Blog – GenuINe STYLE -

5 Realistic Style Goals to Aim for in 2018. Because New Year’s Resolutions Get Broken.

Posted at 24 Jan 2018 , Uncategorized

Goals. We set them and sometimes we break them – but probably not as much, as when we call them ‘New Year’s resolutions.’ My hunch, anyway. However, style goals can be more fun to set and reach.

Okay, some of you who don’t like shopping and or, say you have nothing to wear, I hear you grumbling. But, really. These five goals are not lofty. My intention is that you feel lighter, hopeful, and focused in one part of your life after setting them.

Go through your closet and remove all spring and summer items by mid-February or March. These are ones you’ve not worn in a year. If you are in the process of losing weight and wish to wear some items again, then remove the pieces you’ve not worn in two years – or longer.

Bring your spring clothing that you no longer wear to your local consignment shop. Depending on the weather trends where you live, they may start taking spring styles as early as late January or not till April if you live in cold climate.

Go to at Least One End-of-Season Sale. These can be hit or miss, but the mark downs are typically deep – 50-75% off and you may hit the jackpot on basics or THE unique, detailed piece that you’ve been looking for, but can be as rare as finding a dog that looks like a unicorn at the pet store.

Get rid of everything that is faded. What do I mean by faded? Was it navy when you bought it and now appears gray-blue? Is it light pink, but was red or maroon when you bought it? If it’s that faded, the material is also more likely to rip or tear due to wear. Note – this does not necessarily include denim.

Pick out the clothing items you adore, but don’t wear. Determine what items you can wear with it. Life is short. Don’t wait for a ‘special occasion.” Just wear it if you love it. If you need help figuring out what to wear with it, contact me. I can help. Another alternative would be to consider GenuINe STYLE’s Repurposed Fashion service.

However, if you find any of the above overwhelming, and or time-consuming, I offer complementary clothing donation drop-offs as part of my consultations, too. I can help you meet your 2018 style goals in short(er) time and we’ll have fun, too!

The Clumsy Fashionista’s Quick Last-Minute Saves to Keep Your Style Shining at Your Holiday and New Year’s Eve Parties (part 2 in a series).

Posted at 27 Dec 2017 , Clumsy fashionista tips, emergency style tip, Uncategorized

You’re happy with your holiday finds for your gatherings and parties. You bought the perfect shoe on sale at 70% off. You found a sweet jacket that has fun details and can be worn after the holidays. Nothing stands between you and you sporting your new digs with style. Nothing, except sometimes, and maybe especially so, when you’re dressed up – your clumsy tendency to dribble your toothpaste, salsa dip, or spill your drink.

Here’s 5 tips for cleaning, camouflaging and or, distracting the eye from these unfortunate happenings:

If you have time to remove toothpaste from your clothing, try this method. However, if time is an issue, and you have a V-neck or interesting drape to your top, consider wearing it backwards like I did for a client lunch here.
Ladies, carry a broach or two, and a scarf in your handbag. You can use either or, all of them to strategically cover a wine stain or two.
Party attire has become more casual for men. Some of you may be ditching your ties and opting for a sport coat/blazer and dress shirt only. However, consider stowing one in the car to hide a wine spill. Think ties are too serious? Embellish yours with a fun tie tack.
If you spill wine and don’t have any broaches, scarves or ties handy, try any one of these ideas to remove wine if the host/hostess has the products handy.
If it’s winter where you are, and you have an opportunity to layer pieces, you also may have more options to cover stains you can’t remove right away.

I hope you find these suggestions helpful, and they make your holiday dressing less stressful. Whether you need advice about layering to hide food stains, your holiday style in general, or a look for a future event, GeunINe STYLE is your solution.

A Sundress for Every Season & Occasion. Styling Ideas for Fall, Winter, Casual or Fancy.

Posted at 01 Dec 2017 , travel style, Uncategorized, vacation

You love your sundresses – particularly your maxi sundresses. They can make us look taller, elegant and they are extra comfy, too. You wish you could wear them year – round and in every climate.

It’s totally doable. I love mine by skylar+madison. I found it at High Society boutique in San Francisco while on vacation. A bonus about this dress is the material. It is designed of that textured, crinkled cotton that’s perfect for packing. See it here styled a few different ways:

Take your maxi sundress from your summer adventures . . . (Photo – Scott Hays Photography, Hair and makeup – Bell Pimentel of Vaya Salon, Handmade jewelry from my line – Aclaire Designs)

. . .to your holiday party. Wear an embroidered kimono–inspired piece as a lightweight coat like this one, with metallic heels, a velvet handbag and these statement earrings by Aclaire Designs. (Photo – Scott Hays Photography, Hair and makeup – Bell Pimentel of Vaya Salon, Jacket by Citron, from My Sister’s Closet/Scottsdale)

Wear your maxi dress during the fall/winter season by layering a long-sleeve cotton crop top you bought out of some nostalgia for the’90s. Shown with a low-heel/flat pair of boots for running errands with ease. Still feeling a chill? Add a waist -length denim jacket, and a beret. (Photo – Scott Hays Photography, Hair and makeup – Bell Pimentel of Vaya Salon, Top – TopShop, fron Nordstrom Rack, Boots – Sam Edelman, from Dillard’s)

15 Packing Tips for Stress-free Style and a Happy Holiday!

Posted at 19 Nov 2017 , Joy, travel style, Uncategorized, vacation

Holiday travel time is here – a time for packing, which most avoid till the final hour.

You don’t want to be unprepared, and some of us want choices – without needing to spend time shopping for them in between family dinners, and parties.

Which of your favorite pieces do you bring? How can you keep them from becoming a hot mess more ugly than a knotted pile of half-burnt Christmas tree lights in an overstuffed suitcase?

Answers to these burning questions and more can be found among these holiday packing tips:

Bring a bold sparkly piece of jewelry you love. Whether it’s a choker, necklace, ring or earrings you can let it do most of the talking for your more festive holiday outfits. Wear it alone, or balance it out with another more subdued complementary piece of jewelry.

Suitcase space seems to be an issue? Or, are you worried your party outfit may be delayed en route? Consider this idea I discovered some years ago via Vogue or Elle magazine for ensuring your holiday attire makes it to the party. Layer your party dress over leggings, or skirt, and stack /pile your jewelry, while wearing your fancy shoes, too.

Not sure how formal or informal an event may be? Pack a satin, metallic or sequined handbag, scarf, and or, shoes to instantly dress up more basic items.

Here’s one way to keep your necklaces from getting tangled. Use a sheet of plastic wrap big enough to place your necklaces with about a half-inch space in between each. Lay another piece of plastic wrap on top of them. Press the sheets firmly around each necklace and then roll the sheets up. Your necklaces should be tangle-free on arrival and wearable for toasts, dancing and gift exchanges. See this how-to video for details.

Consider using some of your small neckerchiefs and or scarves, as makeshift bags for your rings and small earring sets. Place them in the center of the scarf, then bring opposite corners together and knot them together to make a ‘bag’ of it.

Another way to keep necklaces tangle-free is to pull one necklace chain through a straw and then the other through another straw. This will keep your delicate necklaces from knotting together.

Some of you like to collect all things small – like tiny mint containers after the mints are long gone because they’re cute. Put them to good use and stow a few rings, cuff links or earring studs in them.

Store a watch, a few bracelets, or earrings inside extra eyeglass cases.

Those extra buttons that come sown inside our clothes are handy for more than a back up to your lost original fastener. Medium to larger buttons are a fun way to secure smaller earrings and keep them from getting scattered in your luggage or carry-on.

You may have some pairs of socks you’re bringing. They make secure and reliable storage for rings, watches and or, bracelets.

Are you traveling for pleasure and business? Your business cards are another way to secure jewelry like earrings, or broaches. Punch the card with the post and secure the back/hook on the reverse side of the card.

When it comes to deciding which jewelry or accessory pieces to bring, lighter pieces are easier and obviously take less space. However, if you can’t live without your larger statement pieces, narrow it down one or two.

Do your party wears have beautiful sequin embellishments? Wrap these in tissue wrapping paper to keep them from getting snagged by other items in your suitcase.

If you have multiple delicate embellished and or, sequin-covered garments, then secure them in a garment bag separate of your everyday clothing, and place wrapping tissue around/between them inside the garment bag.

Or, if you recycle shopping bags, use the larger ones as a protector between each garment. Punch a hole through the top of the shopping bag and pull the hanging item through it.

I hope these tips make your holiday packing easier! If you still need help choosing what clothing and accessories to bring on your holiday travels, let’s talk.

Happy Holidays!

Halloween Style Inspiration: $10 and Under Costumes Hide in Your Closet!

Posted at 09 Oct 2017 , Uncategorized

Almost every year, I have a Halloween party or event to attend. I do love to dress up. Ironically, as much as I love shopping for myself and my clients for non-costume items, I don’t like scouting costumes as much, because usually, I’ve some clever costume idea lurking in my closet waiting for me to discover already. I’m sure there’s at least one hiding in your closet, too!

This October 2017 (so far) I’ve dressed up once for a costumed networking event. I had three hours to plan. So, I decided to dress as my zodiac sign – Pisces (a.k.a the Fish). I had sea-foam green camisole-like tunic with sequins I bought several years ago from Free People. I tied my hair back in a series of small buns and left some length of hair to create a ‘fish tail’ of sorts. I wore that with gray skinny pants, silver sandals, and green and blue eye shadow/eyeliner.

I used the same green eyeliner to draw the Pisces symbol on my cheek. I don’t like foundation, and wanted to make sure it didn’t smudge, so put a light layer of face powder over it. I decided it needed glitter. I didn’t have any body glitter, so I dabbed a light layer of glitter nail polish over the symbol. If you have sensitive skin, and or not a risk-taker with such experimentation and want to try this look, I advise getting this vegan body glitter for $6.99. Looks fun, I may get some for every holiday!

Anyway, I digress. I planned for a little bit of fish scales on my forehead using fishnet stockings as my template – see a tutorial from SheKno ws.com. Sadly, I ran out of time due to an almost burned dinner and cat shenanigans (two separate incidents, but that’s another blog entirely).

Here are some of my Halloween costumes from past years with items all found in my closet/holiday decorations, not counting the face paint:

Avatar Na’vi Warrior -When They Glowed Different Colors

avatar character

A Goth Light Alice inWonderland (complete with black Nanette Lepore black Mary Jane shoes and a vintage, black patent clasp purse that was my grandmother’s – may add a toy white rabbit inside peeking out in the future).

Bloody Lucky Cat

If you are at a loss for Halloween costume ideas, and or on a budget, I know I can help you find one in your closet(s)! I also can help you find your genuine style for future holiday parties, too. If you want more details about my services, please contact me.

Happy Halloween! x

Fashionista Style for Clumsy Types –Part 1

Posted at 28 Jul 2017 , emergency style tip, Uncategorized

That backward shirt style is still going strong from 2016. But waaaay before that, I’m pretty sure clumsy fashionistas like me were spilling their coffee/toothpaste/breakfast down their blouse 5 minutes before they had to leave the house for an important work/client meeting. So, maybe the trend started before then and nobody is admitting they’re clumsy.

We may have not gone with the obvious solutions – cover stain with a scarf or a broach for a few reasons:

It’s too hot out for one more layer over this top.
A strong dislike for broaches, or you just don’t have one that works with what you’re wearing.

My clumsiness created one such scenario with an Anthropologie top I found on sale. Toothpaste made it’s way onto the lovely emerald green, baby-pleated top just minutes before a client lunch. I didn’t have any other viable/semi-professional options for 105+ degree temperatures. After it gets that hot, armpit sweat stains are unavoidable – even if you’re like me and don’t sweat that much. So, nothing with a real sleeve was going to work. I did manage to work out the stain to a faint white, but still –noticeable-to-me mark.

Appreciating the v-neckline and that the cut was a simple semi-round neckline in the back, as the pleating detail continued throughout the blouse, too. I decided to see if it looked wearable backwards. It did. See pics here:

genuine style - backward shirt tip

I arrive for my lunch meeting on time. Bonus – both my client and the waitress complimented my top. Because I tend to be a clumsy fashionista regularly, you can expect more posts like this to come with helpful advice.

Certain kinds of necklines work well for this situation. However, not all necklines favor people the same way. So, if you want stylish ease when dressing that reflects your genuine style, and want to know which tops in your closet can be worn coming and going in case of clumsy moments like this – contact me here.

Repurposing Your Style – In More Ways Than One

Posted at 14 Jul 2017 , Uncategorized

Most personal stylists, including myself, will strive to find existing gems in your closet and create new looks. Many of us call it repurposing and it is in a way.

While I do enjoy helping clients find their personal, genuine style, I’ve decided to take my love for creating with my hands (I’m also a jewelry artist), and offer another kind of fashion repurposing, too. Should you have a piece of clothing you love, but don’t wear and or, you’re sentimentally attached to it, I come up with solutions to repurpose that item into some other useful form.

During a closet consultation and update with a client and friend of mine, I came across a fun retro piece – an embroidered belt circa late 70’s, maybe early 80’s. We were in discussion of ‘keep, toss, donate or consign’ when I came across it. She said it had sentimental value and would like to keep it. She’d originally bought it from a New York city market the – Green Flea (now known as the Grand Bazzar) with a close friend back in the early 90’s. I asked how she felt if it were repurposed into bookmarks. She loved the idea. The belt became 3 ‘new’ bookmarks shown here:

Repurposed Fashion

Whether you’re interested in repurposing your clothes into new outfits, or unique keepsakes, let’s talk. I’m confident they’ ll have a new life outside your closet.

Vacation Style – Packing for It

Posted at 08 Jun 2017 , travel style, Uncategorized, vacation

Summer will soon be here along with vacations. You can feel the anticipation amo vacation style ng your friends and coworkers. You’re excited, but not about packing for it, or deciding what you’ll wear.

Many of you are headed for a body of water and or, at least somewhere with cooler temps. If you’re like the ‘old’ me, your packing efforts was ‘more is better, just in case.’ Here’s some ways to simplify the process – and make sure your luggage is under the weight limit.

No matter the length of your trip, these are essentials:

• One light jacket/sweater for the plane and anywhere the A/C will be set for ‘Fall’, i.e. under 70/65 degrees (depending how cold-natured you are).
• One pair of walking shoes. This can be a flat, sneaker, or a low platform sandal with a well made cushioned sole.
• If you don’t like walking barefoot on hotel floors, flip flops can double as slippers (which can be bulkier and take up more space).
• One pair of ‘dressy’ shoes. For ladies, this doesn’t need to be a traditional pump, but something with a heel (kitten/stiletto, it doesn’t matter) that will serve well for things like a ‘surprise’ sunset dinner cruise from your significant other.
• Two or three colors that are your favorites that can be mixed up with neutral pieces of clothing. It sounds limiting – especially some of those recommendations on Pinterest, but believe me, there are many options within a three-color palette.
• A swimsuit with bright pops of color or fun patterns – they have great layering opportunities.

Most of all you still want to feel good and look like you, when you’re on vacation. Should you need some assistance in determining your best looks and or, your travel color palette, I can help you. You can contact me here for more information, or to schedule a vacation style session.

Maintain Your Genuine Style While Keeping Your Company’s Dress Code

Posted at 02 Feb 2017 , Uncategorized

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Maybe you’re required to wear a certain style as your bank’s loan officer – khaki bottoms and a button-down red, white, or blue top. Or, you work in the legal department of a corporation and the standard is a quiet palette of suits. Either way, you can still apply your our personal, genuine style to your required uniform. Some of these solutions may be in your closet already.

Play Up Your Eyes

Do you wear glasses? Consider adding another pair that complements your face shape in your favorite primary, pastel, or jewel tone color. If you wear prescription glasses, there are some options where the lens can easily be swapped into multiple frames.

Ladies, if your conservative workplace has a Casual Friday, consider adding eye-makeup that is less neutral on that day. Experiment with a pop of purple, green or blue eyeliner.

Because You Stick Your Neck Out at Work

Dress up your neckline and add some visual interest to an otherwise plain solid top or jacket. Scarves are great all year-round because they come in a variety of fabric thickness. Not to mention, the choice of colors, prints, patterns and lengths are plentiful.

Accessorize with chokers, or a layering of complementary necklaces.

Men, while many of you may not enjoy wearing a tie, at least make it interesting when you can. Ties nowadays come in bold colors, prints and modern textiles. If the dress code restricts you to a limited color palette, consider a tie tack that gives a hint of your personality. If your office is less strict, consider a tie that gives nod to your favorite fine artist’s work.

Stand Tall in Interesting Footwear

Do you have heels, flats, loafers or boots that are an interesting color, or have some accenting pattern, or detailing on them? Employing a soul-inspiring pair of shoes in an otherwise subdued, and or, uniform ensemble gives others a peek at your personality.

If you need to breathe new life into your work uniform, drop me a line, or give me a call. I’m glad to help you show off your genuine style!

Practical Style Tips from Famous Clothing Designers + 1 Personal Stylist

Posted at 06 Jan 2017 , Uncategorized

fashion tips There are some essentials in regard to personal style that can get overlooked for what’s “in”, and or, hot of the runway. Major fashion designers (and your GenuINe STYLE, personal stylist – me!) offer these tips:

Badgley Mischka’s James Mischka and Mark Badgely – “Make sure your clothes fit well. Have them tailored to you. You can make the most mediocre piece of clothing look great if it fits you well. So, save a little bit of money for beautiful alterations.” The next tip supports this one.
Coco Chanel – “Luxury must be comfortable.” she said. Her designs employed standard menswear shapes and materials, like jersey, to create movement. Adding to this, if you are going to splurge, or buy vintage designer goods, don’t buy it just because you’re excited about owning that label. Do you feel good in what you’re wearing? If you don’t, your initial enthusiasm for the designer piece will fade under the glaring fact that an item that is too big/small/short/long/itchy/delicate/bulky, or just doesn’t make you feel like your best self while you’re wearing it.
Christian Dior – “You can never take too much care over the choice of your shoes.” Why? You can be impeccably dressed from the ankles up, but worn or awkward choice of shoes can distract from your otherwise great outfit. Also, according to another designer – Isaac Mizrahi, people frequently notice your hair and your shoes upon meeting you at parties or networking events. So, be sure you have one or two pairs of shoes that are in good condition.
Jason Wu (can you be GenuINe STYLE’s spokesperson, please?) & me – “Wear what fits your personal style not what’s going on right now.” Additionally, if some trendy pieces fit your personal style, great. Just don’t feel the need to pursue 12 new trends just because they are what’s being currently advertised in the media, or on the runway.