A Tale of Two Holes

Do you recall my post about the value of a dry run? Well, I took my own advice and tried on a dress for an upcoming wedding days before the event. Having lost weight during my recent illness, I was confident that a figure-hugging dress I adored would fit just fine. So I took it out of my closet and paired it with a bright pink shawl. Now all I needed were some shoes. Fortunately, Payless pulled through with a strappy pair of gold sandals featuring a reasonable heal.

Upon closer inspection of my ensemble the day before, I noticed with dismay that there was a hole in my shawl. After consulting with friends and almost anyone who would listen to my tale of woe, I decided to toss my Wardrobe Wisdom aside and wear the shawl anyway. Who would notice but me, right?

Fast forward to an hour before the wedding. I had barely squeezed into my dress when I discovered with horror a nickel-sized hole on one side. Now that was going too far! How had I missed that before? Wearing an outfit with two holes was way beyond my comfort level.

In the end, I was thankful for my old standby little black dress. Its simplicity allowed me to carry a beautiful, colorful, embellished bag, and I was able to wear my cute black heels. The shawl looked just fine, and though I felt a bit self-conscious about the hole, I believe it went unnoticed. After all, it was not my day!

P.S. Today, while cleaning out my closet, I found something that would have been perfect for the wedding. It is a black crocheted dress, with a nude slip and an asymmetrical fringed hem. It is so cool! Alas, I wish I had remembered I had it for the wedding. Sigh.

Fashion Influence

I like learning how designers come up with their ideas. Do you remember that scene in "The Devil Wears Prada" where Meryl Streep's character upbraids Anne Hathaway's character for dismissing fashion as irrelevant to her life? I apprecaited how Streep traced Hathaway's blue sweater's origins. Along the same lines, last month the Wall Street Journal created The Master Chart of Fashion Influence, describing it as "an unscientific chart of the New York fashion industry's ecosystem."

I had fun seeing how the "Old World Opulence" of Oscar De la Renta, Carolina Herrera, and the "Relaxed Opulence" of Ralph Lauren influenced designers such as Tory Burch and Michael Kors. Seeing how Donna Karan's "Practical Minimalism" is in the same category as Calvin Klein's school of design makes sense to me. The term "Intense Chic" sort of cracked me up but seemed the perfect way to describe Rag & Bone and Vera Wang.

As the WSJ says, "Designers are influenced by other designers, past and present, whether they realize it or not--and whether they admit it or not."

Miscellaneous Rules

"Golden rule concerning items of clothing: The closer they come to your body, the more you need of them."

-From Esquire magazine.

Though the article this was quoted from was aimed at men, it makes sense for women to have multiple undergarments. Having more than one basic bra means you can rotate them, and it is nice to have a fun colorful bra and a black one as well. Yes, you do have to wash them--by hand please--after every third or fourth wearing, more frequently if you sweat a lot. Make sure you have a lot of undies too. No one likes to run out!

Having a number of white (or off-white) t-shirts, tanks, and/or camisoles is also a necessity for a lot of women. They can become yellowed, stained, and worn out pretty quickly. A fresh white shirt can brighten up your entire outfit. You can get them for a song at Target, Old Navy, and the Gap. All items shown here are from Garnet Hill.

A Wedding

There were so many things I loved about the wedding my husband and I just attended. (I did not love discovering a hole in my dress, however, right before we were leaving. But that will be a different blog post.) The guests were put at ease by the couple's obvious joy and contentment.

Of course I noticed the uniquely dressed bridesmaids and groomsmen immediately. I loved how each woman wore a distinctive dress, while keeping with the wedding colors of navy and teal with golden and hot pink accents. Each bridesmaid looked lovely in a dress that suited her style and figure.

The bride wore a beautiful, vintage, simple raw silk dress in a muted blush tone. I loved how her feet were encased in bright teal suede pumps. Since the wedding, I learned that the dress was her mother's, last worn in 1961! She did make some alterations, such as shortening the dress and sleeve lengths. Another change was adding a sash to elongate the torso. During her parent's 50th anniversary year, the bride had made the dress her own.

The groom wore a dashing dark gray suit with a smart paisley tie. The groomsmen also wore suits of varying color and styles; what tied their look together was that they all wore pink shirts. The entire wedding party looked elegant and self-assured in their clothing.

If you are getting married, remember that it is your day. Your bridesmaids do not have to wear matching dresses that do their figure no favors; your groomsmen don't need to wear stiff tuxedos. And you can wear a dress you love, a dress that expresses your personality.

A Little Edge

It's important to have a bit of contrast in your wardrobe. Otherwise, some outfits can start to look costume-y or may feel contrived. Think about balancing out an overly feminine or too strong ensemble with contrasting accessories or garments.

For example, I tend to love skirts, dresses, and prints. However, sometimes when I am getting dressed, I start to feel prissy. This is where accessories can make a huge difference. Adding a chunky bracelet or necklace can add a nice edge to the outfit. So can a bold shoe (see above).

On the other hand, an outfit that starts to feel too masculine or harsh can be balanced out by a touch of lace, some feminine jewelry, delicate shoes, or a floral detail.

Effortless Style: Overrated?

I remember counting how many times the phrase "effortless style" was used in a j jill catalog a number of years ago. It was staggering! Every magazine and catalog advises that we strive for effortless style. Of course, no one wants to look like she spent hours in front of the mirror, trying to get a look just right. However, effortless style does, actually, take some effort!

Today I am running some errands before getting my daughter at school. I am currently wearing the gym clothes I put on at 8 this morning and my hair is in a headband. My dad commented that I looked like a rooster. An effortless look for me could be what I described above, plus a little lip gloss and some silver flip flops. I would look okay: effortless, but not stylish.

What I have in mind is to shower (!), put on some makeup, and slip on a black cotton shift dress. Add some blue dangly earrings and my black ballet flats and the outfit is complete. This ensemble will not require a huge amount of effort, but it will certainly take more work than throwing on flip flops.

My point is that I encourage you to make an effort to look your best. You can do this wearing casual clothing or dressing up for a special event. Check to see you are well-groomed, that your clothing is without tears or stains, and that you have added an unusual accessory to your outfit. Showing the world that you care about yourself goes a long way in assuring you are treated well.

Jodie Foster

I came across an interview with Jodie Foster recently and learned some things about her. Jodie's outlook on life seems grounded and her approach to work is inspiring. What surprised me was her insecurity about shopping. This, from a woman who is viewed as fearless and confident.

Jodie's feelings about shopping are shared by a number of my clients. She says, "I go into a clothing store and start shaking. There's so much to pick from, and I never pick anything good." Fortunately for her, she has a part in her contract that states she gets to keep whatever clothes her characters wear. Lucky her.

Shopping takes some skill, thought, and planning. Take comfort in knowing that even Jodie Foster struggles with it!

True Artisans

In the past couple of weeks I spent time with some artisans. Some created exquisite woolens and others created beautiful pastries. Here is what they shared: a love of craft, devotion to their field, heightened senses, and a consistent drive for excellence. You will be awestruck by these masters in the wonderful film "Kings of Pastry" and in Esquire's video series "Manufacture."

What I took away from these masters is a desire to not compromise. I don't want to purchase cheap, mass-marketed clothing. I don't want to pop a candy bar in my mouth when more carefully created, delicious treats exist. Critics can say that fine cashmere and delicate pastries are only for the rich. I say skip the cheap stuff and save up for what is worthwhile: quality.

A Lean Wardrobe

How many clothes do I really need? I often wonder if this is a trick question. Does the client want me to insist she gets rid of everything but one outfit to make her morning ritual easier? Or does she want to me to say, "Ha! there is no such thing as too many clothes?" Is she looking for permission to hold onto outdated items, saying she's saving money by not making new purchases? I think some people just wonder how their closet compares to others. Is it bigger? Smaller? Out of control?

How refreshing it was to read "Ask Nick Sullivan" in February's Esquire magazine. He answers a reader's question, "How many clothes do I really need?" with a neat list:

2 suits

2 blazers

12 dress shirts

2 pairs dress shoes

3 to 5 ties

2 pairs casual shoes

4 sweaters

4 chinos

jeans or casual pants

I love this at the end: "Socks and undershirts, meanwhile, are no place to be economical."

I have made "must have" lists for women. However, such lists get complicated and have to be tailored to each client. Try making one for yourself. It can be an enlightening exercise.