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Packing Light, But Planning for (Stylish) Layers – For Some the Struggle is Real

Posted at 28 Dec 2016 , Uncategorized

The season of holiday travel is upon us all. Yes, Christmas is over. However, many are vacationing/traveling to colder climates for Hanukkah and New Year’s Eve/Day celebrations. For most of us, this means layers. How can you pack light and plan to layer simultaneously in a fabulous way?

For some, it’s easier than  for others. I like variety and tend to dress according to my mood, which can change before I get to my destination and while on vacation. This is a personal struggle, and another blog entirely.

Many packing/organizational experts would suggest the following for traveling light when packing for winter travel:

* Stick with one color palette. For example, those that are a few favorite hues and neutrals.

* Plan to have one or two laundry days.

* Make your core pieces neutral and accessorize with color.

* Bring a few thick top layers – a coat, sweaters, etc. Make the rest lighter weight pieces.

And a few more from me, you may find helpful:

* Wear some donate-able older pieces en route and or, replace these items with ones you find on a  post-Christmas shopping trip that you take with friends, or family members.

* Wear your heavier clothing on the plane. This includes, heavy, but still easy to walk in shoes/boots while traveling and your wool coat, for example (the coat can serve as your plane blanket, too). This will lighten your suitcase by a few more pounds than say, your first choice of comfy sneakers and or, favorite jacket.

I hope these packing tips make your winter travel easier. Do you have a packing idea not mentioned here? Please share and Happy New Year everyone!

Finding Your GenuINe STYLE is a Chance to Give Twice

Posted at 16 Dec 2016 , giving, Uncategorized

While working with clients to create their GenuINe STYLE, sometimes a decent amount of still wearable clothes is removed from their closets. Some said they’d donate it to charity.

In light of this, as part of my personal/wardrobe styling services, I’ve decided to offer clients the option to take care of that task for them. This is one local charity that I like – https://phoenix.dressforsuccess.org

Also, I plan to offer this along with another service – Clothing Swap & Style Parties. Whichever items are not kept after the swap for whatever reasons, I would ask the party host/hostess to select a charity to donate the remaining clothes.

When giving to yourself –  finding  your GenuINe STYLE, you can give to others in the process.

How to De-Stress Your Holidays, and Keep Your Party Look(s) Effortless.

Posted at 09 Nov 2016 , Uncategorized

 

Halloween is over and you’ve that nagging feeling that you may need to go shopping for a new festive party look, and you don’t have the time. Not to worry! Here’s a list of ideas that may already exist in your closet:

Sparkle and Shine – Review your accessories, bags and shoes. Are they metallic, have a cool sheen, and are embellished with jewels or reflective shapes? If so, they may be the inspiration from which you start your party outfit.

LBD (Little Black Dress/Long Black Dress) – Do you have a basic black dress in good condition? If so, you have a good canvas from which to create your party style. Long, or short, it doesn’t matter.

LGD (Little Gray Dress /Long Gray Dress/Legit Gray Pieces– I made these up) – What? You have no LBD? Well, rest easy. Gray is a popular neutral right now. Why? Because it pairs so well with the Pantone fashion colors of 2016. A gray dress, pantsuit, suit, or jumpsuit (see below) offers you a cornucopia of style options.

Jumpsuit – it doesn’t need to be made of silk. This all-in-one piece has a multitude of opportunities for making a statement at any holiday event.

Bold Colors – Do jewel tones, vibrant pastels, or a fun neon catch your eye in your otherwise more somber closet? Such items – whether you think they are casual or dressy, hold promise to create your holiday look.

Draped/Flowing Pieces – Consider pants, skirts and tops that have interesting draping, and or, flowing lines.

 

If you have some of these items, but aren’t sure they suit the event your going to, and or are challenged to create multiple options that reflect your genuine style, contact me. I can help you create effortless holiday style.

Athleisure Wear – What Is It & Why It May Be Here to Stay

Posted at 02 Nov 2016 , Uncategorized

Athleisure wear maintains a foothold in your shopping choices. This goes beyond yoga leggings as pants (this is another blog altogether). Though this was likely what started this trend. It’s clothing that easily transitions from the gym, pool, skate park, etc. to other parts of your life.   It is excellent for you men and women who have an intense dislike for shopping, as your options are doubled in a singular piece of clothing.

My husband recently wore such an item on our vacation to Hawaii. They were swim shorts with a subtle grey metallic sheen. He wore them to see the sights, eat lunch and then to the beach. You really couldn’t tell they were also created for water – related activity. Some other examples of althleisure fashion for men can be found here.

The selection of athleisure wear for women is great. From lightweight bomber-style jackets with wicking action, to sweatshirts with faux-leather paneling, tops with and interesting draping similar to that of a blouse, the options expand far and wide. Lululemon may have pioneered this concept, but you can now find stylish athleisure wear at Old Navy, The Gap (their Athleta brand) and from Satva’s organic line.

Athleisure fashion gives you more wear/value from one piece of clothing, and your laundry pile is smaller, too! If you’re wondering how to make these pieces in your closet go the extra mile for you, drop me a line, I can help you expand upon these multi-tasking pieces in your closet.

Contentment, Satisfaction Matter as Much as Joy when Creating Your Personal Style

Posted at 12 Aug 2016 , Joy

photo by Vasile Stancu

Your genuine style should bring you joy.  I’ve had personal styling clients who also applied the idea of joy to cleaning and de-cluttering based on Marie Kondo’s advice that says don’t keep anything in your home that doesn’t bring you joy. That’s a nice fanciful idea if everybody’s idea of joy included style basics. However, having worked with a variety of clients over the last few years, I can safely say this is not a practical solution. Why?

Here’s some different scenarios based on my personal styling consultations –

A schoolteacher and a graphic designer have easy comfortable basic clothing that mix and match. However, they don’t bring them joy. They can take or leave them. What does bring them joy are fabulous shoes, handbags and interesting, conversation-starting jewelry.  If either of these women kept only what brings them joy in their closet, they’d be walking around naked, exposed to the elements in fantastic shoes, handbags and jewelry.

An office manager and an entrepreneur love mixed prints, detailing on their clothing, as well as attention-getting accessories and shoes.  These are the styles that bring them joy. However, combining just the ‘joy’ pieces in one outfit did not flatter or appeal to them. Both clients, though inspired by the joy principle of organizing felt at a loss. In a styling session with them, we discussed that basic tees, black pants or even their best-fitting jeans didn’t necessarily bring them joy. However, they were content to have them because it made their pieces of joy more wearable.

The joy concept is great for those who want to purge their hall closet quickly or de-clutter a room, but not always practical for those who want to express their best personal, genuine style to the fullest. So, before you clean out your closet, let’s talk. Clothing that brings a sense of contentment are just as important as the ones that bring joy. Combining both well brings satisfaction and who doesn’t want that?