Wardrobe
Breaking the “Rules” & Getting Away With It
I’m pretty much a maverick – not a fan of rules at all – especially when it comes to styling my clients and myself. I seldom even use the word, preferring to think in terms of “guidelines” instead. Even so, when this dress violated every principle I usually follow, I wanted to identify the loopholes…
Read MoreDresses Worn 3 Ways
My wardrobe strategy – for myself and for every client – is that each new item work in at least 3 combinations with existing pieces. Solid separates function easily in this system, provided they are chosen in a unified color theme. But what about one-piece dresses? That’s where accessories come into play – making the…
Read MoreMore Self-Care Strategies …
As the COVID pandemic and stay-at-home continue for many and racial tensions pull at our hearts, the natural impulse is to ask “How can I help?” Whether that means sewing masks, shopping for elderly neighbors, donating to food pantries or extending care and support to friends, we can only maintain effectiveness if we take care…
Read MoreAnna Wintour Style … Stolen (Sorta)
Anna Wintour is the legendary editor of Vogue magazine and the woman on whom the boss in “The Devil Wears Prada” is loosely based. As one might expect, her style choices are impeccable and enviable. Lacking her leg length and her pocketbook, I was still able to approximate the look in my own wardrobe. Here’s…
Read MorePrint Shirts & Tops – Why I Chose Them. How I Wear Them
As regular readers know, I’m a big fan of solid color clothes for their versatility. But recently I’ve been pushing myself to experiment with using prints strategically. During the current quarantine I’ve been sewing like a fiend, but the concepts in this post apply just as readily to print tops your might buy ready-made. Here’s…
Read MoreCloset Cleanouts: the Movie
Some people would just rather watch the movie than read the book. If that’s you, here are links to the video version of my best tips for cleaning out and organizing the contents of your closet. Grab some popcorn if you want, and check out these tips …
Read MoreClosets: Don’t Just Organize … OPTIMIZE!
With all the increased time at home, many women are directing energy toward their closets. Having your stuff organized is a good thing. But having a closet full of the RIGHT STUFF is the real win. So how do you make the very best decisions about what stays and what goes? The acronym FETCH defines…
Read MoreFind “GOLD” in Your Current Closet
You’ve weeded out the clunkers from your closet – the things that obviously needed to go – but how do your evaluate all those “MAYBE” pieces to be sure you’re keeping the things that can become foundation for a truly effortless wardrobe into the future? Think about it as a treasure hunt. It’s not about…
Read MoreSilver Linings in Social Isolation
These are scary times – disease, financial stress and isolation can be a toxic mix. My friends in social work and mental health fields remind us that, much as we want to help those in tougher situations, “you can’t pour from an empty pitcher”. Self-care is a critical part of our response to Coronovirus. Here…
Read MoreCloset Cleanout? Now Do the Donations Right
Lots of closets are getting cleaned out during this shelter-at-home period. But now what are you going to do with those discards? The good news is that many non-profits – the organizations that will do great things to help in the recovery – derive a big percentage of their operating budgets from sponsoring resale stores. …
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