Get It Together.

Last week was cray.  The long weekend meant an uber-crammed work week that culminated in a big pitch event for my new company.  I’ve been participating in an incubator program for female tech founders, and we had a demo day, pitching our businesses in front of an audience of ~500 people.  It was rad.  I have come such a long way from being absolutely, gut-wrenchingly TERRIFIED of speaking in public to actually enjoying the limelight.  And you know how I did it?  First, I’ve put myself in positions where I’ve gotten a lot of opportunities to speak in public; I’m convinced that practice is the only cure.  And a mentor recently told me that the only way you become fearless is by continuously pushing yourself out of your comfort zone.  #BOOM.  How’s that for Monday inspiration?  GIT IT.  Second, I had the amazing good fortune of consulting with a presentation/public speaking expert about a year or two ago, and one of the most valuable things he taught me was: “You know that feeling you get when you’re about to go up on stage?  Your heart is racing, you’re sitting at the edge of your seat, you feel a little light-headed?  That’s just your body telling you that you are READY for this.”  It was such a brilliant lesson — because it’s transformed me from feeling anxious to thinking: “OK, OK, I’m in the zone — this is just my body getting ready for the big time, telling me it’s ready to jam.”

Of course, I put a lot of thought into my wardrobe for the evening.  One other valuable tidbit from my speech coach was that you should wear whatever you feel most powerful in when you’re taking on a public speaking event, be it jeans and a blazer, a power suit, 5″ heels.  I feel at my best in a show-stopping dress and fabulous heels.  So I wore a white lace shirt dress from Cynthia Steffe (a few years old, but this affordable find is very similar) with my blush Rockstuds.  I felt like a million bucks.

I’ve been paying attention to my work wardrobe recently — I have so many meetings with customers, investors, and mentors every week and I need to project a sense of professionalism while also having an entrepreneurial vibe (project the brand, people!).  Sort of along these lines:

Below, some looks for nailing the sleek-and-chic look:

+Crisp romper ($90).

+Loeffler Randall espadrille (on sale for $147!!!!).

+Givenchy tote (on sale for $774).

+Striped shirtdress (Rachel Comey, $477).

+Balenciaga leather strap sandal ($592).

+Striped shirtdress ($35 — I positively LIVE in dresses like this).

+Aquazzura flats ($675 — M. Gemi makes a great similar pair for less).

+This Lizzie Fortunato for St. Frank necklace ($385) adds the perfect level of interest to a workdress.

+And this sweet sleeveless number (Milly, $385) is just too perfect: very Charlotte York.  Wear with a perfect blow-out and big pearl earrings and you’ve nailed the businesswoman-with-pedigree-who-enjoys-a-glass-of-white-wine-with-her-salmon-lunch look.

+Mr. Magpie just bought me one of these gorgeous Annabel Ingall totes (the color below is on sale for $290!) for my birthday and I’m obsessed.  Super high quality, and the perfect size to lug around my laptop, notebook, and miscellaneous must-haves.

For a more casual day at a coffee shop, perhaps a day when just meeting with my own team / our marketing firm, something like this chic denim jumpsuit ($129) works great.  Super chic with a low-heeled sandal like this Joie baby ($155).  Same goes for this bold could-shoulder dress ($90) — probably not the right tone for an investor/customer meeting, but still pulled together enough for internal meetings.  Though I did see a very pulled-together entrepreneur wearing this similar Tibi dress to some business meetings and she pulled it off!

A few other items to contemplate:

+This striped shirt dress (on ridic sale for $54) is comfortable and pulled together.  Could also double as a beach coverup!

+So my style ($148).

+Perfect cap toe flats ($108).

+Love this chic linen romper ($138).

+This linen shift ($138) is perfection.