Saturday, May 7, 2011
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Casual Friday in the Non-Profit / Federal Government World
This past Monday was the annual White House Easter Egg Roll. When the lottery results for tickets were announced --- and phooey, no we did not get one...par for the course apparently as we are discovering that La C's luck with lotteries bites but anyhoo --- some thrilled to the gills mother actually posted an inquiry on the local parents' listserve asking for guidance on what her precious darlings should wear to the event.
Give back your tickets now. Seriously.
My blood pressure cannot take repeating here what the original poster thought might be appropriate nor what the majority of posters thought would be appropriate. Needless to say, I did not agree.
In the annoyingly hypnotic words of Dora the Explorer, "Where are we going?!"
To the White House. The home of the leader of the largest democracy on the globe.
Hit it Aretha!
R-E-S-P-E-C-T.
Parents wear dress pants, sports coats, modest sundresses, etc. Little tykes in khakis and polos and little misses in sundresses. Or some approximation of the suggestions above.
But for the love of all the civility that is ebbing from our society, this isn't a trip to Target.
Do not wear flip flops. Do not even dream of donning a tank top with different colored straps - it is called a strapless bra people and they are $9.99 at your beloved Target.
Do. Not. Chew. Gum.
I know it will either be stinking hot or pouring rain (it alternates such weather every year without fail). I know it will be crowded. I know the wait in line to get in is interminable.
Does not matter.
Remember there will be photographic evidence that you looked better at your third cousin once removed's 50th birthday party than you did on the South Lawn of the White House.
Just something to think about.
So long story short - this same dress code question rises with the sun every Friday morning of the hot and humid Washington, DC summer. Once you have slogged your way to the office sweating and dry heaving you sit at your desk shivering under the arctic blast of the air conditioning.
The key is layering. Every DC fashionista worth her salt has this mantra written in lipstick across her bathroom mirror.
The day of the peekaboo camisole is over. Today, these babies are loud and proud. Wear a cami that can be seen sans blazer/cardigan on your commute. This means investing in a strapless bra - absolutely essential. Throw on the outer layer the second the first chilling tendrils of air brush your sweat glistened skin - this means as the front door of your office building comes in to view.
The other key to DC summers is that casual Friday is a bit of a myth. It really only exists in the non-profit /consulting /government arena. The legal/lobbyist/financial sector....well you are rather S** out of luck. We'd be more empathetic but you do get those lovely bonuses....
Below are two sets of casual Friday ideas for those offices that allow and encourage it. I leave it to you to know the lay of the land in your own office. I have taken a simple set of staples as the base of the outfit and used color schemes and accessories to create the vibe.
While you may not be enamored with these outfits, I ask that you take away one thing from today's blog post -- neither of these two outfits contain denim.
That is all.
Give back your tickets now. Seriously.
My blood pressure cannot take repeating here what the original poster thought might be appropriate nor what the majority of posters thought would be appropriate. Needless to say, I did not agree.
In the annoyingly hypnotic words of Dora the Explorer, "Where are we going?!"
To the White House. The home of the leader of the largest democracy on the globe.
Hit it Aretha!
R-E-S-P-E-C-T.
Parents wear dress pants, sports coats, modest sundresses, etc. Little tykes in khakis and polos and little misses in sundresses. Or some approximation of the suggestions above.
But for the love of all the civility that is ebbing from our society, this isn't a trip to Target.
Do not wear flip flops. Do not even dream of donning a tank top with different colored straps - it is called a strapless bra people and they are $9.99 at your beloved Target.
Do. Not. Chew. Gum.
I know it will either be stinking hot or pouring rain (it alternates such weather every year without fail). I know it will be crowded. I know the wait in line to get in is interminable.
Does not matter.
Remember there will be photographic evidence that you looked better at your third cousin once removed's 50th birthday party than you did on the South Lawn of the White House.
Just something to think about.
So long story short - this same dress code question rises with the sun every Friday morning of the hot and humid Washington, DC summer. Once you have slogged your way to the office sweating and dry heaving you sit at your desk shivering under the arctic blast of the air conditioning.
The key is layering. Every DC fashionista worth her salt has this mantra written in lipstick across her bathroom mirror.
The day of the peekaboo camisole is over. Today, these babies are loud and proud. Wear a cami that can be seen sans blazer/cardigan on your commute. This means investing in a strapless bra - absolutely essential. Throw on the outer layer the second the first chilling tendrils of air brush your sweat glistened skin - this means as the front door of your office building comes in to view.
The other key to DC summers is that casual Friday is a bit of a myth. It really only exists in the non-profit /consulting /government arena. The legal/lobbyist/financial sector....well you are rather S** out of luck. We'd be more empathetic but you do get those lovely bonuses....
Below are two sets of casual Friday ideas for those offices that allow and encourage it. I leave it to you to know the lay of the land in your own office. I have taken a simple set of staples as the base of the outfit and used color schemes and accessories to create the vibe.
While you may not be enamored with these outfits, I ask that you take away one thing from today's blog post -- neither of these two outfits contain denim.
That is all.
Monday, January 24, 2011
...It's My Birthday Too!!
So today is my birthday. I am old. Older than I think of myself as being.
In my mind I am 27.
In the mirror I see 27. (They say the eyesight is the first to go.)
And in my mind's eye, I am 27.
Usually on my respective past birthdays I have vacillated between railing against change and craving accolades that I have achieved a new age.
This year I am experiencing an unexpected sense of calm. An almost zen, out of body appraisal of the fact that today is my birthday. That time is marching on. That change, in its maddening single mindedness, is transforming me and my life.
And I am okay with it.
Then again it could just be that I am in a state of elated countdown to my Caribbean vacation next week.
I suspect, however, it is the littlest boo that is grounding me.
That whirling, pink tulled dervish whose voice seems to only operate at decibel 10.
You all remember my grinchy holiday blog post. Well, Christmas was amazing and I survived. But. I had this thought one night on the way home from work.
I was sitting in the car at a stoplight two blocks from home. The carols were playing. It was dark and chilly out. I was staring at a house with its holiday lights and decorations.
And I realized that I will do this -- Christmas -- potentially --- 50 more times.
Fifty more Christmases.
And all that entails.
Fifty more years of living life fully as an adult.
Calculating that I have been living life fully as an adult since I was 18 -- I have only been at this for 20 years.
I have 50 more to go.
It makes time seem so liquid.
Because it isn't the actuality of the passage of time, it is how we fill those ticking tocks.
It is the milk through your nose laughter with friends -
The recognition as you enter a sun splashed room that this is your favorite time of day -
The loss of a loved one that sharpens the point of life -
The calendar entry that takes for granted tomorrow is a new day.
It is staggering and humbling and joyous to realize I may have 50 more years.
RECESSION FASHION P.S.
I have a new toy --- I found a site where I can pull together outfits with pricing links!! It is like paper dolls all over again!
I might have mentioned how I am off for my annual girls' beach winter getaway next week so I pulled together some winter getaway appropriate outfits.
Travelling in style is tough these days what with the flying sardine cans but give this comfy chic outfit a try!
Sightseeing or shopping in the warmer climes means cool, casual and pulled together!
Dinner by the sea is a must! Take advantage of the spring's love of maxi skirts to add some elegance to your evening.
In my mind I am 27.
In the mirror I see 27. (They say the eyesight is the first to go.)
And in my mind's eye, I am 27.
Usually on my respective past birthdays I have vacillated between railing against change and craving accolades that I have achieved a new age.
This year I am experiencing an unexpected sense of calm. An almost zen, out of body appraisal of the fact that today is my birthday. That time is marching on. That change, in its maddening single mindedness, is transforming me and my life.
And I am okay with it.
Then again it could just be that I am in a state of elated countdown to my Caribbean vacation next week.
I suspect, however, it is the littlest boo that is grounding me.
That whirling, pink tulled dervish whose voice seems to only operate at decibel 10.
You all remember my grinchy holiday blog post. Well, Christmas was amazing and I survived. But. I had this thought one night on the way home from work.
I was sitting in the car at a stoplight two blocks from home. The carols were playing. It was dark and chilly out. I was staring at a house with its holiday lights and decorations.
And I realized that I will do this -- Christmas -- potentially --- 50 more times.
Fifty more Christmases.
And all that entails.
Fifty more years of living life fully as an adult.
Calculating that I have been living life fully as an adult since I was 18 -- I have only been at this for 20 years.
I have 50 more to go.
It makes time seem so liquid.
Because it isn't the actuality of the passage of time, it is how we fill those ticking tocks.
It is the milk through your nose laughter with friends -
The recognition as you enter a sun splashed room that this is your favorite time of day -
The loss of a loved one that sharpens the point of life -
The calendar entry that takes for granted tomorrow is a new day.
It is staggering and humbling and joyous to realize I may have 50 more years.
RECESSION FASHION P.S.
I have a new toy --- I found a site where I can pull together outfits with pricing links!! It is like paper dolls all over again!
I might have mentioned how I am off for my annual girls' beach winter getaway next week so I pulled together some winter getaway appropriate outfits.
Travelling in style is tough these days what with the flying sardine cans but give this comfy chic outfit a try!
Sightseeing or shopping in the warmer climes means cool, casual and pulled together!
Dinner by the sea is a must! Take advantage of the spring's love of maxi skirts to add some elegance to your evening.
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