5 Things Not to Do When You Work from Home

Plenty of women would like to work from home. Smartphones and laptops make it easier than ever. But if you score a telecommuting arrangement, remember, “It takes discipline,” says Sara Sutton Fell, CEO of FlexJobs, a job service that helps professionals find flexible and often work-from-home gigs. “You have to take it very seriously.”

Keep everyone on board by avoiding these big mistakes:

1.  Being late or absent on calls.

When an employer or client sees you in an office, there’s, “a certain level of trust, whether it’s earned or not,” says Fell. If you’re late to an in-office meeting, people assume you were finishing up an email—not that you were sleeping or watching TV. “You have to go into [working from home] thinking that the first time something goes wrong, in the employer’s eyes it can be much more of a problem than if something goes wrong in the office.” The lesson? Be prompt, focused, and prepared.

2.  Skimping on childcare.

While it seems wasteful to pay a sitter to cover naptime, all it takes for a boss or client to lose faith in you is one interrupting shriek from a toddler during a conference call. “It is your job, and you want to portray yourself at all times as professional,” says Fell.

When an employer or client sees you in an office, there’s a certain level of trust, whether it’s earned or not.

3.  Procrastinating with housework.

Yes, you can empty the dishwasher on your lunch break, or throw the laundry in the dryer between calls, but be careful not to let distractions creep into time you planned to work. Definitely don’t let people hear the familiar sound of clattering dishes on a call—it’s distracting and unprofessional.

4.  Failing to set boundaries.

Make sure friends, family, and neighbors know that just because you’re at home doesn’t mean you’ve got time on your hands. You can’t wait for the cable guy for everyone in the neighborhood, and you can’t be held responsible for all household maintenance just because you’re in the house.

5.  Working too much.

On the flip side of all this, having a home office can make it hard to truly disconnect. If you’re not careful, you can find yourself parked in the “office” most nights and weekends. “You can become your own worst enemy pretty easily,” says Fell. If you wouldn’t put up with a boss who ran a sweatshop, don’t create your own.

Now that you know what not to do, read Tips for Staying Sane when Working from Home, to learn some things you can do to stay happy and productive.

Needs A Style Do-Over For 2013

Katie Holmes’ sense of style may have been compromised in 2012 by her rather turbulent divorce from Tom Cruise—and from Scientology. But there are no excuses in the game of fashion, and there’s no better time than the New Year for this star to launch a sartorial revamp.
She has a propensity for dressing way beyond her 34 years, in looks that are too mature, sometimes slouchy and ill-fitting, and, daresay, even drab and frumpy.
Occasionally, Katie pulls off a good stare-worthy statement (her Elie Saab confection at the 2012 Vanity Fair Oscar party was divine), but too often there’s a mom-jeans vibe clouding the picture.
She needs to take a cue from her sugar-sweet, six-year-old daughter, Suri, and dress more youthfully.
There’s no question Katie is a natural beauty and has an eye for fashion; she’s the first celebrity face for Bobbi Brown cosmetics and co-represents her own Holmes & Yang collection, after all.
Plus, she’s the perfect hanger with a dynamite post-divorce “revenge” body working for her. Now, she just could use a better closet and a concentrated effort to embrace more elevated fashion—or maybe she just needs a good stylist.

Credit: INFDaily & Getty
Read more of article: http://www.redcarpet-fashionawards.com/2012/12/23/needs-a-style-do-over-for-2013/

I love this style with the "celine" shopper's luggage bag, you too?

Who:	Lily Aldridge wearing an Alexander Wang tumbled crepe shirt
Shop:	Alexander Wang $297 Shopbop.com $346.50 / £223.67 Saks.com $346.50 / £229.05 Neiman Marcus $297
Where:	Out & About, New York

Credit: Getty

See the article: http://www.redcarpet-fashionawards.com/category/shopping/

Paris Fashion Week and more...

The Fashions of Kanye West (a review)

We weren’t at Kanye West’s show today, but in this age of Twitter, you almost don’t have to be anywhere anymore–just follow a few well-placed people and you’re all set. Plus it’s fun to piece it all together, sort of like a scavenger hunt.
So, here goes:
1) Several tweeters noted that the rather cavernous space was pretty empty close to show time, which was 930pm in Paris. @BritishVogue tweeted: “Kanye’s show ominously empty. Might go home + make up a report based on rumour+lies for fun #pfw” Elle‘s Joe Zee tweeted: “Crazy door scene at @KanyeWest show but inside, there’s a quiet anticipation. Show starting soon. Buckle up kids.”
2) But there were definitely a few notables there: Kim Kardashian (who tweeted a pic of those $6,000 Kanye shoes), Diddy, Jay-Z, Big Sean, Azealia Banks,Cassie and Alicia Keys were all there. But that’s quite a different crowd than the fashion insider-y one that showed up last season to support him. (Except for the now unemployed Stefano Pilati, who we spotted in one lone front row picture.) UPDATE: Getty incorrectly identified Riccardo Tisci as Stefano Pilati. The plot thickens…
3) Oh, and Anna Wintour sat next to Andre Leon Talley, who appeared to be wearing velour pants and Uggs. A quick review of today’s Getty showed that he’s been wearing them all over Paris. We’re not sure what to make of this development, but will be watching Vogue carefully for Ugg editorial placements.
4) Karlie Kloss and Carmen Kass walked the show.
5) There were only 20 looks, so no one can accuse him of not editing well.
6) There was a lot of leather, an enormous fur backpack, and something that looked like a cross between a whip/leash/riding crop/long belt.
7) The shoes were mesh and on the most spindly heels ever, and the boots featured straps that we have to admit looked kinda badass.

8) There were go-karts both during the finale and at the after party. Super hot pic of model Anne V at after party with Kanye, tweeted by her at right.
9) Azealia Banks, Common, Big Sean, and Mos Def all performed at the after party, prompting Azealia to tweet: “That was the most fun I’ve had this year! @kanyewest”
10) And the first review is in. The NYT‘s Eric Wilson had quite a bit to say, and it wasn’t great. He pointed out that the front row (see number 2 above) “gives some idea of the target customer he has in mind for a collection that seemed desperately trying to project both an aura of coolness and easy availability.” It didn’t get much better from there. Kanye was supposed to do a preview for the press, but decided to cancel it last minute…while Wilson was already in the showroom. “‘I don’t know about this,” Kanye said said. “I got treated unfairly by the press last time. Why would I want to do this?’” And then he kicked Wilson out. Wilson watched the show objectively, but pointed out the “questionable fur looks” and that “Mr. West’s approach to making a dress was like a cook wrapping leftover turkey.” (He DID like an oversized sweatshirt, however.)
Click through to see pictures from the show. What do you think?
Photos: Getty, Twitter

What is "Fashion Week?"