style philosophy: wear it three ways

We all know how this time of year goes: one day we wake up, it's 55, we get a huuuuge boner for Spring, and next thing we know we're running through our favorite store scooping up anything that exposes our limbs faster than you can say "pollen count." Along with add ons and base dressing (these are terms that I believe I made up), I am a whole hearted believer in wearability of every piece in your arsenal.

We've talked about it time and time again, but you have to stop, drop and think when you're considering adding something to your wardrobe this Spring (and any season, for that matter). One of my favorite mental tests is to imagine three outfits with the piece in question. This is an easy feat when you're buying purported classic pieces (white tees, jeans, blazers, etc), but it's a bit more difficult when you're holding a standalone piece. Let's walk through this together.

The piece in question is:

 Milly Tank, $154

Dope, right? Yet specific. The inclination is to take this home, make a complete outfit, and then leave it at that and never wear it with anything else. Trust me, I do it, too. "I'm not sure how to wear this" is one of the prime reasons that clothing is taking up precious real estate in your closet. Do not let it happen! Follow the three way (hehe) rule.

// pants // shoes (25% off with code SPRING25) // necklace // belt //

Look 1: date night / girls night / etc: Pair the shirt with jeans and strappy sandals. Tuck it into jeans and wrap yourself in a brown belt ; this adds intrigue and interest. Finish off with a long pendant. Enjoy!

// skirt // shoes // blazer //

Look 2: Work wear. Challenge yourself here. Grab your favorite blazer and that printed skirt that you only wear with a black button down and make something happen. Clogs are not out. Please buy these.

// bag // shoes // pants //

Look 3: Just because it's Saturday AM, doesn't mean you can't look FTD. These sandals are the 2015 Birkenstock (lofty proclamation but I'm going for it). You can never have too many fancy sweats and you absolutely need a bucket bag, no matter the size.

<drops the mic>

Any questions?

xoxo,

how to: mix high and low

I woke up to an unexpected snow day today (from my day job), and I've been catching up on emails and scouting my favorite retailers all morning. Sure, the snow is (kind of) getting old, but a wild card catch-up day is never, ever a bad thing. Ever since I saw the Tiffany bean necklace in 7th grade, I've never had a problem with justifying spending on investment pieces. I realize that this (blessing / curse) is not the norm. Even though I love a high quality, designer dud just as much as the next person, take a peek in my closet and you'll find a 50 / 50 mix of high fashion and trendy, fast fashion.

What's the key to a good mix of high and low, or rather, investment and bargain pieces?

// shirt (low) // pants (high) // shoes (low) // bag (high) // watch (low) //

1. Invest in neutrals: Spring for the classic blue jeans, the black boots, the  understated down winter coat, or the tan leather handbag. Spend less on colorful, pattern-filled items.

2. Consider downgrading simple basics (or look alikes): A plain white cotton tee is a plain white cotton tee, whether it's made by Chanel or Gap. If the material is the same, go for the less expensive option. Years ago I was coveting a $70 chambray button down from Banana Republic. I couldn't really afford it, but I loved it so much, so I challenged myself. I told myself that if I couldn't find a similar version across the street at H&M, I would buy it. Low and behold, I went home 20 minutes later with an identical chambray top from H&M, for $40 cheaper. I still own the shirt to this day and it always gets compliments.

3. Rule of thumb: If you love it, buy it. I repeat; if you LOVE it, buy it. Anyone can walk into Forever 21 or Marshall's and drop $100 on random pieces just because. Take the time, every time, to truly consider the wearability of a piece. If you love it, but it's polyester and will only make it through one season before it disintegrates, go for it. Same goes for that cashmere sweater. Especially the cashmere sweater - which you can wear again and again and hand down to a niece or nephew one day. If you love it (and can afford it!), buy it.

What kind of shopper are you? A delayed gratification splurge shopper? Or a fast fashion loving saver? Or a bit of both? I'd love to hear.

xoxo,

how to: navigate post-holiday sales

Friends, I'm telling you. Sales are RIPE for the picking right now. There is so much goodness on sale that before I've done a full sweep of my favorite designers and items available in my size, the item I originally sought out is already gone (this happened to me with an amazing Rick Owens jacket).

Here's the thing with sales. It's so so easy to see your favorite retailer having an enormous sale, go straight for the cheapest item you can find and scoop it up just for the thrill of it all. I also know a good chunk of my friends who will avoid sales altogether because they feel overwhelmed. I. Hear. Ya. And I'm here to help. Before you go HAM on this season's winter sales, read this:

1. Take a closet inventory. Step AWAY from the computer. Put DOWN the credit card. Take stock of your closet. What item are you hoping to add to your closet? Let your answer be a classic item or it doesn't count. Classic items are as follows: cashmere sweater, down coat, flattering jeans in a neutral wash (blue or black), everyday boots, black pumps, wool blazer...you feel me? Remember, your classic pieces are likely different from mine because we're different people.

2. Reuse money. Did you get a gift card for Christmas? Sweet! That helps narrow things down. Did you receive an item that just doesn't work? That also narrows down retailers / amount of money you can spend. Use your gift card or store credit on top of the sale to invest in a piece that you love. I got a Shopbop gift card this year, and today they're offering 25% off (with code CHEERS2015). Guess work gone. I'll be investing in one sale piece from Shopbop this year, and I'll make it a good one.

3. Don't gamble. So you want to spring for some Frame denim jeans, but you've never tried them on before? Stop right there. Remember your closet. You've got 4 pairs of J. Crew jeans/pants already. You know that brand works for you, so stick with it. If you do want to try a new brand, make sure that you either try it on in store before purchasing, or purchase from a store that offers free returns, just in case the piece in question doesn't work out.

There you have it, friends! Hope this helps with your post-holiday shopping! You know this subject thrills me, so feel free to email or message me with any questions. And if you want to hire me, I'm offering 25% off my services for 2 MORE DAYS! Hope to work with you.

xoxo,

5 ways to feel better about monday

Good morning, friends! We're in the Christmas home stretch here - I have a feeling this week is going to go on forever. Right around this time of year, I always feel particularly antsy. I'm done Christmas shopping, but I haven't given any gifts yet. I'm eating delicious, indulgent foods every day, without any real cause for celebration. It's all well and fine, it's the Holiday season! But I find myself in a bit of a slump, and looking for a way out of it.  If you're at all in the same boat, I've come up with a few quick fixes to get you out of your funk and in the groove this week. Here are 5 ways to feel better about Monday:

1. Add some cinnamon to your coffee: Coffee is the first thing I do every morning, and it's absolutely my favorite way to start the day. Sometimes you want your coffee to feel festive, though, and since drinking  Irish Coffee at 7 am isn't really appropriate, I've found a sprinkle of cinnamon will do the trick.

2. Use a fancy face mask in the shower: I don't know about you, but after the weekend, my skin feels extra tired. When I can remember, I like to give it a little extra TLC. I recently tried a sample of this mask and absolutely loved it. Frank is another of my favorites if you want to do your whole body. The results are amazing, I promise.

3. Wear heels (or shoes you don't normally wear): Getting back into your routine after a weekend off feels so insulting, doesn't it? When you put your no-brainer work outfit on on top of that, Monday just feels like a downright drag. Switch up your shoes as a quick way to change the entire look of your outfit. Bonus points if the shoes are fierce and comfy.

4. Do some yoga poses: Sitting down at a desk all day is the worst (disclaimer: 99% of the time I am working from my couch). Whenever I get up, I feel all creaky. Even if you don't have a traditional day job, how refreshing does it feel to stretch?? Raven's mom is a physical therapist, and I always catch him stretching throughout the day. After he's been sitting at the piano for a long time, in the shower, after he gets home from work...it's kind of amazing. Here's an easy guide to the Sun Salutations, my favorite way to warm up for the day.

5. Wear lipstick: Whenever I feel anything but awesome, I try to make my outfit the opposite of how I feel. Days that I'm depressed or laden with PMS are the days you'll find me trying the hardest. Lipstick is the easiest way to elevate and outfit that I know. Nude, oxblood, orange-y red, glossy pink, it doesn't matter, just throw some on before you head out the door. Get ready for lots of compliments, you knock out, you.

Ahh, I feel better already!

xoxo,

image.

how to: wear winter outerwear

Can we all agree that any sort of fashionable opinions about jackets and coats get hurdled out the proverbial window when the temperature drops? Take it from me, the stylist who wore a rain coat over a plaid jacket over a faux fur vest the other week. When you're waiting for the subway in Astoria, you care not what you look like, only that you can bend over with ease to check if the train is coming. But then, it's so nice to look put together, isn't it? Let's pre-plan here. Let's talk winter outerwear and the ways it DOES work with your outfit, not the ways in which it doesn't.

// coat // turtleneck // bag // stilettos // snow boots // pants //

1. Outerwear: My recommendation is to have two go-to coats; a puffer/parka/fluffy guy, and a dressy wool coat. They don't have to be expensive, just warm and roomy enough that you can layer underneath. They do not have to be black. I repeat, they do not have to be black. If you love it enough that you will wear it every day, it will work with your wardrobe.

2. Accessories: My gloves are bright red, and the scarves I wear range from light blue plaid to red plaid to taupe. That's okay! If I'm feeling a little too clash-y, I wear my taupe scarf (lesson here, stay away from patterns). Or, I wear a turtleneck underneath to eliminate my need for a big scarf.

3. Shoes: I would never walk to the subway in stilettos or any kind of heel in the summer, let alone when there's black ice, so invest in a classic, warm pair of boots or sneaks. Yes, Uggs are acceptable. They're warm! Just make sure to waterproof them. Switch to a big bag this winter with plenty of room to stow your fancy shoes. Wear your boots to work and switch at your desk because you're not only fancy, but incredibly smart.

Notice how I went this entire post without mentioning the fact that I paired brown boots with an all black outfit. Because it doesn't matter. Because it's AWESOME.

xoxo,

image via Ashley Caroline (our first shoot ever!).