Saving Dollars While Being Business Stylish - The Epoch Times

TWO IN ONE: The twiggy LONDON Skinny Reversible Belt with Studs, $19.90, HSN.com. (HSN.com)

Yes, weekends are for colors that pop, open-toe heels, and celebrity-like attempts at fashion, but the week is a lot more buttoned-up. Be it a conservative work space or a creative office that promotes individuality, the weekdays need an all-business attitude that applies to wardrobe as well.

A few years ago, I was the guest host of The Trend Report on the Home Shopping Network. Appearing live on HSN was no joke. The TV station promoted $3 billion a year in home sales to an audience of 96 million people. As a host, I was encouraged to wear power colors so that the audience could innately trust my style expertise.

Black and navy are the best for business because they carry an air of authority. Rich, dark tones of green, gray, red, and brown also work well. But I'm more of a hot pink, leopard print girl. How does one dress to accommodate the job and stay true to a unique sensibility?

I took to the streets of New York CityMadison Avenue to be exactto see what the working women were wearing.

True to the power color urban fashion myth, there is a lot of black and brown among great designer brands, too! Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, and Michael Kors do great sheath dresses, perfect for any given day at the office. While you may have to spend two paychecks on appropriate office wear, I've got some great Cheap Chic news that will keep your checkbook in check.

Past and current collections by the same big designer namesRalph Lauren, Calvin Klein, and Michael Korsare carried by stores like Marshalls and TJ Maxx. You can easily look for a similar design at close to 60 percent of the original price.

I caught Sascha on Madison Avenue on her lunch break, looking adorable in a brown Elie Tahari dress for $298 matched with $148 Cole Haan shoes and bright red nails that made her outfit pop! But it was her gold skinny belt, which was in fact Michael Kors, purchased at a full price of $55, that piqued my interest as far as adding individuality to an office outfit goes. The belt adds pizazz to your solid power color, and allows your personality to shine through even in a conservative workplace.

I love the twiggy LONDON reversible belt with studs for $20 at HSN. Since its reversible, its two for the price of one, and surely makes any power color roar. Matched with a perfect office find for $60 or less at the aforementioned department stores and an OPI nail polish in Red My Fortune Cookie, you've saved close to $300. Now, thats power.

Jess Zaino is one of 15 most influential style bloggers on the Web as part of the Glamour Magazine Blogger Network and as a Stylist has dressed many celebrities including Kelly Osbourne and Marla Maples for the Oscars. She is the co-host of the Style Networks Modern Girls Guide to Life and appears as a Style Expert on TV Guide Networks Fashion Team. She hosts Cheap Chic Shopping Tours in New York City (http://yourbellalife.com/cheap-chic-shopping-tours/).