Happy Monday, Bombshells!
This past Saturday I participated on a panel on entrepreneurship sponsored by HelloBeautiful.com.

The day long workshop featured talks on negotiating, networking, dressing in a corporate environment, and also how to strike out on your own and create your own business. Since the day underscored the power of women in the workplace, I decided to pull on what I deem a ‘strong woman’ uniform: a Diane Von Furstenberg wrap dress.

Lord knows I love an animal print (I’m positively addicted), so chose a vintage inspired piece with a leopard motif. Since the dress was somewhat subdued in black, gray, and, white, I added pops of color with a pair of Steve Madden purple Staciee slingbacks, YSL lipstick in Pourpre Divin (obsessed), and a fun little neon Push Lock Across Body Bag from ASOS.



Of course it was chilly, so I wore my standby Andrew Marc coat, a Topshop beret, and Berkshire ultra sheer stockings in Tan de Sol (can you tell I’m wearing hose?!? I know! Berkshire hose are the bomb):

The panel itself included media maven Bevy Smith, boutique owner Blake Scotland, PR guru Simone Smalls, casting director Winsome Sinclair, and Ginger Johnson and Liz Pickett of the nail brand Ginger & Liz.

Bevy Smith, Me, Blake Scotland, Simone Smalls

I obviously wasn’t taking notes, but here are a few takeaway points I can remember. From Ginger & Liz: “No” means “not right now.” Don’t be discouraged when people don’t give you what you want immediately. Revise your pitch, and try again. From Bevy Smith: It’s never too late to embark on a new career. Bevy left a lucrative job at age 38 to start her Dinners with Bevy entreprise. From Blake Scotland: When starting out, invest in the highest quality you can afford. It’s ok to cut corners sometimes, but if you need the best, invest.

From Simone Smalls: Fake it until you make it, but back up your word with good work and outstanding results. When Simone first started she was competing with huge firms, and sometimes had to fake having an account billing department, human resources department, and more in phone conversations to give off the appearance her company was much larger than it was. Even though she had to fake it a little, she still produced big company results. From Winsome Sinclair: Protect your brand. At every step, ask yourself, “Is this good for the brand?” If it’s not, don’t do it! From me: Freelance, intern, or work a part time job to sustain yourself until you get to where you want to go. Before the Fashion Bomb was its own entity, I freelanced for various print and online publications, taught English, did translations, and more to make ends meet.
It was a long, but enlightening day, and I learned a lot.

For those of you who came, hope you enjoyed!

We’ll be having many more events. Stay tuned to the blog for the 411.
Smootches!

Outfit Details: Dress, Diane von Furstenberg. Beret, Topshop. Coat, Andrew Marc. Push Lock Across Body Bag, ASOS. Slingbacks, Steve Madden. Earrings, Loveys. Stockings, Berkshire in Tan de Sol. Lipstick, Yves Saint Laurent ‘Rouge Pur Couture’ Lip Color SPF 15 in Pourpre Divin. Claire Necklace, some random stand on Broadway in Soho.

Photos by Marta McAdams.

*Diane von Furstenberg on wrap dresses ca 1976, “Simple, one-stop dressing. Chic, comfortable, and sexy. It won’t become dated after one season. It works around the clock, travels across the world, and fits all a woman’s priorities.”

25 thoughts on “Claire’s Life: HelloBeautiful.com’s Women in the Workplace Workshop”

  1. Claire, you look beautiful as always. I’m loving the lips;) Still waiting on that leg workout.

  2. Love your outfit! You looked great! And I like that you all had useful tips. I’m going to write some of them down. Motivation to keep me going.

  3. @Latanya Thank you! I will divulge soon! Was thinking it’d be a good post for a New Years workout plan. x

  4. You’re welcome Claire. I have loved you since day one! I’ve seen your transformation from true beauty to down right gorgeous! That would be a great post for New Years! Can’t wait, xoxo

  6. Claire, u look so pretty and ur smile is platinum! legs are the bomb….must step up my workout routine

  10. I attended the event and it was very informative. Thank you for taking time out to speak on your experience as a blogger/entrepreneur

  11. Hi Claire, I would have love to come to this event, do you know if their was a taping involved? so people such as myself can watch and learn from the advice that was given. Also great outfit : )

  12. Hi Claire! Amazing as always….love the outfit but I might have done tights with it…I’m picturing tights, lol BUT you look great nonetheless! Keep up the great work…you and staff :-)

  14. I bought that bag last week and am patiently waiting on my asos order to arrive. Love even more since i’ve seen it on you!

  15. I wish I could have made it but I’m putting in my own hrs at Sak’s but u look amazing and I’m proud to see women of color spreading the positivity of the keys to success….Keep it going us lil sisters need it!!!

  16. i love what this event stands, i work in corporate America, so would have loved to see corporate outfits on the panel.

  17. Claire you look great, I’m a big fan of animal print myself and loving the lips and shoes :-)

  18. Love the look. Tracking down that lip color ASAP! Looks just like MAC All My Purple Life lipglass, which I love…

  21. Claire is wearing tights! She does has the bomb ones from Berkshire where you can’t even tell she’s wearing them! Great find, you look lovely as always, Claire. And great panel advice! thanks for giving the highlights (C:

  23. Claire, please remember to keep us posted on the next event like this.

    I also liked the fact that you wore a DVF wrap dress. I’m a big fan of them, and like you, I love the fact that Diane stands for women being both feminine and independent!

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