Something I don't think we've ever talked about is C-suite style for women — what are the best tips for stylish power dressing for women in the C-suite? Where should women executives shop? And how much does any of this matter?

General Tips on C-Suite Style for Women

I'll say it up front: If you're in the C-suite, you've earned the right to dress however you want. In fact, you often see executive women at the very top having fairly non-traditional styles, like colorful moto jackets and other styles that might be a “know your office” kind of thing for a more junior employee. But you're the boss, and it's OK for you to set the tone that others follow.

If you want to look polished, tailoring would be a good use of your money. It's famously been said that absolutely everything on television is tailored, down to plain white T-shirts — and tailoring can make a huge difference with blazers, dresses, pants, and more.

{related: what stylish women get tailored}

In fact, I would view all of your purchases through the lens of tailoring — if you need a new pair of pants, for example, do you need a $100 pair or a $1,000 pair? After all, a $100 pair of black pants doesn't look so different than a $1,000 pair of black pants. However, the $1,000 pair was probably designed with tailoring in mind, so the seams and fabrics will better survive and last after tailoring, whereas the $100 pair of black pants probably has some stretch in them because they're designed to be worn off the rack (or are so trendy they're not intended to last more than a year or two), and stretchy fabric is often harder to tailor well. So assess for yourself which clothes fit you the best — it's OK if they're affordable ones! — and discuss with your tailor what alterations will make the biggest impact overall for your wardrobe, and buy accordingly.

Details and accessories matter more than head-to-toe designer outfits. For example, an Hermès scarf or Cartier watch will elevate any outfit, no matter whether the other wardrobe pieces are affordable ones. I would think that authenticity matters, though — if you're often in meetings with other high-achieving, wealthy people, then they will probably know the difference between a Hermès vs. a knockoff or a “similar” dupe. Spend money on good jewelry, shoes, and belts.

Other details to consider: haircuts and underpinnings. Bras should be replaced every 6–9 months, both for comfort and maximum effect (whatever you want them to do, they're going to be doing it more at the beginning of their life, whether it's minimizing, pushing up, etc.). Your hairstyle doesn't have to be anything in particular — curly hair, gray hair, long hair, and natural hair are all OK — but your hair should be flattering and look intentional. (A fabulous stylist who you see as often as needed is another great use of your money!)

In terms of bags, you're welcome to spend money on great bags, but I'm not sure you need an amazing briefcase like a man might. In fact, I've often been amused that some of the highest powered women I've known have used either preppy L.L.Bean-type totes, or — the real power move — a huge tote bag from a charity that you only get as a pretty major donor. (But then, this is for the commute to work, and not for VIP meetings or court.)

I would argue that the overall look you want to convey is a person who is smart, up to date, well informed, and aware of everything in your orbit, including how you present yourself to the world.

But again: You've earned the right to dress how you like!

Readers, what are your thoughts? How do the most powerful women you know dress? Is there a difference if they're in the C-suite, a partner, or an owner?

Where to Shop: C-Suite Style Advice for Women

If you did want to know where to spend money on particular things, here are some of the more expensive brands that we recommend for workwear often — and if you have a big clothing budget for your work wardrobe, here's where I'd start.

The Best Luxe Brands for Workwear

If you had an unlimited budget and wanted to spend it on a killer work wardrobe, where would you start? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

These are my picks for where I'd shop if money was no object…

• cashmere: InHabit NY, Loro Piana, Akris, TSE, Brora, & Eric Bompard
• basic blazers: Smythe, McQueen, L'Agence, Veronica Beard, The Fold, Armani
• dramatic blazers for speaking/Big Days: Akris, The Fold, IRO, L'Agence, Smythe, Etro, and Ray Darten (we've also done a roundup of dramatic blazers you can buy at Etsy!)
• Chanel-style jackets: Chanel, St. John, IRO, L’Agence, Sandro
• dresses: Roland Mouret, Victoria Beckham, DVF, Akris, St. John, Burberry
• pants: Lafayette 148 New York, Theory, Akris, St. John
• coats: Fleurette, Cinzia Rocca, Mackage
• bags: Loewe, Bottega Venetta
• jewelry: Ylang 23, Bergdorf Goodman,
• shoes: Ferragamo, Manolo, Choo, Valentino, Louboutin (but please know your office before considering thick platforms or 4″+ heels), Aquazzura, Sarah Flint, Prada, and Miu Miu (one of the favorites in our Newbie Guide to Designer Shoes)
• weatherproof shoes: Aquatalia, La Canadienne

Specific Classic Styles from Luxe Brands for Workwear

The Best Designer Heels for Women

Pictured above, some of the most classic designer heels for women: 1) Choo 2) Manolo 3) Prada 4) Valentino 5) Louboutin

Investment Flats for Women

If you want to make an investment in flats, these are some of the most classic options. AGL and Ferragamo are reader favorites for comfort, while Chloé, Chanel and Valentino are all recognizable status symbols.

The Best Investment Totes and Briefcases for Women

As I've noted before, a lot of the VIP women I've known tend to use charity bags (e.g., bags you get from donating a high amount of money or attending a gala) to move their stuff from place to place; it's also hard to be a huge boat tote from Lands' End — think of it as Hamptons style.

But – if you're hunting for “investment totes” for a splurge, some brands to consider include these:

As of 2024, some of our latest favorite luxury work bags (large enough to hold papers and a laptop!) include Bottega Veneta, Mulberry, Saint Laurent, Kaai, and Demellier. Of course, note that a lot of our readers who are in big jobs note that they love their (more affordable) Lo & Sons bags, as well as their Tumi.

Looking for work backpacks to splurge on? Montblanc, MCM and Senreve (also!) are great, and readers are always huge fans of all things Tumi. Some of our favorites…

The Best Designer Suits for Women

Some of the usual suspects for basic designer suits include McQueen, Altuzarra, The Row (this and this), Akris, Michael Kors, and Veronica Beard. Recent favorites include:

The Best Luxe Statement Blazers for Women Executives

Hunting for a luxe statement blazer? 2024 favorites include Smythe, include McQueen, L'Agence, Veronica Beard, The Fold, Armani, and Anine Bing.

Luxe Plus-Size Workwear for Women Executives

Designer plus-size clothing for professional women can be hard to find, so this list has a pretty broad definition of “designer”…

These are some of the best spots for designer plus-size clothing as of 2024… admittedly, a fairly broad interpretation because this category is such a narrow one! Our favorite spots for work outfit shopping are in bold!

• 11 Honoré (now owned by Dia & Co. – still some stock of DVF, Marina Rinaldi, Tanya Taylor, etc.) 
• Able Clothing
• Adrianna Papell
• Amour 781 (boutique of different brands; limited options up to 5X)
• Anthropologie
• BAACAL (limited options up to size 28)
• Bleusalt (limited options up to size 3X)
• Dia & Co. (subscription service) 
• Hours
• Hackwith Design House
• Gravitas 
• Jibri
• Karen Millen
• Kiyonna (sizes 0X–5X)

• Lafayette 148 New York
• LaLigne (XS-3X)
• MadeTrade
• Mara Hoffman (XS-3X)
• Marina Rinaldi/Persona by Marina Rinaldi
• Navabi 
• Nic + Zoe
• Of Mercer
• Pari Passu
• Pomp (Power Of My People)
• Poplinen
• PLVSH Style (subscription service)
• Rachel Pally
• Rita Phil Custom Fashion (custom skirts)

• Simone Aviv
• Summersalt (up to 2X)
• Tanya Taylor (00-22)
• TielDorein (Etsy store)
• Universal Standard
• Veronica Beard (00-24, but some warn that 24 = 20W)
• VigilanteLabs (Etsy store, custom suits for women)
• Vince (great for basics!)
• Wildfang (up to XXL)

Stock photo via Deposit Photos / AndrewLozovyi.

The post C-Suite Style for Women: How to Upgrade Your Wardrobe After a Promotion appeared first on Corporette.com.

When you make partner, get a big raise, earn much-deserved promotion, or reach some other big goal, you deserve some recognition (if at least from yourself!), so today let's talk about the best ways to celebrate professional wins. The last time we focused on how to celebrate wins was in response to a reader question about “work successes bigger than ‘I finished the report' but smaller than ‘I finished my PhD,'” but today we can talk about achievements of all sizes. With work-related accomplishments, do you typically do anything special to celebrate? What are your favorite ways to pat yourself on the back — or do you prefer to silently congratulate yourself and move on?

In addition to some recent reader questions, this post was partially inspired by this recent comment thread about throwing parties for advanced degrees, which was in reference to conversations like this one and this one comparing milestones in life (engagement, pregnancy) to milestones at work (making partner, getting your PhD). (Mentioned in the conversation is a story from Slate's Dear Prudence, in which a guest proposed to his girlfriend at another person's dinner to celebrate getting her PhD. Wow…) 

{related: how have you celebrated milestone birthdays?}

How to Celebrate Work Wins

Besides throwing yourself a party, which is always an option if you're comfortable with it, here are several suggestions from readers for good ways to celebrate a professional win: 

1. Stick to something low-key: Ask a friend out for drinks or dinner, for example.

2. Treat yourself: Find a nice piece of jewelry (or shoes … or a bag) to commemorate your achievement — our Next Step series has some ideas, as does our post on the best splurges.

3. Give credit where credit's due: Get your team together to celebrate and thank the people who contributed to your success. (Here are some reader suggestions for showing your appreciation to your assistant/secretary.)

{related: rewarding yourself for a job well done}

4. Speaking of thanking… Do something nice to express your gratitude a partner/spouse who has supported you along the way.

5. Have a low-key night to yourself: Get takeout from your favorite restaurant and/or relax with wine and Netflix. (Check out some binge-worthy shows recommended by readers.)

6. Toast yourself for a job well done: If this gives you pause, check out our recent post on alcohol in the office.

What do you think are the best ways to celebrate a professional win? Have you ever seen a colleague celebrate an accomplishment in a way you wouldn't choose?

The post Ways to Celebrate Professional Wins appeared first on Corporette.com.

2019 Update: We still stand by this fun discussion with tips on rewarding yourself for a job well done — but you may also want to check out our more recent discussion on ways to celebrate professional wins.

What are some good ways for rewarding yourself for a job well done? Reader L wonders how best to treat herself with a fun splurge after her promotion…

I just learned that I received a huge promotion at work, for which I've been working very hard for a very long time. I would like to do something special for myself to celebrate, and was thinking about splurging on something as a reward. Many of my male colleagues will do something like buy a very nice watch for such a promotion, but I'm not really interested in that. What other options would you suggest? For example, I thought investing in a really nice handbag might be an option, or I'm also considering going on a bucket list trip somewhere exotic. I would love to hear your suggestions and those of other readers, and while I know this is a very personal decision, I thought it could make for a great discussion.

Great question, Reader L (and congratulations)! We've talked about , and even the splurges I thought were worth the money, but this is always a fun topic.

Given Reader L's particular question, though, I have to say: TAKE THE TRIP IF YOUR SCHEDULE WILL ALLOW! A lot of readers noted that I didn't include trips on my list of “best splurges,” but my schedule back then was always way too busy to fit in a bucket list trip (ditto for my friends' schedules at the time). Material goods like watches usually won out over experiences. (Even if you can't go out of town, though, I suppose you can always schedule a pampering spa day at a fancier hotel in your city.)

Readers — do you reward yourselves with travel and materialistic splurges, or do you celebrate work successes by treating yourself in other ways? 

Pictured at top and via social media: Stencil. Pictured at right: Bali Paradise, originally uploaded to Flickr by Sean McGrath.

The post Rewarding Yourself for a Job Well Done appeared first on Corporette.com.

2018 Update: We still stand by this advice on how to celebrate big career wins- but you may also want to check out our more recent discussion of ways to celebrate professional wins.

How do you celebrate big career wins? Reader M wonders…

I have a question for you and the hive mind…yesterday I ‘sealed the deal' on an important partnership for one of my projects, and I find myself wanting to celebrate. Honestly, my family and friends don't want to hear all the details because, well, I spend too much time working anyway and work should not be the topic of discussion when I'm not working! But this is a big deal for me, and I want to celebrate – how do you go about celebrating a work success bigger than “I finished the report” but smaller than “I finished my PhD”? FWIW I had a party when i finished my PhD!

This is a great question, because the rules do change a bit when you get out of school. Professional success is great… but it can be a bit lonely. First, not everyone understands what it means — they may not understand the details of your win (you did what?), or they may not understand the significance of your win.*  Secondly, because a “win” so often translates to money or promotion, you start to deal with jealous friends, or seem vain yourself. So really — and I'm curious what the readers have to say here — my answer is you generally celebrate “by yourself” or “with your close friends and family.” (Originally pictured (2012):  Party Hats, originally uploaded to Flickr by Infidelic. 2019 updated images (pineapples) via Stencil.)  For example, I like to celebrate things by pampering myself:

• a new high number for the blog (traffic or money)? dinner out with the hubs!
• a new advertiser or campaign? a pedicure!
• a project FINALLY finished? a day or two off to just stare at the walls if I want to!

So when do you get to celebrate with all of your friends? I think “new job” is a great time to celebrate, because most people understand the stress of job hunting, and the excitement that comes with starting something new. Have a party, or invite friends over for dinner, or out for cocktails… and feel OK about talking about yourself excitedly, for at least some of the time.

Readers, how do you celebrate professional success? How open with your friends about your successes? Do you ever get annoyed at friends for how they're celebrating a win?

* Bonus points to the reader who can find one of those funny career videos that circulated on Facebook a while back — “You do X all day — your friends think you do Y… and your parents think you do Z.” I know I saw them for like 4 different professions but my Google-Fu is failing me now.

The post How to Celebrate Big Career Wins appeared first on Corporette.com.

2017 Update: We still stand by this advice on what to do when you're held back because you're too good at your current job, but you may also want to check out this more recent discussion of how to find sponsors at work. 

Have you ever been denied a promotion because you were too good at your current job? Reader N suspects she's been held back because she's too good, and wonders what she can do about it.

I just read your article “Getting the Work You Want” and I wanted to ask a follow up question. I've found myself in a position of getting passed over for moving into a complex litigation team, despite having openly expressed my interest, and my superior agreeing that I would be better used in that area. (I've had this reinforced by rave reviews for my senior attorneys and from fellow co-workers who I've helped out.)

From what I can tell, it seems that my superiors (and theirs) place more value in the fact that I can manage my workload and

simultaneously back up three to four people at a time. I've backed up coworkers in the complex team, too, but as for moving up with them permanently… nothing.

So what's a girl to do when I have spoken up and asked… and nothing happens? Have I shot myself in the foot by having quality and quantity? Should I just take the rave reviews and recommendations and look for work elsewhere? What should I do when I'm held back because I'm too good?

Fabulous question. There are a million reasons why people don't get jobs and promotions — including not being right for them. That said, something I've seen happen is when a boss keeps a “good worker” in the trenches because his or her own life is made so much easier by the worker. The boss knows the job will get done, and done well. He or she doesn't have to hire or train anyone new. It's great! For the boss, that is. For the worker (which may be Reader N, here) you don't grow at all — and your boss holds you back because you're too good. For a particularly selfish boss, he or she may also try to restrain you from working with other people, give you lackluster reviews or recommendations to keep you with them, and maybe even talk down to you to make you question whether or not you “deserve” better than your current job. (Pictured: Held back, originally uploaded to Flickr by Matthew Wilkinson.)

This is one of the reasons why it's so important to be the master of your own career. You need to be the one constantly assessing where you are — and speaking up until you get to where you should be, even if that makes you feel pushy. If you do find yourself in a situation where a boss is holding you back, in my opinion, there isn't much you can do about it beyond getting away from the the toxic personality. And if that means taking a new job, so be it.

However, I would give every boss the benefit of the doubt — once. For example, here, Reader N says “from what I can tell” — N, have you spoken to your superiors about why you didn't get moved to the area you wanted? This is a 100% valid question. Approach it with a learning mindset — be as far from “entitled” as you can be. Frustrated is fine — exacerbated even — but be careful about crossing into “angry and emotional.” Sit down with your superiors, show the different ways that you made your preference known, the positive feedback you got, and then express your confusion over the lack of movement that followed. I'd also ask when you can next expect to be moved to your preferred area.

Once you have their official answer, look at it objectively. Maybe you were lacking a certain skill. Maybe Person X had more of the skills needed. Maybe they wanted to keep you in your current department until a particular big project finished. Maybe a more formal process is required for a move like the one you want. Whatever they say, try to make sense of it. It's still fair for you to get angry, and it's still fair for you to look for a new job — but it's also fair to say “Oh, that's what happened,” and then sit tight until the next window of opportunity arrives.

Readers, have you ever been held back because you were too good at your current job? What did you do about it? What is your general approach if you don't get a promotion you've lobbied for?

Social media picture credit: Stencil.

The post When You’re Held Back Because You’re Too Good appeared first on Corporette.com.