Novelty Style

Novelty Style

by | Aug 20, 2014 | Fashion

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Of all style conundrums, the most popular among friends, clients, and just about everyone I know, involves the fallacy that new = better, or what I like to call Novelty Style. Somehow, if you just bought it (a top, jeans, shoes, jewelry, anything), it looks better and makes an outfit more stylish. In reality, after one or two wears, the novelty wears off and you’re once again in search of something else new.

I understand this cycle very well. Not only were my 20s a testament to novelty style (with Barneys, Bergdorfs & Bendels reaping the benefits), I still feel the thrill of a new piece and suspect I always will. However, I also understand that this habit is lazy, costly, and detrimental to the ultimate style goal: to shop your closet and make new outfits out of old clothing. To that end, you have three tools to help break the cycle.

Discipline– Perhaps surprisingly, the single best tool to bring into your closet is self control: to say no, to resist the easy urge (and splurge), to shop smart, or (temporarily) stop shopping at all.

Creativity– Abandon the rules and rigidity of this goes with that and open your mind to the possibilities. This is a mental exercise; if your brain is not engaged, you’re spinning your wheels.

Outsourcing– This is what I do. About 75% of my business involves making old new again, and better yet, I can teach you the tools to do it yourself.

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The Well-Kept Closet

The Well-Kept Closet

by | Jun 15, 2014 | Fashion

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I’m recycling this post as a nod to conversations I’ve had with current clients regarding upgrading to wood hangers-

Great style requires having the appropriate tools; the closet being the largest, it should be kept clean and organized, resembling the presentation at a highly-edited boutique. The goal is to shop your closet and, to that end, uniform hangers are key.

In an effort to keep costs down, I often recommended an inexpensive option, one that all the magazines suggest. Since I personally only use wood hangers, I’ve had no experience with ‘Real Simple’ hangers, but have ultimately been disappointed by my clients’ feedback. As is often the case, choosing cheap can backfire, so I am back to endorsing the tried and true.

The benefits of this investment are not merely cosmetic; they’re better for your clothing. And ultimately, they’re better for morale. You want your closet to be a room as inspired as any other. Start with the hangers and, over the next few months, look for additional suggestions here on how to transform your closet from blah to beautiful.

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You Get What You Pay For

You Get What You Pay For

by | Jan 8, 2014 | Fashion, Most Popular Posts

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Liz01Without a doubt, the least enjoyable part of an otherwise totally kick-ass job, is telling clients that they need to be spending more money on their clothes, shoes, accessories. It seems to be part of the human experience to have hang ups about money; we all do. It also seems nearly universal to want to get the most for the least, and I am no exception to this preference. At different times, I’ve procured for clients, friends and myself $1500-$2000 handbags, nearly brand new, for $300-$400 from my favorite consignment store, Common Threads. When at all possible, I prefer to buy things very gently used and very deeply discounted. But that’s not always possible. A finite amount of merchandise at any given time does not always permit the possibility for these incredible steals.

As much as my services cater to styling my clients, they also cater to educating them. I want you to know what’s overpriced (Ralph Lauren), what stores provide outstanding customer service (Chelsea in Boulder), what accessories are really worth the splurge (shoes), what are the best items to buy at consignment (bags), where you can save (costume jewelry) and where you should not. So when I tell you and my clients that they need to be spending more money (in relation to what they have available to spend), please believe that I know what I’m talking about.

I speak more about this issue here. And keep this in mind when you’re considering the upgrades: I’ve never, personally and in my business, known anyone to regret spending more.

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Plus Size Styling

Plus Size Styling

by | Nov 26, 2013 | Fashion

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I recently completed work with a new client who confessed her initial hesitation in contacting me. Two months, in fact, of staring at my business card before she was ready to reach out. Her concern? Her size. With exceptionally touching candor, she confessed an initial fear that I would refuse to work with her size 12 body.

My clients come in all shapes and sizes, spanning 0-16, with very different needs. Some have exceptionally small feet, others unusually wide. While one client is long-torso’d, another is skinny calf’d. There are shoulders both narrow and broad, legs both long and short, boobs both big and small, there is always something we don’t love, or that makes shopping for clothing a little more difficult; but the possibility that I, or anyone else, would refuse work based on size is, truly, hard to even comprehend.

Obviously I can’t speak for other stylists on this matter, and I imagine that my size 8 body has become an asset when it comes to dressing others. I know what it’s like to be restricted to certain styles and silhouettes. I know how to be creative in pairing clothing to emphasize assets. But above all, I love helping women look and feel beautiful, no matter their size.

 

 

 

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