Showing posts with label santa barbara wardrobe advice. Show all posts
Showing posts with label santa barbara wardrobe advice. Show all posts
Image credit: en.wikipedia.org
You know that feeling you get when you find just the right tool for the job? Your daily routines become easier, more streamlined, and you wonder what you did without that special tool.
After complaining for more than a couple of years to all who would listen (including my clearly disinterested cats), I purchased a new hair dryer. What a difference its made. I dry my hair in half the time and it never turns out frizzy. What on earth took me so long to get this dryer?
Is there an item of clothing or an accessory that would make getting ready a more efficient process for you? Think of a belt, a pair of shoes, or a versatile top that would make your outfits complete. When you get dressed, what are you missing? Make a list, and then look for what you need when you are out and about.
Photo credit: minelli.com
For the past 3 years, I have been looking for black leather booties. I've been picky about what I want regarding the heel height, gap around my ankle, leather versus suede, tassels or no tassles, zipper. . . Finally, I purchased a pair over the summer while I was on vacation. They seemed perfect, and they look fantastic, but they are not comfortable. Today I cut out tiny squares of felt, and, using a glue gun, applied the felt to the area around the zipper that had been causing blisters. If this little fix does not do the trick, it may be time to say "uncle" and begin another search. Sigh.
Whowhatwear.com featured a piece this week about fabrics, describing ones that always look expensive and nice and others which don't wear well and look cheap. I like their guidelines:
Linen One of the hallmarks of cheap clothing is a shiny, obviously synthetic fabric. Natural fabrics like linen feel expensive because they have the exact opposite feel. It actually gets better with age, whereas many synthetic fabrics deteriorate at an accelerated pace. Faux Suede We all know authentic suede is an expensive fabric, like most leathers. “Vegan” suede tops our list of great affordable fabrics, because it’s difficult to differentiate the faux from the real, so it naturally looks fancier than it is. Cotton Cotton is a high-quality fabric that doesn’t necessarily come at an elevated price. Its natural fibers are its strong point, similar to linen, and the washable, low-maintenance fabric is easy to care for. Rayon Rayon tends to age poorly, and it will often start to pill or show wear and tear after a few wears. Acrylic Acrylic pieces can lose their shape easily, so you after you wash an acrylic sweater, for example, you may find it stretched out and ill-fitting. It also isn’t a very warm fabric for winter pieces. Polyester Polyester has a bit of a bad reputation, but today’s versions have a decent feel, and the fabric is so ubiquitous in affordable clothing that it can be hard to avoid. We recommend considering each polyester piece individually—stick to affordable brands known for high quality, and always run your hands over the fabric to ensure it doesn’t feel cheap.
Image Credit: sbluggage.com
Was it a good idea to stow my heavy purse in my already heavily loaded tote bag today? No, it was not. One leather strap popped off so I had to carry it awkwardly from the bottom to and from my office. Years ago, the family-run Santa Barbara Luggage did a splendid job of repairing a client's purse, and I've always been happy to recommend their work.
Today I brought in my beloved tote bag and was told it could be repaired. I was so relieved! Apparently there is a backlog on repairs so I may need to wait a couple of weeks. I saw this as positive news: People are repairing and spiffing up what they already have instead of buying something new.
Speaking of sensible spending habits, I learned that Santa Barbara Luggage has a consignment store within the shop. I noticed some very nice handbags and wallets as well as some beautiful, high-end men's shoes. Finding high-quality consignment for men is a challenge in this town. If more men ask for it though, I imagine it will catch on and even more great pieces will end up in consignment stores. Santa Barbara Luggage is located at 609 Chapala Street.
Image credit: silverminegifts.com
Each day I receive an email from WhoWhatWear.com. Sometimes I immediately delete it, if I see the information it contains has little to do with my life or my Wardrobe Wisdom philosophy. And some days I glean very useful information. WWW's post regarding ways to "live a more stylish life" fell somewhere in between useful and useless. Still, its advice served as a template for a short list of my own on how to live a more stylish life:
1. You know those clothes in your closet which will benefit greatly from an alterations wizard? Collect them now; put them in a bag; put them on the passenger seat of your car (reminding you that you have something important to take care of); and finally, take them to a tailor--this week!
2. Put your gym/tennis/running/or just plain chic Converse or Vans in one place. Then re-lace them so they fit you better and feel just right. This is a task I have not done since purchasing my gym shoes and my Converse sneakers. Duh! What a difference in comfort re-lacing can make!
3. Polish your jewelry. Most of my jewelry is silver, and it looks SO great when it is polished (something I do not do nearly enough). If you have children, or teen neighbors who can use some cash, pay them to polish your jewelry, after giving them a tutorial. Giving all of your jewelry a wipe with a clean cloth will make your pieces sparkle and shine.
4. Plan tomorrow's outfit. I like this advice though I rarely follow it. Most of the time I wait until my shower to decide what I want to wear, though I do think about wanting to wear a dress, skirt, or pants the night before. Outfit planning reduces stress and gives you more time to eat breakfast, exercise, or do your hair and makeup properly.
5. Work on your list of style goals. Yes! Even if you think you have no style goals, they are in you somewhere, rattling around, urging you to update your look, get rid of some clothes, or shop in different stores. Take just a few minutes to think about styles you really like, and which ones you would like to try. Write them down and refer to this list the next time you are shopping. This is a terrific exercise to do once a year.
Photo Image: Creative Commons
Let's see a show of hands for how many of you love shopping for bathing suits? Just as I thought: close to zero. Still, there are more bathing suit styles available than ever, and no matter your size or shape, there is a swimsuit out there for you. But who is to say that a bathing suit is any different than any other garment bought off the rack? A little tailoring handiwork by an expert can change your bathing suit into something mediocre into something fabulous!
At the end of the summer last year I purchased a bikini I'd been eyeing for months but was too cheap to buy. When I finally decided to purchase it on sale, it was not my size but sort of fit. I wore it once or twice, but did not feel all that great in it.
Then my friend told me about the remarkable Stacey Brown, a Santa Barbara swimwear virtuoso. I picked up my altered suit on Friday and it fits PERFECTLY. Nothing pulls or sags, nothing pokes or makes me look weird. I learned that Stacey makes custom suits which seems like a very worthwhile indulgence. I am thrilled with her and her work and want to pass on her contact information:
sbbikini@cox.net
805-452-3267
Photo Credit: Forever21
I complimented a student the other day on her very cute leather jacket. It was just the simple, stylish kind I had been seeking for a long time. Imagine my surprise when she told me it was from Forever 21, a store that likes embellishments. Then imagine my dismay when she told me it was from a few years ago. Darn it!
Over the years, I have gone back and forth about leather jackets. Yes, they can look so chic and complete myriad ensembles. Yet the ones I like tend to be out of my price range. I also must remember that when I finally purchased "the perfect" jacket a number of years ago, I quickly tired of it and ended up giving it to a friend.
However, talking to this student opened my eyes. Maybe I needed to find a good-looking, inexpensive jacket to fill a cool void in my closet without blowing my budget. I went to Forever 21 and perused the teen sections of local department stores. And I scored! Now I wear my simple, soft, gray faux leather jacket at least twice a week. It looks great and was less than $100.
I spent a couple of days this week visiting consignment stores and learned they are now accepting spring clothing. So if you cleaned out your closet over the holidays, save those heavier pieces to consign in August. I realize the fashion calendar has little to do with a normal calendar!
If you have some pretty, still in style, good condition, or wonderfully unique pieces to consign, call to make your appointments now.
Here are my favorites:
Matti & Me
Jessica Fine Consignment
Renaissance
The Closet
At least a third of my wardrobe was purchased in consignment stores. They are one of the first places I explore in a new town or when I am traveling.
Hall of Mirrors, Versailles
The following passage from Henry James' novel, The Europeans, struck a chord with me:
Charolotte's sister, Gertrude, had been fussing with Charlotte's scarf.
"Charlotte, by a movement of her elbows, corrected the laxity that had come from her companion's touch. 'Well, some day you must do it for me. It doesn't matter now. Indeed, I don't think it matters,' she added, 'how one looks behind.'
'I should say it mattered more,' said Gertrude, 'Then you don't know who may be observing you. You are not on your guard.'"
I always stress upon my Wardrobe Wisdom clients the importance of looking in a mirror, from every angle, before leaving the house. Think of all the people throughout the day who only see you from behind! If my friend Terri had heeded my advice, she would not have run throughout the airport with the hem of her skirt tucked into the waistband of her skirt in back. Worse, no one told her about her exposed backside until she had seated herself on the plane. Though this story never fails to make me laugh, she was mortified.
I've never been a fan of cargo pants because they add bulk to one's body in all the wrong places and are generally unflattering. Cropped cargo pants are even worse in my eyes, and if I had a penny for every man I saw in cargo shorts (thanks, Costco!), I would be a wealthy woman today. I am in good company. Tim Gunn considers cargo cropped pants: "the single most unflattering item of apparel in fashion history. These are a fashion no-no. I’d like to say get them away or take them somewhere where they can be recycled, they’re too horrible. Use them to wash your floors.” Go here to watch Gunn give reasons why this pants is "too horrible."
Nevertheless, I purchased a pair for myself a few years ago in a dark olive linen since they were so comfortable. This comfort must be a major reason why people buy and wear cargos. Like other women during that time, I saw myself wearing them with cute tank tops and sandals.
Though I wore mine out and about at first, I have only worn them around the house in recent months. They are now baggy and even less chic than they were before (see photo!). I put them on the other day, and my older daughter remarked, "Ha! You are wearing those pants you hate to see on others. What about Wardrobe Wisdom, Mom?" I stammered, "I am not going out in these. I am just wearing them to do chores." However, I got an earful later when I headed to Trader Joe's still wearing the pants. I did look ghastly, but I did not put them in a donation bag this week. Why? Because they are soft and pajama-like, and they cover me up. I am not proud of how I look in them, but I have a better understanding now of their appeal. Just don't expect to see me wearing them in public. I'd never hear the end of it from my daughters.
Thank goodness these days are over!
Photo Credit: Nationaal Archief
Having to regularly dry clean your clothing can become expensive. If you know you are a wash and wear person and your professional life allows for a casual look, stick with those kinds of garments. But if your clothing requires more care, there are some ways to reduce your dry cleaning bill each month.
First, determine which clothes need to be dry cleaned and which can be safely hand washed (with your two hands or on your machine's hand wash or gentle cycle). Of course my husband's suits, my wool skirts and coats, and my dresses with complicated pleats get dry cleaned. But I hand wash all of my sweaters and silk tops. My favorite gentle soap is Forever New, available in Santa Barbara at Purrmission Lingerie and online. This site offers useful advice on laundering clothing.
Even though that place by your office or home may be convenient, it may not be the least expensive dry cleaners in town. So do some price comparing. In Santa Barbara, my favorite dry cleaner is Ablitt's. I appreciate their efforts to make this historically toxic service less so. I also like that they will pick up and deliver my items, even if I only dry clean once a month or less. Go here to read here about their practices.
InStyle magazine recommends that when you "find a cleaner you like, befriend him or her. Then, after a few months, ask for a bulk rate or another deal, such as a discount for returning hangers."
Sandals shown are from Indian Summers in Summerland, California
(These are for women and are not the ones my husband finally purchased for himself!)
My husband offered some great Wardrobe Wisdom today. We were recalling the long time it took for him to find the ideal shoes for our trip to Europe 3 years ago. He must have tried on 25 pairs over several weeks, before settling on a pair that worked out beautifully and that he continues to wear today. He told me that if people took as much time and care in trying on clothing as most do when trying on shoes, they would make fewer regrettable purchases. I have to agree.
Think about the way you try on shoes: You may have your foot measured, you walk around the store in them, sometimes on various surfaces, you envision them with different outfits, and you insist that they look good and feel good before taking them home. Having the same exacting standards will serve you well when you try on clothing. Ask yourself if the clothing feels good on your body. Does it fit just right (or will it after some tailoring)? And will it complement other pieces in your wardrobe? Move around in the clothing, sitting down, stretching, and taking a walk around the store. How do you move in it? Do you have to adjust the clothing, pulling it here or tugging it down there? If so, leave it in the dressing room.
Careful shopping means fewer shopper's regrets. So take your time when you are trying on anything, from shoes to clothing.
When I was growing up, I offered a great deal of unsolicited fashion advice to my mom. I started Wardrobe Wisdom at a young age. My mom did not always appreciate my comments but she sure seems to remember them. Now she finds some delicious satisfaction when she sees my two daughters giving me fashion advice, whether I want it or not.
The pants pictured here are new to my wardrobe. I saw them on a salesperson at Anthropologie the other day and thought they were very cute. My friend Stacy thought the same and told me to try them on. I did and found them adorable and incredibly soft and comfortable. "Sure," I thought to myself, "they are a bit goofy and not my usual style, but they are fun and whimsical." I purchased them.
When I modeled them for my 14 and almost 12-year old daughters, I was met with laughter and embarrassment. Yes, they were embarrassed for me. I told them I did not care what they thought and would wear them with confidence and joy. At least I think I will. Before taking off the tags, I will try them on with various shoes and tops in my wardrobe and decide how I really feel in them. If I feel great, I will keep them and ignore my girls' snickers. But if I feel silly, they will be returned. Sometimes clothing needs to be tried on at home before a final purchasing decision is made.
One of the many beautiful sweaters at Anthropologie
More than once I have been going through a client's closet and we have discovered some holes in the sweaters. This is always so distressing. I still recall taking my gray cashmere sweater set off of a shelf and finding it riddled with holes. That was a very sad day.
However, your sweaters can be repaired by expert Elena Vera, of Art Reweavers in Santa Barbara. She can be found at 208 West Valerio Street and her phone numbers are 805-563-0932 and 805-452-4546. This referral comes with the advice that you remain patient when trying to reach Elena. Do not give up after the first try is unsuccessful (or even the second or third try!). Your perseverance will be rewarded with sweaters that look like new.
I read with great interest this article about the psychology behind shopping clearance sales Are you a sale shopper? We all like to get a bargain, but if it is not something you really love, will wear, and that goes with your lifestyle and other things in your wardrobe, you are wasting your money. In my Wardrobe Wisdom work, I have seen closets filled with sale items, but nothing goes together and my client cannot figure out what to wear. This article gives helpful advice on how not to fall prey to clearance sales but instead how to make thoughtful purchases.
Above is an example of what appears to be a bargains (10 pounds of carrots for under $5). However, they were not such a great deal. though they were high quality and were priced well. Since my family is comprised of 4 people, not 50, these carrots went bad before they were eaten. One can only eat so many before turning orange. I realize food and clothing are not the same thing, but you get my point.
One of my favorite blogs, PutThisOn, recently posted a very good piece on shopping. The writer suggests shoppers go to high end stores: "This is useful even if you can’t afford such things, because by handling the best of what’s out there, you’ll get a better sense of how other items compare. When you’re out doing your real shopping, you’ll have a better eye for how to spot quality and know what things you value."
I have done this before, when I tried on an exquisite jacket at Saks Fifth Avenue in Santa Barbara. You can read about my experience here. I think about that jacket and its fit and feel whenever I try on other jackets. And I remind myself of what true quality is by heading to Saks or other high end stores on a regular basis. This has saved me from making unwise purchases.
While combing the internet to find a vintage photo of a Saks department store, I made a very exciting discovery! There is a department store museum. Who knew? Go here to learn more but note that the site is being renovated.
Last weekend I shared a number of tips in Sara Caputo's continuing education class. (She has another class coming up on October 20 on time management. Go here for more information.) People were eager to hear how they could have a wardrobe they truly loved and how to be more savvy shoppers.
Here are my top tips for helping you edit your closet:
1. Write down your image goals. How do you want to look and be perceived by others? Do this exercise and reflect upon your goals at least once a year. Do not wear or purchase items that do not match your image goals.
2. Get rid of anything stained, outdated (that you no longer feel comfortable wearing), ill-fitting, torn, and those garments or accessories that simply do not suit your current lifestyle.
And here are my 5 tips for helping you update your wardrobe and shop wisely:
1. Get a new, updated pair of jeans. You may have to try on several so make sure you do this on a day you have a lot of energy and plenty of time.
2. Don't limit yourself to sale or outlet shopping. Shop for things you truly love, not simply things that seem like a bargain. Ask yourself if you would still want to buy an article in question if were twice or three times its listed price.
3. Try shopping somewhere new. We all get in ruts. Though it is helpful to know what shops you can always count on to find something you like, branch out a bit. You may find new styles and colors that suit who you are today.
4. Alterations. If you purchase something you love but that needs a bit of tailoring, take it to a tailor! Do not let it languish in your closet. And if you have garments in your closet that you like but don't wear because they need some fine tuning here and there, take them to a tailor!
5. Make a list. Always, always shop with a list, and make sure anything you are considering buying will go with at least 3 things you already own. Keep your list in your wallet, along with your image goals.
Give me a call if you would like some personal Wardrobe Wisdom. I would be delighted to help you achieve your image goals.
Stacy can be indecisive at times. Therefore she likes jewelry and clothing that can go both ways, such as two-tone jewelry or black and brown leather handbags. Old rules that governed fashion have been tossed aside which is very liberating. I get asked a lot of questions that start with, "Can I wear. . .?" Most of the time, my answer is a resounding "Yes." Below are some looks that were no-no's in the past but are de rigeur now. What a relief! 1. Black and brown--they look great together, really! 2. Blue and black--another surprisingly good combination 3. Handbags and shoes--with the popularity of Mad Men, matching handbags and shoes has made somewhat of a return. However, you can still wear different colored shoes and handbags. Do what you like! 4. White pants past Labor Day--wear them year-round, just not with a linen top and flip flops in December. Remember that fashion is supposed to be fun, so don't place too much weight on what is in and out or a fashion do or don't.
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.
The Santa Barbara International Film Festival is currently in full swing. My mom and I were looking forward to seeing Christopher Plummer being honored on Saturday night. Of course I was pondering what to wear and sought advice from a frequent film festival attendee and wonderful dresser, my friend Kristy. She said the dress code was "SB nice casual." Darn it! While I appreciated her advice, I was disappointed. What does it take for people in this town to dress up? SB citizens with far more money than I have regularly show up at the symphony, the theater, and art openings in jeans and Crocs.
What is wrong with dressing up, with showing some respect toward the performers by putting on good clothing? I realize it is unrealistic to expect people to don tuxedos and ball gowns for Santa Barbara events, but how about something between khakis and a full length dress? On Saturday night I wore a simple black knit dress, black tights, and suede boots with a pretty pink scarf. It took little effort to put that outfit together, and I felt like I was honoring the elegant Christopher Plummer. By the way, he wore black jeans. Sigh.
|
