From What Not to Wear

I worked with a client recently who was from the East Coast. Although she had lived in Santa Barbara for years, some wardrobe rules were hard for her to break. She could not fathom wearing white pants before Memorial Day or patent leather in winter.

We all have some fashion guidelines in our heads, and some are valuable and timeless. For example, I think Clinton Kelly's rule that "after a certain age, don't show too much of your breasts or your navel or your inner thighs" makes perfect sense. However, some rules are outdated and can keep you from having fun with clothing.

For a thorough list of fashion myths busted via TLC, go here. And let me know what fashion myths you have busted.

The Value of a Dry Run

I was getting ready for an event the other night, and found I had not followed one of my own Wardrobe Wisdom guidelines: doing a dry run. Sure, I had a clear idea of what I would wear, but I had not yet tried on my outfit, and when I did put the various pieces together the ensemble did not work.

How hard can this be, I thought? I simply need a black top to go under this tuxedo jacket. At least 8 black tops seemed like they would be great candidates. But no. One had a too high neck--how would I model Rachel Kett's beautiful necklaces? Another had a subtle pattern that, nontheless, clashed with the leopord print of the jacket's lining. Another was too faded. . .

Jeez! My youngest daughter watched me in awe. I am sure it seemed absurd to her that I could not find one top that looked great with the outfit, and, moreover, that I was getting dressed in a panic. I, of all people, should know better.

So, remember the value of trying on an outfit, every component, in advance of an event. It will save you time, stress, and frustration!

Bill Cunningham Fan Club

I knew that I was not the only Bill Cunningham groupie. Here is what Jesse Thorn, of the superb blog Put This On, has to say about one of my very favorite men.

Jewelry Messages

Calla Gold is an exceptional Santa Barbara area jeweler. She comes to your home to discuss jewelry, showing a genuine interest in what you love, what you wear and don't and why. Calla designs gorgeous pieces, and she has superb ideas for how to make new creations out of those you haven't been wearing.

Calla recently wrote an insightful article about what your jewelry says about you. It's a very worthwhile read.

Your Outfits

A great number of my Santa Barbara Wardrobe Wisdom clients ask for help in creating outfits. Sometimes we photograph their outfits, with them in them or just on a hanger, and other times I write them all down. I have one client who has created a lovely notebook of her outfits, with photographs and descriptions. Another client hangs a notecard from her tops with a list of what goes with them. As always, different organizing systems work for different people.

Veronica McCain has created a nifty way to keep track of outfits. Check out clothesmates.com.

A Trend

Once in awhile a trend excites me. Other trends take awhile to grow on me. Often, though, a look appears so wacky to me that I know I will skip it. The latter is true when I saw the latest look of leggings with platform sandals. What do you think?

Diane von Furstenburg

Tom Ashbrook, one of the very best interviewers ever, recently spoke with Diane von Furstenberg. Go here to learn what she had to say about fashion, today and yesterday.

Booties!

The bootie craze. Whether they are caged, peep-toe, or platform, booties are still everywhere after a few seasons. Wonderful Bill Cunningham, New York Times inimitable photographer, has a great slideshow and words to say about this shoe trend.

Go here to see Nordstrom's selections of booties.

Goldilocks Goes Shopping

Today I hit the shops, mostly on State Street. As a wardrobe consultant in Santa Barbara, California, I need to know what the stores are carrying, what is current, and what is selling or not. It's fun to snoop and try things on, but I had been reluctant to shop in January.

This is an awkward time of year, retail-wise. The shops are recovering from the holidays and are often trying to come up with new merchandising strategies. Store owners and managers tend to order little at the first of the year so the shops are a bit bare and sad-looking. However, this year seems different.

When I headed to Nordstrom last week, I noticed how full the racks and shelves were. This sent my heart beating more quickly, and I had fun looking around. Today was a day I set time aside to visit the smaller stores and to try things on. Sadly, it was a day I came home empty handed.

There isn't much on my wish list right now, but I would like a pair of lightweight jeans and I am always in the market for cute knit tops and sweaters. My first stop was Diani on upper State Street. I saw several dresses and belts for a couple of my clients, yet nothing that suited my current needs and lifestyle. Diani Shoes sells absolutely stunning footwear, but the flats I tried on today pinched my bunion and squished my toes. Phooey!

My next stop was Indian Summers in Summerland. This store strikes me as just about perfect: It is small, contains a carefully selected inventory, offers very friendly service, and sells quality clothing, shoes, and accessories. Alas, the jeans I tried on were not perfect. One pair hit me at an unflattering place in the middle of my calf. This length makes me look stumpy. The other pair were tight across my thighs in the back. Not pretty. Sure, they didn't look terrible, but they would have languished in my closet while I continued to wear my other, great-fitting jeans.

Consignment stores were my final destination. I have learned to make several tours around these places, as treasures can be found lurking in dark corners and on obscure shelves. I tried on a tunic that was too big in the shoulders, a beautiful black silk blouse that I did not need, and a skirt that slipped down from my waist to barely hang on my hips. All of these garments were darling, but none were so wonderful on me.

Think about Goldilocks and her quest for "just right" when you shop. It's easy to settle for things we like even though they don't fit us well. While I am a big proponent of tailoring, sometimes you know from the start that a garment will not be perfect no matter how you alter it. Being selective will save you money in the end.