'Lies in White Dresses' provides quick read about women dealing with divorce - Manhattan Mercury

'Lies in White Dresses' provides quick read about women dealing with divorce - Manhattan Mercury

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• 'Lies in White Dresses' provides quick read about women dealing with divorce - Manhattan Mercury
• Community comes together to help Rome woman provide free prom dresses during 'shopping event' - Northwest Georgia News
• Work dress codes: Business casual women examples - Ladders
• Boyertown Junior Woman's Club helps girls say 'Yes to the Dress' - Boyertown Berk Montgomery Newspapers

'Lies in White Dresses' provides quick read about women dealing with divorce - Manhattan Mercury Posted: 17 Nov 2019 12:00 AM PST In Sophia Grant's latest novel, "Lies in White Dresses," this prolific writer does what keeps her on the best-seller lists; Grant captures an obscure, curious piece of history to use as a base around which she weaves a story of female friendships, mother-daughter relationships and of how one must grow onward and upward despite the deceptions of family expectations and spousal betrayal. In 1972, divers combing the bed of the Truckee River in Reno, Nevada, recovered over 500 wedding rings. The rings were tangible proof of a Reno custom from the 1940s and 50s, when "taking the Reno Cure" was a euphemism for getting a quick divorce. As early as 1909, Reno had gained notoriety by changing its residency requirements to just six months. By 1952, the timing of Grant's novel, residency had dropped to a mere six weeks. Luxury hotels had sprung up catering exclusively to those seeking divorce, with hotel managers serving as legal witnesses to the legitimacy of the six-week residencies. Services and ceremonies were developed to encourage women to celebrate passing into new lives. Throwing wedding rings into the Truckee was one such tradition. Francie Meeker and Vi Carothers have been friends since they were young, married women. Now, with children grown and launched, Francie's gay husband, Arthur, no longer needs her as his beard, and Vi's mean husband, Harry, a serial philanderer, wants to unload dead weight. Both women are acutely, painfully puzzled about how their fairy-tale, white dress weddings eventually led to such diminished lives. Taking the train from San Francisco to Reno, Francie and Vi meet June Samples and her hungry daughter, 4-year old Patty. June does not have the financial cushion that prevents Francie and Vi's journey from being a complete travesty. Not only are the Samples obviously from a lower social class, June also bears evidence of domestic violence, and she openly worries about how she must quickly find a job in Reno to support her six-week residency, and then beyond. Francie and Vi immediately offer companionship and relief to June and Patty, but the story is just beginning and, when these well-rounded characters arrive at their hotel, the Holiday Ranch, they meet supporting characters —hotel owner, Mary Swanson, her 12-year-old daughter, Virgie, and a Hollywood B-grade starlet-type, Willy Carroll. Willy's story demonstrates that divorce wasn't the only ignoble cure regularly being sought in Reno. Virgie, who presents as a Nancy Drew wannabe/budding entrepreneur, becomes a dominant narrator, providing amusing and quite contrasting observations of who is doing what, when, where and why. Virgie's speculative contributions prevent "Lies in White Dresses" from being conventional to the point of boring. Then, Vi Carothers drowns in the Truckee River, late at night and alone. From this point forward, questions by police and Virgie's own furtive investigations result in delicious unpredictability. What the police think and how they approach the various women of the novel is a particularly adept way for Grant to portray the cultural mores of mid-20th century, Western, middle-class America. When Vi's son, Charlie, arrives in Reno to clean up the mystery of her death, the story begins to suggest answers to questions that aren't yet fully formed, with the gender-based restrictions and limited options for women of the 1950s leading to provocative discussions and dramatic reveals. Francie's Arthur and daughter Alice also come to Reno to help Francie deal with Vi's death. While Arthur has always been kind to Francie, she no longer can tolerate being dismissed and disregarded; she hadn't quite realized just how important Vi had been to her; she hadn't been fully in touch with the nature of the affection she felt for Vi. Francie is consumed by the depth of her own grief. Meanwhile, June's husband stalks her, threatening others who interact with a wife and child he realizes are close to escaping him. He is predictable, a textbook abuser, but June, bolstered by allies, is equally relentless in her drive to achieve some happiness and security for herself and her daughter. "Lies in White Dresses" reads quickly, with heavy action in the end traveling faster than the evening train that carried bitterly disappointed women to an isolated, small, high desert town packaging itself as a transformative gateway to a next life for those brave enough to embrace the opportunity. Grant's deft use of a historical lens coupled with redemptive solutions brings this novel of domestic hardship and psychological adversity to a satisfying conclusion. Carolyn J. Kelly writes and edits technical and business communication in Manhattan, KS.

Community comes together to help Rome woman provide free prom dresses during 'shopping event' - Northwest Georgia News Posted: 06 Mar 2020 12:00 AM PST Coming from a single-mother home herself, Angela Walker knows how stressful it can be to scrounge up enough cash to send a daughter to her high school prom. This is why she has spent the past month making her own longtime dream come true — providing "that prom experience" to as many lower-income girls in Rome as possible. With the help of Perfect Dress of Rome, Smartypants of Rome, Rome Cleaners and various individual donors, she has so far collected more than 50 new and gently used formal dresses to be given away for free at a "Shopping Event" on March 29 at 4 p.m. at Unity Christian School, 2960 New Calhoun Highway. "I just want to give back to the community," the Model High School graduate said Thursday. "My goal is to have at least 200 dresses for girls to try on at the shopping event and also be able to find local salons that would provide free hair styling and nails and whatnot. It will be one thing less the parents will have to pay for." She recently founded the nonprofit Dream Girl Project through her husband's ministry to provide a legitimate 501(c)3 organization under which to launch this endeavor. It comes with the mission statement: "No girl should be denied the opportunity to attend her high school prom because of financial difficulties." Rome Cleaners off Highway 411 is pressing and steaming the wrinkles from 20 gently used dresses at no charge. Smartypants of Rome and Perfect Dress of Rome both have donated new prom dresses worth between $129 and $300 for the cause, Walker said. Perfect Dress of Rome owner Alison Smith said she has donated dresses in the past for Harbor House Child Advocacy Center and so did not hesitate for a moment when she heard of Walker's effort. "My whole philosophy is that I want every girl to feel pretty, no matter what her circumstance is," said Smith, who took over the 42-year-old shop from her aunt 10 years ago. "I had that fairy tale prom experience and ended up marrying my prom date. It's a great story. We're still together and as much in love now as we were then." Walker has been in touch with all the local high school guidance counselors and has so far sent out letters to 20 local churches to help get the word out about Dream Girl Project. Walker is asking anyone willing to donate dresses to drop them off at Unity Christian Church on March 8 and March 15, 2 to 4 p.m. She is in need of plus sizes, she said. She said a tax receipt will be provided for donations, but the receipts will not be itemized or contain a donation value. "I am very grateful to everyone who is helping make this happen for local girls," Walker said. "I went to my junior and senior proms and had an awesome time and that's what I'd like to help these girls experience."

Work dress codes: Business casual women examples - Ladders Posted: 30 Mar 2020 08:30 PM PDT Business casual women clothing is one of these phrases that sound pretty good, but you're not exactly sure what it means. Is it business? Is it casual? And what happens when you combine the two? Does it then become something else entirely? Another issue with the phrase business casual is that it means different things in different industries, companies, and even parts of the world. One thing is for sure: as opposed to business formal, business casual refers to work clothes that are less formal than business formal, but that still has an air of being professional. Ok, but what does that mean, then? It seems the more we dig around in the phrase business casual, the more confused we get… We feel you, which is why we decided to go all in and give you this ultimate guide for business casual women. Because where there's a will, there's a way. What is business casual not? The best way to begin to understand the elusive phrase business casual is to understand what it is not. Business casual is definitely not sandals and a t-shirt. Business casual is not a plunging neckline, bare midriff, or outfits with words or pictures that could possibly be perceived as offensive. Denim, sweatpants/sweatshirts, and spandex are also not business casual. Ok, we know that's not what you wanted to hear but please continue to hear us out. Business casual is not anything you feel might be inappropriate. The rule of thumb is that if it feels inappropriate for work, it probably is. The next most important thing for business casual women to remember is that they have the best information about what clothing is or is not appropriate for their company, job, and industry. Follow your intuition here! "Avoid wearing flip-flops, sandals, slippers, open-toed shoes, or eye-catching, blingy footwear to the office. Even though business casual guidelines may seem to be a bit lax, appearing professional and conservative at all times is important," explains The Balance Careers. Luckily, on the other end of the scale, wearing a full-on suit is not business casual, either. So then what is business casual for women? Ok, now that we got that out of the way (phew!), we can start talking about what business casual for women actually is. "In a business casual office, athletic shoes and sneakers, loafers, clogs, leather boat shoes, and dress heels or flats are acceptable and may be worn with or without tights or stockings as the weather dictates," writes The Balance Careers. "Know your audience," New York City celebrity stylist Samantha Brown told Ladders earlier this month. "Are you trying to get promoted? It's important to look like you're there to work. There are things that are always off-limits, even for business casual, like flip-flops, athleisure, and athletic wear. It's important to stay within the parameters of a professional appearance." "In fact, this dress code guideline is a frequent source of confusion for workers. And it's not their fault — there really isn't a clear, standardized definition. Business casual may mean different things in different companies, cities, and industries. And on top of that, understanding the subtle differences between "business" and "business casual" isn't easy," the article says. Business casual women examples The great thing about business casual clothing is that there are so many examples that fit it and endless outfit options. One of the most helpful things to do to actually discover the infinite options is to begin with the basics. "A worthy example of a business casual outfit is a well-fitted, attractive blouse worn with pants and finished with stylish black shoes. This trio effectively conveys the idea of business casual without compromising professionalism," writes The Balance Careers. Now that we have this basic outfit framework down, we can continue. Skirts, dresses, and pants are all appropriate for business casual women, as long as they hold to a basic length, according to this poll from Corporette. According to the poll, 31% of readers said just above the knee is fine. "Formal still rules the day in many client-facing, trust-engendering industries such as law firms, banking, and investment advising. But, employees in offices, department stores, manufacturing, and retail industries dress in business casual clothing," writes The Balance Careers. It turns out all business casual clothing was not created equal. What does seem to be equal is that both business casual women and formal women both seem to prefer more relaxed dress codes. In a recent survey by OfficeTeam, 56% of employees surveyed chose this preference. In the same survey, 41% of employees admitted they were at least "sometimes" unsure about whether a piece of clothing was office-appropriate or not. "As work attire skews more casual, the rules about acceptable office wear aren't always clear-cut," OfficeTeam's district president Brandi Britton told The Balance Careers. How to proceed, then? "Besides following official company policies, employees should pay attention to the wardrobes of managers and colleagues. If you're uncertain about whether it's okay to wear something to work, it's best to play it safe by skipping it," Britton continued. Another survey, which was also by OfficeTeam, found "dressing up for work" continues to go out of style. Half (50%) of senior managers interviewed said employees wear less formal clothing than they did five years ago. In addition, nearly one-third (31%) of office workers stated they would prefer to be at a company with a business casual dress code; 27% favor a casual dress code or no dress code at all. " We found this guideline from Connecteam, and we think it's great: "Many times, women should be wearing a combination of the following in the office: skirt, dress slacks, sweater, blouse, jacket, hosiery, and closed-toe shoes. Some offices might even allow sandals or peep-toe shoes, but double-check before you show up in the office wearing such footwear." The article then went on to give an actual list with examples of business casual women clothing examples: ● Top: blouses, elegant sleeveless shirts, vests, blazers, turtle necks, dressy tops, neutral or solid colored sheath dresses, casual dresses and skirts that split at or below the knee. ● Bottom: pencil-cut skirts, knee-length skirts, dress pants (khaki, corduroy, twill, or cotton). ● Shoes: flats, pumps, stilettos, open-toed heels, and closed kitten heels. ● Avoid: strappy sandals, denim, ripped pants or pants with bold prints, bright colors, spaghetti straps, crop tops, sportswear, leggings, off-the-shoulder shirts or dresses, T-shirts, tennis shoes and hooded sweatshirts. According to SimplyHired, less than half of American workplaces have a dress code, so it looks like business casual is here to stay. What about interviews, though? This guide would not be complete without business casual women examples for interviews… "If you are applying for a job where the work environment boasts of a business casual dress code, you still need to dress appropriately for the job interview. Try to go for a look that is more formal and less business casual. If the interviewer is wearing shorts and a crop top, you shouldn't do the same! After all, you need to dress to impress during a job interview and that includes showing yourself as a professional," according to Connecteam. "Under no circumstance should you be wearing the following to a job interview, whether it's a casual setting or not!" Connecteam exclaimed, giving this not-to guide as a resource: ● Flip-flops or tennis shoes. ● Undergarments that are exposed. ● Shorts or jeans. ● Short skirts. ● Anything low rise or too tight. ● Anything showing profanity or an offensive saying. "When choosing an outfit for the interview, remember, when you look good, you feel good. Use your wardrobe choices to give an extra boost of self-confidence," etiquette expert Diane Gottsman told Connecteam. "There are times when we all feel less confident about ourselves or our abilities, but dressing well, especially within a professional environment, elevates our confidence and often opens opportunities to work with more colleagues and to take on more projects. Our confidence and self-esteem often come from the reflection we see of ourselves in others," writes non-profit America's Future Foundation. Business casual women should choose a blouse paired with dress pants and try to avoid bright, flashy colors, the Connecteam article went on to say. As our rapidly shifting work culture continues to shift toward an emphasis on company culture and keeping employees happy, business casual women examples have undoubtedly accelerated in quantity. And for specific business casual women examples showing how business casual women dress for work today, go here. Business casual clothing is something that, contrary to popular belief, can be figured out, with some effort. Before you know it, you'll be using your knowledge of business casual women examples to dress completely like yourself at work, which is the ultimate (and only) goal.

Boyertown Junior Woman's Club helps girls say 'Yes to the Dress' - Boyertown Berk Montgomery Newspapers Posted: 27 Mar 2020 09:01 AM PDT Boyertown Junior Woman's Club recently held their Once Upon a Prom event at Miracles in Motion in Boyertown. Once Upon a Prom is about helping girls have a memorable prom experience. Racks and racks of new and gently used dresses were set up and displayed with other items such as shoes and jewelry. The event, which is in its sixth year, saw more than 50 young ladies browse the collection of 1,000 plus dresses. Most of the girls left with a dress and perhaps even a few accessories to complete the outfit. "Finding that special dress is a huge part of going to prom and unfortunately, it can be a financial burden for some. We were thrilled with seeing fifty-three young women attend Once Upon a Prom this year. For our club members and volunteers, the highlight of the event truly is seeing the girl's faces as they walk out in their chosen dress. It's a favorite event among all of us!" said Anita Zuber, president of BJWC. The event was held before the COVID-19 pandemic restricted large gatherings. The event saw local girls attending as well as those who traveled from areas such as Daniel Boone, Exeter, Oley, Fleetwood, Reading, Methacton, and even from North Penn. "With the current uncertainty, we don't know if any of these young ladies will get to wear their dress to prom this year, but we hope that they enjoyed the experience of selecting 'the perfect dress' and we are hopeful they can wear that dress for a future dance or special occasion," said Danelle Matlack, BJWC member. Once Upon a Prom Committee Chair Joanne Stauffer added, "We would like to thank everyone for coming out. We are so glad most of the girls were able to find a dress. Thank you for making this annual event a success and we hope you are able to attend your proms and may you be the best dressed!" An event such as this wouldn't be possible without community support from Miracles in Motion, In Ian's Boots, Zuber Realty, and Revive.  While the event was free, voluntary donations were accepted. The money collected will be donated back to the community through programs such as Boyertown Post Prom. Additional event information is available by contacting BJWC, Anita Zuber at 610-858-1351. For information about getting involved with Boyertown Junior Woman's Club, visit their Facebook page GFWC Junior Woman's Club of Boyertown. The Boyertown Junior Woman's Club is comprised of a group of dedicated women who volunteer their time and talents to enrich the Boyertown area and beyond with projects benefiting our youth and those in need. BJWC organization is a member of the General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC), one of the world's largest and oldest nonpartisan, nondenominational, women's volunteer service organizations.

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