Workwear 101: The Corporate Diva

Jill Marie Jones candid in Los Angeles, April, 2007.

Author/Lawyer/Producer Crystal McCrary Anthony hailing a cab in NYC and Tocarra Jones attending the 1st Annual Pre-BET Awards Party at Boulevard 3 on June 25, 2007 in LA.

The words “Corporate America” and “style” don’t often occupy the same sentence. Don’t let that deflate your spirits, there are plenty of ways to inject your personal style into your business wardrobe. Try not to limit yourself to stuffy, predictable suits and dresses. Pick suits with interesting cuts/shapes (see post below) and opt for block colored separates to pair with pencil skirts and trousers. Also use accessories to express your fashion-forward persona. A bold red bag or pair of shoes does wonders for an outfit and can brighten the most mundane day in the office ;)

Left to right: Cotton Stretch Broadcloth Shirt, $58 and Relaxed Button Front Skirt, $78 both www.anntaylor.com; Relaxed Button Front Skirt, $148 and Contour Jackson Tattersall Trouser, $128 both www.bananarepublic.com; Relaxed Stretch Pleated Bodice Dress, $138, www.anntaylor.com; Shirt Blouse, $79, Zara and Tweed Pencil Skirt, $29, www.newport-news.com

Left to right: Pelle Moda Bobbie Pump, $54.89, www.endless.com; Melchiora, $250, www.aldoshoes.com; Sarno, $89, www.ninewest.com; Joselyn, $24.99, www.bandolino.com

1. Bayong Wood Earrings, $20, www.oohboutique.com; 2. Red Birkin Bag by Hermes, approx. $1600, www.couturemode.com; 3. Pointy Pointelle Top, $29.99, www.frenchconnection.com; 4. Gold Double Heart Necklace, $22, www.guess.com; 5. Pellemelle Contour Belt, $95, www.shopintuition.com; 6. Southern Belle Pin, $16.20, www.alltherageonline.com; 7. Gigi Leather Tote, $658, www.coach.com; 8. Baxter, $49.95, www.bakersshoes.com

Jill Marie Jones in Essence…

I don’t know how I missed these scans, but anyway Jill Marie Jones is in the current issue of Essence magazine. She looks divine! There’s no better revenge than looking fabulous. Look out for Jill next year; she has three movies coming out including “This Christmas” co-starring Morris Chestnut. Do it girl!

Note: Lovin' Jill's lace dress? Then check these ladies out and click here for the perfect find. In fact, peep this dress from www.rampage.com.

Credit: Juicy News for the scans ;)

LBD Season...

Model Jessica White arriving at Diddy's Vibe Magazine Cover Celebration and "Press Play" Album Release Party at Crobar in New York City last month.
Amerie attending Max Azria's Spring 2007 Dinner And Cocktail party at Ten June Restaurant and Bar in September of this year in New York City.
Jamelia arriving at the Emporio Armani One Night Only Fashion show at Earls Court as part of London Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2007 in September of this year.
Jill Marie Jones on the red carpet of the First Annual ELLE GIRL Hollywood Prom party held at the Hollywood Athletic Club last year.
Elise Neal and Nia Long at the 2006 AAWIC Film Festival Closing Awards Ceremony last month in NY.

Every girl needs at least one, maybe two! The Little Black Dress (LBD) is a closet necessity, much like the gold sandal or perfect-fit jeans, it's a fail safe oufit as well as being classic. With Christmas and Thanks Giving fast-approaching, it’s time to get our party wardrobe into first gear. The women above make looking stunning seem easy… and it is! All we mere mortals need is the perfect black dress. See below for ideas...

Jill Marie Jones

Jill Marie Jones attending the Broadway opening night of "Chicago" at the Ambassador Theatre this past August in New York City.
If you search for Jill on www.gettyimages.com you’ll see some great photos of her on the red carpet; this girl knows how to dress. These polka dot dresses seem to be everywhere and the dots keep getting bigger and bigger! You know the deal scroll down for the hook up…

Steal Jill's Style...

Dress: Velvet Torch V-Neck Dress, $68.00, Nordstorm
Left to Right: Lemore, $99.95 (On Sale!), Steve Madden; Wallet Clutch in Black Croc by Merona, $14.99, Target; Nowell Necklace, $13.99, www.gojane.com

I’m on the fence about the yellow necklace, seems like she just throw it on last minute, but I think it just about works. I love this dress by Nordstorm which I spotted on Fashion Nette-work, it’s such a classic. You could always add color to this look by pairing the dress with a bright colored shoe, try red.

Best of the Rest...

Left to Right: Printed Cross Front Dress with Banded Empire Seam, $64.00, Rampage; Dotted Matte Jersey Halter Dress with Peekaboo Tulle, $39.99 (On Sale!), Rampage; Edlin Dress, $38.99, www.gojane.com

Here are some slightly cheaper alternatives to Jill’s dress.

Style on the Go...

U.K. singer, Samantha Mumba was at the "Nailed" premiere this week looking fantastic… Is it true she had Sisqo’s baby?!
Ashanti posing outside the Tao Nightclub at the Venetian Resort Hotel Casino during her surprise birthday party early in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ashanti turned 26 on October 13.
Jill Marie Jones attends the launch party for Our Stories Films at Social on last week in Hollywood, California.
Mya attendind the premiere for “Why I Wore Lipstick To My Masectomy” in NY at the end of last week.

Just below the knee is the perfect length for dresses and skirts. Whether you’re short, tall, big small, you can’t go wrong with this length – it flatters ALL. Samantha Mumba and Jill Marie Jones look effortlessly chic in their knee length black outfits. For those who don’t know, Samantha is half Zambian, half Irish and had a brief career high in 2000 when her album received international recognition, she even starred in a Steven Spielberg movie called “The Time Machine.” She hasn’t really done much since but has an album coming out at the end of this month. Good luck to her. Mya and Ashanti look very 1930’s – I can’t believe Ashanti just turned 26, she's older than me! Happy belated Bday!

Style on the Go...

Jill Marie Jones attended the Broadway opening night of "Chicago" at the Ambassador Theatre last night in New York.
Gabrielle Union was also at the "Chicago" premiere last night - Everyone is wearing red these days.
Amerie opted to attend the after-party for Usher's Broadway debut in "Chicago" at 'Nikki Beach' in New York
Meanwhile, Sanaa Lathan was at the party for Cynthia Garrett's "Love Conquers All" jewelry collection debut hosted by QVC.

Looks like the celebs had a difficult choice last night... "Do I attend the opening night of 'Chicago' on Broadway and support Usher's debut stage performance OR do I show some love to Cynthia Garrett, who just launched her first jewelry line?" I think Usher won! But in either case the celebrities looked FABULOUS! You can view more pics from both events via the slideshow on the left (you can double click on the pics to view them bigger or click once to activate the names of the celebs ;) Other celebrities in attendance for Usher's Broadway debut included, Mario, Phylicia Rashad, Gayle King and Rosie Perez. At the jewelry launch Holly Robinson, Shaun Robinson, Natalie Cole, Niecy Nash and CSI's Gary Dourdan (who is Cynthia Garretts new man!) all made an appearance.

Note: View some pics from the National Action Network's Dream Keepers Awards Honoring Clarence Avant, Ken Sunshine and Congresswoman Maxine Waters here!