Susan Fales-Hill knows how to make an entrance. While a senior at Harvard, she had a fortuitous meeting with Bill Cosby– and arrived with a parody script and audio tape she’d prepared. “I knew you don’t just go meet someone and show up with nothing but a smile,” she says. “I thought, this is an opportunity; show him your stuff!” That performance earned her a job as a writer’s apprentice on The Cosby Show.

She went on to work for A Different World–becoming its head writer/co-executive producer– followed by 15 years as a television producer and writer. Next, she shifted to prose, writing the critically-acclaimed memoir, Always Wear Joy, about her late mother, actress and performer Josephine Premice. Now, she’s turned to fiction. Her debut novel, out this month, is One Flight Up, a juicy, fun-filled take on the lives of four multi-cultural girlfriends. Think Sex and the City, with an international twist.

Here, Susan shares a few of her secrets in work and in fashion (she’s been named to the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame).

Inspired by: friendships; textiles; books by Charles Dickens; the painting of her mother in the mezzanine at the New York Public Library (her go-to writing spot).

Style trademark: blouses with dramatic poet sleeves; bias cut gowns for evening

Writing motto: Don’t get it right; get it written.

Work look: “I get dressed to write: slacks, dresses, maybe even a suit.”

On following your bliss: “Don’t think you’ll necessarily become a multi-millionaire by doing what you love. You might just have the gift that you get to do what you’re passionate about. It’s a risk you’re taking.”

Footwear: Flats by Tod’s. “I don’t believe in wearing flip-flops– except at the beach or leaving the nail salon!”

Fitness routine: Reformer pilates, three times a week.

Beauty must: Perfume. “My first love is Amazone by Hermes.”

To learn more about Susan (and peek inside her swoon-worthy “closet”), visit www.susanfales-hill.com.

The designer of several eponymous collections–including her new affordably-priced Rachel Rachel Roy line at Macy’s– shares a bit of what she’s learned about work, life, and looking great.

What elements does an item of clothing need to look expensive even when it’s not?

As a shopper, you should look for good fabric–how it feels when you touch it–and try the piece on to see how it’s constructed. You still might have to get it altered for a little more cost, but tailoring helps the piece look richer right away. Also, check the stitch. If a designer uses a very thin thread, it looks much cheaper than a nice, thick thread. You hear about thread count with sheets, and it’s the same with stitches. If the thread is thicker, I find it makes the garment look richer. Those are little touches I try to give to my [Macy's] collection.

What did you learn back as an intern at Rocawear that prepared you for running your own business?

I learned so much! I think when you work in every department, even departments you don’t like, you learn to appreciate every position.  Working in, for example, the mailroom and in marketing, I learned seemingly little things like how much messengers cost and what time FedEx closes. But those are the things that you actually need to know to run your own company. Also, I’m used to the long hours because I did intern. Now, I don’t mind the hours because I’m working for myself.

You recently told Vogue that you don’t make the gym an utmost priority given your busy schedule as a mom of two daughters.  How do you keep it all together, so to speak?

It’s not easy. I do take it one day at a time, and try to make time for myself, literally just “mind-melting.” Some people call it meditation; I call it mind-melt. Everyday for a few moments (not even 10 minutes if I don’t have it) I either talk to myself or, since I’m a bit spiritual, I talk to God, just trying to put everything into alignment. I also do deep breathing. All of these things sound so corny that I hate kind of listing them, but if you try it when you’re alone–just a deep breath, or sitting up straight–it works. It calms me, and I’m able to be more present for the people that deserve it, like my two little girls.  They deserve a really active, present mom. So, that’s what keeps me going.

To learn more about Rachel, visit www.rachelroy.com.

Photo Credit: Barry Williams

Visiting around the country for the book tour I’ve discovered lots of fun, useful items.  All of the following are Go-Getter Girl approved!

1. Luna Bar “Minis”: only 80 calories, for when you only need two bites of healthy goodness, not a full energy bar. So cute and delish.
2. MedeTate by DERMAdoctor: So far, these pantent-pending, anti-sweat towlettes REALLY DO work, more effective than Secret or Degree Clinical Strength, et al. I almost can’t believe it.
3. Searle Collection dresses. Compliment-getting sheath dresses that are smart/sophisticated/sexy and come in great jewel colors. Found mine for under $200 at Tootsie’s, but seems like they might be more expensive online, not sure why.
4. Fresh Soy Face Cleanser: A gentle, non-drying cleanser that gets eye makeup off. Yummy fragrance, too.
5. CVS spray hand sanitizer: Non-slimy and discreet anti-germ solution.
6. Moleskin Ruled Notebooks. I’m a fan of the Moleskin Reporter notebooks, and received these lovely, thin red journals as a gift from Books, Inc. in San Francisco. Can’t wait to use them!

Remember when you’d get all excited about planning the perfect outfit for the first day of school? Then you entered the work world, and the big fall debut is less about a first day of class “reveal” and more about that first chilly day when you can finally break out out your new tall boots, or colorful coat, or sassy autumnal lipcolor.

Clever marketers they are, Bobbi Brown has put that “back-to-school” feeling into makeup with its new fall “Ivy League” collection, featuring a range of preppy meets classy meets sexy offerings. Standouts include the creamy eye pencils, available in a range of rich, feathery hues like Dusk and Caviar. The muted-jewel shades blend in almost like an eyeshadow and have just enough color to brighten your eyes (and your day) but still feel daytime appropos.

For nighttime try the pearlized limited edition shadow in Golden Leaf– a goldtone neutral with a hint of smoke– or the Forest Shimmer Gel Eyeliner, a long wearing, glamorous deep green.

You’ll feel first in class (couldn’t resist ).

Photo credit: Bobbi Brown

Think about it, when’s the last time you’ve actually seen your toenails? But for that brief interval during the filing/clipping/scrubbing portion of the pedicure, many of us see nary a glimpse of actual nail from the second the sun shines in spring until that first (or second!) frost of fall.   Ever wondered, don’t our toenails need to “breathe”?  Apparently, yes: wearing polish constantly can dehydrate your nails and even stain them. Renowned ped-expert Bastien Gonzalez (whose pedicures have been reported to run upwards of $140) has been a longtime proponent of the polish-free pedicure, preferring to buff nails to a shine with a special buffing cream. Earlier this year, Gonzalez did bend a little in his anti-varnish stance, launching an exclusive red nail polish with the One and Only resorts; his polish of course contains no formaldehyde or other nasty chemicals. 

If your digits are suffering from polish overload, you take a break on your next salon visit and ask that toenails to be buffed only (no clear polish). Or, become extra vigilant about removing the color in between visits, say after two weeks even if the color still looks impeccable. 

But something about brightly-polished toesies just says “summer” to me, and it’s hard to imagine going buff all season… especially when all we’ve got on is a thong (sandal, that is). 

Exhibit A: my toes sometime in May, whose nails have sported a rotating shade of coral/pink ever since.