Animal Friendly

Let me start by saying that I love animals. I grew up surrounded by wonderful pets that I dearly loved. However, when I head downtown to do some high end shopping for clients, I do not expect to encounter animals in the stores.

Today I learned that Saks Fifth Avenue is an animal friendly store. Just look at this HUGE dog, wandering around Saks without a leash, its owner several feet away. Not one employee suggested that perhaps the dog stay outside whilst the owner shopped.

I would not think of letting my cat run amok at Saks and at Nordstrom, another department store which seems to welcome animals. Last week I witnessed a helpless saleswoman in Nordstrom's handbags section being mauled by an enormous hound while its owner commented, "Oh, she likes you." Come on, people! Show some manners, please.

(By the way, the selection of Joie clothing at Saks is incredible right now. Such lovely, chic pieces!)

Kikapaprika

I attended Ellen Berk's Kikapaprika spring and summer show yesterday. What I like about Kika's clothing is that it is made in the USA, using organic fabrics and dyes whenever possible. Several new items are partially made from recycled water bottles. Speaking of recycling, Kikapaprika uses recycled boxes for shipping, recycled plastics for its bags, biodegradable plantable seed paper for clothing tags, and recycled paper for printed materials whenever possible.

But what about the clothing? It is all super soft and wearable. The styles I like best are the Cami cotton sweater/coat/cardigan and the cute Ava skirt/dress. This season's colors are spectacular; orchid and azure are my favorites. I need a new pair of leggings and have heard from several women that Kika's hold their shape and color.

My daughters just like saying the word "Kikapaprika," but I think you will like the clothing, too!

The Help

I just watched what I think is the best interview of the two leading actresses in The Help, Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer. The interview was on the Tavis Smiley show and all three people offered thoughtful, intelligent views on why this movie is so celebrated and has raised the ire of so many people at the same time.

With my Wardrobe Wisdom eyes, I appreciated Spencer's lovely draped dress. Its color and style suited her beautifully, making her shine. Davis was a knockout in a deep purple-blue dress and an exquisitely fitting black blazer. Smiley looked like he always does: incredibly dapper, dressed in a gorgeous suit that fit him perfectly.

The Collection

I just finished reading The Collection, a novel by Gioia Diliberto. Any lover of fashion history, especially regarding the great fashion houses of Paris in the early 1900's, would love this book! Here is a description from the Amazon site:

Isabelle Varlet, charming and naïve, comes from a long line of seamstresses in a small town in France. A series of unfortunate events and her prodigious sartorial talent carry her to Paris, which in the wake of World War I is electric with new life. When Isabelle takes a job in the atelier of Coco Chanel, the rising star of haute couture, she finds herself in the heart of a glamorous and ruthless world filled with arrogant designers, handsome men, beautiful women, and fashion thieves who prowl Paris hoping to steal designs before they hit the runway.

Thanks, Jeeves

I've been reading P.G. Wodehouse lately, laughing over the pickles Bertie Wooster gets into. I appreciate his valet, Jeeves, who is always giving Bertie sartorial advice. I read the following exchange last night:

"The trousers perhaps a quarter of an inch higher, sir. One aims at the carelessly graceful break over the instep. It is a matter of the nicest adjustment."

"Like that?"

"Admirable, sir."

"There are moments, Jeeves, when one asks oneself, 'Do trousers matter?' "

"The mood will pass, sir."

Shopping with a 13-Year Old

When my daughter was little

Yesterday I spent nearly 2 hours in a cramped dressing room, listening to VERY LOUD techno music while my daughter tried on clothes. Sure, it was partly tortuous, but at the same time I was delighted to be shopping with her and was even more happy that she seemed to listen (with at least one ear) to my opinions and advice. Of course much of her time was spent taking photos of herself in various outfits and sending them to her peers, seeking their input.

What I heard from her in the end was this: "I would like to buy a few things and take them home to make sure they work with other things in my wardrobe. If they don't we should return them." This was music to my Wardrobe Wisdom ears! My daughter has learned she is the kind of shopper who needs to try on things at home, playing with her wardrobe and taking her time to determine if she really wants and loves the new items or not. My friend Stacy is the same kind of shopper and perhaps you are, too.

It is helpful to know if you are someone who needs to take things home first before committing. Once you have determined that you can in fact return what you are considering, make the purchase and head home. This way you won't waste time in the store, dwelling on whether you truly like something or not. What kind of shopper are you?

The New Skinny

I am late to the game in discovering this terrific website: Healthy Is the New Skinny. Here is its refreshing mission statement:

Healthy is the New Skinny is about revolutionizing how we think about, talk about, live in and love our bodies. It’s about putting happiness and vibrant good health first and foremost. Generations of young women have assessed their own worth by how far they are from the ideal of unrealistic thinness. Healthy is the New Skinny believes in natural beauty, the kind that can’t be defined by a hip measurement, but is defined by fitness and fun.

I especially liked this post about dressing for your shape. How fantastic to have a new (to me) blog to read and website to support.

One In. . . One Out

My 18-year old Big Star denim jacket and I had a good life together. But lately I have not reached for it. I guess it feels sort of boxy and not super flattering. Having found the perfect one at J. Crew, I immediately headed to Lola in Santa Barbara to consign my old one. In this way, I will get some money toward my new purchase and someone else can have a nice life with my old jacket. Moreover, there will not be an item in my closet that I no longer wear.

Dining Out

Once in awhile I have to veer from my clothing obsession to write about my equally if not more powerful obsession with food.

In January I took my mom out to lunch for a long overdue birthday present. We went to Santa Barbara City College's Gourmet Dining Room and it was an absolute delight from start to finish. Naturally the view of the ocean was spectacular, and the dining room was simply but elegantly furnished. The wait staff (students in SBCC's Culinary Arts) was earnest and friendly. And the food was spectacular!

I do not remember the last time I had such a beautifully cooked piece of salmon. It had a slightly crunchy, light crust and melted on my fork. A understated and lovely lemon butter sauce added to its delicious taste. The accompanying haricots verts were also fresh and tasty. And the salad which started the meal was full of flavor and looked pretty and sprightly on my plate. All the food was prepared by SBCC students.

In short, I cannot wait to return to the Gourmet Dining Room and suggest you get yourselves over there ASAP. Oh, I forgot to mention its affordability: our meal was less than $25!

Afraid to Commit?

Sometimes a new look comes along that we are not sure about. I took a long time to warm up to the bootie trend from a couple of years ago, but now I like it. Still, I am not ready to shell out big bucks for booties if I am not sure I will get my money's worth. Will I wear them all the time? Or will they languish in my closet?

This kind of situation calls for a trip to Payless Shoes. I went there yesterday with my girls and tried on some cute and very affordable ones (pictured) . For less than $40 I can experiment with this look and figure out if my wardrobe would benefit from a higher quality pair that would last awhile.

I recommend that you do the same when you are not sure about trying a new look. Purchase a version on the cheap before you invest in the same look for a lot more money. Some "trial look" stores I like, besides Payless, are Forever 21, Wet Seal, and Target.

Buyer's Regret

This post from Put This On is aimed at men, but the advice is pretty universal and very useful. I like the picture of Steve McQueen.

I Love My Smile

I was just looking over some of the questionnaires I have my Wardrobe Wisdom clients fill out prior to our first appointment. One of the questions asks how she/he feels about her/his body, which parts she/he wants to highlight and which she/he would like to downplay. After describing some parts one client was not too keen on, she ended with "I love who I am and I love my smile."

Let me tell you, once this client had on clothes she felt good in, her shining attitude and smile were blinding. This client's Wardrobe Wisdom experience and self-confidence are what I hope for, for all of my clients. A sincere smile completes an outfit better than any pricey accessory ever can.