As many of you know, all of us Okay Great-ers forged our magical friendships through our old firm, Flywheel Design. It was amazing and we did amazing things and we ate locopops together and it was great. Then we all got laid off. Rather than boil in the pain and the anger and grief and utter shock (wait, I’m still boiling) we’ve all made it through to the other side. For my part, well, I got a job! And though I’m thankful to have a place to show up to Monday through Friday, I made a promise to myself that I would, um, be myself. That means professional and creative. I love this new ad campaign for Salvatore Ferragamo’s SS 2010 line shot by Mario Testino. It’s my inspiration to never fall back on lumpy jeans and hooded sweatshirts on the job. I feel like I need to present the best of me at all times and fraying denim doesn’t say, “I’m smart and powerful and love my job – oh, and don’t fuck with me” quite like a luxurious quilted box jacket, pencil skirt and heels. I just picture Claudia above franticly panicking to pick out the right shoes that say the right thing for Monday morning.

Plus, the best advice I ever got? If you work in a creative industry, you better look creative. Sometimes it’s a thrill for your clients to go through the process of working with an agency. If you show up in a cheap gray power suit with Rite Aid nylons (like them) you’re going to disappoint everyone at the table. I aim to never, ever disappoint.

See my picks and purchases for office ware after the jump!

Besides a fully stacked wardrobe, I have to have the perfect accessories for the office. Of course. So I’ve found some gorgeous items that I recommend you bring to your next “Opportunities Review Meeting.”

1. Agenda

This 2010 “Idealist” planner from WhoMi is my holy grail for weekly planners. People, you have no idea how many of these things I have been through. To me, this little guy says organized, serious and even though I am an Account Manager (i.e. Sales) doesn’t mean I don’t know about design (i.e. the thing I’m selling).

2. Laptop Sleeve

WANT THIS. NEED THIS. L.A.M.B. has done it again. I’ve been obsessed with Gwen Stefani’s label since she launched it in ‘03. I even tried to pitch her management a bedding line back when I worked in textiles. It could have been great. Now, I know you’re all scoffing at me because of the whole No Doubt thing, but (well, I have opinions about that too-opinions that took me years to admit) she really has this whole fashion thing on lockdown. Or at least she’s hired the right hip, young asians to run wild. Either way, this is the ultimate, I AM NOT BORING, I WILL NEVER BE BORING laptop sleeve. Yeah, I have a Dell for my work machine, but as long as it’s covered up in this hot mess, it’s cool with me.

Also, did you know Stefani has a learning disability? She’s dyslexic among other things. Congrats, gurrrl. Look how far you’ve come since you were just a girl.

3. Card Me

Business cards! Wooohoo! I get to trade business cards at least once a day at my job, so it’s important to me that they live someplace happy. Like these card holders from See Jane Work (which has lots of other office supply goodies). Even if you have a rotten meeting with some slimy dude with grossly transparent insecurities and sweaty palms, a 2K budget and a nasty habit of interrupting you; put his card in this thing, smiling as you say, “a real douche.” Yay!

4. C.R.E.A.M.

One of the tasks I most enjoy at work? Biznez lunches, y’all. I love conversation, good food, hand shaking, number crunching noons. It’s part of my job to schmooze, charm and…pay the tab. You best believe I have that company card coming out of the hottest, most brain meltingly cool coin crevasse. This L.A.M.B. wallet? Already own it, already used it, already impressed a shit load of dudes writing checks.

Okay, not exactly yet. But damn it gives me some confidence. Makes me feel…like me.

Hope you find some inspiration to knock ‘em dead! In the meantime, I’ll let Dolly play us out…

Tags: 9-5, buy, creative, Fashion, Jobs, office, Shop