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With the controversy over the Lane Bryant ad shown above, people are again talking about what’s appropriate and what’s not when it comes to cleavage.  I once asked a wise woman if cleavage is appropriate in the workplace and her response was, “Well, it depends on your definition of cleavage.” Touché. There are certainly different kinds of cleavage, and in the workplace, all of them are pretty much a “No”– except for when it comes to the toes! Here are some other quick cleavage do’s and don’ts:

• Boob cleavage at work: For work, unless cleavage is part of your job description (e.g., you’re a bartender!), I say go for décolleté — a ‘shadow’ of boobage, rather than even one inch of crack. It’s simply too distracting otherwise. Also, as the warm weather approaches, avoid flimsy camisoles or shells, even underneath a suit.  Anything that looks too much like lingerie is better left to the bedroom, not the boardroom.
• Cleavage at the beach: There’s a new trend of “tush cleavage” in which you show the top part of your rear a la Kim Kardashian in this photo. I witnessed a bit of this a few months ago when I was in Rio — where the bathing suits are famously itty bitty– and even then, most of the time, the tops were small, whereas the bottoms gave complete coverage. Bottom line (sorry, couldn’t resist!): only the very bold should try it! And up top, you want a bathing suit that covers 75 percent of your “girls.”
• Toe cleavage: This refers to when you can see the little crack where your toe joins your foot in certain shoes. It used to be you shouldn’t show toe cleavage in office shoes, but that’s outdated– not to mention virtually impossible with most low-vamp, fashion-forward pumps!

A really interesting post on Huffington Post yesterday proposed that journalism schools should close down. The writer, Richard Sine, argued that in essence, journalism school is a waste of money and a bit of a fraud: Students are paying up to $70,000 a year for what amounts to vocational training they could get on-the-job, and so-called media contacts with professors that are former journalists who are really no longer in the media mix.  Not to mention the fact that the newly minted MS’s have little shot of actually getting a job, as newsrooms and editorial staffs are cutting jobs left and right. 

The article, I think, also speaks a to a larger conversation about the cost-benefit of advanced degrees nowadays. Going to grad school has somewhat been in fashion for some time now.  Let’s face it, for as many Gen Xers and Gen Yers that pursue advanced degrees because they have “always wanted to be” X profession, there are scores more who go to grad school because 1) their parents really wanted them to; 2) they’re not sure what they want to do; and/or 3) they want to take a “break” from (or postpone) the work world.  Clearly if you want to be a doctor or lawyer or other traditional “profession”, you do need a specialized degree and training– but as many Go-Getter Girls shared for the book and in recent conversation, what happens if you decide later on that the career you got the degree for isn’t the career you really want? 

As many have discovered, grad school isn’t always the answer– especially when it comes to following your professional dreams. Sometimes the experience you gain in the field is better than any degree (one of my fave chapters in the book is “The best education is self-education”). Sometimes if you just work a little harder and get more aggressive, you can find the job you want without going back to school to get the right “contacts.” Sometimes, as one wise GGG told me, just doing a few informational interviews or spending a few days interning with people who actually work in the profession you are thinking of going to school for can teach you more than years-worth of an academic curriculum– and save you a lot of money in the process! Point is, whether its journalism school, law school, medical school, or another program, it’s always good to evaluate the potential ROI– return on investment. 

What do you think? When is grad school worth the investment?

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Anyone else cringe watching last night’s debut episode of NYC Prep, the Gossip-Girl-like addition to the Bravo lineup of not-your-reality television? The series delves into the charmed lives of wealthy New York city private school teens, and their lone public/magnet school friend. 

As the New York Times noted, as self-assured and ‘go-getter’ as the characters try to come off, their teen angst and anxiety can’t help but permeate their every interaction. And that’s okay– because they are, well, teenagers, after all!  But since they’re putting it all out there for us to critique, I’ll have to comment. Some of the most cringeworthy moments of the episode– seen in the above clip– centered on what the girls considered effective networking strategies, e.g.,  Taylor staging an awkward mixer to help her social status; Jessie bulldozing her way around a fashion party to meet only “people in the business”; and Camille randomly showing up at a date between PC and Kelli in an attempt to buff up her Harvard application. Oh dear. As we say in the South, Bless their hearts. Not a very Go-Getter Girl way to go about things– especially the fact that they are confessing all their tactical maneuvers to the camera! 

You have to applaud Jessie and Camille’s desire to get out there and make connections. Their mini-grown-up lives have introduced them to nothing if not the reality that ‘who-you-know matters’ sometimes. But they could use some pointers in the “savvy” department. For example, in the clip here, Camille had this priceless line: “If PC could help me out with Operation Smile and getting on the Board, I think that would make this dinner really productive.”   Ugh! Note to the ladies of NYC Prep: Networking at its best is about simply building relationships. It is free-flowing and  not overtly quid-pro-quo and favor-/ job-seeking.  When it starts getting so transactional (“Hi, my name is Camille. What can you do for me?”), everyone gets uncomfortable. And, even if you get what you want, or think you want, that time, people will probably be less apt to help you down the line if you come across as too self-serving or, well, obnoxious. As you’ll learn probably the second you walk onto your college campuses, the folks you meet now are going to be there  through all the ups and downs of your career. And, being decent, cordial, and open-minded to new people will benefit you more in the long run than being a status-seeking missile (ahem, Taylor).

Anyway, just some food for thought. Clearly, I’ll be tuning in next for another installment of NYC Prep!

Women’s magazines go through phases: sometimes they’ve completely got their finger on the pulse of their target audience, and other times, you find yourself flipping aimlessly through your once-fave-mag, struggling to find a single article or piece of advice that sticks.

Well, right now, one of my favorite magazines, InStyle, is better and fresher than ever. Thanks to a new editor, Ariel Foxman, and fabulous editorial team, every page is packed with useful tips that any Go-Getter Girl can appreciate.  Among my favorite elements is  the “Instant Style” section that is filled with inspiring, not-too-fashiony pieces for specialized occassions (see the “birthday” spread, below right).  Also, they’ve added a great little “Speed Read” pull-out card in the front of the book with must-have, quickie tips (this month: a dressing room checklist for trying on swimsuits) . Of course, there are still the great celebrity stories– but somehow the magazine feels much more about helping you the reader right now.

Check out the June issue, on stands now!

Love a little article that was in In Touch mag this week about Reese Witherspoon–actress, producer, and mom extraordinaire.  But she’s not just a go-getter… she’s a Go-Getter Girl!

See it here: reese