Tag Archives: clothing

Let’s Ask: Where do we go for style advice?

After the success this week’s “What do we wear?”, we thought we finish off Style week with a quick survey of where we get our style advice:

Stitchfix.com 

“I never have to go to the mall again. They send me stuff I would never buy and I love it any way. I now have grownup clothes”

“Stitchfix is awesome because they send me clothes every month and I only have to pay for the ones I keep. They assign a stylist to look at my profile, my Pinterest, etc. and try to help me improve my wardrobe.”

Modcloth.com

“Modcloth is awesome because it’s preppy and quirky yet very professional, so it’s easy for me to find clothes that I can wear for both personal and work events.”

What Not To Wear on TLC

“I’ve watched enough What Not To Wear I don’t need style advice websites anymore. What Not To Wear is all about cut and dressing you for you. It’s not about what’s on trend right now so that’s why I feel the tips last forever!!!”

Some others… Style.com or Poorlittleitgirl.com

And, of course, there’s always good ol’ people watching…

Where do you go for your fashion advice?

Photo by Meaghan Morrison

The Best Places for Getting Fancy Online

The internet! The greatest invention ever? If you are a shopping maven, for sure! But at the same time, the Internet can sometimes be just too big to find exactly what you want to wear.  Yes there are the typical flash sale sites like Gilt or RueLaLa.  Or the standard online retailers like Shopbop, Net-A-Porter, or Piperlime. We aren’t going to talk about those though.

Don’t get me wrong, they are great sites. I just find them so overstuffed with subscribers that it’s hard to get something I want there in the size or the color I covet. That said, I still hit them up for holiday gift ideas, but I like to think bigger when it comes to adding that pop of color I need.

Online Garage Sales

Let’s put it this way: if you tend to fall into one of two extremes when it comes to sizing (small feet or giant feet for example), eBay is a really good place for you. You can find shoes, bags, and more. These are often used or vintage but for a great price. Do you have to be wary of knock offs? Yes. Can you return things? Not usually. But I know most of the people my age wearing Louboutins are getting them used with a few scratches on the soles via eBay.

Online Consignment Stores

On the other hand, if you do want to pay a little extra to make sure your Chanel is legit, try The Real Real. This online consignment shop inspects all their items before putting them up for sale. They have great curators, a handbag sale every week, and so. many. shoes. WARNING! This is a dangerous website. No, seriously—I have had to unsubscribe from their email list because I’ve found myself coming up with reasons why I absolutely needed to buy a red carpet Alexander McQueen gown. That said, if you just check it out every once and a while, you can get really good deals (especially on shoes)! (I might have a shoe problem. Obviously, I have no idea what you’re talking about.)

Polyvore

Confession: I’m still not 100% how to use Polyvore. It’s a very powerful tool that allows bloggers/fashionistas/future Martha Stewarts to make collages out of their favorite items. But the best part is that you can click on the items on someone’s collage and it takes you to the site where you can buy it! How awesome! Polyvore can also be used to explore “red trenchcoats” or “pointy toes navy heels” and help you, as a consumer, find different sites to purchase these items. I’ve definitely used Polyvore to help me with DIY Carmen San Diego and Oswin Oswald costumes for next year.

Go Overseas

Sometimes the best way to get great deals is to go overseas! If you don’t know where to start, check out sites like Dorothy Perkins (a UK retailer à la H&M or Topshop) and Yoox.com (an Italian mail-order company). Some like Dorothy have cute, inexpensive dresses, sweaters etc. I like them because their palette and sizing generally is complimentary with my figure. Yoox.com is a really confusing online shopping black hole. No seriously, I had to go actually look up “how to navigate Yoox” while writing this because there is just so much stuff on there. But it has everything and at the best prices. For example, right now they have some $4,000 Balmain dresses and some discounted Alexander McQueen gowns (that I totally need at age 26, right? ) Since they are an Italian company, they have direct relationships with those showrooms, so this is a good bet if you like Dolce & Gabbana.

The con is that you have to then pay to ship your stuff from god-knows-where and it’s a lot of money to return things. But if you pull together 2-4 friends and put in a big order, you can split the shipping.

Another con is that some deals are actually too good to be true. If you find yourself buying an item for a ridiculous discount, take a look around the site. Is there a customer service number? Call it. Make sure it’s a real person. There are tons of web scammers out there who build legit enough looking shopping sites, take your money, and never ship your goods.

Rent It!

If you always need to be up-to-date or if you feel like you keep getting invited to special occasion after special occasion, consider renting your pieces. If I want a work-appropriate Tory Burch bag for spring, I can rent it for $75/month from Bag Borrow Steal or if I have to work or attend a black tie event, I can rent an evening gown from Rent the Runway. It’s pretty cool because usually they send one size up or down so you don’t order the wrong size and find out it doesn’t fit the day before. The bad news is that I find a lot of their styles a little prom-y, overly sexy, or all kind of the same.

Facebook

Do you have a seriously fashionable friend? Or a friend of friend? This isn’t exactly “online,” but I know some serious fashionistas who clean out their closet every 4-6 months with an online garage sale. For example, one girl at my university would sell designer stuff at a big discount just to always be in season. She needed to excise the old trends to get the new ones and would do so by selling off designer items for $40-100. Some were barely used, but only the lucky few people who wore her size could take part.

Whether you’re updating your own wardrobe, hunting down the perfect piece, or fulfilling the addictions of your shopaholic boss, these are all very, very dangerous places… but also the best places to get styles online! (I’m serious about The Real Real… No, I can’t afford you, Jimmy Choo’s, but you are 50% off!)

Just be sure to step away from the computer for a bit before clicking “Submit Order.”

Photo by Andy Sutterfield

Photo by Andy Sutterfield

Let’s Ask: What Do We Wear?

For our Let’s Ask this week, we asked members of the UE community to answer the question: “What do you wear?” Here’s what they told us:

Where do you shop?

Physical Store

Kohl’s

Buffalo Exchange

Urban Outfitters

J. Crew

Local military surplus

H&M

Madewell

TJMaxx

Marshall’s

Topshop

Gap

Goodwill

Buffalo Exchange

Crossroads

Anthropologie

Online Site

Modcloth

Stitchfix

Gap

Amazon

Old Navy

Asos

Uniqlo

Nashbar

Rebecca Taylor

Dorothy Perkins

Nasty Gal

Forever 21

Roozt.com

theclymb.com

Piperlime

What are your favorite brands?

Tops

BDG

J Crew

Gap

Brooks Brothers Non-Iron Oxfords

Rebecca Taylor

Urban Outfitters

ModCloth

Target

Old Navy

Bottoms

Levi’s

J Brands

American Apparel

Uniqlo

Military surplus stores

Levi’s

Madewell

Rag + Bone

Zara

Target

J Crew

Forever 21

Gap

Old Navy

What is your favorite outfit?

“Even though I’m currently obsessed with mint, I think my absolute fav outfit is a deep red mandarin collar blouse (Modcloth) with black skinny jeans (Levi’s)! My comfiest black patent flats are from Target, and I prefer to wear a silver elephant pendant that I got from Kohl’s. Currently marathoning a pair of brushed-silver owl stud earrings that I purchased from a boutique in Tahoe.” 

“Dark wash skinny jeans (J Brand) with one of my standards: a pair of chucks or a pair of worn brown leather lace-up boots (Steve Madden). On top: a pale blue button up (Old Navy or Gap) or a white v-neck (Forever 21) with a grey blazer (Gap).  Sleeves always rolled up. For accessories: silver rings, a silver watch (American Eagle), messenger bag (J Crew), and–when I want a pop of color–a red checkered scarf (Borrowed! Originally from Lebanaon.)”

“I basically live in oxfords (Uniqlo) and jeans (Barneys). I can throw it on quickly when I inevitably hit the snooze button too many times, and it’s comfortable enough that I won’t hate my life by the end of the day. I’m really drawn to the idea of not having to think about what I’m wearing while still looking good. I’ve literally got my favorite button-down in 13 different colors, I just switch it up whether I wear it with a hoodie / sweater / cardigan (Opening Ceremony) to keep things from feeling like a uniform. (Leather boots; Guess wool military jacket; Polo scarf)”

“Cargo shorts from Old Navy and a t-shirt from any of several dozen places. I wear it every day.”

“Skinny jeans that I can safely sit down in (Levi’s), interesting tanktop (stolen from my cousin), slightly heeled boots (Steve Madden).”

“Oof. A favorite outfit is so hard! I have a navy dress with a Taj Mahal pattern (Dorothy Perkins) and knee high brown boots (Nordstroms) that I really like. The dress had great swing in the skirt and is sexy without trying too hard, and has a tie in the front so you can make it like a big bow too. I also love wearing a teal maxi skirt that is very big and dramatic (Laundry by Shelli Segal) paired with something simple like a black v-neck t-shirt (Target).”

“I can’t ever put together anything but, every once in a while, I’ll do okay. I like combat boots and Chuck Taylors, skinny jeans, a graphic tee and a leather jacket (Zara, H&M, Top Shop).”

“Gap jeans, Forever 21 sweater, and Toms!”

“I’m a New Yorker, so all black, all the time is in my DNA. I like to mix up classic lines with boho pieces, maybe with a pop of color thrown in with accessories. But my favorite, favorite outfit? Probably just a pair of black skinnies with a black-and-white striped top, some flats and fun jewelry (Gap, Loft, J Crew).”

What’s your best tidbit of fashion advice?

  • You’re most confident when you’re comfortable.
  • Just because you like it, doesn’t mean it looks good.
  • Don’t be afraid to wear bold colors… and lots of them!
  • Find a comfortable type outfit you like enough to wear most days and use layers to play with the look.
  • Anticipate the clearance sales.
  • Basics and statement pieces are all you’ll ever need.
  • Don’t be scared of prints—they are your friends, they make everything fun!
  • Great hair is so important.
  • If you wear leggings, make sure the top covers your ass!
  • Dress for your shape and weight!
  • Fit is key: I’m petite, so I love that I can get decent basics in petite cuts from Gap/Old Navy online.
  • I have no fashion advice to give, I just wear clothes that function well and are comfortable
  • It’s amazing what you can find at a good clothing swap. Some of my favorite items of clothing have come from swaps…and they can be great chances to try out new styles that you’re curious about but wouldn’t want to actually buy.
  • Everything is better in black.

We want to know what you wear! Tell us in the comments!

Get off the Couch! A Couch to 10K Guide

So you want to run? You want the wind in your hair, the asphalt under your feet, and the feeling of accomplishing a physical milestone? Welcome! Let’s get you off the couch and into the world of early mornings, aches and pains, and numbing ice baths.

First, a little something about me: I have never been a runner. Throughout my childhood, I participated in many sports but didn’t love running. But then I grew up, became an adult, and realized that I needed to create an active lifestyle for myself. So I joined up with Team In Training (more about that later) and have since run 2 half-marathons and a handful of 5Ks and 10Ks, along with close to 500 miles in training.

So maybe you’re asking, “Why is this article titled ‘Couch to 10K’ and not ‘5K’”? Because all of the information I’m about to drop is valuable for building up to running longer races. Running 5Ks is a wonderful and admirable goal, but a 10K requires a bit more information; so this article will give you a guidance system for eventually doing those longer races. Because, hey! You’ll be crossing those finish lines in no time.

There is an entire world of running and you can get in pretty deep, but today I’ll cover training and conditioning, clothing, and nutrition.

Training and Conditioning

There are a few methods by which elite runners train. “What, you mean you don’t just go out and run?” Well, yes, of course you can just do that. However, there are some other training methods that have become popular recently in the running world: one of which is called interval training.  

Interval training (also known as the “Run/Walk Method”) can be implemented in many ways while running. My training consisted of running for five minutes and then walking for one minute. A friend of mine would run for the length of three songs and then walk for one. The basic principle is that you give your muscles a chance to cool down while running instead of after. This allows your muscles to recover more quickly, allowing less soreness. For more in-depth information, check out what famed runner Jeff Galloway has to say on the subject. I encourage you to explore his site for everything from running tips to training schedules.

In addition to finding your perfect training method, conditioning is very important. Do you have to be in pristine shape to run a 10K? No, you don’t. But, you do need to work yourself up to the distance via cardio training. I’m a girl who likes to do “Just Dance” on the Wii for 45 minutes. Do what works for you! But make sure you add in some other form of workout (cardio or cross training) in between your midweek runs.

Speaking of midweek runs… you need to do them! Running 3-4 times per week will put you on the perfect track for your 10K. One run per week should be a longer distance, working your way up to 10 kilometers (6.2 miles). But it’s great to go out for shorter midweek runs to build your endurance. Find a friend, make it a before-work social event, and have fun with it. And make sure you stretch! Here’s some information on dynamic stretching (which is better than static stretching) for before and after your runs.

Clothing

Maybe what you wear isn’t the most important thing in your training, but it will be more comfortable if you wear certain items made out of certain materials.

If you go to an active-wear store or Target or wherever, you will see “moisture wicking” on many of their items. Those are what you want! Please, please, please don’t wear cotton (this includes socks and undergarments)! Cotton traps moisture, making your clothes heavier, making you heavier, making running harder. Okay, maybe it’s not that dramatic, but you’ll thank me later for the moisture wicking.

There are tons of options in terms of styles of clothing. Shorts, capris, leggings, short sleeve tops, long sleeve, no shirt—these are all available to you! Some pants have places for your keys; some have pockets to carry nutrition with you. Some bottoms have built in underwear, some don’t. (Trust me, you don’t want to be too sweaty in your nether regions, so perhaps invest in some sports underwear.) But most importantly, wear what you want. It’s not a fashion show. Just make sure to dress for the weather where you live.

Nutrition

“Wait, I need to eat something while running?” Yes, but only during longer runs. After about forty-five minutes of running (sometimes sixty, depending on body weight) your body seriously depletes in calorie levels. So it’s time to load up! This is your time to try out what works for you. As with everything else I’ve talked about, there are many, many options for what you can eat.

My favorite treats include Clif Shot Bloks and shell-less sunflower seeds. The Shot Bloks have a high calorie count and the sunflower seeds offer salt, which you lose while running (yay, sweat!). You’ll notice that right after you eat these mid-run snacks, your energy kicks back in to high gear and you feel ready to run more. Again, try out a few things to see what you like, what doesn’t upset your stomach, or what is easiest to carry. You’ll find your favorites soon enough.

Along with consuming calories, make sure you drink water or an electrolyte-enhanced drink! You really don’t want to get dehydrated during or after your runs. Check out this Runner’s World Article on eating and drinking before, during and after your runs. I love their suggestion of drinking chocolate milk—yum!

Time to Run

So, now that you have all of the information you need, it’s time to get out and run! Just do it. You’ll feel amazing afterwards and as soon as you cross the finish line, you’ll have reached an incredible personal goal.

If you want more help with training, I would suggest looking in to a few different groups that offer coaching while you give back to charitable organizations. Remember that I mentioned Team In Training (TNT)? TNT offers coaching assistance with a large group of people in your neighborhood, all while supporting and benefiting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). I ran both my half marathons with TNT, and I couldn’t be happier with the results. Not only can I pass all of my learned information on to you fine folks, but I also had an extremely gratifying experience raising money for LLS. I have never been prouder to call myself a runner.

Now, it’s your turn. Sign up for your first 5K or 10K and let us know how the training went, what worked, and what didn’t in the comments section below! The first time crossing the finish line is always the best. Here’s to more firsts!

Running Square

Photo by Sara Slattery

Things You’d be a Sucker to Buy New or Full Price

As a millennial managing my personal finances in the wake of The Great Recession, I have had to find creative ways to cut back that I otherwise might not have. This includes buying used things when, in more prosperous times, I may have bought the item brand new. On this pauper’s pilgrimage, I’ve discovered that if you can find what you’re looking for secondhand, you’d be an idiot to buy it for the full price.

Thrifting Square

Photo by Sara Slattery

Tools, books, cheap sunglasses, furniture, stylish clothing… These are all on my list of things you should never buy new, because you can find them used on Amazon, eBay, at thrift stores/flea markets, or used bookstores, from half price to pennies on the dollar. More importantly, you can feel rich for a couple of hours while directly supporting your local economy! Got twenty dollars in your pocket? Well, well, well—look at Mr./Ms. Fancypants-Highroller!

There’s a reason why the word cheap has such a bad connotation: being cheap means that only the bottom-line dollar amount matters. If that’s the case for you, you might as well stop reading. However, being frugal means extracting a high amount of value relative to the amount of money invested. Who doesn’t want good quality stuff without breaking the bank?

Enriching the Local Economy

With relatively few exceptions, new goods are sourced globally from giant corporations. Putting aside the typical ranting against them, this means that rather than enriching your friends and neighbors, your money supports factory labor thousands of miles away and mostly enriches several hundred institutional shareholders.

Buying used and in secondary markets usually entails going to a local thrift store, which often is family owned (like one of my favorites: Lost and Found in Sunnyvale, CA), or buying from individuals at flea markets. The further your money travels, the less stimulating it’s going to be to your community. Generally speaking, it’s more responsible to spend locally.

Only Got 20 Dallaz in My Pocket

Thrifting is also a fun, inexpensive activity! Half the fun is going with friends to look at all the awful stuff that’s there—like I do (shameless plug). Also, sometimes you will see things at the flea market that were obviously shoplifted and are now being fenced for sale. Some might view this as participating in a legal wrong—cool, keep walking to the next stall. Personally, I play too much Skyrim, so I like think that I’m acting like a member of the Thieves’ Guild or the Ragged Flagon, reveling in the cloak-and-dagger nature of a ‘black market’ (when really its mostly just razor heads and Similac). It’s nerdily exhilarating, and I get a kick from it. Plus, I don’t really know for sure if it’s been stolen, and I can’t exactly go around lobbing accusations. Since the presumption of innocence is the bedrock of American justice, shop away, moral relativists! Besides, what’s more immoral: benefitting from shoplifting, or charging $40 for a hammer made at forty cents per unit by a nine year old Chinese kid?

Things to Never Buy New

  • BOOKS:

Especially the following:

-       Any book by Tom Clancy
–       Any book by James Patterson
–       Any book by Danielle Steel
–       Any book by John Grisham
–       Any copy of The DaVinci Code (Ew.)
–       Any copy of Wild Animus (You’re a sucker if you pay any money for this, they give it away on all college campuses)
–       Any objectivist propaganda by Ayn Rand
–       Any copy of Shōgun

  • TOOLS:

People are always trying to get rid of their tools—they bought new ones or they don’t use them anymore: whatever the reason, they want to get rid of theirs. You can buy tools at anywhere between 10-20% of what they’d cost at a Home Depot. And if paying a fraction of the cost for tools and enriching your local economy wasn’t enough incentive, you should be aware of the political campaigns Home Depot supports and determine whether or not they align with your own beliefs.

If you’re moving into your first place and you’re looking to build your kit of indispensable tools, look out for these items at your local flea market. You could save a nice bundle of money. The tools commonly spotted:

-       Hammer
–       Scissors
–       Basic screwdrivers
–       Razor heads
–       Razor blades
–       Duct Tape
–       Tweezers
–       Nail clippers
–       Saw blades
–       Drill bits

  • OTHER:

-       Sunglasses

Seriously, unless you’re buying Ray-Bans or Oakleys, all sunglasses are basically plastic shit made in China. Twenty dollars for cheap plastic crap is a crime, and retailers that sell them at that price ought to have bamboo shoots shoved underneath their toenails. At a flea market, you can buy them for about $5 a piece, or cheaper.

-       Leather jacket

This is important, because a brand new one rarely (if ever) costs less than $150 and they can cost as much as $200-400 or more, depending on the brand. But if you hold out for exactly the jacket you want, you can usually find it between $10 and $40 at a thrift store. These are the real gems of thrifting. If you have a nice leather jacket like I do, you wear it all the time. You will have saved hundreds of dollars and look like you stepped out of a Macklemore music video (can I refer to that song a little bit more? I definitely haven’t done it enough).

Getting Started

Yelp. Google. Seriously.

First, finding the thrift stores presents a logistical problem. You rarely ever want to hit just one. The most fruitful method I’ve found is to Yelp it, and then transpose the positive Yelp hits into a Google Map. From there, I group the stores into sectors, or ‘circuits,’ that I can hit as part of a planned trip or if I just happen to be nearby. This type of informational awareness allows me to attack all the thrift stores with optimal logistical efficiency. No wasted gas, no yo-yo-ing back and forth across town—you will be a precise, methodical, lethal thrifter.

If you choose to hunt at a flea market, make sure you have cash. Since there is no ‘check out’ save the person who is manning the stall, take the opportunity to hone your haggling skills. Some people will be receptive to it; others will not. The method of haggling I have found to be most effective is to hover and look indecisive. An experienced fleamarketeer will sense the opportunity, and swoop in and make you an offer. Make your best “Aaaggghh, I dunno…” face, and watch the price fall. Finally, take out some cash, make sure they see it, and undercut the second offer by about 10% or try to get a bulk deal if applicable. Do not do this at a brick-and-mortar establishment—it is a major protocol breach. Likewise, at a brick-and-mortar store, cash isn’t as important as it is at a flea market or garage sale, since most thrift stores take credit cards.

So support your local economy, save some money yourself, and have some social fun in the process. Thrift, you magnificent millennial bastard children of capitalism, thrift!

Hirin’ Attire: Job Interview Wardrobe Tips

You only get one chance to make a good first impression.

Usually, I can’t say I agree with that old-fashioned adage. But a job interview isn’t an ordinary real-life scenario. It’s the only situation in life, aside from maybe a first date, in which you are placing yourself in front of another person and fully preparing yourself to be judged. And, just like a first date, even if you’re a dazzling conversationalist and your resume (or OkCupid profile) is full of all the perfect catch-phrases—if you don’t look the part, you might not get to second base. By which I mean a second interview.

Because I am a 20-something in the year 2013 and because every publication under the sun tells me this is true, I will go on roughly a hundred thousand job interviews within my lifetime.  I’ve already been around the job interview block, and I probably won’t be stopping any time soon.

Here are a few things I’ve learned about interview wardrobe choices since my days as a newly minted college grad, clutching my BFA for dear life, and praying for health insurance.

Fancy Footwork

Gentlemen, this might not be as intense a topic for you. The height and style of your shoe is rarely an issue, but even if it’s a “totally laid-back workplace” and you’re wearing your loafers or leather low-rise boots with jeans, I absolutely suggest that you polish your shoes! Shoe polish is easily accessible and they even sell these nifty all-in-one polishes at places like CVS or Walgreens. A grown man polishes his shoes—and gets that job!

Ladies, I know that a high heel makes you feel confident and powerful. I know you love the way it click-clacks on the tile floor, as if to say, “Hey everyone! I have arrived!” But I urge you to leave those amazing Loubotin look-alikes you scored on JustFab.com at home. Don’t risk being taller than your interviewer and doom yourself to some really awkward handshakes. Besides, if those shoes could talk, they’d tell you they want to be at a bar, not under a desk.

A few easy solutions are a stylish pair of patent leather or animal print flats, a small kitten heel, or leather or suede ankle boots. If you’re normally a little shy in the face of fashion risks, that’s totally okay, but don’t be afraid of a pop of color or a bold print! There’s no law that says all footwear has to be black nowadays.

SUIT UP! Or don’t?

This will differ depending upon the industry of your dream job and the company’s office environment. Try your very best to research what the dress code is before you go in, though sometimes it’s hard to gauge unless you know someone who works there!

But here’s a tip, for both guys and gals: be absolutely sure you need to wear that suit. If you’re interviewing at a place like a law firm or a major corporation, it’s definitely advisable to suit up, especially for the guys. But I’ve seen many male candidates stroll into casual office environments wearing their best suits, looking super uncomfortable, both physically and mentally. You don’t want to come across as stodgy or old fashioned.

For guys, you can always get away with a nice pair of black slacks and a collared dress shirt. (Tucked in with a belt! For real, this goes without saying!). Bring a blazer that you can throw on at the last second if you’re feeling under-dressed.

Ladies, a black pencil skirt is your best bud. Buy one and love it and pair it with anything and everything. A business-casual blazer also goes a long way in life, so it’s great to have that handy, too. If you don’t feel like wearing a skirt, black skinny pants or flowy black slacks are a great alternative. There’s a lot of debate surrounding black jeans, but I say that if the material is denim to the touch, then thems be jeans and you probably shouldn’t wear them! Skinny pants that are cut like jeans but are made of non-denim material are a much safer bet, especially when paired with a semi-formal top.

Also, an addendum on formal shorts: I adore a good formal short. And once you land this dream job, you might totally be able to get away with wearing them. But maybe leave them at home for your interview. Some people still view shorts as too casual a look, no matter how much pleated realness they’re serving.

Hey You, Yeah You with the FACE.

Ladies, very simple day-time makeup is advisable. Go easy on the eyeliner. You want your potential new boss to focus on the brilliant words tumbling from your lips, not your Amy Winehouse impersonation. Do wash and style your hair, but don’t go overboard with a new style you don’t usually rock (i.e. maybe not those Heidi braids you still can’t do without spraining your wrist).

Guys, if you’re going to style your hair, opt for a small dash of pomade. It’s much more flexible and easier to work with than gel.

And one more tip, take it or leave it: if you’re a glasses wearer, leave your contacts at home! This could be nothing but a silly coincidence, but every time I wore my glasses to an interview, I was offered the job. True story! Maybe I looked more trustworthy? More collegiate and organized? Who knows! But hey, it can’t hurt.

Conversation Pieces

If you’re like me, you dread even the slightest awkward pause and would jump out the window before letting the conversation run dry. Here, you could kill two birds with one stone by incorporating a fashionable accessory that could also potentially lead to this: “Hey, I love your (necklace/tie/bracelet/etc.)! Where’d you get that?”

Guys, this could be anything from a really nice wristwatch to a bold new tie. We’re talking, like, Joe Biden bold. Not the Homer Simpson Christmas tie you got from your mom in eighth grade.

As for the gals, know that a statement piece doesn’t have to break the bank! Stores like H&M, Forever 21, and the sale rack at Anthropologie have some really fun jewelry that will absolutely do the trick. My tip is to choose ONE piece: a vintage locket or a pair of chandelier earrings. But not both at once!

Do you have any additional tips for job interview wardrobe choices? We’d love to hear what you think. Leave them in the comments below!

InterviewWardrobeHero

Photo by Meaghan Morrison

No Dryer? No Problem.

I don’t know about you, but I am constantly plagued with wet or damp clothing that I never have enough time to deal with. I always seem to be out of time with a dryer that is nonexistent, broken, taken, or—like in my last apartment—seemingly incapable of drying clothing.

So, in the absence of self-drying clothing, I present you with the following five dryer alternatives for your dryer emergencies:

1. Direct Sunlight

The old school method: lay/drape/hang your clothes out in the sun and watch the magic happen! And by watch I mean go do anything else for six hours because—depending on the amount of sunshine, humidity levels, and temperature—this approach can be painfully slow. Keep an eye on the sun (remember it moves) and make sure to rotate (and/or flip over) your clothes at least once.

If you want to get fancy, use a clothesline. You might be able to find one in your backyard if you live in an older house/apartment building, but if not you can always jerry-rig one out of chairs/trees/fences/poles and some string/shoelaces/ribbons/computer cords. Then drape or clip your wet apparel on the line and let Mother Nature do her work. No super cheap clothespins lying around?  Binder clips, chip clips, and hair claws make for great alternatives.

2. Fan

While the outdoors is always best for maximum wind/sun exposure, if you’re without a yard, balcony, or trustworthy neighbors, you can also take advantage of the sunshine within your home and speed up the process with your favorite fan(s). Personally, I like to use hangers and a metal clothesline (aka my shower rod) or an awesome drying rack. But if that doesn’t cut it just hang your clothes on, or tucked into, other ledges around your home (i.e. dresser drawers, door handles, moldings). NEVER drape wet clothing over lamps. (Let’s just say, I’ve tried it… Two words: burn marks.)

The advantage of this method is that it does not require the sun (making it your best overnight option) and it is entirely environment controlled. Unfortunately, if you’re drying a lot of clothes, this method can take quite a bit of time. If I need dry clothes within an hour or two, I take a more direct approach: draping the clothes straight on to my fan. (This is probably definitely a fire hazard so I’m not recommending it.) Instead, try hanging what you need on the back of a chair, and pointing your fan directly at it to produce the same results.

3. Blow Dryer

You’ll need to own a blow dryer to embrace this option—so guys, you may be out of luck. This is my go to option under pressure—fast, efficient, and effective. It is, however, more labor intensive than any of the other methods. But it can also be a great approach for dealing with any unfortunate liquid mishaps. This will work with your clothes on or off, but for very damp clothing, off is better. I usually stick my blower right into an arm or leg, hold the other end closed, and let it fill up with air, rotating between sections every 10-15 seconds to make sure nothing burns. But again: fire hazard. So instead, let’s both try hanging our clothes in the shower and following the tips recommended by Wardrobe Advice.

4. Heater

This works better in the winter months because let’s be honest, no matter how badly you need that shirt, who wants to turn on the heat in July? (Plus, if it’s summer, umm sun?) I find the heater has a significant set it and forget it advantage over the blow dryer because, as long as you position your clothes just right (or weigh them down) to keep them from blowing off, you can enjoy your cereal from across the room. (Keeping an eye on them for rotation and safety of course.) This method is also especially effective for larger, or heavier articles of clothing (i.e. jeans).

5. Car Heater

Does it really get better than your own personal, traveling dryer? If you own a car, and are absolutely desperate, this may be your best option under extreme time pressure.

First, check and see if your car has a heater vent in the center console (the vent for the back seat). If so, drape your article of clothing in front of the vent (rotating every few minutes for maximum coverage) and voila! Your very own on-the-go dryer.

But, if you’re like me, and don’t have a handy back seat vent, you’re stuck with the dashboard vents. MAKE SURE you take the appropriate precautions for your personal safety and the safety of others before trying this—i.e. don’t be stupid and hold the shirt on your heater while you are driving.

In the above photo, I used a handy expanding file folder (while driving in a straight line) to keep my desperately needed shirt in place. This is clearly not the safest option. Think about using clothespins (or any of the above clothespins alternatives) to keep your clothing attached instead. There is a rotation factor here, so please PULL OVER (or make sure you are stopped) when you rotate your clothing. No dryer emergency is worth a car accident.

Bonus Tip: Need to get wrinkles out?  Hang up your shirt up as close to the shower as you can without getting it wet. Turn the water on to the hottest setting, close the bathroom door, and let the steam give you a wrinkle free shirt in about ten minutes.

dryerhero

Photo by Anastasia Heuer

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