WEEK OF MAY 20, 2013

Nation: Tragedy in Oklahoma.
Oklahoma is only just beginning to recover from a devastating tornado that ripped through the city of Moore on Monday, leaving 24 dead and 377 injured. Residents of Moore have expressed their gratitude for the many volunteers who streamed into the city to help, but it will be a long time before the city, with an estimated 12,000 damaged or destroyed homes, will rebuild. The White House announced that President Obama will visit the area this weekend to thank first responders and offer his condolences to the families who were affected by the storm. The people of OK are in our hearts, too.

World: Let’s talk about drones. 
On Thursday, President Obama delivered the first major speech on counterterrorism in his second term. He focused primarily on the administration’s drone policy, stating that “the same human progress that gives us the technology to strike half a world away also demands the discipline to constrain that power — or risk abusing it.” After admitting for the first time that four American citizens had been inadvertently killed in the crossfire of unmanned attacks, the administration announced a new policy guidance that will limit the number of drone strikes that can be carried out in places that are not overt war zones. The president also called on Congress to “refine and ultimately repeal” the current Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) and announced that he would renew his effort to close the prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.

Politics: We all have enough student loan debt, let’s not make it worse. 
The House passed legislation this week that would head off a sharp increase in student loan interest rates starting July 1. Congress has only a short time left to act to prevent the rates of more than 7.4 million students with Federal Direct Stafford Loans from doubling; but, as with most things in Congress, it looks like it’s going to be a fight. The House bill would base loans on the interest rate of a 10-year Treasury note, up to an 8.5-10.5 percent cap, and allow them to reset each year. Republicans are all for the plan, but Dems don’t like it one bit. Senate Democrats will fight to continue with the current 3.4 percent subsidized rate for at least two years. The President’s proposal is somewhere in the middle, but it’s anyone’s guess who might come out on top.

Business: The Federal Reserve and economic stimulus. 
The global stock market slump continues on Wall Street amid uncertainty that the Federal Reserve is committed to the economic stimulus. Fears that the Fed will reduce its stimulus helped send stock, bond and currency prices on a wild ride this week. The sweeping programs initiated by Ben Bernanke, the Fed Chairman, have helped feed a four-year rally in U.S. stock prices and inspired other central banks to follow suit. But even fans of the Fed’s efforts have said that the size and scope of the stimulus makes it hard to know what will happen once the Fed begins to take its foot off the gas, paving the way for unanticipated consequences and more market volatility.

Technology: Apple might be in trouble. 
Apple is the nation’s most profitable technology company (hello iPod, iPhone, iPad) but Congressional investigators disclosed Monday that Apple had evaded billions of dollars in taxes through a web of subsidiaries set up around the world. By officially locating these sections of the company in places like Ireland, Apple was able to, in effect, make them stateless — exempt from taxes, record-keeping laws, and the need for the subsidiaries to even file tax returns anywhere in the world. On Tuesday, Apple executives defended their tax practices at a Senate hearing, claiming that it pays one of the highest effective tax rates of any major corporation. iDon’t think so.

Health: Check your cup – not all green tea created equal.
A new report published this week by ConsumerLab.com finds that some popular varieties of green tea are little more than sugar water, and others may be contaminated with lead. The good news? Tea brewed from green tea leaves is still really good for you. Just try to steer clear of products shipped from China (studies have shown that industrial pollution can cause some regions’ leaves to gather a greater amount of lead) and be aware that some bottled varieties may not be as healthy as they claim. Bottom line: read labels!

reporting as of 5/24/13 at 9am EST by Laicie Heeley and Brooke Klauer
image via

When those nights come, we want to know about your go-to programming preference. Love those I Love Lucy reruns or NBC comedies? Or catching Real Housewives engage in some wine-throwing while you pleasantly avoid conflict in the comfort of your own home? Tell us: does your regular TV viewing consist of reality shows or sitcoms?

elizabeth fitzgerald

If these three looks don’t already have you lusting for summer, Stephanie has styled a bonus summer look featured on her blog today!

The Beach

A cover up is that piece you can have the most fun with, I’ve always been a fan of purchasing them in bright colors or bold prints – which in this case it covers both of those territories. The kiwi print gives it an extra burst of tropical sunshine. A classic tunic shape is my favorite for throwing on over a bikini when you’re taking a beach break for a stroll on the boardwalk.

Lunch

When I think of lunch in the summer, I think patios! Shift dresses are perfectly lady-like and comfortable. Cinching in the waist is the best trick in the book to achieve a tailored look, and in this case, it adds a pop of color. Wedges are my favorite shoe for a lunch date, it breaks our habit to typically wear flats and offers the same level of comfort (at least for me!).

Farmers Market

A Sunday trip to the farmer’s market is relaxed, and easy – but that doesn’t mean it still can’t be cute! Crop tops are everywhere now, and I love pairing them with maxi skirts to create balance. They are easy to wear and move around in so you can shop -which is where a cute tote comes in handy to store your veggies, so that you can keep your hands free.

Darlene Campos Stephanie Sterjovski Neal Jolly Jackie Saffert

So, what say you? If you could have one extra hour in your day, how would you use it?

image via

darlene campos

Well, we are here to bring you a list of beauty essentials; skin care and make-up items women should have on hand at all times. Much like our Fashion Essentials (parts 1, 2, and 3), we’ve provided both a low-cost product and a higher-priced investment option for each item on the list. Of course, we don’t advise everyone use the brands we recommend. Find options that work for your skin type. Try different options until you find one you love; then stick to a routine! Worried about how your skin will react? Keep in mind many boutique skin care shops and department stores offer samples of their products so you can take them home and try them before making the investment. Nothing worse than spending $65 on an exfoliator only to find out you have an allergic reaction it.

CLICK HERE TO PRINT THE BEAUTY ESSENTIALS HANDBOOK

1. Cleanser
BUDGET: Cetaphil Normal to Oily Skin Daily Facial Cleanser, $8.06
INVEST: Obagi Nu-Derm Foaming Gel, $39.50

2. Exfoliator
BUDGET: St. Ives Apricot Scrub, $3.99
INVEST: Fresh Sugar Face Polish, $55

3. Serum
BUDGET: Olay Age Defying Instant Hydration Serum, $14.99
INVEST: Somme Institute Serum, $82

4. Moisturizer
BUDGET: Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer, $14.99
INVEST: Hydro-Dynamic™ Ultimate Moisture, $65

5. Eye Cream
BUDGET: Burt’s Bees Naturally Ageless Eye Crème, $25.99
INVEST: DDF Advanced Eye Firming Concentrate, $88

6. Tinted Moisturizer
BUDGET: Boots No7 Soft and Sheer Tinted Moisturizer, $21.99
INVEST: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer, $43

7. Foundation
BUDGET: Revlon ColorStay Makeup, $9.99
INVEST: Smashbox 15 Hour Wear Hydrating Foundation, $42

8. Concealer
BUDGET: CoverGirl & Olay Eye Concealer, $11.99
INVEST: Benefit Erase Paste, $26

9. Powder
BUDGET: MAC ‘Studio Fix’ Powder Plus Foundation, $27
INVEST: Smashbox ‘Halo’ Hydrating Perfecting Powder, $59

10. Blush
BUDGET: NYX Powder Blush, $6
INVEST: Nars Blush, $29

11. Bronzer
BUDGET: Benefit Hoola, $28
INVEST: Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder, $38

12. Eyeshadow
BUDGET: NYX ‘Love in Rio – Meet Me at the Copa’ Eyeshadow Trio, $6
INVEST: Stila Eyeshadow Compact, $18

13. Eyeliner
BUDGET: CoverGirl Perfect Blend Eye Pencil, $4.23
INVEST: LORAC Front of the Line PRO Waterproof Eyeliner, $23

14. Mascara
BUDGET: Maybelline Great Lash – Big Mascara, $4.79
INVEST: Benefit They’re Real Mascara, $23

15. Brow Pencil
BUDGET: Revlon Brow Fantasy Brow Pencil & Gel, $8.49
INVEST: Anastasia Beverly Hills Eyebrow Pencil, $23

16. Lipstick
BUDGET: MAC Lipstick, $15
INVEST: Chanel Rouge Allure Luminous Satin Lip Colour, $34

17. Lip Gloss
BUDGET: Stila Lip Glaze, $22
INVEST: Chanel Levres Scintillantes Gloss, $29.50

18. Perfume
BUDGET: Fresh Citron de Vigne, $38
INVEST: Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb Eau de Parfum, $75′

CLICK HERE TO PRINT THE BEAUTY ESSENTIALS HANDBOOK

alaina kaczmarski stoffer photography fran defranco

I believe women are still earning less than men because, as a whole, we don’t ask or charge for our value. So if you’re in business for yourself, here are four tips to help you increase your fees and charge what you’re worth for your services.

1. Calculate How Much Business Revenue You Actually Need

Most people start businesses so they can be in control of their income and lifestyle goals—but that dream can quickly fall to the wayside if there are no clear business revenue goals in place. The first step in charging more for your services is to get clear about how much gross business revenue you actually need. I hear a lot of women say they want to have a million-dollar business. And while I do believe you should aim high, instead of just picking numbers from the sky, make sure your goals are in direct relation to the type of lifestyle you want to live. Maybe you only need $75,000 in gross business revenue to allow for the life you want. So then why aim for a million-dollar business if that’s not really what you want or need? To calculate your own business revenue goals, simply reverse-engineer your goals for the year by figuring out how much net income you need to support your ideal lifestyle and fund your financial goals. Then add in any personal and business taxes and business expenses. This becomes your business revenue goal for the year.

For example, my business revenue goal for this year is $250,000. This will be enough to cover my business expenses, taxes, support the lifestyle I want and fund my financial goals this year. Once you’re clear on your business revenue number, you can begin to review how much you’re charging and increase your fees, if necessary, to reach this goal.

2. Do the Math

Once you know how much business revenue you need, figure out how many clients or customers you can handle. Let’s use my business as an example. Since I’m a service-based business, I know my team can handle only 100 financial planning clients per year to ensure we’re providing the level of service I want and still maintain my ideal lifestyle. Therefore, my minimum fee is $2,500 ($250,000/100 clients = $2,500).

You can also do the calculation another way. For example, let’s assume you sell purses and you need to sell them at $100 to be profitable. You figured out that you need $75,000 in gross business revenue to support the lifestyle you want. If you do the math, you’ll see that in order to reach this goal you need to sell 750 purses. Now, you can create a marketing plan to reach that target. If you do the math and don’t feel comfortable charging the amount you need, then ask yourself how you can add more value to your services to become comfortable charging more. If you still don’t feel comfortable charging more, then what do you need to implement to sell more units.  However you decide to slice it, make sure the math adds up.

3. Practice, Practice, Practice

Once you have your fee or price set, practice saying it aloud. Pretend you’re on the phone or in a meeting with a client and state the fee you’ve determined for your product or services. I recommend role playing and stating a fee that is three to five times higher your actual fee so you get comfortable quoting higher numbers. For example, if your service fee is $500, then practice charging $1,500 during your role play until you get comfortable with that number. Then when you actually charge $500 in real life, it’ll be no big deal. Sometimes our fears around charging a higher amount can take over and make us feel that charging more is so difficult, or that we’re not worth the higher price. Remember, it’s just a number. If you believe in your product or service and the value you’re bringing to your clients, then you should be able to stand behind whatever price you feel matches that value.

4. Have Confidence and Stop Doubting Yourself

At the end of the day, as long as you truly believe in your products or services and the value you are bringing to people’s lives, you should feel confident charging the appropriate amount for it. As women, we sometimes doubt our value and self-worth, and that is often reflected into our business fees or prices. But nobody wants to work with someone who doubts herself, so stop it! You don’t need to compare yourself to others. Just believe in yourself and your work. Once you do, your customers will, too. You are worth it, so start charging for that worth!

This post was contributed by Brittney Castro, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, Founder & CEO of Financially Wise Women, a Los Angeles based financial planning firm for women.  She specializes in working with busy professional and entrepreneurial women who are passionate about life and want to gain clarity around their money.  Brittney’s mission is to help women plan and create the life of their dreams, free from anxiety about money.   She has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Financial Planning Magazine, Investment News, and Registered Rep Magazine.  Visit her at www.financiallywisewomen.com and follow her on Twitter @brittneycastro.
Brittney A. Castro is a registered representative with and securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC. California Insurance License #0F33895.  Brittney Castro is not affiliated with TheEveryGirl.com.

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Where are you from, and where do you currently reside?
You would think that a question like “where are you from?” is relatively simple, but there are actually a lot of different ways that I could answer! I’m originally from Poland (which explains the long name) but have been mostly raised in the US—and of that, mostly in Fargo, North Dakota (yes, I own a parka). But my husband and I have been living off and on in Washington, DC when we’re not abroad for his diplomatic postings. We’re here now, but this summer we’ll be packing our bags for Copenhagen, Denmark. It seems like a lot of places I guess, but they all make up a pretty significant part of who I am.

How and when did you first decide to start your blog? What gave you the courage and motivation to go for it?
I started my blog about three years ago, mostly as a way to keep in touch with family and friends while we were abroad in Vienna, Austria. I was a huge keeper of journals when I was younger. This seemed like a more modern way to keep track of adventures and inspirations, and I was drawn to the more visual nature of things. I finally went for it at the encouragement of friends and also my husband. Once I was in it, I fell for the notion of having some record of our time—especially now that we have a daughter, all in one place.

What can people expect when they visit The New Diplomat’s Wife?
People can expect to find a mix of travel destinations and experiences from a different perspective that what they might otherwise see elsewhere, with a bit of fashion and arts and culture thrown in. I feature where we live—right now, Washington a lot, but since we’re always on the go, adventures from all over tend to make their way in. And you can definitely expect pictures!

What are three of your favorite posts you’ve ever written?
THE Guide to NYC Guides: I often go to New York for work a lot and usually just for a day or two. I found that I had all these little tidbits on the city all around so I decided to aggregate them all in one place—a guide of guides if you will that I update periodically when I find something new.

Around Town—Cherry Blossoms: With our departure from Washington on the horizon, I’ve been making a pointed effort to make sure I’m really taking advantage of some of the beautiful things this city has that we often take for granted. This year, in order to see the cherry blossoms, I got up before sunrise to see the light come over the tidal basin which changed the whole experience of seeing the bloom for me.

Anything from the Austria-isms Series: I love these posts because they’re such great reminders of our time in Austria. Generally when we’re abroad we try not to complain too much and for the most part, we enjoy differences that we have with our host country. After all, that’s pretty much the point of traveling. But every once in a while, you come across things that you really just don’t understand. This series was dedicated to those stories—for example, why would an established hospital advise a woman to smear cream cheese on her chest as a cure, or why was there never any air conditioning in the places that seemed to need it the most?

What influences and inspires you while you blog?
I’m inspired by anything that makes me pause to see or think differently. I’ve found that because of the blog, I’m more more likely to think about things visually. So for example, I have always loved magazines and they still remain one of my largest influences, but in addition to content, I’ll pay attention to the types of things they call out, to the layout, to the graphics they chose…Same with art exhibits. I love to catch them in my spare time, but I’ve learned to appreciate the presentation and flow and curation just as much as I do the artwork itself.

Your blog has a unique and fun “Notes from the Field” feature, which allows your readers a glimpse into the life of diplomats and their families during their time abroad. Why do you consider including these profiles so important?
Well, I think it’s a couple of different aspects that make them interesting. The first is that they help shed a little light on what the diplomatic experience is really about. After all, my own voice is just one but that doesn’t mean it’s the only type of experience that’s out there. The profiles give a sense of what life at a different post is like, how that particular person would entertain or live with their family, what they struggle with or what they enjoy. The profiles have become popular with the diplomatic community itself, as everyone is always thinking about their next assignment. But they have also become popular with readers in general who are curious about what life is like in a part of the world they might not be as familiar with.

One of our favorite features on your blog is your beautiful photography! What kind of camera do you use to achieve such stunning pictures?
You’re too kind! Thank you! The funny thing is that I owned the camera well before I knew how to use even a fraction of what the camera can do. I have a Canon 50 D, with a 50mm 1.4 lens that tends to be my go-to. But I also have an all around zoom lens 28-105 3.5 mm lens. It’s not as fancy as what most connoisseurs would get excited about but it works well enough for me, and it’s versatile when we travel. And because it’s not too precious, it’s okay if it gets banged up a little bit. But for little snippets of life here and there, or for pictures I take when I’m on business trips, the iPhone wins every time!

You say in your blog that originally you were studying to be a diplomat, but ended up marrying one instead! What originally inspired you to study international relations?
It’s funny but I don’t remember a day when I wasn’t inspired by international relations. I guess I just always assumed it to some degree. But what really sealed it for me was a high school class in American Post-War History, which ironically, I didn’t take in America but rather in France. It really opened my eyes to the power of diplomacy and brokering peace through negotiations and institutions. And when I went to college, I was lucky enough to have not one but two advisors who were inspiring Political Science professors and encouraged me to go to graduate school in international relations. Even though various twists led me to a corporate career, I’m convinced that I use what I learned in IR on a regular basis at work. That’s the thing about international relations, it has so many applications.

Tell us a little more about your career journey. How did you end up as a business consultant married to a diplomat?
I had always planned to be a diplomat—in fact, I never really considered many other careers, and certainly did not in graduate school. But like any best plaid plans, life tends to happen along the way. In my case, it wasn’t anything I had control over. While in graduate school, there was a combination of events (9/11, the anthrax scares, the aftermath of all of that) that led to all sorts of delays in the application and clearance process. Pretty soon it became clear that all of this wouldn’t sort itself out before graduation, so I started working in the private sector.

In the meantime my husband, who had a business degree, worked first in the private sector and then decided that he wanted a career in diplomacy. So in some sense, we had opposite experiences. But we met as consultants in the same office, he was deciding to leave consulting for diplomacy just as I was deciding to leave a potential career in diplomacy for consulting. And he asked me to lunch on his last day. Now he jokes that I still get the lifestyle without having to do the work!

If you had the power to pick your next post, where in the world would you go? Why would that be your dream post?
There are so many places that we would be so excited to go. That’s the beauty of living somewhere for 2-3 years, it’s not too permanent and just the right amount of time to still be an adventure. But I think one dream post would be Bangkok—we have such an affinity for southeast Asia, and the food, colors, and culture. It’s a great jumping off point for the rest of Asia and lots to do and see within the country as well. I think Mexico City would also be a dream post—we’ve really grown to love the country through the couple of visits we’ve made while back in the US. It’s seems to be a great combination of culturally interesting and politically relevant—and don’t even get me started on the food! But we’ll see, we have Copenhagen coming up next and that’s pretty dreamy in its own right!

In July, you and your family are relocating to Copenhagen—what excites you most about moving to Denmark? What makes you most nervous?
We’re excited for lots of reasons. First, it will be good to be back in Europe—we made lots of close friends in Austria so even though it’s not the same country, it feels a bit like the same neighborhood. Same with Poland where I still have family. But having lived in Europe several different times, I’m most excited to get to experience from a completely different optic. I’ve never been to Scandinavia apart from one weekend to Copenhagen to check things out, so this is a post that’s familiar in one way, since it’s in Europe, but completely foreign in another way. And different is always exciting. We’re exited to be near the ocean, to be in a place where quality of life is highly valued, to be in a place where you don’t need a car every time you leave the house. And since we have a two year old daughter, we’re excited to be in a place that puts a lot of emphasis on family.

In terms of what makes me nervous—hmmm! I do worry about the expense of Copenhagen as there is quite a different cost of living. And I worry that two winters in DC have made us weaklings in the cold! Winters here are mild and relatively short, so even now in these spring months we shudder every time we read the weather report for Copenhagen! Time to get out the parkas!

What advice do you have for girls who are looking to start a lifestyle and travel blog?
Like everyone probably says, my number one piece of advice is to find the angle for your blog that is uniquely yours. It’s okay to take time to develop your voice—you don’t have to have everything set right away. Find a cadence that works for you and develop your voice over time. And when you find your voice, be confident in it.

Also, you’ll find that there are a lot of bloggers who know each other as they write on similar topics, or started at the same time, or are from the same area. It will be a natural inclination to want to be part of those groups, to be accepted. Sometimes you’ll find that they are open to newer voices; but many times they might not be, and it’s hard not to take that personally. Just keep in mind that they have those connections with each other because they have been working on them for years. Find people who appreciate you for your own contribution, and focus on building your own networks based on what matters most to you. I guarantee the friends and connections will follow naturally from that.

Any other words of wisdom for Everygirl’s out there?
You can have it all—don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. But it is a matter of prioritizing what “all” means to you—as it turns out, the definition of having it all changes for each individual so don’t use someone else’s yardstick to define your own growth and success and goals. And take time to appreciate the little things. Over time, it all adds up to a pretty big life.

NYC image via// mother daughter image via

Meghan Freier

Today, Melody is here to walk us through her journey from pre-med major to Design Director for Express, a multi-million dollar brand. She has worked for several big names in the business since launching her career (Liz Claiborne, DKNY, Nautica), and her love of a challenge has lead to promotion after promotion and hard-earned respect from her industry peers. Melody’s belief in a solid work ethic and a team-focused approach have been the cornerstones of her success, and we’re completely charmed by her advice to herself at 23—“If I tried to tweak it, I’d probably screw it up for her. She figured it out ok.”

Full Name: Melody Rains
Age: 36
Current Title/Company: Design Director, Express Denim and Casual
Educational Background: Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design from Oklahoma State University, minor in French

What was your first job after college, and how did you land it?
My college had an internship program for credit, and I applied for a position through the Liz Claiborne, Inc. human resources department. Because they were such a large company with a huge variety of brands, I thought that would give me a good chance to get my foot in the door. Also, they offered paid internships, which was important to me since I was putting myself through college and didn’t have the resources to move to New York without any money to support myself. I was offered an internship there during my junior year of college and met some wonderful people who taught me a lot and eventually offered me a job after graduation. I really believe getting into a company and showing them my work ethic and trying to learn and contribute as much as possible during that time was the reason I got hired right away after I graduated. It was like a three month long audition, and also a chance for me, as a sheltered young girl from Oklahoma, to really see if this location and career path were right for me.

During college you made a major degree change, from pre-med Biology to Fashion Design. Tell us about that transition. What motivated you to switch career paths?
I had always loved art, drawing, and painting throughout my life. I didn’t really ever think about fashion as a potential career path simply because I was never exposed to it before I went to college. I thought that I would become a doctor and that would allow me to have control over my life and become financially secure as a woman, so I embarked on a pre-med degree at OSU. During my sophomore year in college, I spent a semester in Italy which completely changed my perspective on life. I realized I wanted to travel, be creative, and do something exciting that I felt passionate about. I met some people in the fashion industry during that time, and suddenly, it just clicked for me. This was a way to marry my artistic ideals with a real career path that I would enjoy and hopefully, earn a living.

As someone making a drastic career change, how did you land your first internship in the fashion industry?
My college helped the fashion design students by providing a list of companies that offered internships in various cities around the country. New York was the only place I would have considered, so then it was a matter of getting someone to take a chance on me without actually being located there yet. I sent out tons of resumes—snail mail, of course, this was in the nineties before online portfolios and LinkedIn, etc—and I cold-called human resources departments. A few companies reach out to me, so I scheduled a week-long trip to NYC to interview with my portfolio, and luckily, I was hired.

Has art and design always been a passion of yours?
Yes, my mom has watercolors that I painted at age 8, and there are piles of pencil, ink, and guache illustrations lurking around from my adolescence. The funny thing is my mother was a home economics teacher, and she taught me to sew at a very early age, but I never thought that understanding pattern-making and draping would be something I would use in my career. I guess I am more like her than I thought!

Once returning to DKNY after designing for Nautica, you quickly began receiving promotions, ultimately landing you the role of VP of Design for women’s and Junior’s denim lines. Aside from your design talent, what characteristics would you say have led to your success in such a competitive industry?
I have a strong work ethic, and I’m a bit of a perfectionist, so it’s really important to me to deliver on what my job is, and to go above and beyond whenever possible. I also think the reason I was given so much responsibility throughout my career so quickly is that I was able to hire great people to support the brand, and I was respectful of their talents and their needs. I found that I was a good manager, which is really what the job becomes the higher up you go. My job is really to set the tone and the concepts for the design team and then give them the opportunity to express their creativity and the guidance to develop product that is exciting and also salable. I believe in being very inclusive and communicative with my team. I think it’s super important to have a group of people that really gel together and whose strengths complement each other. We spend so much time together; it needs to be a positive experience.

You moved from one great job to another, and you are now designing the denim and casual women’s lines for Express! What factors led to your decision to work for Express? What advice would you give women deciding between two great opportunities?
After several years working for wholesale brands, I was really interested in doing something that was closer to the customer, with a more direct line between what I’m designing and who is actually buying and wearing it. When Express approached me about the opportunity here, I thought long and hard about it. I really grew up as a designer at DKNY Jeans, and I had hired my entire team there. I was emotionally attached to them and to the brand, however the chance to learn something completely different was very enticing to me. I was also getting to the point where I need to challenge myself and break out of my comfort zone to see if I could succeed at another brand the way I had succeeded at my previous position.

The advice I would give someone trying to make a decision like that is to honestly weigh the pros and cons of each place. Think about where you want your life to be in one year, in five years, and which job you see taking you there. Then think about if you will be proud and happy to go to work there, design that product, and tell your friends and family about it.

As a designer, you are responsible for being on top of key trends and mindful of customer feedback. What challenges come with these responsibilities, and how have you overcome them?
Being on top of trends is the fun part. It feels really great to suddenly have an instinct or gut feeling about something and have it turn out to be a bigger idea in the mainstream marketplace. I also travel a good deal for trend research. I go to Europe, Asia, and the west coast each year to scout new ideas. That is truly one of the best parts of the job for me.

The great, and also humbling thing about working for a retailer like Express is that it is very obvious when a customer loves your designs or hates them. The company is so dedicated to listening to its customers and having the designers and merchants discuss selling together each week and visit stores to speak directly to our associates and customers that we are constantly honing and focusing to be better at providing what she wants. We HAVE to listen to her to succeed.

Where do you find inspiration for your designs?
Personally I find inspiration through so many resources. Street style blogs, art exhibits, a walk through a cool neighborhood for people-watching…..I also think some of it is just instinct. You just get a feeling occasionally about a shape or a style not feeling “right” anymore and it forces you to think of creative alternatives. Sometimes the newest outfit ideas come out of simply being bored of wearing the same things the same way.

Walk us through a typical workday or week.
Typical workday for me would probably include several meetings to connect with my merchant and production partners, aligning on styles, and strategies for the season. I would also have a couple of fittings on my calendar, to review samples on the model and tweak the measurements. Depending on the time of season, I could also be doing anything from approving sketches, choosing colors and fabrics, outfitting mannequins for a presentation, or traveling overseas for trend inspiration to Asia or Europe. A big part of my job involves travel (visiting factories, researching trends in other markets, attending European fabric shows), so I am usually on the road at least once per month.

What was the most important thing you learned during your internships and early on in your career that set the stage for your success in the industry thus far?
Work hard, be respectful of people at ALL levels within the company, listen and learn as much as you can, try anything they will let you try at work, and don’t be afraid to let your voice be heard.

What advice would you give aspiring designers?
Pretty much same as above question. Additionally, work on your portfolio or your website very carefully. Very often it is the only thing that will get you in the door someplace, so it should be a reflection of your best aesthetic work. Lastly, you should be able to talk about your point of view with confidence. If I’m hiring a new designer for my team, I want to hear what and who inspires them, and see that they are passionate about their career.

Considering all of your extraordinary career accomplishments, what career goals are you still striving to achieve?
I have goals I am trying to hit within my current position, in terms of growing the business and hitting certain numbers, and I have more personal goals that apply to me as a design leader and team manager, including trying to build confidence and help my entire team realize their full potential. I also would love to see Express denim on every cool young girl in the country! We have really great fabrics and fit, and I want everybody to know it.

What advice would you give your 23-year-old self?
I’m not sure I would tell her to do anything different. I’m pretty happy with how my career has turned out so far, and if I tried to tweak it, I’d probably screw it up for her. She figured it out okay. I might just tell her to enjoy the boundless energy and wrinkle free skin of being in your twenties because it definitely gets harder to maintain it as you get older!

Brianna Cook Darlene Campos Jackie Saffert

Which pair would you choose: moccasins or espadrilles?

We’ve teamed up with Jacques Levine to give one lucky Everygirl a chance to win a pair of her choice. Jacques Levine has a wide assortment of stylish shoes ranging from eclectic wedges to metallic moccasins.

To Enter: Follow Jacques Levine on Twitter, or like them on Facebook. Then leave us a comment telling us which Jacques Levine pair you would choose! Please include your email address so we can notify the winner. Winner must have a U.S. address for shipping.

Deadline: Entries must be made by next Monday, May 27rd at 11:59pm. The winner will be emailed and announced the following day on Twitter and Facebook, so don’t forget to follow us to see if you’ve won!

This post was sponsored by Jacques Levine but the opinions within are those of the Everygirl editorial staff.

photography by Darlene Campos

WEEK OF MAY 13, 2013

Nation: Wrong move, I.R.S.
This week we learned that the International Revenue Service targeted some conservative groups, particularly those with the words “Tea Party” in their name, with extra scrutiny in their investigations. The White House and Congress are both fuming but plan to work together to resolve the problem and ensure this does not happen again. In a statement this week, President Obama said the I.R.S.’ conduct was “inexcusable” and accepted the resignation of the acting IRS commissioner. He will appoint Daniel I. Werfel, the controller of the Office of Management and Budget to the position (who oversaw the sequester).

Politics: If you think the President is angry, talk to AP reporters this week.
The I.R.S. news isn’t the only big controversy this week. We also learned that last year the Department of Justice secretly seized Associated Press reporters’ and editors’ phone records over a period of two months. The news cooperative’s top executive called it a “massive and unprecedented intrusion.”  Freedom of speech, freedom of the press and reporters’ potential confidential sources are all on the line. House lawmakers grilled Attorney General Eric Holder on the issue Wednesday, but Holder responded that he wasn’t in charge of the investigation. Not it!

World: The drama over Benghazi continues.
Facing mounting pressure, the White House released more than 100 pages of administration emails discussing the situation in Benghazi, Libya. The exchange includes a discussion on what public statements should be released in an attempt to show that the decisions were driven by intelligence officials, not political advisors. But what the emails primarily reveal are disagreements within the administration over what could confidently be said about the attacks while an investigation into the assault was ongoing. It’s clear the administration wants to move on. But the question is, how soon will it be able to?

Business: Define “economy.”
Federal Reserve officials are grappling with how to decipher the economy’s mixed signals, and they are differing on the direction of the recovery. The stock market has been busy this week reacting to six Federal officials statements on the diverse outlines of the economy and the direction of the recovery. On Thursday stocks fell after a Fed official said the central bank could begin easing up on its monetary stimulus this summer. “It does spook the market a little,” a chief investment officer noted about the possibility.

Science: Remember Dolly the sheep?
Scientists succeed in using cloning to create human embryonic stem cells, a step towards developing replacement tissue to treat diseases. This “regenerative” medicine seeks to provide rejection-free transplant tissues to patients. This scientific first produced embryonic stem cells: starter cells to all other cells in the body, which mean potentially they can grow into any type of tissue. But since we now can, the debate will continue as to if we should.

Women’s Affairs: Angelina Jolie’s medical choice.
Angelina Jolie wrote an op-ed for The New York Times in which she detailed her recent decision to undergo a preventative double mastectomy. Because of her mother’s death to cancer, Jolie chose to be tested for the “faulty” gene BRCA1 which sharply increases a woman’s risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. She was a carrier, and her doctor estimated she had an 87 percent risk of breast cancer. Jolie wanted to share her decision because “because I hope that other women can benefit from my experience.” And, “I choose not to keep my story private because there are many women who do not know that they might be living under the shadow of cancer.” Bravo, Mrs. Brad Pitt.

reporting as of 5/17/13 at 10am EST by Laicie Heeley and Brooke Klauer
image via