Blazing Professionals with Cool Careers

Posted on February 14, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Travis 

His Career

Travis is Marketing Manager at USO, Inc.

“My day-to-day responsibilities are to implement cross-promotional branding opportunities and cause marketing campaigns with national brand launches.

Challenges

“Working for a nonprofit is a constant hustle to make sure your cause stays relevant and beneficial to its stakeholders.

Rewards

 “At the end of the day, I know I’m working for a good cause. The marketing plans are going towards something for the greater good; something that brings a smile to the face of millions of troops and families worldwide.

How to get into the industry

“We often face the crossroads of doing what were good at rather then doing what we love to do.  I highly recommend finding something you love to do and let your passion shine through your work from jump. Passion and dedication is needed throughout your entire career.

“My undergrad experience at Johnson C. Smith University built my foundation in marketing and personal growth while grad school at American University allowed me to focus on a specialty in cause marketing and audience segmentation.

Style in the Office

“Business casual is standard for our office and business attire for special events and corporate meetings.

Travis on his personal style

“The professional scene in DC is full of walking “black suits” and I’m the complete opposite. My personality is very much a representation of my personal style; chill yet dapper enough to be professional. I’m able to blend both business-casual and current strategically, so it makes it easy to pair things for work and social scenes. Items from United Colors of Benetton, Zara or J. Crew work very well for both environments.”

Photography by Almenia J and Marlene Lillian.

-As told to A*cute editors by Travis. Special thanks to Travis for sharing his story with us. If you have any questions for him, please email us at lookacute@gmail.com and he will answer you as soon as possible.

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Celebration of Cool: Weatherproof

Posted on February 13, 2012 by | 2 Comments

by Jackie | Photos by AlmeniaJPhotography

He pulls on his coat collar as an icy wind fails to interrupt his stride.  The hawk is no match for his cool, winter stands no chance against his resolve.

There is nothing more important than having the right coat when temperatures drop. Outerwear becomes a vital part of an outfit during the winter months, taking precedence over what’s underneath. I recently accepted the challenge of finding the perfect winter coat for my friend, Anthony. Check out what he had to say about the experience below.

For the past couple of years in the DMV there have been some blistering winters.  I’ve kept some warm coats (a snorkel, leather, trench etc.), but for a more timid winter this year, I was looking for something a little lighter and more versatile.  I decided on a grey topcoat.  I had been looking on some sites of choice — J. Crew, Banana Republic, Nordstrom — and found a few options.  I wasn’t too excited about any of them, but getting a coat was a must.  So I decided to consult one of my resident fashionista friends, Jackie.  I know she has an eye for these types of things, and her opinion is valued.  She looked at some of the options and she, too, wasn’t that impressed.  She did whatever it is fashionistas do — pray to a bust of Audrey Hepburn, I don’t know — but she came back with several grey coats. 

She mentioned my physique and the type of style she saw me in — “edgy” was the word I think she used — and the choices seemed to fit me to a T.  In the end, I decided on the Grey Top coat with Knitted Collar from Zara.  The coat itself has a knitted zip lining with an outside button closure.  The cut is sleek and rakish and can serve for both evening attire or a winter jaunt around the city — everything I was looking for.  Thanks Jackie and A*cute consulting.  I’m definitely a believer.

Anthony Weatherspoon is a business professional in the financial industry based in Washington, DC.

 

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Posted in Fashion Resources

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A*cute Black History Month Series: Celebration of Cool

Posted on February 13, 2012 by | Leave a comment

by Jackie

The dictionary defines cool as a marker of composure.  This effortless approach to elegance characterizes Black men’s style. In 2008, Ebony Magazine dedicated eight of its July covers to “Black Cool,” highlighting 25 icons that represent the essence of cool. This week, in honor of Black History Month, A*cute will pay tribute to the “cool.” Stay tuned!

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Big Winner at the Grammys: The Black Dress

Posted on February 12, 2012 by | 2 Comments

by Jackie

Tonight’s Grammy Awards had A LOT of misses [insert cough here] Nicki Minaj [insert cough here], but a few hits. Among the scant bright points of the telecast was the resurgence of the black dress. I am obsessed with like color, but  was delighted to see that the best dressed stars of the night were all wearing simple black dresses.

Adele

Adele not only swept the Grammys winning all six of her nominations, but she also won the red carpet in her signature black.

Gwyneth Paltrow 

Gwyneth Paltrow was subtle, yet sexy in this number.

Rihanna

Rihanna wins my "Best Dressed" award for the night. The plunging neckline and slit show off her figure without being too vampy. I just wish she would go back to black with her hair.

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We Will Always Love You Whitney

Posted on February 11, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Whitney Houston

Music Icon, Whitney Houston, was announced dead Saturday, February 11 at the age of 48.  Read full report at CNN.com.

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Valentine’s Day: Dine Out in New York City

Posted on February 10, 2012 by | Leave a comment

by Sherria

Most people I know believe that Valentine’s Day is overrated. I will admit that I used to be one of those people. However, I’ve learned to think about Valentine’s Day, and most holidays, differently. I believe that most holidays allow us to take a step back and think about the things that are the most important in our lives. So, while we shouldn’t need a designated day to show love to our partners, I do believe that we can use Valentine’s Day as a day to reflect on our romantic relationships and how to make them better. What better way to have a great discussion about the your relationship than over a tasty plate of food? There are numerous restaurants in New York City that offer a pre-fix menu. The restaurants featured below are great choices for dinner! I’ve dined at each establishment in the past and I can vouch for their daily food menu. Check out their Valentine’s Day pre-fix menu on the links below.

Midtown: Ayza Wine and Chocolate Bar

Ayza offers a 3-course menu for $74 including champagne and berries. Click here for details.

photo credit: hauteliving.com

Uptown/Harlem: Chez Lucienne

Chez Lucienne offers at 3-course $45 menu.  Click here for details.

Lower East Side: Rayuela Latin Cuisine

Rayuela offers a 4-course cuisine for $68. Click here for details.

Last year, I reviewed Rayuela. Click here to read the post.

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Posted in Out and About

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Where’s Winter?

Posted on February 10, 2012 by | Leave a comment

by Jackie | Photos by AlmeniaJPhotography

This winter has an identity crisis. With bleak 30-degree mornings turning into sunny 60-degree afternoons, it can be difficult to figure out whether to bundle up or dress light. I have been wearing layered outfits so that I can be comfortable in any temperature.

Here are my bipolar winter essentials:

The Floppy Hat.

It not only keeps my head warm and protects my hair from cold winds, but it also shades my eyes from the sun. Hats are also an inexpensive and fun way to update outfits and disguise evil bad hair days.

The Faux Fur Vest.

Worn under a coat, it’s insulation against cold temps. Worn alone, it’s a hot statement piece. It has become part of my indoor/outdoor uniform.

The Over-The-Knee Boot.

Tall boots are the ultimate way to pump up the volume on any outfit and they’ve allowed me to wear dresses without fear that my legs would be cold. I especially like these Chinese Laundry over-the-knee boots because of their wedged heel. I love high heels, but wedges are way more comfortable for my day-to-day lifestyle.

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Valentine’s Day: 3 Things To Do With Your Girlfriends

Posted on February 10, 2012 by | 1 Comment

by Sherria

So, you don’t have a date for Valentine’s Day? So What! Spend some quality time with your best girlfriends. Here are three ways to get the party started:

#1 Try a new food recipe and make sexy cocktails

 Cosmopolitan Magazine offers recipes for 20 sexy cocktails. Click here to view the recipes.

Photo credit: cosmopolitan.com

#2 Watch your favorite love movies!

"You are the perfect verse over a tight beat."...need we say more?

For all of you hopeless romantics, this is the movie for you. For the vain people out there, Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams are a hot couple to watch!

#3 Pedicures!

Bring your collection of nail polish to temporarily swap with your friends and pamper yourself with a pedicure.

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A*cute Accessories Photo Shoot with NYesq

Posted on February 9, 2012 by | Leave a comment

by Sherria

You all know that I’m totally in love with accessories! Check out a small photo shoot I did with NYesq on how to accessorize blue jeans and a white tee for a night out. Go to www.nyesq.tumblr.com.

A pair of sexy booties can add a little jazz to any outfit, especially during the colder months

I call this the "grunge" statement necklace. It came with a pair of earrings for $10 at a vendor in the mall. Don't be afraid to walk into a store that sells "junk" jewelry because you never know what treasure you'll find.

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Blazing Professionals with Cool Careers

Posted on February 8, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Yvonne

Yvonne’s career:

“I’m from the UK and work for an international firm that provides best practices research and advisory services to businesses. My title is  Account Management Associate. I support two Account Managers directly with their member organizations. We work with a wide range of organizations based across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

“My day-to-day responsibilities consist of responding to member requests, scheduling meetings with members and looking for new business opportunities. I am usually the first point of call for our members and prospects, so member requests could range from logistics to creating reports for annual board meetings.

Challenges

“Our busiest time of year is during the fourth quarter. At all other times things can slow down and become monotonous.

Rewards
“Having the opportunity to research an organization and find alignment between the top priorities of the CEO and the services we offer.

Where to start

“I went to London School of Economics and Political Science. In the UK, we don’t have majors and minors like universities in the States. However, I obtained a bachelor’s of science in International Relations. My current position is a graduate position and my networks from university played a significant role in me even being aware of the opening. My degree and my continued interest in foreign affairs helps me understand many of the business decisions both my organization and our members make on a daily basis.

“If anyone is looking to apply for the type of role in which I’m working, they should look online for resources. In any job search, you should have a genuine interest in the organization and its work. That tip seems obvious, but sometimes recent graduates are so interested in getting a job that they don’t think about if the company is a good fit for them.

Style in the Office

“The dress code is business casual. However, if there is an external meeting, we dress in business professional attire.

“I express my personal style in the office by  using shoes and accessories to put a spin on my traditional work attire. I am a big fan of blazers, chinos and loafers- which are my overriding work wear theme.”

-As told to A*cute editors by Yvonne. Special thanks to Yvonne for sharing her story with us. If you have any questions for her, please email us at lookacute@gmail.com and she will answer you as soon as possible.

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Posted in 9-5 Fashion, Q&A

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