fashion words to live by...

the closet purge...

for many...just hearing the words "closet purge" emits stress...hair-pulling...or just complete avoidance...the thing is...a closet purge is necessary...and in the long run...a stress reliever...but it is the in-between part that is hard...but if you can endure...the end result is a good one...

so what works best for you? most think a closet purge is where you take everything out of your closet...look over every item in great detail...try everything on...have your piles of what is to be discarded...donated...repaired...or...work great...so back in the closet it goes...

this is how i used to do my own closet purges...but i realized that i ended up feeling so overwhelmed...that i stopped midway...with tons of clothes everywhere...and then it went back in my closet...making my closet look more chaotic then when i started...

so...nothing was accomplished...although i have some clients that this system works for them...we devote one full day...and go through it...and every season...it gets easier and easier...because the major purge had been done...

but what if you haven't had a closet purge in oh...i don't know...many years...but you know in your heart of hearts that it needs to be done...you know...that you have no idea of everything that is lurking in your closet...because there are clothes crammed in so tight...

if the above system doesn't work...create one that does for you...baby steps...maybe you start with just your tops...or pants...(pick any category) and just go through those...

perhaps you keep a box or shopping bag close by...so in the morning...as you are getting ready...you come across an item that isn't working...take it off the hanger...and quickly put it in the box...you won't have to look at it again...and if you keep this system going...you will be surprised how quickly that box will fill up...

does this system take longer? sure...but after a month...even if you only have one box full...to donate...it is one box less of clothes that are hanging in your closet...slowly making room for the gems you love...

what is your system for cleaning out your closet?

photo source

the pattern & fabric...

so back in january...i was forced challenged by a very good friend of mine into making a skirt...here is the challenge as it transpired...and so to keep myself accountable...i decided i would blog about my experience...throughout the whole process...

well...i can't believe it has been a month already...and today...we finally got together...and picked out the pattern...so this is what we are attempting... =)



we both love mixing patterns...so we decided to make it fun...well...i have to admit...it started out as fun...looking at all the lovely fabric...there was a bit of sticker shock...because of course...the fabrics we loved...were very very expensive...



i won't tell you which belongs to me...and which belongs to my girlfriend...but these are the fabric choices that we selected together for both of us...



the pic above doesn't show up well as far as the mixing of patterns...however the fabric on the left has a nice shimmer of all the colors that are very vivid on the right...

so...that fun i was telling you about? i think we both left the fabric store with pounding headaches...but we managed to finally find the matching thread...zipper...facing...etc...

and we realized...we would never make it on project runway...but...this is our challenge...and we will go forth...and conquer...well...at least that is the goal...

which fabric combination is your favorite?

the colored jean...

although this trend has been going strong for quite some time...i have yet to purchase my first pair of colored jeans...one reason...jeans are not an easy purchase for me...but mostly...how do you decide on just one color?

i clipped this pic below from a bloomingdales catalog...but i've seen them nicely lined up at j. crew...banana republic...pretty much every store that has jeans...i love seeing all the choices in color...

but i just can't decide...will it be purple?? red?? burnt orange??

les sigh...

have you got bitten by the colored jean trend? if so...what color did you decide on?

scanned by moi

a pair of shoes...

as i am frantically trying to get ready for the BIG 4 day sale starting tomorrow...my "online" fabulous finds consignment boutique will be open to the local public...with over 800 items...it has been so difficult for me to decide which pieces to show...as i would like to show all of them...i just don't have the room...plus...who has time to price over 800 items...not i... =)

so...for today...no time to blog...but wanted to leave you with a pic my client sent me...don't have a photo source...so if you know...please comment so that i can give proper kudo's to whomever...

and if you happen to live in the san francisco bay area...and would like more info on this BIG sale...email me at fabulous.finds@yahoo.com - it is this thursday thru sunday 10 to 3pm...in san mateo area... =)

put together: simply fabulous...

today i received my march issue of self magazine...as i dropped it off on my counter along with all other junk mail, newspaper inserts, bills and such...the back cover caught my eye...an ad for banana republic...

there have been times that people have said to me...in different events...how hard it is to look put together...of course i strongly disagree...as is evident in this pic...

if you dissect the outfit...it is pretty simple...but really well put together...

scanned by moi

fashion funnies: shoe shopping...

tim whyatt cartoons

wishing you a shoe shopping kind of feeling weekend...

spring is definately in the air...

and in all the department stores...as was witnessed today when i was out shopping...helping a girlfriend get some new pieces for her wardrobe...bold bright colors...and graphics...mostly black and white...i was in pure heaven!

so get ready...because spring is all about color...the brighter the better...and so many colors to choose from...truly something for everyone...are you going to try to introduce a new color to your wardrobe?

my girlfriend stepped out of her comfort zone and chose an absolutely vibrant silk chartreuse blouse...i saw so many possiblities...i started rambling off all the ways she could wear it with what she currently owns...i seriously think she caught some of my excitement for herself... =)

photo source

men's corner: it's in the details...

sweater season is still in full force...and yet...most are being marked down in department stores...as they get ready for spring inventory...so if you are needing to stock up on a few more...get thee to the store now!

but don't just stop and peruse over the solid colors...while they all have their place in your wardrobe...sometimes...it is the tiniest of details that make a sweater that much more special...

how about a bit of color blocking?

etro v-neck sweater

an interesting border & pocket adds some nice interest...

rag & bone 'franklin' crewneck sweater

or go for a button down cardigan...

7 diamonds 'karlstad' cardigan sweater

photo source: nordstrom.com

happy valentines day...

to all my fashion loving readers...

photo source

you know you're from burlingame and ysl...

for those of you on facebook...you might recall the popular page called "you know you're from __________ (insert your city)...which for me is burlingame, ca...it is a fun page in that random people post memories of things they remember while growing up in their individual cities...you may not know the person who is posting their memory...but it sure brings back things and places that one might have forgotten about...and in that...a good time of remembering is started...

a few weeks back...a friend that i actually went to school with (from kindergarten all the way through high school)...seriously...how often does that happen? ken (my friend) posted this picture with the following remarks...

You know You're from Burlingame if..."you had the hottest Kindergarten teacher in the Burlingame School district..Miss Low from Washington. Sadly, this picture doesn't have her black go go boots from story time."

of course...i laughed at the remark...i am sad to report...that i do not recall miss low's black go go boots... =)

used by permission of little girl in pic...now all grown up!

but what was so cool...was that from this remark...several started commenting on the picture...two remarks stood out to me...both from men (which makes it even more fabulous!)

creighton commented: That's a Mondrian dress on the right? Art as fashion.

christopher commented: My first thought as well, Creighton

and christopher was kind enough to include this link...for those who at this point might not have any idea as to what they were talking about...

to which i myself commented: wow...loving the fashion updates...and that the mondrian dress was brought up...quite impressive! =)

christopher then commented: I saw the original up at the De Young's Yves St. Laurent exhibit...

now that was a fabulous exhibit...here is a pic i took from that show (courtesy of my yves saint laurent book that i got at the exhibit...

how cool would that be if the little girl in the picture still had this dress?



"mondrian is purity and one can go no further in purity in painting. this is a purity that joins with that of the bauhaus. the masterpiece of the twentieth century is a mondrian" yves saint laurent, quoted by laurence benaim

fashion funnies: clothes that send a message...

...gotta love a lipstick wearing deer...

enjoy the weekend!



*i do not remember where i got this - if you have info on the origin of this pic - please let me know...so that i may give credit where credit is due*

save the date...

fabulous finds online consignment boutique

will be having its "first ever" local opening...

in lovely san mateo, ca

so if you live in the bay area...mark your calendars...

"new with tags" & gently used clothing, shoes & accessories

sizes 0 to 28

thursday, february 23 thru sunday, february 26

check out the fabulous finds consignment boutique link

with over 700 items...there is something for everyone...

(items will be reduced from their listed price at this special sale.)

stay tuned for more info...

the master cleanse...

the other day i was reading a rather thought provoking article "the master cleanse" by annette tapert in the wall street journal...the top caption caught my attention...

If you lost your entire wardrobe, how would you rebuild it? Annette Tapert ponders the minimalist's ultimate fantasy with designers and style arbiters

we have all had the occasional blurting of "i have nothing to wear" while staring into a closet jam packed with clothes...ok...most of us have...if we are really honest...but for me that changed...when i started taking a serious look at my closet...and getting rid of the items that i knew i didn't wear...and most likely wouldn't wear...that is when you start looking at your clothes differently...loving the pieces that are in your closet...

and then there are the few people that i've met...when they hear what it is i do...have this vision that hiring me is going to be some real life episode of "what not to wear"...where i will come in...throw every piece of clothing out that they own...(for the record...that has never happened...and most likely won't...)

this article however made me think about...a "what if" situation...what if..for whatever reason...my clothes were all gone? how would i start rebuilding my clothing? would i buy a lot of what i had before? would i stick to a more classic approach? what would be the first ten pieces that i buy?

this article has several designers answering some of these very questions...

do you think that you would shop differently to replace your current items?

photo source

you had me at hello: in a spring sort of way...

don't these shoes just make you yearn for spring? bright orange...such a happy color...such a fabulous shoe...

scanned by moi
harper's bazaar - february issue

how to update that old coat of yours...

just like shoes...i feel one can never have too many coats...but that is just me...i happen to really love coats...but whether you have one or two...or like me...too many to mention...they are a big investment...and not one that you get rid of year after year...

so if you've got some old coats hanging in your closet...and they happen to be in great condition...but maybe...you are just a tad bit bored with them...why not update them? make them "new" again...

one of my favorite fashion tidbits: want to spruce up an old coat? add a fabulous big belt or some new buttons to create a brand new piece...

those are two very easy ways to update an old coat...sometimes the belt might not work...it really depends on how thick your coat is...but the buttons? the options are limitless...have you ever taken a look at the rows and rows of buttons offered? you can go vintage...modern...and everything in between...

i thought i would offer up a few more options...sometimes what worked before...may seem dated now...for example...sometimes...the sleeves can be changed...how about making the sleeves 3/4? and then style this with some long leather gloves? or work with the length of the coat...perhaps shortening it will give you more options...

depending on the style of the coat...sometimes (with the help of a tailor) the collar can be re-shaped...or be adventurous...hunt through a local antique, vintage or thrift store for a fur collar...it can easily be attached to the current collar...

small embellishments work wonders as well...sometimes...something as simple as adding a vintage brooch to your coat...or step out of the box...and add a cluster of three...tre chic!

most recent update that i saw...by a fellow image consultant...one of her clients had an old boxy jacket (more of a blazer jacket)...so they cut of the sleeves...tapered in the sides...and made a very classy vest...added a nice thick belt...and voila! a whole new piece to a current wardrobe...

while i am an advocate for getting rid of items in your closet that you know in your heart of hearts you will never wear again...there are those items that may not be right as they are...but can be "fixed" to be one of your favorite pieces...

have you ever updated an old coat? what tricks did you use?

photo source

fashion funnies: the difference...

...between men and women...





enjoy the weekend!

*no photo credit available...if you know of who i could credit...please let me know*

oh prada...how i love thee...

um...yeah...have you seen the prada spring/summer 2012 campaign? les sigh...

we've been having some incredible weather here in the bay area...think 70's...yes...almost all winter...not that i'm complaining...so of course...as much as i'd love to be wearing all my thick sweaters...tweed jackets...the weather is not permitting me to...so i dream of spring/summer...

i first saw this video over at fabulous girls wear vintage blog...the lovely cherie who is the owner of this blog and fabulous vintage at shrimpton couture...if you are a vintage lover...collector...you need to check out her site...she's got some absolute lovelies...trust me...

i think cherie said it best...and i quote her from her blog...

"I want every single piece and then I want to hunt down every single vintage piece that looks even remotely like every single piece in this video. And then I want to drive a vintage pastel colored convertible with vintage hard sided luggage stacked on the back, filled with all my new and old treasures and sing out loud in the sunshine in my car till I can't sing no more."

kind of like a thelma and louise moment...except the last part...you know...going off the cliff...

enjoy the video...the absolutely "die-for" clothes...(and cars)...
and have a fabulous weekend!

the long awaited purse...

two things that i don't mind spending some money on...are shoes & handbags...i want good quality...good leather...well made...and with this criteria...i have shoes & handbags that last a really really long time...in fact...most times when i get complimented on my shoes or handbags...the next question is...who are they by...and did i purchase them recently...and i usually need to say...that i got them years and years ago...

so...about six months ago...i was having coffee with a girlfriend of mine...and she was commenting on my handbag...and how she just couldn't afford a good handbag...but yet...she would spend little to no money on bags...that well...didn't look to hold up well...and usually didn't...nothing wrong with that...if you don't mind continually buying new handbags...

as we talked further...she seemed to think that a good handbags cost in the thousands...which i then let her know that there were plenty of great handbags to choose from without spending thousands of dollars...but still getting a good quality leather classic handbag...

so i challenged her...as she was not able to "just run out and spend money on a good handbag"...but i knew that she was an extensive coffee drinker...put aside your daily $4 for a latte in an envelope marked "handbag"...i mean...let's do the math...$4 multiplied by 5 days...multiplied by 4 weeks equals $80...times 5 months equals $400

guess what we went out to purchase today? isn't it a beauty? she is over the moon excited...

michael kors large bedford bowling satchel
neiman marcus