Re-FashioNYC

I love when things just make sense, especially when it's for a good cause.  I received a brochure in the mail for re-fashioNYC, a partnership between the city of New York and Housing Works.  The program provides donation bins to apartment buildings with over 10 units.  There is no cost to the apartment building and all proceeds are donated to fund lifesaving services for low-income and homeless New Yorkers living with or affected by HIV/AIDS.  What a brilliant idea! 

Apparently, New Yorkers throw away over 200,000 tons of clothes, towels, blankets, curtains, shoes, handbags, belts, and other textiles and apparel.  Imagine if all of that went towards a good cause instead of a landfill. 

I must admit that I LOVE cleaning out my closet, it's such a good feeling, but it's much harder to drag bags of used clothes through the streets of Manhattan than it was to put it all in my beat up Buick and drive it to the Goodwill in Minnesota.  Now, I can simply bring it to the re-fasioNYC bin downstairs!

So, if you're making room in your closet for classic essentials, take some time to fill out this online inquiry form and request a bin for your building.

Clare Vivier and Closet Visit

You never know who you'll meet and what kind of wonderful new things they'll introduce you to.  Last week, I posted an interview with fasion photographer Sarah St. Clair Renard, whom I met on a NJ Transit train to Newark.  She mentioned that one of her friends, Clare Vivier, designed the most amazing handbags and that a friend of Clare, Jeana Sohn, wrote a blog, Closet Visit, where she "visits creative, inspiring and stylish ladies' closets."

First of all, Clare's handbags are so simple, yet so chic.  She was inspired to design handbags when traveling with her laptop through France in 2006.  I absolutely adore her oversized clutch, especially in blue pebbled lambskin, which fits a laptop, and the La Tropezienne tote in black.  Both are perfect for work, and strike the right balance between polished and casual. 

Oversized Clutch (180.00)

LaTropezienne Tote (320.00)

As for Jeana's blog, it's one of the coolest concepts for a blog I've come across in a really long time.  I love looking through my friends' clothes, so what could be better than getting a sneak peak into some of the most stylish women's closets?  Here are a few of my favorite images from Closet Visit.

From the closet of Sophia Assa, owner of True Fashion Art.

From the closet of Sunshine C. Fox, Fashion Researcher, Trend Forcaster and Designer

From the closet of Clair Cottrell, Film Director

Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty

The Alexander McQueen exhibit, Savage Beauty, at the Met proves that fashion really can be art.  Sarah, Erika and I went this afternoon and it blew us away.  Approximately 100 articles of clothing are on display, which were carefully curated by Andrew Bolton to reflect common themes in McQueen's work.  Masks designed by Guido Palau, McQueen's runway hairstylist, accompanied every mannequin and lent to the eerie and surreal feel of the exhibit.  

Logistically, we lucked out due to Sarah's Met membership which allowed us to cut the incredibly long lines.  But even if you have a membership, I would recommend going on a weeknight or in the morning to avoid the crowds inside the exhibit.  The captions next to the pieces are also worth reading as McQueen used a number of odd materials in his work.  For example, pieces from his MA graduation collection were lined in his own hair, one dress was covered in razor clam shells and another featured surgical slides.  Although nearly all of the pieces were too avant-garde for everyday wear, there was so much style inspiration to be found. 

Professionelles, if you live in New York, the exhibit is a true must-see exhibit.  If you don't live in New York, check out this great video which shows nearly every section of the exhibit and is narrated by Andrew Bolton.



There's also this fantastic interview of Andrew Bolton on Morning T which shows runway footage of many of the pieces on display.  The exhibit is on display until July 31, 2011.

Black Halo Classic Jackie O Dress

The perfect dress for day to night: 

Black Halo Classic Jackie O Dress (345.00)

Fabulous Careers: Fashion Photographer Sarah St. Clair Renard

I met Sarah on a NJ Transit train from New York to Newark airport.  Our train broke down and we were forced to take a taxi.  When Sarah told me she was a fashion photographer, living in L.A. and occasionally working in New York, I was immediately fascinated and jealous.  I know most Professionelles, like me, have desk jobs, but I'm willing to bet many of you have hidden creative talents that you wish you could turn into a career.  So, I figured the best way to start is to learn about what other people do for a living and how they manage to do it stylishly and successfully.  Sarah was kind enough to answer a few questions for me and share a few of her favorite pictures.  I hope this is inspiring for many of you.  At the very least, I hope that her beautiful pictures will give you a well deserved break from looking at contracts, spreadsheets, presentations or whatever else fills your typical work day.  You can find more of Sarah's work on her website.

Professionelle: Tell me a little bit about your background and how you got into photography.  Why did you decide to specialize in fashion photography?

Sarah: I was born and raised in Gothenburg, Sweden. In high school I got into taking photography classes and I loved it. Back then it was all dark room and black and white film. I kept shooting for the next 8 years, but I really wanted to make films. So I took film classes and moved to Los Angeles to work on independent films as a camera assistant. I did that for a while, but felt it was really hard to make my own projects since with motion you need more people involved. So I took a two-year still photography program and set out as a photographer. 

How did I specialize in fashion photography? It’s not so much something I’ve chosen to specialize in, as it’s coincidental to my interests. What I really enjoy about fashion photography is the merging of art and commercialism. It’s open for interpretation how you want to present clothes, and often it’s more visceral than straight up advertising photography, especially editorial fashion. I just really enjoy playing with form and style and I love some of the creative people you get to work with.

("This is some of my latest work. I enjoy the implied motion and symmetry to these images, and lately my work has been very monochromatic. I just feel it makes it easier to focus the attention to form.")

Professionelle: Many Professionelles work jobs that are the same from day to day, is there an "average" work day for you?  If so, what is it like? 

Sarah: At least as an emerging photographer you probably do quite a bit of time actually sitting at a desk. Photoshopping, marketing and creating connections takes a lot of my time, it’s not as “out in the field” as you’d imagine. My average day starts at 6.30 am. I go run and have breakfast and then jump into my home office. I have lists of what needs to be accomplished. I plan and execute shoots for myself and I try to come up with cool ideas and pitch them to magazines. I also try to constantly market myself and figure out how to take steps forward and who my clients should be. My favorite days are the ones where I get to go outside and shoot pictures and hang out with creative people. Here’s some fun behind the scenes shots of what those days might look like:

Professionelle: You're surrounded by beautiful clothes as part of your job, but what do you wear to work and why?

Sarah: I wear simple and utilitarian clothes, but try to add a fun element for style. A lot of the time I wear a “uniform” of black jeans + white t-shirts and then spruce from there. Lately I’m obsessed with neon orange nail polish. I also like shoes that look like I found them on a world traveling expedition from the 70s. And I love hats. My favorite is a 1950s wide-brimmed Meyer German men’s hat, but I also have an orange felt-hat I love. A lot of my wardrobe is vintage. It’s a fun search and your wardrobe becomes more personal, but it’s also that the quality and the cuts I can afford in vintage, I can’t afford in contemporary, so I get better stuff. 

(A self portrait of Sarah in her cheery orange hat)

Professionelle: Have you photographed any fashion trends lately that you think would translate well for the Professionelle girl? 

Sarah: I personally love silk blouses and trench coats. And flowy straight pants! You can never go wrong with good simple cuts that fit your body. I’d also say a nice well made 40s dress in a conservative cut looks stunning on most professional women. And always remember that it’s better to get one piece tailored to perfection than adding another slightly ill-fitting piece to your closet. Quality not quantity.

("This picture makes me think of Monaco in the 60s in a modern interpretation. And I love boats!")

Professionelle: I met you in transit from New York back to L.A., where you live.  Do you prefer L.A. or New York and why?  Is there a dream city that you would love to live in?

Sarah: I live in L.A and it’s NOT a fashion capital. But I’m in love with the lifestyle. I live in a little house with a backyard and elements of nature in a climate that is very good for photography year round. But NY is more of a fashion city. That’s where the best models and creative talent are. I’m trying to become more bi-coastal because I love both places, they’re just really different and I think most photographers in fashion find themselves going between the two quite a bit.  If we’re talking more fantasy cities, I’d say Tokyo for a bit and maybe Berlin.

("This is one of my favorite pictures because it evokes feelings of something lurking in the dark woods behind the model, I like the mood and the implied narrative.")
 

Professionelle: What kind of camera do you use and what would you recommend for the amatuer photographer? 

Sarah: I use a Canon 5D Mark II, but my purse-camera is a Panasonic Lumix and I LOVE that too.

Professionelle: Who, dead or alive, would you love to have an opportunity to photograph?

Sarah: Tilda Swinton, Lauren Hutton, Joni Mitchell, Aurel Schmidt. I just love cool women. 

("This model, Julia, is exceptional to work with and I loved the styling (by Jennie Bramer) and location of this shoot.")

 
Professionelle: Most Professionelles don't participate in a lot of photo shoots, but do you have any tips for looking your best in a photography?

Sarah: Take a lot of them and NEVER do duck face. A confident smile is killer and stop being so damn hard on yourself. You are beautiful just as you are.

Professionelle:  Thanks Sarah for all of your insight!  Any other thoughts on work, fashion or life?

Sarah: On work and life - be nice to people and never be catty to other women. Try to help friends reach their goals and they will help you. On fashion - simple is better. But not taking yourself too seriously and having a little fun with fashion is liberating and should be exercised as well.

Welcome to the New Professionelle!

Professionelle has a whole new look (and url, so make sure you change your rss feeds)! First of all, I'm so sorry I that haven't posted in so long. It's taken a while to get the new website up and running, but I love it! I hope you do too. I could not have done this blog makeover without the help of Angelo Adam and Fi Figueroa from the fabulous blog, Previously Owned.  Angelo did the layout and Fi did the beautiful header and buttons. Thank you Angelo and Fi!

And thank you all for being such wonderful and loyal readers.  Lots of great posts will be coming in the next few weeks so please follow Professionelle on your RSS feed, Google, Facebook and Twitter.

Summer Associate Wardrobe Guide 2011

It's only the beginning of April, but it's time to start thinking about summer (or at least summer associate programs)!  Most summer programs start in early May so it makes sense to start preparing.  As stores begin stocking up on spring/summer clothes, now is the best time to start building your new career wardrobe.  I would say it's the best part about being a summer, but that's just not true since being a summer associate is quite possibly the best job on earth - no exaggeration.  Below is an updated list of law firms and what you should expect to wear to fit in, or at least not stand out in a bad way.  Best of luck and have a great summer!

Cleary Gottlieb 

Cleary is business casual and a former associate says that she's seen women wear fun and funky dresses.  According to her, Cleary associates probably push fashion boundaries more than associates at other firms.

 

Nanette Lepore Go Getter Dress (298.00)

Covington & Burling

A Covington associate described the D.C. law firm dress code as a pencil skirt and cardigan with basic dark heels.  Covington itself is business casual (except when meeting with clients) and there are a number of female associates who sport colorful sheath dresses.  Open toed shoes are ok during the summer and sometimes younger associates will wear a lower cut shirt or a lower back shirt if they have plans after work.

Kate Spade Pineapple Cardigan (295.00)

Cravath

Cravath continues to require formal business attire.  Most women wear suits all of the time, although blazers with mismatched skirts/pants are acceptable. Stockings and closed-toe shoes are technically required and are also the norm. To push the envelope, women will wear cardigans instead of blazers, patterned stockings (technically a no-no), above-the-knee skirts, and very tall heels. Not a lot of loud nail polish, make up, or jewelry. It's a pretty buttoned-up place in the end, but women make an effort to look well-dressed nonetheless.

Vivienne Westwood Red Label Stretch Wool Suit (965.00)

Davis Polk

Davis Polk is technically business casual, but there's a wide variety to what people wear.  Some associates will push the fashion boundaries with sleeveless dresses or tops in the summer.  Blouses with ruffles, colorful dresses and even some animal prints can be seen around 450 Lex.  I would suggest wearing a suit on your first day but after that, it's not required or expected.  Open toed shoes are ok in the summer and lots of women accessorize otherwise conservative outfits with trendy jewelery. 

 

David Meister Pleat Front Belted Dress (227.99)

Dewey & LeBoeuf

Dewey is business casual, but most female partners wear suits, although not always with a full button down shirt underneath.  They might opt for easier options like tanks, blouses and short/long sleeve crew necks.  Younger associates are seen wearing dresses, sweaters and skirts or sweaters and pants as opposed to more traditional business formal attire.  Younger associates do wear open toed shoes in the summer.

Dolce & Gabbana City Savvy Skirt Suit (929.00)

Sidley Austin

One Sidley New York associate described her ideal outfit as clean, neat and comfortable enough to survive those inevitable long days and nights at the office.  Although summer associates are working longer hours than they did when the economy was better, there will likely be few long days or nights at the office (again, being a summer associate is awesome).  But the point remains, the key is to be comfortable because even if you're only at the office for 8 hours, that's still a long time to be sitting constrained in a pencil skirt.  There's also the fact that you'll be eating massive lunches so stretchy fabrics can be your friend.  Below is a comfortable, stretchy, yet fashionable option.

Diane von Frustenberg Jeanne Silk Jersey Wrap Dress (325.00)

If you're an associate, what kind of advice would you give to incoming female summer associates with regard to work apparel?  If you're a summer associate, what dress code questions would you like the answer to?  Now that comments are anonymous, feel free to be totally honest and ask any questions you'd like.

Comment Away!

Even though I've been doing this "blog" thing for about two years, I just recently discovered how to turn on anonymous comments on Professionelle.  Now you can feel free to comment away even if you don't have a Google I.D.  Looking forward to hearing your suggestions and feedback.

Also, stay tuned for a follow up post on the popular Summer Associate Wardrobe Guide from two years ago, updated with new firms and more details.  Also to-come, a feature on my favorite lawyer-turned-blogger links.

Mission Accomplished

 

I don't know what it is about Apple products that makes them so darn addictive, but that addiction has spread around the world like wildfire.  Case and point: my mother called me last week to ask me to bring her an iPad 2 which was apparently selling for RMB $20,000 on the black market.  That's nearly US $3000!  So, I did what any good Chinese daughter would do, I called every single Apple store in New York, every single day to see if they had any in stock.  At one point, I encountered a clerk who answered with phone with, "Thanks for calling the W. 14th Street Apple Store where we are all sold out of the iPad 2."  I'm not sure how this was any more efficient because even after this greeting I (and I'm sure everyone else) repeated, "So...that means you don't have the iPad 2?"  He reiterated that indeed, they were all sold out, but informed me that I could come in early in the morning and wait in line when their morning stock arrived.  Frustrated, I asked a friend how he had managed to get his iPad 2 so quickly.  "Easy," he said, "I simply waited in line for 5 hours...rather...I paid someone else to wait in line for 5 hours...."  And this is how I discovered Agent Anything.  Through Agent Anything, I posted a "mission" for someone to wait in line at the Apple store at 6am in exchange for $30.  Yup, you heard right, a mere $30.  "Agents" aka college students (you must have a valid .edu email address to be an agent to make it easier for the website to keep its agents accountable) can "accept" your mission.  Within 10 minutes, a CUNY student accepted my iPad 2 mission.  I was provided with his email address and phone number.  The next morning, he went to the Apple store at 6am to wait in line for my mother's iPad 2.  Unfortunately, the store received very little stock so I was not able to actually get an iPad 2, but the overall Agent Anything experience was quite good.  Clients can propose any kind of mission they want (within the bounds of legality I presume).  I've seen people post missions to return a medical device to a hospital, paint their living room or help them set up an e-commerce site.  Agent Anything has even partnered with Ben and Jerry's ice cream.  The client pays for the price of the ice cream and the website pays $10 to the agent who delivers it.  That sounds like a win win for everyone.  So, check out Agent Anything the next time you need...well...anything I guess.

New York Vintage - I Die

Today I dragged Nikki to New York Vintage to try on some dresses for an upcoming black tie wedding.  In the words of Rachel Zoe - I die.  And I don't use that term loosely because as much as I love Rachel Zoe, I find her signature phrases annoying and grammatically incorrect.  But after an unexpected tour of New York Vintage's rental-only archives, there are no better words to describe the experience.  I hadn't made an appointment thinking that I could find something amongst their "for sale" racks, but when I arrived, the friendly sales clerk informed me that the real goods are for rent only and viewable by appointment. After trying on a sleek red one shoulder Ungaro and some beautiful 1930's print dresses (unfortunately, none fit) the sales clerk kindly offered to take us on a tour of the rental-only archives even though we didn't have an appointment.  When we walked upstairs, our jaws dropped.  What was even more shocking is that the rental prices seemed very reasonable.  There is a $200 minimum, and prices are determined based on a percentage of the retail price of the dress in conjunction with what type of event you will be wearing the dress to (so for example, the price would be different if you were wearing the dress to a private event verses a red carpet event or an editorial shoot).  I have an appointment to try on dresses in the rental-only archives in a couple of weeks so I'll report back on what a Professionelle would need to pay for a gorgeous piece of vintage glamour.  The example we were given was definitely more than what you'd pay on a site such as Rent the Runway, but well worth it for a one of a kind creation.   

As if I haven't been gushing enough, Michelle Obama wore a Norman Norell dress from New York Vintage, so you know it's cool.