Dun dun DUNNNNNN. Can you handle the responsibility?

As I sat down to write this week’s post (about my love affair with several new shoe brands), a thought occurred to me. Are TWC readers interested in new and fabulous shoe brands? Are top ten lists (similar to last week’s laptop bag entry) something they would look forward to reading?

Looking back, I just dove right into last week’s post, didn’t I? I mean, YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW ME. However, I have a feeling some of you enjoyed it considering the one bag I wanted to buy on that list is now sold out. (Thanks for nothing. Really.)

Back to the task at hand, my friends. What do YOU want from The Working Closet?

Lists of new items/trends on the market? Q&A posts? Tutorials? A continuation of The Working Closet Flickr Pool? (I love this one, and am hoping to add some weekly themes this fall.) An integration of beauty-related posts? All of the above?

I’m just trying to get a solid idea of what you all would enjoy the most regarding The Working Closet. You know, so we can live in perfect harmony. While I teach the world to sing. (Did I just date myself?)

Any and all suggestions are welcome here. Speak now or forever hold your peace.

Considering I’m traveling this week for the annual Blogher conference, I can’t think of a better time to chat about laptop bags.

Ahhh, the laptop bag - finding the perfect one can be quite daunting, right?

It seems more and more women are commuting to work with their laptops in tow, so the importance of a well-designed, stylish bag is paramount. Some of the criteria that crosses my mind while looking for a new bag are style, size, function, quality and timelessness. The first four are relatively easy to distinguish, as most of us have varying style preferences and needs. Are you a light or heavy traveler? Do you find shoulder straps more appealing than tote handles? Do you like several smaller compartments or one larger space? How much are you willing to shell out for a bag?  All of these questions can really only be answered by you.

However, timelessness is key. Considering the price of quality bags these days, you need to get some bang for the buck. Sure, that vibrant orange and lime green floral pattern is fun, but are you still going to love it one or two years down the road? Maybe, but it’s something to think about before committing to a new bag.

Lucky for you (I hope), I have scoured the laptop bag market for some fantastic options. Most of these bags come in several different colors, so if you are interested in a particular shape or design, click the link for other colors.

Slide down my virtual rainbow, if you will. (Badum Chhh! I’ll be here all night, folks!)

Acme Made, $129.99

Samsonite, $79.99

McKlein, $159.99

Casauri, $94.00

Acme Made, $249.99

Crumpler, $85.00

Casauri, $74.00

Jojo, $99.99

Knomo, $250

Most the the above items can be purchased at Kolobags, which is a HAVEN of highly attractive laptop bags. I definitely recommend checking out their website if you are on the lookout, and please feel free to leave other stylish laptop brands in the comments. I’m a huge proponent of sharing the love, so join me in my quest to banish ugly laptop bags forever!

I’m Sarah, and I’ll be your new host at The Working Closet. I may or may not be a little nervous, due to the fact that I’m following in the footsteps of an incredible fashion writer, Susan Wagner.

Talk about some HUGE (yet perfectly pointy-toed!) FLATS that I must fill.

Let me take this opportunity to tell you a little about myself and my fashion manifesto.

1. I am a list-making savant. I love the idea of lists- organizing tasks, monitoring accomplishments, and keeping track of my daily grind. (Can you keep a secret? I actually write completed tasks on my list after the fact JUST TO CROSS THEM OFF.)

Ahem. Yes, you’ll probably be seeing a lot of lists around these parts.

2. I absolutely look forward to cleaning out my closet every season. (Crazy, right?)

3. I have a slight addiction to J. Crew, and will work very hard to keep this from turning into a J. Crew shrine.

4. Most busy patterns frighten me, but I’m working on becoming more accepting of non-solid-colored clothing items.

As for my fashion manifesto, I am a huge believer in owning 4-5 high quality basics as a wardrobe base to take you through season after season.

I believe in buying in bulk. (No, I don’t mean buying your clothes at Costco. If you find an item you love and looks absolutely fantastic on you, buy it in several colors.)

I believe accessories are the items that will allow you stand out from the masses.

I believe a proper, professional bra fitting can instantly take years (and pounds) off your frame.

I believe that current trends shouldn’t be discounted, but sometimes need to be “adapted” to accentuate bodies that aren’t 5′11″ and 125 pounds.

With that being said, I promise I will NEVER attempt to persuade you to wear this:

My eyes! My eyes!

Or this:

Hold me.

Or these:

Someone wake me from this nightmare.

Are you catching my drift? Excellent.

Joking aside, I’m so excited for this opportunity and can’t wait to help work YOUR closet! See you next week!

photos care of togshop, intermix and steve madden, respectively.

“Fashion fades, only style remains the same.” Coco Chanel

There are few simple rules for being stylish: wear what works for you, and what fits; think about your body and your life and your own specific taste. Don’t follow the trends just because everyone else is, but don’t discount trends entirely — make them part of your own personal look. Shop your closet before you shop the mall, keep your underwear out of sight, and save those flip flops for the pool.

Otherwise, it’s pretty much up to you.

This is my last post at The Working Closet. I could tell you all about how I am trying to find a better balance in my work and personal life, to measure what I do for a living and how I actually live, but I know that you are all familiar with that dilemma. So I will just say this: I have loved working here, both at The Working Closet and at Work It, Mom! I have loved being part of this community, and I will miss it terribly. I have been impressed, over and over, by the kindness and civility you have all shown me and each other, by the way you are able to disagree without stooping to attacks, and by the way you have responded to the very few commenters who have not used their best manners. I have enjoyed your comments and emails and the posts you have written about your lives and your closets.

I am leaving The Working Closet in excellent hands; the incomparable Sarah James will be taking over, starting shortly. I can’t imagine anyone I would rather have in charge of my closet — real or virtual — than Sarah, and I can’t wait to read her advice.

The Working Closet blog will continue on, but I will be elsewhere. Thank you for making this such a success.

The following post is from the archives of Friday Style.

I went to a swank cocktail party over the weekend; the invitation specified that the attire was “after five.” When my friend Molly called to invite me, she said, “I don’t know about your house, but at my house, after five usually means pajamas.”

“After five” is not a style concept that most of us do very often, and when we are compelled to get our party duds on and go out, we often panic. In the last week, I have gone to a funeral, a ladies’ luncheon, and a cocktail party, none of which are part of my typical weekday events calendar. How do you know what to wear? Easy. Read the rest of this entry »