the classic trench...

awww...the classic trench...

it started life in the nineteenth century as a soldier's coat...two world wars imprinted the trench on our minds: we saw it in misty railroad stations...saying stoic good-byes...

bogart wore it best...he seemed to fill the familiar khaki shape...its military-style epaulets and separate back yoke...with just the right dose of tragic romance...

we can appreciate the nostalgia and practicality of a trench coat without requiring it to be long, beige, heavy, and lined...after all...we are not looking to lead an expedition to the south pole in it...the staple of office workers of the western world...those who invest in styles with removable linings may wear it three seasons a year...

the trench's classic style also lends itself beautifully to wild reinterpretation...it can be short and sexy...in a featherweight microfiber or a delicate silk...it can shock with color...be daring in leopard...or dramatic in gold...when it's worn luxuriously long...the trench will cloak all that it covers...so you need not worry about warring hem-lines or clashing with what's underneath...

i tend to lean on the side of reinterpretation...i do not own a khaki/tan standard trench...most likely never will...unless...of course...i have the fortunate opportunity to trip over a vintage burberry trench with its ever so beautiful plaid lining...such as i wrote about yesterday in the trenches

but until i stumble upon such an incredible find...i am pretty happy with the two trench coats that i own...here they are in all their glory...

silver metallic leopard print trench

gold metallic short trench coat

i did a little survey to see what others own...most seem to lean on the side of reinterpretation...

and most own more than one...

one female client owns two...one in zebra print & the other in bright red (how perfect for a grey gloomy day)

one friend owns three...black satin, silver, & gold metallic (yes, we like a lot of the same things)

another female client owns one...pumpkin orange (nice fall color)

my dad...classic khaki (you know if it was a burberry it would now be in my closet)

male client...classic khaki

and one of my twitter friends who sells vintage...sent me a picture of her favorite trench...a vintage peruzzi leather...but she admitted she has over 5 trench coats...why not?? they are so classic...

check out her picture below...but also...check out her vintage at joules etsy shop

joules modeling her vintage peruzzi leather trench

so how about you?? do you lean towards the more classic or reinterpretation?

in the trenches...

years ago...when my girlfriends father passed away...she and her siblings had the daunting task of going through his things...her dad was a very simple man...clothes to him where nothing more than a necessity...most of his things were bought in local thrift stores...he did not look at labels...and he didn't believe that clothes warranted a lot of spending...

as they rifled through his things...they pulled out a trench coat...the brothers recalled how he wore it for everyday use...not really caring all that much for it...they remembered a time that he had even taken it off and used it as a "rug" while he needed to check something on the underside of his car...

the mother confirmed that he had bought it for a few dollars at the local thrift shop...there was no denying it...the lining...the well-known check lining...

what it was...was an authentic burberry trench...a vintage burberry trench...a burberry trench that now sells for 1300 a piece...

now...of course when i heard this story i was beside myself...being an avid vintage collector...this was truly a find...my girlfriend's sister is now the proud owner...of course...to her...it is much more than an authentic vintage burberry trench coat...it is a memory of her dad...the simple man that valued other people...and would have given the shirt of his back for pretty much anyone...

in 1856, the british sportswear manufacturer thomas burberry came up with the trench coat, a breathable alternative to the rubber-lined mackintosh...improving upon the shepherd's closely woven linen smocks, he wove wool with cotton in a gabardine twill...the trench was a virtual uniform for nineteenth-century adventurers: burberry outfittet balloonists, expeditions to the poles, and travelers to india and other british colonies...lightweight and strong, his trench coat has sold more than a million since 1917...

the burberry check, registered as a trademark, was introduced as a lining to the trench coat in the 1920's...the burberry check is what most people connect the burberry name to...

and now...a little over 150 years later...burberry is an internationally recognized luxury brand...

dressing in your closet...

a few nites ago...i attended an AICI (association of image consultants international) meeting in san francisco...the theme of the nite was fall trends with a fabulous fashion show...the models were clients of some of the image consultants there that evening...the fashion show was about "dressing in your closet"

as the models came out...the stories played out...of which items where hidden in the back of the closet...or hanging with the tag still on...or the fit wasn't right...or the item that was bought...and then nothing ever went with it...or...it was just an old item...years old...needing somehow to be revived...

many have a hard time with this concept...of taking something that is in your closet and somehow reviving it with some of the new trends of the season...i am a firm believer of this kind of dressing...i do not believe that every season...a woman (or for that matter...a man) needs to go out and buy a whole new wardrobe...the key is to take those pieces...those quality pieces in your closet...and by adding a new accessory...or a new blouse...a new scarf (or tie)...completely change the look of that "old" item that has been sitting in your closet...and not getting used...

i have to tell you...i was pretty inspired by the event...and it even got me charged up to go "dressing" in my own closet...to see how i could revive some old pieces...

for those that are challenged...there is help! a wardrobe consultant is able to come into your closet and show you numerous ways to wear each item...to suggest missing pieces that would help in creating multiple outfits...

i get the most joy...when a client has called me after wearing their "new" outfits out of only pieces in their current wardrobe...but in a new way...this is what i love to hear...
"everyone thinks i got a whole new wardrobe!"

ahhh...music to my ears...my job is done...

i am here to help...use me!!

adena, me & margaret at the lovely soiree

men's corner: american style with a european flair...

for some reason, european men and women seem to have a special flair when it comes to fashion...while we frequently hear about style tips for us gals, we don't read so much about the same for men. here are a few ways to add that european touch to your look...



- try brown shoes, instead of black, with navy or gray suits...

- add bold pocket squares or a scarf in silk or cashmere (european men...and women...wear scarves regardless of the weather)

- get some great socks - match them to your pants, rather than your shoes...

- start building an outerwear wardrobe - one coat doesn't fit all occasions...



- learn how to mix patterns...add layers...and add some color!

- wear jeans with a sportcoat - it takes denim to a whole new level...

- if possible...have your dress shirts custom-made; at the least, make sure your shirts fit with proper tailoring (i.e. not too tight or too baggy.)

buckle up...

the belt was originally drafted for the military...to support clothes and hold weapons...today, belts usually aren't as aggressive...their main job is to add color and texture to an outfit...

you will wear a basic brown or black belt forever...so invest in quality and subtle style...look for even stitching...good leather...well-finished holes...and solid or well-plated hardware...



what a belt can do...

a wide belt shortens the upper body and works well on most women...
a loosely slung belt lengthens the torso...

if your belt is the same color as your top...it will visually lower your waistline...
if it's the same color as your skirt or pants, it will help to shorten your waist and lengthen legs...
if it's a different color from the rest of your clothing, it can cut you in half, especially if the top and bottom of your outfit are the same color and texture...

and then...there is the belt simply as a luxury accessory...(my favorite)
the Jana Kos Winter 09 Collection has some beauties...

the regal belt: boa patent black italian leather, 1 1/2" contoured strap & snaps with amethyst jade semi-precious faceted stone, sardonyx and onyx semi-precious stone, silver pearl and black acrylic cabs and light amethyst crystals...

the delicious belt: shiny print patent black leather skin, 1 1/2" contoured strap & snaps with multi colored semi-precious stones, glass catseye cabs and multi colored swarovski crystals...

jana manages to turn a belt into a piece of jewelry...

mens corner...the necktie...

the necktie has always spoken multitudes about our culture...

it was skinny and modern in the '60s...
fun and exaggerated in the '70s...
rich and thick in the '80s...
then...for a while...
it seemed to disappear altogether...

now this iconic piece of fabric is back and better than ever...

whether you want to appear subtle and dignified...or to distinguish yourself as a trendsetter...the necktie is a bold and economical way to make a statement...

with more widths and fabrics available than ever before...you never need an excuse to spend some time in the neckwear department...

just don't blame me when the addiction kicks in...

this is one vice i'm happy to endorse...

nothing better than a well dressed man...

how much should i spend?

you walk into a store...and there it is...the dress that will change your life...

the problem?

the price tag...

when is an item a good buy?

i have some clients that believe that because an item is "expensive" it is therefore..."good"
i have some clients that believe that spending hundreds of dollars on one item is "insane"

so how do you determine a good buy?

this is the process that i go through with my clients to decide if an item is a "good investment"

first and foremost...organize your budget...sort out what you want from what you need...then think about what you can afford...

how do you know if something is too divine...or just too dear?

this is where you need to put it under the microscope...

money well spent will buy you high-quality fabric, sensible (if not brilliant) design...and remarkable workmanship...

a few questions to ask yourself...

how versatile is it? chances are...you'll have that exquisitely tooled black leather bag for years...it is the hot-pink quilted purse that may be headed for the tag sale next season...

how well does it fit into the rest of your wardwrobe? a really perfect suit is always more than just the sum of its parts...

how delicate is it? one rainfall after another and even the most expensive suede pumps will look shabby...

invest in a good basic wardrobe...then spruce it up with a few things each season that will update or enhance what you already own...

clothes worth spending money on shouldn't be disposable...

so what is a good investment?
classic design and the best quality you can afford
- a beautifully tailored suit and blazer in a high-quality, seasonless fabric
- pants that really fit in a neutral color
- the perfect simple black dress
- accessories that last (classic structured handbag, fine leather belts, durable opaque stockings and well made leather shoes)
- things you will wear to death (fine cotton shirts, well-made sweaters)

if you can answer "yes" to the questions below...most likely...it will be a good investment purchase...

is it a necessity?
is it versatile?
is it made well?
is it timeless in cut, color, and pattern?
do you feel great in it?

and the big question...how often will you wear it?

so...what was your best versatile investment purchase? please share!

fashion, champagne and a great cause...

last nite...my friend & business partner, adena & i got all dolled up for the big "dress for success" fashion show/fundraiser in lovely san francisco...

it doesn't take much to talk adena & i into dressing up for an event...what fun...right?

what a great cause we were supporting...

the nite began with silent auction items...so many to choose from...as we bid on our favorites...we enjoyed lovely tastes from different restaurants in the city as well as...bubbly... =)

fashion show consisted of two different designers...the models...who were all beautiful...consisted of prior clients of "dress for success" or volunteers of the organization...

then the live auction took place...such excitement as the bidding frenzy took place...i was number 435...i was a bit bummed that it wasn't an actual bidding paddle...but the idea was definately there...

the nite was such a fabulous event...but i have to tell you...the most beautiful part of the evening was when a few women got up to tell their stories...and how they came to be at "dress for success"...one theme rang true throughout their stories...and that was that "dress for success" was not a one time deal...they were continually supporting long after these women got their first suit...

the mission of "dress for success" is promoting economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life...

as many of us at this time are cleaning out our closets of items that we are no longer needing...i ask that you consider donating those items to "dress for success"

when i started my business...i truly wanted to focus on women helping women...and this organization is one way to do that...how wonderful to help a women get started on her own path to reclaiming her independence and self-esteem...

adena & i at the lavish soiree

buying smart...

today my facebook fan page status reads:

the most expensive item in your closet is the one with the tags on that you've never worn...

i cannot tell you how many times clients have had a hard time letting go of an item...whether it had tags on it or not...but simply based on the fact of how much they spent on it...truth be told...i have even found myself thinking the same things at times...

what causes items to sit in our closet without use?

was it a sale item with a price to good to be true?

was it an impulse buy?

or perhaps buying an item just for the designer label?

buying an item that just sits in your closet...does not make a good investment piece...that rule applies to an item that is expensive or one that isn't...bottom line...it is money that could have been spent on an item that becomes one of the ones...you love...

so...lets say all your clothes were lost by airline personnel tomorrow...what would you replace first? in the end...the assessment is simple...

what do you have?

what do you need?

it's not about buying more...it's about buying smart...your wardrobe is valuable for the pieces that make it personal...

the vintage dress you found at a summer tag sale...

your mothers silk scarves...

your boyfriends leather jacket...

maximize these items with a few well chosen new basics...you probably have more than you think...you just need to look at things in a different light...

the key is to dejunk...your closet should be full of items you wear...not items that hang in your closet...your closet should be full of items you love...

if you shop with the mindset of buying only things you love...choosing pieces that you feel great in...most likely...you will wear every single one of them over and over again...year after year...

"personal style is being able to say no...no one who we think of as a woman of great personal style was a fashion victim...they are women who are very aware of their bodies, their features, and what works."

michael kors

purple pop of color...

those that know me well...know that i live for a sun shiny day...warm sunny days make me happy...all in all...i think people are generally in better moods on sunny days...

the flip side of course...is that i love fall/winter for the clothing...the leathers, tweeds, boots, plush warm layering...

and i know...i can't have both...at least not at the same time...

this is always a hard time of year for me...because on the one hand...i know my summer sunny days are numbered...and soon i will need to put away the flip flops, sandals, tank tops & sundresses...

as excited as i am for the fall clothing...i know with it comes cold weather...ugh...not my favorite...

so i need to find things that will help me cross over so to speak...to the next season...

for now...i focus on this luscious pair of michael kors shoes...i scored these in the middle of spring...but knew that it would be the perfect addition to fall...can't think of a better way to face a gray gloomy day...add a pop of color...

my first post...

well...i finally did it...after having my own personal blog for over a year...i felt it was time to get one started for my business...fabulous finds

being a wardrobe consultant/personal shopper for 5 years now...i have to say...the most pleasure i have from my work...is finding the perfect wardrobe...or even the perfect outfit for an event for a client...you know when you have found the right piece...the client looks good...but much more than that...they feel good...which in turn exudes confidence...

i truly believe that a person can look phenominal...but if they are not feeling it...it just doesn't matter...

i love fashion...everything about it...

this blog will be all about fashion...
client updates...
shoes...
what is in for the season...
shoes...
what is out...
shoes...
my own wish list...
and did i mention...shoes??

guess you can tell what i adore...shoes shoes shoes...they can make or break an outfit...

so i hope you will come on this journey with me...

my hope is that i will bring you tidbits of fashion news & tips that will help you in your own sense of style...