by Solange Lopes | Dec 16, 2014 | Career |
Sleeveless tie-neck blouse – $49 – Photo: macys.com
In line with my hunt for festive tops for the office, I’m in fashion lust with this simple Nine West sleeveless tie-neck blouse from Macy’s. Loving the simplicity of this top that can go from the office to the holiday party in a cinch. To make it even better, it’s only $49 at Macy’s!
And what better to complement a festive top than festive pumps like these red suede Carmen Marc Valvo pumps, or these equally sophisticated Stuart Weitzman HISPOT pumps.
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Dec 16, 2014 | Career
Defining our times as racially charged is an understatement. In the midst of allegations of police violence, deaths of unarmed black men at the hands of police, many of us, regardless of racial affiliation, can no longer breathe comfortably. Race is everywhere, and more than ever, it matters…
Race is not just on our TV screens, or in our impassionate conversations after-hours. Race is also at work, sitting down in oiur chairs, leaning over at the conference table, quietly humming under wraps of political correctedness and social protocol. Yet, race is at work, as shown by the wealth gap between blacks and whites. And many a times, we know it’s there, and we realize race is not working at work, yet we just don’t know how, or if, we should dare talking about it…
It’s like an insidious disease seeping into our quarterly meetings, affecting oiur productivity, fueling the unending corporate blame game. It’s the elephant in the room we’re all side-stepping, avoiding political comments or striving to learn golf instead of basketball.
Talking about race at work is still taboo. And so is admitting we are fundamentally different and the same, all at once. Even as CEOs and celebrities come out of the closet, the door remains tightly shut on the reality of Race in the workplace. As the Wage Gap is starring in its own feature movie at work, and Gender Equality is receiving rave reviews, one of the oldest plays at work, the Race one, is kept in the dark.
All the while, a silent volcano is threatening to erupt from the boardroom to the cubicle, peeling away at the refined, photo-shopped concept of Diversity.
Race matters, and it’s at work in our workplaces. And while we may all need to learn and address it appropriately, we need to talk about it…
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Dec 15, 2014 | Career
Mr Coffee Optimal Brew coffee – Photo: belkin.com
It’s no secret that I love apps and coffee, and what’s better than combining any of anyone’s two lustful passions…Like in this Mr Coffee app-controlled coffee maker. Yes, you heard right, a coffee maker you can control from your Apple or Android device, as you’re laying on your bed.
My $0.05: Love.It! Can you make coffee the regular way using your finger to press on the coffee machine’s brew button and save yourself $150? Certainly, but it’s so 2014…
On this note, I’m dialing Santa’s number now…
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Dec 15, 2014 | Career |
Sleeveless jumpsuit – $368 – Photo: nordstrom.com
I have been eyeing the jumpsuit trend for quite some time, not really sure if the trend would prove worth my fashionable while. As it turns out, it is…Hence today’s pick, this sleeveless Trina Turk jumpsuit that is polished enough for work, yet perfect for an elegant night out. Loving the clean lines of the center-creased trousers, and the flattering, yet tasteful V-neck silhouette. At $368, this is more of a splurge, but oh what an elegant one.
Other jumpsuit alternatives suitable for work include this DVF option from Saks, and this lace wonder from Ann Taylor. I’d layer these under a classic two-button blazer like this one, or a trendier marled collarless jacket like this one.
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Dec 15, 2014 | Career
Photo: blackvoice.co
Happiness is a decision. And happiness at work is a hard, overrated one. We expect to spend upwards of eight hours chained to a desk, computer or other stationary device, dealing with different people with different moods, appearances and energies, whom we don’t really intimately know (and many of whom we have no desire to know that well, anyways), and expect to derive mind-blowing happiness from it. Oh and the for the feminists among us (and other practical idealists), we expect to change the mess of centuries of misogynistic thought, patriarchal work structures and karma-influenced wage gaps abysses, so we can finally be happy at work!
So we strive to find the perfect job in a perfect environment with perfect people, a job we don’t suck at, or one that doesn’t make us feel like a loser. A job where we can change the world, be amazingly productive (because we’re so happy), and get overwhelming happiness as a result of it all. Ahem…
How do I say this? Work may provide some fleeting moments of illusory bliss, like when you get that promotion you’ve been deserving for years, or get noticed by the CEO, or get the biggest bonus check you’ve ever seen. Or it can make you despicably miserable, like when your co-worker gets your promotion, the CEO has no idea you even exist (although that report on his desk has your signature on it), or the Company decides to forego bonuses this year (after you’ve planned your family vacation and put a deposit on it). It can really go either way, and very often, it does, based on criteria as fleeting as how much your boss likes you (or is a total dick), or how well you play office politics, or oh, what skin color you were born with…
Work will do a lot of things to you, including pissing you off, making you smile, or considering learning the art of voodoo dolls. It may be a place of great opportunities or one of great losses. For some, it may even determine the identity we carry around every day. What it won’t do is keep you happy, simply because it was never meant to do so.
What keeps you happy is YOU, the sum of all the great and not so great things that make you who you are. And that’s what you work on and where you find your happy. And once you find that happy place, you can let it take you to the job that fits into it. Not the other way around…
Now get back to work…
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Dec 14, 2014 | Career |
Believe signs t Macy’s Herald Square in NY – Photo: fontsinuse.com
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Happy Sunday! I hope everyone is having a wonderful week-end. Dear hubby, the kids and I came down to New York for the week-end to visit our in-laws and show the little ones all the City decorations. Seeing all the Christmas lights, ornaments, and feeling the contagious excitement of the City turned us all back into giggly, wonder-filled eyed children. New York is really magic, and as we’re getting ready to say good-bye, here’s a quick snap at the news that made this week:
- The Root reports thousands of protesters walked in the “Justice for All” march in Washington DC on Saturday to protest the deaths of unarmed Black men at the hands of police, while Black Enterprise writes about congressional staffers walking out of their jobs on Thursday to show support against the injustice of the recent Grand Jury decisions around the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner. Here in New York, during our visit, we witnessed thousands marching to protest police violence, as reported by the New York Times. It’s time for change, good, positive change, people;
- Speaking of Human Rights, last Wednesday, december 10th, was Human Rights Day: MAKERS shares with us this inspirational video about Malika Saada Saar’s organization’s work to make women’s lives easier;
- As an “emotions” expert myself, I was oh so glad to read this Business Insider article confirming people who are good at recognizing emotions make more money;
- For all the creatives out there, Fast Company provides tips as to what we need to do to preserve our work (great tips);
- If you can’t skip the office holiday party this year, Stylecaster lists 10 things you should never do while grooving with your co-workers (please avoid #9);
- Speaking of office holiday parties, Daily Worth is right on the money with these tips on how to get through work with a hangover (yes, it happens, people!);
- Getting ready to start the New Year on an ambitious note? The Muse offers three tips to apply for the job when you don’t meet the requirements;
- Dice advises you as to how to explain your technical skills to HR, while Youtern gives you 4 ways to stay motivated during the holiday job search;
- This TribLive article just made me beam all the way to my heels, as it finally acknowledges according to a French study (of course it had to be French), women in high heels have power over men (silent clap);
- Upworthy writes about one of my favorite successful woman giving simple advice to women in business (Don’t give a sh*t), and I couldn’t agree more;
- As we’re getting ready to bid farewell to 2014, Huffington Post reminds us of the 29 best moments for women in 2014;
- Want to be more productive? The Week tells you to focus on happiness (yup, be happy!).
Happy Sunday 🙂
The Corporate Sister.
by Solange Lopes | Dec 12, 2014 | Career |
ASOS Holiday Sweater – Photo: asos.com – $56.85
Today is National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day (yes, there is such a thing, it was even on the TODAY show this morning!). And in honor of all the ugly Christmas sweaters we’ve all been gifted at some point or another, my week-end pick is this ASOS holiday sweater in winter scene with two adorable dogs (here is the guys’ version of it)! Corny? A bit, but cute and definitely a conversation starter wherever you go! It’s $56.85 at ASOS!
Other adorable, and casually stylish appropriate “ugly sweaters” I really loved were this bells and whistles Christmas sweater from H&M, this Topshop Fair Isle version from Nordstrom, and this plus-size holiday foil-print version from Macy’s.
Happy National Ugly Sweater Day!
The Corporate Sis.
