Heading out on the job hunt? Here a few tips to keep in mind:

-Be sure to dress in an outfit that is one "level" above the position you are applying for. A dress or pantsuit is always acceptable. (Don't forget, it's always better to overdress!)

-Be sure to wear color near your face; do not make the mistake of wearing all black (unless you are trying to become a Starbucks barista). Different shades of blue look great on most people and tends to send a message of loyalty and dependability. Red is a great shade to connote power and boldness. Avoid baby pinks/blues, bright yellows and oranges, especially if you are under 30.

-Pay attention to the details: make sure your hair is trimmed and smooth, your nails are a neutral shade and not too long, your nylons are a neutral shade with no runs (bring an extra pair just in case!), and your shoes are unscuffed and polished. Go very easy on the perfume; this is one place you want to simply smell clean, not like a gardenia or a blueberry muffin.

-Wear flattering but neutral make-up: don't go overboard on the black liquid eyeliner, shimmer, blush and eye shadow, or super glossy lipgloss.

-Don't be afraid to wear jewelry. In fact, a fun piece of jewelry can help interviewers remember you and can be a great conversation piece, but you need to have the confidence to carry it off. The jewelry needs to be perfect for your outfit, like a just-chunky-enough necklace or well-matched broach. When in doubt, wear small gold or silver hoop earrings, small diamond stud earrings, or pearls.

-If you are interviewing for a creative job, you can still wear a suit, but punch it up
with funky jewelry or a scarf. Or you can wear an "unsuit"--a "unmatching" but coordinated jacket and dress/pants combo that still has the clean lines of a suit without the matchy-matchiness of a regular suit.

-Practice interview questions with a friend (lots of great ones on monster.com and careerbuilder.com). Be prepared and know as much about the company you are applying to as possible. Show interest in the organization and your interviewer.

-Have confidence in yourself and your abilities.

Good luck and have fun on your job hunt!

I was in Target on Monday, shopping for toothpaste, when I noticed a general madness gathering in the school supply section. Droves of mothers, armed with lists of colored pencils and notebooks, escorted their children throughout the aisles in search of the perfect Lisa Frank pencil case.

I remember those days lovingly, but I am well beyond the years of heart-shaped erasers and scented markers. Just because corporate America is your reality, doesn't mean your cubicle and desktop must be drab.

Hare are a few suggestions for fun office accessories:

Your mouse is bored. That chewed-up sorry piece of grayish foam is not only dirty, but circa 1993. Give your mouse a new domain from which to roam with a decorative mousepad, in an array of colorful patterns.

While innovative as they may be, the standard-issue yellow Post-It couldn't be any less attention-grabbing. Replace those sticky squares with eye-catching statements to record every important note.


If you're the office scrub, one of your responsibilities is to go through every piece of mail that enters through the doorway. And chances are, because your boss is too lazy to open his own mail, he has you do it for him. Orders are orders, but why suffer with paper cuts too? At least the most mundane task has the potential to be somewhat exciting...

For the sake of efficiency, buy this highlighter flower right now. First of all, you've got access to five different hues of highlighter in a compact shape. Second, you will appear to be hanging on every word uttered at those board meetings. In actuality, you will be furiously doodling on your upward tilted clipboard, and what better way to do it than with multicolored highlighters. Something's got to keep you awake, right?

It's important to know the office lingo. Impress your boss with your knowledge of words like "synergy" and phrases like "paradigm shift." Show off your savvy vocabulary by practicing with these flashcards. They also make a great conversation piece when flirting with the hottie in the next cubicle.

We can all agree with Milton--a red stapler is a big deal. And if it goes missing, we might just be tempted to burn the building down. This red beauty will come in handy when you need to staple together that stack of TPS reports. Riiiiiiight...


Vacation's not for another 237 days, but that doesn't mean you can't at least pretend you're sunning at the beach. Complete with it's own real sand, seashells, beach toys, and even a chair, this tropical desktop accessory will take your mind off those looming deadlines.

Photos linked to online vendor.

I just read a great book.

Now normally I wouldn't be reviewing books for this website. I mean, we're into fashion right? By the time anything fashion related is written, edited, and published, the fashions have changed. But this book is different, and I had to share it with you. It is pure genius.

I am 5'3" and a size 8. Not skinny, not fat. I'm definitely out of model proportions, though, and for that reason I found this book tremendously useful, and tremendously freeing as well.

Danica Lo
is your average gal, and the average gal is her audience. Reading her book is a breath of fresh air after the stuffy maxims of Vogue and the like. Lo reminds us of what's really important: not looking fat. Her maxim? It's time to get real.

I now view Lo as a personal soul sister of fashion. Some of her rules:

A V-Neck, 3/4 top is the most flattering thing you can wear. Period. This isn't a huge surprise, but I know now what to pull out of my closet on a bad day.

Star with a good foundation. If we've said it once here, we've said it a million times. Nice to know someone besides our grandmothers back us up.

Insist upon a perfect pair of jeans. Are the pockets too high? Your butt will look like it's sagging. Too low? Your butt will appear to be busting out all over. Too far apart? Too big of a butt. You get the picture. Lo (who has never been below a size 10 in her adult life) shows us how to find the perfect pair of jeans.

Some other tips:


Operation Hand On Waits: How to look good in a photo shoot
Exercise If You Must: What to wear to the gym
How to Smell Thinner
Banishing Back Fat (Until it becomes stylish)


You want to hear my favorite piece of advice?



You're gorgeous. Deal with it. As Lo so confidently states in her introduction, this book may change your life. It's changed mine. It can change yours. More than helping you look good, Lo communicates an important message--one that we at Las F strive to communicate: You are beautiful, as you are. This is the body that God gave with you to walk through life. Work it!


ETA: Danica Lo also has a blog. Check it out!

Eva demonstrates why pockets are a dangerous thing. Pockets are great...for chapstick, ID, the occasional feminine product. Pockets are not great for hands--unless you want to look bored, bulky around the hips, or handless.

Doesn't the hands-in-the-pockets look seem so casual? Sure, pockets are useful, especially when you don't want to carry a purse, but doesn't it just seem like Sandra Bullock couldn't be bothered to get a manicure or something? What's your take, fashionistas?

As many of you, I receive the beauty and fashion publication, Marie Claire, in the mail monthly. You can imagine my surprise when I received the July issue, featuring a post-operative Ashlee Simpson, accompanied by an article highlighting how much she loves her unique body and wants teenage girls to have confidence in the quirks they were gifted.

I stared at the cover for a moment, looking at Ashlee's new nose, wondering if she simply "forgot" that she underwent plastic surgery recently. In the article, Simpson says, "Everyone is made differently, and that's what makes us beautiful and unique. I want girls to look in the mirror and feel confident."

Word on the street is that Marie Claire subscribers are outraged at the hypocrisy. Marie Claire even went as far as to offer a public statement of apology from new Editor-in-Chief, Joanna Coles, “We’re dazed and confused — and disappointed — by her choice, too!” However, I find it hard to believe that Marie Claire didn't realize some sizeable changes in Miss Simpson's nose before the publication went to press...

Personally, I'm a little disappointed. I liked Ashlee's old nose because it was created uniquely for her. And I'm even more puzzled at why Ashlee would agree to be featured in a cover story promoting individuality in womens' bodies, when she herself obviously doesn't believe it.




I don't necessarily want to open up a big debate about the the good vs. the bad in plastic surgery, but I do want to ask you, Las F reader, how do YOU feel about this?

Photos courtesy of iVillage.