Be More Productive (in Heels!)

Sometimes when I’m falling asleep at night, I daydream about the day when Style Me Thrifty becomes my full-time job. I realize this goal is about as far away as Mars, but it’s still fun to fantasize about!

In the mean time, I get my writing fix as an editorial manager for an awesome non-profit organization. Last week, I had the pleasure of seeing 180 of my marketing colleagues at our global marketing conference in sunny Atlanta, Georgia (sidenote: why is Georgia wine so sweet, ya’ll?).

There was a speaker at the conference that blew our minds with tips on how to be more productive at work. Since I know many of you are hard-working, fashionable women, I thought you might appreciate one particular suggestion for improving one of the biggest time wasters: MEETINGS. Are you ready for this?…

Host standing meetings. As in, Do Not Sit Down.

My first thought was: GENIUS.

My second thought was: But I’m wearing heels!

(I’m sorry, it’s so easy for my mind to turn to fashion, even in professional situations).

I absolutely love the idea of holding meetings where no one sits down. Standing up speeds everything up and forces you to quickly talk about the most important issues. And if you’re a women wearing a fabulous pair of heels, I have a feeling that the meeting will be even more likely to zoom by. Who wants to stand still in stilettos for more than 20 minutes!

So I challenge you all to host a standing meeting this week in heels. The higher the heel, the more efficient the meeting! Productivity never looked so good.

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Speed Up Your Morning Beauty Routine >>
Look Polished at Work >>

Speed Up Your Morning Beauty Routine

Reader Question: I’m on my second straight month of 80-90 hour work weeks and my styling routine has gone straight down the gutter. I don’t have time to pick an outfit, shower, put on makeup, and style my hair before I have to run out the door. Do you have any tips for saving time and energy in the morning while still looking professional at an office that requires business attire?

Style Me Thrifty: Oh the life of a high-powered female attorney. I’m guessing when your boss first warned you about these infamous 90-hour work weeks, you eagerly nodded your pony-tailed head and said, “No problem! I don’t mind!“

And then you swore under your breath.

And called your mom for sympathy.

Chin up, my little Ally McBeal. You are a smart, driven, career woman. If you have to work a hellish 13-hour day, you might as well look polished while doing it! Here are some ideas for a faster a.m. routine.

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Hair
Shower at night. It’s a relaxing way to end a long day and it will save you styling time in the morning. But make sure you get to know your hair. Whenever I go to bed with soaking wet hair, it dries all kinky and I look like a crazy lion when I wake up. So I either blow dry it after my shower OR put my damp hair in a bun on top of my head and take it out in the morning. Then I just work in some curing cream, pull it back into a low pony, and hairspray it so it doesn’t frizz. Love this gal’s slightly undone pony:

But don’t wear a ponytail everyday! Keep things interesting and try a loose half-up style every once and awhile. Twist, pin, and go.

Clothing
Take a weekend and organize your closet by outfits. Do you have a few tank tops that all look good with a black cardigan or blazer? Then group them all in one section. Sandwiching similar items together will make choosing an outfit in the morning a quicker and easier process. And use your nightly shower to brainstorm tomorrow’s outfit. Morning clothing crisis averted!

Makeup
I’m a big believer that I don’t need to put on my entire face just for my coworkers. Sorry guys, but it’s time consuming and a waste of my makeup! Try to cut your routine in half and just spend time on your fav features. As a gal with blonde eyelashes, I always put on mascara. Or maybe you’re a blush girl, like Kristen Bell. Mascara, blush, and lipgloss are 3 beauty products that will quickly brighten you up and help hide the sleep deprivation.

Accessories
When all else fails, accessorize. Adding colorful bangles to a basic work outfit will instantly add some glam. Plus, they take no time to put on and can be super cheap, like these Forever 21 bangles for $6.80!

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You might also like: Look Polished at Work >>

Look Polished at Work

Reader Question: What can I wear to the office to look put-together but not overdressed? I don’t want to be the most casual person in the office, but I also don’t want to show up in a suit when everyone else is in casual khakis!

Answer: This question came from a sweet coworker of mine and I can totally sympathize. There is such a spectrum of business clothes available today — how does a working gal (on a budget!) navigate all the options, while keeping in mind the norms of her office? It’s enough to force you into a rut of dumpy black pants and worn out cardigans.

Style Me Thrifty is here to guide you on how to look polished at work. I’ve got a tip for every day of the work week.

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Monday: Wear Heels
Have you ever noticed that heels make women stand up straighter and walk with more authority? These are both stellar traits to have around the office. If you have a job where you’re on your feet a lot (like a teacher), go for a sleek wedge to take the pressure off your toesies.

Tuesday: Rock a Blazer with Confidence
I have a fitted black blazer in my closet that I hesitated to wear to work for months because I was worried it would make too much of a statement at my casual office and then I realized… why is that a bad thing?! A chic blazer is a classic piece that can dress an outfit up OR down. If your office skews more casual, pair the blazer with light grey dress pants or even jeans!

Wednesday: Tuck Your Shirt In
This trick instantly preps up an outfit. It is polished, put-together, and totally free to try! Bonus points if you wear your shirt tucked into a Mad Men-esque skirt, like the cute outfit below from The Limited.

Thursday: Give a Skinny Belt a Try
This look is super flattering because the skinny belt cinches in the smallest part of woman’s waist. I suggest brown, beige, or a fun color for the summer — and wear it over a blouse, open cardigan, or dress. So classy.

Friday: Wear a Pair of Dressy Jeans
If your office has “casual Friday,” resist the urge to wear your fav pair of weekend jeans. Up the ante with a nice-fitting dark pair of jeans. If you’re tripping over the length of your pants, get them hemmed! Most dry cleaners hem pants for less than $20. It’s a worthy investment on your road to career domination.

These jeans would look super cute with this crisp top. Just sayin’…

Bonus Tip! Add a Little Color to Your Professional Life
Don’t be a ninja and dress in head to toe black. Use your go-to pair of black dress pants as the base for an outfit. Everything else you add should have color and personality. Try a colorful scarf or bright jewelry. OR — brace yourself — skip pants all together in favor of a colorful dress like the one below. Love this with a white cardigan. So fun!