by Solange Lopes | Mar 6, 2014 | Career
OKMYOUTFIT.COM
Happy Thursday!
Today, I would like to share with you an amazing website, along with its co-founders, that will revolutionize the way we think about fashion, as busy yet nonetheless stylish corporate sisters. While we do understand that appearance is certainly an important denominator in the professional, and specifically the corporate game, we often have a hard time combining our search for the right, work-appropriate yet stylish wardrobe, with our otherwise crammed schedules. So we pick up items on the fly, hoping that they will fit us, or make time for that one shopping spree a year, during which we absolutely go broke in the hopes of gathering THE perfect wardrobe. What is there actually were a cost-effective, time-saving alternative to the business of dressing, and dressing well, for work?
Diana Melencio and John Orekunrin are the co-founders of OKMYOUTFIT (OMO), a web service dedicated to helping busy professionals build their wardrobe by collaborating with expert stylists, thus having access to the professional fashion advice most people dream of. I’ve had the privilege of speaking to both Diana and John, and was sold on their ideas. I hope you will too, and will check out OKMYOUTFIT for yourself…
1. Diana/John, can you please tell us more about yourselves and how you came up with the idea for OKMYOUTFIT?
JO: Diana and I started OMO because we value the importance of looking good but lacked the fashion expertise and time to find clothes that suit our style. We saw that a lot of our friends share the same problem. So we created OMO as a solution.
Our original idea was to let anyone in the community provide their opinion on other members’ outfits, but we quickly realized that our users wanted expert style advice and not another rate-my-outfit site. So we brought on talented stylists and combined their expert style advice along with top brands to provide our users a truly bespoke personal styling and shopping experience.
2. In the busy world of professionals, how important do you think appearance is, and how do you see OKMYOUTFIT fitting into it?
DM: What you wear and how you present yourself is the first statement you make when you enter a room, so appearance is very important. An outfit that give you confidence and helps sets the tone can mean the difference in an interview or an important meeting.
JO: Busy professionals have the means but, as the term implies, often lack the time and fashion knowledge to put together their best look. OKMYOUTFIT partners busy professionals with stylists so they can get the best looks without the work.
3. Can you describe to us what the services you are offering consist in, and what some of your most competitive rates are?
We provide three different options for our users.
- Professional feedback: This option allows users to get professional feedback on an outfit or item they already own. This feature is great if you are looking for ideas on how to pair items you have in your closet. You can also use it while shopping for items on your own. The response time is fast (within 30 mins) and at a very friendly price of $5.
- Search for an item: The second option allows you to hire a stylist to help you find a specific item (i.e bag, jacket, shoes) to complete your look. Our talented stylists will go to work and find 5 different options of the item you are looking for. Our stylists also provide style tips to go along with your request so you’ll know the best way to style your new find! The price for this service is just $10.
- Head-to-toe look: This option is great for users looking for a complete outfit. The stylist will go to work and help you find 5 items to complete a look for you based on your request. Our stylist pulls from top brands to create a truly bespoke shopping experience for you. They do the hard work of finding amazing pieces to help you look your best. This service is available for just $40.
4. From your experience in the corporate world, what are three most important lessons/principles would you have for corporate sisters?
If we had 3 important lessons for corporate sister, they would be:
- The old adage, dress for the job you want to have not the job you already have. When I was a junior analyst, I still wore suits because that’s what all the portfolio managers and senior executives wore at the firm. I found that I was given far more respect and allowed to sit in on meetings than my fellow analysts that wore less formal attire.
- Don’t underestimate the power of how what you wear affects how you are perceived. For example, if you wear a suit – it will speak to the formality of the setting or authority you have. Whereas wearing a pair of jeans tells the room that it is a casual and collegial setting.
- As a corporate sister rises in ranks, don’t be intimidated when you are surrounded by your male counterparts. Negotiate and discuss with them head-on, without succumbing to emotions. Your words are heard more clearly.
5. What lessons from the corporate world did you apply as you transitioned to entrepreneurship?
DM: Set goals and priorities each week, each day. Something I learned from the “morning call”, which sets the goals and messaging for sales and trading group in an investment firm everyday.
6. What is your vision for OKMYOUTFIT, and how do you plan to achieve it?
JO: Our vision is to help busy professionals everywhere discover their best look. We believe looking your best helps you achieve everyday confidence. We want to provide a seamless styling and personal shopping experience that helps you look your best without the work.
Please check out OKMYOUTFIT, register on the site, get your invitation and embark on a great, cost-effective and efficient fashion experience that will make you reconsider your entire work wardrobe and beyond. For those of you in the New York area, please stop by the
OKMYOUTFIT event with Elie Tahari on March 12!
OKMYOUTFIT.COM
by Solange Lopes | Mar 5, 2014 | Career |
blackloveandmarriage.com
I came upon the term “work spouse” a few years back when I was still a novice in the corporate game. And did it make me smile at the time…
And along my corporate journey, I noticed more and more of these corporate “marriages”. As one of my favorite corporate big sisters puts it, “if I’m going to spend this much time at work, I better have me a work hubby who can bring me lunch!”
Although I’ve never had a work spouse through all my corporate years (or should I say I’ve never really found one), I would tend to agree that a platonic “work marriage” may just take away some of the professional strain many of us are under…as long as we keep it platonic of course?
Do you have a work spouse or know anyone who does? What do you think of these? Chime in…
The Corporate Sister.
The Corporate Sister
by Solange Lopes | Mar 5, 2014 | Career |
madamenoire.com
Women, and women in color in particular, in Corporate America, or the lack thereof, are the reason why many of us thrive. And it’s also the reason why this blog exists. Today, rather than filling the page with words, we invite you to listen to this insightful excerpt from Comcast Newsmakers discussing women in Corporate America, with Alfred Edmonds from Black Enterprise.
by Solange Lopes | Mar 4, 2014 | Career
blackice.co.za
“Stop smiling so much”, “Try to be more stern”, “Be tough”…These are some of the most common pieces of advice I’ve gotten from big corporate sisters over the years.
I’ve always been the smiling, nurturing, borderline people-pleasing type. And apparently naturally and agreeably feminine types like myself are not exactly suited for leadership. Or are we?
The image of the successful, over-acheiving corporate sister is often a conservative, stern one. On Forbes magazines and other leadership publications where women leaders are celebrated as the exception more than the rule, it seems smiles are controlled, postures are unnaturally rigid and speeches are controlled. Not a lick of excess lipstick, or a lick of hair not in its place…Femininity, let alone natural, spontaneous sexiness, are not de rigueur…No wonder Barbie was always more appealing to young girls than the Iron Lady (Bless her soul)…
In the age of female empowerment and women “leaning in”, is femininity seen as a hindrance in the world of corporate leadership? Does being a leader equate to negating the essence of womanhood? Does success mean changing who we are?
The Corporate Sister
by Solange Lopes | Mar 3, 2014 | Career
Skala Dress – $340 – REISS.com
For our lunch break today, we are loving this Skala dress from REISS. I love the pattern on this dress, and the color reminds me of spring (is it Spring yet?). The cap sleeves and crew neck cut also make it an elegant addition to both your work and play wardrobe.
At $340, it’s our splurge of the week …
Pssst… REISS is still having reduced prices on select items, so stop by the website some time this week…
The Corporate Sister.
by Solange Lopes | Mar 3, 2014 | Career |
Lupita Nyongo – independent.co.uk
Happy Monday!
Last night, millions of people across the planet watched Kenyan actress Lupita Nyong’O win the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the epic “12 Years a Slave”. I know I did, and I can’t even begin to explain the feelings of pride and sheer joy that overtook me as I watched this young woman transcend centuries-old race and gender barriers, to claim an honor that has seldom been given to women like her.
She closed her beautiful acceptance speech with this phrase that will forever stay with me: “No matter where you’re from, your dreams are valid!”. As we head to work this morning to start a new week, as we struggle as corporate sisters to establish our footing in a corporate world where very few look like us, let’s remember that our dreams of success and achievement are also valid. That we can achieve our best even as the odds seem insurmountable. That with hard work, dedication and sheer genuine commitment to our careers, we can also make it to the top.
We saw it last night, and we need to be getting ready to see it over and over and over again,s tarting with our own selves. It can be done, it has been done, and will be done again, and for that reason, we are to keep on keepin’ on, and keep pushing until we can finally make it…
And if you’re in need of inspiration this morning, please watch Lupita’s Oscar acceptance speech last night, and be reminded that your dreams are valid:
The Corporate Sister.
by Solange Lopes | Feb 26, 2014 | Career |
Vince Camuto ponte knit sheath dress – $118 – nordstrom.com
Four our lunch break today, we are in awe of this Vince Camuto belted print ponte knit sheath dress from Nordstrom. I love the graphic geometric print and the flattering V-neckline (although I would probably wear a black camisole under just to keep things kosher for work). And for a slimmer silhouette (and who doesn’t need a slimmer silhouette, I know I do), the back black panel keeps everything in check and creates the illusion of a smaller waist in proportion to the rest of your body. This is a very flattering and original dress, that is still chic enough for work. I would pair it with an elegant cardigan or straight blazer for a more conservative look or for impromptu meetings in the office.
Seen a great, work-appropriate fashion piece you’d like to recommend? Please email us at corporate@thecorporatesister.com!
The Corporate Sister.
