men's corner: spruce up the sweater...

fall is definately the start of the season where we pull out the cozy sweaters...and for men...well...this should be no exception...but...if you are one who always falls back on the solid black, grey or navy blue sweater...come on...let's spruce it up a bit this year...

stripes are always fun...as in this lovely piece...still grey...but with some interest...


dolce & gabbana turtleneck sweater
nordstrom

if you see those stripes...and think...a bit too much for me...go for a smaller version of stripes...still with some great interest...don't you think?

cashmere v-neck sweater in jetty stripe
j. crew

they say "it's all in the details..." as this lovely sweater (cardigan) shows...not your old boring sweater...how easily put together this sweater looks...

toggle shawl-collar cardigan
j. crew

and if all these stripes & toggles make you dizzy...then at least go for one or two sweaters in this years lovely jewel tones...plenty to choose from...

merino v-neck sweater
gap

the keep pile...

about a month ago...i was going through the closet of one of my new clients...once we were done...she told me that she was surprised at some of the items that i told her to hold on to...

i don't know if it is the whole "what not to wear" fear...that a wardrobe stylist will come in and get rid of every stitch of clothing one owns...or just not understanding the difference between style & trends...but most importantly...fit...

i do talk alot in this blog about cleaning out the closets...purging...getting rid of the items that don't serve a purpose anymore...but there are definately pieces that i will tell my clients to hold on to...

so...what, when you are weeding through your closet...should you absolutely...positively save...even if you haven't worn it recently? here are some definates...

- the item that makes you look ten pounds thinner...even if it's out of style...say for example...you have that skirt (insert whatever the item may be)...a supremely flattering item is always a keeper...even if it looks strange or dowdy for a season or two...you never know...fashions do change...and then again...so may your body...the key here..is the fit of that item...

- classic evening wear...silk pants...an embroidered kimono...a charmeuse tunic...anything that still fits and is in good shape...even if you had a baby two years ago and haven't been out after midnite since...the next time you have to attend a once-every-five-years formal event (and believe me...they do come up when you least expect it) you may not have to buy new clothes...

- high quality classics in good condition...what i'm thinking of are things like tweed blazers and cashmere sweaters...that one year may fit a little too tight for the style...or may have a cowl neckline when everyone's wearing turtlenecks...or may have collars that are a little too wide or too narrow...for a short time...these so-called classics may look out of place to you...but if they're in good shape...hang on to them...because the style standing of these sorts of details always changes...and they'll look good again someday...

- the skirt or pants that fit last year...but now are a little too snug...or a little too big...some of my clients...whenever they gain or lose ten pounds...tend to think this is it forever...and out with everything that reminds them of their former shape...but if your weight fluctuation is recent...and if you tend to go up or down a size consistently over time...it's smart to keep items that fit in your normal range...even if they don't fit right now...

and sometimes...items that are in your closet are kept but changed...perhaps a skirt is shortened...or the sleeves are changed on an item...a good tailor truly can perform miracles on items that don't serve their purpose in the current state...but tiny tweaks...can make an old un-used item...a new improved item...



photo source

fashion funnies: the signs of "fall"

...and the importance of wearing a belt...

scott hilburn, comic

may your weekend be fabulous

difficult items...

...what's difficult will vary from person to person...but almost universally traumatic and hard to find are a good pair of jeans...a bathing suit...and for some...shoes (although the only problem i have with shoes is just buying one pair)...but i digress...

for those difficult pieces...you want a low-stress shopping experience...so...first...shop for only one difficult item per shopping trip...no matter how much you hate the mall...stick to that one item...in other words...focus only on that item...and if you find one version of any of the above items that you like...that fits...and that you could afford in a single shopping trip...you can consider that trip a success...

and if you can swing it...buy two...

photo source

leopard & floral...

i've kind of been on a mixing of patterns kick...inspired by so many gorgeous editorials...i've posted some along the way...for me...it is a great way to "funk" up an outfit...and really make it unique...

so...of course...the best place to start is always always always in your own closet...i truly believe...as in decorating...when you buy pieces you love...they will work together...

so...i started with this cotton shirt that i haven't worn in forever...truth be told...i hadn't worn it for a while...cause i had gotten a little bored with it...as i write that...i'm thinking...me...get bored with leopard? say it isn't so...

...uh yeah...that'll never happen...i was just bored with the shirt worn as a basic shirt...



so i ventured into my closet...and knew i needed something to keep me warm...as the nippy fall air has arrived...perused my blazers...but nothing was jumping out at me...and then i saw it...my floral sweater...how perfect!



and while i know this for some is a little out there...but for me...just a perfect combo of mixing patterns...and here is the end result...



is this something you would try? let us know your perfect combination of pattern & color...

mixing patterns in same color palette...

yes...i'm still perusing through my september issues...les sigh...and yesterday i got through the last of them...and my eyes ventured onto marie claire with this fabulous display of mixing patterns...same color palette...

ok...i know this is not for everyone...but the fun thing about is...is you can choose to what degrees you mix patterns...you can be bold...or take baby steps...

this got my brain churning as to new ways i could mix patterns...and actually produced my outfit for today...which i have no time to take a pic of for this post...so wait till tomorrow!

until then...do these pics inspire you? or may you run the other way?






photos scanned by moi: marie claire ~ september issue

working from home...what to wear?

it is your first day at work...not in the office...that was your old life...but at home or in the studio or in your own business...the only rules governing what you wear are the ones you make yourself...no one will be seeing you...and if someone does...it won't be someone who's judging your clothes by what's proper or powerful in the corporate world...

the only problem is...what do you wear?

can clothes make you feel more successful...even when no one's looking?

you work at home...alone...theoretically you could get up...have your coffee and work all day in your pajamas...or you could pull on the clothes you left in a heap after the girlfriends came over for casual potluck last nite...or you could go halfway...wear "nice" casual clothes...a little makeup...perhaps some earrings...or you could get dressed as if you were going to any office...except that yours just happens to be down the hall from your bathroom...

the question is...since you're not leaving the house...since you won't have to see anyone...does it make any difference at all what you wear?

well...yes...it makes a difference...but only to the extent that your clothes can affect how you feel about yourself...which can affect how you feel about your work...and the clothes that make women feel more successful...or more creative or more motivated...when no one's watching...are determined by personal idiosyncracies rather than standard business-dressing rules...

at home alone...a feeling of success is as likely to emanate from wearing lipstick or a favorite t-shirt as it is from wearing a business suit...

of course...self-image is the bottom line since...when you work alone...that's the only image that counts...i will say...that when i've been home...and in my pj's (yes...i've had those days)...after a while i'd start to feel non-productive...and not very creative...kind of like a non-entity...not only about my work...but about myself...so for me...it helps to put a little effort in what i'm wearing...although my suits have been nicely stored away...

calling all entrepreneurs...fess up...what do you wear when working at home?

photo source