Speaking of Food

Image Credit: Full of Life Foods website

Why not speak of food, one of my very favorite topics? The trip to SLO included several memorable culinary experiences.

On the way to my friend's house, I stopped in Los Alamos to check out bell street farm, a cafe I had read about in Edible Santa Barbara magazine. What a darling place! The cowboy hat wearing owner charmed my daughter and me with his enthusiasm for good food and a pretty setting. He led us to the lovely outdoor patio area and we saw some very tasty-looking sandwiches and salads being eaten by happy customers.  I wish we had not eaten such a big lunch prior to our drive; we contented ourselves with coffee (for me) and freshly made lemonade (for my girl).

In SLO, Heather and I lunched at one of our very favorite places: the Big Sky Cafe. We split the delicious Middle Eastern platter and a delectable banh mi sandwich. Heaven! The night before I had dinner with Heather and Mark at a place in town that was new to me: Sidecar. The attitude was a bit on the Portlandia side, but the food was creative and divine. We savored every bite of the beet salad, and gobbled up the insanely good roasted brussel sprouts.

For years I have been reading and hearing about Full of Life Flatbread restaurant in Los Alamos. But I could never successfully time a meal there as they have very limited hours. However, we hit Los Alamos just around dinnertime on Sunday evening, and I convinced my daughter that this would be a meal she would remember.

We were immediately seated in the back dining room, where we could watch the cooks baking the pizza in the huge oven. We chose to share the Kalamata pizza and a crisp house salad. On top of a very thin, slightly charred crust sat a film of tomato sauce, covered in kalamata olives, mozzarella and feta cheeses, sweet peppers, herbs, and garlic. YUM! What really won Jane over was the dessert: a dense hunk of rich brownie (no nuts--yeah!) served with vanilla ice cream. It was perfect!

What an ideal weekend: good times with friends, sharing Wardrobe Wisdom, and terrific meals.

2 Men in San Luis Obispo

When my friend asked if I could help her son and husband update their looks, I was up to the challenge. At the end of our sessions, they seemed relieved and happy, especially Mark, who was eager to return to watching the U.S. Open.  I appreciated how they prepared for our appointments, making piles of questionable items and filling out my questionnaires.

I started with 15-year old Drew, whose looks had evolved from his junior high skater style. He wanted to wear clothing that had a vintage vibe but wasn't costume-y. He is also a musician, as obsessed with music as I remember my brother being at that age. I looked at his collection of thrift store sweaters and we discussed which ones fit well and which ones did not, and why. Both Drew and his dad, Mark, are tall and lean. Clothing is made for them! I suggested Drew purchase another pair of the Levi's he found that fit perfectly (508s). He has some cool blue suede desert boots and nice-fitting t-shirts in faded colors. All he needs are a couple of good quality cardigans or pull-overs (cut longer for his body) to complete his wardrobe. 

Mark and I began our time together by looking at some magazine photos of clothing I thought would appeal to him. We were quickly able to identify what styles he liked and would feel comfortable in.  Since he is in management, Mark wants to look professional and approachable. This meant getting rid of any shirts that were tired or outdated. He had several that were cut way too generously for his body. I suggested he get a few classic, slim cut dress shirts, a new brown belt and black shoes (perhaps a low boot) and that he have a pair of nice dress slacks and a jacket tailored. We then looked at websites for the perfect jacket, finding one at JCrew.

Working with men is not so different from working with women. Both need some feedback on what styles, shapes, and colors look best on them, and what items no longer work. I was pleased and a bit surprised at how easily Mark and Drew parted with their clothing. In the past, I have found my male clients have an extremely difficult time letting go of clothing. I guess they were ready for a fresh start!

Model for a Day

Photo Credit: Evan Sung for the New York Times

I laughed out loud reading journalist Henry Alford's account of his recent experience (experiment?) as a model during New York's Fashion Week. I hope you enjoy this as well.

Short Boots

It sure took me a few years to get on board with this trend. Just last weekend I took the plunge, purchasing a pair of black suede booties (pictured). I plan to wear them with tights and dresses, leggings,  and with skinny jeans. What held me back for years was the how since I saw so many "what not to wear" examples of short boots on the street. However, the web came to the rescue, offering many tips and suggestions on how to pull off this style.

Style Bakery did a great piece on how to wear them when they first started showing up a few years ago. About.com's fashion site also offers some tips and photos on how to wear ankle boots. And here is a video from About.com. And another!

Last but not least, here are some tips directly from Stella Kae, former About.com guide:


There is a right way to wear these for every figure type.

 If you are:

Tall & Slender - You look best pairing ankle boots with leggings or skintight denim.
Petite - You look best pairing ankle boots with bubble skirts or cuffed shorts and fitted tops, ala Ashlee Simpson.
Tall & Curvy - Layering long tunics and footless tights with ankle boots is your best bet.
Plus Size - Wear your ankle boots with a funky, a-line dress and opaque tights for the most flattering results.

When I t my new boots, I received disapproving looks from my girls: "They don't look like you." So true! They are not consistent with my usual look--more edgy and trendy. I told them I am updating my style, and that they will have to get used to them on me. We shall see!

What the Kids Are Wearing 2012

Photo Credit: Gap.com

I was delighted to come across this column, written by a Ventura high school student (and the daughter of one of my clients!). She observed what her peers were wearing, took photos, and described current trends. Well done!

Fashion Week

Photo Credit: From CNN's website

Fashion Week has been all over the style sections of newspapers, and front row photos of attendees and the designers' creations have been featured on numerous blogs. I appreciate Diana Pemberton-Sikes description of fashion week.  I think I would like to experience it one day, perhaps in Paris!

Get Motivated to Get Organized!

Santa Barbara has always prided itself on its exceptional continuing education program through Santa Barbara City College. My colleague and friend, Sara Caputo of Radiant Organizing, teaches 2 very popular continuing education classes on organization and time management. I feel honored by her request that I speak in her class on Saturday, October 6. In this class, you can get motivated and learn practical skills on how to manage your time and tasks. As a bonus, you will get to hear me speak about editing your wardrobe, and hear another colleague, Keri Dickerson of KMD Organizing speak on the nuts and bolts of organizing your wardrobe. Go here to get all the details on the class.

Clothing Affects Your Mind

Photo Credit: Julian Scott, Getty Images (The Commons)

I don't just mean that coveting a gorgeous dress can make you crazy. What I am talking about is a study  led by Adam D. Galinsky on the effects of clothing on cognitive processes. Joshua I. Davis, an assistant professor of psychology who was not involved in the study said, "I love the idea of trying to figure out why, when we put on certain clothes, we might more readily take on a role and how that might affect our basic abilities." An article on this study appeared in the New York Times this spring.

The study is rife with plural forms of the words "may" "might,"  "appears," and "could be," making it clear that no definitive results were found. However, in three experiments, those students who wore white lab or doctors' coats, as opposed to street clothes, "showed the greatest improvement in attention." Furthermore, Galinsky stated "Clothes invade the body and brain, putting the wearer into a different psychological state."

In short, this study confirmed what many of us have known all along: clothing has a deep and profound influence on how we think. Do not underestimate the power of clothing. 

Fun facts about the woman pictured above: She is Mary Van Rensselaer Buell (1893-1969).  In 1919,  Van Rensselaer Buell (1893-1969) became the first woman to earn Ph.D. in biochemistry at the University of Wisconsin.

Surprising Favorites

Jumping off a dock on Balboa Island with friends and my youngest daughter. Stacy (in red) wins for best dive!

When I am asked to bake something, I leaf through my cookbooks, searching for a special recipe. Pride keeps me from bringing a store bought item to a potluck or school bake sale. This obsession over homemade gets me in trouble sometimes. Staying up late to make a treat, fueled by my refusal to stop by Vons on the way to an event, does not make me the most fun person at the party.

This reluctance to take shortcuts made me reluctant to go beyond the cover of a cookbook my daughter bought at a school fundraising event: The Best Bake Sale Cookbook Ever. I scoffed at the blurb on the back, skeptical of its claims to make easy, delicious treats. However, every recipe I have made from this book has been quite spectacular and incredibly simple. This has re-taught me that lesson about not judging a book by its cover.

This lesson extends to clothing. Most of the time I advocate saving up to buy quality items, whether a client needs shoes or a cardigan. When people tell me they can get a lot more for a lot less at Ross, Marshalls, or a thrift store, I think of the time it takes to hunt in those places, and the small chance of finding something I really love. Still, I love a good deal as much as anyone and am always thrilled when something inexpensive becomes something I adore.

For example, for the past 4 summers I have worn a wonderful cover-up to the beach. It is a simple blue tunic from H & M and could not have cost more than $15. I am also very keen on my new purse, bought for $40 from a little shop on Balboa Island. You would not believe how many compliments I have already received on it. I guess the moral of the story, when it comes to most things, is to look beyond your biases which can open up surprising possibilities. 

Letting Go

Most people have a hard time saying good-bye to things, especially if they remind them of a good time or someone special. But there comes a time when things start to weigh on us, when their presence is taking up space rather than adding anything valuable to or lives.

When it comes to making decisions about letting go of clothing, there are some questions you can ask yourself. I found the ones below at onlineorganizing.com.  If you answer "yes" to one or more of these for any given garment or accessory, it is time to bid it farewell. 

1. Is it more than one size too small for you?

2. Was it last in fashion about 20 years ago? (Yes, trends come and go and come back again. But when they return, designers have tweaked them a bit to make them seem brand new. Go ahead, keep that pair of super low-waisted jeans you wore 2 years ago. But do you really think you will want to put them on in 20 years, when your body and style have evolved?)

3. Do you constantly tug and pull at it while wearing it?

4. Is it itchy, scratchy, binding, or just uncomfortable?

5. Is the color or print flattering on you?

6. Does the style make you feel unattractive?

7. Have you worn it in the past year? (Special occasion items are the exception.)

8. Is it worth having it altered, repaired, or it dry-cleaned soon to make it wearable?

9. Do you always find an excuse not to wear it?

If you need help letting go, give Wardrobe Wisdom a call!