Thursday, May 23, 2013 by Belle

Five Great Buys at the Nordstrom Half-Yearly

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From Left, Enzo Angiolini Katira Sandals ($60) // Adrianna Papell Fit & flare Dress ($95) // Nike Miler Top ($23) // Hinge Tweed Jacket ($70) // IIIBeca Hudson Street Crossbody ($88)

When it comes to shopping the half-yearly sale at Nordstrom, my strategy for getting the best deal has evolved over the years. I used to look for deep discounts on designer items, but now I’m looking for pieces that are stylish, seasonal and under-$100. Here are some of the things that I am looking for this year.

Summer Sandals. If you have your basics covered but want to pick up a pair of sandals that are more fashion forward, but won’t break the bank, the Nordy’s sale is a great place to look. I love the mix of textures on the sandals above, it’s very fresh. I also liked these neon-accented Vera Wang Sandals ($89) and these Report sandals in tan and brown ($34).

Party Dresses. Attending a lot of summer events? The sale has a number of stylish dresses to keep you stocked up. This white one is lovely, but if you’re looking for wedding attire, out of the question (unless you’re the bride). I also like this printed Karen Kane sheath ($76), this dot-printed Isaac Mizrahi ($59) or this simple cotton dress ($53).

Plus-size? This lace dress is great ($79) and this crepe dress is lovely and bright ($84). Petite? This bright yellow dress is really fun ($64).

Activewear. I’ve been working out more recently, and so I need to beef up my gym wardrobe. Nothing is more frustrating than being psyched up to go to the gym, only to discover you don’t have shorts or a top or a sports bra to wear. It’s practically permission to sit on the couch.

I bought the top above, this underwire sports bra (goes up to 40DDD) and this DriFit jacket ($36).

Blazer Separates. If I can pick up an inexpensive jacket that will turn one of my pencil skirts or my grey trousers into a semi-suit, I will. This collarless tweed number has a melange of blue and orange and would look great with white, navy or grey. I also like this cropped tuxedo blazer ($58) and, if you’re a size 14, this bright yellow Anne Klein would look great with a navy skirt or over a white dress.

Handbags. I own a IIIBeca tote, and I love it. Wears like iron and the removable liner is great for keeping things tidy or carrying home shoes. I also like this slouchy black tote with metal accents ($30) and this perforated bucket tote ($57) that comes in several colors. As for smaller goods, this brightly colored clutch is great ($58) and this patent leather wristlet/wallet is fun.

Lastly, if you don’t care so much about being seasonal, now is a great time to stock up on black tights. And I always cruise the beauty section to see what makeup bags, palettes or tools are on sale.

Thursday, May 23, 2013 by Belle

10th Commandment: May 23

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Topshop Lime Pleat Skirt ($60)

While lime may not be your color of choice, I love a pleated skirt for summer. Granted, this one has a lot of pop, but I thought that this bright and summery hue would be a nice change of pace after a winter full of black clothing.

If you’re not crazy about the lime, I also found this skirt that comes in black and red, this beautiful blue skirt (wide waistband, good for pear-shaped ladies) and this papaya-colored skirt. All of these choices are under-$100. Though if you have a bit more to spend, I love this bright orange J.Crew skirt with just a hint of pleating on the side.

Prefer a pattern? The birds on this skirt are darling. This bright floral print is beautiful. And if you’re size 10, I’m jealous that this Derek Lam skirt is on sale in your size—such a great graphic print.

Specialty size? This fabulous dot print skirt comes in both petites and plus sizes.

Wednesday, May 22, 2013 by Belle

Two Ways: Black Ruffle Peplum Skirt

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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.

Wednesday, May 22, 2013 by Belle

CHS Careerist: Non-Salary Benefits

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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.