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- Nicole Martin
- New Jersey
- Remixing my wardrobe to create buzz-worthy, office-approved outfits! Find out more at: Creating Panache.
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Showing posts with label 31bnb. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 31bnb. Show all posts
Friday, September 10, 2010
Friday Inspiration
5:14 PM | Posted by
Nicole Martin |
Happy Friday guys! This short week seemed to drag on... it also doesn't help that I had to read all the NYFW tweets when I couldn't be there :( But the following photos have kept me inspired through it all!
Krystal over at This Time Tomorrow has always, in my opinion, been able to easily pull off the mensware button downs. I think it's because she chooses more feminine materials, like silk, so the tops don't look too boxy. What I really like about this look is that she's paired it with a fuller skirt (vs. a pencil or a-line).
I've been a long time fan of Jessica's blog! She has a great eye, especially when it comes to recreating looks from the 1950's and 1960's. This outfit is definitely modern, but with a dash of her signature vintage style. It may be from April, but the pants and jacket can easily be a fall look. I've been eying up Gap's skinny black pants, and this pretty much confirms that I'll be getting them ;)
I've recently become a huge fan of Alexa Chung, and so I'll be stalking out pieces from her Madewell collection. Silky blouses, peter pan collars, and chunky knits, oh my! If anyone hears about a sale, please let me know :) But the main focus here is the HAIR! My hair has been long and shaggy for way too long now. I wanted to cut it but keep the bangs. What do you think of this style? Seems low maintenance enough!
What's inspiring you lately?
Source: This Time Tomorrow
Krystal over at This Time Tomorrow has always, in my opinion, been able to easily pull off the mensware button downs. I think it's because she chooses more feminine materials, like silk, so the tops don't look too boxy. What I really like about this look is that she's paired it with a fuller skirt (vs. a pencil or a-line).
Source: What I Wore
I've been a long time fan of Jessica's blog! She has a great eye, especially when it comes to recreating looks from the 1950's and 1960's. This outfit is definitely modern, but with a dash of her signature vintage style. It may be from April, but the pants and jacket can easily be a fall look. I've been eying up Gap's skinny black pants, and this pretty much confirms that I'll be getting them ;)
Source: Madewell.com
I've recently become a huge fan of Alexa Chung, and so I'll be stalking out pieces from her Madewell collection. Silky blouses, peter pan collars, and chunky knits, oh my! If anyone hears about a sale, please let me know :) But the main focus here is the HAIR! My hair has been long and shaggy for way too long now. I wanted to cut it but keep the bangs. What do you think of this style? Seems low maintenance enough!
What's inspiring you lately?
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
3 Misconceptions about Personal Branding for the Everyday Professional
7:07 PM | Posted by
Nicole Martin |
This is my first guest post (ever!) but you can expect to see other posts from me on Ms. Career Girl in the future!
Thursday, August 19, 2010
El Beso Que Te Sopla
1:32 PM | Posted by
Nicole Martin |
*Photo credit goes to my husband Ryan today... thanks darling! :)
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| shirt: Rena Rowan, thrifted ($4) ~ racerback tank: Mossimo ($6) ~ pants: Banana Republic ($?? – can’t remember!!) ~ shoes: Aerosoles ($35) ~ deer necklace: DIY ~ white turquoise necklace: gift ~ wrap watch: NY&Co ($20) ~ bangle: thrifted via Beacon’s Closet ($8) |
Date: August 19, 2010
Ensemble message: Well folks, you spoke and I’ve listened! The comments I generally receive are nice, and nice is, well, nice. But Tuesday’s post prompted comments like “I think this is my favorite outfit yet!” and “way to bring your style A-game to the office.” Ok, so you like true office garb with a twist, got it. Feedback is a gift people, so here I am making use of it!
This outfit uses some tailored pieces to create a laid-back menswear look. I’ve always had an affinity for blousy button ups – after all, Krystal from This Time Tomorrow is on my style inspiration list! But I just haven’t experimented with them much. I saw this blouse on an impromptu thrift store visit last weekend, and for the $4 price tag, I couldn’t pass up the chance to try out the blousy button up look! What do you guys think?
I also got some feedback from my co-workers today… mainly that I wouldn’t be able to post before I jet into the city tonight for a Devendra Barnhart show (click at your own risk... he's pretty trippy!). I’m not really sure why this mattered since they saw what I was wearing? But anyway, I took time out of my lunch break to schedule this post. Take that ;)
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Personal Branding IRL: Steven Slater of Jet Blue Fame
8:19 PM | Posted by
Nicole Martin |
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| Picture courtesy of CBSnews.com |
What a way to quit your job! For anyone outside of the tri-state area, has this news story traveled your way? Read on, this one’s very interesting!
Ever have a day where one thing after another seems to go wrong at work? After one of those days, Jet Blue flight attendant Steven Slater quit his job, and not too subtly.
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| Picture courtesy of CBSnews.com |
It all started when two passengers got into an argument about the overhead bin space. As someone who only carries her luggage on, I understand how precious this space is. However, this argument escalated, and when Slater stepped in to ask one passenger to check their bag at the gate, he was accidentally clocked on the head by said bag. Well, that stinks… great start to your day! (Sarcasm here folks ;)
But it didn’t end there. Once the plane landed at JFK, the passenger who was forced to check her bag at the gate became very upset that she could not get the bag back immediately. Because Slater was the one who checked it for her, she took her anger out on him, very loudly and with many f-bombs. Wow, the poor guy was just doing his job, cut him a break!
Here’s where the story gets juicy… Slater walked away from the woman (good) and got onto the intercom to announce his resignation (bad). He allegedly said, “Those of you who have shown dignity and respect these last 20 years, thanks for a great ride.” Slater then proceeded to activate the emergency exit slide, toss down his bags, pop open a couple beers, and hop down the slide himself.
Depending on what your reaction is, you can file this reaction under either off-his-rocker-crazy or wow-I-wish-I-was-that-ballsy.
Let’s take a step back here for a moment to take a look at Slater’s personal brand before this incident. Before, the public knew nothing about this guy. According to a variety of new stories, his parents both worked in the airline industry and Slater was very passionate about his job. To some, he was a friend, co-worker, helpful flight attendant. Slater was by all means an Average Joe.
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| Picture courtesy of CBSnews.com |
Afterwards, however, Steven Slater is now known as that Jet Blue flight attendant who quit his job by jumping out of the emergency exit. Quite the change, thanks to the media. Keep in mind that once your actions are broadcasted to the public, they will trigger a variety of reactions. These reactions will then be your personal brand to those people, like it or not. That’s why it’s so important to think before you, ah-hem, leap. (cracking myself up over here! ;)
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| Picture courtesy of CBSnews.com |
How do you view Slater? Is he a hero who was brave enough to speak his mind and represent abused flight attendants everywhere? Or is he an idiot who will have issues getting a job in future due his jail time and clear anger management issues?
All I know is that I wish I could exit some days with a slide :)
Thursday, August 12, 2010
How to Add Panache to Your Office Wardrobe
9:39 PM | Posted by
Nicole Martin |
Happy Thursday! It was rainy out by me today, so no woodsy pics. But, I did play around with the webcam in my laptop... and it's so true, fluorescent lighting does nothing for ya! So instead of a bunch of outfit pics, I wanted to write another informational post.
After reading through comments on this blog (thank you everyone!!!!) and on discussions I've started on the Chictopia forums, it seems that a lot of people are hesitant to push the fashion envelope at the office. And I get it - it takes a lot of confidence to wear something that is considered to be out of the ordinary, either for your style or for the general populous around you. But I'm here to tell you that you can do it, no matter what type of corporate environment you're in! I don't know of any office setting outside of the medical field that has a super regimented dress code. (If I'm wrong, please let me know :) Yes, you may have a certain dress code to work within, but it's still possible to add some panache to your outfits!
My biggest recommendation is to start with smaller pieces, like accessories, for several reasons. First, you can test the waters this way. If you do work under a stricter dress code, you'll find out real quick if some funky accessories are acceptable or not. It also helps you explore your own personal style... some things look cute on others but may not feel right for you. Before overhauling your entire wardrobe for nothing, and wasting a pretty penny too, make sure the new style reflects the true you.
Second, if you're worried about drawing attention to yourself, adding a bolder necklace, cute headband, or interesting earrings won't completely change your style overnight. It'll help you build confidence, especially once the compliments start rolling in from your co-workers and friends :)
Finally, once you feel comfortable with smaller items of panache, it'll be easier to move onto other bigger items, like skirts, sweaters, etc. Practicing with accessories first will also help you pinpoint exactly what to invest in. I've personally wasted so much money in the past by rushing into trends and new styles that I definitely wish I started slow.
So there you go! Adding some panache to your office wardrobe needn't be complicated or scary at all :)
After reading through comments on this blog (thank you everyone!!!!) and on discussions I've started on the Chictopia forums, it seems that a lot of people are hesitant to push the fashion envelope at the office. And I get it - it takes a lot of confidence to wear something that is considered to be out of the ordinary, either for your style or for the general populous around you. But I'm here to tell you that you can do it, no matter what type of corporate environment you're in! I don't know of any office setting outside of the medical field that has a super regimented dress code. (If I'm wrong, please let me know :) Yes, you may have a certain dress code to work within, but it's still possible to add some panache to your outfits!
My biggest recommendation is to start with smaller pieces, like accessories, for several reasons. First, you can test the waters this way. If you do work under a stricter dress code, you'll find out real quick if some funky accessories are acceptable or not. It also helps you explore your own personal style... some things look cute on others but may not feel right for you. Before overhauling your entire wardrobe for nothing, and wasting a pretty penny too, make sure the new style reflects the true you.
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| Funky necklace = Panache! A fun addition to an otherwise average outfit. |
Finally, once you feel comfortable with smaller items of panache, it'll be easier to move onto other bigger items, like skirts, sweaters, etc. Practicing with accessories first will also help you pinpoint exactly what to invest in. I've personally wasted so much money in the past by rushing into trends and new styles that I definitely wish I started slow.
So there you go! Adding some panache to your office wardrobe needn't be complicated or scary at all :)
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| PS: The orangey/salmon sweater tank will probably also be up for grabs soon! |
Thursday, August 5, 2010
5 Ways to Make a GREAT First Impression
8:30 PM | Posted by
Nicole Martin |
Hello readers! Apologies in advance for the sporadic posts over the next week… Yesterday I had to drive to Connecticut for The Day Job, and this morning I flew out to Chicago
A couple weeks ago I posted ways to add panache to your interview outfit. I’ll add similar posts in the future for a variety of work-related settings. But I figured it would be helpful to have a go-to guide for any situation where you will be meeting people for the first time. In come cases, you may know that you need to make a good impression (interviews, client meetings, etc.) However, in places like networking events or even on an airplane, you never know who you’re going to meet. Better to be safe than sorry with these 5 tips:
5 Ways to Make a GREAT First Impression
- Dress for the Occasion
This wouldn’t be Employed Panache if this wasn’t listed as #1! I could go on any number of tangents on how to dress for certain situations, but I’ll keep it simple: do your research. Know your audience and their general style. If they are very formal and conservative, don’t go for cutting edge fashion. Same goes for the opposite – a group who tends to be casual may be leery of someone who is overly dressed up.
- Learn New Names
When meeting people for the first time, actively learn their names. For some people, this goes beyond introductions if you have a terrible memory for names. I’m one of those people… so I have a couple methods for remembering. First, I repeat the name out loud (“Bob Smith, very nice to meet you!”) and then I repeat the name over in my head. If I’m lucky enough to be in a meeting where it’s appropriate to take notes, I write down the names, usually in the order of where they are sitting. That way, I can picture their face later on. Other people like to make name associations: “Rachel, who is very friendly and likes to cook = Rachel Ray.” Do whatever works for you!
- Talk About Your Panache
Has anyone ever advised that you memorize an elevator speech? Being able to talk about your panache is similar to that, only I don’t like the pressure of restricting it to 30 seconds. Your talk should definitely be brief, but not so short that it sounds rushed and canned. And, your panache goes beyond just what you’re wearing. Unless of course you have the opportunity to walk the red carpet for some fancy event, in which case you better remember who you’re wearing ;)
When talking about your panache, people should walk away knowing who you are and what you’re about. You may prepare a short paragraph, but feel out the conversation before reciting – it might make more sense to introduce yourself and wait for the other person to start asking questions. Dialogues always feel more natural to me personally. So my talk would go something like this:
“Hi, I’m Nicole Martin. I’m an HR Specialist supporting the Supply Chain at my company. I really love my job, especially when I’m involved with someone’s career development. It feels really good to see my employees progress and earn that next role. I’ve seen how another person’s perspective can really make or break someone’s career, which is why I’m especially passionate about personal branding as well. In fact, I’ve recently started a blog about it!”
- Ask Questions
Remember that it’s not all about you :) Take an active interest in the other person. Don’t stress about what to talk about – you can ask a simple question such as, “Have you read any good books lately?” Jonna Martin (LINK) shared another good one with me: “Have you taken any trips recently?” She swears that this will definitely get the other person talking! And here’s a secret: if you can get the other person to talk more than you, this reflects best on YOU! Sounds weird, but it’s because the other person will remember actively participating in a conversation with you.
- Believe in Yourself!
Last but not least, have confidence in yourself! Even if you’re in a room where you know nobody, or everyone outranks you, or you just don’t think you have anything in common with anyone… put on a smile and fake it til you make it! If you’re open and friendly, you’ll be surprised by how many people you’ll meet.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Interview Styles
9:42 PM | Posted by
Nicole Martin |
We’re going take a break from our regularly scheduled outfit post today. Instead, I wanted to post another tips/tricks/advice article. This week, I wanted to address a topic that unfortunately a whole lot of people are facing these days… interviewing!
Some may say that dressing for an interview is super easy – throw on a suit and you’re done. But what sort of impression does that leave on the interviewer? Without any panache, probably not a lasting one. Of course it’s your experience and skills that will help you get the job in the end, blah blah blah. I completely realize that a snazzy outfit is not always necessary, but it can differentiate you from the crowd. And, it will help your potential new employer understand who YOU are! A good real-life example of this is Meg over at Bow Ties Are Cool ... she pulled together a quick and simple interview outfit that was both professional and reflective of her personality.
So, for today’s post I’ve created interview styles based around the simple black suit:
This first look is classic with a twist. Just because you love your pearls and preppy look doesn’t mean you need to be boring. Bring out your fun side with ruffles! Or wear a ladylike print under that jacket and pair with an interesting necklace. Just don’t pair ruffles with the necklace… they’ll end up competing for attention and may be too much.
The second look is what I call quirky… mainly because this is how I lean and I’m not sure what to call my style at times :) Vintagey pieces will balance against the suit. Leave super cutesy prints at home though – they may give off a more childish feel (not the first impression you want!) Here is where the jewelry can shine and play up a more retro look.
Others may want to push the envelope a little more, which is why I pulled together an edgy but professional look. Depending on where you’re interviewing, this may be completely appropriate and sometimes expected. Strut your stuff in bright, graphic prints. I love the blazer + dress look here, especially paired with the booties. Bold jewelry tops it all off!
Quick caveat – these looks are obviously based on my own personal style and preferences. There’s no one “right” look, but there are several wrongs. For example, be sure that your skirt/dress isn’t too short, or that too much cleavage is showing. And of course an unkempt look is never right for an interview (or regular work day, for that matter).
What makes you feel the most confident in while on an interview?
Finally, my 5 top tips for any interview:
- Research the company you’re interviewing with. Meaning, go beyond the part of their website that provides the mission statement. Find out if the company has been in recent news. This will prepare you for tip #4, and may help you understand whether you actually want to work there.
- Prepare everything the day before your interview. Gather your resume, portfolio, entire outfit, etc. so that you’re not scrambling and creating unnecessary stress for yourself the day of.
- Know your resume inside and out – in other words, don’t put something out there because you know it sounds good. Be prepared to speak to each bullet point – realistically, this probably won’t happen, but you’ll be ready for anything.
- Prepare smart, thoughtful questions for the interviewers. This makes a really good impression because it shows that you have a true interest in working for the company. The questions can be around their personal experience with the company or something you found during your research. Don’t do a quick Google search and ask super generic questions, this will be obvious.
- Follow up later that day or the next (at the latest) with an e-mail thanking the interviewer for his/her time. I don’t think many people do this anymore, and it’s a nice touch. It also opens up a line of communication that allows you to politely inquire about their progress in filling the role. This question should only be asked if it’s been a couple weeks since you’ve heard from the company, or if they are several days beyond a promised decision date.
For those out there interviewing right now… good luck!!!
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