the lone striped blouse that hung alone...

one of the rules challenges that i give myself when shopping...is that every piece i buy...must be able to be worn at least two different ways...what does this do? well for one...it gets you wearing your pieces more often...which in turn is then considered a fabulous investment...

so...of course...it must not come as a big surprise...that i try to instill this in my clients as well...clothes that are hanging in your closet...no matter how beautiful...are horrible investments if they continue to hang in your closet...right?

so...when i first met my client mindy...i have to say...i loved what i saw in her closet...she had wonderful pieces...and together...we figured out more ways that she could wear those pieces...then the one way she had originally bought the pieces for...

one blouse that i pulled out of her closet caught my eye...i asked her what she wore it with...and she said she had nothing for it...well...that is the kind of challenge that i like...AND on a side note...mindy loved mixing patterns (something i absolutely adore!)

so i told her i would find something for her to go with the gorgeous blouse which was a mix of silver grey & navy blue stripes...we had originally talked about getting a grey or navy pencil skirt for it...which...of course would have been perfect...

so here is the blouse...sorry for the coloring...it is much more vibrant in real life =)



while shopping for mindy...i came across this skirt...so fabulous! and i thought...could it possibly go with the wonderful blouse? so i picked it up for mindy...here is the result...for those that do not like the whole mixing patterns...stay tuned...



close-up of the patterns...





and here are the different ways that mindy is now wearing this skirt...topped with a crisp white blouse...



for a more casual look...a white t-shirt is perfect!




and even a chambray shirt works...



now that is what i call a fabulous investment...

dresses...

can be fun...flattering...and a no-brainer on days when you don't want to think about coordinating an outfit...they can be ultra-casual...such as a sundress or beach cover-up...or make the most formal of statements such as when heading down the aisle to say..."i do..."

dresses can work as professional attire as long as they are not too frilly or send the message that you'd rather be at a party...work dresses are actually a nice change from suits and can be a simple choice in the morning...like skirt lengths...it's best not to wear them shorter than three inches above the knee if you're concerned about setting a business tone...

because dresses are not the easiest garment to fit if your proportions are different on the top and bottom...you need to pay particular attention to the styles that will fit and flatter you best...

here are some common styles and how to incorporate them into your wardrobe...especially if looking for the quick, feminine fix that a dress can often provide...

the wrap dress - diane von furstenburg first introduced this style dress in the 1970's...and it's hard to think about them without connecting them to the colorful printed fabrics she first made them in...selected in a solid color (or more muted print), they are ideal for year-round social activities...those made of matte jersey define the waist...flatter a variety of bustlines...and hug the body instead of clinging to it...the deep v-neck elongates the neck...and the slanted vertical line created by the wrap can slim the body...

love that quote!
classic sheath - this (to me) is the most simple style dress you can own...paired with a jacket, (or cardigan) it is a welcome change for women tired of skirt and pantsuits at the office...it is also an excellent office-to-dinner garment and looks fabulous with pearls...think jackie o...


a-line dress - this is a flattering silhouette if you are bigger on the bottom than on the top...it is fitted on top and then gently floats away from the hips...creating an a-line shape on the bottom...wearing it with a slight heel will balance out heavier legs best...


sundress - this type of dress works as daywear or beachwear and is easy to care for...you can fit a t-shirt under some of them...especially if the one you select has adjustable straps...sundresses with the most simple lines and detailing tend to last for years...making them a true investment...


so...which do you gravitate towards?

three easy pieces...

THREE EASY PIECES =
27 OUTFITS
(WHAT?!?!)

OKAY, WE'RE ALL ABOUT...
spiffing up your wardrobe without breaking the bank, and we've got a great example of how adding just three new items from our Winter Collection can yield 27 'new' outfits. Read on...

The Three New Pieces:
*Two-in-One Sweater Vest/Blouse Set
*Sequence Stretch Gunmetal Pant

*Deco Belt

Items in Your Closet
(If you don't have these, we DO!):
*Turtleneck

*Colored Pants

*Denim Jeans

*Black Skirt

*Black Pants

*White Shirt

New Outfits:
*Two-for-one Set with Black Pants, Colored Pants, Denim Jeans, Black Skirt = 4 outfits

*Two-for-One Vest with White Blouse, with Black Pants, Colored Pants, Denim Jeans, Black Skirt = 4 outfits

*Two-for-One Vest with Turtleneck, with Black Pants, Colored Pants, Denim Jeans, Black Skirt = 4 outfits
*Two-for-One Blouse with Deco Belt with above Bottoms = 4 outfits

PLUS

With Gunmetal Pants = 1 outfit
*White Blouse with all Five Bottoms = 5 outfits

*Turtleneck with all Five Bottoms = 5 outfits

27 Outfits so far - you're only limited by your imagination. (We're limited here by space!)

This is only one example from our Winter Collection. We can show you lots more!

Two-in-one Sweater Vest/Shirt Set:

Notice the great zipper detail. Besides this great neutral gray, it also comes in Black (of course) and Chartreuse.

Here's the Vest with a white blouse from Fall, shown with a skirt from Winter. The ruffles on the blouse offset the hardware of the zippers.

Now you can see the Blouse being worn separately from the Sweater Vest. We've paired it with one of our great belts (onyx with a touch of Swarovski) and our gunmetal pants. Another whole new look.

Is this too "tame" for you?

How about adding this leopard print skirt from Winter Collection for a "walk on the wild side"?

jana kos fall/winter collection trunk show
now thru november 9
redwood shroes, ca
personal appts available...

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!