Not a Blogger: A Corporate Fashun Blog

It’s the end of the year, folks- just a few days left in 2017. Now is the time to sit and reflect on your year. Or if you’re like us, it’s the time to just sit in your pajamas and slippers on the couch, using up the last of your vacation days. It’s also the time to think about the new year, and with that comes the obligatory New Years Resolutions. [Note: Katie 2 does not make New Years Resolutions. Instead, she makes birthday resolutions, because she feels as though birthdays are a much better way to track progress or lack thereof in her life. Elizabeth’s New Year’s Resolution always is to write the correct year on her checks. Small victories, people.] We wanted to talk to you about how to make better resolutions and increase your chances for success in 2018. Before we get into our own advice, we want to make sure that whatever you decide to work on in the new year (or any other time you make a goal), make sure it is SMART (Specific; Measurable; Attainable; Relevant; Time-boun...

When we first envisioned our Workout Wednesday series, we thought about bringing you real reviews of workouts that we've always wanted to try. We haven't really gotten around to that (we came close with the November Project , but we'd never heard of it before we started researching free workouts). Until now. We threw out some ideas of workouts we've always wanted to try, and you can expect to see honest reviews on all sorts of things in the coming months. One idea that came up and that I (Katie 2) was especially excited about was boxing. I kept imaging myself as Hilary Swank in Million Dollar Baby. (Minus the whole breaking your neck, assisted suicide thing. More the amazingly toned back in that jaw dropping blue dress, yes I realize that the dress is non movie related.) So when a boxing gym opened up right down my street, I happily volunteered to try it out. I will start my review with a caveat. There are a lot of different types of boxing gyms out there, a...

Merry Christmas to all you fine folks! If you're reading this on Christmas Day, it's either because your family sucks and you are avoiding spending any time with them or because you are so completely into our blog that you couldn't stand not knowing what great advice or recommendations we have for you. Fear not! We have recommendations, but of a different sort. We wanted to take this opportunity to thank you loyal readers and even you not so loyal ones. We also want to thank those of you who have randomly stumbled across our humble little blog and kept reading up until this point. (The blog is humble. We are not.) As a thank you, we want to give you the best we have to offer (at least in our opinions). And the best we have to offer is a list of our favorite posts from this past year, whether because . There are some posts we have really enjoyed researching, writing, or reading back. Take this opportunity to take a walk down memory lane as we share the best of the...

It's time for another Back to Basics post. Since it's December, now seems like a good time to discuss essential winter coats. Why? Because it's effing cold outside. Also, because that super expensive winter coat you've been lusting after since October is about to go on major sale. Before we get to our categories/recommendations, let's first discuss some winter coat basics. First of all, unless you live in Florida or Arizona, you need a winter coat. Second: we're not all lucky enough to be a fashun blogger with a closet full of care-of winter gear, nor are we lucky enough to have the Duchess of Cambridge's coat closet. Therefore winter coats must be both classic in style, warm, and good quality. Third: because this is an item that you're going to wear for years, make sure to buy the best you can afford and stick with brands your know offer excellent quality for the price (you will see this in our recommendations). Fourth: don't expect to find any ne...

While we have billed ourselves as a blog dedicated to work wear, it is clear that we are a working women's lifestyle blog (meaning we write about whatever we want). Working women have weekend activities and host holiday dinners. And working women need to relax and get cozy when they get home from a long day at the office. Which brings us to today's Shoes Day Tuesday post on slippers. We obviously are not suggestion that you need slippers for the office, but you definitely could use some cozy footwear when you are at home this winter. To be honest, I (Elizabeth) am pretty much braless and in PJs the second I cross the threshold of my apartment in the evening, and I don't think I'm alone in that (she's not). Slippers are a great addition to your loungewear style. Here are some that we are currently loving. These animal themed clog style slippers are super cute and have a rubber sole in case you don't want to slide around on your hardwood floors a la Tom Cruis...

If you're looking for info on fashionable scarves, go back and take a look at a post we did a while back. This one is dedicated to the cold weather necessity. Because you may remember us saying a few times that we are in Chicago. I don't know if you know this, but like much of the Midwest, it gets balls cold in Chicago. We have had it easy until recently with days near 60 degrees into December. However as I'm writing this it is 26 degrees out and that was the high for today. It is time to break out warmer coats and cold weather accessories, like the essential scarf. Even with a high collar on your coat, you need extra warmth around your neck and chest. Plus, in the Windy City you sometimes need it as a face mask. Here are a few of our favorites: We are all suckers for plaid , so let's start here , and follow it up with this . A classic Burberry scarf is stupid expensive for sure, but it will look great with anything and you will have it forever. (A cheaper a...

While winter doesn't technically happen until next Thursday, we have already had some chilly days here in Chicago and we know there are many more to come. With the dropping temperatures comes increasing wind speeds, snow, and misery. None of these factors make for a very appealing workout experience (is there an appealing workout experience? Katie 2 thinks no.) But that doesn't mean you have to give up on your fitness goals (or give up setting any). We're here to talk about the great ways to get fit that don't involve joining a gym. We want to throw back to our post on the November Project .  We aren't going to rehash the details we told you about there, but having a group makes waking up on a cold morning a little less awful. We work in a tall office building in downtown Chicago. The workout a colleague of ours does regularly? Stairs. When she started, Leila would only go up a few floors. She has been doing it for years now and can make it all the way to the ...

Confession: Katie 1 has a slight obsession w/ Black Watch Tartan. Why? First, because it’s a combination of her favorite colors.  Second, the Duchess of Cambridge.  Third, it has a pretty cool history which makes it even more fun to wear.  It’s fairly common knowledge that Black Watch tartan is named for the 43rd Royal Regiment, commonly known as the Black Watch.  Did you know that Black Watch tartan actually pre-dates the formation of the 43rd Royal Regiment?  In fact, one of the theories behind why the 43rd is called the Black Watch is because of the very dark appearance of their uniform tartan (which we now know as Black Watch tartan).  So how deep does Katie 1’s obsession go?  She could wear a different item of Black Watch tartan every day for more than a week obsessed.  Want proof? Here’s a list of all of the Black Watch items in her wardrobe. Blazer Work Dress Casual Dress Side Zip Ankle Pants Front Zip Ankle Pants Trousers Ski...

We're back with the second post in our series of basic pieces that working women should have in their wardrobes. If you missed our first, go back and check it out . The goal is to show you those items we come back to time and time again and show you a few ways to wear them so you 1) get some mileage out of the pieces and 2) you don't look (or feel) as though you're wearing the same thing every day. The capsule wardrobe. Be honest- how many times have you pinned it? (Katie 1 would like you to know she's has NEVER pinned it. She has no desire whatsoever to create a capsule wardrobe thankyouverymuch.) Whether it's for vacation or every day, we search for those elusive few pieces that we can mix-and-match in a million different ways to create an entire month's worth of outfits with just seven pieces! We here at Not a Corporate Fashun Blog have no mastered the capsule wardrobe. We, just like you, wake up in the morning with a closet packed full of stuff and ...

You may have caught on by now that we’ve been constantly expanding on our Shoes Every Woman Needs  guide by providing you with recommendations based upon type.  So far, we’ve discussed the following: (1) Neutral pumps ; and (2) Black pumps . Given that it’s the festive season, we thought now would be a good time to discuss one of the more controversial additions to that list: the evening shoe.  You might recall that Elizabeth did not feel like this should be included in the list but Katie 1 lobbied hard for it and it was included.  Katie 1 stands by her choice and is now going to share her evening shoe expertise with all of you.  Get excited. Evening shoes come in all shapes and sizes and depending on the shoe; they can be quite the versatile addition to the real working girl’s wardrobe.  The versatility will certainly depend on the shoe but a good rule of thumb that has worked for us is that embellished shoes in leather/suede/non-traditional evening f...