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Welcome to Working It, where Racked follows street style into the office. Forget pedestrian khakis and button-downs—these fashionable professionals take dress codes to a whole new dimension. Quick, somebody call HR!
This week we stopped by the Marie Claire offices inside New York City's glossy Hearst Tower. The magazine just hit a major milestone—its 20th anniversary—and they celebrated with a meaty September issue featuring Blake Lively on the cover. After the jump, see what the editors in the fashion, accessories, beauty, and features departments wear on a typical workday.
Kyle Anderson, Accessories Director, is wearing a Givenchy T-shirt, Saint Laurent pants and boots, and a David Yurman bracelet.
What fashion rule do you shamelessly break?
All of them. I hate rules. I think everyone should wear whatever they like, and most importantly, whatever makes them feel happy, comfortable, and cool.
What's the best piece of shopping advice you've ever gotten?
Buy things you really love, no matter how much they cost, and wear them all the time. Never buy one special thing that you plan on only wearing once. Everything I buy is the best, and I end up wearing them a million times.
Your closet's on fire! What three items do you save from the flames?
Probably none. For the most part, I never wear anything the season after it's in stores. I usually buy four to five outfits each season and wear them every week. Right now, I wear Saint Laurent jeans and boots basically every day, so I'd probably save those. Also, maybe my Rolex. It was a gift and I wear that a lot, too.
Who would you swap wardrobes with in a heartbeat?
Honestly, not really anyone. I like the Korean pop star G-Dragon, but we wear a lot of the same clothes. He almost always wears Saint Laurent, sometimes with Chanel accessories like a necklace, a brooch, or even a coat.
What trend do you really like, and what would you never be caught dead trying?
I like black and anything sexy. I'm not a big fan of preppy. Although I think it looks hot on some guys, I usually try to stay away from that look.
It bags: Pro or con?
Pro and con. Yeah, it's a lot of money, but for two to three months, you'll be a star and feel great. But after that time, you can't even take them out of your closet.
Whitney Joiner, Senior Features Editor, is wearing a Creatures of Comfort dress and Sergio Rossi shoes. Her bracelet is from a boutique in Marfa, Texas, and her ring is from Essaouira, Morocco.
What was your first job?
Executive assistant to Kurt Andersen and Michael Hirschorn at Inside.com, a media and entertainment site that was short-lived but hugely influential—still one of the best jobs I've ever had. They were both incredibly generous bosses, and Kurt especially is still a wonderful mentor.
Who would you swap wardrobes with in a heartbeat?
Cate Blanchett. So classic.
What are your beauty must-haves?
I'm a product creature of habit: I've used Bodytime Clarifying Cleanser face wash for over 12 years, and almost always wear MAC lipstick in MAC Red layered under Korres Lip Butter in Wild Rose. I'm super bummed that Murad has discontinued their Sheer Tint SPF 15 Sunblock—that's my answer to tinted moisturizer or foundation. I just bought a ton of it on eBay.
What trend do you really like, and what would you never be caught dead trying?
I'm a minimalist—a dresses-and-denim person. I don't wear prints, skirts, or pants. My wardrobe consists almost solely of dresses in different shades of black, blue, and red and a wide selection of Frye boots. Trends don't really enter into the picture.
What's your worst shopping habit?
This is counterintuitive, but not shopping. I tend to wait until I really, really need to. I think this is a holdover from living in Marfa, a small town on the Texas/Mexico border, for many years. Now there are a handful of cute boutiques there, but for the longest time, you had to drive seven hours to Austin to shop.
What's the best piece of shopping advice you've ever gotten?
Don't buy anything online after midnight (or maybe 2am for me, since I'm a night owl). Wait until the next day, when you know you truly want it.
Jennifer Goldstein, Executive Beauty and Health Editor, is wearing a Clover Canyon dress, Saint Laurent boots, a Pamela Love silver wrought-iron cuff, a Campbell knuckle ring, and a Vlieger & Vandam Classic Gun bag.
What's your online shopping guilty pleasure?
I can do serious damage at SSENSE. They ship from Canada, so there's no sales tax!
What fashion rule do you shamelessly break?
Mixing silver and gold, wearing navy and black, topping a short skirt with a long coat—I do all those things. There is one rule I keep: I don't do white after Labor Day. But that's just because I don't wear white, period.
Who's your professional role model?
Lara Croft, Tomb Raider.
What was your first job?
If we're talking first paycheck, it was working as a swimming instructor. But my first job in beauty was as the editorial assistant at Sephora.
Who would you swap wardrobes with in a heartbeat?
If St. Vincent and Carine Roitfeld had a love child, I'd want her wardrobe.
What are your beauty must-haves?
I must have a monthly color appointment with Meghan Baldwin at the Eva Scrivo salon on Bond Street. She separates out my natural white streak and dyes the rest a rich brunette. As for products, it's my job to experiment, but three things I always stay loyal to are Blinc mascara, Dove's Cool Moisture body bar, and Oral-B Glide dental floss. I have one of those in every room and every bag.
What do you splurge on, and what do you cheap out on?
If shoes are badass and comfortable, then money is no object, but all my tank tops and T-shirts are from Hanes and H&M.
What's your worst shopping habit?
Shopping online while drinking wine. I have two glasses and all of a sudden I think I'm paying with Monopoly money.
Best fashion tip you've learned from Marie Claire?
Office-wear doesn't have to be formulaic to look professional. I get ideas from every spread Sue Choi styles for us—she knows how to make work clothes look cool.
Kaitlin McGirl, Senior Director of Integrated Marketing, is wearing an Equipment top, BlankNYC skirt, Michael Michael Kors shoes, a Montblanc watch, bracelets from Alex & Ani, Sarah Chloe and Chan Luu, necklaces from Blossom, and her own ring.
Who's your professional role model?
I'm fortunate to have many. What's really great about being at Marie Claire is having access to the powerful women in our rolodex. There's also something that's really inspiring about being surrounded by people who subscribe to the notion that there's no such thing as a bad idea.
What's the best piece of shopping advice you've ever gotten?
Invest in the classics and save on the super-trendy pieces you'll only wear one season.
Who would you swap wardrobes with in a heartbeat?
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. She consistently nails the casual yet polished look.
What are your beauty must-haves?
Sunscreen, a great-smelling shampoo (I change them up constantly!), and a volumizing mascara.
What trend do you really like, and what would you never be caught dead trying?
I love color-blocking. It's fun and flattering. I haven't been able to pull off a pair of overalls since the second grade.
Brittany Kozerski, Market Editor, is wearing a Victoria Beckham top, an Alexander Wang skirt, Balenciaga shoes and bracelet, a Saint Laurent bracelet, a Givenchy bag, and XIV Karat rings.
What was your first job?
My first fashion job was interning at Vogue after graduation, back in the days of paid internships. That led to my next job at Moda Operandi and later at GQ.
What's the best piece of shopping advice you've ever gotten?
"Would you buy this regardless of the price?" That's the best test to see if you really want something. It helps so much with the real-life editing process, if you're willing to pay any price for it, then you really do love it. My mom will no longer go shopping with me because I gather items I want and then edit it all down to a couple pieces that I can't live without. She says I've taken the fun out of shopping.
Who's your professional role model?
Victoria Beckham because of the way she continuously reinvents herself, from becoming a fashion designer to expanding her line to what it's become today with even bigger plans for the future.
What are your beauty must-haves?
Hair: Moroccanoil, cult-favorite Mixed Chicks leave-in conditioner, and Klorane Oat Milk dry shampoo. Skin: Almond oil, Holistic Science Co., Murad Skincare, and SK-II. Fragrance: Rose 31 by Le Labo. Makeup: Make Up For Ever, Stila, and Benefit Cosmetics are my go-to favorites.
What's your worst shopping habit?
Black heels—I'm addicted. My friends and family plead that I not buying another pair. In my mind, no pair of shoes is the same and there's always a way to justify another. It's something I'm trying to work on, but I sense a relapse is on the way.
Courtney Weinblatt, Market Director, is wearing an ALC dress, Daniele Michetti shoes, an Hermès watch, and her own jewelry.
What's your online shopping guilty pleasure?
Cart abandonment. I literally make massive wish lists and then rarely purchase.
What fashion rule do you shamelessly break?
White after Labor Day.
Who's your professional role model?
Net-a-Porter founder Natalie Massenet.
What was your first job?
My first real job was scooping ice cream on Martha's Vineyard. However, my first fashion job was being the assistant at T Magazine.
What's the best piece of shopping advice you've ever gotten?
Buy less, buy better.
Who would you swap wardrobes with in a heartbeat?
Sarah Rutson.
What are your beauty must-haves?
Clinque exfoliating scrub, Laura Mercier UnderCover Pot, and Lancôme mascara.
What trend do you really like, and what would you never be caught dead trying?
I'm really feeling the culotte this fall and am excited to rock mine. I'm not a fan of studs—just ready to move on from that trend.
It bags: Pro or con?
Con. Invest wisely in classics that will sustain the test of time.
Best fashion tip you've learned from Marie Claire?
A leather jacket goes with everything!
Erin Flaherty, Beauty/Health Director is wearing a COS top, a Topshop jacket, Isabel Marant sweatpants, Tom Ford heels, and various bracelets from Saint Laurent, Bulgari, and vintage Helmut Lang.
What's your online shopping guilty pleasure?
I hate shopping in stores, so I have many. I love sales on Barneys and Net-a-Porter, and lately I've been loving Walk in My Closet, a designer consignment store with lots of steals from chic Parisians.
What fashion rule do you shamelessly break?
That clothes should be flattering to your body type: I'm fairly petite, but love a caftan and voluminous tops and dresses. I never met a harem pant I didn't like.
Who's your professional role model?
Anyone who drops out of a boring job to follow their passion and carve a career out of it. That's just so ballsy, wise, and badass.
What was your first job?
I was the secretary of a babysitters' club my friends and I started, which was totally modeled off the '90s book series.
What's the best piece of shopping advice you've ever gotten?
Never pay full price, unless of course you absolutely have to have it.
Your closet's on fire! What three items do you save from the flames?
My colorblock Céline shopper, Fendi moto boots, and a crazy Matthew Williamson fur coat.
Who would you swap wardrobes with in a heartbeat?
No one! Okay, maybe Daphne Guinness or Peggy Guggenheim's estate.
What are your beauty must-haves?
Dermalogica Microfoliant, Sunday Riley Juno Oil, Skinceuticals SPF and antioxidants, organic Tea Tree oil, Maybelline Baby Lips, and an ever-rotating collection of Tom Ford fragrances.
Best fashion tip you've learned from Marie Claire?
The only rule is there are no rules!
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