Belle’s Workday Reading: September 3, 2014
Sep 3, 2014
This is truer than you think, but there is power in working to figure it out.
***
1) Businesses talk a lot about growing diversity in the upper ranks, but a new study finds that women and minorities who promote other women or other minorities suffer professionally as a result. Awesome.
2) This week in under-$50 handbags, we have a BP. Saffiano Satchel that looks like the Michael Kors Selma bag for far less money.
3) 13 Surprising Ways Your Name Affects Your Success.
4) Boden is killing it. This raspberry pencil skirt is super fun. Their Zoe dress is pure Audrey Hepburn. I love the deep green of this waterfall cardigan. This printed, mod blazer is also a fun throwback.
5) Mashable asks, “Is ‘Follow Your Passion’ Realistic Career Advice?” The BBC goes one step further and discusses how we often tell young people to “shoot for the stars,” but fail to offer realistic guidance on how to reach them.
6) This v-neck Reiss sweater is the perfect slouchy style and the perfect muted shade of pink. Must have.
7) The more I read about sexism in the tech industry, the more glad I am that I show almost no business or technological acumen. Not that politics is that much better.
8) I’m on the hunt for long sleeve blouses for fall. A few of my old standbys are looking, well, old. This lavender blouse with a contrast placket caught my eye. This Mango blouse has an amazing mix of textures, and it’s under-$50. And I love the charcoal color on this H&M blouse.
9) One of the most surprising and uplifting business stories of the summer is about the New England grocery store workers who walked off the job to help their beloved CEO get his job back.
10) Nordstrom Rack is back online. The shoe section is, as expected, to die for. The jewelry section also has some great pieces, like this silver Ralph Lauren necklace with twisted links. I love the site, but I think they have some bugs to work out. This dress does not belong in the work section, unless you’re Vivienne from Pretty Woman.
11) How to get a higher salary than they want to give you. (And yes, you can negotiate starting salary.)
12) By Malene Birger gets me every time, this slim-fitting black sheath is no exception. Why do the Danes have such great style? (I also wouldn’t mind owning this stylish ivory dress–it’s pure Jessica Pearson.)
Your first link is very disheartening and sad to me. As someone who has risen up through the ranks, I seek to help/mentor other women. I have been in situations where there were alpha females. It was very challenging for upward mobility in a company I wanted to stay at. Eventually i had to leave because there wasn’t room at the top for more than one female.
Number 1 is such a downer. Damned if you do and damned if you don’t. The only place it seems to work relatively ok is in the government specifically in agencies where it’s like 90% women anyway.
Nordstrom Rack’s filter is definitely off. I found men’s button ups and wedges in my search for blue flats.
Very interesting article about how your name affects your success. I am just starting my career as a political strategist, and have been debating over going with Katherine (my given middle name) or Katie (which is what I have been called since birth). What do you ladies think? Is Katie “unprofessional”?
I like to joke that I lead a dual life – Liz to my friends, but Elizabeth to my colleagues. I have always been Liz to my close friends, but when I had business cards made in law school I decided to use Elizabeth, same in my email signature, and it matches all the diplomas on the wall too.
I think it’s totally up to you, but for me (the youngest associate in a very “good ole boy” law firm,) the full name seems to make me feel less like a kid playing dress-up in an adult office.
Would Kate not work? Kind of a middle ground. More approachable than Katherine, which could be a good thing since politics isn’t as formal an industry.