What Women Should-and Shouln’t Wear-in the Workplace

Check out this article from Forbes.com that provides great tips about dressing for the office.

http://www.forbes.com/2009/02/09/workplace-office-clothing-women-style_0209_suit.html

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How to Buy Cashmere

There are rules to follow to make sure your new cashmere sweater is an investment that will last you for years to come.

Rule #1: Look for the best fibers.

The best fibers are those that come from the Kashmiri goat (from the chin and belly) and are harvested only once a year. These fibers are the reason cashmere comes with an expensive price tag but with proper care your cashmere garment can last a lifetime. When you decide to invest in cashmere take the time to feel many different kinds and price points. All cashmere will feel soft to the touch but you will know when you touch “good” cashmere. Lower quality cashmere will sometimes feel scratchy.

Rule #2: Good cashmere will have loft.

A great cashmere sweater will have loft. Loft if the spring of the fabric. Gently pull the sides of the sweater away from each other. When you let go, a high quality garment will spring back to its original shape. A loosely knit one will not and will probably stretch out after wearing a few times.

Rule #3: Look for Bright Colors.

Vibrant colors are an indication of top quality cashmere because of the wool and dying process. It is more difficult to dye cashmere in vibrant colors so often times a lower grade is used. If you are buying darker colored cashmere check to see it is the same softness as some of the other lighter colors.

Rule #4: Check the labels.

Check the labels. Only sweaters of pure cashmere can be labeled as such. The way the garment label is sewn on will also indicate the quality of the cashmere. The best cashmere is hand knitted and is usually made in Scotland or Italy.

Rule #5: Consider the price tag.

Cashmere has become much more affordable, but be weary of great deals on cashmere. If the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Rule #6: Make it a wardrobe staple.

The right cashmere sweater can become a staple in your wardrobe. Cashmere can work for all seasons depending on its ply and gauge. Invest in a garment that stays true to your personal style, is figure flattering, and can integrate into your wardrobe in a versatile and stylish way.

Need help with your personal style? Not sure what to wear to flatter your figure? Let Charleston Style Concierge help you with all of your style needs with our Virtual Style Consultation.

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Get Great Style This Holiday Season

 This fabulous telecall on How to Survive the Holidays With Style will help you stress less over what to wear this holiday season.  We are very excited to share the recording with you.  

Listen to this call and learn:

• What to and not to wear to a holiday party.
• How to create a holiday wardrobe from what you already own.
• Party etiquette essentials for making a good impression.

Click below to listen and Survive the Holidays With Style.

 http://marketingonlinebootcamp.com/audio/holidaystylecall12308.mp3

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Know What to Wear this Holiday Season

Doing some research sounds like a no brainer, but it is actually one of the easiest ways to take the stress out of figuring out what to wear this holiday season.  During the holidays you already have enough to stress about.

 

Start with your holiday invitations.  Most invitations will specify a dress code.  If not, just ask the host what the “dress” for the party is.  If you are going to a work party with a mystery dress code, talk to your colleagues.  Find out what others are planning to wear, and what they might have worn last year at the party.  This should give you a good place to start planning your outfit.

 

Two of the most common dress codes found on holiday invitations this time of year are cocktail attire and festive attire. 

 

Cocktail Attire is fun because as a woman you have so many options.  Typically women wear short elegant dresses or separates and men wear a dark suit.  Women can also wear dress pants with an elegant/dressy top.  Another great option is your little black dress.  That is something many of us have already have in our closets.  The little black dress is very appropriate and can have many different looks just by changing your accessories.  Remember that accessories can be the key to dressing up or down a look.  Also, don’t be afraid to wear color.  There are a lot of beautiful vibrantly colored cocktail dresses in the stores for the holiday season.

 

Many of us already have the beginnings of a cocktail outfit in our closet.  The little black dress is a cocktail attire staple, but it doesn’t have to be black.  You may have a great dark dress in your closet that you can glam up with accessories.  Play up your bag, shoes and jewelry to make over a plain dress.

 

Most of us have some type of dressy or evening top in our closets.  Pair that with dress pants, a skirt, or even a suit for a more conservative office party. Your shoes can play a big role in dressing up your look.  Metallic shoes, or shoes with lace, satin, patent leather, and embellishment are a great way to dress up an outfit.

 

Also don’t forget about your bag.  Leave your day bag at home and opt for a clutch or evening bag.  Bags are a great way to play with color, and can do wonders to tie your outfit together.  Remember that your bag doesn’t have to match your shoes.  That is an old outdated rule.

 

Festive Attire is another common dress code found on invitations this time of year.  Festive attire is not as dressy as cocktail attire but more dressy than casual attire.  Festive attire is meant to evoke a fun, flirty, party atmosphere.  Think metallics, beading, ruffles, bows, velvet, holiday colors, etc.  This is a great time to have a little fun with your wardrobe and the party will probably be pretty fun too.

 

For more help deciphering what to wear to all of your holiday parties contact the Charleston Style Concierge.

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Party Attire 101

With a different dress code on every invitation, how are you supposed to know what to wear.  Use this guide to decipher attire definitions, or when in doubt ask your host. 

 

1.  Black Tie indicates formal attire.  Women wear cocktail, long dresses, or dressy  evening separates.  Men wear tuxedos.

 

2.  Formal usually means the same as Black Tie.  Men might wear a less traditional tux and women will dress as they would for a black tie event.

 

3.  Black Tie Optional indicates a formal event.  Women wear cocktail, long dresses, or dressy evening separates.  Men may wear a tuxedo or a  dark suit and tie. 

 

4.  White Tie is the most dressy of evening wear.  Women wear long gowns.  Men wear a dinner jacket with tails and white tie, vest, and shirt.  White Tie is sometimes known as Ultra-formal. 

 

5.  Semi-Formal requires a cocktail or dressy dress for a woman and dark suit for a man.

 

6.  Business Formal is the same as semi-formal with the exception that women will often wear a dressy suit.

 

7.  Informal Attire calls for either semi-formal attire or a slightly less dressy version.

 

8.  Cocktail Attire is one of the most fun dress codes.  Women wear short, elegant dresses and men wear a dark suit.

 

9.  Dressy Casual is just a dressier version of casual.  For both men and women steer clear of jeans, shorts, t-shirts, and overall sloppy looks.

 

10.  Festive Attire usually dictates a semi-formal or informal event, and is seen around the holidays.  This is the time to add appropriate glitz and your holiday spirit.   

 

For more help deciding what to wear to a party, contact the Charleston Style Concierge or sign up for our monthly ezine full of great style advice.

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What’s So Important about a Versatile Wardrobe

Imagine waking each morning, walking to your closet, and choosing an outfit that makes you feel great. You put it on, accessorize, and in minutes, you are ready to walk out the door. Imagine you’re running late and have a dinner party to attend in one hour. You walk to your closet, stand in front of it, and quickly choose an outfit. Slip on the dress, slide on your stilettos, and you look like a million bucks. 

 

With a versatile wardrobe, getting dressed can really be this easy.

 

For those of you who think this is impossible without having a lot of money, let me reassure you, that is not the case.

 

In fact, creating a versatile wardrobe saves you money, time, and energy. When you have a versatile wardrobe that’s created to fit your lifestyle needs, you immediately eliminate all the headaches of trying to find something to wear.  

 

Having a clear idea of what you have and what you need will prevent you from spending money on items that you’ll never wear or wear only once. 

 

Christian Dior had it right when he said, “It’s not money that makes you well dressed, it’s understanding.”

 

The key is understanding how to mix and match pieces while creating your own style that fits your lifestyle.  Creating a versatile wardrobe takes time and energy. But it’s not as hard as you might think.

 

In fact,  you probably already have a good start with items you already own. Investing time and thought into creating a wardrobe that serves your lifestyle needs will produce results. And fast.

 

Feeling fabulous shouldn’t be a chore. When you create a versatile wardrobe, you’re investing in yourself, in who you want to be in this world, and how you want people to perceive you. So, have some fun with your clothes and feel great every time you walk out the door.

 

This is an excerpt from my latest style guide, 5 Steps to a Stress-Free and Versatile Wardrobe.  To read more from this great guide sign up for our mailing list at www.charlestonstyleconcierge.com and download 5 Steps to a Stress-Free and Versatile Wardrobe for F*R*E*E.

 

 

 

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Shop for Comfort, Style, and a Great Cause!

I’m excited to announce that one of my favorite designers, Spooney, is hosting an exclusive trunk sale to benefit the documentary film and cancer initiative, Awaken the Dragon.  The trunk sale will take place November 5th and 6th from 11am -4pm at 918 Lansing Dr., Suite F, Mt. Pleasant, SC. 

 

Come experience the irresistible moisture wicking fabric that spoons you in comfort and style.  The trunk sale will feature special savings on overstocks, samples, and discontinued items.   

 

Learn more about Spooney

 

For active women who fantasize about wearing their PJs all day, Spooney®, may just make their dreams come true. An innovative, “wear ever” tagless collection, combines the benefits of high-performance active wear with the comfort of pajamas. A “Spooney Girl” can snuggle, go out for a latte, a night on the town or catch a plane all in the same attire.

 

Janice Fetter, founder of the company, was introduced to high- performance fabrics on a bike tour and the idea for Spooney surfaced. Combining the best qualities of both, she set out to design a garment made from easy-care, moisture-management fabric that still maintained a soft, natural, “cozy” feel. The light-as-air fabric “spoons” the body, putting the wearer in a “pajama state of mind” yet ever ready for the high performance, high-active lifestyle so typical of today’s women.

 

 

For more information about this event please contact Spooney or the Charleston Style Concierge.

 

 

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New Clothes! Now What?

There’s nothing better than a successful day of shopping.  You arrive home proud of your hard work and add your new items to your sea of clothes.  You are confident that the next time you get dressed you will know exactly what to wear.  Clothing with tags still on them is a common problem for many of my clients who struggle with the feeling of having nothing to wear.  After you finish your shopping there are a few things you can do to ensure the things you buy will help you build a versatile wardrobe.

 

My first tip is to stop feeling guilty about the clothes you have bought and never worn.  The guilt does nothing but eat away at you and at the end of the day, or the beginning as the case may be, won’t help you get dressed any faster.   Put aside your guilt and pull out the clothing in your closet still plagued with tags.  Ask yourself why you haven’t worn them?  Maybe you forgot you had them or maybe they never really fit.   Make a mental note and then find out which items can be returned.  Those that can’t can be sold at consignment stores or ebay, donated to charity, or used in a fun clothing swap with your friends.  Find them a new home and move on.

 

Next discover how to make sure the purchases you make will help you build a versatile wardrobe with these simple tips.

 

When you come home from shopping, take a few minutes to try on your purchases again.  Often we need the reality of our own mirror or the reminder of our lifestyle to help us determine how useful an item of clothing will be. 

 

Next, take the new items into your closet and pair them with the pieces you imagined making outfits with while in the store.  Is the outfit how you pictured?  Will it suit the purpose you intended?

 

Consider grouping new items together in your closet.  One of the most common challenges for shopaholics is remembering what they have.  Often clothes get stuck in the closet and we forget we even own them.  Review your “new clothing” section every few weeks to make sure you have actually worn the things you bought.

 

For more tips on creating a versatile wardrobe contact Charleston Style Concierge.

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