In one shimmery stride, Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton has brought back sheer pantyhose. Well, I couldn’t feel more vindicated! Readers will know that I’ve stood by the nude stocking as a necessary wardrobe element in certain professional situations, like job interviews. Apparently, they’re royal protocol as well, which is why Kate donned them during her recent trip to Americas. You can’t deny Kate looked great in each and every one of her designer ensembles– and fashion insiders agree her nude stockings looked “elegant” not dowdy. Love it! Nude hose are now flying off the shelves in Britain. Will America be next? Just be sure to get a high-quality, lightweight sheer version, like Spanx All the Way.

Photo: Lionel Hahn – WPA Pool/Getty Images

Maternity maven Liz Lange began her career as an assistant to a features editor at Vogue, but it never felt like the right fit. After meeting a struggling clothing designer, she caught the fashion bug, and begged him to let her apprentice. “I still didn’t have any intention of starting my own line,” she says. That is, until she saw her pregnant friends squeezing into regular clothes and became obsessed with an idea to create maternity fashions that were cuter, tighter, and stretchier than what was on the market.

First came her high-end line (loved by celebs like Sarah Jessica Parker) and several boutiques, then a wildly successful marriage with Target.  Having sold her company for a reported $50 million in 2007, her newest ‘babies’ are a non-maternity line for HSN called Completely Me, and a shopping newsletter with her sister called Shopafrolic.  “I’ve never written a business plan for anything I’ve done,” Liz says. “For me, it’s very organic—jumping on new opportunities that come my way.” Below, more work and life secrets from the designer and mom of two.

Currently reading: “My friend Alexandra Lebenthal’s fantastic page turner The Recessionistas and Delivering Happiness by Tony Hsieh (the CEO of Zappos.com).”

Must-have make-up item: Laura Mercier bronzing gel. “I mix it with my moisturizer every morning to give my skin that tan, glowy look.”

On trusting yourself: “The first year of my business I was paralyzed. Some days I just lied in bed in a curled-up ball when I could have been getting things done! I was asking for validation instead of actually doing something—instead of just believing in my gut instinct and going forward.”

Can’t live without: Constant blow-outs. “My hair is my obsession and I just can’t do it myself. Embarrassing but true!”

Hiring m.o.: Passion matters more than a fancy resume. “One of my best employees ever was a girl who wrote me a very specific letter when she was still in college, describing her excitement for my brand and her experience working for a competitor. She started as an assistant, and was eventually our marketing director.”

Fave vacation spot(s): Palm Beach and the Mayan Riviera with the kids during the winter, Paris in the Spring, Capri in July

Holiday stay-slim secret: “All year long, I never just eat to eat; I only eat what I love. (Okay, and I work out with a personal trainer 3 times a week so that I can eat what I love!)”

Advice for recent grads: “Spend your twenties allowing yourself to try a lot of different things. If there’s some way you can focus on what you might love—something that doesn’t feel like work (at least not all the time)—chances are you’ll end up being very good at it and making money.”

Wish for the new year: Clarity and contentment

To learn more about Liz, visit her website, or check out her latest venture, Shopafrolic.

“I’ve never stayed in a job just for the paycheck,” says cookbook author and former magazine editor Silvana Nardone. “If the passion is gone, I’ll leave and try something else.” During her career, she’s walked away from magazines to open an Italian bakery, then returned to become the founding editor of Every Day with Rachael Ray. Now, she’s left again to focus on writing books. Her recently released cookbook, Cooking for Isaiah, was inspired by her son’s diagnosis with gluten intolerance.

What’s helped her navigate out of the corporate terrain and back again? Having a strong internal compass, for one. A fan of flip-flops and jeans, she’ll leave in her nose ring for a job interview. “I don’t even own a suit! What you see is what you get,” she says. “Sometimes that works, especially because I’m in a creative industry, and other times, people feel I’m too naive.” As an editor-in-chief, she encouraged her employees to put family first. “People were really surprised when I told them ‘of course you should go see your kid in the play!’ You don’t have to suck up to me. Just do your job and do it well.”

That’s an approach Silvana has taken in her own career: focus on the product, don’t get bogged down in politics. “I want you to experience the best I have to offer,” she says. “Whatever I do, I throw myself in 100 percent. You have to go for yours and fully embrace it!”

Here, a few more secrets from the baker turned editor turned gluten-free GGG:

Perfect day off: Farmer’s market, cooking and eating together casually in the kitchen while the sun sets in the background.

Always in my pantry: Popcorn kernels and chocolate chips, in no specific order.

Organization strategy: Lists that I glance at every now and then.

Secret to a great meal: Fresh conversation and ingredients.

Working-from-home outfit: Comfy cords, chunky turtleneck sweater, slippers, cup of hot green tea.

Kindle or iPad? iPad

Best beauty tip: Less is more.

To learn more about Silvana (or, for fabulous cooking tips in general), visit www.dishtoweldiaries.com.

Photo credit: Stephen Scott Gross

Dear GGG, How high is too high of a heel for a law office? I have a pair of sky-high chunky platforms that I’m dying to wear, but I’m not sure if they’re too over-the-top. And what about if I’m going to court? — Paula*, age 34, Chicago

Hi Paula! When it comes to office attire, you can follow the same maxim for good writing: When it doubt, cut it out! I’m all for self-expression, and shoes are one of the best sartorial ways us gals get to do that at work. But if it feels more like a date-night shoe rather than a conference room shoe, it probably is. A four-inch height stiletto (plus, maybe, a 1/2 inch platform like the Nine West pump at left) is probably your max, with a slightly lower, thicker heel best for court. Definitely don’t wear shoes to work that could verge on, well, stripper heels. What exactly constitutes a stripper heel?! You know it when you see it. It’s a combination of shoe material (perhaps patent, Lucite, or anything shiny), heel height and thickness (about 5 inches by 1 inch), and platform (at least ½ an inch).

Have a question for GGG? Email debra@thegogettergirls.com!

Photo: Nordstrom

I’ll start by saying that participating in the 5k was a success in that it encouraged me to continue to step-up my fitness goal and make my 4 times a week gym visits a priority.  I ran it in 28.26, which sure doesn’t make me an Olympian but I am proud that I kept it under a ten minute mile!  This has given me even more motivation in strengthening my legs and building my stamina.

Unfortunately after running a 5k, flushed face and sweaty, I didn’t feel as though I would make the greatest first impression to any new contacts.  I did get introduced to several local law enforcement officials!

Not to worry, where the 5k lacked, I picked up the slack later at my department’s largest team-building event of the year in Pasadena.  Working at a branch location of the company, I don’t have many opportunities to be seen and seek out the “big wigs” of the organization. Up to this point, the majority of contact with the senior staff has been a once-a-week phone call to my mentor at the Los Angeles office.  At the team-building event I had the opportunity to put a face with the voice and meet several other individuals including the VP of marketing, several directors, as well as our company president.  On top of getting to finally meet the individuals who I had heard so much about, it became very clear that my boss had already laid the foundation for my introduction.   I couldn’t be more excited by my boss sharing her enthusiasm about having me as a new addition to her team.  She went as far as to announce it in front of the entire event and personally walk me up to the president during the mixer.  The president charged me with the task of becoming San Diego’s team leader.  Now to keep my name on their mind and in front of them.

With all this progress I thought it was about time I reward myself with a little wardrobe CPR.  The biggest challenges when dressing for work has been that the company is a fashion forward organization so being professional and fashionable are equally important.  On top of that, I walk to work which means I switch from flats to heals.  I tailor all my pants as every polished woman should, however my boot-cut slacks are tailored well more my quite tall heals.   During the warmer months, it hadn’t been such a problem because I would wear skirts and dresses primarily so I didn’t have to worry about my hems dragging on the concrete on the way to work.  Thankfully as a result of our fashionista dress code, black tailored skinny legged slacks are the best pants option.  I bought black, charcoal, and khaki pairs at Express and tailored them to my ankles to work with both pumps and flats.  I can wear them with numerous blouses in my closet and pair with a tailored jacket and look equally polished and stylish.  I also picked up some new tights both in plain black and trendier options such as argyle to turn those summer skirts and frocks in to fashionable fall wear.  After all, with all my hard work at the gym, I still want to be able to show off my legs!

–Cassandra Altmann