packing anxiety...

heading out for a week to scorching hot lovely arizona...aici (association of image consultants international) will be having our annual conference...while i have attended the san francisco chapter conference annually...this is my first international conference...and i'm excited...

what i'm not excited about is packing...last i checked weather was about 104...eek!  now if i was going on vacation...packing would be a bit easier...and i wouldn't be having much anxiety...but this is a business trip...and while the outside will be hot...and i'm sure there will be plenty of activities outside...the conference rooms in hotels tend to be cool...even freezing at times...

so yes...even i go through a bit of packing anxiety...so i figured i would do what i do for my clients...put the outfits together...planning each days events...and the key to this wide gap in temperatures?  layer layer layer...

truth be told though...i am a wardrobe consultant...and this conference will be 100's of image consultants...so i'd be lying if i said that i wasn't going to over pack just a wee bit...i want to keep my options open...

what i do know...is that my suitcase will be full of color...full of accessories to help in changing up outfits...and the shoes...well the shoes are always numerous...that is just me...

so...i will most likely not have time to blog while there...so i will update you on all the wonderful things i pick-up from various speakers when i'm back...until then...keep it stylish!

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dear fashion advisor: dress over pants...

i love getting questions from my readers...so keep sending them in...while this one made me think of my younger days...when my mom used to dress me with a dress over pants...although i don't think she was going for a stylish look...more so for a warmth & coverage look... =)

Q:  what is the "right" way to wear a dress over pants?

A:  i actually love this look...and have posted some wonderful pics of women doing it right...here are some tips...

 - proportion...for the length of the dress (or skirt) the most flattering would hit you about mid thigh...you can go longer depending on your height...but for most women - the longer hemlines will overwhelm your frame...this would work as in the first picture...because the bottom half of the dress is black as are the pants...so the line is long and lean...

 - the dress...should be fitted...and the more simple the dress - the better this look plays off...you don't want to have bulkiness all around the dress...not flattering on most...

 - the pants...pants should be fitted...think skinny jeans/cigarette pants...but boot cut or flared bottoms will work as well...but the thigh down to about below the knee should be pretty fitted...to pull off this look...

hope this helps!  i have tried to show a variety of pics from going dressy to a casual bohemian look...

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just doing my job...

yes...a good deal of my job is spent in client closets...and another big part is spent in departments stores, boutiques...malls...so it is important for me to know what is in stores...pretty frequently...and while i make a habit of perusing the stores...usually by myself...it is a whole lot funner when it is with a group of like-minded women...

the aici (association of image consultants) san francisco chapter will occasionally put together what we call a "walk-about"...where a different location is chosen each time...and we have a little guided tour set-up for us...this last week...we had such a walk-about in santana row - san jose...

and let me tell you...there are some nice perks that come along with this already fun day...many of the stores that choose to participate will offer up presentations for us...discounts...discounts for clients...and other fun goodie bags...

here is our group from last week...surrounded by...well...kate spade handbags...can you think of anything better?  it was a fun day to catch up...brainstorm...and of course...shop!

and when a boutique welcomes us with champagne & macaroons...well...i am pretty much all ears... =) as anne fontaine did for us...yes...i had a glass...and one macaroon...pistachio...

we ended the day at an outdoor mexican restaurant...chips & margaritas...more laughter...and lots of chit chat...all in all...a hard day's work...after all...i'm just doing my job...