Renttherunway.com

A friend recently emailed me an article about a new website that allows you to rent special occasion dresses at up to 90% off store prices. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about the service yet. Pros: 1) getting a designer dress for a special night at a large discount, 2) same day delivery in New York and 3) they send you an extra size in case one doesn't fit. Cons: 1) the dresses are still on the pricey side, 2) you have to return the dress and 3) even with the extra size, there's a risk you won't like how the dress looks on you. I'm willing to keep an open mind and I'd definitely like to know what Professionelle readers think of this new service.

Art Online

First of all, congrats to all of my friends who recently found out that they passed the [New York], [Massachusetts], [insert state] bar! My life these days is filled with work, fixing up my apartment, more work, more fixing up my apartment, some food, some sleep, and repeat. This schedule probably sounds familiar to many of you who recently moved to start a new job. I've pretty much taken care of the necessities (couch delivery next week!) so have turned my efforts towards the aesthetic. Read: my walls are totally blank.

Last week, my office mate introduced me to this great website, 20x200. The site offers high quality prints from emerging artists for as little as $20. Each week 2 new pieces are introduced (one photograph and one work on paper). 200 limited edition pieces are printed and sold for $20 (hence the name!). You can buy bigger prints for $50 - $2000. Here are a few of my favorites.

Trash Mountain by Megan Whitmarsh

West Nineteenth Street (Yellow Dress) by Joseph O. Holmes

Saint-Pierre by Ian Carpenter

Gosling Lake by Kurt Tong

Travel Inspiration: Greece

Stop 3: Greece

To Do: Rent an ATV and cruise around the Greek Isle of your choice, stopping in picturesque villages and ancient temples. Finish the day with a late dinner and drinks at Tropical in Fira, Santorini. The view is to die for and the American music is a welcome change from the constant techno beat that can be found pumping through every island, day or night.

To Eat: Greek salad (which we ate at every meal), Mykonian sausage, Mousaka, and grilled octopus. Yum!

To Wear: The Greek Isles are all about cool breezes, crisp colors, and luxury fit for the fabulously chic. Below is an outfit that will last you through all of those late night parties.

Wink Harmony Dress (260.00)

The Crimson Issue?

Hello from Kansas City! I'm writing you from a cozy little coffee shop called Latteland in the Plaza area of KC. Being in the Midwest with one week to go before I start work has led me to reminisce about school, which in turn reminded me of this article Sarah's boyfriend sent me a while back. I know there's at least one of you out there (you know who you are, you yellow shirt, teal shorts wearing, bracelet matching, you) who likes her men dressed like this:

But, will Harvard's venture into the fashion world be a success?

Ushering in Autumn

As many of you know, I've been in Hong Kong and China for the last month or so, traveling and basking in the tropical (if polluted) weather. Today is my last day here so I'm preparing myself for the brisker weather of New York. Once I find an apartment in the city, this will be one of the first Fall pieces I order.

Cape of Good Hope (97.99)

Facebook Warning

Hello Professionelles!

Greetings from Hong Kong! I'm interrupting my vacation for a very important post. My boyfriend and I have been traveling in Asia for about 10 days. We've had an amazing time (Travel Inspiration: Hong Kong coming soon!). A few days ago we went for a home cooked dinner at my parent's place in Hong Kong. As soon as we had finished eating, my mom whipped out a photo album and began showing my boyfriend old pictures of me. If you know my parents (or parents in genera), this shouldn't surprise you whatsoever. What was surprising, however, was that one of these pictures was from Facebook!

I know it's become common for parents to be on Facebook, but neither of my parents have succumb. Furthermore, I thought that I had protected myself by setting my privacy preferences so that only my friends could see my pictures. After questioning my dad about where they had gotten the picture, I learned that there are search engines in Hong Kong and China (and since the internet isn't exactly country specific, it's probably available in the US as well) that use dummy accounts at various networking sites to pull information about you.

Then it all began to click. Here's the scenario: you get a friend request from someone you've never heard of. Perhaps they belong to a network you belong to, or perhaps you see that they have 20 friends in common with you, so you accept their request thinking that maybe you forgot meeting them. If this sounds familiar, then you've probably inadvertently provided information about you and your friends to these sneaky search engines. So, while I had set my privacy settings high the friend of mine who had posted the picture may not have or may have inadvertently befriended one of these fake accounts.

Creepy no? It's no big deal that my parents had a picture of me, but how do you prevent this information from getting into the wrong hands? Here are some tips:

1) Don't do anything you wouldn't want posted all over the internet. This is obviously common sense. If you never do it, there can never be a picture of you doing it.

2) Double check your privacy settings to make sure only the people you want seeing your information can access it. Remember that photo albums have their own privacy settings so you'll need to change those individually.

3) Go through your friend list and de-friend anyone you don't recognize. Trust your instincts. If you don't remember meeting someone, you probably didn't. Furthermore, decline all future friend requests from people you don't know.

4) Take down embarrassing pictures of you or your friends and don't be afraid to ask your friends to do the same for you. A good friend would never want to embarrass you on the internet and will understand if you're not comfortable with a 4 year old college party picture being out their for the world to discover.

Travel Inspiration: Egypt

Stop 2: Egypt

To Do: Cruise down the Nile stopping to see awe inspiring temples covered in amazingly preserved hieroglyphics and tombs of the pharaohs in the Valley of the Kings.

To Drink: Mint tea at a coffee shop as the locals play dominoes nearby.

To Wear: A peak out of the plane window during our flight from Cairo to Aswan revealed the importance of water to all living things. The Nile river snaked through a stretch of lush green vegetation surrounded by endless desert where the water could not reach. The vision was striking and inspired the following khaki and green combination. The pattern on the neckline of this Vena Cava for Gap dress also reminded me the heavily adorned necklaces worn by the pharaohs.

Vena Cava for Gap Khaki Dress (54.99)


Dance Platform Pumps (298.00)

Travel Inspiration: Colorado

So sorry for the long absence! The bar is finally over! Congrats to those who also took the July bar and best of luck to those in states releasing results in the next couple of weeks. As for me, I will be gearing up for work and continuing to pretend like the end of July, 2009 never happened (at least until November).

I'm currently back in Boston, but have been fortunate enough to have traveled to some pretty spectacular places in the three weeks following the bar: Colorado, Egypt, and Greece. This, and the next two posts, are sort of a mini travel journal; inspiration drawn from three unique cultures and landscapes.

Stop 1: Estes Park, Colorado

To Do: Take a hike. I did it, which means that you can too. Leave the Louboutins at home, stretch those quad muscles, and get ready take in some amazing views and crisp mountain air.

To Drink: Water. Sweet, sweet water. Delicious water is abundant in Colorado and little did I know how precious it was until I left Colorado for Egypt.

To Wear: Being in Colorado reminded me of how pristine yet fragile the Earth can be. It inspired me to look into options for environmentally friendly professional clothing. The following dress, from Nimli.com (a green online retailer) is natural, organic, sustainable, and affordable to boot. It's also gorgeous and completely work appropriate.

Nature vs. Future Classic Cut Dress (158.00)

Mental Break

I probably shouldn't be posting this (or posting at all) since the Bar Exam is less than a week away, but here are two of my favorite ways to take a mental break from studying. Also great for those of you already in the real world who need some help getting through a slow Wednesday at work.

1) The Best of Youtube. Here's just one example, visit the website to see hundreds of similarly entertaining videos.



2) Lucky Magazine's list of the top 100 online retailers selling items for under $100

The September Issue

A documentary about Anna Wintour? It's enough to make me come out of my bar review cave and post.

News on Women

Sorry for the brief hiatus. The fear of the bar exam has finally hit...

Today's post is about one of the most informative websites I have seen in a really long time: Newsonwomen.com. The website is written by a former Executive of Chase Bank (and in the interest of full disclosure, the mother of a friend). Newsonwomen.com reports on rising female stars in business, government, education, science, and the arts. The purpose is to use information as a tool for advancing women professionally, and the information is truly inspiring. I urge you all to check it out.

A Suit in a Pinch

A good friend of mine (not saying who) got a spur of the moment clerkship interview while visiting her boyfriend. Of course she didn't bring a suit with her so she needs to find a suit, buy a pair of shoes, and research the judge all in 24 hours. I figured I'd help her out. These pieces are all from major national retailers so they should be relatively easy to find.

Banana Republic Petite Cotton Suit (209.00): Like me, my friend is petite and definitely does not have time for alterations


J Crew Isabel Dress (188.00): This is a great option if she packed a cardigan. A dress is infinitely more versatile than a suit if the right suit can't be found.


Theory Gabe Suit (660.00): I've never met a Theory suit that wasn't worth the investment. Buying a suit like this will last her a lifetime.

Understandably, my friend is willing to invest in a nice suit since it's something that she will probably wear again, but she already has a million pairs of heels so here are a few very inexpensive, interview appropriate shoes.

Dexter Patent Pump (24.99)


Maryam Slingback (26.99)


Anne Klein Darena (26.99)

Lastly, Good Luck!

Simply Beautiful: Creature Comforts and Kindred

I hope that Professionelle has become one of your favorite blogs, but I thought that today I would share with you one of my favorite blogs: Creature Comforts. It's where I go each day to escape the dingy cave that is Austin North by simply looking at some beautiful things. The author, Ez, makes the prettiest collages of artwork, crafts, and products.

She also does a Chic for Cheap post each week. This one on office decor seems particularly fitting.

And her latest venture, Kindred, provides gorgeous (and free!) images to download as your desktop along with downloadable note cards. I particularly like the downloadable gratitude notes, where you can make lists of things you are thankful for (great for those days when you need a little perspective).

Summer Chick-lit Review

Last month, Professionelle suggested a few public transportation worthy books, but apparently summer is the season for new "Chick-lit" and the New York Times has done the work for me this time. Check out this article for a comprehensive review of the good, the bad, and the downright cheesy books targeting women this summer.

Thanks to Neeraj for the link.

Brilliant Idea: Paperless Post

We're all used to Evites and Facebook invites, but Paperless Post provides a classier way to send invitations for your upcoming event. The new website offers customizable invitations that are delivered to your guests in an electronic "envelope" like the one below:

Users can customize the paper, font, and motif of their invitation as well as the "envelope" that it comes in. Guests can reply with an RSVP (also on pretty electronic stationary). Unlike Evites and Facebook invites, the service is not free, but it is definitely affordable. Users must buy "stamps." For $5 you can purchase 60 stamps. This service may not be cost effective for a casual weekend barbecue, but may be an inexpensive alternative to sending out pricey paper invitations for your graduation, wedding, or baby shower. Besides, since it's paper-free, it's also green! Below are a couple of examples from a recent New York Times article:

Thanks to Phyllis for this great find!

Etsy Accessories

Etsy is one of my favorite websites. It's an Ebay for all things handmade and vintage. The website is very hit or miss but there are some great finds. I particularly like it for jewelry and home goods. Below are a few of my favorite pieces. Home goods will be highlighted next week.

Yoga Elephant Necklace (27.00)


Green Briolette Earrings (26.00)


Mixed Goodies Bracelet (98.00)

Work Bag Feature

Although in the ideal world you would never have to bring home work, in reality you probably will at some point. Here are some attractive work bags that you could use to carry all your work papers and still look chic at the same time .

J. Crew Canvas Boardwalk City Tote (48.00)

Lodis Briefcase/Tote (248.00)

Coach Madison Julianne Bag (458.00)


Anya Hindmarch Carker Black Patent Leather Bowling Bag (1150.00)


Valextra Babila Bag in Tundra, available also in Rose Petal (2450.00)

And finally, to brighten your day...

Stella McCartney Cloud-Print Shopper (185.00)

Deal Brief: Spring Steals

Old Navy is not at the top of most people's list when it comes to work clothes, but the retailer has some great pieces at even lower than normal prices right now. Here are a few work appropriate basics.

Lightweight V-neck Cardigan (24.50)


Linen-Blend Camp Shirt (19.50)


Essential Pencil Skirt (20.00)

Although Tulle describes itself as "hip, funky, and feminine," I spotted some deals that translate well from the street to the office.

Tulle Spring Look 1 (132.00 total for all three pieces)


Solid Cotton Sheen Paper Bag Skirt (31.80)


Tullette V Neck Dress w/Pockets (31.80)

Technology Tip: 30 Second Skip on Your DVR

I love my DVR and I'm guessing you love yours too. It's a professionelle's best friend. How else are you going to keep up with Jill, Bethanny, Jack, Kate, Serena, and Blair when you're spending prime time at the office?

DVRs are also great for skipping through commercials. Turning your "fav" button into a 30 second skip forward button will make skipping commercials even easier and your TV watching experience even more efficient. Push it 4 or 5 times, toggle back once or twice and voila! Click here for directions.

This tip was forwarded to me by a friend who saw it on Lifehacker, a technology focused blog with tips on how to make your life more efficient.

Graduation Dresses

HLS's graduation is next week. A reader asked for a post with some suggestions for what to wear to graduation or class day. Since most graduations are in the summer and caps and gowns can be hot, it's best to wear something cool. I know there's also the temptation to wear something "springy" but keep in mind that black gowns can bleed in the heat. I've been told by several sources that the HLS gowns we rented will bleed. So here are a few dresses that are darker yet still pretty.

Pique V-neck Ruffle Dress (78.00)


Floral Shadow Dress (22.80)


Linen Halter Dress (115.00)

A great opportunity to wear a light colored spring dress is at Class Day where no caps and gowns are required. Here are a few suggestions:

3.1 Philip Lim Pleaded Mini Dress (177.00)


Surplice Halter Dress (129.00)


Trina Turk Hawaiian Jacquard Secret Palm Dress (256.00)


Becky Babydoll Dress (151.00)

Blue Toe Nail Polish?

I want to add to Jiabei's post about the New York Times article on courtroom attire. Both this article and a story that a friend of Jiabei's and mine told me recently have gotten me thinking about the importance of workplace dress codes (both official and unofficial) and how far we, as employees, should push the boundaries of these codes. Must we stay safely within the guidelines or can we wear things that might be just over the line or surely right up against it?

This friend of ours when she was a summer associate at a business casual law firm painted her toes with blue polish and wore open-toed shoes to work. A female partner pulled her aside and told her that her toe nail color was unprofessional and that she should remove the polish. This friend then asked her associate mentor for advice on whether she should do as the partner said. The associate said that, especially in this economy, the friend should remove the polish to ensure she received an offer at the end of the summer. My friend did as she was told by the partner and the associate, but the experience influenced her decision not to accept her offer at that firm.

Was my friend right to wear blue toe nail polish and open-toed shoes to work? The judges mentioned in the New York Times article probably wouldn't think so. But my friend didn't think she was doing anything wrong. She wasn't trying to test the system. She is just a colorful person and painted her toe nails to express her personal style. But is my friend's intent to express herself even relevant to whether she did the right thing wearing blue polish to work? Maybe part of going to work each day is leaving our "selves" at home. Maybe employers are entitled to have "self"-less employees, and dress codes are a way to ensure that the workplace is a "self"-less place.

Assuming work is a "self"-less place, are employers right to make us check our "selves" at the door? This is a loaded question that often comes up in sociological studies of the workplace (for e.g. it comes up in scholarship on sexism and gender differences at work). Putting aside the larger philosophical and moral issues this question evokes, I think that employers are sometimes right to enforce dress codes at the expense of self-expression. An employer is justified in enforcing a dress code against an employee if that employee's attire interferes with the goals of the employer. For example, my friend's employer would be justified in making her take off her blue toe nail polish if her nail color made her a less effective courtroom advocate or dealmaker, if it offended clients or business contacts, or if it interfered with any other employee's ability to do his/her work.

But maybe this is too simple. I am already doubting my formula. Even if my friend's toe nail polish didn't interfere with her, or any other employee's, ability to do their jobs is she really justified in flouting the dress code (which lets assume prohibits colored toe nail polish)? The recent law student in me thinks "Oh no! Beware of the slippery slope!" What if my friend's cavalier toe nail painting encouraged other employees to violate the dress code? Eventually, inevitably, some employee would go too far and that employee's personal style choice would interfere with the employer's goal. So maybe it's better to nip the problem in the butt before it escalates, unfortunate as that would be for my friend.

So I guess I haven't decided whether I think an employer is only justified in enforcing a dress code at the point that an employee's attire interferes with the goals of the employer or whether the employer should also have discretion to enforce against minor deviations from the letter of the law of the dress code. Luckily, while this question is intellectually interesting and important to address in the long-term, it is not one that we need to know the answer to in order to know what to wear to work each day. My answer to the question of what you should wear to work each day is to dress conservatively. You should play it safe with your employer's dress code to ensure that you find yourself far from the black-and-white area in which your boss is clearly justified in telling you to change because your attire is causing an interference.

This is not to say that you can't have fun with your workplace attire. I would just be selective in how you choose to add flair to your work uniform. Identify the elements of your employer's dress code that leave room for originality and stand out through those elements -- Colorful pumps or handbags? A scarf? A patterned blouse? A long necklace? One of the goals of this blog is to help you find ways to flex your personal style even within the confines of a business formal office. If you would like advice on how to use a particular accessory or item of clothing to incorporate some flair into your look, please let us know in the comments. We would love to help!

Courtroom Clothing

Sarah's boyfriend shared a very interesting article with me this afternoon. It seems that the age old debate about whether conservative dress codes for women are sexist has hit the judges of the 7th Circuit.

What do you think? Should women be forced to cover up so that men don't feel uncomfortable? I personally think that dressing appropriately for work doesn't mean you need to stifle your personality (in fact, that's one of the main reasons for this blog), but come on, feminism is no excuse for showing cleavage or too much thigh in the courtroom. Women dressed inappropriately make me feel uncomfortable so why shouldn't they make a man feel uncomfortable as well? But perhaps I'm wrong, I would love to hear your thoughts and opinions on this issue.

Giving Back: Urban Debate

I'm sorry to have slacked a little on the posting this week but I'm back with a very important post. It's a volunteer opportunity that will allow professionelles to use their skills to improve the lives of underprivileged high school students. Most of us have benefited enormously from good education allowing us to succeed both personally and professionally. It's time to give back and support those who may not have access to the same opportunities.

Urban debate leagues bring debate programs into inner city high schools. High school debate dramatically increases the likelihood for future academic success among its participants. The statistics are impressive. The LA Times reports, "Literacy scores among debaters have increased by an average of 25%. High school graduation rates among regular participants are nearly 100%, and more than 75% of urban debaters attend four-year colleges."

There are urban debate programs in 18 cities across America and they desperately need enthusiastic and capable volunteers to serve as coaches or judges. I would imagine that each and every one of these leagues would love to capitalize on the skills of the professionelles reading this blog. No debate experience is required. Debate is actually an activity that is very easy to pick up so long as you have analytical and communication skills and the passion to impart those skills onto others. Here are the details:

If you're an HLS student, as many of you are, the easiest way to volunteer is to join Harvard Law Students for Urban Debate. Please contact, Hrishi Hari at Hhari@jd11.law.harvard.edu for more information.

If you're are not an HLS student but live in the Boston area, please contact Steve Stein at Steve@bostondebate.org for volunteer opportunities with the Boston Debate League.

If you live in Seattle, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Southern California/Orange County, Phoenix, Denver, Minneapolis, Kansas City, Dallas, Austin, Milwaukee, Chicago, St. Louis, Houston, Detroit, Memphis, Atlanta, Tampa, Miami, Providence, Newark, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, or Washington D.C., please contact Eric Tucker at Erictucker@urbandebate.org for volunteer opportunities in your city.

Finding the Right Fit

A proper fitting bra is key to looking the best in your clothes. Most American women wear the wrong size bra even though a bra is an item of clothing we wear every single day - all day! Professionelles, I urge each and every one of you to get a professional bra fitting. Switching to a proper fitting bra can make you look slimmer and feel more comfortable. Besides, bra fittings are often free!

Where to go get fitted
I recommend Intimacy. The store touts itself as "The Bra Fit Specialists," and as someone who has always had trouble finding a proper fitting bra, I can tell you that they were able to accurately size me up and provide me with comfortable, well fitting bras. Furthermore, they offer free alterations for the lifetime of the bra. Yes, bras can be tailored if you happen to be in between sizes.

What to expect at your fitting
Unlike chain lingerie stores such as Victoria's Secret, a real professional bra fitter will not use a tape measure to find your size. This means that the actual fitting experience will be...shall we say...a bit more intimate than you might expect. The fitter will poke, prod, and grope you until she figures out what size you are. So mentally prepare yourselves if this type of situation makes you uncomfortable.

Some common mistakes
1) Most women wear bras that are too loose in the band. This causes the bra to ride up in the back which decreases the amount of support in the front and can even lead to unsightly back fat. Back fat is caused by too loose - not too tight - bands.
2) Losing or gaining weight will change the size of your breasts. If you have lost or gained weight recently, then you're most likely wearing the wrong size bra
3) Bras bands are made of elastic that will stretch with wear. Although bras only need to be washed once every few wears, never wear the same bra two days in a row. Rotate your bras to make them last longer.

A few of my favorite bras
Keep in mind, not all of these bras will fit everyone, but they are all gorgeous. Sometimes wearing nice lingerie can make you feel better. Although no one other than you or your significant other will ever see your lingerie, just knowing that you have something pretty and feminine on undearneath your clothes can give you the confidence to conquer the day.

Simone Perele Fidji Demi Cup Bra (82.00)

Chantelle Sensua Convertible Bra (76.00)


Lejaby Capri Demi Cup Bra (115.00)

Copyright for fashion?

Representative Delahunt from Massachusetts recently reintroduced the Design Piracy Prohibition Act before the new Congress (a Senate bill will follow shortly). The Act would give copyright-lite protection for fashion designs for the first time in the United States (a similar type of protection has been effective in the European Union since 2002). What is copyright-lite? It's not a legal term. It's my attempt at describing the less-than-full set of rights that fashion designers would receive under the Act relative to book authors, music composers, and screen writers (to name a few traditionally protected groups). Instead of the usual copyright term of life of the author + 70 years, the Act would only protect designs for a term of 3 years. Additionally, instead of the traditional "substantially similar" test for copyright infringement, the Act would make it harder to prove infringement in the fashion design context -- a plaintiff would have to show that the allegedly infringing design is "closely and substantially similar in overall visual appearance to a protected design" and that this similarity doesn't "merely reflect a trend."

Is this Act a good thing? Scholars have written about the consequences the Act would have for intellectual property law and for the economics of fashion. But what about for us --would this Act, if it became law, be a good thing for us? Would it lead to there being "better" -- i.e. more "original "** -- fashion at cheaper price points? If Forever 21 could no longer rely on the designs running down the runway at the Prada and Dior shows to be templates for the clothing it puts out season-after-season, might Forever 21 re-work its business model and hire a set of in-house designers to create “original” designs for the company? Surely, this would cost Forever 21 more money. Would we be willing to pay a premium for “original” clothing? The fact that stores like Forever 21 do so well suggests that many of us do not have a problem wearing "copies" of high fashion designs and would probably not put a very high premium on originality. On the other hand, H & M and Zara, which strive to add originality to their designs and which do not engage in the identical copying that Forever 21 does, also have booming businesses.

Whether we'd be willing to pay a premium for original clothing comes down to two things: (1) Do we like original clothing better or do we like looking like the people that wear high fashion and like each other (because Forever 21 et al. mass-produce these copies, many of us are bound to be wearing the same copied design, while Prada et al. recognize that exclusivity is part of the what makes their clothes valuable and so make many fewer of each design)? And (2) Do we feel that we have a moral obligation to wear clothing that is not an exact knockoff of a fashion designer's hard work? The second question is more personal, and each of us may feel differently about it -- for some this may be akin to stealing, while others might consider fashion designs to belong to all of us as part of the public domain.

An answer to the first question, I think, is more capable of generalization. Most women get a sinking feeling when they see another woman at a party or at work wearing the same outfit that they are wearing. For most women, then, some degree of originality is important. But most women also like to go out each season and buy a few on-trend ensembles. To be on-trend, by definition, these women have to wear things that look similar to what other women are wearing. So this seems to be a question of degree. Most of us want to look somewhat original and somewhat similar. In the comments, I would love to hear how "original" you like your clothing to be and how important looking "original" is to you. Does it matter how "original" each individual piece of clothing is or do you feel sufficiently original combining knockoff pieces with other pieces and accessories to create your own unique ensemble?

** I put "original" in quotes because truly original (as we usually think of the word) is hard to come by in fashion -- pretty much everything that can be done has been done. Instead, what's original is the unique combination and arrangement of already-done elements (e.g. florals, ribbons, fringe, etc.).

Cosmetics Review

For the first time ever, I am completely content with the contents of my make up bag. After trying dozens of eyeliners, mascaras, and blushes, I have found the perfect combination. Below are the winners.

Mascara: Mascaras are my obsession. I have the tiniest, shortest lashes, so I'm constantly looking for a miracle mascara. In this category, I have three favorites. The first is Chanel's Exceptionnel ($30). It has a unique six sided brush. Three of the sides are combs and the other three are brushes. The formula creates incredibly thick and feathery lashes. You're supposed to roll the brush up and out when applying, but I find that putting it on the old fashion way works just as well. The second is Rimmel's Glam Eyes ($7.49). This is a great, cheap, alternative to Exceptionnel. If you have slightly longer or thicker lashes, this may be even better for you. The brush is also unique in that it's a four sided comb that seperates as it thickens. The third is Maybelline's Lash Discovery (6.59). This lengthening mascara proves that bigger is not always better. The mini brush grabs each lash individually and lengthens from root to tip. I like to apply Lash Discovery first, and then layer Exceptionnel or Glam Eyes on top.

Chanel's Exceptionnel


Rimmel's Glam Eyes


Maybelline's Lash Discovery

Pencil Eyeliner: I've been using the same eyeliner since I first started using make up. Estee Lauder's Automatic Eye Pencil Duo ($23) is by far my favorite. The liner is soft so that it always goes on smoothly. The pencil comes with a smudger on the other end, but you can buy a refil in a different color and put it on the other end instead. I currently have Black on one end and Charcoal on the other.

Liquid Eyeliner: I only recently started using liquid eyeliner. Admittedly, it takes some practice. But once you get the hang of it, it's easy to apply, and I like how it adds more definition to the eyes compared to a pencil liner. The key to liquid liner application is having the proper liner. I have found that it's more important to find a good liquid liner than it is to find a good pencil liner. My preferred liquid liner is Shu Uemera's Liquid Eyeliner ($18 for the empty pen plus $15 for the ink cartridge). $32 is a lot to spend on an eyeliner but there are several reasons to invest in this eyeliner. First, the cartridge lasts for several months. Second, take it from someone who has wasted $5 here and there trying on inferior eyeliners, dabbling in bad products definitely adds up.

Eye Shadow: I have brown eyes. Brown eyed girls, so I've been told, should wear purple shadow. I'm not sure how true this conventional wisdom is, but I just love Clinique's Colour Surge Eye Shadow Duo in Blackberry Frost ($17.50). It's the perfect combination of shimmery purple and deep gray to create light and dark constrasts.

Blush: I love that flushed, glowing look. Like you've just gone on a run, except, as anyone who knows me can tell you, without the running part because I loath exercise. I use a two step approach to creating this look. First, I apply Benefit's Benetint ($28). Next, I sweep on a very light layer of Nars Orgasm Blush ($25) across my entire face. The Benetint provides that subtle color while the Nars provides the slight shimmer. Do not, however, mistake Super Orgasm for Orgasm. I find that Super Orgasm is too sparkly for every day use which makes it definitely too sparkly for work.

Benetint

Nars Orgasm Blush

This is obviously not a complete beauty product review. I'm still searching for the perfect lip gloss or tinted balm combination as well as a lightweight tinted mosturizer with sunblock. If you've got any suggestions, please leave them in the comments section or on the Facebook page.

Shoe Report

Another reader asked for a post about work shoes because she has little choice in what kinds of clothes she can wear to work. Even employers with strict dress codes allow more flexibility in the shoe department. Here are a few of my favorites, from the classic pump to something a bit more daring.

Nine West Barbe Pump (69.00)
As many of you know, I wear heels nearly every day. I've searched far and wide for the most comfortable pair of heels and Nine West shoes are consistent winners. Plus, you can't beat the price on these classic pumps.


Mariana by GOLC Pam (119.95)
These adorable flats are playful yet professional enough to wear if your office is on the casual side.


Christian Louboutin Triclo Crisscross d'Orsay (795.00)
Now these are the kind of Louboutins I would invest in if I had an extra $800 dollars laying around (alas...). They're classic enough to make them worth the splurge, but they're unique enough that it would be hard to find something similar for less. Plus, they're incredibly sexy, and after all, isn't that the point of wearing Louboutins?

Public Transportation Worthy Books

I started a discussion on Professionelle's Facebook page with a call for post suggestions and a reader wrote in that she would like suggestions for books to read while riding public transportation to work. She, like most of us, likes the occasional chick-lit but wanted something that went better with a suit than a swimsuit. I have to admit, since starting law school three years ago, I haven't had much time to read anything other than casebooks. One of my favorite Saturday afternoon past times, however, is to go to the local bookstore. I head straight for the "award winning fiction" section and peruse the tables for the prettiest cover. I figure it's more acceptable to judge a book by its cover if it's already "award winning." Here are a few of my favorite books that I've picked up using this method. They're all deliberately targeted towards a female audience without being too lifestyle focused. After all, you shouldn't read novels for fashion trends, read Professionelle instead!

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
This is one of my favorite books of all time. Not a whole lot happens in terms of plot, yet the book is incredibly touching and romantic.


Prep by Curtis by Sittenfeld
Although the cover makes Prep seem like just another chick-lit, it's actually not chick-lit at all. It's the modern day A Separate Peace.


Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
I haven't read Olive Kitteridge, this year's Pulitzer Prize winner, but the synopsis looks interesting and it will probably be the next novel I read...after the bar exam.

Deal Brief:The Outnet.com

I was shocked to learn yesterday that Phyllis hadn't heard about TheOutnet.com so I figured that if she didn't know about it yet, most of you didn't either. TheOutnet.com is Net-a-Porter's try at competing with Gilt Groupe, Rue La La, and Hautelook. It's a hybrid of sample sale sites and more traditional sale websites like Bluefly.com. The merchandise is very upscale so it's not a place I check every day, only when I'm looking to splurge.

Here are a few of my favorite finds:

An entire page of Herve Leger dresses at 50% off


12th Street by Cynthia Vincent Draped Back Tunic (110.00)


Rupert Sanderson Regal Patent Mary-Janes (278.00)

Amazing Folding Technique

My boyfriend sent me this video a while back. It was on my old blog (it's finals time so I've resorted to recycling posts), but it's pretty amazing and promises to make doing laundry more efficient so you can spend your precious free time doing something more fun.

Online Shopping Review

These days there are so many ways to spend money online. Gone are the days when online shopping was restricted to Amazon.com or Ebay.com. Now, websites offer sample sales, sale alerts, and powerful comparison tools. Online shopping can be particularly useful (and oh so exciting!) for Professionelles too busy to hit up bricks and mortar shops or needing a break at work. Here are a few of my favorites as well as tips to make the most of your online shopping experience.

General Tips:

• Don't pay for shipping: Most websites these days offer free shipping. Usually free shipping on returns as well. For example, Endless.com, one of my favorite online shoe retailers offers free overnight shipping on most shoes. Amazing! If the website isn't offering free shipping directly, Google the web site's name with the words "free shipping" and you can usually find a free shipping code. People who hate online shopping often complain about the extra cost of shipping, especially if the item doesn't fit and needs to be returned. With free shipping, online shopping costs the same as in store shopping.
• Search for coupon codes: Stores often mail out promotional codes to preferred customers and sometimes those customers post their codes online for the rest of the world to use. It's definitely worth the extra effort to look for promotional codes.
• Price compare: once you find an item you like, make sure you look to see if other stores are carrying it at a cheaper price. This is as simple as typing the item into Google (notice a theme in this post?) and seeing what else pops up. If you do find the same item, in the same size, for less, you can check to see if your original retailer offers a price match or beat promotion. Also, make sure to check back within a week of your purchase to see if the price has dropped. Many websites will give you a price adjustment. For example, Zappos.com will credit you the difference within 10 days.

My Favorite Sites

• Sample sale sites: These websites take overstock items from designers, usually sold at sample sales, typically in New York, and puts them online. Most of these websites are "invitation only," but an invite usually just means a referral from a friend. There are two that I visit regularly: Gilt Groupe and RueLaLa. Both work in the same way. Each day, several new designer "boutiques" are opened. The sales last for a few days and the items are heavily discounted. Popular items go very quickly. From personal experience, when a Gilt sale is posted at noon each day, many items are sold out in 15 minuets. I personally prefer Gilt Groupe to RueLaLa, primarily because Gilt has better designers. RueLaLa will occasionally carry a designer I love, but Gilt is more reliable. Gilt, however, usually carries items at a higher price point than RueLaLa. A $500 bag is still unaffordable even if it is 75% off. A general tip for Gilt is to preview the week's coming designers and make sure to sign in at exactly noon on the day of the sale. Put all items you find initially desirable in your shopping cart. This will give you 10 minuets to decide if you want the item. When time runs out the item will be released to other shoppers. If you aren't already on Gilt, click here to sign up.

• Sale alert sites: My two favorite sale alert sites are Shop It To Me and Shopstyle. Sale alert sites send you emails informing you when items you're interested in go on sale. These sites allow you to customize the kinds of sales you're interested in by brand, category of clothing, or specific items (Shopstyle only, once you find a specific item you'd like receive an alert on, roll over the item, then click the sale alert button). You can also narrow your results by size and price as well as dictate how often you receive these sale alerts. Once you find an item you like, you will be taken directly to the online retailer offering it and you can make your purchase there. Shop It To Me also allows you to poll your friends on whether they like a particular item you're considering buying. When you receive your SaleMail alert click on the envelope icon under the specific item.

• Comparison sites: Comparison sites allow you to compare prices and styles. My two favorite are Like.com and Shopstyle. Like.com works by running visual, color, and detail searches of a base item or type of item you designate. For example, if you are looking for wedge sandals, search for wedge sandals. Once you find one you like, you can run a visual search which will pull up other wedge sandals that are similar. Through this search, you may be able to find something similar or even better for less. Alternatively, you can enter a specific item you know you like, but perhaps can't afford, or is not exactly perfect. Using the same search mechanism, you may be able to find a cheaper option or a more perfect item. Shopstyle is sort of a hybrid between aggregation websites (like yahoo or MSN) and social networking websites (like Facebook or Myspace). Shopstyle allows you to search a broad cross section of stores for theperfect item. It also allows users to create a profile , make a look book, or maintain a wish list. Other users can browse or follow particular people in order to find inspiration.

Brilliant Idea: Travel Trench

Last week I posted my favorite rainy weather gear, but I wish I would have known about this before posting:

Elie Tahari Double Breasted Travel Trench (263.90)
A clever travel trench that folds into a small pouch.