Hey Belle - 

I saw this picture the White House released through their Flickr page the other day.  I wanted to get your thoughts on it. 

In it, there are 10 senior staffers meeting with the president and the new chief of staff in the Oval Office.  Of the 12 people total in the room, four are women.  Of the four women, only one appears to be wearing a suit or a blazer and that's Valerie Jarrett, the highest profile woman in the room.  The others are Counsel to the President Kathryn Ruemmler; Nancy-Ann DeParle, Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy; and Alyssa Mastromonaco, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations.  These three women appear to be wearing cardigans and sweaters.  

What are your thoughts about these women's professional style?  I can't think of a more important occasion to wear a suit for - an Oval Office meeting with the president.  But that's what I would do - maybe these women are already important enough to not need to wear a suit?  But what does it say that all the men in the room are wearing suits?  All politics aside, I'm just completely puzzled by this picture and I wanted to hear your take on it.

Thanks! BC

The appropriate dress code for the Oval Office was often discussed during the Bush White House.  Bush Sr. had a stringent dress code of suits and ties for men and dresses and skirts for women in the Oval.  George W. Bush reinstated this dress code and maintained a no-jeans weekend dress code.  This dress code was relaxed by President Obama, to the chagrin of some and the cheers of others.

When I was on the Hill, my Boss maintained a strict no-denim dress code.  At times, it felt positively Paleozoic and unfair.  However, once I stepped outside of my office and saw staffers in clothing that I wouldn't wear to a bar in Podunksville, Oklahoma (no offense OK residents), I understood where he was coming from.

As for this photo, I don't think anyone is inappropriately dressed, and if the President has decreed that less formal dress is fine, then I don't think anyone is faux pas.  It is a President's prerogative to decide how his staffers should dress.  It may not be my preference, but setting the Oval Office dress code is a problem that I won't have for a few more years (kidding).

I certainly understand what you are saying, however.  I would hope that I would wear a suit more often if I worked in the West Wing, but there's no way to know that for sure.  Perhaps, once you've worked there for awhile the White House starts to feel a bit more like your office and a little less like the West Wing.

What are your thoughts on the White House dress code? And do those of you who don't work in politics particularly care what staffers wear in the Oval?

Today is the last day to vote in the Zoya + Birchbox Custom Polish Sweepstakes.  My entry is currently in third place, but with 24 hours left, I expect the other constestants to put on the full court press.  

You ladies and gentlemen have been wonderful, and I'm so grateful for all of your support.  Please take a moment to vote for my entry one last time.  Hopefully, all of our April Birchboxes will contain my signature shade.

And if you haven't entered the Belle's Ultimate Beauty Box giveaway, this is your last chance.  The winner will be posted tomorrow.

Simon Doonan and his partner Jonathan Adler are style geniuses of the highest order.  For this bouquet pairing, they combined their efforts to create a floral arrangement and gift that will brighten any woman's Valentine's Day.

The arrangement includes a beautiful bouquet combining roses and orchids, plus an extra bouquet in a Jonathan Adler "Vidalia" bud vase.  This way you can have one for your office and one for your workplace.  In addition to the flowers, you'll receive a copy of Simon Doonan's hilarious and informative book "Gay Men Don't Get Fat."

The price of this set is $125 for a one-time purchaser and $75 for H. Bloom subscribers.  So if you are looking to do something extra special for your girlfriend/best friend/Mom, you can set up for a monthly delivery of fabulous flowers for as little as $29 per bouquet.  This way you can show her that you appreciate and love her every month.

Note: This is not a sponsored post. I am a member of the H.Bloom 100, but they did not pay me for this post, they asked me for a favor promoting a bouquet that I think is lovely.

Elected Official

Maya London Isabella Garter (Shopbop, $130)

Hill Staffer

Mimi Holliday Suspender (StyleBop, $65)

Unpaid Intern

Felina Christelle Garter (Bare Necessities, $26)

garter belts

3.1 Phillip Lim Silk-Stretch Sweaterdress (Net-a-Porter, $195)

This bright dress is a fun addition to any wardrobe.  A word of caution, however, it is super short.  So tights, leggings or skinny jeans are strongly encouraged.

The Esquire Negroni

Shake well with cracked ice, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with a twist of orange peel.

Another drink that you can make with Campari that is both simple and refreshing is the Campari Soda.  Pour 3 ounces Campari into an ice-filled Collins glass and top off with soda; garnish with slice of lemon or orange. In Italy, you can buy these premixed in little bottles.

Current Events: The Economist has been my Bible since I was 14 years old.  It has the best reporting on international affairs and world economics.  It's a weekly, which is good since it takes me about five sittings to finish each one.  

If you work in an office that gets CQ Weekly, grab one.  It's a wrap up of America's political events that will summarize all of the news that you missed while you were busy following your Boss hither and yon.

Long Form: I subscribe to Smithsonian Magazine because I have a long standing love for history, geography and archaeology.  Each issue is filled with wonderful pieces about everything from the art pillaged by the Nazis, to the dwindling lynx population in the West, to a photo essay on the ruins of Route 66.  It's great reading if you're a commuter, and I always learn something new when I read it.

Vanity Fair is one of those magazines that you'll forget about for awhile.  You might not read it for a few months and then you'll think, "I can live without it."  That is until the next month when there's an article that your desperate to read.  I horde the issues on my bookcase and then pack them up when I travel.  It makes great plane reading.

I also read National Geographic, The Atlantic and Esquire when I travel.  I often find the career and money advice in Esquire to be much more helpful than the garbage they post in most women's mags.  Also, they have the best cocktail recipes.

Health. I read Shape for the workout tips and health recommendations.  However, I wish that they would stop putting the Kardashians on every fourth cover.  

Fashion: Oh so many magazines, so little time.  I actually have a research day after my magazines arrive.  I grab my iPad and my glossies and sit in the chair by the window and read every magazine in one sitting.  Then, I use those notes to inspire blog posts, tweets and purchases for the next month.

Lucky is still my favorite fashion magazine.  I think the content is a bit fresher, and unlike some magazines they seem to understand that there is a recession on and that most women cannot afford to drop five bills on a blouse anymore.  Not that most Hill Staffers could afford that before.

I also receive Glamour, Allure, Elle, InStyle and Marie Claire, but I read Lucky first.  

I refuse to buy Vogue.  There's no great moral reason why, I just find it to be undigestible and unaccessible most of the time.  Instead, I subscribe to W, and have since I was 19 when a professor who attended Parsons told me that "real fashionistas read W." Yes, it's equally haughty, but I don't find it as overwhelming as Vogue.

And if you ever catch me reading a copy of Cosmopolitan, feel free to call the men in the white coats.  I find the magazine trashy, and once reprimanded a Staff Assistant for reading it at work.  I didn't think the visitors to the office needed to know that she was interested in "Seven Secrets to Making Him Scream Your Name." 

Lifestyle: My absolute favorite magazine on the market is Real Simple.  The recipes are the best.  The housekeeping tips are so helpful.  And the fashion commentary is relatable and useful.  I love that the lifestyle Real Simple promotes is attainable for working women and designed to be useful not just pretty to look it.

Other sporatic reads include: Martha Stewart Living, Entertainment, Rolling Stone, Gourmet (via iPad App) and Guns & Ammo.  No, that wasn't a joke.

So ladies and gentlemen, which magazine are your absolute favorites?  And which ones do you steer clear of?

Equipment Silk Shirt (Net-a-Porter, $210)

Hill Staffer

Blythe Silk Shirt (J.Crew, $98)

Unpaid Intern

Silk Boyfriend Shirt (Land's End, $39)

silk button blouses

Top: Drape Front Sleeveless Blouse($60)

From Left, Earrings: Rose Gold Studs ($87) Purse: Rebecca Taylor Tamara Purse ($350) Shoes: Daina Pumps ($113) Sweater: See by Chloe Cropped Cardi ($282) Pants: Stella McCartney Trouser ($235)

From Right, Necklace: Aspis Necklace ($48) Purse: Tusk Orissa (Endless, $88) Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell Brody Boots ($150) Sweater: Inhabit Cashmere Sweater ($225) Jeans: Citizens Avedon Skinny ($185)

For Casual Monday.  Clearly, I'm ready for spring to get here.  I mean, look at all of that color!  It's like an Easter egg exploded on the page, but in a good way.

This top is best suited to leggy women.  This doesn't mean you have to be 6'1" with legs up to your neck, but it does mean that you should be a long-legged person instead of a long-torsoed person.  As the blouse should be worn exclusively with pants, in my opinion.

For this first look, I layered a cropped cardigan over the tank to let the draped bottom play to full effect.  I would leave it unbuttoned, but you could try it buttoned.  The pants are a traditional trouser width, not too wide, not too skinny.  Wide leg pants would just add more volume, which you don't need.  And if you didn't want to do the orange top, I would switch it out for ivory and keep everything else.

The accessories I chose are rose gold earrings and a coordinating rose gold bag.  The shoes are pointed toe to lengthen the leg line and a slightly darker grey than the pants because I don't like to be too matchy-matchy.

For the hair, I'm thinking half-up/half down with some volume at the crown.  For the makeup, I'd do a natural flush cheek (not too pink), and a berry wash lip with neutral eye makeup.  The outfit is so bright, you wouldn't want to overdo it with color on the face.

For a Birthday Party.  I think this top would look best with skinny jeans.  So for this look, I paired it with dark wash denim and a taupe sweater.  In a perfect world, the shirt would peek out of the bottom and the bottom of the sweater would end just as the drape of the top begins.  I think this would be the perfect look for a casual birthday party at a bar or at someone's home.

I added a necklace to tie the colors together.  I like that this is mostly brass, and has just a hint of coral.  I added a gold clutch with an interesting wire handle and box shape, but if you want something more casual, I would add cognac envelope clutch.  And I still love these Jeffrey Campbell boots so I am showcasing them again. 

For the hair, loose waves with a good amount of texturizer so that the hair is just messy enough.  For the makeup, a nude lip with a light gloss, eyeliner, strong brows and highlighted cheekbones. 

First off, let me thank everyone who has voted for me (once, twice or twenty times) in the Zoya/Birchbox contest.  Yesterday morning, my entry was behind by 400 votes, and thanks to your support we have closed the gap.  I am now lagging by less than 100 votes, well within striking distance of the competition.

Part of what makes winning this contest such a challenge is that, while CHS has a strong readership, some of my competitors have tens of thousands of YouTube subscribers and tens of thousands of unique viewers per day.  So I am a) amazed that my entry has done this well (which is all thanks to you) and b) really hoping we can bring this one home for all the medium-sized blogs out there that can't indulge in every trend because showcasing turbans, glitter eyeshadow, sky-high ankle booties and the like doesn't cater to professional working women.

So if you haven't voted yet today, please head over to Facebook and vote again.  I am confident that your consistent support will pay off in the end.  And if you would take a moment to share the entry with your Facebook friends or Twitter followers, I would be eternally grateful.

Also, I know some of you have been having trouble with the voting page.  It does take awhile to load, so be aware of that.  And you do have to "like" Birchbox before you can vote.  If you continue to have difficulty, please be patient and try again a bit later.

Again, you ladies and gents are fantastic and I feel a little weird quasi-begging (okay, just begging) for your support. But this opportunity really means a lot to me, and I am so grateful to have readers who would take the time to vote for me...over and over and over again. 

Thanks again.  xoxo, Belle