Fierce Finds: Accessories that Work

By Meocha Belle

It can be hard finding the motivation to get to work some days, for whatever reason. If you are at a job that you do not particularly like, this is everyday.

Regardless of the occurrence, no one at your job should know about your "oh so horrid" morning. Not only do they not care, as they probably were not jumping for joy the moment their alarm went off either; you’re also messing with your own productivity by keeping this perspective. “The mood you bring with you to work has a strong effect on the day's mood and on work performance,” according to a study done at Wharton. So if you are still dwelling on the fact that you’re not in your bed, or somewhere else, after you have arrived at work, you are not going to be very valuable throughout the course of the workday. And in a job economy with a national unemployment rate of 9.6 percent, providing value to a company is essential to your employment status.

Adding an accessory to your outfit will not only fiercify your look, but your mood and work performance as well! By definition, an accessory is: “an object or device not essential in itself but adding to the beauty, convenience, or effectiveness of something else,” according to Webster. Therefore, it is sure to accentuate your positive feelings, which will allow you to start your day off great!


From left to right: Yves Saint Laurent Pump $880, Talbots Fedora $49, Louis Vuitton Agenda $380, Diane von Furstenberg Belt $275, Marc Jacobs Shoe $775, Hermes Scarf $375.


From left to right: Louis Vuitton Bag $2640, Michael Kors Watch $250, Yves Saint Laurent Card Holder $145, Ollipop Ring $48, Chanel Pin $550, Sparkling Sage Statement Necklace $68.


Some of the prices may be out of your budget, but being unemployed is something you definitely cannot afford. With any one of these quick and easy add-ons for work, you’ll be shining like Chrisette Michele! Your boss will have no choice but to notice your fierceness and give you that much deserved promotion in no time!

8 Go-To Pieces

By Meocha Belle

The average woman loses 16 minutes of her morning choosing an outfit.

According to a story by English publication, The Telegraph, a woman spends 16 minutes every weekday morning deciding what to wear. “Women will try on two outfits each morning before coming to a final decision,” The Telegraph reported. Wouldn’t it be great if you could reallocate that time to have a balanced breakfast, get in a quick workout, or even get a little more sleep?

By having 8 essential pieces, you can do whatever you’d like with the time— and save money! Buying quality pieces will allow for them to wear well, says Dummies.com. “With a quality piece, you’ll be able to rely on it again and again,” Dummies.com explains.

Marie Claire recommends buying these 8 items: a white blouse, black skirt, black pants, blazer, little black dress, trench coat, black pump and pearl necklace. All of these items are essential to a women’s working wardrobe, and since they are neutral in color, you can mix them into and match them with several different outfits. “You can always find a top to pair with black slacks,” says Kristen Hamner, PH.D. student, at Syracuse University. When Hamner has to dress up, she goes to her essential pieces.

Here are the items at two different price points:

White Blouse
Choose one with a large tie-neck!

Vivienne Westwood $440 | Spiegel $39

Black Skirt
The straight and narrow cut of the pencil skirt will attest your character for you!
MaxMara $250 | Oasis $71

Black Pants
From wide leg to straight leg, black pants provide range.
Michael Kors $695 | John Lewis $140

Blazer
Opt for grey to break up monochromatic looks.
MCQ by Alexander McQueen $506 | J. CREW $300

Little Black Dress
Dressed up or down, you’ll be addressed like a respected professional.
Lanvin $1,625 | Diane Von Furstenberg $430

Trench Coat
Wear it on top of everything…"Camel is this season’s black!”— Vogue Paris
Burberry $2,505 | Top Shop $135

Black Pumps
Its simplicity allows it to match most outfits.
YSL $760 | Sam Edelman $95

Pearl Necklace
With these on, your value will come shining through!
Tiffany’s $8,100 | Zales $160

Even though these are considered “basics,” you can add your own flare in the selection of the pieces. The tailoring, buttons/embellishments and fabric are all things that can make the piece live up to your personal style while maintaining a classic look.

Now that you’ve seen the list of essentials, check and see how your closet matches up! If you’re fierce, you already have most of these items. If you’re coming up short, you now have an excuse to head to your local department store.

Confront the Cold Front

By Meocha Belle

Say good-bye to warm, or even fair weather. It's the winter's turn.

But just because the weather drops, does not mean you have to sacrifice your fierceness. “You want to be warm but do not want to look frumpy,” said Ellie Mia Boutique owner and buyer Sophia Dimanidis.

To confront the cold front in style, head to your local boutique or department store and buy one of these 8 Outerwear Trends:


Camel Rebecca Minoff $395 | Winter White Loeffler Randall $550


Leather and Shearling Acqua $198 | Fur Vest Theory $895


Military Guess $295 | Menswear Diane von Furstenberg $695


Ski Andrew Marc $650 | Down SAM. $695
Photo Credit: Bloomingdales

Fierce Fall/Winter 2010 Trends

By Meocha Belle

Store-window displays, television segments, blog posts, and magazines all over are reporting on the new must have items. But...just because something is trending, does not mean it should be followed.

When making purchases for your closet, special consideration should be placed upon the trends you choose to wear to work. In a business environment, minimalist looks work best. For one, you never know what executive might show up at your office, and two, you do not want to be the "ditzy-airhead-who-looks-like-she's-in-the-circus-more-focused-on-her-clothes-than-her-job-girl," when they do. And they will...the day you are wearing the most haute couture trend.

To avoid career suicide in the name of fashion, work these fierce Fall/Winter 2010 Trends into your wardrobe.


Camel (Tahari) | Black Out (Tahari)


Red Alert (St. John) | Grey Scale (Chetta B)


Faux Fur (JNY) | Country (Lauren)


Tweed Mini (Kate Spade) | Prints (Classiques Entier®)


Berry Silky (DVF) | Velvet (T Tahari)


Leopard Print (YSL) | Wide-Leg Trouser (Robert Rodriguez)

Fierce Femme of the Day

By Meocha Belle



"I like to make a statement...that's why I spend so much money on my shoes!"-Tiffany Bender

Tiffany Bender, got to show off her shoe game in front of a crowd full of ladies and gentlemen.
Tiffany— a Syracuse University senior from Harlem, founder of the non-profit organization "Young Harlem" along with "InspiRing" jewelry founder Evin Robinson—hosted the first annual "Scholarship Showcase" at Funk 'N Waffles in Syracuse, N.Y.

The goal of their "Scholarship Showcase" was to raise money to provide five $500 books scholarships to high school seniors from Harlem, Brooklyn and Syracuse. The event featured the talents of Creations Dance Company, Camille Diamond, Jason Steklof, Kale Dreamz, Nayma Silver, Tai Brown, Priscilla Dly, and SU Breakdance.

Tiffany, with the help of her team, made a statement for other college students to create opportunities for younger students in their communities, and she looked fierce doing it! Her purple pumps and statement necklace added vibrancy to her grey bodycon dress.

To donate to the scholarship fund, which will be awarded to the 5 high-school students in Spring 2011 at the Sheraton Syracuse University Hotel and Conference Center, contact Tiffany Bender.

The Rules of Fierce Interviewing

By Meocha Belle

October is here and recruiters are scheduling you for several rounds of interviews. As the interview rounds continue, you are meeting with more senior members of the organization, according to MBA Consulting Track.
To show that you are fierce enough to work for them, you should follow a certain set of attire guidelines. After being interviewed, personal appearance is the top reason people do not get hired, according to California’s Employment Development Department (EDD). “Appropriate attire supports your image as a person who takes the interview process seriously and understands the nature of the industry in which you are trying to become employed,” according to Virginia Tech’s Career Services.
So read closely for these recommendations from Virginia Tech’s Career Services to fiercify your interviewing!
Wear a skirt-suit, pant-suit or conservative dress. If you decide to wear a skirt-suit or dress, make sure it is not above knee-length. Your arms should not be exposed, so jackets with full-length sleeves are a must. Stay away from low-cut blouses and other revealing items. Hosiery should be worn in a skin-tone or neutral color and should not have any runs. If they do run before you are interviewed, bring another pair along with you in your briefcase or purse. (Oh, and remember your portfolio to hold copies of your cover letter and resume.)
Shoes should be conservative, clean and polished. Save the 6-inch stilettos for the dinner party, mid-low heels are appropriate for interviewing. Flats are iffy. In some industries, they are not acceptable, so make sure you study the industry that you are trying to enter.
No matter the industry, keep your make-up looking and at a minimum and natural. Hair should be well-groomed and pulled back out of your face. Apply perfume lightly, as you do not want to overwhelm your interviewer with a strong smell. Fresh-breath is necessary, but gum, candy or other objects should not be in your mouth when with an interviewer.
Although fierce nails are vibrant and embellished, those too should be tamed for interviewing. Stick with clear or neutral-colored polish, with clean, trimmed fingernails, of course.
You should want nothing to distract your interviewer from getting to know you, so keep jewelry simple as well. Wear only one pair of earrings, one bracelet and one ring. And unless you have no real desire in landing the position, do not wear any visible body piercings.

Suit Yourself

By Meocha Belle

Suit yourself in these women's pieces and you will surely get you the call back! They are both career fair and interview appropriate. Although these pieces may seem a bit pricey to college students and new graduates, you want pieces that are good quality so that they wear longer. The jacket, skirt and pants can also be worn as a separate and mixed into many different outfits. The suit you choose may land you a fierce job, when that happens you will consider it a return on investment!


Halogen® ‘Ela Jacket’ $74.90 | Classiques Entier® ‘Subtle Stripe’ Jacket $268.00 | Ted Baker London Blazer $230.00


Classiques Entier® ‘Twist Stripe’ Jacket $106.90 | Theory ‘Matelda-Tailor’ Jacket $385.00 | Theory ‘Kiersten K-Strategy’ Jacket $355.00

Shop these looks and more at nordstrom.com.

Does Your Look Say Hire?

By Meocha Belle

Career Fair Season has commenced. Recruiters are looking to hire you, but you must first look hirable.
Oftentimes, what you are wearing determines how long your interview lasts and, ultimately, if you are hired or not. “Research shows that within 4-9 minutes of an interview, the recruiter decides whether or not to seriously consider you for the position partly based on your appearance,” according to “Dressing for an Interview,” an article by the Career Services Center at the University of Delaware.
Do realize, by forgoing attention to sartorial detail, you are also forfeiting your job candidacy.
Although creative industries (advertising, marketing, web-design, public relations) are thought to have a lax dress code compared to traditional businesses (law, accounting, finance, consulting), interviewing is one time where your unique style should not be noticeable. When I asked, “What standard of interviewing attire is held in public relations?” Kamari Guthrie, Account Executive, Consumer PR for Procter & Gamble said, “you need to wear interview attire. Period.” “Suit or business dress.”
Regardless of the industry, you should wear, a skirt suit, pantsuit or conservatively tailored dress in black, charcoal, brown or navy, according to “Dressing for an Interview” by the University of Delaware’s Career Services Center. Conservative dress shoes should complement your look. While Guthrie affirmed, “Heels are a MUST!” in the public relation candidate’s hiring process, this may not be the case in every industry. So, know the industry’s and specific company’s culture.
Hosiery is another item whose necessity in the professional world is highly debated. For traditional business settings, there is no discussion, as told by Carole Martin of monster.com. “Wear stockings, even in humid summer weather.” As for everyone else, you decide. If you do wear them, make sure they are sans pattern and flesh toned.
To find out dress code specifics for the company you are interviewing with, look at their corporate collateral—brochures, reports, press packs, etcetera— or visit their website and take note of what the current employees have on. If you still have questions, prior to your interview date, contact their Human Resources Department and ask.
When in doubt, dress up, not down! According to research done at Washington State University, “The job seeker should dress for a position two levels higher than the one for which she is being interviewed."
Although you may want to incorporate personal style into your interview look, do not! Interviewing is one time, where you want to be strictly conservative. Once you are hired, then you may show off your fierce fashion sense with your business causal looks, If business casual is appropriate for your industry, that is.
By following everything outlined above, you will show your interviewer just how fierce you are, and become that much closer to starting your new job!