Fall Dressing Despite The 80 Degree Weather

It seems like the beginning of every September, stores have their final push to clear the odds and ends leftover from the hot days of Summer. Fall goods are placed onto the racks despite the humidity and usually sit idle until the first jolting cold wave that awakens our inner consumer. Although we won't be wearing the fall clothing in September, the excitement of fresh goods, styles, colors and textures make us want to participate in this yearly ritual.

For me this ritual begins as well. I encourage clients to go online and buy any last minute clearance finds especially handbags, jewelry and shoes. I also like to check out early fall sales that are generally offered as flash sales or for many departments stores, pre-sale and anniversary sales. These strategic moves generally encourage consumer spending before the season is in full swing.

As a big fan of fall fashion I can’t wait to say goodbye to the summer heat so I can delve into some of my fashion favorites! Personally fall can’t come soon enough!

I am going to share with you my process for transiting my wardrobe from warm summer days to cool autumn dressing J

My Personal Closet Plan

 Grab my rolling rack and roll it as close to my garments as possible

 (Oops I’m already showing my laziness) 

 pick out the garments I neglected to show off for yet another spring and toss it to the side for possible consignment next year. Far too often I find that I am just flat out tired of a garment, or maybe its just tired of me!

 shift through my dresses and skirts and pull the very light-weight and obvious summer patterns to put away for next year.

I constantly keep in mind that colors like burnt orange, purple, green and most medium blues can easily be transitioned into fall. Pairing these colors with black, brown, and navy make them fall ready!

check out all my camisoles, tanks and short sleeves tops and weed out the ones that scream summer and that won't layer well. This is the time to retire the tops that have peeling, nubbing or are noticeably faded. 

 riffle through my lightweight jackets and sweaters because many can work through fall as the perfect layering piece for those early mornings or cool fall nights.

 make sure to keep my sleeveless and short sleeve silk/poly blend dress tops so I can pair them with dress pants and skirts with my favorite fall and winter jackets.

 have recently purchased more sleeveless or cap sleeve solid dresses which I can continue to wear with cardigans and cropped jackets. Wearing chunkier gold chain necklaces with bomber style leather or pleather jackets will be a hot fall trend.

       Dresses are a truly a big part of my wardrobe. Due to trends and hot flashes, (TMI?)  

 Shoes are an easy decision. Suede sandals can stay (I have a great pair of dark purple suede that I LOVE). Heavier weight black sandals and pumps are good to go as well. I have a few summer cork and raffi wedge heels that have to hibernate along with a brilliant blue patton with a cord heel.

 If you have read my previous blogs then you of about my personal goal to incorporate more navy garments and accessories versus the basic black.

Because of my spectacular slate wall display of all my necklaces, accessories are not a big to do. I just steer clear of the summery tones.

A recent purchase of an Italian leather black bag will be a key piece of mine this fall.

 If I find a bold navy bag that is worth investing in, I just might indulge!

Now that I have shared my transition plan with you, give thought to your brief closet transition that is necessary for you to get through this warm weather!

If you get stuck, call and I can help or opt to read Chapter 4 Be prepared to take a big step and begin with your Closet in my book Portraits to Lifestyle Dressing Your Style, Your Closet

·      à  http://portraitsoflifestyledressing.com/

From my closet to yours,

Suzanne

Emerald Green - Just in Time for the Holidays!

We have a new Pantone color - Emerald Green. Must be all the fast fashion, with the shortened seasons, that cause us to get a new Pantone color every other month or so. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, but it makes it difficult to purchase smart. Of course, fast fashion isn't about purchasing smart, it's about purchasing now. And I don't think it's a bad thing to have some color in your wardrobe at any time, so there's that.

Speaking of color in a wardrobe, if you went to your closet right now, would you see a variety of black, white and brown? A friend of mine went to a holiday party recently, and while I view holiday parties as an opportunity to wear some color and break out the red, she mentioned that the first five women were all wearing black, white or grey. Only a couple of people wore something with color in it. So what gives? Are we suddenly afraid of color, or is it not sudden and I've just now noticed it?

So really, what's in your closet? If you don't wear color, why not? Don't know how to wear it? Not sure what colors look good on you anymore? If you think you're lacking color in your closet, go to a clothing swap, or better yet, have someone (me), come in and clean out your closet. Bring your best friend and a bottle of wine, and you'll get some honest feedback in the form of unbiased feedback from me, and what your friend thinks you'd look good in. You may not want to know what your friend thinks, but it's nice to have another perspective, and who knows, you might find yourself with enough colors in your wardrobe to cover whatever the next Pantone color is.

Do You Need A Look Book?

A while back I started putting together lookbooks for clients. I, and they, have found this tool to be quite useful. If you haven't seen a lookbook, they are typically used by designers to send their collection to beauty editors and are images of styled outfits. 

I put together lookbooks containing images of clothing that I have coordinated for the client based upon new purchases and existing items in the closet. Many of the pictures will have the client in them, and some others with the clothes laid out on a flat surface or hung on a hanger. I also like to include with the looks some  shoes, scarves, handbags and jewelry items that work well with the look and for different circumstances, such as more or less casual. In addition, each new season I add to the book, taking existing items from other seasons to create transitional dressing options and to show how the new items in the client's closet work with what they already have. 

The overall goal continues to be one thing: when the client steps into their closet each day they know they have choices of what to wear to accompany their needed dress attire for the day, mood or weather conditions. So many of us need clothing to work with the various things we are involved with daily. Taking advantage of a lifestyle wardrobe and having the pictures to use as an ongoing reference not only provides an ease to our morning routine, but is a great time savor. How many times have you stood in your closet and tried on several outfits before getting that one combination that works and makes you feel good? Most clients report to me that they leave the book in or near their closet and simply turn to a page and begin their day. For many, it keeps them from wearing the same things over and over.

I set up a lookbook based upon your lifestyle. For example, if you work in a casual atmosphere, then we start with those outfits coordinated from day to night. After that the book goes from weekend wear to dressy. Many pictures offer multiple options of accessories. The positive feedback on the lookbooks have been tremendous.

As the season moves into fall, it's a great time to think about a closet consult and having a lookbook put together. If you are not able to shop, no worries! Most people have what they need in their closet, but don't know how to coordinate different looks to achieve other styles. 

Do People Know What You Do?

It amazes me, even after all this time, that people I've known for years don't really understand what a wardrobe consultant does, and specifically, what I do every day. Some think it's just shopping for what a client wants, some think it's an 'organize your closet' job, and others think it's telling people what to wear. And there's a little truth in all of that, but just like everyone's job, there's more to it than that.

Let's start with the organizing your closet thought. A wardrobe consultant needs to see what it is you already have, what types of clothes and accessories you purchase normally, and the types of things you purchase on a whim or as an impulse purchase. You know - that skirt you bought with the ruffles that you would never ever in a million years buy normally except it was on sale? For 80% off or so, and you can justify that expense with the all purpose statement 'if I never really wear it out, it only cost $X, so it's not really like I lost any money and I might learn something'? I get a lot of clients who have items in their closet that were purchased using that same all purpose statement. Which is why I always do a closet consultation. 

It helps me know who you are, really, and what you wear day in and day out. It's actually fun, and can be cathartic if you let it. A closet consultation starts with a chat about your lifestyle, and what you tend to wear. Moving on into your closet, it's all about you. We look at the things you wear a lot, and talk about why you like them. Be prepared - this is also the time when you get to try on everything in your closet. If it obviously won't fit, we discuss why you still have it. You wouldn't believe the number of people who tell me they're hanging on to things until they come back into fashion, until they've lost that last 5 pounds, or that it holds sentimental value.

I always encourage my clients to open up their closet for new clothes, and find a way to re-purpose the older clothes they aren't wearing anymore. A simple trip to the tailor will update most clothes, and if the clothes can't be updated, then I always recommend either letting me take the clothes to a consignment shop, or donating them. Consignment shops are great ways to recoup some of your investment in your clothes, and help fund your upcoming shopping trips!

The other two thoughts, shopping for what a client wants and telling people what to wear, is more like encouraging clients to wear things that flatter them and work with their lifestyle. After all, it's a little over the top to wear a tiara to work unless you're a princess. What I do is select things that will work with your existing wardrobe, whether it's a new foundation piece or a seasonal piece, and show you how you can incorporate it into your closet full of clothes. 

Now you know where I start. Sounds pretty painless, right? It is. And it's fun, too! If you look at your closet every day and think or say that you don't have anything to wear, you might think about consulting a professional who can help with the clothes you have. If your closet gets cleaner in the process, that's a good thing.