Workplace Must Have - Lint Roller!

Every working girl should have a lint roller in her desk.  I have the cutest fourteen pound kitty (no, his name is not Garfield, but he is orange) and his hair always finds his way in my eyes, in my hair and of course, on my clothes.  So, what that means for me is I have to keep a lint roller, at home, in my car, in my desk, and even a mini one for my purse....

But, keeping a lint roller in your desk is not just for pet owners whose homes have been overturned by pet hair.  Non pet-owners can also fall victim to linty clothing.  Didn't clean the lint tray in your dryer, your overcoat left particles on your blazer or cardigan, or that infamous kleenex residue, all can leave you looking a little dishelveled.  Please know I am speaking from experience here!

While many may debate what really pulls together an outfit (and I am by no means Tim Gunn), my two cents says if you are wearing that fab Power Suit from "The Limited" or your brand new black cardigan paired with the cutest pencil skirt (both which are still their pre-wash jet black), nothing can turn that outfit upside down, like a colony of lint!

So the next time you are out shopping, add a lint brush/roller to your list.  Hint: even if you don't have a pet, try the lint rollers designed specifically for pet owners, that paper is so sticky, one swipe and you're good!

My Casual Friday

Every summer the company I work for allows a relaxed dress code on Fridays, which includes capri pants, sandals, sleeveless tops and other work appropriate summer attire.  I do a good job keeping it polished and professional on casual Fridays - so much that colleagues has taken cracks at my creased jeans.  Take it from me, you don't have to crease ALL your jeans but you should at least have 1 or 2 pairs of jeans that mimic a pair of slacks. 

While I don't venture too far from the creased jeans paired with a blazer or nice blouse, some Fridays I would rather wear the most hated type of footwear.  You know what I am talking about. Yes, flip flops.

I know Stacy London and Clinton Kelley from "TLC's What Not to Wear" believe that there is no occasion for flip flops,but I beg to differ.  I love to just slip them on to run to the grocery store, to the mall, to that summer jazz festival downtown or to Outback Steakhouse to grab a last minute bite to eat. 

I do have enough sense to not wear flip flops to work.  But, you would be surprised that not everyone does.

So, if your feet hurt from wearing heels all week, or you love your heels Monday through Thursday and on Saturdays, but just want to give your feet a break on Fridays like me (only because my Physician Assistant friend has scared me straight mentioning to me that I am ruining my feet by wearing heels every single day) or you simply want to participate in casual or relaxed Fridays...

Wear something like my Kenneth Cole leopard flats! 

Chic and comfy

and save these Old Navy Flip Flops for the weekend if you just have to wear them! 

And yes, I do have to wear them.

Broken-in and convenient!

Is professional attire in the eye of the beholder?

Ironically on the night of "Fashion's Night Out 2010" I read a story about female sportscaster Ines Sainz and the controversial outfits she wears when performing her job covering sports events.  While the story intends to discuss the sexual harassment she endured by a couple of the New York Jets players on Sunday, by the end of the article, the issue is clearly Ines' inappropriate choice of dress when she entered the office of football players - the locker room.

Check out the article which I found on lemondrop.com and see what readers have got to say.  Whoa - and the opinions on this topic. http://www.lemondrop.com/2010/09/14/ines-sainz-sexual-harrassment-jets/?icid=main%7Cmain%7Cdl5%7Csec1_lnk3%7C170626

Now, I've been nicknamed Carrie Bradshaw around my office (stylish, quirky, and great shoes), but I do keep it work appropriate.  While I choose to not place judgement on Ines' outfit selections from what I've seen and read, I'll just say that sometimes people just don't know what they don't know.  It seems like common sense to know what professional work attire is, but those lines can get blurred depending on what industry you work in and also based on what is communicated to employees upon hire and through the working relationship.

At the end of the day, this article brings up lots of topics: Professional dress, sexual harassment, gender double standards, and freedom of expression or choice.  Who would have thought an LBD (little black dress - for the guys who don't know this) could cause so much drama!