The Other Side of Life 24/7: The Cynical Girl: FALL 2012 HR FASHION TRENDS

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

The Cynical Girl: FALL 2012 HR FASHION TRENDS

FALL 2012 HR FASHION TRENDS

Posted: 08 Oct 2012 06:45 AM PDT

Hello, everyone. I am at HR Tech. For those of you who don’t know, I once went to another HR conference and said that Coach purses and french manicures were the hallmarks of every credible HR lady. But that’s so 2010. HR has evolved, people. We have a seat at the table. So let’s talk about what’s so RIGHT NOW for my colleagues.

Tory Burch. I called this emerging trend a few months ago and my prediction is coming true: Tory Burch is the new Coach. The shoes are especially popular with HR ladies, right now. Since the weather is a little chilly, you will see these HR ladies pair their flats with leggings and a long sweater. For what it’s worth, I am iffy on the medallion.

Brighton Handbags + Accessories. This brand had momentum back in 2008 and I see it coming around in 2012. I won’t lie — my wallet fell apart and I bought a Brighton wallet at the airport on my way to a Human Resources conference in the spring. Dammit, I have my SPHR. I can’t fight it.

Estee Lauder. Move over Clinique. Your Bonus Days are getting smaller and smaller and HR ladies have moved over to Estee Lauder for foundation and eye cream for their aging skin. The Resilience line is especially popular with my friends and colleagues. Also, the Estee Lauder bonus gift bags are better.

The Messy Bun. Everyone in HR is finally starting to grow out the bob — including me. What to do with that crazy hair? It’s too short for the milkmaid braid, which is really very 2011. Thankfully, the messy bun is IN for 2012 and HR ladies will be rocking this look for three years. In fact, I think it never went out of style from the messy bun trend in 2006. Pro tip: wear a Scunni headband to pull back those weird face layers and it looks kinda cute. Another pro tip: stay away from the top knot bun in public.

The Sweater Coat. For the human capital professional who isn’t quite menopausal, I give you the sweater coat. It is poised to make an appearance in your local HR department. Honestly, I like it and I sorta miss my old job when I see this outfit. It’s comfy and says — I am chilly and I still have a few years before I give up.

Dark Nail Polish. Finally, we have to talk nails. The french manicure is still the ‘go to’ look for HR ladies. You know what’s really big right now at SHRM conferences? Dark nails. I saw blue, gray and maroon nails at #SHRM12. They look fabulous on some women — but not many. Dark nail polish looks better on young skin. If you have Madonna hands like I do, stay away. (I will probably have dark nail polish on when you read this.)