business casual attire for women
WSJ.com: Fashion Journal
Fashion Journal
- The Latest Style: Self-Denial
In this troubled economy, splurges seem shameful, and cheap is cool. - The Suit That Turns Me Into a VIP
When Christina Binkley splurged on a St. John outfit, she discovered the power of some luxury clothing to transform the wearer. - Fashion's Latest Look: Extreme Banker
Modern takes on iconic looks of the 1980s -- think suspenders and paisley power ties -- have popped up in a wide range of collections in men's fashion. - A Watch That Can't Be Counterfeited
Swiss watchmaker Vacheron Constantin has created a wristwatch that it says is impossible to counterfeit, writes Christina Binkley. - Billion-Dollar Question: Is Bling Over?
The rising tide of anti-wealth sentiment as a result of the financial crisis could well affect how conspicuous the rich want to be. The purveyors of luxury are sizing up what it all means. - The Shoulders of Giants
The 1980s are returning in force on the Paris runways, with big-padded and droopy shouldered looks for spring that could bring back Grace Jones, writes Christina Binkley. - Milan Woos New Frugal Luxury Shopper
As the economy sours, European designers are touting their clothes as investments. - Designs for a Downturn
Fashion designer Nanette Lepore balances femininity and practicality amid a downward spiraling economy. - On Runways, Hippie Chick Meets '80s Lady
The spring '09 collections that designers are showing at New York's fashion week are romantic, flirty and laden with doodads and detail. - The New Pajama Look: Better in Bed?
At New York fashion week, designers are expected to show pajama-inspired clothes meant to be worn in daylight. But the pajama parade has some retailers and customers scratching their heads. - A Welcome End to Creative Dress Codes
In recent years, party hosts have made dress-code descriptions ever more creative, trying to set a lively tone. Now, there's a backlash brewing, with hosts returning to simple, clear instructions -- for the sanity of guests and themselves. - Dressing Women of a Certain Size
In today's fashion market, supply is out of kilter with demand for large-size designer duds. This is precisely the opportunity that Tadashi Shoji saw when he began offering his collections in sizes up to 24. His designs often show up on celebrities, helping to generate Mr. Shoji's high-end reputation. - Slim Chance: an Aspiring Model's Challenge
Tatiana Stewart is 6'2", a size 4, and attracts fashion-modeling scouts on the street. But at auditions, she is told she must lose weight to pursue a career on runways. Her predicament underscores the fact that, despite fashion industry's pledge to protect the health of models, skin and bones are still the ideal. - How to Pull Off 'CEO Casual'
"CEO casual" is all about presenting a modern, creative message. Trevor Kaufman, chief executive of consulting agency Schematic, discusses the role of clothing in running a business and how to convey the authority of a suit without wearing one. - Fashion Fuels a Friendship
Capital Institutional Services CEO Kristi Wetherington's philosophy on a businesswoman's wardrobe decisions: "Do not be afraid to be a woman." Her lesson for her colleague Kelly Abernathy: Even in fields as conservative as banking, the rules on what's too feminine are shifting. - Pardon Me, Your Slip Is Not Showing
The slip -- once an all-purpose weapon against visible panty lines and clingy dresses -- has lost its usefulness for many reasons. Christina Binkley believes that the end of slips coincides with a diminished sense of modesty. - Selling $4,000 Jackets in a Slowdown
Akris isn't taking a cost-cutting approach to surviving the slowdown. Instead, the Swiss, family-owned clothing brand is doubling down on pleasing its core customers -- powerful women, often career women, who seek modern, innovative clothing, writes Christina Binkley. - A Short Story: The Rise of 'Floods'
Changing hemlines have long been a hallmark of women's fashion. But this summer, it's men's hems that are rising. The wide adoption of this so-called "flood" look reflects a new era in menswear. - A Chinese Fashion Moment?
As young designers, Karl Lagerfeld and Yves Saint Laurent dueled in a 1954 contest that helped put both on the fashion map. This year, the competition has been resurrected, and the finalists reflect the emergence of a new source of fashion talent: China. - A Younger Look on Paper
At 49, Lisa Johnson Mandell found her career "kind of sputtering." So she started making herself look younger in ways other than surgery, starting with erasing some age lines on her résumé. - Dress-Code Politics: Who Wears the Pants?
Jim Holt has learned one lesson ever since he expressed his view publicly, in this column, that panty hose are more professional than bare legs for working women: It's dangerous for men to weigh in on women's work attire. - Hosiery Reveals Office Divide
Hose or no hose? That is the question facing working women around this time of year. In today's informal workplaces, many women have peeled off the panty hose. Yet the transition has highlighted a generational divide. - The 'Sex' Effect: Empowering or Trashy?
"Sex and the City" promoted the idea that successful women could take a liberated attitude toward fashion, but has sexy office attire gone a step too far? Women may be sabotaging their own careers by wearing revealing and trendy clothes at the office. - Risky Business: Décolletage at a Work Dinner
Events like awards dinners and client cocktails can blur workplace rules -- including office dress codes. And since it's harder for men to embarrass themselves with evening wear, it's often women who reveal too much. - New Sites Make Shopping a Game
A number of members-only Web sites have been launched to sell luxury goods at discounts of as much as 70%. And their limited-time "flash sales" are turning online shopping into online gaming. - Women in Power Face Fashion Scrutiny
Women in positions of authority, from Washington to Wall Street, face fashion scrutiny that's so intense it can border on comical -- though it's serious business to the women, their organizations and, it turns out, lots of working women.