He's the Man

Image credit: nordstrom.com


My husband needed a new blue blazer, and I found a very smart one at Nordstrom during its Anniversary Sale. He also needed some slacks for work, so I enlisted the help of Drake Johnson at the Santa Barbara store. Drake was immensely knowledgeable, helpful, and fashion savvy. He is the man to see! Contact him at 805.564.8770, ext. 1220 or at drake.p.johnson@nordstrom.com. Full disclosure: I receive no monetary payment or merchandise from Nordstrom or any other store when I recommend them.

Playing Dress-up

Photo Credit: Damon Winter, New York Times

I had a good time reading this article from the New York Times, as it reminded me about the fun, playful side of fashion. The writer, esteemed fashion critic Guy Trebay, experimented with wearing "fresh from the runway," clothing by designers who really push the envelope. He makes several good points in this article, reflecting on how clothes can transform the way we feel.  I especially enjoyed what he says toward the end of his piece:

You would hardly guess it from all the conformist stuff that fills the fashion magazines, runways and Instagram feeds, but playfulness, experimentation and instruction are also the job of fashion. What interests me most about Oscar Wilde’s famous line — “Fashion is a form of ugliness so absolutely unbearable that we have to alter it every six months!” — is its reference to temporality.

Walking around Manhattan in what constitutes the style of this precise moment, I felt so squarely rooted in the present that I momentarily let go of my habitual anxieties about the future. Within six months, something just as interesting as the stuff I wore will roll around. Designers will see to that.

The Rise of "Over-grooming"

I so enjoyed reading "Vanity Clause" by Andrew O'Hagan in The New York Times Style Magazine. Of course I appreciate a well-groomed man, dressed in a sharp outfit that fits him well. But it seems men are now expected to be as (openly) vain and concerned with their appearance, health, and grooming routines as women. Could anything be more boring than listening to people talk about their new diet or face cream?   The tone of this essay is humorous, but O'Hagan sure nails it when he talks about the "fresh hell of new choices" in our over-grooming society. Read it!

Perplexing Pants

Go to page 26 in Carpinteria's Coastal View News to read my column. I cover the topic of pants for men and hope the guys heed my advice.

I Don't Believe in That

I try to keep this blog positive, but sometimes I just need to vent so please forgive me today.

Whenever my oldest daughter does not agree with something I've said, worn, made for dinner, read aloud, etc. she says, "I don't believe in that." This refrain has become a family joke, and I also use it at work with my boss sometimes which makes us both laugh.

Something I definitely do not believe in is a current trend in menswear: the deep V-neck T-shirt designed to show off a man's "he-vage." One glance at Jude Law (top) should be enough to convince people that this look is a very bad idea. Even handsome and well-dressed Ryan Gosling (bottom) does not look (so) hot in such a shirt.

Jeans for Men

David Beckham looks great in jeans!
Photo Credit: Esquire.com 


A friend told me last week that she wants to get some nicer jeans for her husband, who has been a Costco or 501 Levi's guy forever. By nicer she means ones that are made with high quality denim which hangs well and feels good. Such jeans may be a bit pricier, but she knows that upgrading to this kind of jean for herself has been worth it. And since she is only buying one pair for her husband, which he will wear all the time, the cost per wear will be relatively low. I found this video which offers great advice for how to buy jeans for men. I imagine more women will watch this than men; it is helpful for both! Another helpful resource is from Esquire magazine: http://www.esquire.com/blogs/mens-fashion/how-to-buy-jeans-2014?click=main_sr.

Nifty Tips from Ablitt's

Photo Credit: justjared.com


This month I received a newsletter from Ablitt's Fine Cleaners and Launderers in Santa Barbara. It included useful guidelines on how a suit should fit. Go here to read the newsletter. (I think Ryan Reynolds looks smashing in his suit.)

LOVE this Blog

Thank you, Debbie, for telling me about this astoundingly wonderful blog, The Art of Manliness. Tomorrow I am speaking to two groups at UCSB about dressing well "for interviews and beyond." I plan to quote from this blog and to share it with my male clients. It is a font excellent, useful advice!

I Love a Classy Guy!

Photo Credit: Credit: Natalie Smith/The Foothill Dragon Press


Here is another terrific article from Ventura high school student Natalie Smith. This time she focuses on James Bull-Cecil, a student who has found his sartorial groove at a young age: "He thinks that people should wear more classy clothes because dressing fancy is fun and it makes you feel better about yourself. 'I feel like one hell of a classy guy when I dress nicely.'"

Bravo James!

2 Men in San Luis Obispo

When my friend asked if I could help her son and husband update their looks, I was up to the challenge. At the end of our sessions, they seemed relieved and happy, especially Mark, who was eager to return to watching the U.S. Open.  I appreciated how they prepared for our appointments, making piles of questionable items and filling out my questionnaires.

I started with 15-year old Drew, whose looks had evolved from his junior high skater style. He wanted to wear clothing that had a vintage vibe but wasn't costume-y. He is also a musician, as obsessed with music as I remember my brother being at that age. I looked at his collection of thrift store sweaters and we discussed which ones fit well and which ones did not, and why. Both Drew and his dad, Mark, are tall and lean. Clothing is made for them! I suggested Drew purchase another pair of the Levi's he found that fit perfectly (508s). He has some cool blue suede desert boots and nice-fitting t-shirts in faded colors. All he needs are a couple of good quality cardigans or pull-overs (cut longer for his body) to complete his wardrobe. 

Mark and I began our time together by looking at some magazine photos of clothing I thought would appeal to him. We were quickly able to identify what styles he liked and would feel comfortable in.  Since he is in management, Mark wants to look professional and approachable. This meant getting rid of any shirts that were tired or outdated. He had several that were cut way too generously for his body. I suggested he get a few classic, slim cut dress shirts, a new brown belt and black shoes (perhaps a low boot) and that he have a pair of nice dress slacks and a jacket tailored. We then looked at websites for the perfect jacket, finding one at JCrew.

Working with men is not so different from working with women. Both need some feedback on what styles, shapes, and colors look best on them, and what items no longer work. I was pleased and a bit surprised at how easily Mark and Drew parted with their clothing. In the past, I have found my male clients have an extremely difficult time letting go of clothing. I guess they were ready for a fresh start!

Model for a Day

Photo Credit: Evan Sung for the New York Times

I laughed out loud reading journalist Henry Alford's account of his recent experience (experiment?) as a model during New York's Fashion Week. I hope you enjoy this as well.

Men's Style

Photo Credit: American Eagle Outfitters

I got a call this week from a friend, asking if I could help her son and husband with their wardrobes. I love a challenge and said yes immediately. Unless a man is truly interested in fashion,  he shops with disinterest and dresses pretty conservatively. Not so my friend's son. He is a musician and thinks deeply about what look he wants to project. He just needs some help in finding what styles suit him best and how to put outfits together. His dad is in a position many men find themselves in: he works in a setting  somewhere between traditional and informal, and wants to break out of his khakis and basic shirt rut. 

My strategy is to send them my questionnaire, the answers of which will let me know what styles they like, if they admire any one's look, and what their lifestyles involve. I will also suggest some websites for them to peruse and will ask them to send me links to looks that appeal to them. Finally I will look at their wardrobes, have them try on certain pieces, put some outfits together, and makes suggestions about some garments that will make their wardrobe complete, where to shop, and what to do when they get stuck. I am looking forward to our time together! If you know a man who can use some Wardrobe Wisdom, please send him my way. Or nudge him to give me a call.

French Man

During a lovely afternoon spent in the Champagne region, we chatted with Laurence's mom's friend, Edith, and her dashing son, Renaud. Once he heard about Wardrobe Wisdom, he rushed to tell me all about the bespoke shirts he loves from Alsace. My cousin, Gina, had remarked on the interesting double collared shirt he wore, which led him to show me a number of other shirts by the same maker. Ooh la la--what I do in the name of research.

By the way, it is always challenging to try and explain my work to Europeans. They cannot imagine paying someone to do something they do naturally--dress and shop--with panache. Once I tell them about the struggles women and men face when trying to navigate stores and trends in the U.S., they seem to understand, sort of.

How to Wear It Well

In Sunday's Los Angeles Times' Image section, an article on the new movie "Crazy, Stupid, Love" appeared. The article gave a brief summary of the film, and then focused on the makeover given to Steve Carell's character. This sounds like a refreshing twist on the tired theme of women getting an entirely new look.

When I work with Wardrobe Wisdom female clients, they often sigh, "Oh, I wish you would help my husband with his clothing." Of course I tell them I would be delighted to be of help. However, the women give a litany of reasons (excuses) their husbands have for not getting rid of old, outdated clothing, and of not wanting to update their style. How frustrating!

Dayna Pink, who was the movie's costume designer, offers some basic guidelines that any man wanting to look sharp could easily follow. A lot of his advice could apply to women as well.

1. Fit is Foremost: "If you go shopping, take the extra time to make sure you get something that fits you. That means you may have to get a tailor."

2. Lead with the Shoulder: The shoulder is everything and cannot be tailored, so make sure it fits correctly. The rest of the shirt or jacket can be tailored.

3. Simplicity is Key: Dress in clothing that you feel good in--not just clothing that is trendy.

4. Choose the Right Shoes: Purchase classics for work, such as loafers or brogues, and leave the white gym shoes behind when you go casual with khakis. Converse and Puma make cool, simple sneakers that would "be perfect with a pair of jeans or khakis."

5. Accessories After the Fact: Pay attention to your belt, briefcase or work bag, and any jewelry you wear. "Knowing when to forgo the accessories is equally important." In short, keep it simple.

I am pretty excited to see "Crazy, Stupid, Love" and look forward to seeing Steve Carell's character's makeover. To me, Carell is an ideal combination of intelligence and wit. Add a handsome style and he is just about perfect!

Men and Their Clothes

Most of my posts concern women's wardrobe issues. However, I have plans to do some short videos aimed at men and their clothing concerns. The videos on an excellent blog called "Put This On." are very inspiring. My favorite parts of the videos are called "Rudiments," where a guy briefly covers a clothing basic, such as what kinds of shirts should be tucked in or left untucked. Check out the video on denim. It has some valuable tips for both men and women. However, I am still trying to make sense of paying $500 for a pair of jeans even though I've watched the video twice!

Why the George Clooney photo? He is always well dressed, looks gorgeous in a tux or jeans, and well, I just think he is cute.