Help Desk: Can a Preschool Teacher Be Stylish AND Realistic?

Today's Help Desk question comes from Meghan:

I am a preschool teacher, at a Christian school, and we have a very strict dress code. We must dress professional, business casual, but I'm running around with kids all day, so I need comfort and wash-ability when it comes to clothes. We must wear closed toed shoes, or sandals with straps (no heels). We can wear pants, capris, and the occasional dark denim jean, skirts and dresses, but they must come down to at least our knee. Shirts must have sleeves, must not be too tight, can't be revealing (at all), and need to be cool, as it is about to be summer time in Texas, and we spend a lot of time outside. I usually wear a pair of khakis, a fitted t-shirt made of a nicer material than a regular tee, a cardigan, and loafers. Boring. If I'm feeling exciting, I'll wear a skirt, sandals, and a blouse... with a cardigan. I have a huge walk-in closet full of clothes- mostly basics, but for some reason, I can't put together an outfit that is stylish for work. I'm starting to look like my kindergarten teachers- I'm afraid holiday vests and ankle length denim skirts are around the corner. :(

To read the rest of "Help Desk: Can a Preschool Teacher Be Stylish AND Realistic?", head over to Lindsay Ferrier's new column at The Stir by CafeMom.

Help Desk: How Should I Wear My Scarf?

I have gotten several requests asking how to tie a scarf. Well friends, I'm here to help!

Or actually, Melanie of The Big Mama Blog is. She produced, directed and starred in this video last year and it may be the first blogger video that I've ever been able to watch in its entirety. And that's saying something, people, because it is almost ten minutes long! Melanie is that good!

To read the rest of "Help Desk: How Should I Wear My Scarf?", head over to Lindsay Ferrier's new column at The Stir by CafeMom.

Help Desk: Find Me a Stylish Bag that Can Hold All My Kids' Stuff!

SSGI reader Autumn needs help! Here's her fashion dilemma-

I don't have a "babies aren't with me" social bag. I grab whatever sort-of looks in-season. Usually from Target circa 2002.

I also have a bigger problem. Their school is in my building for work. I look like a baglady when I walk in.

To read the rest of "Help Desk: Find Me a Stylish Bag that Can Hold All My Kids' Stuff!", head over to Lindsay Ferrier's new column at The Stir by CafeMom.

Help Desk: Shorts

The weather is getting warmer, which means it's time to drop some of those layers and show some skin. Consequently, my inbox has been filling up with e-mails from readers like Emily...

Dear Lindsay,

Now that summertime is nearly here, I have a very important question. We know your view on capris, but what is your official stance on shorts? Are they a do or a don't? Or a sometimes-it-depends-on-the-shorts-and-also-your-legs? If you are not completely opposed to them, could you show us some examples?Inquiring minds want to know.

To read the rest of "Help Desk: Shorts", head over to Lindsay Ferrier's new column at The Stir by CafeMom.

Help Desk: Arm Hair. Ignore or Eliminate?

Here's a great help desk question from a reader who wishes to remain anonymous:

I am 38 and part Italian. As part of my Italian heritage, I get a nice olive like complexion, but I also get hair. Yep, hair! Not just on my head, but well, all over the place - chin, face, legs, arms. Yes, I know all women get hair in all of these places, but my hair tends to be of the abundant, dark, dark brown variety. I can take care of the hair issue for most of my body (No Tom Selleck moustache for me, no thank you!), but I wonder about the arm hair issue.

Yes, that is my burning question: the arm hair.

To read the rest of "Help Desk: Arm Hair. Ignore or Eliminate?", head over to Lindsay Ferrier's new column at The Stir by CafeMom.

Help Desk: Your Turn!

I've had three requests in the last few weeks for which I just don't have good answers. And that's where you come in! I'll post the questions- You help with answers in the comments. An interactive help desk! Woo hoo!

Question number one:

To read the rest of "Help Desk: Your Turn!", head over to Lindsay Ferrier's new column at The Stir by CafeMom.

Help Desk: Crop Pants. Yay or Nay?

Regular She's Still Got It reader Julia has a question:

What is your take on crop pants? I have made the official declaration that I don't like them. I'm not sure anyone really looks good in them. They give the appearance of stumpy legs, and sqaure butts. Thoughts?

To read the rest of "Help Desk: Crop Pants. Yay or Nay?", head over to Lindsay Ferrier's new column at The Stir by CafeMom.

Help Desk: Which Sunglasses Should Nancy Wear?

Meet Nancy.

This is Nancy's current pair of sunglasses. She writes:

To read the rest of "Help Desk: Which Sunglasses Should Nancy Wear?", head over to Lindsay Ferrier's new column at The Stir by CafeMom.

Help Desk: How Old is Too Old for Long Hair?

Meet Shana.

Shana wants to know: "What is the expiration date on long hair? I am 44, and my hair is LONG. How old is too old to be sporting that look?"

To read the rest of "Help Desk: How Old is Too Old for Long Hair?", head over to Lindsay Ferrier's new column at The Stir by CafeMom.

Help Desk: Can You Find a Cheaper Alternative to This Neutral Skirt?

Today's question comes from She's Still Got It reader Krysta:

I'm looking for a neutral colored skirt (grey or natural color) to wear over leggings or tights with boots. It needs to be work appropriate (so not super short) but cute. I found one at LOFT (not on their website though) but it was $70 and I pretty much never pay full price. Any ideas?

Here's the skirt Krysta wants:


If you can wait, Krysta, the first thing I'd advise you to do is get on LOFT's mailing list and keep that skirt in your cart. LOFT often has fantastic sales where even new items are discounted up to 50% for a day or two and they will send you e-mails about the sales if you're on the list (today, for example, full price purchases are 25% off if your order includes pants)- and even if your skirt sells out before it's discounted, keep a close eye on it, because I've noticed LOFT often gets items back in stock.

But if you want a pretty neutral skirt RIGHT THIS VERY MINUTE? Here are some options at more affordable prices...

This classic pencil skirt from The Limited is on sale for $39.50- and it would go with just about anything.

To read the rest of "Help Desk: Can You Find a Cheaper Alternative to This Neutral Skirt?", head over to Lindsay Ferrier's new column at The Stir by CafeMom.