Change Your Outfit with Jewelry

Okay, we all have the little black dress, black power suit or favorite pants. Now, the challenge is wearing them over and over again without telling the world you are wearing them AGAIN! All women, in my opinion, want to be pretty. However, in today’s economy, there is less to spend on the pursuit of style. Style can be effortless. There are ways to enhance and even create the look you want to achieve without overspending. The key is versatility and convertibility in your wardrobe. Jewelry instantly and dramatically changes any outfit. Today there are countless options for jewelry from costume to Cartier. Look for pieces that can be worn multiple ways with various settings. Here are a few tips:

Earrings are great. They come in every shape and size. Don’t be afraid to dangle. Drop earrings are hugely popular and look great any time of day. Many dangles look great at the office, and then look amazing with you hair pulled back at an evening event. I recommend that you stay lightweight or else your gorgeous drops will be a big headache, literally! The perfect earrings can complete a style and the right dangles are ageless. You can find great earrings in every budget. Even you lovely ladies without pierced ears can find clips that look phenomenal!

Necklaces, ooh, la la. You can do so much with a necklace. Necklaces add personal style to any outfit. Long necklaces offer a lot of versatility. They add length (therefore you look thinner, yay!) Beyond the benefit of looking trimmer, they are convertible. Look for pieces that offer multiple looks. Choose necklaces that look good with your power suit and favorite pair of jeans. Many long necklaces can be doubled for a completely different style. Best yet, choose a long necklace that can be worn doubled over and has a removable pendant. That is a jewelry staple that offers versatility and instant style.

Bracelets are perfect for quick added color and fun! They fit every budget and can morph to match any ensemble. When you are wearing a dress or shirt that has a neckline or print and you have no necklace that “fits” throw on a fun pair of earrings and a bracelet. Bracelets that are very dainty can get lost on a person in the summer with short or no sleeves. Try a bangle or even two worn together. Just be cautious not to “over stack” and look like you could not make up your mind so you just wore EVERYTHING. There is a fine line between tastefully chic and “bad idea.”

You thought we were done….but, brooches and hair pieces are great accents. Don’t be afraid. Just remember that “fine line.” You may be the lucky girl who has all these in her closet. Just choose carefully and do not wear it all at once. . I challenge you to be creative. Find new ways to change your old favorites. (PS a pair of awesome shoes always help….I find lots of favorites at Susan Michelle Boutique in Mount Pleasant.)

About the Author:

Feel that you may want a quick jewelry in-service? Visit http://www.lellafoster.com and send me an email. I am Lella Foster, a jewelry artisan in Charleston SC. I love working with clients to make custom pieces that are “perfect” for any outfit or event. I also love creating my own designs. I feel strongly that all women should have the opportunity to feel beautiful and bring out their inner fashionista. I work to make jewelry that is striking but attainable, and can be worn in multiple ways and settings.

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Give Color A Chance This Spring

This Spring there are many different ways you can participate in the latest trends while staying true to your personal style. I recommend trying one of the hot colors of the season. Some of these colors are already in your closet and others can be added with a budget friendly accessory.

Black & White

Black and white clothing is everywhere this season, and is probably a trend already hanging in your closet. Black and white is always sophisticated and elegant. I love how this Diane von Furstenberg dress is paired with a pop of color and a nude shoe.

 

Go Nude

This season choose soft flesh tones and pale earthy neutrals. When you wear pale neutrals choose shades that don’t wash out your skin tone. Stay safe with a nude colored shoe. It is a versatile addition to your shoe wardrobe and makes legs look longer.

Pop Magenta

Hot Pink or magenta is back! It is a bright and bold color that looks great with many different skin tones. If it is too bright for you in a dress, try and hot pink shoe or bag.

Try Yellow

Yellow is such a great color and is the color for spring. The most versatile way to do yellow is through your accessories, such as a handbag or shoe. Yellow can be paired with a lot of your existing wardrobe. Have fun this spring and give yellow a try.

 

Let Charleston Style Concierge help you develop your personal style this Spring!

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Closet Clean-Out: Don’t Avoid it Another Week

If the bursting closet in your room somewhat resembles a growling monster with relics from the past, it’s time for a major closet clean-out .  This may seem like a daunting task—but it’s not.

What a closet clean-out will do for your lifestyle:

·        Eliminate that 15-30 minutes in the morning (and in the evenings) when you search for the perfect outfit you have in mind. Think about it—you can sleep during that extra time, and you won’t be so cranky in the morning because you’re late for work, and wearing something you don’t feel confident in.

·        The appearance of a color-coordinated, well-organized, and uncluttered closet can do wonders for your mood. No matter what your lifestyle, a clean and organized room is rejuvenating, and makes you feel on track in life.  

·        Instead of being aggravated with the horrific task of searching the cavernous depths of your closet for one piece of clothing you have in mind, an organized closet will eliminate the possibility of aggravation.

What items to part with and why:

·        That decent-looking sweater with fuzz balls dangling all over—not a good illustration of the image you want to portray.

·        The casual top you used to wear out in college that is so out-of-date, yet you convince yourself you might wear it again. You won’t. Rule of thumb: If you haven’t worn it in a year—give it the old heave-hoe.

·        Jeans that just don’t fit, or are so “broken-in” their starting to rip at the seams. Of course, the casual pair of jeans you wear around the house for messy chores and painting jobs can be kept (in the garage), but when you know you haven’t worn a certain pair of jeans because they simply don’t fit anymore, you simply need to buy a new pair. 

Sometimes it’s hard to part with certain articles of clothing—you feel bad throwing them away. Don’t. Goodwill is a great place to bring clothes you don’t wear anymore. Thrift shopping is huge now, especially in this tough economy. Not only do you provide clothes that others will wear (that you know you won’t anymore), but many times you receive a tax write-off. It’s well worth it.

Cleaning-out your closet takes approximately only three hours of your time, and on a relaxing Saturday, it could be the perfect chore to tackle. It doesn’t have to be stressful. Put on your favorite music, open a window, and get going. You’ll be finished in no time, and you’ll have had fun doing it.

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Save Money By Not Looking at Price Tags

I do not believe in going into debt for fashion, or that you have to spend tons of money to have great style.  I do believe that looking at price tags before trying something on can cause you to spend more money. 

 

The first thing you do while shopping is look at the price tag.  Usually that price tag tells you it is okay to try something on, the item is a great deal, or it will cause you to put the item away wishing you were an instant lottery winner.  The last two cause havoc in your closet and will ultimately cause you to spend more money.

 

The next time you are shopping try on this new mindset about price and you will discover that you make much smarter purchases and wardrobe investments.

 

·        When you come across a great deal, proceed with caution.  Don’t let the allure of a deal throw out your good judgment about fit, versatility, and need.  If something doesn’t fit or won’t work for your lifestyle, don’t buy it.  Practice only spending money on items that suit all of your style needs.

 

·        When something is out of your budget don’t put it back and wait for the depression to set in.  Try it on.  The more expensive item could be a better investment than the multiple deals you continue to buy.  For example, the perfect fitting pants can be hard to find.  You go from store to store settling on pants that kind of fit.  They allow you to leave the house fully clothed but are not the best fit. You’ve now bought 4 pairs of imperfect black pants and have spent $200.  The expensive pair that you would have never tried on are also $200 and fit like a glove.  These are the better investment, and you no longer waste time looking for the perfect black pant.

 

·        Until you try something on and determine it is right for your personal style, price doesn’t matter.  Decide if an item fits and will work in your wardrobe, then think about whether or not it is worth the price tag.  I always recommend clients stay within their budget but remind them to calculate the cost per wear for items they purchase.

 

·        Don’t let discount price tags sidetrack you from your shopping mission.  If you are looking for clothing that helps you create a more put together image for an upcoming meeting, a super cute casual dress that is on sale isn’t going to get you to that meeting with professional style.

      Learn how to make smart clothing investments the next time you go shopping by signing up for Charleston Style Concierge’s free ezine, Get Great Style.

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Common Fit Questions Answered

Why is fit so important for great style?

Without fit, you have no style. A trendy blazer that is too big will look frumpy and outdated. The same blazer too small appears as if you are trying too hard and will remove the chic sophistication from an outfit. Learn about your body type, and dress it appropriately. It is sometimes hard to see our bodies as they really are. Get advice from a personal stylist, or ask a trusted friend to help you examine the fit of your clothing.

What are some general fit rules for petite women?

When you are petite, there are a few rules to live by. First, be mindful of the colors and patterns you wear. Choose rich color palettes to add sophistication to your look and keep people from thinking you are a teenager. Choose patterns that are proportionate to your size. A large pattern will make you look small in comparison. Second, use clothes to help you project a more elongated body image. To do this, eliminate pants with cuffs, and don’t wear heavy, blocky shoes. Both abruptly stop your leg line, ruining all efforts to elongate your body image. Make sure your tops and jackets hit you in the right place. When your top comes past your crotch, you make your legs look shorter, making you look shorter. Lastly, befriend a good tailor. Some of your wardrobe pieces may need to be tailored to get a perfect fit. Pleats seem to come in and out of style.

How do I know if pleats are a trend I should try?

Pleats add fullness and volume to the front of a pant and therefore add fullness and volume to you! Don’t be fooled by the pleated pant as a cover-up for a midsection you want to hide. Remember that pleats will just draw attention to the spot you want to camouflage. If you try a pleated pant, choose more fitted pieces for your top half. If your pleated pants are tapered, take them straight to the closest Goodwill store. Tapered pants are a fit disaster by themselves but will also add even more width and focus to your hips.

How can I minimize the appearance of my hips?

Wear straight or wide-leg trouser-cut pants. You want to create a straight line from your hip to the floor with the silhouette of your pants. Always avoid pleated pants. Pleats add width to your hips and draw the eye to them. Watch out for poorly placed front pockets. The farther out a pocket is placed, the more it will accentuate your hips. Pockets that are set closer to your zipper are ideal. Avoid side-zip pants. If you break up the front of your pant with a zipper, you reduce the visual width of your hips. Wear tops and jackets that define your waist. A defined waist will draw the eye away from your hips.

For great style, start with great fit.   For help fitting your body shape contact Charleston Style Concierge, a styling company that teaches clients how to get an effortless style.

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Get Great Style on Facebook!

Join our new super stylish Get Great Style group on Facebook. 

 

Do you want to always know what to wear?

Do you want to feel confident about your style?

Do you want to be able to get dressed quickly and effortlessly?

Yes! Then this group is for you.

This group is a resource for men and women who want to create a personal style that is attainable and effortless.

This group will offer:

• Style tips.
• Ideas about how to incorporate seasonal trends.
• Tools and resources to help you get great style.

 

You can also become a fan of Charleston Style Concierge.  Visit our fan page.

 

 

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Your Personal Improvement Plan

Last year one of my best friends started her own Personal Improvement Plan (PIP).  She called it her “J PIP.”  Her name starts with a J, hence the J PIP.  Her Personal Improvement Plan was a vow to be the best version of herself that she could be.  Her PIP inspires her to continuously make changes in her life that give her personal growth and happiness.  A PIP can be started any time of the year, doesn’t have to be big, or cost any money.  It can be as simple as taking a little more time for yourself.  All you need is a commitment to yourself to make little improvements along the way that will bring you happiness, health, and growth. 

 

Part of my continuing “L PIP” is a commitment to improving my health and fitness.  I struggle to make going to the gym a non-optional daily activity.  Some days I get there, and some I don’t, but I know it is key to my happiness and health.  What’s your Personal Improvement Plan?

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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 Make a Good Wardrobe Investment

When buying a new wardrobe piece, determine its versatility by calculating its cost per wear.  Cost per wear is the original cost of an item divided by the number of times or ways it can be worn. 

 

Let’s say you find the perfect trench coat for $300.  It is classic in design and neutral in color.  This coat can be worn all year round and will be a wardrobe staple for years to come.  During that year, even if you only wear it twice a month, its cost per wear would be $12.50.

 

Cost Per Wear:  $300 Trench Coat/ 24 Times Worn = $12.50 Per Wear

 

Cost per wear is a helpful tool during the allure of a killer sale.  A $60 top on sale that you can only wear twice might not be such a great deal.  That top has a cost per wear of $30 and won’t help you figure out what to wear on a daily basis.

 

Calculating cost per wear is often thought of as an advertising tool to get people to spend more money that they normally would be comfortable doing.  For me, it just makes good sense.  It forces me to analyze the versatility of each item I buy to determine if it will be a good investment for my personal style, lifestyle, and wardrobe.

Charleston Style Concierge believes in the importance of creating a versatile wardrobe.  Contact Charleston Style Concierge to get great versatile style.

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Is Effortless Style Too Good to be True?

Often, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.  Effortless style however, sounds good, is good, and can be true.  Creating an effortless style takes some work and discipline, but the reward is a style that makes you feel confident, happy, and proud of who you are every day.

 

There are plenty of skeptics who don’t believe great style can truly be effortless.  Yes, it takes effort to achieve effortless style, but a little effort upfront will make your life and style much easier on a day to day basis. 

 

Imagine never having to try on three different outfits each morning before work.  You could sleep in 30 minutes longer!    Imagine if you didn’t have to frantically rush from store to store in search of something to wear for an unexpected social event?  Life would be easier, and getting dressed would be EFFORTLESS!

 

Creating an effortless style isn’t about having a lot of money or a lot of clothes.  You can create an effortless style simply by doing five things.

 

1. Build a versatile wardrobe.
2. Understand how to fit clothes to your body.
3. Embrace your personal style.
4. Show off your assets.
5. Learn to accessorize.

For help developing your own effortless style contact Charleston Style Concierge.  We can help you develop your style in one hour with our Virtual Style Consultation.  Feel great every time you walk out the door.  Don’t settle for anything less.

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