style philosophy

Morning, friends! I hope your weekend was fantastic. I'm still in CT at my parents' house; I was too tired to drive home last night and it feels so good to wake up and see green everywhere. I just took Charlie outside and the sun was peeking through the leaves and I could hear only the sounds of the burbs. Can you tell I'm in love?? The past few weeks have been busy in the best way, and I've been finding myself mentioning the same things to clients over and over - which got me thinking about my philosophy of dress. Here are the 3 issues I hear most from clients, and I've outlined my advice here for you guys!

1. "Does it match?" Don't worry about it. I always tell clients that everything matches. While that's not exactly true, it helps get the idea across that anything can work if you think about it the right way. Black and blue, silver and gold, plaid with florals- these looks are all over the internet (along with other non-matchy looks) and are awesome if you gather the gusto to rock them.

2. "I don't know how to wear this." Play dress up! No, seriously. Reserve all judgement about your appearance and start to pair everything and anything with the piece in question. After a while, you may come across something that works (a belt,  different shoes, pants, no pants, etc). Just go with it - take it to date night or out with friends! The worst thing that could happen is that you decide you need to revisit your closet.

3. "I never wear that, but I love it." I always ask my client - have you worn this in the past month? Have you worn this in the past year? If the answer is no, you may want to consider selling it or donating it. I know as well as anyone that holding onto pieces I don't wear does nothing except take up room in my closet!

What do you guys think of my advice? What's your style philosophy? xoxo

image 1, 2, 3.

uber comfortable work wear

I'm not a fan of the phrase "no pain, no gain" with regards to outfit choices. I believe that we should be comfortable all the time - especially while working! I once visited a real estate client at her place of work, Goldman Sachs, to pick something up for her lease. She was dressed in a beautiful, work appropriate black dress and sky high stilettos. I remember thinking I didn't actually believe that people wore outfits like that to work! Don't get me wrong, I kind of wish I had the guts to dress like that every day, but the truth is, I like to be comfortable. Most of my (incredibly talented :) friends have jobs that require them to move a lot - Event Planners, Actors, Photographers, and for them, comfort is paramount while working so they can concentrate on their art. So, this is my ode to them! Comfy work wear that looks good, ya'll.

Tops

The brand Cuyana is a god send. Their philosophy is to make fewer things better, so essentially, really good quality clothing and accessories that last forever. Like this shirt. If you're moving a lot, silk is lightweight and comfortable, and no sleeves means you can lift your arms without anything getting in the way.

Emerson Fry has classics with a twist, and I love the detail on the collar of this top. If you work in weddings or events in any way, your wardrobe has to consist mainly of black, so this works perfectly.

If you've been a longtime reader of LRW, you remember how much I love Wayf. This shirt is no exception. Loose fitting and flattering, I would put a nude or black cami underneath.

Another classic from Cuyana; a drapey sweater to layer when the temps drop.

Pants

If you're moving around a lot, there's nothing better than jogging pants, or as I like to call them, 90's workout pants.

These from Zara come in grey also - I love the zipper at the ankle.

These palazzo pants are basically a skirt - perfect for when you need to go a little more fancy.

Love the print on these.

Don't discount Juicy Couture. These are on sale!

Classic black. These have been my go-to for events, and I get endless compliments.

Jumpsuits

My photog friends rave abut these. So much that I think I'm going to have to add one to my closet soon.

Emerson Fry does it again. You have to be careful with this one - it could come off as really casual. Add a silk scarf,  a braided up-do, and some bright lipstick to get the correct message across.

Topshop is jumpsuit heaven, definitely check it out. I love this one, definitely formal enough.

Dresses

Sometimes you just want to take it up a notch. Just a little notch.

The dress version of the aforementioned tank from Cuyana is perfect. If you're photographing, wear some boy shorts underneath - black, so that people get what they're for.

Shoes

When I was working as an event planner, my feet took a beating. I never really found a shoe that had enough support and was pretty. Enter Tieks. My friend Ashley swears by them for weddings.

I just got a pair and I feel like a new woman. They're incredible! Ashley prefers the soft leather, but I chose a vegan pair and they're awesome. Oh, and they come in every color ever.

Before I found out about Tieks, I wore these constantly (still do). Yes, they cost a fortune, but they are worth every cent. They embody the word classic - they're quintessential ballet flats and they're definitely comfortable. Supportive? Meh, as much as any other flat (aside from Tieks!). But I recommend them wholeheartedly.

Hope you guys enjoyed this post - it was a blast to put together! I'm always on the lookout for comfy classics. Did I miss a brand / item that you love? Holler at me in the comments. xo!

get the look: transitional

I came across this lovely pin yesterday and it struck me that we need to start talking about transitional clothing. Clothes that take you from summer to fall. This is probably my favorite way to dress, because I love layers so much. I love this lightweight dress, here doing its job of keeping the wearer cool on a hot day. Picture it with some tights and boots this fall. Me likey. Here's my take:

summer: hat // clutch // sandals

fall: scarf // bag // boots // tights (not pictured)

dress: option 1 // option 2

Those boots are at the top of my wish list.

xo!

image via.

FIVER: my summer essentials

Morning, friends! Hope your weekend was great! Mine was jam packed with a shoot, a wedding, and a closet makeover, so I'm definitely not complaining (sneak peeks can be found on FB and Instagram!). It's Monday, it's August, and it's cool outside - is anyone else as excited about this as I am? I'm guessing not. This summer I feel like I've got my uniform DOWN. I've been building up my wardrobe piece by piece and I wanted to share with you guys my summer essentials - items I wear daily that I can't get enough of.

1. Great tees. I know I talk about great tee shirts all the time - but I can't stress enough how much of a difference they make! Buy one a year, or hit a sale like I did and scoop up 3 or 4. Wear them with jeans, tucked in or out, a summery skirt, or as a coverup substitute.

2. Throw-on Denim. Getting ready should be all about ease, meaning, for me, whatever I can find on my floor most days. These boyfriend jean shorts have been on my person almost daily this summer. The cut is loose fitting and forgiving, while flattering. I've worn these to babysitting jobs, meetings, and date nights.

3. The comfiest bra in existence. Since I don't really have boobs, I love wearing non-bras. Breathable, lightweight, and sexy peeking through a sheer tee. I encourage you to try these; even if you've got bigger boobs, these bras are perfect for vacations or trips to the beach.

4. Versatile Sandals. A pair you can throw on while wearing workout clothes, going to work, or a wedding. Again, it's summer, we shouldn't have to think too hard about what we put on our bodies.

5. Jewels. These days it seems, the tinier the better, and that's alright with me. Take your time and choose pieces that you won't get sick of. Just like Batman getting suited up, you have your jewels ready to go. Earrings, check. Bracelet, check. Awesome necklace, check. Ready to fight crime and basic folks.

Happy Monday, lovelies!

top image my own, gif via.

short story

What are you all watching these days? Since none of my favorite shows are on during the summer (Key & Peele, American Horror Story, Girls, Mad Men, Workaholics, Scandal), I tend to watch a lot of good bad TV. This means that a couple nights a week I'm parked in front of MTV, watching Teen Mom 2 for hours on end. That, I am not ashamed of. However, I started watching MTV's drama Finding Carter, and I'm definitely ashamed to say that I'm hooked on it. Have any of you seen it? The main characters' names are Carter, Bird, and Crash. Am I old or something, because WTF.

Anyway...I realize summer is soon coming to a close, but lately I've been thinking a lot about shorts. I own two pairs of shorts, and frankly, that's not enough. Wanting to expand my repertoire, here are some awesome shorts that are not denim:

one // two // three // four // five // six

Shit...I want them all.

xoxo!