by Solange Lopes | Apr 10, 2014 | Career
Grey Lightweight Wool Suit – banana republic.com
Hello Again…
For our lunch break today, we are going the “suit” route, with this lightweight wool grey suit from Banana Republic. You’ll notice that we haven’t featured many suits in our blog, and we’ve decided to change things up a bit. I myself am not too much of a fan of the stuffy, overly conservative suit, and because we are smart, overachieving, and stylish corporate sisters, we certainly do not have to settle for unflattering, too traditional suits.
This lightweight wool suit in grey is a nice alternative to the black or brown suit. I love the breathable fabric, which also incorporates enough stretch to be professional-looking, yet silhouette-flattering. And the fact that it’s wrinkle-resistant is the greatest added bonus (who has time to iron nowadays?).
The blazer is $198 at Banana Republic, and comes with coordinated pants.
Psst…Banana is having a 40% off sale until 4/13, both in-store and online (Use the code BRSPRING40).
Seen a great, work-appropriate fashion piece you’d like to share? Please email us at corporate@thecorporatesister.com!
The Corporate Sister.
by Solange Lopes | Apr 10, 2014 | Career
www.dailykos.com
Happy Thursday!
So the Boss is out of the office for a few days. For anyone else, this would mean a few days of respite from reporting to the manager, and maybe even some free time to pay the bills or surf the Net. Right? Wrong…
Translation for the ambitious and driven corporate sister: time to shine! Not only is the saying “when the cat’s away, the mice will play” very true, but we can also add to it that the mice will certainly play, yet they will play SMART!
While bringing your A-game when the boss, managers and other corporate authority figures are lurking right above your computer screen is one thing; yet performing your best work and handling yourself with utmost professionalism when no one is watching demonstrates excellence and character, and will make you climb higher in the esteem of management (and up the corporate ladder) faster than it takes for you to say “Play”!
1. Touch basis with your manager before they leave: if your manager makes you aware of a future temporary absence, touch base with her/him to clarify your work load, and even volunteer to take over some responsibilities during their absence. Showing initiative and leadership will go a long way!
2. Maintain your professionalism at all times: Now is not the time to slack off, come in late and leave early, or take a break from fulfilling your duties. Keep up with your usual professionalism, and make sure to act as if all eyes are on you (because they atually are!).
3. Deliver Results! Your work speaks for yourself, so as you tackle tasks and projects without your manager present, make sure to deliver effective, timely and documented results. You want to show upper management that not only can you hold your own, but you can also deliver beyond expectation!
So yes, the boss is away, and it’s time to play it SMART, career-smart that is!
The Corporate Sister
by Solange Lopes | Apr 9, 2014 | Career
Floral Pencil Skirt – $29 – nyandcompany.com
Hello Again…
It’s skirt season again, and for our lunch break, we found this floral pencil skirt from New York & Co which screams “Spring”, and we’re loving it! The longer length and pencil silhouette make this piece a classic, while the floral lends it a more modern, contemporary, and shall we say, lighter edge!
Perfect skirt for work, paired with a crisp button-down shirt, or an elegant fitted jacket or cardigan in the pastel colors of the season. And to boot, it’s one of the “NY Deals”, priced at $29 (yes, you read right, $29!!!).
Seen a great, work-appropriate fashion piece you’d like to recommend? Email us at corporate@thecorporatesister.com!
by Solange Lopes | Apr 9, 2014 | Career |
Flexibility or High Pay – madamenoire.com
Happy Wednesday!
As a corporate sister and a proud (and busy)mama of two little ones, I’ve come to understand that career choices are not just about success, advancement and however many zeros you can add at the end of your salary.
No, it’s also about doctors’ appointments, early school pick-ups, and bouts of stubborn varicella, not to mention the recurring ear infections, sleepless nights and all-around exhaustion. Now what do these have to do with career choices? A whole lot, if you ask me.
Whereas before I could burn the candle at both ends, working late, hanging out with the team, now I can’t wait to get home to my family. And juggling work with family priorities has become an art, albeit a difficult to maintain, at times exhausting one.
As our careers and lives evolve as corporate sisters, so do our priorities, and our sense of what matters at work. Is it the high salary, synonymous with personal sacrifice, time away from home and traveling requirements, that matters now? Or is it the flexibility to make a living without sacrificing our families?
For many, this is not even a choice, as many a single parent needs this flexibility in order to make life work at all.
And is this just a concern for women, or should companies also strive to understand the tight rope many an ambitious, qualified and potential-filled corporate sister dances on?
The Corporate Sister
by Solange Lopes | Apr 8, 2014 | Career |
Nydellan flats – aldo.com
For our lunch break today, we are still welcoming Spring with these uber-fashionable, professional and elegant-looking Nydellan flats from Aldo. Spring has sprung, and with it the comeback of our favorite fashion go-to, the flat.
Love love the edgy-chic vibe of these flats, upped by the metal accents and pointy toes. Can’t go wrong with these, whether paired with a modern suit or a more conservative dress.
And if you’re thinking of comfortable yet fashionable flats for the week-end, you may just have found your shoe match…These are $65 at Aldo, and are available in a nude bone color and black. Not to miss out on…
Seen a great, work-appropriate fashion piece you’d like to share? Please email us at corporate@thecorporatesister.com!
by Solange Lopes | Apr 8, 2014 | Career
Career choices – atlantablackstar.com
Happy Tuesday!
A former colleague of mine once told that she deliberately picked the “mommy track” in her career after having children. After over 20 years at the same company, she was still holding the same position in the same department, with no more prospects of advancement as when she first started. She had accepted that because she was a mother, she would forego career advancement in favor of flexibility and time to raise her children.
As a young mom myself, our conversation that day made me think hard and long about where the priorities in our lives as corporate sisters really lie. Yes, motherhood is a priority, yet does it mean that as mothers we are presented with different career tracks, one of which being the “mommy track”? Does it mean that there is indeed a choice between career ambition and lack thereof for the sake of our families? Obviously, there was for my former colleague, and there still is very much of a choice imposition going on for very many mothers in the workforce…
This silent pact between companies and professional moms is a tacit, underhanded one that actually comes at a high cost for both companies and women. As companies mistakenly assume that they are saving the salary and perquisite cost of higher-paid employees (along with preserving some antiquated hierarchical, gender-based and ineffective system), otherwise professionally brilliant, resourceful and ambitious women are erroneously made to believe that the sacrifice is worth it, even as we go against what we truly desire. Sacrifice for sacrifice, wouldn’t it then make more sense for women to forego it all career wise than to only get a sorry, unsastifying, less-than-par piece of the pie?
At the end of the day, is the Mommy Track worth it?
by Solange Lopes | Apr 7, 2014 | Career
Lace fit and flare dress – the limited.com
Hello again…It’s Monday, and to beat the Monday blues, time to spring forward with a punch of color and fashion! The Limited is having this great online sale today, only until 3pm EST, and we’ve hand-picked this red rose lace fit and flare dress for our lunch break pick today. It’s fresh, springy, and it’s on sale for half-price, so about $45! What more can we ask for?
Love love the combination of lace and bright colors, two great spring trends in one work-appropriate, happy dress! Now that’s the dress to wear on a Monday to work to get out of the Blah-ness of the start of the week…
And you have until 3pm to grab other great deals from The Limited!
Seen a great, work-appropriate fashion piece you’d like to share? Please email us at corporate@thecorporatesister.com!
