Skirt: Black Peplum Skirt ($35)

From Left, Earrings: Tribal Fusion Studs ($20) Ring: Minkoff V Stackable Ring ($78) Bag: Z Spoke Eartha Satchel ($495) Cardigan: Tippi Cardi ($85) Top: Sorcha Printed Top ($128) Shoe: Nine West Quinty Pump ($47)

From Right, Earrings: Loft Teardrops ($25) Bracelet: Jules Smith 5 Bangle Set ($98) Bag: MK Selma Satchel ($358) Shirt: DKNYC Floral Blouse ($49) Shoe: Miri Midheel Pump ($198)

I posted this ruffled peplum skirt on the blog last Thursday and didn’t post the Two Ways due to having too much fun on Wednesday night, so I thought that I would post it today.

For the Office.  Originally, I had just the blouse and skirt with a pair of colored high heels.  Then, I remembered that it’s air conditioning season in D.C. and re-worked it to include a sweater.

Black and white prints are everywhere this season, which is odd since summer is usually the season for color.  If you want to indulge, I love this Theory top but this Madewell top is nice too.  Under-$50, we have this ring-printed top.  For petites, I adore this long-sleeve top and for plus-sizes, I like this ikat top.

I went with a teal cardigan because the buttons were black and the color was deep enough to stand up to the black.  If you prefer a sweater in cotton, I would choose the J.Crew Jackie Cardigan in white.

The textured gold on these earrings is really nice and the stack rings are really versatile.  And the Zac Posen bag is to die for, but if you need something cheaper, try this $34 ASOS satchel.

For the hair, I would wear it up in a Gibson roll or twisted bun.  Gibson rolls are my primary mechanism for having decent hair on humid days.  For the makeup, I would choose a slightly darker lip color, like a sheer berry stain.  And I would paint my toenails (peep toes!) a deep aubergine.

For the Office.  Wearing black with summery colors, like pink, can be a challenge.  I find the best way is to incorporate them in to a pattern, like this DKNYC blouse.  This DvF blouse mixes yellow and black and this Peter Pilotto top brings the pale blue, just for a few more examples.

To pull it all together, I chose the pink drop earrings.  They’re dainty and pretty and a great price.  (Wear them with white dresses all summer!)  And while this bag looks white, it is actually pearl grey.  Prefer the darker shade?  Click here.  (The medium size, no top handle, is $228.)

These shoes are really comfortable.  I wear them all day and my feet never hurt a bit.  This is the miracle of the sub-3″ heel, because it is not the padded insole (ie. there is no padding) that’s doing it.  Need a pair for less?  Check out the peep toes above or these Drusilla pumps.

For the hair, I would wear it down, but not too straight since there’s a lot of volume and ruffle in the outfit.  For the makeup, a pinky-peach lip gloss with some bright pink polish (Bikini Pink, $9) would look lovely.  I’d also break out a bit of black pencil liner.

Dear Belle,

When you wrote about asking for a raise, you mentioned asking for benefits instead of a salary increase.  Can you talk more about that?  I don’t even know where to begin or what to ask for instead of money.  

Thank you, Miranda

Many employers are willing to negotiate benefits as well as or in place of salary.  In a down economy, it is probably easier to negotiate perks instead of cash.  Here are some of the things I have negotiated for when a bump in salary wasn’t an option.

Mobile Plan.  If your employer issues you a mobile phone, you may be able to convince your boss to let you use that phone as your personal cell.  This can save you $1,200 or more per year.  However, if you choose to go this route, you will need to treat the phone as your employer’s property and be cognizant of what apps your download and how you use it.

Flexible Scheduling or Telecommuting.  A friend, who works on the Hill as an LA, negotiated a certain number of working days in the district every year.  It benefits her because she is able to see her family on her trips, and it benefits her boss because she is able to meet with constituents who are not able to travel to D.C. and see the state of things on the ground.

I know other women who have negotiated work-from-home days where they can telecommute.  And I’ve heard of women negotiating different hours for themselves, so instead of working 9-to-6, they work 10-to-7 or 8-to-4.

Educational Costs.  Many employers offer money to help cover your student loan payment.  If you work on the Hill or for the government, student loan reimbursement is available to you, though there are caps on how much you can receive.

If you would like to go back to school, some employers are willing to pay part or all of your tuition in exchange for an extended work contract.  A friend who works at a trade association received 50-percent of her legal education costs in exchange for five years of work (including the four years she was going to school part-time).  You can also negotiate for classes to help improve your writing, learn how to use a new technology or build other skills.

Vacation Days.  For me, having an extra week of paid vacation each year is worth its weight in gold.  Many of my friends have negotiated to have as much as 20 days a year of vacation.

One of my neighbors negotiated a week off at Christmas, Thanksgiving and Labor Day in addition to five flexible days.  She had worked for her company for 11 years as an executive assistant to one of the senior partners.  The lesson?  Make yourself indispensable.

Does anyone else have examples of non-salary compensation that can be negotiated?  Perhaps your industry has something specific, for example an attorney negotiating a year-end bonus.  Leave your thoughts in the comments.

DKNY Colorblock Dress ($295)

Hill Staffer

French Connection Manhattan Color Block ($148)

Paid Intern

Calvin Klein Colorblock Sheath ($89)

This dress also comes with a yellow accent, and I liked this CK dress with a printed panel, though there are only a few sizes left.

Plus size? I like this cobalt and black dress and this printed CK sheath (mentioned above).  Petite?  This black and white sheath is lovely and this printed dress with a blue panel is nice too.

Shorts: J.Crew 4″ Chino Short ($45)

From Left, Sunglasses: Ray-Ban Aviators ($145) Necklace: Rebel Pendant ($79) Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Cherish Tote ($57) Top: Theory Striped T-Shirt ($172) Shoes: Keds Basic Sneaker ($40)

From Right, Earrings: Honeycomb Earrings ($30) Rings: Sugar Bean Three Stone Ring ($50), Love Ring ($42), Melinda Maria Poppy Ring ($95) Bag: Coach Leather Penny Purse ($198) Top: DvF Mallegra Blouse ($245) Shoes: Lennon Flat Sandal ($60)

For the Park.  This time of year, I receive a lot of e-mails about how to dress for barbecues, vacations and summer weekends.  I swear by dresses, but I know some of you love shorts.  So as I said this morning, if you’re going to wear shorts, you need to put in the extra effort to make them look good.  I see a lot of women wearing shorts with just a polo (fine for golf) or a t-shirt and some flip-flops, and they look unfinished to me.

I like a brightly-colored short like this pink pair from J.Crew (the indigo are also lovely).  Here, I paired them with a standard striped t-shirt for a relaxed look.  I like to roll or “jujj” the sleeve, but you may just want to wear a short sleeve tee.  For plus size ladies, I like this short sleeve tee with the navy yoke.  And for petites, this long sleeve shirt caught my eye.

Let’s talk about Keds.  If you’re searching for a simple summer shoe that is both comfy and chic, why would you choose a clunky pair of TOMS, when the original canvas Keds shoe is available to you?  If you’re looking for an alternative to sandals, I think a pair of Keds is the way to go.  I especially like these perforated ones; they’re so feminine.

For the jewelry, I would keep it simple with a long pendant necklace.  If you prefer the look of a bracelet, try something with color.  I like this pink resin bangle, or go for contrast with a turquoise bracelet.

I chose a pair of aviators (my faves) and a sharp canvas tote.  I like this bag because it’s great for the pool, the beach, the park or the farmer’s market.  If you don’t like the logo, it also comes in NY, LA, Paris and London themes.  (Why no D.C., I wonder? *wink*)

For the hair, I would think a teased up ponytail would be nice.  I might even try a slightly bouffant side ponytail.  For the makeup, I would keep the eye makeup natural with a hint of bronzer, a pink cheek and some darker pink gloss.  And a good, healthy coat of mascara never hurt anyone.

For a Casual Dinner.  I like the look of cotton voile in the summer.  It’s light and airy and chic.  This DvF top is the perfect representation of that, with its tunic shape and dramatic sleeve.  I also like this swiss dot henley from Gap and this voile camp shirt.  And if you want to splurge, this Tory Burch tunic also grabbed my attention.

I chose these sandals (available for less at DSW, as pointed out in the comments) because I loved the metal detail.  But I also considered using a pair of huaraches.

I went with these fun honeycomb earrings because the pattern is really on trend and the color was great.  (I also loved these simple studs.)  And I opted for a collection of small rings because I wanted to keep things understated.

For the bag, I went with a cross body–small-ish but still stylish.  I also LOVED this multi-colored resin clutch.  And if you’re looking for something larger, this Minkoff woven leather bag is to die for.

For the hair, I would either wear it down and wavy or up in a halo braid or twist.  It just depends if you want beachy California or 70s flower child to match your cotton voile top.  For the makeup, I would go with a shimmery gold eye and a sheer berry lip.

If you would like to donate to help the people of Moore, the Oklahoma City newspaper is recommending that you donate to either the American Red Cross or the Salvation Army.

You can donate to the Red Cross by texting ”REDCROSS” to 90999 which will send a $10 donation (do not text from your government issued or employer issued phone unless you personally pay the bill).  You can also donate $10 to the Salvation Army, who will be setting up mobile feeding units, by texting “STORM” to 80888.

You can also donate online to the American Red Cross’s disaster relief fund.

J.Crew 4″ Chino Short ($45)

With Memorial Day just a few days from now, I thought we would take a moment to discuss shorts.

I’ve said it before, and I’l say it again: I think the 4″ chino short is far superior to the 3″ chino short.  It seems impossible that one little inch could make such a difference, but it does.

The reason being that when you sit in shorts, the inseam bunches up and wrinkles.  So when you stand up, especially on hot, humid days, the bunching continues, leaving you with a 1.5″ inseam and a less-than-flattering look.  For whatever reason, that single, extra inch lessens the effect of the bunching and prevents you from flashing London and France.  (Seriously, the number of female tourists who walk around D.C. with their underwear inadvertently showing is mind boggling.)

If you’re not sold on chino shorts, why not try this scalloped pair from Club Monaco?  Or these Lilly Pulitzer flutter shorts?  J.Crew has a number of lovely options like these dotted shorts or these striped ones.  I also own a metallic pair similar to this Milly pair.

Petite? These scalloped shorts from Loft are nice.  Plus-size?  It’s tough to find shorts for fuller figures that aren’t hideous, but Old Navy seems to stick to the basics, so I’d start there.

Bottom line, if you’re going to wear shorts, I believe they should be worn well.  Whether you’re going to an office barbecue or to the shore, even casual summer clothes can look good.

Hi Belle,

I often accessorize with scarves at work due to a skin condition; however, in light of the rising temperatures I’ve been having trouble finding scarves that are work appropriate, yet lightweight and breathable enough.  Could you provide us with some suggestions?

Thank you, Erin

I sound like a bit of a broken record, but let me put in a recommendation for Love Quotes scarves.  They’re linen so they’re lightweight and breathable. I own the moonbeam and the bisque.  I would advise you to fold or roll them vs. hanging them, as they tend to bunch up and permanently warp when hung.

If you’re looking for a less expensive linen scarf, Sperry makes some pretty dip-dyed ones and Saachi makes nice, solid-colored ones.

Belle,

Can you suggest a good brand for t-shirts?  My Gap and J.Crew ones fall apart.  Need some tees for summer, please!

Lacy

I’ve had decent luck with Gap, but it can be hit or miss.  I like t-shirts from Splendid because they’re soft and they offer a lot of styles.  The “new” basic tee is my favorite, but I also like the long layers tee–it’s the perfect weight for me.

Rebecca Beeson is another great brand.  This tee, with an elbow length sleeve, is one of my faves.  And if you have a bit of money to spend, people swear by Vince tees and Alexander Wang tees.

As for less expensive brands, I love Caslon tees from Nordstrom. They wear like iron.  I also pick up Three Dots tees when I can catch them on sale at 6pm.

Hey Belle,

I was wondering what type of curling iron you recommend. I am interested in the Sultra Bombshell but it is $130.  Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Being a young supervisor, I have found your blog very helpful. Thanks.

Andrea

At home, I have a Conair curling iron.  It’s not fancy, but it gets the job done.  I’m actually in the market for a replacement, and I’ve noticed that most of the salons I go to use Hot Tools irons.  The prices are reasonable, and they seem to have a lot of sizes, including the tougher-to-find 2″ barrel iron.

Hi Belle,

I’m searching for a wedding dress, which is about as far as one can get from work-wear as possible. I thought, however, that you may be willing to do a post on where someone like me, who has plenty of time before the actual wedding and doesn’t want to look like a puffball, might look for simple, not-overly-expensive designs for the big day.

I went to David’s Bridal, which was its own circle of tulle-filled hell. I like tulle. I don’t like THAT MUCH tulle. And the beading, oh, the beading.  Any suggestions for understated dresses?

Teri

Have you tried BHLDN?  Missing vowels aside, the store has a wide election of styles from lacy to sleek.  You might try Watters, as well, many of their dresses are more understated.

I also think Nordstrom has some nice choices.  I would totally buy this Black Halo for a formal event.  You can also find wedding dresses at department stores like Saks and Neiman Marcus.

Hi Belle,

I’m wondering if you know of any regular, every-day body lotions that are combined with a SPF. I would like to include sunscreen in my everyday routine for more than just my face, but right now my options appear to be to double-layer lotion + sunscreen, and smell like I’m going to the beach. Any ideas?

Thanks, Amanda

I like Kiehl’s Creme de Corps body lotion best, so I would try their SPF version.  But if you don’t want to spend that kind of money, Lubriderm makes a lightweight SPF body lotion.

1. Topshop Quilted Bomber ($120) // 2. Vince Camuto Kelva Sandal ($110) // 3. Barry M Magic Lip Paint ($7) // 4. Madewell Chevron Necklace ($60) // 5. DvF Carol Dress ($298) // 6. Rebecca Taylor Pleated Back Blouse ($295) // 7. ‘All in a Daisy’s Work’ Dress ($83) // 8. Mango Leather Shopper ($150) // 9. Vince Camuto Metallic Cork Cuff ($88)

One. I’m always on the lookout for interesting blazers and jackets, the kind of pieces that can be worn with suit separates or jeans, and this Topshop jacket certainly qualifies.  The basket-weave fabric is very cool.  But if you want a collarless blazer for less-than-$100, try this teal shawl collar or this black and white printed one.

Plus size? I love this longer collarless jacket. Petite? This piped tweed blazer is nice.

Two. Versatile summer sandals can be tough to find, but I love this tan and gold pair from Vince Camuto.  They could easily be worn with jeans or with semi-formal wedding attire.  They’re an edgier alternative to a nude pump.  I also like the mix of leathers on this pair.

Three. Last week, I posted a blue lipstick called Hello, Sailor that turns a shade of berry when applied.  This week, it’s a green lipstick that reacts with the alkaline in your system to create a unique shade of pink.  What will they think of next?

Four. The mix of white and yellow metals in this necklace makes it a great piece for ladies who like both.  You can wear it solo, or use it as a foundation to wear other white and yellow pieces.  Looking for other two-tone pieces?  Try these simple mixed bangles or these delicate drop earrings (love!).

Five. My intern wore this dress to her graduation, and I loved it.  It’s the kind of frock that can be worn to work (add a white blazer) or to brunch or to a semi-formal event. It’s such a great shape and I love the print.  And if you like grey and yellow prints, check out this dress from Loft.

Six. I love silk blouse, it’s no secret, but the pleated back on this top makes it a bit more unique.  I’d wear it with skinny trousers or with scalloped shorts and just tuck in the front.  The back deserves to fly free.

Seven.  Bright yellow is the perfect summer shade.  No matter which hues are currently in season, the color of the sun always works.  I also like this lace-accented dress and this one with back cutouts for a bit of playfulness.

Eight.  A giant shopper is great for weekend errands or to use as an overnight bag.  This one from Mango looks more expensive than it is and has a great shape to it.  Looking for something under-$100?  Try this BCBG shopper.

Nine.  I’ve featured this bracelet on the blog before, but I just bought it, and it is everything.

Coast Enna Dress ($195)

I wore this dress to a graduation lunch this weekend, and I loved it.  Apparently, a lot of people on Instagram did too.  So I thought I would post it here, because while it is a bit pricey at almost-$200, I think it was worth every penny.  It’s the perfect evening work event/business attire cocktail party dress that I have ever seen.

Looking for an ivory dress that costs under-$100?  I like this Ralph Lauren pleated dress, the structured cap sleeve dress is also lovely and I love the woven sleeves on this dress.  And if you are looking for something with a longer sleeve, try this v-neck dress or this gorgeous, simple sheath.

Plus size? I like this $45 dress with bell sleeves.  Petite? This belted cap sleeve dress is lovely.

I love three things about this cocktail: 1) How refreshing it looks, 2) Sangria is my favorite and 3) I get to use a melon-baller to make the garnish.  (When I was 10, my Nana ran a commercial kitchen and she used to let me make the watermelon baskets for the fruit salad. Early-90s haute cuisine at its finest.)

The recipe for Watermelon Sangria (and the photo) comes from the fine people at Food & Wine.  I think it would be perfect for a baby or bridal shower, or an al fresco brunch.  Now, where did I put that melon-baller?

Round of Applause Dress ($108)

I love the vintage simplicity of this bright pink frock.  I would probably take a seam-ripper to the tiny bows on the neckline, but that’s a small matter.

If you prefer a dress that’s more flirty and fun, I actually like the lacy cutouts on this Max & Cleo frock.  But if cutouts aren’t your thing, I like this dress with a pleated skirt and embroidery on the bodice.

Shopping in the under-$100 category?  You can buy this breezy dress or rent this gorgeous lace Milly dress.

Petite? This pretty Ralph Lauren sheath is great for work or dinner on the town.  Plus-size?  I love the texture on this Calvin Klein dress.