damage - my haircut costs Php1480.00 (USD 37 approximate). Yes, at first glance, it does seem expensive. Let me do a cost per wear analysis:

No. of haircuts in a year: 3
No. of days in 4 months (12 months/3): 120 days
Cost/wear = P1480/120 days = Php12.33 (USD0.35)
(the price of a cup of coffee at the office vendo machine)



Viewed in this manner, a good haircut doesn't seem so expensive, don't you think?

Most stylists do recommend that you come back after 8 to 12 weeks to refresh your haircut. If you follow that rule, adjust the variables above accordingly. The computation above is merely illustrative and would likely apply to people who don't color or have their hair treated (i.e., rebonding). If you color your hair like I do, make the necessary adjustments. Since I am obsessed about my hair, I am willing to spend a bit more.

Here's a back view of my hair after cut, color and treatment:
I'm shy.
Where do you go for a haircut?


Disclaimer: This is not a paid advertisement. I paid for my haircut and other treatment but did receive a discount (10%) for being a VIP client.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Corporate Fashion: Lace Skirt

One of the blogs I follow is Extrapetite. No, I'm not extra petite, far from it. But I love her sense of style and her style tips which I then try to incorporate into my everyday outfits for work. In one of her posts, she featured a lovely lace skirt:


Since then, I've been on the hunt for a similar skirt. On a recent trip to one of those export overrun stores, I stumbled upon a lace skirt that came in black and cream. I pounced on both colors. The skirts were priced at Php400 each (USD10 approximate). With a little haggling, I got both skirts for only Php700 (USD18 approximate). I couldn't wait to take these skirts out for a spin. So here's my take on wearing the cream lace skirt to work:

 Sorry for the poor quality of my picture. I'm too lazy to bring my DSLR camera to work.

I'm wearing the black version of the Jupiter top featured in this Plains and Prints ad. 



The fabric is very comfortable. Do drop by the Plains and Prints store and check out the different tops. The one I'm wearing is priced at Php895 (USD23 approximate). 


I'm loving this lace skirt and I can't wait to wear it in other ways in the coming weeks.