Trendy office wardrobe that works

Dear Rissa, 

I’m 37 years old, single, and working. Could you recommend some office wardrobe because I have been wearing the same clothes for a while now, and though sometimes I shop, I see the same work clothes? I just want to be more creative and add some style to what I wear to work.

I also need your advice regarding the dark circles and lines under my eyes. I must admit there are times that I sleep late. When I went to my dermatologist, she recommended an eye cream which I bought in her clinic, but unfortunately, I noticed that when I used it, I felt itchy and some redness appeared, so I just stopped using it. What brand can you recommend?

Puringgit

For your office wardrobe, in most cases you don’t have to wear a matching suit in the workplace anymore. It’s all about mixing and matching. A slim skirt is best for work. It’s the most businesslike cut and the most useful as a quick and able partner for a jacket, sweater or blouse. I love pencil skirts because they exude powerful femininity and sophistication. Pair it up with a button-down shirt and nice heels, the ensemble will take you almost anywhere.

If you work for an art studio or a company in the fashion industry, don’t be afraid to throw in a trendier top. Blouses are the collectibles in the wardrobe. A strong trend for this season is asymmetric. Also try details like lace, ribbons, clustered embellishments, or ruffles. Pockets and other visual trimmings on the bust lend visual impact. Go for colors that flatter you or try this season’s colors — lemon, citron, orange, and spectrums of green. Don’t stop experimenting with tops. Use them to draw attention upward and flatter your face.

Dresses are not as versatile as a separates outfit, but you can change the look quite easily with accessories. Try a wrap dress — it’s softer and more feminine and has a softness of draping for a suggestion of a curve. It offers day-to-evening wearability and effectively hides figure flaws. A wrap dress is a wonderful alternative that can be used in the workplace — while giving you authority, it still reminds you that you are a woman. 

Invest in a good jacket. Blazers are some of the spring/summer 2009 trends also seen on the runway. Experiment with a crisp and smart-looking blazer in other colors apart from black. A well-cut one can conceal most figure challenges. A jacket lends presence and importance. It affords women the same authority and power that a man’s suit provides. And it’s the first thing people notice when you’re sitting at your desk. 

Lastly, have fun and show your creative side by updating your basics with great accessories. Accessories pull together an outfit for you. They help you update your wardrobe without spending a ton of money. Beautiful necklaces, eye-catching earrings, and brooches allow you to gain power, authority, and confidence through jewelry that’s kept close to the face. A great pair of heels in a medium to high height will help bring you to eye level with most men. Skinny or waist-cinching belts can be wonderfully paired up with trousers, skirts, dresses, jackets, and long cardigans. Intricate cuffs, cocktail rings, bangles are also eye-catching accessories that spice up the office wardrobe. But for the workplace, avoid going overboard and piling on your accessories. Keep in mind that you want to draw attention — not distract! 

Stores worth checking out are The Black Shop (located at Glorietta, SM Megamall, Fairview Center Mall, SM City North Edsa, Alabang Town Center, Robinsons Galleria, and TriNoma) and Ensembles (Glorietta, SM Megamall, Robinsons Galleria, Festival Supermall, Alabang Town Center, Eastwood City, TriNoma). You’re sure to find designs that are versatile and timeless but equally current, translating the hottest runway fashion into real-life versions for everyday wear. Their stylish separates allow you to wear them in as many ways possible. Their pieces also have a great fit that flatters the figure, be it a blazer or a cocktail dress. Apart from clothes, these stores also offer bags and accessories to jazz up your work wear. 

Remember when shopping for your work wardrobe, don’t buy fabrics that wrinkle easily. You can twist the corner of a garment to see how it stands up. Keep in mind that clothes have to be easy to maintain so they don’t eat into your time or take too much of your budget with dry-cleaning.

Lastly, find a comfortable weight level and stay within a few pounds. It’s the secret to having a nonstop wardrobe.

A lot of women — and men — have to deal with dark circles under the eyes. I sometimes get them, too, whenever I don’t get enough sleep. But sleeping late isn’t the only cause of dark under-eye circles. If they persist for a long time, those dark circles can also be due to an allergy — check with your dermatologist. It may also be hereditary. An eye cream that targets your problem is Murad’s Lighten and Brighten Eye Treatment (available at Rustan’s Essenses). This formula is scientifically proven to lighten dark under-eye circles by an average of 59 percent and diminish eye bags and puffiness up to 50 percent. In a beauty report, Dr. Howard Murad explains his patented formula: “The benefits of Hydroquinone, which lightens the skin and diminishes the appearance of dark circles, and Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-3, which reduces puffiness and bags under the eyes due to fluid buildup caused by poor drainage, come together for optimal eye care and repair.”

I’ve tried it and you’ll love how soothing it feels on the skin. It also glides smoothly without any tugging feeling. Another eye cream to consider is Clarins Super Restorative Total Eye Concentrate (also available at Rustan’s). With regular use, Clarins Super Restorative Total Eye Concentrate promises to make the skin on the eyelids smoother and crow’s-feet and wrinkles in the eye area become visibly less apparent. Puffiness under the eyes and on the eyelids is also visibly reduced. And to target your concern, the blue appearance of dark circles is diminished so the eyes appear more rested. 

An affordable alternative is Pond’s Age Miracle Dual Eye Therapy (available in leading department stores, supermarkets, and drugstores nationwide). It takes action on all our peeper-problems: wrinkles, puffiness, and dark circles. Pond’s Age Miracle Dual Eye Therapy contains two eye creams in one jar — the Upper Eye Collagen Cream reduces the appearance of lines, wrinkles, and crow’s-feet while the Under Eye Brightening Cream reduces the appearance of puffiness and dark circles. If you’re going to use an eye cream, consider choosing a product that solves all problems in the entire eye zone — the upper and lower eye area as well as from temple to temple. Since I have bad eyesight and wear graded contact lenses, other eye products easily irritate my eyes. This one has been gentle but effective. Plus, it contains UV protection. One tip: Make sure to use the ring finger (our weakest finger) when applying products under the eyes. Be gentle and avoid tugging the skin. Remember that the skin under the eyes is thinner and more sensitive.

Rissa

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Hair’s The Score On The Dishevelled Look

Dear Lucy,

How do I get that perfectly dishevelled style for my hair? The look is younger that way, I think, because I really feel it looks so matronly when every strand is perfectly in place.

Also, what is the difference between a tinted moisturizer and a light foundation?

Richelle

You will need a texturizing product for your hair so that it falls in relaxed sections, as if you just ran your fingers through it and then pinned it up like an afterthought. One to try is L’Oreal Tec Play Ball, in the blue container. It is a deviation paste that works very well at deconstructing and defining such that you still look put together but in an imperfectly perfect kind of way.

A tinted moisturizer will give you a little less polish than a light foundation. The former will hydrate and even out complexion somehow yes, but a light foundation will cover your skin with a layer of color and give it a flawless finish.

Lucy

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White Jeans Are All Right

Dear Ms. Tingting,

Can anyone bigger than a size 2 wear white jeans without looking like a marshmallow?

Amy

White jeans on any shape are most flattering when they’re fitted. Do not wear a white baggy denim, you’ll look like a sack of potatoes. Try a slight boot cut if you’re looking to minimize full hips or thighs. A thicker denim sucks you in, provides cover for lumps and bumps that a thinner weave can’t.

Tingting

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Send e-mail to tingtingcojuangco@yahoo.com, ltg@pldtdsl.com, and stylesos_rissa@yahoo.com.