Dress [Work] Appropriate

I am in no way a fashion person, but I do like to look and feel good. I like to dress appropriately for the situations I am in. Work is one of those areas.

I have only worked in highly casual areas of companies, so, jeans were good to wear. However, I did notice

my look-good-feel-good connection was dwindling as more and more people were taking casual to newer, lower levels.

I don't think we are re-defining "casual" - I think it is just really easy to get lazy. I know this because sloth is my favorite of the deadly sins and I have gotten lazy in how I dress on many occasions. I always snap back when I think - why do you want to present yourself badly to those who control your income?

After all, I have a big mouth and I'm clumsy. I really can't be dressing sloppy when I know I'm going to mess up 500 work related things a day. If I can control how I look - if I can make it look like I belong in corporate America - maybe it will dull the fact I just erased the Internet.

Rules
Here are some rules for buying clothes.

• Thou shall only buy clothes that fit. If you need to go a size up, do it! It's better to look good that be obsessed with a size. When trying things on, get the size you think you should wear and then one up and maybe one down so you know how everything fits and lays.
• Thou shall not be a slave to trends. A couple pieces of trend clothing is great to spice up your wardrobe but your wardrobe should be made up of at least 80% basics. This will stretch your budget and then you an always build off it.

Here are a couple rules to keep you honest in this "casual workplace" world:

• No dual purpose clothes. Never wear anything you would wear to the gym, beach or with puky babies. This includes flip-flops. Sorry, I am anti-workplace flip-flops. On an unrelated note, I am pro-pedicure. 
• Work then dress. The quality and statement of your work should always surpass your clothes. Don't dress like you are some type of CEO, do work that makes people want you to be the CEO. Don't go to work proving you are sexy - work to prove you belong there.
• Dress for you. Some say, "Dress for the job you want." No. Dress appropriately for the role you are in and keep yourself professional looking so those who make the decisions to promote will have a good impression of you. Then let your work speak. If you work in a casual place and wear a tux hoping to be promoted - it will be weird. 
• Take pride. Bad day = sweats? Stop. Take pride in how you look in the workplace, even on bad days. 

Mad Maddie rules - here is what I live by:

• No flip-flops: Really. None.
  
• Pantsless Wednesday: Every Wednesday (almost) I wear a dress. At least once a week, I dress up like I am going to be meeting the CEO or going to an important meeting. It keeps me honest. You could also check out when I wore a dress everyday for a week in my 7 Days - No Pants post.
• Cover up: Side on the side of modesty - cover shoulders, no cleavage and nothing tight fitting. It might not be how I would dress for a night on the town or on the weekends, it is how I dress for work.
• Be Comfortable: I refuse to wear things that are uncomfortable. Shoes, pants, shirts, bras - whatever. Life is uncomfortable, there is no need for me to create more discomfort. If an article of clothing is not comfortable and work appropriate, I donate it. 
• Avoid Trends: I just avoid them in my work attire. I want classic things I don't have to re-buy every season or so. I can trend-it-up on my off time, at work, I will stick to things I can always wear. This doesn't mean I don't adore and wear brightly colored pumps or have no flare - I just make sure to reduce anything that would "date" me.

Thoughts

What are some of your work dos and don'ts? What do you do if you have a co-worker who dresses inappropriately? Do you say nasty things behind his/her back or do you talk to him/her about it. Is there any way a company can nicely enforce a dress-code? 

Leave me a comment!

Be Part of the Adventure
Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.

Image Credit
Image of dress types from whatcanyoudowiththat.com
Flip flops from thehouseofbeck.com

Buy Something On TV

Mission Level: Success

I can actually spend hours watching infomercials. How else would I know all the problems I have - like cooking pasta - and how there is a solution for $19.99 (plus shipping and handling) plus a free gift solution!

I ended up going with the Cami Secret because, so much like the commercial says, I like to have some coverage without adding bulk. Summer is coming and the last thing I want to do is be wearing two shirts in order to make sure no one sees my bra.

They have not invented a camisole for pit stains, let me tell you. Here is the commercial for your viewing pleasure!

Background
First, I don’t have the ample bosom of the lady in the commercial  I don’t think I actually have cleavage at all, actually. However, this doesn't mean I should have a top or dress that proves that. I have a couple blouses that have a sort of cowl-neck – a draped neckline that can slip in non-professional ways. There are times you can avoid flashing your undergarments. Like, 99.9% of the time.

I have used tape before to secure unruly shirts in place. The tape actually works great, but, it doesn't allow for as much movement as can be natural. It also leaves behind a residue on your clothes or bra. This can be really hard to remove. It’s great the tape really sticks – sucks that is really sticks.

Sometimes, life is like that.

What It Is

The product

The Cami Secret is a mock-cami. It’s just a little triangle of fabric that clips to your bra so it looks like you
are wearing a cami (and hiding some bits) without having a full on cami.

I bought mine at CVS. You can actually get them at most drug stores and food stores, online and wherever, really.I was not going to be calling over the phone for something, by the way. I believe the using and acquiring of the product was the real challenge - not calling some weird hot-line and giving out my information.

I did get them in the three standard colors - black, nude and BRILLIANT white.

Pros
It’s actually a good product. The quality is good. It does look like an actual camisole. It’s smooth and even the lace strip on the top is pretty nice. It’s not sloppily glued or stuck on there. It can actually look like a real lace cami and not a mock thing.

It works by having a little piece that goes around your bra strap and snaps into itself. It’s pretty secure – it’s not just a pin or clip.

You do get three colors – I am just not sure who wants to display a nude color. Really. Nude is . . . not a sexy color. No one is like, “You know what I need, a nude undergarment to bring the sexy.”

It’s not too expensive. All around, the pros are pretty strong.

Cons
I dislike the lace detailing. I wish they had just plain ones. The lace does not go with everything I have. I normally wear very plain spaghetti strap tops, so the lace is weird to me. It is also a little bit, maybe, old? I think a clean line would be more modern and versatile. You can easily find dressy cami for special outfits. Because of the lace, I really only wear the black one because it is less noticeable.

Since I am not a top-heavy girl, I also do not have any ability to adjust the amount of skin-to-cami ratio. In the commercial, they show how the girl can go from “I’m a nun” coverage to “$1s go in here.” I only have the “I’m a nun” setting. This is because the mock-cami will only slide as far up or down as your bra strap goes. Once the strap meets the top part of the bra cup, you’re done.

Future Thoughts
I have been wearing it to work for a couple dresses. I do like it, overall. I am happy with my purchase. I will have to get something else for my going-out dresses if I want a mock-cami since it’s a little too modest for my bangin’ hot red dress with a low-cut front that I just need about an inch of coverage on.

If anyone wants that nude one, though, it’s totally available.

Be Part of the Adventure
Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.

Image Credit
Product image from amazon.com

Pierce Ears

Mission Level: Fail.

I don't have pierced ears. I wouldn't actually know how to even wear earrings right - what styles and colors might match what I am wearing or my head.

I took up belly dancing for a while - about two years - as a way to start getting active once I started getting healthier. I did end up going a little overboard for my condition and I ended up having to walk around with a cane and all this stuff. Ooops.

Background

One of my last shows

My belly dance teacher would make most of our costumes and earrings would always be something we'd wear. She had to make something special for me and then she was puzzled over why I didn't have pierced ears.

My Mom does not have pierced ears. Nor do I come from a culture where babies have their ears pierced before they are one for some reason. I think even if I did, my Mom would not have done it.

83% of American women have pieced ears. I am little uncommon and annoying when it comes to accessorizing. My belly dance teacher told me I should get mine done for my birthday. You know, to give me time to think about it.

I did think about it. It seems like a lot of work filling those holes with jewelry  Besides, I think the practice is a little odd. You make a hole in your body to hang stuff off of for beauty? Well, I think sometimes it can be attractive - yet, still odd.

I did get many presents of earrings from relatives and friends of the family - which I gave to any number of my friends who all had pierced ears. They knew how to make them work.

Challenge Fail
I didn't get my ears pierced. I don't think I ever will. Even surrounded by 83% if the population. It's too much of a lifestyle situation and commitment for me. I think it is a lot like my No Makeup post - I never had earrings so no one expects them and it's just not part of my personal style. For someone else who always had them, s/he can feel naked or incomplete without them.

And those little holes always looked a little weird to me.

Be Part of the Adventure
Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.

Commentary on Abercrombie & Fitch

So, Abercrombie & Fitch came out saying how they only want model-like people, and women under a size XL to wear their clothes. I actually respect A&F for their stance - or the CEO's stance.

Let's just be honest. This company wants a certain brand out there.

Cool.

I don't think wearing or not wearing A&F impacts the quality of your soul.

I accept that certain companies target certain types of people, it's cool. I may or may not be in that target group. That doesn't mean I am better or worse for it – the only thing that decides my worth is my behavior. What I do in the skin I am in is much more important that what I wear.

Anyone who thinks because A&F doesn't carry his/her size some type of self-worth is reflected really has been taught the wrong message. Some people, some groups and some companies just don't like you. At least we can be honest about our likes and dislikes, our body size and even our vanity.

I know there are a lot of people who deal with issues of self-worth and have eating disorders or other issues. This is a separate issue which cannot be solved by changing the world to accommodate imbalance. It has to start on the inside of those people. It does hurt me when I know someone struggles with an internal issue and believes this issue can be solved through an acceptance of an outside entity.

Sometimes there is no acceptance. And there is a deeper issue when the statement, “Man, if I only fit into A&F jeans, my life would be worthwhile!” than the sizes a manufacturer carries.

I use to think if I just washed my hands one more time I would find peace. I didn't find my solution in soap bubbles anymore than someone will find a peace in a cotton-spandex fabric blend.

Let's just be honest and learn to deal with things that are not always going to be the way we want, people not always responding the way we wish and the world not being a slave to anxiety.

Tolerance

Learning to be truly tolerant – truly tolerant – is to accept people have different views on the world. I don’t have to agree with A&F to be tolerant of its business model, public statements or other choices.

Every person has the power to buy or not buy from this company. And I think it's a choice, like any choice. I'm glad we have choice. We can include or exclude whoever we want and we have to deal with the rewards and the consequences of this. Not everyone is going to cater to you. Not everyone is going to like you. Some people are going to cater to you. Some are going to adore you.

And you know what? Both things are ok.

My Facebook status escalated rather quickly when I posted my thoughts, however.

This escalated rather quickly

Be Part of the Adventure

Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.

7 Days - No Pants

Catchy title, eh? I have a new challenge!

Wear nothing but dresses for 7 days.

Not as dirty as you are probably thinking. My new challenge is to wear nothing but dresses for a week. You know, to get in touch with my feminine side.

I work at a place - and have mostly worked in places - where the dress code was "casual." You know, that type of casual that meant nice jeans are ok but some people get away with wearing sweats and borderline pajama type attire.

Real professional

I think it's great to be able to have a casual workplace, however; I also think business attire also sets a certain standard that can trickle into more professionalism.

Besides, when you dress nice and know you look good and have dressed appropriately for where you are, it can make you more confident.

Stipulations
For an added bonus, I am also going to dress in dresses for the weekend. I am allowing myself two "graces" which pretty much means most of the weekend I will not be in dresses, but I will try.

• I will be at a 5k on Saturday in the city - I will probably not be in a dress. It's cold.
• I have a biking event on Sunday - I will not be wearing a dress. 

History, Background and Whatnots
I actually own more than 7 dresses, but, I don't think I can wear them all to work. Please note on the following pictures - I actually still have and fit into all these dresses, but, my weight is hysterical!

I do have some rather formal type dresses that would fit challenge but would also not be right for work. Like this fine number.

I love the fridge

I also am not going to wear any of the dresses I had to purchase and wear for friends' weddings. I love my friends, totally. Maybe not going to wear these dresses again.

I'm happy

Being in a dress is tricky sometimes, might I add.

Ragin' maid

I am not going to be showing up to work in this lavender number, either. I never even had close to the boobs needed to pull it off. Yeah. . .I was also in the state of moving, hence the mess in the room.

There's a lot in the back

Be Part of the Adventure
Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.

Get a Gel Manicure

I love me a good manicure. Due to poor nutrition and sickness, my nails were never that great until I started on a good vitamin routine and was able to get better food into me. Manicures started off as a thing my Mom and I would do – get our nails done and go to lunch.

Really, what’s more perfect? My Mom is pretty awesome.

A traditional manicure would last me a few days before it would start to chip. For $10 at our local salon, it wasn't a bad deal but I don’t like the look of cracked, chipping polish. I don’t need to have manicured nails, I just don’t like chipped nails. I would prefer to have unpolished, wild nails than manicured chipped nails.

I knew some friends who got tips and fake nails – I never wanted to damage my nails and I also don’t like the fake look. Also, that box-cut French thing looks weird. Really, your fingers look chunky when you cut you nail right across and then add some white lines

What is it?
A gel manicure is basically a normal manicure but the polish is some type of chemical that dries under UV light to create a super-hard shell on your nail.

Manicure
After leaving my original nail salon due to poor service, I decided it was time to give the gel manicure a try. Here’s what I can tell you:

• Do your research. 
• Know your nails.
• Find the right place to go. 
• Check the manufactures website. 
• Read the horror stories.

Cost
Critical – what is the cost? Where I am, a simple manicure costs $10. The gel manicure costs $30. However, I only have to get one every 2-3 weeks. Doing the math for a month, it would be $40 for a normal manicure and $45 for a gel (at most). The gel also looks better longer where I always have a few days of crappy nails with the simple manicure.

Sold!

My Experience

At about 3.5 weeks

Basically, addicted. I am lucky, I live really close to a great nail salon where they do everything right.

• Getting it done: Painless. Normal manicure process, but, you put your hands under UV lights rather than a dryer. It was so hard to convince myself they were dry since I am use to drying for 15 minutes and then doing the dainty I-can’t-touch-anything hand dance for an hour after.
• First impressions: I did feel as if my nails were a little thicker or heavier. Stronger, even. The polish makes it possible to open a can of cat food without batting an eye – normally, this would break or weaken a nail.
• Love: A week later, my nails still look salon perfect. I can get 2-3 weeks out of my nails. Granted, toward the end they might chip a little and you do see new nail growth. If your nails grow really fast, you’ll know it. I never had to get my nails clipped until I started doing gel manicures.

Testing
I did tests – I took the polish off myself, I ripped off the polish, I tried two different manufactures of the polish and stopped using the gel.

Polish off: I have pure acetone and I soaked my nails. I learned I am not a professional and I thought my nails were totally damaged. Ended up, I just didn’t get all the polish off right. At the salon, they lightly file the polish and gently scrap it off rather than having you soak for 10 minutes unattended. This is the right way. I did it the wrong way. However, my nails were not damaged, just had all this stuff on them that made them look scratched.

I used both OPI and Shellac polishes. I like the Shellac better which is made by a company called CND. This might be more personal – I liked the colors better and when the OPI was removed, my nails looked a little more chipped than with the Shellac.

I took a break – first when I removed the polish on my own and later when I got a normal manicure. I really wanted to take more breaks because I think it’s supposed to be a good thing, but, I can’t. I love the gel look and nail strength.

Plus, I go to one of those places that will tell you if you need to take a break from something.

Do not rip off the gel no matter how tempting it is. It’s not good for your nails. For the sake of science, I did, though. I found it comes off a lot harder yet more as one piece than normal polish. I did note my nails were just fine under it.

Negatives
I do think that getting the gel makes me not relies how my nails are suppose to be. When I took a break, I thought my nails had become weaker – actually, it was just how they normally are. They aren't actually weak, but, the gel adds a lot of strength. It’s annoying to stop dong it.

If you have thin nails, this could be bad. They will scuff up your nails a bit to help the polish really stick. They are really good at it where I go, but, it is something that is done.

Hand models always hold stuff - this is my coffee mug

You can’t have your hands in water or doing a lot of stuff all the time. My Mom, for example, got a gel manicure and then cleaned the house and cooked Thanksgiving dinner – her nails did NOT hold up for Thanksgiving Day and she had to get her nails re-done.

You are stuck with a single polish color for three weeks. I mean, you could go get the polish off if you were unhappy. However, in general, you need to make sure you like the color. If you decided to do a bright orange and then you have a funeral to go to – that might bother you. Or not. I don’t know you and I don’t know your emotions. I normally do soft pinks and more natural tones, I was a little iffy about going dark and I can’t say I am 100% in love with my current nail color. For the next three-ish weeks, this is what I got.

Be Part of the Adventure
Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.

Outlet Shop

Mission Level
Success!

I’m Cheap
I'm pretty cheap, unless I know I am paying for quality. I do love earning money, saving it and then buying stuff I need and want. I am not one of those girls who ever spent all day shopping, I'm very target (not the store) orientated.

Now, I have friends who have two or three closets full of clothes and get a buzz out of it. Beyond that, they love the outlets - there are a couple around. I think depending on how far you travel, making outlet shopping an all day thing would be a good idea.

Good thing I got friends all over the place and getting to some outlets is not that hard

Welcome to All I Don't Know
I am not a brand-centric person. A consumer, yes, but brand loyalty? Crash and burn! I can be bought by the highest quality for the lowest price and I enjoy nothing more than watching the great tumble.

Master of Fashion!

That’s not entirely true. I think it’s important to be on the look out for yourself when it comes to where you spend your money. You have the money, you have the power. Don’t hand it all away on some name if it’s not the best possible thing you can get or it bring you twice as much joy as it cost. 

For example, my Visconti pen is worth every penny and when I get around to squiring my Conklin, it’ll be worth it.

Ok, I have one brand I am fairly loyal to - Lucky Brand. Sure, jack your prices up, I have jeans from the early 2000 that are just as fantastic as when I first got them. I was told this is strange to own jeans for so long. 

Plus, the people they hire at the retail level are super, 100% of the time.

The Outlets
My destination was the Philadelphia Premium Outlets. Lots of brands. Lots of stuff I am not sure how to value. The area is mostly an outdoor shopping circle, not a mall. Picking a day when the temperatures were waving at the negative range and snow started to fall.

I went shopping needing some warm clothes for work and keeping warm. A dress or two would be nice as I have another challenge coming up that has to do with them. Suspense!

I didn't have a plan. I was just super happy Lucky Brand had a story there. Even if I could get the normally priced $150 pair of jeans for $100 I would be happy. I really like the Charlie Flare cut I got last year for my birthday.

The Trip

Can we just take a moment to again address my super-hot boyfriend who came with me to the outlets? Seriously, of his own free will. I would never force a guy to come shopping with me. Love his company, of course.

The Hunt
I’m target oriented. I know companies spend millions of dollars on top marking people who carefully arrange displays to attract my attention, blast “I need to get rid of my money” music and carefully choose the best fashions to display. 

This is why I spend 60 second tops in a store. If nothing catches my eye, I move on. 

I went through about 8 stores in an hour leaving MacGyver stunned at my efficiency.

Lucky Brand
I was happy to see that the Lucky Brand Outlet was just a neat and charming as the normal retail store. However, they did not have the Charlie Flare jeans I wanted. I tried on the Charlie Straight (the lady said I would look great in them) but I am not into carrot –leg looks.

Honestly, no one looks good when your pants or jeans tapper. It makes your ankles look skinny and the rest of you looks huge. Stop. STOP!

I did buy two tops – for the price of one at normal retail. I have some remorse for the second top I got because I’m not sure I can pull it off. I’m going to make it work.

Verizon
I really want a new cell phone case. I want the one I have, sort of a white argyle pattern. I go into the store and ask – “We have pink.”

Yeah, we’re done here.

“I mean, we could order it for you.”

Yeah, I have Amazon dot com. It doesn't suggest I get something in pink.

Steve Madden

This is my shoe store of choice for pumps - Steve Madden. I love a nice pump in some bright colors. I prefer the suede look rather than matte or shinny, but, I could be convinced. They did not have the color I have been looking for, so, that was out.

I'm not into platform pumps, by the way. It's a wear look to me. I know the peep-toed, platform boot is all the rage. I still think it looks funny.

The nice sales rep was nice enough to put down the customer service number for me to call to see where the shoes are. I did not have the heart to tell her “Amazon dot com.”

Forever21

I bought a sweet skirt here on a whim in the summer and I really like it - I even found this awesome picture of it. I wear it with a simple sweater and some tights since it's a little short sometimes. 

Some of my friends really dig this store, but, it’s got too much see-through stuff.. I recently found out my favorite t-shirts are at H&M when I use to avoid that store like the plague.

 So, I give Forever21 a shot when I can to see if I can find another, well, find.

Ann Taylor
A friend told me I could find some nice stuff here. My Amazon wish list has a couple nice looking dresses for work from here, so, I figured the outlet might offer me some idea on how the store sizes things and maybe a couple pieces.

I’m not emotionally ready for Ann Taylor. I tried to force interest in a dress, but, it was super thick material, a somewhat awkward green and the embroidered design on it were two triangles, with the largest size highlighting the widest part of the hip area.

I don’t have much of a need to accent my child-bearing hips, so, I passed.

New York & Company
I don’t know why I go into this store but I know why I use to. Talk about a downward spiral. I use to get a lot of staples here – great sweaters and pants and shirts - I could never leave New York & Company without something. Every time I go into one of the stores it looks as if a pack of 5-year-olds have trashed the place and to compensate, all the racks are double-jammed with items. Urg.

The sizing is also always off. I am not a “small” but I need to get “XS” at this store. I know their “Size 10” is not a real size 10. It’s great if you want an ego boost that is related to the size of your clothes, otherwise, it sucks.

The store is also packed by color, so, you have a bank of ROY G BIV (red, orange, yellow, green blue, indigo and violet) across the store. This is great if you don’t care what you get as long as it is a certain color. I don’t shop this way – except for shoes.

Also, they now have horrible fashion stuff. I want a normal sweater. Not a sweater with some cheap sequence attached.

As a side note, I have notices when NY&C has mannequins up, I want to buy the stuff it is wearing. Only problem, you can never find even one of those items.Needless to say, the outlet version left my inner child weeping and my cardio up.

Yankee Candle
I normally get my candles from Home Goods rather than directly from Yankee Candle because they are super cheap. Sure, you have to hunt a little, but, everything is in one spot. This store is a little small. When my super-hot boyfriend walked in, he basically almost died from the wall of smell.

I lasted only a second longer to prove I’m a woman.

Final Thoughts

Yep, that my friends is how I shop. 

Now, I will be going back there, for sure. I think I also didn’t want to linger too long because this was not something my boyfriend was enjoying as far as an afternoon activity. He’s great, but, I know when not to push my luck with people. I really liked having him along but I didn’t want to spend hours there searching and hunting for items.

However, with my Mom. We’re going to own that place.

Outlets. Who would have thought! Actual good stuff, nice stores and really reduced prices.

Be Part of the Adventure

Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.

Image Credit

Skirt from wanelo.com