The Power of the Peer

On May 18, 2011 By ashleyfausIn Branding, Outfits/Workwear, SellingLeave a comment

Dress: Ross

Heels: Alfani Step ‘n Flex

Earrings: NY & Co.

Like the outfit? See more details here!

I was debating about even trying this dress on when I found it at the store. My husband was with me, and he really wanted me to try it on, but I just couldn’t do it. Enter my mom and my sister… who not only convinced me to try it on, but ALSO convinced me to buy it! Marketers take note of the power of the peer.

From what I’ve seen, heard, and personally dealt with while shopping, it seems that most women prefer to shop with at least one other person. We like to have someone to give feedback, and sometimes we WANT to be convinced to buy something that’s slightly out of our comfort zone. Men seem to be the complete opposite, with an “I’m on a mission” and blinders attitude that results in quick, fruitful shopping trips. However, men seem to pay heed to peers in other areas, like electronics or cars. This seems pretty stereotypical, but I’ve seen my husband scour forums for information on amps, keyboards, and video cards, eliciting information from others who’ve been in his position.

Marketers already know about the power of the peer, and they’ve taken steps to create entire brands around what the collective peer group finds attractive. This brand identity is carefully crafted to not only make a customer feel like they fit into their immediate peer group, but also helps them come back to the brand by fitting in with the larger peer group. This is why brands can’t be everything to everyone all the time, since people gravitate toward those who are “like them.” There’s also aspirational brands, which seek to help customers fit in with a peer group they would like to be in. It’s the reason that celebrity and athlete endorsements are used in advertising; to make the customer feel like they are peers with that person, since they use the same brands. Entire store concepts and industries flourish around the power of the peer, with elaborate dressing rooms and lunch spots, to take a quick trip to the store from mundane to shopping excursion with the girls!

I’ve seen the power of the peer in my own life, and I know it works! What are you doing to encourage the power of the peer as they interact with your brand or retail location? How are you shaping the collective peer group that your brand represents? By getting the attention of the peer, you’ll up your chances for getting the attention of the customer! Like the outfit? See more details here!

Comparative Pricing

On May 11, 2011 By ashleyfausIn Outfits/Workwear, PricingLeave a comment

Jersey dress with knit blazer for the office

Dress: Ross

Pumps: Alfani Step-N-Flex

Knit blazer: don’t remember, but they’re everywhere these days!

Earrings: Silpada

Bracelet: NY & Co.

Like the outfit? Click here to see more details! (We went a little picture crazy on this shoot, check out some random poses/facial expressions!)

This is another dress from Ross, and it fits the breezy, jersey dress that I’m loving for the summer. For those unfamiliar with Ross, it’s a discount store that offers name-brand styles at a lower price than the department stores. Competitors include Marshall’s and TJ Maxx, and I’m sure most regions have their own version of these types of stores. It’s always hit or miss in terms of selection and store atmosphere, but I’ve had great success in the past few months at the Ross just across the street from my office. One thing that Ross does on ALL items, is show the “Compare At” price, just above the substantially lower “Our Price”. As I’ve just completed my Buyer Behavior class, I’ve had comparative pricing on the brain, and this dress gave me a little push to write a post on it!

Comparative pricing is often ambiguous, as it generally doesn’t say where the “compare at” price comes from. Is it the suggested MSRP, the retail price at another store, or just some random dollar amount to make the “our price” look better? Part of me falls into the trap that the comparative amount is completely founded, and it does make me feel better about buying the item. But let’s be real here…. there’s a little marketing hype in this, as it’s highly unlikely that this EXACT item is currently selling elsewhere for triple the price. Granted, sometimes things go on sale because they have limited quantities, or they’re out of season. For Ross, it seems like it’s usually the former, as there’s only one dress in one size. Thus, a department store doesn’t want to carry a single piece in a single size at a single location, since it can hurt customer expectations of variety and availability. However, for stores like Ross, customers expect that they can’t find it at another Ross, and that there’s only one size.

All the pondering about why an item is priced one way at Ross and another way elsewhere is less important than what the comparative pricing does to a customer subconsciously. At first glance, in spite of the most logical argument to the contrary, our brains see the lower price and categorize the item differently. By giving you a benchmark, no matter how off-base or unfounded, the marketer for that retailer has effectively made the customer question their initial price point and evaluation of the product. It’s just like marking something for “sale” or calling something a “good deal”. Sure, most people will investigate it, but at least you’ve given them cause to further consider the product. Sometimes, the extra minute that someone thinks about the product is all that is needed to convince them of a sale.

I try to be wary of my fellow marketers’ mind tricks with “compare at” pricing, but sometimes, a piece really is a good deal! My recent jersey dress purchases from Ross have proved versatile, easy, and functional, and I don’t feel bad about the price tag either! Like the outfit? Click here for more details!

Day to Dinner

On May 4, 2011 By ashleyfausIn Outfits/Workwear2 Comments

Dress: Ross

Khaki Blazer: NY & Co.

Heels: Sam & Libby, via DSW Shoe Warehouse

Necklace: Forever 21

Earrings: Target

Like the outfit? See more details here!

I think we can all agree that sometimes you need to take a break from the corporate life! Granted, that break may only be a dinner date, but still, a break is needed. Now that summer is creeping in, I’m ready to enjoy some evenings with my husband. But, between work and class (and attempting to get to the gym!), sometimes the easiest thing is to meet at a restaurant right after work. I’ve found my new summer obsession to be jersey dresses, as they work well for my business casual office and for my after-work commitments. They’re comfortable and breathable, both essential qualities in the Texas heat. So, how do I take my new favorite items from day to dinner?

Modesty. My main concern is making sure that my “dinner” look doesn’t creep into my “day” look. I’ve found that some people think these looks are the same, but I must disagree. I’ve talked about buying into the illusion, and that modesty is one part of the reason to dress in “business” clothes. For this dress, I usually add a cardigan or blazer to make sure that the thinner straps are office-appropriate. I also make sure that my hemlines skim my knees in the front AND the back (checking the length in the back is critical!), to ensure that the casual fabric doesn’t overshadow an otherwise office-appropriate dress.

Balance. I also try to make sure that if I’m wearing a dress made of casual fabric, I raise the formality of my other pieces. For example, I’m wearing nude heels and a structured blazer to tone down the effect of the flowy, light-weight dress. If you’re wearing a more casual T-shirt, you might consider pairing it with a pencil skirt and conservative pumps to make sure that you balance out the casual feel of an outfit.

Conservative. For office looks, I think it’s best to stay conservative with jewelry and make-up, and then swap these out for bolder statements for dinner. Maybe you can plan to swap out a nude lip color for a bold red, or plain silver studs for long, bright pink earrings. The office isn’t about showing your most fun and crazy accessories, so I recommend using these items to take an otherwise toned-down office look into a dinner look.

While it may seem like business is your life, sometimes LIFE is your life! I love taking this dress from day to dinner… how do you make your office looks more versatile? Like the outfit? See more details here!

Again with the Presentation Advice?

On April 27, 2011 By ashleyfausIn Outfits/Workwear, Presentations2 Comments

A comfortable outfit for my presentation

: Blue belt and two-tone blue necklace

Like the outfit? See more details here!

Alright, I know I just did two posts about presentations last week, but I’ve got speaking on the brain! We had case presentations in one of my classes last night, and unfortunately, it spurred me to post once more about presentations. I truly believe that public speaking is a non-negotiable skill in the corporate world, and it was a little disconcerting to see some of the presentation behavior from my MBA classmates. I started my presentation well by dressing the part, which many of classmates chose not to do. However, I want to get into a few more tips on the speaking, since I’ve already addressed appropriate presentation attire.

Look at your audience. I was shocked to see members of several groups turn their back on the audience during yesterday’s presentations. I was also shocked to see people holding notes up in front of their face, or just looking straight down at the notes. Generally, there’s at least one friendly face in the crowd, so if nothing else, at least speak to that person. I don’t recommend looking people directly in the eye when you first start presenting, as it can be a distraction if you’re not used to such direct feedback. Rather, look at their hairline, as this will appear more like eye contact, without the harsh “staring into my soul” effect that can ensue with direct eye contact. Practice in front of a mirror to make sure that you’re not speaking into your notes.

Be cognizant of the time. We had a strict and short time limit for our presentations last night, and most groups managed to adhere to the cut-off time. However, one group had a huge faux pas during their presentation. A group member was plowing through their portion of the presentation, completely oblivious to the time keeper’s hand signals. Another group member saw the time keeper give the “wrap it up” signal. Seeing no end in sight, he politely and briefly interrupted the group member that was speaking to thank the class for their time. Instead of sitting down, as it was clear their time was up, the group member started speaking again to make their point! When informed that in fact, they were out of time, this person turned to the class and said, “Can I just say one more thing about The Subject?” Awkwardly, her other group members looked at the class. Don’t be this person… when your time is up, your time is up! Plan your presentation and make sure that you speak at a rate that will meet the time limit.

Practice the transitions. I generally prefer to speak with a clicking device, so that I can move the slides forward at the same rate at which I speak. However, this is not always possible, so make sure you practice the transitions with your team mates. Is one person going to move the slides forward, or will each member move to the keyboard to advance the slides? What order are you speaking in, and do you plan to introduce the next speaker, or just move aside to let the next speaker take over? Who will lead the question and answer session; will it be one speaker, or will each person answer based on their specific portion of the presentation? It’s the “little things” like transitions that take a group from disjointed to polished, and it makes a noticeable difference in the level of professionalism exuded by the team.

Utilize your visual aid. I saw full sentences and paragraphs written on some of the PowerPoint slides last night, and it makes the visual aid overwhelming and unclear, instead of helpful. Also, state your point up front! Several groups arrived at the end of their presentation, and I still had no idea about their stance on the issue at hand. Open the presentation with your stance, and then utilize bullet points, charts, and pictures through out the remainder of the presentation to support your stance. Don’t forget to proof-read! I saw typos and text running into graphics on some presentations, which distracts from the overall message that should be enhanced by the visual aid.

I know I’m picky, but years of public speaking have taught me that the seemingly unobtrusive quirks really hurt a person’s ability to convey their information during a presentation. I hope these tips will make your next presentation clear and compelling! Like the outfit? See more details here!

Presentation Attire

On April 20, 2011 By ashleyfausIn Outfits/Workwear, Presentations2 Comments

Presentation Wear — Comfortable Sheath Dress and Minimal Accessories

: Lower heel (might actually prefer a more conservative pump!)

Dress: Target

Necklace: NY and Co.

Belt: Charlotte Russe

Heels: Old, don’t remember

Like the outfit? See more details here!

I love presenting, let’s just state that from the start! What’s not to love… you are the center of attention, you get to be the expert on the subject at hand, and you get to convince everyone that your idea is the best! I know, it makes me sound a little childish, but let’s be honest. What actor/marketer/motivational speaker doesn’t have some kind of ulterior motive when they stand up to present? It’s a rush! Being back in school affords more opportunities to do “formal” presentations. Most of my day-to-day presentations are much less formal, and often involve lots of computer mock-ups, so I end up sitting near a keyboard instead of commanding the room from a podium. So, what does one wear for a presentation, and is there any rhyme or reason to the presentation dress code?

First, wear comfortable shoes, especially for the long presentations! It is distracting to see people rocking back and forth or shifting on their feet because of obviously uncomfortable shoes. For women, I would also recommend wearing a slightly lower heel, since you won’t be paying much attention to where you’re walking. For example, I saw one girl’s heel get caught on a slight snag in the carpet, almost toppling her during the presentation. It completely threw her off her game, and for the rest of the presentation, she was looking at the floor, trying to avoid snagging her heel again.

On a related note, wear well-tailored clothing. Again, it’s very distracting to see a blouse that’s about to pop open, or a suit jacket that looks constricting. Make sure you can move in your suit, so that hand gestures and pointing to the presentation materials don’t look or feel awkward. I realize that some people don’t wear suits on a regular basis, so I recommend spending some time “breaking in” a suit to feel comfortable.

Finally, dress the part! I’ve talked before about how I sometimes wonder why we buy into the illusion of “business formal”, but the fact is, we do! You don’t want to be the one person in a room full of suits wearing jeans and a t-shirt. To command authority and improve the perception of expertise, formal business wear is the first step. It also helps you look and feel more confident, which will translate into the speaking and body language areas of the presentation.

Getting dressed for a presentation is just the first step to success, so check back tomorrow for some additional ways to make a successful presentation! Like the outfit? See more details here!

Different Facets of a Brand

On April 13, 2011 By ashleyfausIn Branding, Outfits/WorkwearLeave a comment

Brown flats (Pardon the wrinkled pants, long day!)

Pants: NY and Co.

Shirt: H & M

Earrings: JC Penney

Flats: Can’t remember, similar

Like the outfit? See more details here.

So, I talked about “Ashley” outfits in my post last Wednesday, and I posted on Monday about how brands are compromised. Looking at today’s outfit, I saw a pretty strong link between those two posts. Strong brands are multi-faceted, and you can’t just rest on your laurels when it comes to branding. Sure, you were the “safest” brand or the “trendiest” brand or the “highest quality” brand yesterday, but what are you doing to further your brand today? You need to branch out from the core trait and make sure some of the secondary traits are well-known to your customers. By doing this, you might just attract a new segment!

Why is this outfit “non-Ashley”? If you look at the details, you’ll see big, bright pink earrings, where “big”, “bright”, and “pink” are all out of my comfort zone. You’ll see immediately that the top is flowy and multi-colored, where, again, “flowy” and “multi-colored” are not words generally used to describe my wardrobe. So, have I gone mad, and completely compromised the “classic” brand that is Ashley? I think not! I think I’ve shown you another side my personal brand, the side that is adventurous, comfortable, and sometimes playful. While it may seem like these aren’t qualities to describe a professional person, they are qualities that help you move up the corporate ladder. For example, are you a team player, willing to get your hands dirty by going to the front lines and serving customers? Are you willing to take on a project that seems scary and challenging? Can you roll with the punches when your flight is late, the shipment didn’t arrive, or the client meeting got bumped up by 2 hours? While my “classic” style projects cool, calm, and efficient, business is not always that way. Business is messy and frantic at times, and you need to project a brand that can handle such an unpredictable environment.

The same is true with companies’ brands. Yes, you want to make sure customers know you offer the highest quality, but you also want them to know that you can meet their needs with competitive pricing, customer service, turnaround time, and consistency. Maybe you’re the most fashionable brand in your sector, but you want customers to know that you offer quality and selection, not just “the latest thing”. Brands aren’t compromised by showing a different facet, but rather when customers have a bad experience. A new facet of a brand should be a pleasant surprise, one that makes you say, “Wow, I had no idea that brand XZY ALSO offered this! I mean, they were great before, with the highest quality, but they also offer a huge selection!”

So which facets of your brand are developing and revealing? Are you putting your best foot forward in new ways, or are you clinging to one brand image that may not encompass its full potential? Like the outfit? See more details here.

Form vs. Function

On April 6, 2011 By ashleyfausIn Outfits/Workwear6 Comments

: +1 for form, -1 for functionality

: Surprisingly comfortable heels and skirt

: Bracelet, Faux skin belt, wedding ring

Skirt: Ann Taylor

Button down: Express

Black pumps: Alfani

Belt, bracelet, earrings: NYC and Co.

Like the outfit? See more details here!

Today’s outfit is great for form, not so great for function. I’ve been trying to break out of my style box over the past year, and this outfit has many elements of an “Ashley” outfit, but a few elements of a “non-Ashley” outfit. So, what makes it an “Ashley” outfit? To begin, I believe I’m on of the least fashionable people you’ll meet, especially when compared to my mom and my sister. The nice way to put it, is that my style is “classic”, which tends to translate into “boring”. “Ashley outfits” are usually simple, symmetrical, clean lines, and minimal jewelry.

I started trying to figure out why I’ve always been less fashionable, and I believe it’s because I have a hard time with the fundamental discrepancy between form and function. It always seems like the outfits that look best are the most difficult to perform in! Throughout middle school, high school, and college, I was always in situations that required a lot of movement, making it difficult to wear form-fitted clothing and skirts. I started the morning bright and early with show choir rehearsal, where I was often literally kicking up my heels… not so much appropriate for jeans or a skirt. After a long day of classes, it was off to track practice or musical rehearsal, where I was again, kicking up my heels for hurdles or dance numbers. Flash forward to college, where I spent 3.5 years starting classes at 8 am, and often packing them into 2 or 3 days instead of spread out over the week. Who wants to look nice for 12 hour days of class? Not me! My first job out of college was a start-up, where all the other employees were young and male. This meant that “office attire” was a term used loosely to describe wearing something, ANYTHING, that semi-covered your body. Half the time, the guys showed up in ripped jeans and a sweatshirt, or shorts and a faded t-shirt. While this isn’t true of all young male employees, it was always the case at my start-up office. Thus, wearing khakis made me significantly more dressed up than any other person in the office.

Now, I’m in an office environment that does require business casual, and I sometimes like to take it up a notch to what might be termed as “presentation day” business casual. I’ve always loved the look of a tailored suit and heels, or a pencil skirt and nice blouse, but I’ve never had an environment in which to wear such attire. It’s a whole new world to explore, where I don’t have to be so brutally conscious of the functional qualities of an outfit. To be sure, there are some restraints, as noted in my post about the physical requirements of my job. I also prefer not to wear heels on a day that I have class, since I end up trekking all over campus (I learned my lesson quickly on choice of footwear!). So, at this point, I’ve decided that I can discard function for preference of form at least 2 days per week. This outfit is definitely worn on one of those days without class, without tradeshow shipments, and without a million errands to run after work.

Have I totally gotten over my aversion to pure-form clothing? Definitely not! But, I’m starting to get out of my box, and I’ve found that being conscious of my corporate attire has helped take me into a more fashionable realm. What tricks have you found to strike a balance between function and form? Like the outfit? See more details here!

MBA Students Dress Better

On March 30, 2011 By ashleyfausIn MBA Degree, Outfits/Workwear1 Comment

Business Casual — From Corporate to Class

Like the outfit? See more details here.

I mentioned that I’d be sharing some thoughts about pursuing my MBA, and I thought this post would be the perfect time to share one of my most immediate observations about my classmates: they dress better! This may be especially true for the Part-Time Professional Program, as most of the students are working in addition to their classes. So, we’re all coming from our corporate jobs right after work, meaning we’re all in business attire. I don’t know about you, but my undergraduate days were spent in comfortable clothing.

Ok, I’ll admit it… I went to class in yoga pants and a sweatshirt for most of my freshman and sophomore year! I upgraded from this habit slightly after a semi-embarrassing moment in the spring semester of my sophomore year. I had an 8 am class in an auditorium with about 200 other students, so my yoga pants and a sweatshirt were rarely noticed among the other pajama-clad students. A guest professor came to speak about a new program that was accepting applicants, and he requested that we give him a call at his office if we were interested in applying for the program. I called right after class, since I was only on campus 3 days per week, to set up a meeting for another time. It turns out he only had an opening within the hour, and was heading out of town for a conference for the next 2 weeks! He requested that I head to his office right then to discuss the program, which I was clearly reluctant to do, since I was NOT dressed to meet with a professor for, essentially, an interview. Needless to say, after attending that meeting in my gym clothes (and apologizing for my shoddy appearance), I determined that I should attend class dressed in jeans at minimum.

Fast forward a few years to my MBA days, where you’ll generally find me in suit pants, button-down shirt, and a blazer. Now that it’s warming up, you’ll probably find me in skirts and cardigans more often. It’s kind of nice to be presentation-ready at all times, and I’m glad I don’t feel the need to re-schedule based on how I’m dressed. It’s also nice to see my classmates looking professional, as it lends some additional credibility to the fact that we’re all hard-working professionals with a specific goal in mind. It’s also interesting because the professors don’t put “business attire required” on our presentation criteria anymore, since everyone seems to know the dress code. It always surprised me in undergrad presentations when people didn’t know how to “dress up”, so it’s been a pleasant surprise to see professional attire in each class. How do you dress for the different obligations in your day? Like the outfit? See more details here.

Getting Physical on the Job

On March 23, 2011 By ashleyfausIn Outfits/Workwear4 Comments

Outfit and Electric Meters — Why am I standing with the electricity meters?

Like the outfit? Check out more details here.

The marketer in me really wanted to post the title as, “Let’s Get Physical” or “I Wanna Get Physical”, but I figured that was a REALLY unfair attention grab, vs. the slightly unfair attention grab from the title I chose. So, what does “getting physical” have to do with the job? You’re looking at the outfit I wore while moving tradeshow booth cases and promotional materials across the warehouse! We do quite a few tradeshows during the year, and part of my job as the Marketing Coordinator is to make sure that the shipments are ready, and that the promotional room is organized. In theory, I have a “desk job”, but in reality, I spend a fair amount of time each month bending, lifting, and transporting items that are pretty heavy for “light office work”. Personally, I really enjoy the physical portion of my job, as it gives me a break from the computer and lets me get in some exercise when I don’t have time for the gym. However, this physical work makes it a little difficult to be in “professional” clothes. Clearly, I can’t wear a skirt to bend and lift, but pants tend to get hot after two or three trips up the stairs while carrying boxes. Thus, I end up doing my best to choose my lightest-weight pants and shirts when I know I’ve got physical work ahead of me.

While I don’t mind some physical work, I do wonder how many jobs that are considered “desk jobs” actually involve quite a bit of physical work. Most job descriptions that I’ve seen do include some requirements about the ability to stand or sit for an extended period of time, ability to lift a certain amount, etc. I think I’m much better prepared now to understand what those descriptions entail, and I think it’s wise to make sure you include the physical portion of the job when considering an offer. If you have any sort of health problem that might preclude you from physical work, you should definitely ask about the physical requirements, even for positions that don’t seem like they would require physical work. Consider lawyers, copywriters, accountants, and proposal/grant writers. Each of these seems like a white-collar job without physical components… but what happens when you have to carry the case notes home, the artwork/storyboards, or the paper forms that you just can’t file electronically? Can you lift your briefcase? Or, what about sales reps that often bring samples to their clients? Can you handle rolling around a huge suitcase full of product, lifting the case into the car, and bending up and down to retrieve the items? It doesn’t seem like much, but these physical demands do call for some consideration in how you approach your day.

This outfit worked for the first 15 minutes, but I did start to get hot with the belt around my waist. Maybe next time I’ll try a belt-less look to keep me cooler! How do you prepare for the physical elements in your job? Like the outfit? Check out more details here.

Vanity Sizing

On March 16, 2011 By ashleyfausIn Outfits/Workwear, Selling2 Comments

Black Flower Flats (Please ignore the wrinkled pants, it was a long day!)

Like the outfit? See more details here!

We’ve been talking about the differences between men and women in my Buyer Behavior class, and vanity sizing came up as a notable difference for clothing. Men have no concept of “vanity sizing”, as their clothes are factual numbers based on measurements of their body. If they need a size 30 x 34 or 40 x 42, that’s just the size they need, at any store, at any given time. Then we come to women… with sizes from 0-24W! My husband often asks me to explain size 0, as he doesn’t understand how anyone can wear a “nothing”.

On the rare occasion that he goes shopping with me, he never understands why I pull the items in 3 different sizes, because I might usually be size XYZ at this store, but they could have recently changed the cut of their clothing. Then, there’s the “normal” size I usually pull first, and I put it on and it’s HUGE. Now, I don’t really have body image or size issues, so this type of dressing room conundrum is generally a red flag for vanity sizing. As a marketer, it’s actually a little humorous to see just how low I can go with a size, to see how much “vanity” is built into that store’s clothing. The most recent incident? It was a full 2 sizes down, and the item was still a touch loose! I know full well that I’m NOT size XYZ minus two, and I find this marketing tactic to be a little shady. Have women really bought into the arbitrary size number so much that retailers must play this game? Apparently so, as everyone single girl in my class, and all of my friends, have some story about a time when they managed to fit into a size that is much smaller than “normal”.

Then there’s the issue of tailoring, which means that just because the tag in the garment says size XYZ, it doesn’t necessarily mean that this is the case. Take the back-in-style hourglass figure, where the waist is significantly smaller than the bust and hips. Most hourglass women will need to tailor in the waist, meaning that the size in the garment no longer matches the size of the piece. So, do you buy to fit the biggest part, knowing you’ll tailor it down, and then feel good about the new tailored size? But then there’s that silly number (which, as we’ve already discussed, has no real value or factual measurement attributed to it) staring at you every time you wear the piece. If it’s an arbitrary number that haunts women, why don’t the tailors just take it out? In fact, why don’t we band together to thwart the marketers by purchasing any item that fits, and then ripping out the tags? Some marketers base their whole strategy on making women feel “better” about themselves by utilizing vanity sizing, but I think we’ll eventually adjust to a new “normal” based on the vanity sizing. I enjoy contemplating these marketing dilemmas, since they directly affect me on a regular basis. With all the “real women” campaigns over the past few years, I think it’s time for the retail clothing makers to jump on board! It might be wise to take a cue from our European counterparts… they size based waist measurement. Not perfect, but it’s a start!

Have a vanity sizing story to share? Post it in the comments! Like the outfit? See more details here!

Consciously Corporate

Category: Outfits/Workwear

The Power of the Peer

Comparative Pricing

Day to Dinner

Again with the Presentation Advice?

Presentation Attire

Different Facets of a Brand

Form vs. Function

MBA Students Dress Better

Getting Physical on the Job

Vanity Sizing