Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Moving on: When it is time to let go



I have a dear friend how has decided to live her dream and go back to school to pursue a professional dream and this exciting journey requires her to move out of state to a much colder climate in the mid western part of the the United States. When I offered to help her pack up her home, she asked if I'd help her pack up her closet instead. Since I love to be in the thick of people's closets, I quickly agreed.

When the doors of her closet opened, I was greeted to a bevy of clothing, including some items that were as much as half her age! We toiled away for hours and it became clearer than ever to me that women are extremely emotionally tied to their clothing. Our closets become almost like yearbooks that chronicle different events and stages in our lives.

The problem with hanging on to everything is that you have a harder time, standing in your closet and being inspired to dress for the day according to who you are now. You also become equally challenged in shopping to compliment the hidden treasures that exist in your wardrobe. To combat these issues, purging is necessary quite often and as I eluded to earlier, this can be quite an emotional stress. My friend and I joked that she may need a drink to endure the process, but I was quite surprised that she was very ready and had the perfect mind-frame for someone faced with a big move. It was very obvious that she was at a point in life where she was ready to let go of the old and embrace the new. Can you say the same?

There is no time like the present to breathe new life into your wardrobe and you can not imagine how much easier getting dressed in the morning will be. Make the leap and let it go......you won't regret it, trust me.


Inside the fashion insiders' wardrobes - Times Online

Friday, July 17, 2009

The Fashion Show Finale: There is something to be said about being a lady....


"I enjoy being a girl!" If I have repeated that quote once, I have repeated it a million times, and it certainly rang true last night when watching the finale of The Fashion Show on Bravo. Designer Anna McCraney may not have presented a traditional cohesive collection, but she succeeded in designing a dress for every woman. In the mind of the average woman, isn't that what matters most?

There are two things I love in a dress and they are beautiful construction, and the ability to ooze femininity from every seam, zipper and hem....Anna's dresses do all that for me and more! One of the judges stated that she could not see all the pieces hanging together in the store, but again, who cares because I can imagine each of those dresses in my closet. Anna has expertly honed her craft of allowing the silhouette to be alluring, yet tasteful, without registering as boring in anyway.

In my opinion, now that Reco (whose collection was a bit frazzled) is gone, her only competition is Daniella. I hope that she comes out on top and I look forward to seeing more from her in the future.

Be sure check out the collections and vote for Anna.......I know I will!


The Fashion Show - Photos - Anna's Final Collection - Bravo TV Official Site

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

The fabric of my life....right now


While we all enjoy the cheery sunshine, the heat this summer has been a bit much. Depending upon your location, the temperature can be heading well towards the 90 degree mark when you get up in the morning. Well don't let the prospect of being uncomfortably hot deter you from wonderfully cool and cute outfits. Fabric choice is the key to your comfort this summer, and I vote for cotton!

Casual Wear
Instead of throwing on a beat up t-shirt to run your errands during the weekends this summer, why not do a tee with a little detail? A V-neck tee that elongates your neck with a necklace or two, coupled with any bottom is perfect.

Work Wear
For those that must adhere to a classic business dress code, there are certainly summer weight cotton variations to choose from. Those who have more of a business casual or casual dress code can have a little bit more fun with print and shapes. Be careful not to let your creative license take you too far from professional attire. Hawaiian shirts and spaghetti straps are still not allowed.

Little Black Dresses (LBDs)
Investing in a summer version of your LBD is an extremely wise decision. Look for one that is not too fussy but special enough to make a statement. Keep in mind that you need one that is appropriate for both your cutest sandals and your sexiest heels. I LOVE this one by Ann Taylor Loft, the possibilities are endless with this one!



Style Lesson: Natural fibers are better at anytime of the year. The fabric can "breathe" better and helps to keep you cool or warm depending upon the weight.