How to Dress for Your Job this Summer

 Image credit: Wardrobe Oxygen

Sometimes another blogger covers a topic so well that I choose to re-post it as is. So, if you are struggling with how to dress for your career during these summer months, go here, to Wardrobe Oxygen, for some great suggestions and advice.

The Rest

Pictured here is the rest of my 2-week travel wardrobe. I am planning to post photos and blog a bit during my trip, but it all depends on what kind of WiFi I encounter. On the plane I am going to wear black leggings, a gray knit tunic, black ballet flats, the pink and gray scarf pictured above, and my navy trench coat. I was tempted to bring my chic, very compact trench, but it is not waterproof. And as my friend Lisa told me, "There is nothing chic or cute about being soaking wet." A bientot!

Accessorires for France

Since I am bringing such a simple wardrobe on my trip, I'm bringing a few interesting accessories to spice it up. In addition to the belts and scarves pictured above, I am bringing some unusual costume jewelry (below).  I know some people feel comfortable traveling with fine jewelry, but since 1) I don't have much fine jewelry; and 2) I don't want to fret over losing it/having it stolen, I prefer to wear fun costume jewelry on trips.

Time to Pack

In just a few days, I depart for France. My cousin (who grew up with me in the US and now lives in Germany) and I are celebrating our 50th birthdays together in Paris, and we are super excited. I'll also spend a week visiting family in south-western France.

For weeks I have been mentally packing and unpacking my suitcase. I am bringing a wardrobe capsule in blue, black, and pink. I was going to bring a pair of black sandals, but it looks like it will be cool and rainy, so I am opting for some blue, sporty flats to wear with jeans instead.

Fantastic Dresses for Young and Teen Girls

I have spent a great deal of time lamenting the dearth of nice, modest, and cute dresses for young girls and teens. There are dozens of extremely short and revealing dresses which require complicated undergarments to wear. I am frustrated and angry with designers for making such sexualized clothing for young girls, and I am exasperated and appalled with adults buying these frocks. (Yes, I realize I sound like an uptight prude, especially after I used the word "frocks.")

So imagine my sheer joy upon entering Gazillion Dresses on State Street in Santa Barbara. My 14-year old daughter had been there before with my mom, and I was surprised to learn that they both loved this store since their tastes are very different. Now I understood why: the dresses were stylish, unique, fun, well-made, and were for young girls, not Victoria's Secret models!

I fervently hope that stores like this will be successful, so if you are looking for a dress for a daughter, niece, friend, cousin. . . please check out Gazillion Dresses. And let me know what you think!

On Shopping

Photo credit: Clueless

According to Stacy London, one must "try on a lot of clothes to sharpen her instincts and develop her own style." I understand that shopping takes time, but who does not have an hour a week to try on clothes? There's a reason it's called 'trying on' an outfit. You're just sampling it--no major commitment. You have to "expect to try, and try again. And it needs to be a concerted effort. Taking five pieces into the dressing room, hating them all, and walking out of the store doesn't count."

I have worked with so many Wardrobe Wisdom clients who detest shopping because they don't have the endurance it requires. I understand how frustrating and depressing it can be to find nothing you love after an afternoon of shopping. Still, if you don't put in some time to do it, you cannot expect to find styles and clothes you like. Once you discover your style and a good fit, shopping will no longer be an unpleasant chore.

More from Stacy London

I picked up Stacy London's The Truth about Style book again today and was reminded of her down- to-earth advice and her wise insights into style.

Here she is writing about her make-over with a survivor of breast cancer but her advice is for everyone:

"Style is the first thing to do when we're sick. But when you're ready, you can use style to feel better on the road to recovery as a part of recovery.  Style is a source of strength when you feel weak. "

During her work with another client who is risk-adverse, she advises:

"The less fear we have of failing, the more open we are to the possibilities of the unknown. Style is a great way to practice taking chances. With style, you can easily flirt with failure. You start again with a clean slate every single morning."

It's useful to re-read books from my Wardrobe Wisdom library; I become inspired to dress my best everyday, and to help others do the same. 

Reluctant Nudist

I read an amusing article about Mark Haskell Smith's book Naked at Lunch in Sunday's Los Angeles Times. It was fun to read about the nudist lifestyle, as opposed to the style-conscious lifestyle which urges us to purchase new items in order to be considered beautiful and desirable. 

How refreshing to read his account of his nudist journey in which "There's a lot of liberation in just not [caring] what people think." Smith also discovered the "benefits to going through the day without clothing: 'The vitamin D intake is very good. It's easy to check for ticks. When you get out after swimming, there's no clingy suit.'"

I also learned a new word from Smith's article: textile. This is "nudists' derogatory term for clothing wearers."

Of course I love clothes way too much to be a nudist, but I think reading his book would be a hoot.