Travel Wear vs. Every Day Wear........It's the same!!

Hey ladies. Are any of you going on a trip this Summer? Well, if you are, listen up.

When packing for a trip, remember to make a list of the days you will be away and what outfits you will need for each day. You can wear certain items more then once. Such as jeans, skirts and dresses. You really only need one jacket and one sweater. As long as your whole wardrobe is color coordinated, that is. The jacket and sweater can be neutral. Add color with scarves and tops. Even shoes.

Wear your bulkiest items on the plane to allow more room in your suitcase. You shouldn't have to check any of your bags if you pack this way. So, for example, a fourteen day trip should include:

1 skinny jean
1 black jean
1 wide leg jean (hemmed for flats)
1 trouser
3 day dresses
6-8 tops (tees and tanks)
2 scarves/wraps
1 cardigan (long or short)
1 jacket (wear on plane)
2 sandals
1 ballet flats (wear on plane)
1 heels (if you're planning to do a fancy dinner)
14 panties (mix it up with thongs and full bottom briefs)
3-4 bras

That's it. You really don't need much else. You can dress down or dress up any of the outfits with your accessories. Belts and jewelry. I didn't include them on the list because they're so small and you can throw them in your suitcase at the end.

And here's a huge pet-peeve of mine: Wearing clothes on vacation that you'd never be caught dead in at home. Why would you do that? Bring your every day clothes from home. Look great on vacation. You'll feel more comfortable in the clothes that you know look good and that fit you. And you'll fit in wherever you go instead of standing out as the goofy tourist.

Bring less clothes if you're planning to do a bit of shopping. You can wear the things you buy.

Any questions? Please contact me at theclosetshopper@gmail.com

Add-Ons

It has been my experience that any outfit can look stylish and chic when you add accessories. That perfect fitted jacket and a scarf. Even the perfect shoe helps. I had a client recently that was amazed at how different her current wardrobe looked when she put on a feminine shoe rather then the "comfortable" block shaped ones she had been wearing.

I don't mean to insult your intelligence, but it really is as simple as that. Add-ons. Add accessories to your outfit. Here is your challenge for next week. Get dressed like you normally would. Then before you leave the house, throw on a scarf, or wrap or fitted jacket. Or just change up the shoes and wear a more feminine stream-lined version.

Oh, hell. Do all of the above! What do you have to lose?

I guarantee you that you'll feel more stylish and fabulous. You'll notice people stealing glances at you. You might even notice your special someone taking a few double takes and grabbing you up for unexpected kisses. Now, wouldn't that be nice?

Please write me and let me know how you did with the challenge. theclosetshopper@gmail.com.

Good luck looking and feeling fabulous!

A Pop of Color.......The Right Way

Every day I see my friend, Anne, and I say, "Holy Crap. You look amazing." The same thing happened today, so I decided to share it with all of you. Have a look:



She's wearing a black turtleneck sweater dress with a long black cardigan, black boots and black tights. The thing that makes it all stand out, is that gorgeous pink scarf. It's the right way to add a pop of color. I also love the patterned tights. That was a brilliant touch. It breaks up all that black.

Anne gets an A+ for gorgeous original style. What an inspiration.

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Trench Coats

Hey you guys. Just wanted to throw in a quick tip for the list of MUSTS in your wardrobe.

Trench Coats!!

If you don't already have one, you absolutely must buy one. Getting one in a rich color is a great idea. It can be your personal signature piece. Everyone will pass you and then say, "Oh, she wears a gorgeous red trench every day. It's her own personal style." Tee hee. And you'll walk a little taller knowing that people noticed that you've got it. You've got style.

Here are some great looks for this timeless fashion must have:

Bright White is gorgeous and classic.


A slight variation on the classic tan trench.


What?? Bright yellow?? OH YEAH!



Go to Bluefly.com for some really great deals and trench it up, girls!!

Falling Into Spring

Hey ladies!! I know we're all anxious to start wearing our new spring clothes but it's still too damned cold. Well, here's a great way to incorporate those bright colors into your cozy wardrobe. My client, who we'll call Gina....because that's her name, has done this beautifully. Regardez.....


She's wearing a lightweight, spring dress with black leggings and great black boots. She's all wrapped up in a nice cozy cardigan. The bright spring color is peaking through...


TA DA!! Gorgeous pop of color. She's thrown a beautiful bell sleeved, lightweight, sweater over her dress. The contrast in the sleeve lengths is a great way to create depth to the outfit.

You can do this with any of your spring dresses. Just wear dark leggings, (grey, black, or chocolate), a great boot or pump, and throw a colorful sweater over it. Or wear one of your colorful spring dresses with dark tights and a great sweater in a neutral color (navy, black, grey, chocolate)

Soon we can put the leggings and the sweaters away, but for now, layer and have fun falling gently into spring.

Imfashionation

Ok, maybe fusing the word imagination with fashion doesn't work. Imfashionation. I kind of like it, though.

This post is to encourage just that. Use your unique imagination to style yourself. If you think something will work, try it. For example, I work with someone who bought a jean skirt at Macy's and it came with a chain belt. She was going to trash the belt but decided instead to throw it around her neck and make it a necklace. BRILLIANT. It looks like the very popular chain necklaces that everyone's wearing right now. Check her out.






Brava, Kathy. You rocked your imfashionation.