inspiration: awesome pants...

and have a fabulous weekend...

tips for transitioning into fall...

one of the areas where i get the most questions from friends and clients...what to wear during those transitional days...when we are clearly into fall...but the weather still feels like summer...or perhaps it is not as warm as summer...but definitely not cold enough to be pulling out the thick sweaters...

here are a few tips that might help you as you transition out your summer wear for fall...one of the first areas i always say to look at...is the current wardrobe...while all of your summer wear may not be able to transition...some of it may still work with just a few tweaks...

start off by looking at your summer printed dresses and skirts...think about swapping out your sandals...and add a hefty bootie to the ensemble...add a darker color cardigan...or scarf...and you have updated your summer dress to fall...another great tip...think of adding a long sleeve thin layering tee underneath the dress...this will even work with some of your strapless dresses...

speaking of booties...time to swap out all your summer lightweight & strappy sandals...a look can be updated to fall...just by your shoes...think of heavier footwear...a peep toe shoe...perhaps a nice pair of oxfords or brogues...or even a smoking slip...all nice addition's to your fall wardrobe...

colored denim is still high on the list for fall...think of deeper, richer hues...and leave your pale numbers for next year...walking shorts and capri's are still wearable...but watch out for color...go for darker hues...perhaps a nice blue, hunter green or burgundy...

accessories...a biggie...add in some beautiful scarves...adding in just the right touch of colors...while keeping your neck warm from the brisk fall air...take a look at your handbags as well...look for darker hues...doesn't necessarily need to be black or brown...but a stronger color then what summer/spring usually represents...

black & white is still a great "go-to" combination...yes...white is acceptable after labor day...just keep in mind what fabric content your whites are...linens should be stored away...

stock up on cotton & silk cardigans...a great way to layer an outfit...and keep you warm enough...or cool enough...whatever the weather dictates...

and don't forget about your lip and nail color...fall is about darker hues...

take inspiration from beautiful fall leaves...great colors to work with...and your transition into fall should be a piece of cake...

do you have some tips that you use for transitioning into fall?  please share...and inspire others...

collection cashmere crewneck cardigan
j crew

put together: in a casual sort of way...

i will often say..."let's dress for the occasion..even if the occasion is__________" (insert day of the week)...

casual does not need to be drab...void of style and fit...drab jeans and t-shirts...when it comes to weekend style...or just a casual day running errands...why is it that so many women opt out?  

ladies...you can be comfortable in clothes that are not just jeans + a t-shirt...i am forever pulling fabulous pics of great casual outfits...like this one below...for example...simple pair of pants or jeans...with a fabulous sweater...add a great flat...and a nice accessory...and you are set...but more importantly...you look put together...after all...you never know who you might be bumping into...a client...a prospect...a future date...maybe even an ex...don't you want to look fabulous?  

if you start putting outfits like this together...it will be a breeze to get ready in the morning...with little thought...but a great end result...

scanned by moi

putting away the summer clothes...

while it is difficult to say good-bye to summer...the weather slowly changes...and the things that we wore all summer long...need to be put away...and room made for the cozy sweaters...boots and scarves...

but...before you stash away all that summer goodness...now is a great time to check the items...i mean...no reason to pack away things that won't be worn anymore...right?  so what are we looking for?

first and foremost - as with any season...the clothes that you hung on to...possibly from last summer...or the summer before that...and you still haven't worn...yeah...time to say good-bye...whether the item doesn't fit...doesn't suit your current lifestyle...why keep packing up these items...when you clearly are not wearing them?  time to break-up!

look over your current summer wears...are there stains from your summer activities?  now is the time to get them cleaned...don't save it for next season...stains left untouched...will only get worse...and harder to get rid of...besides...when summer rolls around next year...do you really want to be pulling out stained items?

look over all your t-shirts & tank-tops...any with yellow armpit stains need to go...have the colors faded?  be honest...these need to go...and replaced again...

now for the packing...keep in mind your summer hats...place them in hat boxes...if at all possible...or in a location where they will be protected...who wants to pull out a summer hat...all ready to go to the pool...only to find a hat that has lost its shape...or worse...wrecked from something sitting on top of it for 6 months?

when looking for storage bins...there really are so many to choose from...figure out where your storage space will be...and then choose accordingly...there are options for storage under the bed...on shelves...stacked...etc...what works for you?  and keep in mind...if you have a choice...between canvas and plastic coated ones...the plastic ones sometimes permeate that smell...and it doesn't go away easily...you don't want your clothes absorbing it for 6 months...

have a list ready for the items you need to replace for next summer...keep it in a place you will remember...there are a lot of items on sale right now...but keep in mind...don't buy just because it is on sale...if you need to replace certain items...and they are on sale...kudo's to you for finding them...also...make a note of the key pieces you enjoyed wearing this summer...make a note to shop for these must-haves in early spring...

photo source

happy first day of fall...

while i am not really looking forward to colder climates...the colors of this season never cease to amaze me...just look at the pic below...does it not inspire you to pull out an incredible ensemble with these combinations?  whether we like it or not...fall has officially arrived....

if you haven't already started...now is the time to really buckle down and start sifting through the summer clothes...knowing what to keep and put away...what to gt rid of...what to replace...and what can be used to transition into fall...while we still have some beautiful warm weather...

next week i will be posting tips on putting away summer clothes...and transitioning into fall...stay tuned...

photo source

fashion funnies: getting organized...

saw this comic strip in the sf chronicle a few weeks back...all about organizing...and how easy it is...

dad:  why is your room such a mess, luann?  i thought mom spent all day yesterday helping you get organized...

luann:  she did.  we sorted all my clothes by type - pants, shirts, dresses - then by season, then by color, hanging light on the left, dark on the right...

luann:  we put my undies in top drawers, tees midlevel and sweaters below...we hung my belts, scarves and jewelry on hooks, we lined up all my shoes from casual to dressy, we folded my - 

dad:  ok, i get it.  so why the mess?

luann:  'cuz getting organized is easy...staying organized is impossible...

luann by greg evans
sf chronicle

enjoy the weekend...

fall 2012 trend: texture mash-up

one of the trends for this fall...

mixture of textures...

ingredients needed:  a mixture of...

knits, leather, silk, lace & tweed...

especially when wearing one color...

like black...

so go ahead...mix that tweed with leather...

add in a sexy silk blouse...

what textures are you most looking

forward to mixing?  

share your winning combination...

texture mash-up by fabufinds featuring a black jacket

men's corner: cuffing it...

to cuff or not to cuff...that is the question...and it seems like a nice cuff in your pant is back in full swing for this fall season...personally, i have always loved a cuffed pant...seems so stylish...and somehow it truly anchors the pant leg...

jim moore of gq states:  "tell your tailor to give you an inch and a half of cuff...and get him to hem your pants a good half inch above your shoes to show some sock...if he says the average customer likes no cuff and a big break...look him in the eye and say, 'i'm not the average customer...'"

there are so many things i love about that statement...first...show some sock...yes!  and make them a wow sock...not plain solid colors...and then the response to the tailor...there is just something special about the non-average man...

photo source

updating the trench coat...

depending on where you live...you may be experiencing beautiful summer autumn weather...or already feeling a bit of the chill of fall...and whether you are a sun goddess or love the cold weather...it is coming...and in those times where it is chilly...but not quite cold enough for a winter coat...what to wear?

the classic trench coat...such a wardrobe staple...but why settle for a basic black, brown or blue?  add a nice color to brighten up a grey dreary day...there are some wonderful colors to choose from...like this oxblood...which is a BIG color for fall...

feeling more adventurous?  how about an animal print trench?  or any kind of print...adding lots of interest to your outfit...

ellen tracy water repellant trench coat
nordstrom

you had me at hello: gold studded step...

as i have been diligently going through my wonderful stack of september issues...all that is new for fall...i came across this lovely piece of wonderful...in the marie claire issue...to say i want these...would be an understatement...such a winning combination...gold...studs...heels...they had me at hello...

this beautiful sexy number is by the most talented valentino garavani...need i say more?  feast your eyes...and enjoy...

scanned by moi

fashion funnies: i don't want to brag...

enjoy the weekend...may it be fabulous...

happy 3 year...

...blogaversary to me!  sometimes it still amazes me that i have kept this blog going...i remember vividly the day i started it...and my intentions for it...little did i know...the wonderful readers i would meet along the way...who have made this journey...all that much more fabulous...

fashion is truly a passion for me...and sharing it...with others...brings me such joy...so when i read your comments and emails...my fabulous readers...it just motivates me that much more to keep doing what i am doing...

thank you for stopping by...sharing in the wonderful world of fashion...the crazy...the colorful...the "gotta have" to the "what were they thinking" moments...

here is looking forward to the new year...now if only this cake was more than just a picture...so i could truly indulge...and celebrate...

photo source

step into fall 2012...

are you looking to update your step for fall?

hardware & embelishments adorn your
favorite styles...

pointy toes are back!

color...texture...hardware...

find it in your brogues...flats...pumps...and booties...

step into fall... by fabufinds featuring jeffrey campbell flats

men's corner: oxblood for men...

yesterday...i posted about the big color for fall..."oxblood"...and of course i showed different ways of incorporating it into your wardrobe...this is a great color for fall...and men...you can ease into it as well...here are some lovely examples...

cole haan 'air morris' casual wingtip
nordstrom

and if you are not a wingtip type of guy...how about trading out wearing regular jeans or khaki's for some gorgeous "colored" cords...such as these...

vintage cord in slim-straight fit
j crew

  add a bit of oxblood in the way of a nice textured belt...

allen edmonds 'manistee" brogue leather belt
nordstrom

  a gorgeous tie...would spice up your worn once or twice shirts...

burberry london woven silk tie
nordstrom

what a great color for a sweater...pick your poison...cashmere...wool...

elbow-patch crewneck sweater
banana republic

and of course...don't forget the socks...oxblood seen in paisley...polka dot and stripes!

"oxblood" the big color for fall 2012...

feast your eyes on the big color for fall...

                    "oxblood"

a beautiful deep red with hints of brown...

whether you choose a handbag...brogues...
jewelry or a piece of clothing...

this color is definitely a fall staple...

"oxblood" the big color for fall 2012... by fabufinds featuring cap toe shoes

fashion funnies: the best medicine...

enjoy the weekend...

photo source

fashion's night out 2012...

the day has finally arrived...the 4th annual fashion's night out...will you be participating?  for those of you that don't know about it...it is where vogue, the cfda and others have teamed up for the worldwide initiative to promote local retail and celebrate the fashion industry...

so whether you are in california...another state...or in another country...which means many have already been celebrating by the time this post goes out...have fun...enjoy the shows...the fashion...and all that comes with it...

scanned by moi

men's corner: the dapper gentleman...

zz top said it best..."every girl's crazy 'bout a sharped dressed man..."

such was my encounter today...when i ran out of the office for a quick afternoon java run...all i grabbed was my wallet...what.a.mistake.that.was...because as i was headed back...in front of me...an elderly gentleman...slowly walking...with the help of his walking cane...

photo source

 as i was approaching him...i was admiring the way he had put his look together...the beautiul fedora...nicely pressed slacks and dress shirt...perfectly shined shoes...

photo source

and as i got side by side by him...my heart melted...he was also wearing a lovely paisley tie...the outfit...perfect in every way...

photo source

of course...the only problem...i had no camera...no phone...nothing to capture this picture of perfection on the young 89 year old gentleman...i couldn't let this moment pass without letting him know how fabulous he looked...

"love seeing a gentleman...wearing a hat...and even better when accompanied with a bow tie...you look absolutely dapper"  to which he smiled...and said..."young lady...you've made my day...thank you for noticing..."  

the september issues...

...always bring me such joy...thought i would share my pile of wonderful reading material for september...full of all the fall trends...as we know...september is the january in fashion...and being that fall is my most favorite season...when it comes to fashion...well you can imagine how thrilled i am with my current reading selection...vogue alone is 916 pages...

i really must do something for my mailman...who so faithfully carried these heavy magazines to me... =)  

stay tuned faithful readers...i will be sharing all that is fall this year...in the next few weeks...