by Solange Lopes | Sep 6, 2016 | Career
Traci, one of my readers, left a comment on the blog the other day, asking for plus-size suggestions of workwear. So I decided to write a post on where to shop for stylish, elegant clothing in plus sizes (and I’ll also be adding plus-size options to each Corporate Catwalk post as well).
When it comes to plus-size workwear, it can be a challenge to find work-appropriate and well-fitting options. Many of my plus-size colleagues and friends have been complaining about the lack of flattering styles for plus sizes, which is surprising considering that most American women, myself included, are on the curvy side.
As a curvy Petite myself, I can relate to the struggle. The last thing you want is to show up to work with ill-fitting clothes and be uncomfortable all day, all the while not being taken seriously because of the way you dress.
I did some research, and was glad to find out that while the options are not overwhelmingly varied, there are still a number of brands that offer great work styles for plus-size women. These are my favorites so far (I will keep updating the list as I go):
Valentina Plus-size dress – Photo credit: tdnewyork.com
Tiel Doreen: this is a must stop-shop for full-figured career women, carrying sizes 0X to 3X. I particularly love the elegant and extremely flattering wrap dresses like this gorgeous Valentina number.
Lena belted stretch culottes – Photo credit: skimlinks.com
Lane Bryant: The brand is well-known for its designer collections catering exclusively to plus-size women sizes 14 to 28. I particularly love their tailored pants available in a large array of styles, including this Lena tailored stretch belted pair of culottes.
Textured Pencil Skirt – Photo credit: skimlinks.com
Elvi: This elevated brand offers some timeless, contemporary styles in sizes 14 to 26 that would look perfect in any professional wardrobe. It features a specific Workwear collection that I absolutely love. Pieces like this textured pencil skirt, or this crisp white embellished blouse are just to die for!
Stretch overcheck jacket – Photo credit: gb.marinaldi.com
Marina Rinaldi: This modern, refined brand carries sizes 17 through 33, and offers classy looks for the office. I love that the jackets are especially well tailored, as opposed to the awkward plus-size models usually on the market. Take for instance this sharp stretch overcheck jacket.
Ebro shirt – Photo credit: UNIVERSALSTANDARD.NET
Universal Standard: This cool brand offers elevated essentials for sizes 10 through 28. The story of how this brand came to be is actually really interesting. Alexandra Waldman and Polina Veksler quit their Provate Equity jobs to create a clothing line that catered to women other than their straight-size friends. I like the contemporary style of the line, with pieces like this Ebro shirt for instance.
Some regular brands and established designers are also expanding their offerings to include plus-size options as well. My favorites are:
Any plus-size brands you’d like to add to this list? Please comment below, or email me at corporate@thecorporatesister.com!
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Sep 6, 2016 | Career
“I feel stuck!”
The last time Felicia met with her mentor, those were the exact words that summarized how she felt about her career. She did like her job, and wanted to get ahead. Yet, underneath her apparent good performance and how well she got along with her team and manager, she felt “stuck”. As in locked in the same position, with limited opportunities to grow and develop the fulfilling career she’s always dreamt of…
Does Felicia’s story feel familiar to you? Have you, or are you, as you’re reading this post and actively nodding, feeling trapped in that thing you’ve stopped calling a career a while ago?
If you come to work with zero inspiration, sub-levels of motivation and a deep desire to understand how you can combine coconut flakes and brownies into a new revolutionary dessert, you may have hit a career wall. Hard.
Many of us hit that career rut wall at some point or another in our careers. On a positive note, it means your career has a pulse and you’re not just some robot mechanically motioning through work. On another positive note, it’s a sign you may need to put the moves on your career, like…now!
Yet, even before you decide to make a change in your career (and figure out what you need to do), you’ve gotta ask yourself some questions. Some pretty tough questions, if you ask me. Yet some essential questions, whose answers will help you understand yourself, and your career, better.
Who Am I?
I know what you’re thinking. This is the quintessential existential question no one wants to really answer. Who wants to spend the afternoon pondering about their identity when you could catch the latest shoe sales? Seriously…
Yet, to live your best life, and have the best career you’ve always wanted, isn’t just a matter of degrees, competence or even personality. How many have excelled at the wrong career, only to wake up one day and realize their career needs a 360.
How you define yourself affects how you define your work, and ultimately your success. Knowing who you are is the first step to accept it, and ultimately be happier.
Are you a business person, or more of an artistic one? What are your strengths? What weaknesses do you need to work on? What are your dreams?
Every time you hit a wall, in your career and life, you may be prompted to take a good hard look around and re-evaluate your current situation. Start with you.
As part of answering this question, define and list those characteristics that make you who you are. What makes you unique? How would you describe yourself?
What Makes Me Happy?
Studies have shown that the happier you are, the more productive and fulfilled you are at work. Instead of piling on the caffeine and Twix bars, why not instead ask yourself what makes you happy, truly happy?
Yes, we all need jobs. And sometimes, even most of the times, necessity doesn’t really reconcile with the stuff that makes us vibrate.
Yet knowing what makes you happy will allow you to at least know what to go after. It may not be a part of your career now, but it could be part of a side project or an aspiration you work towards. Many “corporatepreneurs” report getting so much joy and fulfillment out of their side pursuits that it affects their careers positively.
Even if it only means making more time to do do those things you enjoy, whether it’s gardening, golfing or traveling, it can make a world of difference for your career.
On a piece of paper, make a list of the things that make you the happiest. Keep this list, it will be a part of your career recharging process.
What Do I Want?
There is another one of those tough, existential questions that leave most people wanting to drown in a tub of Haagen Dasz ice cream.
We all want fulfilling careers that put enough money in our pockets and leave us enough free time to live life to the fullest. Yet most of us also have bills to pay, kids to raise, student loans to eliminate, and a whole shabang of things we have to do.
Yet everyone we lose sight of what we really want out of life, we get into this passive rut zone where our motivation dwindles, our focus disappears and our productivity sinks.
Do you want to create processes? Or are you more drawn towards a career in the sciences? Do you want to have a career that allows you to have more free time or a shorter commute?
List the things you want in order of priority, both in your career and life. It will be the starting point to re-energizing your career.
What’s the next (small) step?
It may not be easy to answer the first three questions, let alone determine a plan of action. And the good news is, you don’t have to define an entire career plan right off the bat. What you can do, however, is start with the next (small) step.
What’s one thing you can do today to recharge your career, based on your answers to the first three questions. It could be as simple as taking a class in a field you’re interested in, or purchasing a book, or even reaching out to someone in an area you may have questions on or interest in.
Start today with one simple, small step. Write it down and follow it through.
What questions do you ask yourself when you find yourself in a career rut?
PS: Want to know more about recharging your career? Join our “Recharge Your Career” month challenge HERE!
by Solange Lopes | Sep 5, 2016 | Career
It’s that time again on Sunday night, when you find yourself slouched up on the couch, scrolling through your Facebook feed and chomping on that last chocolate chip cookie. Sounds familiar? If it does, then you’re right there with about 65% of American workers who experience Sunday Night Blues every week.
Although you may be able to beat your most severe of Sunday Night Blues symptoms, wanting to eat your weight equivalent in cookies and indulge into yet another “Friends” marathon, that tightening in your chest may be more revealing than you think after all. It may be more than just wanting to live in your PJ’s forever more and instead a serious indication that it’s time for a move…A career move that is!
There’s nothing exciting about nearing a heart attack as you get ready to start the week, or hug your car door as you mentally motivate yourself not to drive back out of the parking lot. And when it starts happening more often than you crave coffee, you may want to take another look at what’s really happening in your career!
A career’s not supposed to be painfully endured with potential rewards of chocolate-covered madeleines and extra shoe-shopping trips. If you’re going to spend upwards of eight hours in a cubicle/office/mini “work kingdom”, you’ve gotta make it work! Which also means not just pocketing a paycheck at the end of the week, but also finding fulfillment, joy and an outlet to display your incredible talents and unique insight!
So if you’re thinking about upping your consumption caffeine to make it through the day, or treating yourself to yet one more Pinkberry escapade to drown your work sorrows into strawberry frozen yogurt, look for these four tell-tale signs that it’s time to make a career move:
Your Motivation Is As Low As Your Candy Supply
If you’ve been getting to work later and later, while being in no rush to complete any task, your motivation may be hitting an all-times low. And it’s not just because the kids are going back to school, or your overbearing in-laws are in town. You’re just constantly waking up with zero energy, and you’ve given up on coming up with any new ideas to improve your job. The occasional surge of energy you may muster goes straight to filling out your PTO (Paid Time Off) sheet.
Focusing Has Become Mission Impossible
Have you been complaining about how the clock seems to take a break when you’re at work? If you’re constantly checking the time, and praying for 5pm to come faster, you’re probably no longer stimulated at work. Whether it’s because your tasks have become repetitive and predictable, or because your manager isn’t challenging you enough, you’re just not able to focus and produce high-quality work.
You Suffer From Severe Career Envy
Are you feeling the green-eyed monster pinch every time a friend or colleague gets a promotion, or gets offered a new opportunity? Are you envious of the great careers you see in the media, or even just around you? It may be time to ask yourself why. It may just be that you’re more than ready for a career upgrade yourself. When you’re doing work that satisfies and fulfills you, you have more confidence to celebrate others. If competition and jealousy start overtaking your professional and personal life though, you may need a change.
You’re Just Not Yourself Anymore
If you haven’t been feeling yourself lately, it may have something to do with your career. Are you exhausted at the end of the day? Are you more irritable and snapping at everyone? Are you not excited to share details about your day? If you can’t seem to see the positive side of your career and life, and are instead complaining about management all the time, you may need a serious career move.
If you’re feeling any of these symptoms, it may be time to stop and smell the flowers memo! Don’t let yourself slide down this dangerous path, only to wake up ten or fifteen years later at the same job with the same constant “career blues”.
PS: Want to read more about making a career move and recharging your career? Join our “Recharge Your Career” challenge this month!
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Sep 2, 2016 | Career
Photo credit: shop style.com
Our Week-End Pick features a piece of clothing or an accessory that complements any corporate sister’s week-end wardrobe.
Off-shoulder top fans, breathe easy! The trend is not disappearing with Summer going away. Actually, it’s transitioning quite well into the Fall with flattering, fun long-sleeve off-shoulder tops like this Re:Named cutout version from Shopbob. The cutouts are a nice touch to this cool top too! And at $65, the price is not too bad either!
I also like this silk version from Gilt for a casual and chic date night, or this peasant top version from Zappos. If you’re in a splurging mood, this Caroline Constas loose-fitting number is a great pick , although you could go for this less expensive BCBG Max Azria graceful one.
There are also great plus-size options, like this ASOS Curve lightweight ribbed top, or this belted satin beauty perfect for a night out with the girls.
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Sep 2, 2016 | Career
This is our weekly career and lifestyle news update, where we round up exciting news of the last week and we let you have it…ahem, news-wise that is…
Think of it as your career gossiping section on steroids…
And while you’re at it, follow us on Facebook, Twitter,IG, and Pinterest!
Here we go…
- Getting out in the morning on time, especially now with all the “back-to-school” buzz? Levo has some great tips;
- Want to leave work at a reasonable time? This free tool might just be what you need…
- Women are know for their “soft skills” at work. Ellevate Network confirms how valuable they are for your career;
- Ready to start your business? Black Enterprise offers 5 tips to become a master mompreneur;
- Ready to quit that job you absolutely hate? The Muse lists 2 things you must do before pulling the plug;
- Are you a first-time entrepreneur? Here are 4 things Forbes says you should know about;
- Going for an interview? Here is exactly what not to do;
- Like Etsy? Corporette lists 7 fabulous Etsy shops featuring great workwear;
- H&M wants your innovative green ideas...oh, and did we mention there’s $1 million for grabs?
- Last but not least, here are 5 tips to transition your work wardrobe from Summer to Fall.
PS: Ellevate Network, a great place for career women to network, is running a 20% promo on their membership! Take advantage!
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Sep 1, 2016 | Career
Photo credit: shop style.com
Our Corporate Catwalk feature selects a piece of clothing or an accessory that complements any corporate sister’s wardrobe.
As we’re slowly transitioning into Fall (and so are our work wardrobes), I’m toning down my bright colors and buying into more nude and muted tones. Like on this chic Kate Spade New York pleated midi two-tone skirt.
Loving the elegant pleating on this classic skirt which never goes out of fashion! The black and nude colors complement each other beautifully, as the length is simply perfect for work and fun! Bonus: it’s on sale for $120 at Neiman Marcus.
I also like this quite similar (and less expensive) pleated midi skirt from Nordstrom, this bright Topshop chiffon number, oh and this gorgeous ASOS white beauty too! If you feel like splurging, this REISS Eli skirt is to blush for, while this Lamarque leather version is edgy but classy!
ASOS Curve Pleated Midi Skirt – Photo credit: shop style.com
There are also some elegant plus-size options for pleated skirts, including this blue lined chiffon number from ASOS CURVE, and this Eliza J plaid version.
Which one is your fave?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Aug 31, 2016 | Career
You know it’s time to think about transitioning your work wardrobe from Summer to Fall when that fresh Fall breeze starts messing with your sleeveless sheath dresses a la Michelle Obama. Or when that flimsy cardigan you keep on hand to keep from freezing over in the office starts demanding a more autumnal upgrade.
As sad as it can be to wave good-bye to the warm months of summer (and to that blasting office A/C), lighter work outfits, and bright pedicures, it can also be a time of renewal and change, including for your wardrobe. Yet, that doesn’t mean you have to invest in a whole new wardrobe, or re-engineer your closet.
After many wardrobe faux-pas, unnecessary expenses and hilarious fashion snafus, here are some of the best tips I learnt about transitioning your wardrobe from Summer to Fall, minus the stress, wallet drain and fashion incoherences:
Wallis Ribbed Ponte Blazer – Photo credit: nordstrom.com
Blazer it Up!
One of the first signs of Fall weather in my work wardrobe is the migration of my blazers from the depths of my closet to my chill shoulders. There’s something about Fall that just makes you want to look more pulled together (and feel warmer)!
So gently thank your lighter cardigans for their summer shift, and diplomatically replace them with more tailored, fitted blazers. I like this Wallis ribbed ponte blazer that goes with pretty much anything you may own…
Workwear: Bella Vita Zip front booties – Photo credit: nordstrom.com
Switch Your Shoe Game!
There’s nothing elegant about freezing your toes out because you decided July should never end! Start welcoming the Fall in your wardrobe with more appropriate shoes, even if that means pairing that pair of cute booties with your summer dress.
For those who still want to show off last week’s pedicure, these Bella Vita Zip-front booties are perfect! Or you could always go for a more conservative, chic style with these elegant Vince Dryden low-heel ankle booties from Shopbop.
Eileen Fisher Print Silk and Wool Scarf – Photo credit: nordstrom.com
Dig Out Your Scarves!
Fall is the quintessential “scarf season”! It’s fresh enough that you can wrap them around your neck for warmth, and warm enough to show them off! Not to mention that chic “je-ne-sais-quoi” they instantly add to your entire look!
I like this Eileen Fisher Print Silk and wool scarf from Nordstrom. And if you’re into your wild side, this Sole Society leopard print scarf is a winner!
Oscar de la Renta silk blouse – Photo credit: shopstyle.com
Fade Out Your Colors!
I’m the first one to go for an all-colorful, bright look, even at work. Yet, as the seasons change, and Summer starts to fade out, I’ve learnt to tone down my brights. I’m not completely giving up on them though. I’d still pair a colorful skirt with a darker top or blazer. Or a bright top with darker slacks.
My favorites are silk blouses like this Alice + Olivia high-low peplum crepe top, which pairs beautifully with a bright bottom.
Women’s tights – Photo credit: anntaylor.com
Factor in the tights!
Ok, this is not my favorite “season transitioning” tip here, but one that may be necessary and even stylish if you know how to pull it! I’m not the biggest fan of tights, so whenever the weather starts getting cooler, I start looking for fun, interesting, yet still work-appropriate tights…
Like these sheer dot tights from Ann Taylor.
How do you transition your work wardrobe from Summer to Fall?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
