Holiday party season is upon us… Do you have any holiday makeup tips and tricks? Have you learned anything new (a hairstyle, a makeup technique) or bought a new product you'll definitely be using for upcoming holiday parties?

Kat's Holiday Makeup: A Dramatic Eye

I must say I have fun with a dramatic makeup look… and hands down, the top trick I've learned lately that I'll definitely be using for holiday makeup is to line the inside of my upper eyelid's waterline with black pencil to make my lashline look fuller. I've been using this NudeStix eye liner — this thing does NOT budge and is a matte, opaque black; I find the chunkier pencil an easy way to get my waterline because it needs less precision than all of my skinnier eyeliner pencils.

(This is actually great for a “no makeup” look also because you can skip regular liner — my eyes look noticeably bigger when I do it.)

I also got this “winged eyeliner stamp” during the Black Friday sales, but haven't tried it yet… I am almost as bad at a winged eyeliner as I am at fake eyelashes, and that's saying something.

Otherwise, I generally like to let the kids pick my overall eye makeup color — sometimes I do black, sometimes brown, sometimes navy — and then choose my lip from there. (I keep trying purple, which should be great with my brownish-greenish eyes, but I feel like it just makes me look like I'm ill. Onwards…)

Psst: If you're hunting for stocking stuffers, this set of lip stains in teensy wine bottles is kind of great. The colors all look different on me than as shown on the product page, but they all look better; they're very wearable. “Merlot” is a really nice bluish red; it doesn't read as purple at all.

Ann's Holiday Makeup: An Elevated “No Makeup” Look

For the holidays, I take my usual “natural look” / “no-makeup look” up a level by adding some extra glow.

First, I prime my skin so my makeup lasts from cocktail hour to holiday cookie platter. Instead of using my usual mattifying primer, I’ll use one like Glow Recipe's Strawberry BHA Pore-Smooth Blur Drops that imparts a blurred, satin finish.

Next, I’ll mix a buildable, brightening foundation like NARS Sheer Glow Foundation with an illuminator like Kosas Glow I.V. Vitamin-Infused Skin Illuminating Enhancer for a healthy (but not shiny) glow.

Then, I go bold with a reflective lip gloss like this one from Fenty Beauty and shimmery eyeshadow like this one from stila.

From beginning to end, it takes me about five minutes (because kids). If you have a little more time, add some blush (like this one from NARS) for a “I just took a brisk walk in the snow” look, and your favorite eyeliner for more definition. A gold or silver mani (here's a sparkly option from ella+mila) is also a nice festive touch.

Elizabeth's Holiday Makeup Look: Flawless Skin

I just got a new product that makes me look slightly less ghostly white: Makeup by Mario's SoftSculpt Transforming Skin Enhancer, a tinted balm that comes in six shades and is $30 at Sephora.

Stock photo via Pexels / Julia Larsen.

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On the off chance anyone's company is still having their black-tie affair this year, we thought we'd give some advice on what to wear, and what not to wear. (Although the best advice we can give you is: ask a colleague who's already been to the party at least once, or look for pictures from previous years.)

1. First of all, ways to tell dressy formal attire is required:  generally, your invitation will tell you what to wear. Secondary clues that dressy attire is necessary:

• the event is held on a Saturday, not a Friday
• significant others are invited
• the event is held in a swank place that is not necessarily well-located near the office
• your company holds two parties: one for staffers (held on a Friday night near or at the office) and one is held for the executives/lawyers (the dress code will be very different for the two events) (check out this advice on what to wear to a more low-key holiday office party)

2. Our first piece of advice:  Even if it's not black-tie, buy a black dress or another muted color — although color is acceptable to wear at some events, this can vary greatly from event to event. (Nordstrom has some amazing sales on plain long gowns — and Rent the Runway is always a great option.)

(Want $30 off your first Rent the Runway order? Here's our referral code.)

Some of Our Latest Favorite Evening Gowns for Black-Tie Work Events

Hunting for generally affordable evening gowns for black-tie work events? Some of our favorite brands include Lulus, Dress the Population, Eliza J, XScape, and Alex Evenings.

Hunting for plus-size gowns for black-tie work events? For affordable options we like like Kiyonna, City Chic, Reformation, Anthropologie, and eShakti — also check out bridesmaid brands like BHLDN and Birdy Grey. If you're open to spending more, check out Marina Rinaldi and Lafayette 148 New York (limited options).

General Tips on What NOT to Wear to Black-Tie Affairs

3. When shopping for your dress, think “classic beauty,” NOT sexy. To this end, avoid skin in unexpected places (see above — the keyhole above the empire waist is trouble). No side-boob, no under-boob, and no dresses with the low-low back (um, below).

4. Strapless can be acceptable so long as your dress is well-anchored — no chance of things heading south.

5. Cleavage can also be acceptable — a very little amount of cleavage — if it's controlled. (If you're on the busty side (same here, sister!), check out our style tips for busty women.

6. No trains or fishtail hems (see below). Seriously, you're going to be mingling, trying to balance your drink, and trying to indulge in the occasional bite of sushi or pig in a blanket. You don't want people stepping on your dress in the midst of all that…

7. In fact, a cocktail-length dress (above the knee) can be acceptable if the dress is fancy enough. You can always accessorize with a crystal or diamond brooch, sparkly shoes, a sparkly wrap, etc. If you're unsure of how fancy the event is, you may want to go with either a fancy cocktail dress or a plain floor-length black dress.

Hunting for great cocktail dresses for work functions? As of 2024, some of the best brands to check include Dress the Population, CeCe, Maggy London, Eliza J, and Calvin Klein. Some of the reader favorites from Amazon might also work! Some other recent favorites include these:

8. Don't wear anything too outré. Even if you really know your fashion stuff, anything cutting edge can just make you look like a hack. (Remember Patsy and Edina, after all.)

9. Splurge on accessories or shoes. A sequined or beaded wrap, some jeweled shoes, or a quality clutch like these will all serve you well throughout your life. The fancier your dress is the fancier your bag should be, the minaudiere and box clutch are classic pieces. If diamond earrings aren't in your future, check out this brand for highly rated cubic zirconia pieces. Also, these glitter stud earrings are always a hit.

10. If time and money allow, get your hair done, but definitely get a manicure. We always find that if you're shaking hands and talking with people while holding a glass, focus tends to be on your hands and how well manicured they are. If you're not a polish sort of girl, just get clear or pale polish. If you are a polish sort of girl, we recommend keeping it tasteful and avoiding sparkles and trendy shades. Still, it's a party — choose a color that compliments your outfit.

Psst: if you know you're going to need a reprieve from your heels at some point in the night, these are some of our favorite foldable flats…

Original Photo credit at (martini, no longer pictured) : the perfect martini, originally uploaded to Flickr by berbercarpet. Updated social media images: Deposit Photos / Deklofenak.

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Wow, we asked and you guys answered:  What is fair to give your secretary or administrative assistant for a holiday “present” (or “bonus” or “tip,” depending on how you want to look at it). The lively debate in the comments was a bit more interesting than the answers to the poll, but in case anyone is curious — nearly 700 of you voted, and these are the results at the moment (as always, the poll is still open).

Update: We still stand by this advice on what to tip your secretary for the holidays (but obviously as we note below, know your office!) — but you may also want to check out our more recent discussion of how much money you give for holiday tips (from doormen to assistants), as well as our entire page on holiday business etiquette!

What To Tip Your Secretary for the Holidays: Poll Results!

• 40% of you are just giving cash
• 14% of you are giving a personal present
• 14% of you are giving $100 for every year you've been with the company or firm
• 9% were planning on giving a personal present, plus cash
• 9% weren't planning on giving anything
• 8% were planning on just giving a generic gift (e.g., poinsettia)
• 4% are giving a generic gift plus cash

How Much Money You're Giving Your Secretary for the Holidays

Almost all commenters fell out of their chairs guffawing at the $100/year rule that was common at my old office — good news to those who thought that $50-$200 was more reasonable.

(Someone mentioned a system that sounds even more reasonable to us — giving the first 3 numbers of your salary, e.g., $160, $200, etc.) 

Should You Give Your Secretary Cash AND a Gift?

Some commenters thought giving cash was cold and hard and a gift card was a better way to go; some assistants who commented noted that they actively hate the gift card; one even noted that “only cash” was what she wanted.

According to AintNecessarilySo:

Only cash. Don’t worry about it being impersonal. Our feelings are not hurt; quite the contrary, we love that you understand that we may need the cash to pay our own Super, or our rent, for that matter (particularly nowadays).

Why You Should Tip Your Secretary Even If They're Getting a Year-End Bonus

Some commenters questioned why they were supposed to give their secretary if the company or firm was already giving them a bonus (going so far as to suggest that, if the firm was NOT giving the secretary a bonus, then the administration should be spoken to).

One trend among the commenters (which we agree with) is that you should be giving a gift in addition to whatever bonus the company may already pay to the secretary is because it is the holiday season and giving something extra is the decent thing to do. As commenter MJ put it:

For all you scrooges who say, “Isn’t the firm supposed to pay my secy?” please remember that firm bonuses are TINY, and this year, at many firms, will be nonexistent. You make MULTIPLES of what your secretary makes. If she’s ever saved your booty, or does anything worthwhile, say thanks. And really actually look her in the eye or write a real card and say “Thank you.” It’s the honorable thing to do.

The other big reason to give your secretary something appropriate is because, as one anonymous commenter noted, “your secretary's loyalty can and should be bought.”

This ties in to the biggest debate among the commenters — those assistants and former assistants who went above and beyond for their boss and thought they should be compensated above and beyond, and those bosses who barely used their secretaries who couldn't dream of giving them more than $50.

Most people agreed that you should “take care of people who help your life run more smoothly,” but didn't think that applied to their secretary.

Here's our $.02:  you may not realize how much access your secretary has to your life — it may not run MORE smoothly because of her, but it could run a lot LESS smoothly because of her.

We've heard stories of “incompetent” secretaries that are simply too much to be simple incompetence — stories of secretaries who, when given a large pile of cases to copy, removed all the staples, sent the pile through the copier, and then sent the whole mess on to the partner without ever giving it back to the associate.

We've heard stories of secretaries who refuse to say “He's not at his desk right now, can I take a message?” and instead insist on saying (untruely, sometimes) that “I haven't seen him for a few days.” And so on.

However incompetent or unuseful you think your assistant is, trust us, it CAN get worse. (And good luck getting a new assistant who hadn't heard about any perceived “cheapness” on your part.)  In fact, some of the support staff who commented pretty much admitted this. As commenter db said:

Secretaries get paid nothing compared to you and we have to deal with all of your whiney demands. If you were REALLY so smart you would realize what a secretary can do for your career. If you’re an associate, you give some home made candy or cookies you had better watch out because they will drop a little comment here and there about you to the Partner they also work for.

This is obviously an office-by-office issue as to what to give and how much to give. Our advice:  KNOW what your office culture is, and stick to it, even if you think your secretary does absolutely nothing for you. If your secretary is that rare bird who goes above and beyond for you, show your appreciation by compensating him or her accordingly.

Original photo credit (2008):  Money!, originally uploaded to Flickr by yomanimus. Current photo credit: Shutterstock / Capture Light. 

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Liking these posts? Follow Corporette on Twitter — this is the edited version of what we’re reading! (We also Tweet if we hear about a good sale.)

– Apropos of nothing, we thought we'd post this picture of this Versace – Tweed Short Sleeve Jacket because it illustrates something a few readers expressed confusion over — how to wear a turtleneck with a short-sleeved suit. Pretty, right? AND, the jacket is on sale from about $2200 to $680.

– MUST you go to women's networking events? Above the Law tackles the question. (Although, let's not forget “Hiring Partner's” great analysis of Susan/Mindy's networking skills. We say, go to the free lunch.) [Above the Law]

– Incidentally, HP updated his post to clarify that a) he has friends who are women, so therefore he's not against women, and b) he's anonymous! he could BE a woman. (Yes, and we COULD be a man. Men, even! Anything's possible.)

– Bargains, bargains, everywhere — Teri Agins offers advice on how to get the most out of it. [WSJ]

– Still have a holiday party to go to, yet no time to shop for a frock? Bunnyshop tackles the question of where to go for one-stop shopping. [Bunnyshop]

– If you're partying with coworkers, Jezebel distills the various advice articles out there for you: Don't get too drunkypants. [Jezebel] (Here here! That is why God created the afterparty.)

– Finally:  Wot's that? You haven't voted for the best quirky blog out there yet? Please drop by and vote for Corporette. [ABA Journal]

The post Weekly Roundup appeared first on Corporette.com.

If you normally consider yourself “crazy busy,” the holidays can change the environment to crazy with a capital K. There are presents to be bought for seemingly everyone, and no time to troll the stores looking for that perfect gift. (Even with the later holiday store hours!) 

The answer for those working women confined to the computer for most waking hours:  use ShopStyle.com, which not only does a complete survey of women's clothing, but also men's clothing, kids' clothing, and home goods.

{related: our favorite online shopping apps!}

Here's how ShopStyle works:  Let's say your mother is looking for the perfect new purple v-neck sweater. In the search box, type “purple.” Then, using the drop-down menu, select “Sweaters” and then “V-neck” (we've highlighted them in blue on our screenshot, below — you can click the picture for a larger view).

Voila — 111 options of v-neck purple sweaters are available right now. You can further refine your choices by store (in case you only want to get your mother something she can return to a local store) or by sale percentage ('tis the season of the sale, after all). You can also refine your choice by price, so you don't have to drool over $500 sweaters. (We've also highlighted that section in blue, as well.)

Once you get your selection refined, you can see more detail on each sweater by hovering over the sweater with your mouse. It will tell you which sizes are still available, and will also let you set up a “price alert” on the off chance that item goes on sale.

The result is that you can quickly run a search for items you know your loved ones are looking for — doing a very thorough survey of what's available right now — and all on your lunch hour. Handy!

Readers, have you used ShopStyle to save time holiday shopping? What else do you use to save time holiday shopping?

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2020 Update – We still think this is a great poll on the best holiday presents for administrative assistants and secretaries — you may also want to check out some of our more recent gift ideas.

A number of readers have written in asking about holiday presents for administrative assistants. We tend to agree with Above the Law's advice last year — cash is the way to go for holidays. Still, we thought we'd poll people to see what they're giving (and how much):

The Best Holiday Presents for Administrative Assistants and Secretaries

In general, this has been my understanding of the best holiday presents for administrative assistants and secretaries: 

For birthdays, give flowers

This alerts the rest of the office that it's the secretary's birthday (and gee, doesn't s/he have a great boss for getting her/him such swell flowers?)

For unfortunate events, give food baskets

For example, if your secretary breaks her leg or her grandmother dies, it would be rude not to send something to the hospital or to her home — and food is better than flowers because it recognizes that your secretary is probably too overwhelmed to be cooking right now

For Service Above and Beyond

for service above and beyond secretarial duties (anything from watering your plants while you honeymoon to covering for you while you interview elsewhere), give gift cards, plants, take him or her out to lunch, or give him or her a more personal gift

What to Give Your Administrative Assistant for Year-End Holidays:

For year-end holidays, give cash — by itself.

As we said above, we agree with the AtL thread last year, and have heard that you should give your secretary $100 for each year you've served your company or firm (so, a sixth year would pay $600, regardless of how long you've had your secretary — although we've heard some people cap that at $500) — on the theory that this is additional compensation to them for the year, and no one appreciates getting their paycheck in the form of a really amazing pair of shoes or a gift card to a fancy restaurant.

(We've heard time and time again that this is true for Big Law firms — we must admit, we don't know what the rules are for smaller firms and other industries.)

Readers, as always, please comment — what will you be giving this year as holiday presents for administrative assistants and secretaries? Do you agree with our theory of secretarial compensation? What would you recommend doing if you had your secretary for less than a year? 

Photo Credit: Christmas present, originally uploaded to Flickr by kjoyner666

Further Reading:

• Secretary/Administrative Assistant Gifts: Open Thread [Above the Law thread in 2007]

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