Enough

I often get asked by my Santa Barbara wardrobe clients--as well as by friends--"How many clothes are enough?"

Enough is being able to look put-together and polished on a daily basis, for any occasion, without having to paw through mounds of clothing in your closet. You do not need 10 pairs of jeans, 10 pairs of black pants, or 10 white blouses, even if each one is just a little different. 3 of each of these staples is enough. And if you do purchase one of these items new, then get rid of an old one.

When I was 16 I got my first job in retail. For two years I worked at various department stores during school breaks and on weekends so I could buy clothes and save money for a trip when I graduated high school. At 18 I went to France to visit my mom's family. I packed two enormous duffle bags, not imagining that I could duplicate my outfits for a month.

When my cousin met me at the airport, she expressed some shock at the size of my two bags. After a week in which I wore a different outfit every day, I noticed that my cousin, who was my age, wore the same clothes every day. She always looked cute and appropriate. I felt ridiculous and excessive.

Over time I have learned that there is a balance to be found. Yes, I am in stores constantly and do like to buy new clothes. But I do not need much each season--none of us do. I look at what I have, make a list of what items would update my look and what items need replacing, and go from there. This saves me from making silly impulse buys and from having way more than "enough."

A Lift

I was determined to get a new bra so I headed for Nordstrom where the saleswomen know how to measure and fit properly. Little did I know what a free gift I would receive that day.

I am partial to Wacoal and Chantelle bras since they offer both beauty and support. New bras are a critical purchase, and I buy at least two a year, tossing out my old ones. The Wacoal I thought needed replacing was less than a year old but was not doing the trick. I had begun to feel sort of saggy and sad by the end of the day.

In stepped the Nordstrom expert, who took one look at me, tightened my straps, and voila: I was a perky woman once again! It was a little anticlimactic as I had planned on buying an exquisite new bra and had found one that fit well. Yet it was nice to save my money for something else.

So ladies, before you get that new bra--and I am a huge proponent of getting fitted and outfitted at least once a year--adjust your straps first and see if it makes a difference. However, if this minor adjustment simply results in pulling the band up higher in the back and/or cutting into your shoulders, it is time to get a new bra.

Cielo Spa

Ah, the feeling of soft, pampered skin. It is something I touch daily when I am kissing my 7-year old daughter's cheek. My own cheek, not so much.

However, I have noticed that when I get a facial at Cielo Spa Boutique in Santa Barbara, my skin is noticeably healthier and softer. Roxanne Zbinden, owner of Cielo, creates a very warm and relaxing environment with a gentle manner and lovely decor.

She is experienced and knows a great deal about new products, especially ones that are organic. I listen to soft music, she responds when I speak to her but does not chatter, and she gives my face her full attention. I leave feeling calm and happy that I have done something good for my skin. (She is also great at waxing which is not quite as enjoyable but is necessary!)

A terrific outfit can only go so far to make you feel wonderful. Having beautiful skin is part of what makes a person shine.

Getting out of a Fashion Rut

At least once a week I like to look at the Style Bakery website for inspiration and fashion finds. I just came across a new feature, and I think it is just great. It's called "Fashion Rehab for the Style Challenged" and shows some clothing we are all tired of wearing or seeing on others while suggesting what to wear instead. It is worth a peek at StyleBakery.com.

Hammered Hoops

Several people have commented on the lovely silver loopy chain I am sporting in my headshot. It is made by an incredibly talented local artist, Rachel Kett. Her breadth of expertise is staggering. When I did a wardrobe consultation at her house, she casually pointed out the dresser she had made, the wooden framed mirror she had hand carved, and the clothing she had monkeyed with to great effect. I know from firsthand experience that she makes delicious toffee as well. Rachel is truly a Renaissance woman!

Her handcrafted jewelry is spectacular and reasonably priced. Check it out at: http://www.hammeredhoops.com/index.htm.

Bill Again

Okay, I admit to being quite obsessed with photographer Bill Cunningham these days. In my first blog about him, I described him as a non-fashion person. As I learn more about him, I find my description is not wholly accurate.

In his own words: "The main thing I love about street photography is that you find the answers you don't see at the fashion shows. You find information for readers so they can visualize themselves. This was something I realized early on: If you just cover the designers in the shows, that's only one facet. You also need the street and the evening hours. If you cover the three things, you have the full picture of what people are wearing."

He is not traditional fashion person in that he does not design clothing, sit in the front row at shows, or write about it in glossy magazines. The following sums up his outlook and history: "I started photographing people in the street during World War II. I just loved to see wonderfully dressed women, and I still do. I think fashion is as vital and interesting as ever." To read more about this highly talented man, go to Bill on Bill.

And to see his fabulous photos of post-Election Day dressing on the street go to the New York Times.

I Love to Read!

I am reading three books right now: How to Have Style by Isaac Mizrahi, Autobiography of a Wardrobe by Elizabeth Kendall, and The One Hundred, by Nina Garcia. While they are all books about clothing, they are very different from one another.

Mizrahi's book appeals to me the most as his philosophy about dressing and style reflects my own and my work with Santa Barbara wardrobe consulting clients. He does not find faux dowdy women who, with $5,000 and a team of stylists, does Cinderella-like transformations. Instead, he shows how women of all shapes and sizes--NORMAL women--can look and feel better about themselves with some style advice and education. He listens to each woman, helps her to determine what inspires her and asks smart questions to lead her into a style evolution. The photographs are entertaining and inspiring.

I had so much hope for Kendall's book. The concept is great: telling a woman's life story from her wardrobe's point of view. But the writing leaves me flat and I don't find the wardrobe's voice very sympathetic. I mean, our clothes should like us and be on our side, right? Still, I want to finish the book.

Garcia's book is an informative, breezy read and her introduction is very good. She tells the reader that this is her list of the 100 pieces she cannot live without as a stylish woman and instructs the reader that this list is a guide; the reader must make a list of her own. Thank goodness because a must have item for me is certainly not a caftan or black leather pants! She understands that what a woman needs is clothing that reflects her various moods and roles in life. She also gets that a woman's wardrobe changes as she goes through life.

Fall Dresses in Paris

So now I am becoming Bill Cunningham's biggest fan. His photographs of people on the street, along with his commentaries, are just charming. I stated before that he is not really a fashion guy. By that I meant that he does not go on and on about this designer or that, or spending a long time describing a garment in mind-numbing detail. Instead, he his a keen observer of clothing: what people are wearing, how they are wearing it, and why he finds it interesting. He is knowledgeable and just darn fun to listen to.

Here is another one of his special slideshows from the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/10/11/fashion/sundaystyles/20081012-street-feature/index.html