Q&A with Christie Lohr, Founder of Style Nine to Five

Many who dream of working in the fashion industry have little to go on except talent, determination, a prayer, and lots of luck. And while those things are still important, Christie Lohr, the founder of Style Nine to Five, wants to make the process slightly less daunting for those dreamers. Style Nine to Five is a nationwide website and resource that connects fashion industry employers with job seekers. (Think of monster.ca but focused exclusively on fashion.) Post resumes, browse the job listings, and read the insightful industry-focused blog posts for tips.

Having worked in a variety of fashion jobs herself, Christie is the perfect person to ask about building a career out of a passion. I caught up with her for a quick Q&A about the website and asked her advice on how to break into the industry.

You've worked in all different aspects of the fashion industry. Can you talk a bit about your career background?
My very first job in fashion was as a sales associate at Le Chateau. Admittedly, it’s a position many don't want to start in, but it was an important stepping stone. After many promotions, I became store manager of the flagship store on Robson. Years later, I wanted a new challenge and soon found myself flying to Montreal to take on my next career role as an assistant menswear buyer. This job was a real eye-opener about the reality of retail and a look at a side of the industry I didn't know existed, or had only heard of in movies. At any minute of the day, I was asked to present my division to the president of the company. Ready or not, I had to deliver. I learned to always bring something valuable to the table. I also realized what amazing talent and brilliance the company has.

After a short time, I came back to Vancouver where I became an editorial intern at FASHION Magazine. I had always dreamt of working for a magazine and knew I wanted more than what I was already doing. I applied three times before I was accepted. My advice to you is if you really want something, never give up. It just might not be your time yet. Don't let the word “no” discourage you, ever. Interning at FASHION opened many doors for me in the writing world and I eventually launched my own website, christielohr.com. After the internship, I became a retail recruiter for Le Chateau. This is where the idea of Style Nine to Five came from.

As for my TV work, that all started for me when I went on as a spokesperson for Le Chateau. After I eventually left I continued the fashion segments on my own.

How did the idea for Style Nine to Five come about?
It was during my time as a recruiter that I realized the need for a fashion career website. Where were all these candidates who wanted to work in fashion? Not on other job sites I was using. I saw an opportunity to connect employers and jobs seekers in the fashion industry. During my time as a recruiter, I was also involved in HR, an area I missed when I was a store manager. I love to inspire, motive and help in the growth of someone's career. Style Nine to Five has allowed me to do this in a small way. That's really my passion.

How long has the site been around?
It will be one year in April.

What sorts of jobs can prospective job hunters find on your site?
Really anything in fashion: designers, buyers, visual merchandising, PR opportunities, retail management, editorial positions...the list goes on.

Do you ever get any job listings that make you go "Darn, I wish I could apply for this myself"?
The odd time, but running Style Nine to Five is a full time job and something that, at this time, can't take a back seat. Plus, I'm loving every minute and find it incredibly fulfilling!

What advice do you have for someone hoping to work in the fashion industry?
If it's truly your passion and love, doors will open for you but you need to be willing to put in a lot of hard work and time.

Don't be afraid to just ask. Invite someone for coffee and pick their brain, send that email, get out there and just do it.

Get a mentor, intern lots and network. Interning and starting from the bottom is not a bad thing. That's what I did and it's what will get you to where you want to be. What makes you different than the thousands of others who want the same job you do? You have to think about how you’re going to stand out. Perhaps it’s your eye for fashion or your work ethic. Being nice also goes a long way. I know it sounds simple, but be nice in everything that you do.

What's next for you, personally and/or professionally?
Continue to build Style Nine to Five, become more involved in the Canadian fashion community, and offer amazing opportunities to as many people as I can.

P.S. In case you didn't see it, I made Style Nine to Five's list of stylish Vancouver dot coms. The list includes quite a few fantastic bloggers and I'm flattered to be included. Thanks to the Style Nine to Five team!

6

Beyond Pink Conference All Male Panel

Today young women from across the Lower Mainland and beyond gathered at the Hyatt Regency for the second day of Beyond Pink, a two-day conference organized by Young Women in Business. I was lucky enough to attend the all-male panel at lunch along with media and bloggers covering the event live. Just before the panel discussion began, organizers invited us for a quick private Q&A with panel members.

From left to right: Matt Corker, Cameron Herold, Phillipe Desrochers, Mike Desjardins, Bob Elton.

The panel included:

• Chris Flett, founder of Ghost CEO, who advised women to ask for what they want
• Bob Elton, CEO of BC Hydro, who acknowledged that there are still issues women face in the workplace
• Mike Desjardins of ViRTUS, whose involvement with Beyond Pink stems from a desire to impart his own insights as an inspiration and a mentor
• Cameron Herold, founder of Backpocket COO, whose main message was "The past is history--get over it"
• Jason Pires, weekend sportscaster with CTV, who spoke encouragingly of the opportunities in media for women
• Matt Corker, alumni relations manager for UBC's faculty of science, who maintained that women have more to offer in the workplace than merely their gender

Moderator Phillipe Desrochers (Hari B. Varshney Career Centre, Sauder School of Business, UBC) posed questions to the panelists and kept the discussion lively. So, what do the panelists think about...

...feminism and the struggle for equality?

Chris Herold: "Get over it." Namely, activism and the aggressive, public struggle for equality were things of the past and women should move on. Nowadays, such politicized rhetoric actually impedes businesses rather than helping achieve results.

...achieving work-life balance?

Bob Elton: "In a large company, they define a job in a way that excludes a lot of people." The old 9-to-5 regimen won't work for employees who are increasingly focused on quality of life and priorities outside of their jobs. Companies will have to catch up to the times to retain their skilled workers, particularly female workers who value work-life balance.

...the impact of pregnancy and maternity leave on a woman's long-term career prospects?

Cameron Herold and Chris Flett both agreed that pregnancy should not impede career growth as long as women plan for it professionally. In Flett's words, "You can have a family if and only if it doesn't affect your boss." Both men advised women to be upfront in speaking with their managers and to make concrete plans for how their workload will be handled in their absence.

...how an ambitious woman can avoid the "bitch" label?

Matt Corker argued that being called a bitch or dragon lady isn't exclusive to women--men who excel in business are called assholes and derided, but the difference is that men have had centuries to get used to it whereas women are just dealing with it now. Meanwhile, Flett offered these words of wisdom: "Aggressive and assertive are not the same thing. Passive means you’re going to be someone’s bitch. Aggressive means someone who’s scared of being passive and so they get in people’s faces. An assertive woman is the most powerful type of person in business."

...why women are consistently paid less than men for the same job?

Almost all panelists agreed that women won't speak up for themselves or ask for raises whereas men do. Said Flett, "The reason why women make less is because they’ll work for less. When you stop accepting less is when you’ll get more."

...breaking into the old boys' club?

The panelists stressed being intelligent, knowledgeable about what you do, not playing the sexuality card, and building relationships with members of both sexes.

Bloggers tweeting and live-blogging at Beyond Pink, from left to right: Rebecca Bolwitt, Ishra Sharif, and Sunny Shum.

There were many more insightful comments made during the panel session, too many to relay all of them here. A big thank you to YWiB and Beyond Pink's organizers for inviting me to an invaluable learning experience!

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Beyond P!nk Conference

Sponsored by Young Women in Business (YWiB), the Beyond P!nk business conference (November 13-14, 2009) invites young female students, graduates, and professionals for two days of inspirational speakers and workshops. Join 349 other driven young women to hear such speakers as:

• Patricia Graham: Editor-in-Chief, The Vancouver Sun
• Christopher Flett: Founder, Ghost CEO & Author of “What Men Don’t Tell Women About Business: Opening Up the Heavily -Guarded Alpha Male Playbook”
• Allison Mack: Actress, Smallville
• Smart Cookies: the hosts of a new TV show on the W Network and the authors of “The Smart Cookies Guide to Making More Dough”
• Judy and Devon Brooks: Founders of ‘Blo’ Blow Dry Bar
• Melody Biringer: Foundress of Crave Company

Event highlights include a gala, an all-male panel session, a mentor luncheon, and the Connect! tradeshow.

For more information, visit the event website. Register today! Tickets are on sale until October 30th, 2009 (that's this Friday, so hop to it!).

7

Stylish Thought Of The Day

Style and comfort need not be mutually exclusive. Last week, a coworker reminded me of this when she showed up to a morning meeting looking oh so chic in a sweater dress, tights, low-heeled boots, and matching statement earrings and necklace. When I complimented her, she enthused, "This is the most comfortable outfit ever! Everybody this morning has been telling me I look so good, but it feels like I'm at home in my pajamas. And it was the easiest thing to just slip on a dress instead of putting on a top and jeans." Then she grinned and said, "I think I might wear this every day this winter."

When you think about this, it makes sense. Sweater dresses and tights are stretchy and warm, whereas even the most comfortable jeans can feel constricting if you've had a big lunch or you're sitting at your desk for long periods of time. The next time I feel the urge to dress down, I think I might take my cue from my coworker and don a sweater dress/tights/boots ensemble.

23

Funny Shoes Are Worth It

I wore these shoes today.

"Nice shoes. They're kind of crazy," one of the (male) co-op students on my team said to me as we walked to the sushi restaurant for a team lunch. He squinted at the writing. "Actually, they're really crazy."

The other (male) co-op leaned in and squinted, too. Both of them couldn't get over the fact that one shoe was different from the other.

Two weeks or so ago, I wore these shoes to work. One of the documentation managers came by my desk to discuss release notes. We were looking up something on my computer when he suddenly said, "Do your shoes say 'Lady Luck'?"

Why yes, yes they do.

Last fall, another male coworker caught sight of my Kitson sneakers and couldn't stop laughing for 10 minutes. He finally stopped long enough to joke, "Who designed your shoes, Liberace?"

You see? Kooky shoes pay for themselves just by virtue of their amusement factor.

12

Today's Outfit: Skirt Day!

I've probably mentioned this many times before, but just for the sake of context, I'll say this again: I work at a software company with a very lenient dress code, and I'm quite thankful for it because I can wear jeans and sneakers to work whenever I want. However, this is just one of many factors conducive to casual dress at my workplace. For one thing, most of the people I work with are internal-facing (i.e. they don't interact with clients or people outside of the company regularly, if at all), so ultimately no one is out to impress anyone and we only have to look tolerably presentable to each other. Also, many of these coworkers are male; although a good number of them have sartorial smarts, they still prefer more casual clothes. Couple this with the laid-back vibe of the West coast, and suddenly jeans and sneakers become the implicit uniform du jour.

So what's a girl to do if she wants to break out of her wardrobe rut, if only for a day? Some of my female coworkers have a ritual called Skirt Day. They send an email calendar reminder to whoever's interested, telling her to wear a skirt or a dress on a designated day. Skirt Day usually ends with a dinner reservation and a couple of drinks. It's a chance to dress up, have fun, socialize with coworkers, and be an out-and-out girly girl.

Yesterday was my first ever Skirt Day, and I'm looking forward to more in the future. I chose to wear my Charlotte dress with a white tank layered underneath to conceal the low back and neckline. It turned out to be a great outfit for the hot day and the Tequila Kitchen patio in Yaletown, where I had delicious guacamole and tostadas de atun for dinner. Mmm.

• Pink and white floral dress (from Mexico)
• White tank top with shoulder ruching and ties (RW & Co)
• Low black wedges (Karen Elise)
• Pearl stud earrings (Claire's)

5

Fab Flats (Part 2 of 2 of the Shoe Advice Bonanza)

This week seems to be all about the shoes. Right after I posted about the A&N shoe sale, I got a request from D regarding mary-janes for his wife J. Then I got this message from a friend via Facebook who'd seen my A&N shoe sale post. Let's call her Miss Sushi Shoes for the sake of anonymity, and once you read the message she sent me you'll see why:

"Wow, gorgeous shoes... Any recommendations for cheap (but expensive-looking!) businessy flats? I need to go shoe-shopping for an upcoming job interview. That and all my shoes are either brown, boots, lime green, bright blue, or have sushi patterns on them."

Okay Miss Sushi Shoes, let's get started!

First of all, I'm very intrigued by these sushi-patterned shoes you speak of; why haven't you ever worn them around me? They sound like they'd be just idiosyncratic enough to get along famously with my Kitson sneakers:




I think we should schedule a playdate so our shoes can meet and get to know each other.

Anyway, a quick phone call gave me a few more specs to work with:

• The flats had to be extremely simple - "not even a bow on them."



• MSS wears a large shoe size and considers her feet to be fairly wide.



• The interview's on Tuesday, which means no Internet orders (darn, because I saw some cute flats on Piper Lime).



• Numerically speaking, her budget is $100 or below and $120 max. She doesn't want to spend "too much" but she still wants good-quality comfy shoes she can wear for a long time to come.



• Since it seems like she has every type of shoe except the basic black shoe that would look professional in an interview situation, I'm inferring from the help request that this is exactly what she's looking for.

My first recommendation would be to stop by the A&N shoe sale and see what they have. When I was there, they had a whole wall of simple quilted patent leather flats in red, navy, black, and gray for around $20 a pair - plus you never know what you'll find on the shelves. However, the A&N shoe sale is also kind of a crap shoot if you're looking for something as specific as a pair of simple flats. If you don't find what you're looking for there, I suggest hitting up the next couple of places.

The Bay

Just a hop, skip, and bus ride away from the A&N location downtown, the downtown Bay location has a droolworthy shoe department with a great selection. The reason why I'm recommending The Bay in particular is that this year they started carrying Lauren by Ralph Lauren stuff, a relatively affordable yet expensive-looking line that features a lot of classics. One of my all-time favourite pairs of flats is a black-and-white tweed pointy-toed pair with black velvet bows from Lauren by Ralph Lauren which, incidentally, I scored at last year's A&N shoe sale. I don't know exactly what The Bay will have, but a quick gander at the Zappos selection for Lauren by Ralph Lauren yielded these black leather beauties. I know she said no bow or detail, but the black ornament on the vamp makes it look expensive and classic, and it's the same colour as the rest of the shoe so it blends in.

Lauren by Ralph Lauren Pamela flat, $99



Naturalizer

The next stop that could yield some definite possibilities is Naturalizer, a chain known for their insanely comfy, work-appropriate leather shoes. Plus, Naturalizer shoes come in narrow, medium, and wide fits to suit every foot shape. I kind of wish I'd found the Dumia mary-jane when I was doing my mary-jane post.

Naturalizer Dossa flat, $71



Naturalizer Dumia shoe, $71



Once MSS goes out shoe-shopping she'll probably find a lot more possibilities than the ones I recommended above; flats have been in for a couple of seasons already and they come in so many colours and styles. MSS, if you're reading this, good luck with your job interview!

4

The Perfect Outfit For...Job Interviews

This time of year heralds a scary new beginning for new university and college grads as they leave academia and venture out into "the real world." Many fresh grads are familiar with the job-hunting process through co-op, internships, or just applying for part-time jobs, but this time around the job search takes on added meaning. After all, this is the first of a series of career-building moves you can make: a meaningful job which provides a great learning opportunity right now could pay off in dividends for your future. Now that the stakes for job-hunting are higher than ever, first impressions also matter more than before, and what better way to make a great first impression in a job interview than with a professional, polished outfit that also expresses your personality?

Many new grads and guidance counselors probably agree on the importance of a great suit. A suit looks professional and sleek and interview-appropriate in any situation, they argue. However, I know one girl who admits to owning one suit she only wears for interviews. The places she's landed jobs have business casual dress codes and she can usually get away with wearing jeans, a jacket, and pumps or flats.

For this reason, I'm split 50/50 on the "buy a suit" argument. If you're interviewing for a position that requires you to don a suit every day, buying a new suit for your interview would be a great investment that you can wear many times over. For a purchase like this, splurge, don't save! Something that fits you well with solid tailoring and great material will be worth it for years to come. I like places like Mexx, Club Monaco, and Banana Republic for classic-looking career wear and suits. Choose a figure-flattering silhouette, a suit with a 2-button blazer, and a wide-legged trouser.

Lightweight wool blazer ($198) and trouser ($98) , Bananarepublic.com



The example above might be a little heavy for spring and summer, in which case I really like the suit below. The shorter sleeve length, tucks and pleats, and gray colour lighten things up and go well with pastels or jewel tones.

Short-sleeve pinstripe jacket ($150) and trouser ($110) , Bananarepublic.com



If suits aren't your thing or you can't afford a new outfit (you're looking for a job, after all!), survey your own wardrobe for suitable pieces. Just follow these guidelines:

• Definitely no jeans allowed! Every job I've ever had has allowed me to wear jeans to work, but I never did when I interviewed for them.


• Nothing with rips, tears, or distressing.


• Nothing that makes you come across as uneducated (e.g. obnoxious logo tees).


• Avoid anything overtly trendy. You may love your oversized hardware-laden Guess bag and chunky patent leather platforms, but they might scream "party girl" to your interviewer and make you come across as an inexperienced collegiate, not a serious candidate.


• Don't show too much skin. Skirts should hit slightly above the knee at their highest. Cover bare shoulders with a jacket or cardigan. A V or scoop neckline can be flattering, but try on your outfit ahead of time to make sure it doesn't, ahem, reveal too much to your interviewer.


• To look polished and professional, go for tailored pieces with a lot of structure that skim over the body rather than clinging tightly to it.

With a little bit of TLC (i.e. washing, drycleaning, mending, ironing, lint-brushing), these career-wear staples from your closet can make you look and feel like a million bucks even as you're nervously clutching your resume and portfolio waiting for your name to be called:

• Dresses: wrap dresses, sheaths, shifts, anything in matte cotton jersey


• Trousers


• Blazers and jackets


• Cardigans


• Button-down shirts


• Lightweight knit sweaters

To finish off your look, go for a structured handbag with a classic shape and not too much hardware, and leather pumps or flats. As for jewelry, you can wear several classic-looking pieces (diamond studs, a silver pendant, a charm bracelet) together, or go for one standout accent like a bold multi-strand necklace with different coloured stones or several chunky bangles.

Other essentials:

• A black leather portfolio or folder in which you have duplicate copies of your resume, references, and work samples.


• A pen and pad of paper to write down notes during the interview.


• Breath mints.


• Fresh natural-looking day makeup.


• A comb.

3

Quoted: Weirdest Pseudo-Compliments I've Received to Date

"You look like you were one of the popular mean girls in high school."

-My ex-boss's 13-year old son when he found out I was actually the exact opposite in high school

"So did a customer-facing department try to nab you?"
"What?"
"Well, let's just say technical communicators = Addams family."
"Huh? Oohh you're saying most tech writers look like freaks and I'm somewhat normal?"
"YEES"

-My coworker trying to say I looked nice in the office Christmas party photos

"I've seen your Facebook...your life is like Sex and the City now!"

-An ex-coworker's comments during a long overdue reunion

1

Night Owls Unite!

I've had dysfunctional sleeping patterns for as long as I can remember. As a kid, I was always one of the last ones to fall asleep in my family and would be wide awake as late as 10 or 11 at night. In high school, I took 2-hour naps after school and did homework until 2 or 3 in the morning. Then in university I developed a nasty habit of konking out in a near-comatose sleep for 3-4 hours, waking up around 3 in the morning and staying fully awake for a good hour or so, and then going back to sleep but dozing lightly. I've always been a night owl, and any prolonged efforts to change that have resulted in spaced out mornings or prolonged sickness. During high school, I had to get up for extra credit classes that started at 7:30 in the morning, something I've never had to do since. Is it a coincidence, then, that that was the same year I experienced the worst health of my life, including chronic colds that resulted in a burst blood vessel in my nose and the most horrible nosebleeds for about an hour a day for a month straight?

It was thus with great interest that I read a recent Globe and Mail article that claims night owl behaviour is genetic. Variations in a particular gene that regulates circadian rhythms cause some people to have internal clocks with wake-up times as much as two hours behind those of early birds. (Or in my case, the internal clock seems all over the place.) The article also pointed out a recent workplace trend to accomodate night owls and eliminate some of the office environment prejudice exhibited towards night owls with more flexible hours, etc. Some of this prejudice includes commonly held stereotypes about night owls being lazier or not as productive.

To this I say, "Hurrah! It's about damn time." I've never been able to adjust to the 9 to 5 schedule (which with the crazy Vancouver commutes would require that I get up at 7 for work), and I thank the powers that be every day for my current job and its flexible schedule, which lets me come in as late as 10 am. Nonetheless, I definitely agree with the article in that I still feel as though it's an early bird's world in the workplace and old stereotypes die hard. Regardless of how much work you get done at the end of the day, people are still impressed quite easily by the fact that a person gets up at 5 and is at their desk by 7 in the morning. It lends an image of productivity and keenness that people are reluctant to extend to night owls.

I have met people who even consider being an early bird a bragging right in and of itself. I personally couldn't care less if a person is a morning person or not as long as that person is competent and gets their work done. I'm not an early riser by nature, so I choose to stay in bed a little later, come in a little later (and avoid rush hour traffic--yay!), and just stay later; because I'm not a zombie by 3 in the afternoon I feel I can get more done. If someone else feels that 7 in the morning is their most productive time of the day, kudos to them. However, I do not appreciate proud declarations of what time a person gets to work by, nor do I appreciate the subtle smugness of comments like "You're here early today--for you" when I do make it in at 8 or 9 on those days that I have early meetings I just can't miss.

All in all, I give credit to employers for recognizing that employees are individuals with different schedules, but there's a long way to go before night owl prejudice disappears completely.

0

Office Attire, Workplace Etiquette

In an article for the Globe and Mail style section, Amy Verner discusses the inappropriateness of going braless or wearing tops that show bra straps in an office environment. Verner's article basically points out that going braless can result in embarassing and unwanted attention, and offers advice on covering up and finding alternatives to the standard bra (camisoles, nipple covers, etc.).

The article is part of an ongoing column called Suitable, and it drew the most attention of any article in the series to date with 143 comments posted by readers in response. My quick perusal of the comments that were posted puzzled and disappointed me. Most of the contributors interpreted going braless in the office as a freedom of expression issue ("Women should be able to dress their own bodies however they want") and railed against conservatism and prudishness, complaining about the hypocrisy of oversexualizing female bodies yet asking women to cover up in the workplace.

In my opinion, these readers missed the point entirely. Wearing a bra to work is not a negation of self-expression or a suppression of female empowerment; it's more like an expression of workplace etiquette in the way it complies to an accepted dress code. Office attire evolved as a way of defining appropriate, inoffensive clothing to wear in a close space where you come into contact with different personalities daily. In any office setting, there are people with various religions, political viewpoints, and aesthetic sensibilities; some individuals may have more conservative views and feel really uncomfortable with a coworker who goes braless or wears cleavage-baring tops. By adhering to a dress code and erring on the side of more conservative dress (or in this case, wearing a bra), employees show they are making an effort to make their coworkers feel more at ease.

That being said, I work in an office environment that has no dress code and often sees employees come to work in jeans and sneakers. I myself am grateful that I can dress up or dress down depending on how I feel, and that I don't have to don a suit and pantyhose or cram my feet into high heels every day. In this context, wearing a strappy tank top that shows bra straps is not a big deal when compared to doing the same in a workplace where suits are the norm. However, even with such a lenient dress code, there are still some unspoken "common sense" rules almost everybody adheres to, including wearing a bra and not wearing anything too revealing.

1