Pretty, Pretty

Photo Credit: Huffington Post

Here is a great photographic roundup of the most "breathtaking red carpet moments" of the past year.

From CA to Paris!

A couple of years ago I helped my friend's son and her husband with their wardrobes. Drew had a good eye for clothes and just needed some suggestions on where to shop and how to find the styles he liked. I remember telling him he was fortunate because designers created clothing for his tall and lean physique.

Fast forward to last week, when he walked the runway during Yves Saint Laurent's Paris show. How exciting is that? And it does look like YSL's clothes were made for him! I've made it very clear to my friend that I would be happy to accompany him to any Parisian fashion shows in the future.

A Little Math

I've written about closets reflecting our lifestyles in the past, but it's worth repeating at the start of a new year. Before I meet with a Wardrobe Wisdom client, I like them to give some thought to why she has contacted me and how I can best help her. I ask her to write down the percentages (roughly) of the time her life is spent in casual environments, business formal ones, business casual, etc. One of the goals I have is that by the end of our session together, her closet will reflect the time she spends in various modes. For example, I spend about 75% of my time in a school environment, where I like to look professional and approachable. Thus, 75% of my closet should contain this kind of clothing.

Do the numbers below, then take a look at your closet and see what you need more of and what you can probably get rid of.

________ % Business/Corporate

________ % Business Casual

________ % Smart Casual

________ % Leisure wear

________ % “Chore” wear

________ % Exercise clothes

________ % Evening/Special Occasion wear

Ready to Swish?

My friend Judy was recently in London, where Swishing, or clothes swapping parties, is quite the craze.   However,  it's done there in a more organized way, stretching across the whole country with scheduled events on a website. I have not seen this sort of thing around Santa Barbara.sMy friend and I tried hosting a clothing swap party a few months ago and had to cancel it due to a lack of interest. I am still not sure why this happened, having attended parties in the past which were fun and successful. Let me know if you would be interested in swishing sometime this year. 

Catching Up

A book I turn to with some frequency is Kendall Farr's Style Evolution; How to Create Ageless Personal Style in Your 40s and Beyond. Farr doles out excellent advice on ways to remain chic and confident as our lifestyles and bodies change: "There comes a time when a woman's style needs to catch up with the rest of her life."

This book makes a good birthday gift for a friend and a splendid gift for yourself.

Attention All Consignors!

I spent a couple of days this week visiting consignment stores and learned they are now accepting spring clothing. So if you cleaned out your closet over the holidays, save those heavier pieces to consign in August. I realize the fashion calendar has little to do with a normal calendar!

If you have some pretty, still in style, good condition, or wonderfully unique pieces to consign, call to make your appointments now.

Here are my favorites:

Matti  & Me
Jessica Fine Consignment
Renaissance
The Closet

At least a third of my wardrobe was purchased in consignment stores. They are one of the first places I explore in a new town or when I am traveling.

Making the Most of Your Body Shape

Here is my January column from Carpinteria's Coastal View News. I had to chop it up to make it fit on my blog. You can always contact me for a cleaner copy.

From the Library

A nifty little book caught my eye at the junior high library where I work: Fashion. I was eager to see what the author had to say to the 11-13 year old crowd and read the book the minute I got home. The advice in Fashion is refreshingly straight-forward and realistic. Here is some wardrobe wisdom from the book that I encourage women of any age to follow: "Remember, the secret to looking good is to love the skin you're in. Confidence is always in style."

I may not have embraced such advice in junior high school, but I sure hope my daughters and the young girls I see at school everyday learn to be confident.

Stitch Fix

Image Credit: Stitch Fix

I call myself a wardrobe consultant not a personal stylist though styling clients in great outfits is a fun aspect of my job! An alert reader of my blog just told me about Stitch Fix, a personal styling service that sends clothing and jewelry right to your door. Have any of you used Stitch Fix? What do you think? I am intrigued.

Fashionable Person

I love seeing folks who have put some time and thought into getting dressed. I spotted this woman while I was eating my breakfast in Newport Beach during the holidays.

A Color I Love

Image Credit: Pantone Inc.

One year, not so long ago, Pantone Inc.'s annual color was Tangerine Tango. That was not a good year for me as this orange hue made me look like a cadaver.  But this year, "Radiant Orchid" is the chosen color, and I could not be happier. I love this quote from Pantone's executive director: "It's an invitation to innovation. The purple family offers (an) opportunity to do creative things." 

This color has been one of my favorites for many years, and now it is deemed the "it" color. I feel so validated! Although Pantone considers it "very flattering for many skin tones," it is a bold color and  some are not comfortable wearing the "purple family." Still, I like that this color goes well with so many others, including blue, gray, black, white, green, ivory, gold, and silver. 

If you are not a fan of this color, don't wear it. If it does not flatter your complexion but you do like it, consider some radiant orchid accessories or shoes.

Good Tips

Sometimes I agonize over what to write in my blog, and then I read something from another site and cannot imagine imparting that information any better.

Such is the case with this from the Huffington Post Style section, called "11 Ways to Revamp Your Closet." I have been experimenting with one of these ways: wearing a bold lipstick. At first it felt weird to wear a bright red, but now I like having a striking smile and find it is both attention getting and flattering.

Happy New Year!