The Accessories Challenge- Case Closed!

Remember my self-induced accessories binge  (well, not quite a binge, but close enough) due to my clothing over-buying? Well, I’m happy to say I completed the challenge! check out my loot:

I scored some sweet stuff!

I was thoroughly pleased with my new items:

1. A yellow beaded necklace- something I had wanted for a long time.

2. Short, gold medallion necklace- can’t wait to wear this with gauzy summer dresses!

3. Starburst ring- I love this shape for a cocktail ring and the glinty green is a perfect color.

4. Neon heels- super cute heart detail on these made the sale

5. Feather and gold tassel earrings- What can I say? I just liked these (Bonus! They incorrectly range up at $0.01 but the cashier just looked at the register, looked at me, shrugged his shoulders and let it go. I think we can all agree that one cent is essentially free. After all, how many pennies do I have floating around my handbag? So these were free).

The best part of all….everything together cost less than $40. I know!! Amazing, right? I’m very proud of myself for completing this challenge, and I want to encourage you all to challenge yourself in a similar way. What is lacking from your wardrobe? The people with the very best style have well-rounded closets, and I hope you challenge yourself to take a step towards making yours that way also!

Five Ideas for Getting More from Your Wardrobe

Have you heard that women wear 20% of their wardrobe 80% of the time? For the average woman I think this is so true! There’s nothing wrong with repetition, I’ve said before that wearing the same outfit is a great way to distinguish you look. However, it’s also important to really maximize what you own. After all, your next great outfit might already be lurking in the corners of your closet! So, how do you get more from what you already own?

How much are you wearing each piece?

1. Plan your outfits for the whole week at once. Often, we grab some old faithful items and throw them on in a predictable way because we’re rushed and building an ensemble take time. Sometimes, it takes trial and error also. If your pick out all your outfits at once, you have the time to find ways to incorporate underused pieces into your look and it streamlines your morning.

you can even hang these tags over the outfits you select to make the morning even easier

2. Pick out one item you’ll wear each day, a week’s worth at a time. Rather than a whole outfit, pick out one piece for each day and build your outfit around it that morning. This is what I do as sometimes having the whole outfit already selected feels too constrictive and doesn’t allow creativity.

3. Take your trouble items, and build three outfits around each one. Then photograph each outfit (I like to hang them on the back of my door and photograph it there). You can print your photographs out and keep them in a binder for reference when you’re getting ready, or you can upload them to Flickr where you can tag them (“green sweater”, “red plaid skirt”) for easy searching.

Now, if you're not getting enough wear out of your superman outfit, maybe that's a good thing!

4. Write out 3 things you can wear with each trouble item. Write them on a post-it note and stick it to that item’s hanger. This way when you’re getting ready in the morning and you’re flipping through your closet, you’ve already got the building blocks for an outfit ready. Don’t list every single thing you can wear it with, keep is simple like this:

My real-life example

No more “I have nothing to wear with this!”

5. Be daring! Play with the clothes you already own. Don’t let silly insecurities keep you from trying something new. Don’t listen to thoughts like this:

” It’s too bright”

“The pattern is too bold”

“It’s just not me”

“My mother wore lace, this makes me think of my mother!”

I can’t stress enough how important it is to step out of your comfort zone and just try something new. What’s the worst that could happen, seriously?

I hope this helps you truly maximize your wardrobe! After all, wouldn’t it be nice to wear 100% of your wardrobe 100% of the time? Except maybe the superman outfit…

The Accessories Challenge-sort of

Recently I bought a giant chocolate cookie at a coffee shop in a moment of blood sugar crisis. Nobly, I told myself I would only eat half, and I’d save the other half for my husband. Let’s be real: you and I both know that didn’t happen. I scarfed that entire cookie (approximately the size of oh…Jupiter) in the time it took me to walk three blocks.

I felt a little bit like this guy.

Similarly, I walked into a store the other day because they were advertising a sale. Remember how I’ve recently bought too much clothing? Well, again I told myself I would just see what kind of deals they had, and hey! maybe I’d buy my mom a birthday gift. Riiiiiight. I walked out, six new shirts later, very happy but also a little guilt-ridden. (Before you think I’m overcome with greed, we absolutely gave to help those in Haiti, and you should too.) So, you see, while I actually am very self-disciplined, there things I lose control over. You now know that chocolate and clearance racks are two examples. Fig Newtons are another, but I digress. With all the clothing acquiring happening lately, other areas of my wardrobe have suffered.

Not my shoes (or legs), but they could be

My favorite heels are scuffed beyond repair. My go-to link necklace has faded from gold to silver to that coppery-colored base metal. Simply put, I am in serious need of some new accessories!

I haven’t been striking that all-important balance when it comes to updating one’s wardrobe, and now I’m paying for it.

At first, I thought “I know! I just won’t buy any clothing for the month of February, only accessories!” but that gave me heart palpitations and anxious thoughts such as “What if I find the perfect Navajo-inspired sweater for 75% off and I can’t buy it?!”

Topshop sweater. I LOVE IT!

Instead I’ve vowed to at least get the following in the next couple months….

1. two necklaces

2. one colorful cocktail ring

3. one pair of shoes (you know I’m not a shoe gal)

4. one other accessory (hat? scarf? new clutch?)

I’m putting it on the internet so I’ll feel accountable. You readers hold some serious sway! After all, what good is a full closet if you can’t put together a great complete look? And speaking of getting complete looks from your wardrobe, I’ll write about maximizing what you already own next time, so stay tuned!

A Fashion Magazine Mis-Truth

I read fashion magazines religiously each month. Seriously, I go through a whole stack page by page, literally cover to cover. It’s a great way to get a feel for the fashion world and the way things are trending. It’s part of my job.

My reading material

This Saturday, I was reading through one that claimed to have the list of the ten items every woman needs in her wardrobe. I have to laugh at how every magazine has one of these lists and each list is different!

For example, magazines are forever preaching the virtues of the trench coat: “You need it! you can’t survive without it!” Well, guess what? I don’t own one, and I have no intention of buying one. Honestly, I think the traditional camel color is terrible unflattering and I actually think the trench is usually boring rather than classic.  The obvious exception: The Burberry trench-swoon!

A lovely trench iteration from Nordstrom.com and Burberry

But it is just that-the exception. Not every woman needs a great power suit with an alternate jacket. Not every woman needs a cashmere twin set (gross), not every woman has use for a bejeweled evening clutch, and it’s even true that not every woman needs a pearl necklace.

A good staple, but does every woman need it? (Kate Spade necklace from Nordstrom.com)

So, what do you need? It’s simple:

Quality clothes that fit you well and are versatile.

Your lifestyle will determine what the building blocks are…here are some examples….

1. Stay at home mom? Maybe you build a wardrobe of cute jeans, interesting tops, and ballet flats

2. Lawyer? Maybe you stock your closet with tailored suits with bold-colored underpinnings and glossy heels.

3. In a creative field? Perhaps your uniform is built around vintage dresses, killer shoes, and special pieces from indie designers.

You see? We are all different and our wardrobes should be, too. So, if you’re reading a “must have” list and you don’t own a single thing on it-don’t despair! You’re probably doing just fine. Shop for what you need, what you love, and if you never own a trench coat, it’s fine! Remember, I don’t own one either

Spot Cleaners

I wish I could say I investigated all kinds of spot cleaners specifically for this post, but the truth is, I’m pretty clumsy, and I’m always in a rush. As you can imagine, this lethal combination results in spills, spots, and stains. So, I’ve tried everything in order to save my wardrobe.

Shout, Tide, Spray -n- wash, there are all manner of treatments on the market. So what really works?

Most cleaners and treatments will get out at least part of a spot or stain, but they usually can’t tackle the whole thing, at least not when it’s a particularly difficult substance causing the issue (ahem, red wine).

So is there anything that really works? I’ve found, in all my trial and error, that Carbona is the best.

The miracle cleaners

They come in those little plastic triangles and they have about four bazillion varieties, each one for a different kind of stain. They work like magic! You can get them in most grocery stores and they cost about $3-$4 each. Be sure you read the directions because they’ll be very specific about how to use it. Some are liquids, some are powders, some need to be soaked, etc. How do they do it? I don’t know but every single one works.

True story: I have this cream jacket from Lululemon that my husband got me for Christmas one year. I love it to pieces, it fits beautifully and it’s the perfect weight for Northwest winters. Well, it got dried with a pair of dark jeans on accident and came out with blue streaks all over it. Since it had just been dried, the stains were completely set. It was totally ruined. I ran to the grocery store around the corner to see if there was some sort of color-safe bleach or something….

Carbona color run remover

but I found this instead, and it totally fixed my jacket. Now I keep a box of it with our laundry products at all times. I’ve used it for tons of other laundry mishaps, and it always works.

Tip: I also use the Carbona products to clean my very, very white carpets. They work on that too!
But what if you’re away from home for the whole day, and you spill something on your top? Then what do you do?

Well, you don’t use those Shout wipes, that’s for sure! I’ve found that they discolor clothing, especially richer colors, and they always leave a ring. Sometimes that’s worse than the original stain!

Carry a Tide pen with you. While Tide detergent is terrible for your clothing (it breaks down the fibers, don’t ever use it), the Tide pen is a godsend.

Tide pen

I usually like to treat spots again when I get home, just to be sure they’re out and there isn’t any residue from the Tide pen, but man, this can really save the day! I highly recommend you carry one all the time.

Another good product is the Shout Action Gel.

Shout Action Gel

I use this on shoes, even leather ones, to remove spots. It works great on that! I think it works really well on heavier fabrics like canvas or brocade, too.

I hope you don’t have as many laundry issues as I have, but in case you do, I personally think these products are the best ones to help save your clothing. Good luck!

Happy Weekend…and…What’s Coming Up

I don’t consider myself a creature of habit, but Sundays are the exception to that rule and I love them. Every Sunday, for part of the day my husband and I relax at home, eat indulgent food (too many cookies, fattening but oh-so-delicious breakfasts), and prepare for the coming week. For me that means I clean the whole house (I discovered this weekend that baking soda does wonders on a white stovetop), go on a long run, and get some stuff together. I usually do a little organizing project. This weekend it was my belts….

my belts before - a giant hairball

my belts after - whoa! look at all the space!

Ps. that crazy-looking red and silver contraption is a leather puncher. It punches holes in belts and handbag straps and it might be the best $3 I ever spent.

I do all the laundry and ironing….

freshly pressed clothes- those pink pants were a steal!

My husband, who is a graphic designer, and I hang out together doing crafty stuff. He might work on a design project, or doodle some new tattoo designs.  For me, crafty time means playing with this fine piece of machinery….

My new baby!

To say I am a novice at sewing would be a gross understatement. Thankfully this machine is computerized and figures out most of the stuff for me (I still have no idea what the heck tension is, but when the lady at Jo Ann Fabrics talks about it, I nod my head wisely). However inexperienced I may be, I’ve still come up with some pretty sweet DIY fashion projects….which leads to the final thing I do on Sundays…prep some future blog posts. So here’s what you lovely readers have coming up (not necessarily in this order)….

the newly hatched ideas for future posts

I hope you enjoyed this little peak into my real life, and I hope you all had a weekend as indulgently relaxing as mine. I’ll see you back here soon for some great new posts!

Is There Such a Thing As Owning Too Much Clothing?

Over the holidays I did a lot of “Merry Christmas to me!” shopping (oh, come on, the deals were amazing!). Well, now this stylist’s closet is getting a wee bit crowded, prompting me to wonder…

Is there such a thing as owning too many clothes, or is the problem just too little space?

A real life shot of my closet

I have two closets, both about an arm span in length, and no dresser. Both closets are getting close to maximum capacity (one much more so than the other, still both are pretty full) but with fashion forever changing, new items are a must. I’m tempted to take the Carrie Bradshaw approach and store sweaters in my oven, but I cook a lot and baked sweater isn’t part of any of my dinner menus.

Truth is, there is such a thing as too many clothes. Excess is a reality. After all, how many pink shirts does one person really need? Here are five tips to determine if perhaps your wardrobe overfloweth…

5. People ask you “do you ever wear the same thing twice?” This is not necessarily a compliment. Wearing the same look is a great way to build your style, don’t be afraid of repetition and if people around you don’t remember ever seeing you in the same top twice, that might be some real insight.

4. Trying to pick what to wear stresses you about because you have too many choices. Getting dressed takes some thought, but if you’re overwhelmed by your own wardrobe, that’s a problem

3. Things are so crammed in your closet that they get wrinkled.

2. You’re considering buying some crazy storage-maximizing-gadget from an infomercial (the vacuum thing? the tiered hangers? No. Less stuff.)

1. You try to justify the excess by calling it a collection. If you are collecting clothes, shoes, accessories, handbags, whatever, I encourage you to ask yourself: just who is benefiting from this collecting? Are you planning to give it to your daughter one day? Because truly, ladies, she probably doesn’t want all your jackets from the ’80s, or your mish mash of worn-out Coach bags. And what good is a collection if you can’t sell it and make money, use it regularly (at least you can decorate with a teapot collection), or give it to someone who will actually enjoy it? Just something to think about.

A streamlined wardrobe does wonders to simplify your life. More is not always more. If you need help organizing your closet, I wrote a mini-series on it here, here, and here.

Ps. Before you feel bad for my husband, who keeps his clothes in the second bedroom because I have both closets in the master bedroom, I want you to know it was his idea to give me both closets so I could have all my stuff together. Yes ladies, he truly is the ideal man.

A Line that I LOVE

My mom came to visit me this last weekend, and we spent several hours Friday afternoon shopping. I’m always on the lookout for new lines that I feel turn out consistent results, so you know you can safely recommend it to people. Well, I found one. It’s called Leifsdottir and it all started when I tried on this skirt….

Leifsdottir yellow peplum skirt perfection

It was love at first sight, and then the fit was flawless. I couldn’t believe it. Every single item was gorgeous and is the perfect mix of retro, feminine, and modern. How do they do it? I give huge props to their creative team. Not often do you find lines this consistently beautiful. Check out this top….

Leifsdottir bow top, via anthropologie.com

It’s so cute (and on sale at Anthropologie.com for $50!). I love that each piece feels special, because the details make it different than anything else we’re seeing on the racks. I highly, highly recommend checking it out, even just online. Nordstrom has a selection on their website, and Anthropologie does as well (their selection is larger, and I think better edited). I’ll leave you with one last swoon-worthy top. I would wear this every single day, I think….the ruffles! The tie in the back! the pattern! The darling sleeves! Yes, I’m in love.

Leifsdottir Gulliver blouse via anthropologie.com

Way to go, Leifsdottir! You have a new #1 fan.

Accepting Not Doing it All

Do you make resolutions each year? If so, how do you do with them? I used to set lofty goals for myself that would only serve as discouragement when there was no hope of meeting them. I think so often we expect too much of ourselves and we’ll run ragged trying to attain even a fraction of what we think we should. So, I’m learning to accept not doing it all and being imperfect. I thought I’d share with you some things I don’t do, and I’m okay not doing.

you won't see me using this!

1. Paint my nails- I never paint my nails and I have them done extremely rarely. No matter the fancy topcoat you use, my fingernails chip immediately. My toenails I’m fine having bare – no big deal to me and not worth the effort.

You can bet these are not my eyes

2. Eyeshadow-  despite owning a fortune’s worth of MAC shades, I rarely wear eyeshadow. It creases partway through the day (no matter what primer I use) and must therefore be re-applied. Nope, not going to do it.

3. Lipcolor- I usually put on some lip stain or lip color in the morning and after lunch, that’s it. I should re-apply it much more often as it wears off quickly, but I don’t and I don’t plan on changing that.

it works, but I don't use it

4. Fake tan/spray tan- Here in the PNW we get approximately three minutes of sunshine annually. I love, love, love the look of being bronzed and while there are tons of non-cancer-forming options to get that glow, I choose not to use any of them. I live in Seattle, we’re all pale, and that’s okay.

5. Shop vintage- I rarely shop vintage for myself (for clients is a different story). I hate pawing through racks of some granny’s musty clothes hoping to find a gem. Gross-seriously. Some things can’t be fixed regardless of how many trips to the dry cleaner they make. I treasure the vintage pieces I own, but if I never add to that small collection, I’d still be happy!

These are the confessions of a perfectionist. If you tend to be a little lazier, you made need the resolutions to get you going. For me, however, I need to let go a little and learn to lower the bar for what I expect. We all need to have standards for our routines and lives that are healthy. I encourage you to take stock of your routines and let go of a few of the expectations that you have if you suffer from perfectionism like me. I promise you’ll have a much happier new year!

The Girls’ Guide: Learn How to Wear Heels

I mentioned last post that while I wear heels on most days, it was not always so. I used to wear flats. All. The. Time. That’s because they’re comfortable, and I couldn’t get used to wearing heels.  I was working as a personal stylist at a major luxury department store, and my 12-hour work days were filled with running around, so I sacrificed that aspect of my style for comfort. That is until one day my boss told me (and I quote) “You always wear such great outfits, but then you have flats on, and it ruins everything. I need to see you wear heels more often.”

Time to learn to wear heels, ladies!

It sounds cruel, but remember I’m in the styling business. And more importantly….she was right!

So I trained myself to wear heels, it wasn’t hard or painful, and now I wear them almost constantly because, truly ladies, they do look better. As in, a lot better. Flats are still OK sometimes, but wearing a heel is what pulls everything together and makes you appear more ladylike and sophisticated as well as grown up. If you are the way I was, and you can’t stand wearing heels even out to dinner, fear not. Here’s how it’s done….

Step one: Get the right fit. This is vital. If the shoe is too small, your toes will be crammed. If it’s too big, your foot will slide forward and put all the pressure on your toes, and none of the straps will fit correctly. Your heel will also slide out. Neither way is workable or comfortable, so don’t do it. Go to a higher-end store like Neiman’s, Saks, or Nordstrom and have them properly measure your feet. You don’t need to buy your shoes there, but it would be beneficial to try a few pairs on that the expert picks out, so you know what a good fit feels like.

Step two: Start easy: wear a low wedge heel. A wedge is stable enough to keep you from wobbling, and the low heel height will keep your feet from getting too sore. A wedge also distributes your weight more evenly than a stiletto, so they are the most comfortable.  Start by running errands in them, a couple hours at a time. Work your way up to wearing them all day.

start with a low wedge heel like these from Zappos

Step three: Work your way up gradually. You should try a taller wedge next, then a low stiletto.

Darling little gold Cole Haan heels from Zappos

The transition from wedge to stiletto can take some time, as it’s an entirely different feeling, and may even require you to adjust your center of gravity as you’ll be putting most of your weight on the heels of your feet.Take your time getting used to wearing them all day long.

Step four: Buy the most gorgeous high heels you can find! You’ve made it! Once you’re used to wearing a low heel all day, the transition to a taller heel is nothing, you won’t even notice it.

Gorgeous red Louboutins from Saks Fifth Avenue. HOT!

Some helpful tips:

1. If necessary, invest in some good insoles to give you the proper support.

2. Take good care of your heels! Get them re-soled if necessary, polish them, protect them with dust bags if possible. Also, don’t drive in them as that chews up the heel. Take them off when driving, put them on when you arrive. I do it every day, it’s really not a hassle.

3. Avoid strappy heels when you’re first starting. Those can be the most painful, and it won’t be easy to endure them when you’re not used to heels in the first place.

4. Try on lots and lots of heels before you buy them, this is the best way to get an idea what is really a good fit and what is actually comfortable.

5. Walk around the shoe department as much as possible when considering buying a pair. That’s how you’ll know if you’re going to wobble, if the straps will rub on your feet, or if your heel will pop out the back.

My final notes:

Of course it’s still OK to wear flats, as I still do sometimes, and I’m not suggesting every one wear heels every day. That wouldn’t fit everyone’s lifestyle and it wouldn’t work for everyone’s style. I think wearing heels is simply a good way to present yourself better, and to feel more put together, and if it’s something you’re interested in, this is a good way to get started.

Lastly, I would say expect to invest in quality footwear, but my last post about my $10 heels disproves that! So what I will say is, don’t expect heels that fit well and wear well to be cheap. You might strike the gold mine of cheap comfort like I did, but that can’t be the standard. Better shoes do cost more, most of the time.

I hope this helps you transition to heels, it certainly worked for me, and it’s been totally worth it!