Monthly Archives: July 2011

Closet NON-essentials (images)

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I’m making a list of items to include on my “Vision Board” (Popularized by ‘The Secret’  via Oprah Winfrey). 

Do I believe in the law of attraction?  I don’t know.  I did this exercise not to elevate my spiritual practice but, rather, to motivate myself to “success”.  Here’s a link about the connection between visualization and success.  (Also, there are just tons of really neat gadgets and cute accessories out in the market currently.  It’s hard to save for an iPad when Oliver People’s continues to design the cutest sunglasses.)

I didn’t let “reality” get in the way of my list.  I listed everything I wish to have without the limitations of only having “three wishes”, “a million dollars”, or any other annoying things to consider.  I’m not negotiating with a genie here, I’m trying to motivate myself!

Here are some awesome things that are on my visualization board/wish list (this month):

1.  A new MacBook


image by apple.com/macbookpro
2.  Donna Karan Wrap Dress (Spring 2011)
Donna Karan.com

3.  Michele Jelly Bean Watches




4.  Boots




perfect for the office during Fall/Winter
5.  
to be continued…(obviously)

Kisses,
meg@myprettypinkponies.com

trackback to this post:  http://myprettypinkponies.blogspot.com/2011/07/closet-non-essentials.html

Closet Essentials – Part II. Checklist (images)

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 Checklist/tools: 
(retail and corporations refer to this as “business casual”) shirt, casual bottoms, flats, bag
“Business Casual”:
What a ‘worker’ wears in an office setting and other professional environments – vs. workers at a construction site – when formality isn’t required etc..
1.  basic white button up + closed toe pumps 2.  the sheath dress 3.  khakis + dark closed-to pumps 4. blouse + pencil skirt 5. separates  6. basic white shirt + solid black A-Line skirt
Your boss might appreciate your new Bottega Veneta bag, however, he/she cares more about how well you do your job and whether or not you can identify and respect office culture.  While some might have the luxury of expressing their unique individuality (including taking their pets to the office) at their workplace, many people start at an entry-level position in a large, secure company for health benefits, a steady stream of income, mobility and other smart reasons.  I can’t speak for all offices around the world, however, there’s a universal guideline to what is considered an “appropriate” and professional wardrobe.  Again, it would be prudent to start with basics and observe your particular company and office culture and deviate from the basics once you’ve learned what is ‘acceptable’ at your particular office.  Once you’ve got the basics down and earned a stripe or two, then perhaps you can add some “flair”.  When you’re at the top, you can wear and make people wear whatever you want.

Here are some common sense considerations that A LOT of professionals are too smart/busy/ lazy to think about:
  • fit, proportion, fabric, color(s)
  • clean?
  • stains?
  • wrinkled?
  • distracting?
  • comfortable?
  • appropriate undergarments?
represent your maturity, respect and professionalism at the office.  dressing like like you know your industry will set the tone for yourself as well as those around you.  carpe diem!
(to be continued…)
“Closet Essentials” Series:  Intro > Part. I / checklist > Part II. / checklist > Part III. / checklist

Closet Essentials – Part II. (images)

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(…continues from Closet Essentials – Part I.)

Part II.  Safety Needs per Maslow




Let’s put “safety needs” in a more accessible context.  Who protects us, provides us with law and order, and decides what we can and can’t do in society if we don’t want to be imprisoned (“limits”)?  Yes…the state.  What does this governing body expect in return?  Responsible citizenship.  What does that mean?  It means we have to hold jobs and pay taxes.  
Now, how do we hold a job?  In other words, what will we wear to work from 9-5 in a typical entry-level position within a corporation?  ”Part II.” provides insight to a category is referred to as “business casual” (note:  this is for a hypothetical setting in a generic corporation — yes, I understand creative fields, etc…have different dress codes).

Part II.  The Professional
Objective:  fit into the company’s culture without offending one’s boss and being seen as a professional.  That’s the only image we need at the office:  a professional.  Your goal is to impress your boss with the great job you’re doing.  Anything other motivations are irrelevant and will have to be dropped.

Tools:  company uniform, closed-toe shoes, nothing distracting and nothing that invites attention that delineates us from our job duty.

I know this doesn’t sound like the glamorous vision we had in mind as freshmen in college and we all thought we would wear fancy couture to the office everyday a la “Devil Wears Prada”, however, there are plenty other occasions where you can wear your sexy and flashy outfits.  And, if your priority is to keep your job (vs. become the office homecoming queen), then we must observe and follow guidelines.  (Read:  you are not Carrie Bradshaw and there are no paparazzi in the office for whom you need wear your vintage Halston dress.

You might also like the following links:
1)  ”Closet Essentials” Series:  Intro > Part. I / checklist > Part II. / checklist > Part III. / checklist
2)  How to wear tall boots

Closet Essentials – Part I. Checklist (images)

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Checklist/tools: (retail refers to this as “basics”) shirt, casual bottoms, flats, bags, etc…

“The Shirt”:
Tees, knits, button-ups, etc..










I’m not at all trying to dissuade you from justifying wearing your ten-year-old concert shirt/free-when-you-sign-up-for-a-credit-card-shirt/inappropriate-cartoon-you-got-as-a-gift-shirt/raggedy juicy couture sweats/etc… with the old excuse of being “economical”/making use of all your resources effectively…My point simply is that irrespective of your preferences and style — whether you’re miss hot-to-trot super-duper-model or too-deep-to-follow-fashion’s “rules” — have a ‘basic shirt’ as a default when having to be seen in public. 

Bottoms:
skirt, khakis, denim, cargo, etc… 
There are no rules.  However, there are guidelines.  From most relevant to least, when taking care of business around town, some things to consider when choosing bottoms:  
  • Are they clean?
  • Do they fit me well?
  • Are they comfortable?
  • Are they washable/easy to maintain?
  • Will they coordinate with > 75% of my tops?

Let this be a guideline from which to deviate your outfits.  Show respect for the people with whom you’ll interact while demonstrating maturity by being well ‘put-togeter’ (whatever this looks like according to your perosnal style).  If you run into your clients, employer, colleagues, highschool sweetheart, next weekend’s date…would you be embarrassed in what you’re in? 

(to be continued…)
“Closet Essentials” Series:  Intro > Part. I / checklist > Part II. / checklist > Part III. / checklist

Closet Essentials – Part I. (img)

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Part I.  Basic Needs (per Maslow)








In current vernacular, “basic needs” means things we have no option to say ‘no’ to (i.e. paying utility bills, rent/mortgage, visiting the bank, feeding our children, buying cat litter & doggie treats, post office, grocery store, et cetera…).  So to tie this tenuously with fashion, “Part I.” discusses what to wear when ‘out and about running errands’. 


Part I.  Running Errands
Objective:  get things done comfortably, without getting bothered by unnecessary attention, altercations, or other time-wasters…
Tools:  basic inoffensive clothing, flat shoes, container for documents, phone, car keys, etc…
(I don’t know about you, but I don’t particularly find running errands the highlight of my week.  While looking good is essential, looking like you’re desperate for a date or like you just rolled out of bed yesterday and are new to society’s basic expectations of decent public decorum will probably take you off track to getting things done as quickly as possible and getting home to get ready for an actual date.)

(continues in “Part I. checklist“)