Love Something? Buy It!

I always do this and I always promise myself that I'll never do it again. In an effort to cut back on impulse shopping (because, as I explain here, I'm poor these days), I try to refrain from buying clothes and accessories, even if I find something I absolutely LOVE. I saw these shoes at a local DSW about a month ago and walked away. There was still an inch of mushy slushy blackish colored "snow" on the ground and who knows, I thought, maybe I won't like them come summer.

Last week when I was about to take a trip out west where Spring has already sprung, I suddenly had an urge to go back to the store and buy these shoes. Naturally, they were sold out of my size in my local store, online and in every store I called (tip: when you ask a sales clerk to check inventory at other stores, sometimes they can only see stock within a certain geographic area, that's why I always call an out of state store just in case). 

Instead of giving up, I did what any neurotic woman in this digital age does. I kept googling "Jessica Simpson Dolee" in vain hope that somehow the results would change . . . and, miraculously, they did! For some reason, it took several attempts to pull them up on the DSW website, but when I finally did, I managed to locate a pair in upstate NY through the company's nationwide inventory search. So, what's the lesson in all of this? 

1) If you're a size 6.5 or 8.5, click your way to the DSW website and buy these shoes!

2) If you live in Poughkeepsie New York, run your way to the local DSW and buy these shoes!

3) If you see something you LOVE, go ahead and indulge. Trust me, I wasted SO much time looking for these shoes after the fact and time, my friend, is money.

Jessica Simpson Dolee Raffia Sandal (79.95)

A Startup Guide to Valentine's Day

My dearest Professionelles, I haven't forgotten about you. I've just been insanely busy with my startup lingerie company, Ampere (think Warby Parker for luxury lingerie). We opened for business shortly after Thanksgiving and things have been non-stop ever since. 

After over a year in startup land, I've come across so many amazing companies with amazing products. I figured the best way to connect what I've been up to with you, my loyal readers, is to put together a little gift guide for Valentine's day featuring the best startup offerings. After all, why make an already commercialized holiday even less personal by buying generic gifts? 

Pour Toi (or as a not so subtle hint):

1) Lingerie is a given on Valentine's day and of course Ampere is on the top of my list (shameless, I know) but I really do love our pieces and they make the perfect gift whether someone else buys it for you or you buy it for yourself. Our lingerie is made with luxurious lace and 100% silk lining. We send you a free matching panty with every bra order and three sizes to try on in the comfort of your own home. Free shipping and free returns makes Ampere an easy choice. 

2) I'm not sure how you'd go about hinting at that beautiful designer dress you saw on Vaunte but sign yourself up for what's being billed as the Barneys of recommerce and I can guarantee you'll be giving yourself plenty of presents, Valentine's day or not.

3) Every girl loves jewelry, especially on Valentine's Day. I still believe that you can never go wrong with a little blue box, but why not try something a bit more avant garde this year? Some of the best jewelry I've come across has been from Of a Kind, a site that features limited edition pieces by emerging designers. Once it's sold out, it's gone, so what are you waiting for?

Pour Ton Hommes:

1) There's nothing sexier than a man in a bow tie, a leather bow tie to be exact. I absolutely love this soft, lambskin bow tie by Stitch Collective - a vertically integrated luxury accessories line.

2) Booze is the perfect gift for your man. Check out Caskers which gives you access to unique, small-batch spirits. I personally know nothing about spirits but almost every man I know seems to love them. Why not employ some experts to lend you a hand?

3) I love dapper men, and accessories make all of the difference. hook + ALBERT brings you unique men's accessories like my personal favorite, the lapel flower.

Pour Your Love Life:

If ever there was a holiday designed to make single women feel bad about themselves, Valentine's Day is it. Cheer up and remember that half of your married friends will be divorced in a few years and despite Hallmark's best intentions, this day is supposed to be about love. 

Finding love is way harder than finding just any ol' man (or woman) but infinitely more fulfilling. Why not take a chance this Valentine's Day and check out startup dating site Coffee Meets Bagel? I find the name absolutely adorable and my friends who've used it seem to love it. Pun intended. You get one match per day on the free site and if both of you are interested the site makes an introduction. 

Summer Associate Decision Guide

The Professionelle Summer Associate Wardrobe Guide has been our most popular post for years (see also the 2009 Summer Associate Wardrobe Guide). I wasn't working at a law firm this summer so it completely slipped my mind this year. It's a bit too late now. Hopefully all of the 2012 summer associates enjoyed their Jean Georges lunches in style.

I have, however, been advising some rising 2Ls about how to choose the right firm for next Summer. Unlike the Summer Associate Wardrobe Guide, I won't go into details about each specific firm but here is some unsolicited advice on making this very important decision.

1) Go big first. There's a lot to be said for small or boutique firms and if you know that's where you want to spend your career or if you want to practice a specific area of law, then by all means go for it. If you're unclear and you have the choice, consider going to a larger or more prestigious firm first. Chances are, many of you will not practice law forever. Larger, more prestigious firms have better exit options. These firms also have the reputation for long hours but the size of the firm does not determine how busy or unpredictable your hours will be. City and practice area make the most difference, so if you want a balanced lifestyle, ask your friends who are practicing attorneys for their advice as to an area of specialization. 

2) Sweat the small stuff. Don't ever feel like something is too petty to base your decision off of. The reality of the situation is that you'll spend the majority of your waking hours at your firm. That means your commute, the cafeteria and small perks can make a huge impact on your life. It's ok to base your decision on these factors if all else is equal.

3) How is the summer program structured? And I don't mean the lunch budget. Are you able to try different practice areas? Are you able to focus on what you already know you want to do? The more flexible the summer program, the better. The firm is still trying to sell itself during your summer so take advantage of it. It's your career and it's never too early to start taking control of it.

4) How is work assigned? This is something I would never have thought to ask when I was a Summer Associate but it makes a huge difference. Do you have to seek out or compete over assignments? Will you work with multiple partners or just one? All of this stuff makes a difference regardless of whether you or the firm are busy. There's nothing worse than begging for work in a bad economy or getting overloaded in a good one. It's not always possible or easy, but firms should try their hardest to assign work evenly. Otherwise, good associates will get burnt out and bad associates will never learn the skills needed to improve.  

5) Are the people nice? Believe it or not, some firms can't scrounge up a few nice partners and associates to interact with Summers. That's not a good sign. On the flip side, don't judge an entire firm by the one loser you met at the cocktail reception. Try to get to a feel for the overal culture of the firm. The best way to do this is to talk to friends who either summered at the firm last year or have already started as associates.  They'll give you the most candid feedback. If you don't have any friends in this position, ask around, someone will know someone. Don't rely on the people the firm sends your way, but if you hit it off with one of those people, don't discount it either. Similarly minded people flock to certain firms and make a huge impact on that firm's culture. Also - be aware of the organic conversations happening around you during your call back interviews and return visits. Are associates nice to each other? Is a partner yelling down the hall? Do the assistants look terrified?

The bottom line is to gather as much information as possible but make your decision based on your gut. Trust yourself and you can't go wrong. Any other Professionelles have tips for making this important decision? If so, please leave a comment!

To Russia with . . . A Lot More Ease

In July, I traveled to Russia with my family.  We had an amazing time but we almost didn't make it. I had an enormously difficult time obtaining a tourist visa - partially because my dad wanted to take a day trip to Helsinki causing me to attempt a double entry visa. Attempted and failed. It took nearly one month and several hundred dollars to finally get that pesky stamp in my passport, but it was totally worth it.

I vowed to write a post about the tips and tricks I learned on my epic Russia visa journey. Fortunately, that post is no longer relevant because relaxed visa procedures were announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Starting September 9, 2012, only multi-entry visas lasting three years will be issued.  There is a six month maximum stay (which I doubt will be an issue for most of you) but invitation letters (which were a huge hassle) are no longer required.

Grab your (faux) fur and stilettos Professionelles! Time to book that flight to Moscow!  Here's how to make the most of your trip:

For a week long trip, I'd recommend splitting your time between Moscow and St. Petersburg with a slight emphasis on St. Petersburg.  

Take the overnight train between Moscow and St. Petersburg - at least once.  We took the express train (approximately 4 hours of travel time) from Moscow to St. Petersburg and the Red Arrow overnight train (approximately 8 hours of travel time) from St. Petersburg back to Moscow.  The experience was worth the extra travel time.  It's a red train with uniformed attendants.  Sleeping quarters are somewhat cramped (which is to be expected) but surprisingly comfortable.  And, if you visit during July, you'll fully experience the White Nights of St. Petersburg as you depart at midnight.  

Learn the Cyrillic alphabet before you land.  It should take approximately one hour and you'll be completely lost if you don't.  

Take the metro.  The Moscow Metro was one of my favorite things in Russia.  It's absolutely beautiful and very efficient.  Trains come often and there is a ring-line that connects every line.  Simply brilliant.  

Buy vodka at a local grocery store.  It's much cheaper and there's a bigger selection than at the airport.

Buy tickets for the Hermitage online.  It will save you hours in line.  Seriously, hours.

Catch the ballet at the Bolshoi. The season starts in September and the theater just underwent a gazillion dollar renovation.

What are your favorite tips for visiting Russia? We'd love to hear them.  Leave a comment below!

Are French Luxury Goods Cheaper in France?

My aunt visited Paris a decade ago, and the answer back then was most certainly yes. Tourists lined up outside the Louis Vuitton store on Champs-Élysées, like they do today. The rumor was that back then, the French government controlled prices to incentivize tourists. If you were visiting from the U.S. or other parts of Europe, French luxury goods were less expensive in France (there were few Mainland Chinese tourists back then - quite a contrast to today).

Before my trip to Paris last summer, I googled relentlessly to see if this was still true. I found limited, and very confusing, information. I still can't tell you how involved the French government is with the price of a Birkin bag (especially because you can't even buy a Birkin bag these days, in France or anywhere else, but you sure can burn one if you've got $100,000 to spare...) but I can give you insights from my personal travels.

In August, 2011, the Euro/USD exchange rate was 1.43 USD for every Euro. At the time, French luxury goods in Paris were priced exactly the same as they were in the U.S. or Hong Kong (I've found through personal experience that prices in the U.S. (including tax) are exactly the same as they are in Hong Kong (even though there is no sales tax in Hong Kong), this makes sense since the HKD is pegged to the USD and I doubt Chanel is looking to create an intentional arbitrage situation), except that you got an additional 12% back as a tax refund at the airport. This meant that luxury goods were still cheaper in France, but only by 12%.  

I just left Paris for Moscow yesterday, and the exchange rate currently is 1.22 USD for every Euro. Thanks to the European economic meltdown, French luxury goods are significantly cheaper in France than in non-EU countries - at this moment. If you hop on a plane to Paris tomorrow, you can probably make up the cost of your flight on one Chanel 2.55 bag alone. Aside from the drop in the Euro, nothing suggests these fashion houses are in the habit of making less per unit in France. Give them a few weeks and I'm sure they'll adjust their prices to make everything even again. There's still the 12% tax back, however, and that's not an insignificant number considering the prices of some of these items. 

So where should you absolutely not purchase luxury goods? Mainland China, where import taxes make foreign goods nearly 30% more expensive and...Moscow. So it looks like I'll be sticking to caviar and vodka. Still, not too shabby.   

Here was my favorite luxury item from this trip to Paris - aside from the classics, of course.

Louis Vuitton Sevigne PM (1460.00 USD, 1070.00 Euros)

White Hot Summer Dresses

New Yorkers could get by on two colors for the entire year.  White for Summer and black for every other season.  Since it's nearly Summer, here are a few of my favorite white dresses.  Not necessarily work appropriate but here's to hoping for some spontaneous rooftop nights after grueling work days.  

Catherine Malandrino Pointelle-Knit Dress (345.00).  A good friend of mine owns this dress in multiple colors.

Sam&Lavi Scarlett Lace Shift Dress (155.00).  I've got lace on the mind after spending a month searching for the perfect lace for Ampere.

Alexander Wang White Stretchy Viscose Sleeveless V-neck Dress (495.00)

Jazz It Up for Summer

Despite the buzz about Baz Luhrmann's upcoming remake of the Great Gatsby, in my heart and mind, Robert Redford will forever be Jay Gatsby, and Mia Farrow, Daisy. What I am excited about is the abundance of Gatsby inspired fashion that is sure to follow the release of the film.

The movie won't be released until Winter, but Summer is the ideal time to get inspired by the Roaring 20's.  Particularly if you're attending the 7th Annual Jazz Age Lawn Party on Governor's Island this weekend. Or - if you prefer the slightly more formal style of the late 19-teens and Downton Abbey, here is your chance to channel Lady Mary and all of her glamour.  

Eagle Dress (550.00) - All Saints may seem like an unlikely place to pick up a Jazz Age dress, but there are a surprising number of gorgeous deco pieces here

 Kyle Beaded Tie Back Dress (550.00)

French Connection Flapper Dress (185.58)

Vintage 1970's Flapper Dress (150.00)

As for accessories, I'll be sporting a feathery headpiece from the Village Scandal.  I purchased it originally for the Belmont last weekend but it fits right in with the era of this weekend.  If you're in the mood for something with a bit more sparkle, I love the exuberance of this Peacock hair clip.

Finally, the perfect finishing touch is an Edie Parker clutch as featured on Professionelle a while back.  

Yoga Wear for Petites

Professionelle is not meant to be a blog about petite clothing, but every once in a while I come across a petite solution too good to pass up.  I'm 5'0" and approximately 100 lbs so it's very difficult for me to find clothes that fit.  Recently, I've been on the hunt for petite yoga clothes.

Like everyone else in America, I LOVE Lululemon.  Every time I walk into one of their stores I find at least 5 items to buy.  They offer free hemming so it seemed like a petite girl's dream come true.  But Lululemon has outdone itself in the form of its girl's line, Ivivva.

The girls' section can be a petite woman's best friend.  Especially since girls these days are so...bold.  Not to mention curvier.  This means girls' clothing fits more like women's clothing, just with shorter inseams and smaller sizes.

I'm typically a women's 00 or 0 (hello size inflation!) and a girls' 12 (I try to ignore the age implications of girls' sizing metrics...and the fact that the model has braces...).  Ivivva size 12 fit well in pants and tops but the jacket was a little large.  I ended up exchanging it for a 10.

In addition to being cheaper than Lululemon, all Ivivva pants can be cut to length at home.  In order to prevent your pants from unraveling after you cut them, Ivivva sewed additional bartacks along the pants.  

What's a bartack?  It's basically a horizontal stitch that keeps the seams together.  So, if you cut just below the bartack that fits your inseam the best, you'll have a custom pair of pants in less than 5 minutes.  Brilliant.  Amazing.  So impressed.

Rhythmic Tight II (56.00)

 Record Breaker Jacket (78.00)

Rhythmic Crop II Gym (48.00)

Get with the Trends - Spring Neon

Even though a classic outfit is always appreciated, I actually love trends - so long as you don't out wear them and you don't wear them all of the time.  Spring's biggest trend is definitely neon and count me in, I love it.  There's nothing more uplifting than a pop of color, especially in New York where black usually reigns supreme.  I own two pieces in the collage below but have worn pretty much this exact look multiple times and it's only May.  Why two pairs of shoes?  Well - I had to give a wedge option for those petite Professionelles who may own flats but never wear them.

By August, I'm sure I'll never want to see neon yellow and navy stripes again, but I'll enjoy it while it lasts.  

Pop Slim Fit Denim (79.90)

Cloud Logo Authentic 2-Eye Boat Shoe (75.00)

Taurillon Leather 'Deauville 105' Platform Sandals (422.99)

Henroa Striped Jersey Tee (105.00)

Utility Charm Earrings

I started noticing earrings with unexpectedly adorable charms on a trip to Seattle.  Since then, I've been seeing them everywhere including Austin last week where I picked up a pair of scissors on 6th street.  I love the contrast between the dainty charms and the harsh utility of their real life counterparts.  Affordable to boot, they're the perfect accessory for those days when you feel like shouting "I'll cut you!" to everyone you see.

Tea Pot (15.00)

Pocket Knife (28.00)

Hatchet (28.00)

Wrench (10.50)

Bicycle (12.00)

Scissors (19.00)

Utensil Set, I love that you can mix and match these (10.00)

Meat Cleaver (7.00)

Canoe and Oars, a pair after my MN heart (50.00)

Measuring Spoons (26.00)