Work Through It!

In the past several weeks, I have had a number of clients with very specific fit issues. They were discouraged by the trouble they had finding clothing that looked good and fit their body well. And every time I work with someone that is short-waisted or not the size they would like or is 6 feet tall or whatever! I realize how much these issues factor into a person's self-confidence. We naturally focus on our flaws when we look in the mirror and our eyes zero in on the perceived problem area. So, if you are one of the many people that go into a store, look around, feel overwhelmed, try on one thing, in one size, and leave believing that you can't wear cute stuff, I am writing to you! Don't be afraid of the word tailor. Don't see extra dollar signs and don't think inconvenient. When you are buying a garment at many times, 30% to 50% off retail price, you can spend ten dollars to turn up a hem or take in a waistband. First of all, make sure you try and buy well-made pieces. Look for some percentage of a natural fiber, lining is a plus, detailing is a plus, look for big hems. You can come across decently constructed clothing even at discount stores. Try the designer names at Target and Kohls. A dry cleaner can let out or turn up a hem but for anything much more detailed I would recommend a tailor. Everyone needs business now so call some different places and price compare. I've got a name I can give you also. A tailor is going to be your best bet for dealing with clothes that just don't seem to work for you. Another bit of advice is shop within your size range and go up in size if needed. There is hardly a true 8 or 10 anymore. Sizes within brands and stores fluctuate greatly. I even tell my clients if something is a just a tad small or big, try on one more of the exact same size. Sometimes you will get that small bit of change to make the fit just right. If you are 5'4 and under you are technically petite but that doesn't mean some sizes in the regular department won't work also. Finding the right fit can take time and effort. Shoes can be a problem area also. Some of my clients don't wear heels or have to have a slingback for instance. The perfect shoe may have a heel that is too high for comfort. A cobbler (shoe doctor) can work wonders. They can stretch shoes and cut down heels along with fixing buckles, zippers, etc. Even shoe departments in the store can work on some fit issues. So ask before deciding the perfect shoe isn't so perfect. So the moral of this blog is, you can wear the cute stuff, your body doesn't present so much of a problem that we can't find modern, hip, fun looks that fit you well. So as always, call me and we'll work through it together!

Loose Ends

Happy Inauguration Day!! Take a moment to appreciate history in the making with another Presidential election. I have lately been reading biographies (Daniel Boone, Abigail and John Adams) and the freedom to have our own country and President was won by men who lived their lives for this sole purpose. So, say a prayer, do a little dance, honk your horn, or whatever to salute our forefathers and Presidents past and present, whether you agree with them or not! History lesson over. So what fashion problems have been bugging you lately? Do the jeans not look right or you don't know how to wear the dreaded "skinny" jean? What about flats when it's 20 degrees, do you really not wear socks? What is the "it" item to have right now? On the jeans, I'd have to see how you are wearing them to answer. As for the flats, yup, you're gonna be cold, or wear boots. There is not really an "it" item I don't think. Sweater dresses are big, scarves are big, boots are big, and I could go on. Just remember when buying a piece of clothing, look at the fit, not at the number or letter that tells the size. I would like to say that while evaluating your clothing, give your make-up and hair a fresh look also. I am not an expert in those areas but I do know it is easy not to be objective, so visit a make-up counter for new ideas and ask for suggestions at your next haircut. Last week, I visited what I had declared several months ago as "my new favorite store", and unfortunately the downturn in the economy seems to have hit it also. While there were still deals, the store seemed to be lacking its' "wow" factor this time. Not as much merchandise and kinda picked over. On the cool side, they were carrying some vintage furs and hats. This week I will be doing some boutique browsing so I will report back soon. Now is the time to be enjoying all your heavy sweaters, scarves, cute coats and jackets, and cords because toward the end of February we will start having some of those spectacular glimpses of spring with mild temps and gorgeous sunshine. You will want to start breaking out the flipflops and linen pants but refrain for awhile. Transition months can be difficult but we'll discuss that later. For now, put another log on and appreciate all the beautiful textures and wovens of winter wear. Lastly, have you noticed I like to use quotation marks, I like the "pow" they give to a word. But English majors, don't be alarmed, I know I overuse them, misuse commas and apostrophes, and have run-on sentences. At least I recognize my mistakes! But, I do use spellcheck, good for me. As always, call if I can help with your wardrobe questions. See ya later!

No Resolutions!

This is Mason Elizabeth Parker, the cutest thing since my babies! She is my great niece and we want to thank God for a safe delivery for mom and Mason. Her great-grandmother is holding her!! Now, on to fashion!

I am an anti-resolutionist ( I think I made that word up). I think for many people they are a set up for failure. I like challenges and dares better. Such as "I bet you can't go without chocolate for 3 days" or "I dare you to walk a mile over 4 days". You know, small doable things but with a bit of, can you or can't you, thrown in for good measure. So, with that quirky train of thought, what about a fashion challenge. We'll call it Style Dare 2009. Every week try one thing, place, action, etc. new. Like, a color you don't usually wear, or heels instead of flats, or tights instead of hose, or throw out an item you haven't worn in a year, or shop at a different store than usual, or don't be afraid to show your legs, or have a make up expert give you some tips, or change an outfit from flashy to classy. That list right there gives you around 7 or 8 ideas. Look at a fashion magazine to see how some things are supposed to be worn to give you some guidance and confidence. January is normally a time for self-reflection and we shouldn't disregard our appearance during our time of assessing the things we need to change. Obviously, the way you look effects you and how people react to and perceive you. So, on January 4th, decide what the challenge will be and DO IT! That's my motivational talk for now. As for style news, I don't have much to comment on at the moment. Just a few tips; dresses are huge and will be all year; also, blazers with are being worn with tons of things, and a last thing to consider is accessories. Accessories can make or break an outfit and for the financially strapped, can update your look quickly and economically. If you would like me to work with you it would be a pleasure so please email or call, I'll help you spend that Christmas cash or gift cards (which by the way should be spent quickly lest the store goes out of business!). That's all for now, I hope your holidays were filled with love, family, and friends. Happy New Year!!

Me and Clinton

Clinton, "That's a cute outfit." Me, "Thanks, I'm a stylist here in Nashville so coming from you that's quite a compliment." Clinton, "That's why you look like you know what your doing!" That was my oh so brief conversation with Clinton Kelly from What Not To Wear. He gave a short talk on style and fit and was the commentator for a Petite fashion show at Macy's. He's a funny guy and his new book Freakin' Fabulous is funny and informative. Watch out for the sexual innuendos and drinking jokes though. It also goes over etiquette and manners which I thought were pretty helpful. So, you heard it here, Clinton thinks I know what I'm doing. What other reference do you need?! Anyway, it may be a good Christmas gift for a fashion junkie in your home! I have just a few holiday tips to pass on this week. With all the red and green decorations at this time of year, why not stand out and go with totally different colors? Give the snowman sweater to your mother, or better yet, make a pillowout of it, but don't wear it. Last night to an event I wore silver/gray shaded jeans and a cream colored ruffle sleeveless top. The colors worked nicely together and to add a bit of cuteness I bought gray satin ribbon, 1 3/4" wide and pulled it through the belt loops and tied it in a bow. Pretty cute. Also, black heels even though it was freezing! It wasn't so bad and they did make a statement. Remember this, sometimes you have to suffer to be cute! Don't take it to an extreme but for a nice Christmas dinner, leave the Uggs and wool sweater at home. I'd rather be over than under dressed anytime. Don't save your pretty sequined and beaded tops for a cocktail party, use them with jeans or cute chinos (think J Crew) and heels. The sparkle of great jewelry or sequins and beads on your top will be partyish enough to forgo red and green. If you still want Christmas colors, use them as an accent (scarf, shoes, jewelry etc.). Another option is to wear a cute black party skirt, a poppy or tangerine colored tank with a cardigan of a similar shade and flats. Too cute!! I'll post more holiday thoughts later. Also, please forgive the odd placement of these photos, I haven't gotten layout down yet! The brunette in the top picture is my sister. Hey Trese! See you soon and call for any holiday diliemas!

Mix It, Break It, Don't Match It!

Today I am rambling about a few styling questions that I know some struggle with. A wonderful thing that is happening with choosing outfits lately is to mix fabrics, textures, patterns, colors, etc. Although even for the most confident fashion follower, mixing plaids for instance, is a perplexing task, there are some ways to simplify; make sure color palettes are the same, do a very large window pane plaid with a very small micro-check, or use a smaller accessory like a scarf, belt, or even a shoe to pair with the dominant plaid on top. It can be tricky but can be done. The easier and more popular mixing I've seen in the past several months is mixing color combos. Almost anything goes. Red/pink, navy/black, brown/purple, orange/maroon, and lots of others. It looks hip, modern, and oh so stylish! Also, that great black suit you have and save for important meetings is not being used to it's full potential if you don't mx the blazer with a nice pair of jeans and a sharp blouse out to dinner. Or wear a beautiful lightweight short sleeve blouse with a wool pencil skirt in a herringbone pattern. Don't be shy, mix it up. And next, there are a few fashion rules you need to start breaking. One is, wear white! All year! All shades! Just a little common sense applies here, keep the weight of the fabric suitable to the season. A white seersucker jacket needs to be saved for summer and your wool white pants for winter. Cashmere in white is a gorgeous fabric to use almost all year and much lighter weight versions are everywhere. A second rule to tear into is a bit of shine for the day. Don't save your knit top with an embellished neckline or cute jacket with a gold shimmer for nighttime. Your shoes may even have some sparkle and still be fine for before five. Wear them with toned down pieces and you will be just fine. A third rule that is harder for some is to lose your overwhelming mu mus that hide your womanly shape. Contrary to what you believe, all that extra fabric does more than hide a bulge or two, it visually adds pounds. Buy clothes that fit properly and fabrics that skim the body. And finally, although a black top and bottom or a nice gray sweater, pants, and shoes can make an impressive statement, matching everything can become quite dated. In fact a big "don't" is matching shoes, belts, handbag, jewelry, etc. Matching your animal print purse, to your shoes, to your skirt and so on is just plain wrong! So, sometimes, when you're in the mood, mix it, break it, but don't be matchy matchy! As always, call me for any fashion or style needs. Have a great week!

Too Snooty? Too Expensive? Which One?

Let me just say from the start, if you looking for a stylist, of course I should be your choice! Now that that's out of the way, lets answer some of the title's questions and be a bit more objective. Are you being a snob by using a stylist? No. If you recognize that you look dated, you hate to shop, you think nothing fits, don't keep up with styles, or don't have time, you are being smart by asking for help. The same way a person would use an interior designer or a professional photographer. If it is embarrassing to you, the process can be and should be done very discreetly. Secondly, is it too expensive? Well, that depends. If you are barely making your house payments, have lots of debt, and your utilities have been turned off then, buy a fashion magazine, go to Target and copy the looks! If you are doing better than that then you could probably afford an hour or two consultation/ shopping with some freelance stylists. Ask questions, how can I maximize my dollar? Tell the consultant, "I want to shop at Target or Gap sale items, not BCBG or Jamies". Ask if you can dictate the time spent, time = money. A well known, industry stylist will charge more than others. Thirdly, which stylist do you choose? Talk to two or three. You will probably connect better with one. Can they tell you where to go to find the look you are trying to achieve or better yet, will they be honest and tell you if it isn't right for you? Do they even know what and where BCBG or Jamies is and can they find similar looks at discount prices if that is your goal? If stores such as Jaimies and Posh are where you like to shop, does your consultant feel comfortable at those retailers? Does the stylist have the ability to determine what looks best on your body type? Can you find some information on their background, experience, degrees, and do they have references? A great ad and fun personality are certainly worth noticing but go a little farther to be sure. Lastly, try and make sure you will enjoy the process and end up happy with the experience.

The Process

I realized several days ago I had never blogged about the actual details of my services so, here are the details..... When a client contacts me it usually involves 2 meetings, the first is a consultation consisting of a brief questionnaire about shopping habits, sizes, likes/dislikes, and needs/goals. Also, at that time we can do a closet edit. This involves literally going through a client's closet and evaluating whether something fits correctly, is outdated, too worn, etc. Most clients enjoy a second opinion and a fresh look at their wardrobe but not all choose to do this. We end this meeting with a list of wants and needs for me to look for, a budget, and a day for me and the client to shop together. After a date is decided upon, I will go the day before to 2 or 3 stores that I determine will best accommodate the needs discussed and pull items and put them on hold. The next day, the client and I have our second meeting which is trying on the items I've put on hold. Of course, all of this can be tweaked some to fit each individual person. For instance, if there is a particular boutique that is a favorite, I would certainly try and find something in there. Or if we are short on time, my shopping day alone and the try-on day could possibly be done the same day. Shopping for someone without a consultation is pretty tricky and I don't recommend it. The plan for 2009 is to have a package deal including consultation and a shopping trip together the same day. Some people like getting it all done and some get burned out doing it all at one time. Of course, previous clients have the good fortune of having the consultation already done, we just address that season or event. I hope this information helps clear up any questions anyone may have. I work hard to provide an experience that favors each client, is conscious of how their money is spent, and in the end is enjoyable and makes the client look their best. If you can use any of these services, I'd like to help. Thanks for reading....