Fall in New York City

I just watched a marvelous video. Every day I receive the New York Times online; I scan the headlines and enjoy reading the food articles on Wednesday and the fashion articles on Thursday. Today a Times' photographer captured fall in the city, including pumpkins, Halloween window displays, and, of course, fashion. It was so refreshing to hear a non-fashion person narrate what he saw through the camera lens. I liked his comments about the colors the women wore, their boots, and the wind blowing hard.

This video is definitely worth a watch:
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/10/25/fashion/20081026-street-feature/index.html

Camisoles

This is what I want in a camisole: a good fit which means not too clingy but not loose, a length that will peek out below a layering top, and one that is high enough in front that it provides nice coverage.

My daughter would add that another must is that the camisole cover my "googlies." What a charming word for the now-soft pillow of skin that has emerged around my armpits.

Patty Montana & Co. in Goleta has just this camisole, by Nikibiki, in a rainbow of colors, starting at only $22. (Full disclosure: I work at Patty part-time.) I purchased camisoles in white, black, and in a leopard print in black and brown. I wear one almost every day!

(Scarf) Mission Accomplished

I found the scarf and now the Mod Squad ensemble is complete! Yes, I braved Alpha Thrift one last time to procure the ideal scarf. This accessory would tie the entire outfit together--and it would literally be tied around the terrific blond wig as a wide headband. I knew what I wanted and plunged both hands into the scarf bin.

After awhile I found a Missoni-style striped scarf with fringed ends. It was indeed very colorful and Mod-esque, but it was also a bit tattered and would be challenging to use as a headband. So I tossed it back into the pile and continued my search. Twenty minutes passed before I struck gold: a long, narrow scarf with a paisley design in orange-red, brown, and off-white. Oh, and it was only $3.99.

I brought it home, washed and ironed it, and presented it to my Santa Barbara wardrobe client today. She (and her associates) were thrilled! It looks wonderful on her and she is looking forward to getting dressed up for Halloween. I cannot wait to see the photos!

Great Fashion Reads

I grabbed a magazine at the gym a couple of years ago to enliven my uninspired workout. Usually I enjoy reading cheesy gossip magazines at the gym, but I wanted something a bit deeper (which should not have been hard to find) that day and liked the cover without noting the magazine's title. After awhile I thought to myself, "This is the first woman's magazine I have really enjoyed--and can relate to--in ages." Then I read the cover, and the subtitle which read, "For Women Over 40." Oh, that would be me! No wonder I liked it.

Since that time, as a part of my Santa Barbara wardrobe consulting business, I have found loads of great books and magazines to keep me current on trends and styles. Of course there are some real losers out there as well, ones that sounded good in concept but fail miserably in execution. What I appreciate is that sometimes others read what is out there for me and ferret out the best of them. Slate Magazine did just that earlier this month in "What to Read about What to Wear." I am especially eager to read Autobiography of a Wardrobe, by Elizabeth Kendall. She write about her life experiences and personal evolution from the point of view of her clothing.

I'll add here that one of my very favorite magazines is little known in the U.S.: Easy Living. Yes, it does fall into that category of being for women my age, but it is way hipper than the American take on this genre. Easy Living has outstanding articles on fashion and style and the photos are always inspiring and fun. I have a subscription, but if you are lucky you can find one of the few copies that Barnes and Noble and Borders seem to receive every month.

A Good Salesperson

Meeting a salesperson who can help you find what you are seeking, suggest what else may work for your body shape and budget, and give you the truth when you ask "How do I look?" is a revelation. Once I have found this person, I am very loyal. I used to think that certain stores were better at training their employees and therefore had better salespeople, but I have learned that this is not always the case.

One day I was trying on bathing suits--a loathsome task--and managed to get locked out of my dressing room. I had hoped (with desperate optimism) to simply pop out of my room for a moment, find a salesperson lurking nearby who could get me another suit, and pop back into my room. Thus I did not bother to get completely dressed but instead opted to make a skirt out of my shawl and tied it over the bikini. Once I realized that I was locked out with no salesperson in sight I realized I had two options: attempt to crawl under the door which could have resulted in further humiliation had I gotten stuck a la Winne the Pooh, or cruise the floor in my bikini and shawl skirt ensemble, perhaps for hours. I took the latter route and only had to wander for 10 minutes before I spied a person who could let me back into my room. She took her sweet time doing this though and seemed to be oblivious to my discomfort.

This embarrassing experience led me to swear off that store for quite awhile. However, while shopping for a Santa Barbara Wardrobe Wisdom client, I ended up there one day. Imagine my delight to find a very friendly, competent, and helpful woman who found just the black jacket I had been looking for. I have come to learn that great salespeople can be found anywhere, and that it is my job as a shopper to put up with nothing less.

The Wig

I can very happily say that my efforts paid off yesterday: I found the perfect Mod Squad wig for my Santa Barbara wardrobe client. My search was not without its perils and frustrations however.

The search began at the smaller of the two Alpha Thrift Stores along Hollister Avenue. This one is close to Fairview. I dug through a large box and came up with a pretty blond ponytail that would fit nicely under a blond wig. Yes, I was making do, but I thought it would work as the shades were the same and were glossy and smooth which is what I sought. A lot of the wigs had seen much better days and were frizzy or simply thrashed. So I put the two blond wigs on hold (a lovely option) and headed for the other Alpha Thrift.

There was a huge box of wigs at this Alpha, and I sat down to hunt for my ideal one. I set a couple down next to me that were pretty close, and had to snatch one out of a very nice 8-year old girl's hand when she picked it up. This one was super--no making do. When I went to pay for it, the cashier tossed it behind him into a large bin, telling me there was no tag so he could not sell it to me "no exceptions." I wanted to cry or scream. Instead, I headed to the new temporary costume shop which is--conveniently enough--right across the street from the other Alpha.

After securing a parking spot which is an entire story in itself, I headed for the wig aisle. This place is not very big but it is extremely well stocked with commercial costumes of all kinds, for all ages. I quickly found a white-blond wig in a straight style for $19.99. Perfect!

My client is happy with the wig, a groovy skirt, boots, and a black turtleneck. Now she just needs a scarf to wear around the wig to finish off the outfit. I am heading back to Alpha and to Ross this week.

Local Experts

I love meeting people who regard their work as a serious, interesting endeavor, not merely a job. Lee Thompson of Lee's Tailoring is an incredibly gifted man who has been helping Santa Barbara folks look beautifully turned out for many years. He waxes rhapsodic about his new sewing machine and proudly describes how he takes a jacket apart, makes changes, and reassembles it to fit a client just right. The man is a perfectionist--as any great tailor should be.

After a horrible experience at one leather repair shop in town, I headed to Santa Barbara Luggage with a client's purse. This place is located in an old home on Chapala Street and is family-run by the Sorias. The family members are friendly, knowledgeable, and do great work. Within a few days I delivered my client her bag which looked like new.

Costume Hunting

Dressing up in a costume for Halloween does not make my list of fun activities. I don't like drawing attention to myself, costume stores are creepy to me, and I would much rather put money into buying a great new dress than into the purchase of a weird one-time only getup.

With that said, I do have a pretty good time assembling costumes for others. This year one of my Santa Barbara Wardrobe Wisdom clients has given me the task of finding a Mod Squad costume. On a daily basis this woman is incredibly chic and has a singular style. Dressing her to look like the always-cool blond babe of Mod Squad fame will not be much of a stretch.

After checking out photos of Peggy Lipton, who played Julie on the show, my first stop is my own closet. Do I have anything appropriately groovy? I do have a great Marc Jacobs skirt that may work, and I long sweater that is very 60's as well. I regret donating a pair of fantastic white go-go boots that were a friend's daughters. Being a major purger has its drawbacks sometimes. Were those really taking up that much room?

I want to have options for my client to choose from, so I head to Alpha Thrift. I cruise the costume section and find a couple of possibilities in late 60's fabric dresses. I am thrilled to find some crocheted ponchos and an amazing crocheted skirt. Now I know that the clothing part will not be hard; it's finding the shoes and wig that may be a challenge.

Style Bakery

Here is what I like about Style Bakery: The website is easy to navigate, the experts are right on the mark 99% of the time, and it offers a nice balance between fashion via Hollywood and fashion for everyday women.

I also like the name of the site since baked goods and clothing are two of my favorite things.

Fashion Tape Saves the Day

It is for many reasons that I love to introduce my Santa Barbara wardrobe clients to Hollywood Fashion Tape. One of my clients is a marketing speaker, and she must always look completely polished. The other day she was talking to a local group and was wearing a v-neck sweater. She avoided the fashion snafu of exposing way too much by using the tape to keep her sweater in place. Once the tape was on, she felt great and could focus on her speech, not her clothing.

Today I used the tape to keep my bra strap from upstaging my beautiful white sleeveless blouse. Once the tape was in place, I could forget about it. Another client uses the tape to keep her shirts sitting just right over her camisoles. She likes the button-up shirts to be open but not flapping around. Using this tape is just one trick of the trade I like to pass on to my clients.

Be a Considerate Shopper

I shopped with a couple of pals recently and was shocked to see how one had left her dressing room. Clothing was strewn all over the floor and nothing had been folded or re-hung. I was appalled and asked, "Haven't you ever worked in a clothing store?" She answered that the saleswoman said it was okay, and that the store was a mess anyway. Even if the saleswoman did tell her to leave the room a disaster, this is not proper shopping etiquette.

I realize that some stores, especially large department stores nowadays, have few people on the floor who regularly tidy the rooms. Making the environment pleasant for shoppers is definitely not a priority in many places. Still, it is not okay to add to the chaos.

It only takes a minute to at least put the clothes in a neat pile on the dressing room chair. You do not need to share my compulsion for folding everything maniacally and hanging things up. Such small acts of kindness will go far in making the room nicer for the next person and lightening the heavy load of the overworked salesperson.

Be Kind to Your Fellow Women

A friend and I were sipping coffee one day in a little cafe when a woman walked by. She had on a simple white t-shirt, chic jeans, and a bright yellow scarf standing in for a belt. Unfortunately her fashionable look was marred by the fact that the scarf's ends had fallen between her legs, creating a canary tail. The right thing to do would have been to let this women know that her scarf had gone astray. Yet since my friend and I were engrossed in a conversation, we just looked at her, expressed compassion, and continued to chat.

Since that time I have vowed to not let such a thing happen again. Allowing women to walk around looking silly is no better than letting a friend talk to people at a dinner party with parsley in her teeth.

My friend, who is always running late, rushed out of an airport bathroom just in time to make her flight. Her path from the restroom to the check-in counter was a long, arduous one, involving many walks down long corridors. But did one person stop her, telling her quietly that her skirt's hem was tucked into the waistband of her tights? No, no one did the right thing. Of course she was mortified though she is able to laugh about this event now.

So I am imploring you to, in a friendly manner, let a woman know when one of her outfits has gone wrong. I know this is not always easy to ascertain, but you will be thanked in the end.

Consignment Treasures

When it comes to shopping for clothes, I am not a hunter. While I love to get a deal and find something truly original, I do not like to claw through piles of clothing, elbow to elbow with crazed shoppers. This is why consignment stores are some of my favorite places to shop.

For the most part, the buyers have already pawed through stacks of gently used clothing and jewelry with well-trained eyes. My strategy is to shop often, at least once a week, to see what gems have come into the stores. On Sunday, the Los Angeles Times published another story about consignment stores in its Image section.

Here in Santa Barbara we have some terrific consignment stores which are well-organized and tidy. I often bring my clients' clothing to them, and more often than not, I leave with a wonderful find. The ones I have had the best luck in are The Closet and Renaissance. At the former, the clothing is fashion-forward and fun. Lines of UCSB students with their castoffs in tow were at The Closet's doors once the school year began last week. At Rennaissance you will find gorgeous ball gowns and lovely, classic designer wear as well as a lot of things from reputable chains such as Ann Taylor and Banana Republic. I have also found beautiful, one-of-a-kind jewelry at Renaissance. The saleswomen are very helpful, and getting to know them is a good thing. Once they understand your tastes, they can call and alert you to items that have come into the store that may suit you. Of course, this is both a great and a cursed service. More than once I have cheerily talked to Sally at Renaissance on the phone and am soon parting with a chunk of my paycheck. Still, what I purchase is a bargain compared to the clothings' original prices.

Shopping in consignment stores can become habit-forming once you have tasted it. I find myself eager to check out local consignment stores whenever I travel. You can even feel somewhat righteous about shopping in consignment stores as it is a form of recycling!

What to Wear

Today I worked in the boutique. Getting ready for work involves drying my hair--all the way--going through all the steps of my makeup routine, and wearing a lovely outfit. These are all things I do not mind doing when I can take my time in the morning.
However, tonight I went out for a casual dinner with my daughter, and I was not up for going through this entire regime all over again. My daughter thinks I always look fine (she is still young!), but as a wardrobe consultant, I need to look put-together all the time.
Hence my love of the uniform. By uniform I mean an oufit that is easy to throw on, always looks sharp, and requires little thought. There is one look I can count on, and I recommend that every man or woman figure out what her or his personal uniform is.
My uniform is a nice pair of jeans, a white or black t-shirt, and a pretty cardigan. If I am feeling blah, I wear a colorful, interesting cardigan. If I am in a mellow mood, I opt for a simple, gray or black sweater. Once I add a classic necklace, a swipe of lipstick, and some cute flats, I am ready to go. This look never fails me and simplifies my life countless times per week.