Style Guide Inspiration For Your Summer!

I remember in high school learning to write succinctly. This was considered an important skill. It is a skill that I find incredibly valuable even today. Get to the point. Write a thesis statement. Make your case and then repeat your thesis statement. It was basic knowledge but took some practice and effort.  In the professional world today, I can’t even begin to tell you how many emails I receive that go round and round or on and on without getting to the point in the first few sentences. In the latest J.Crew Style Guide they are cutting out the excess and getting right to the point.

I’m use to a thicker, heavier J.Crew catalog. So, the one that arrived in my mailbox just a few days ago caught me by surprise. It is a total of 53 pages cover to cover. The front cover page features an off the shoulder dress in a bright pop of color (though you can only see the top part of the model behind a table so you might not realize right away that it’s the dress on page 27). Page 3 proceeds to indicate that the catalog will showcase 26 ways to “J.crew-ify” your summer. The next 26 items/looks offer an array of outfit ideas for your summer including accessories! The pages of this catalog offer fun pops of color and the mixing of prints to make one fantastic outfit. If you’ve been looking for inspiration in your wardrobe this catalog might have just what you need to start looking at your wardrobe in a whole new way!

I love what J.Crew has done with this Style Guide! Put the trends front and center and show your customer what they can do with what you have to offer – all while educating the reader on some J.Crew style terminology and offering style tips! If you haven’t seen this latest issue, be sure to pick one up in stores the next chance you get. Even if you choose not to shop J.Crew this summer, I promise this Style Guide will offer seasonal inspiration!

Spring Inspiration

As I start to pull together my spring wardrobe, I like to get inspiration on how to coordinate outfits in ways I may not have considered before. It’s easy to get into a routine with your wardrobe where you always pair the same top with the same bottom every time. I like to try to break that by getting inspiration from other resources to think about pairing things or wearing things in new ways.
 
I was in Nordstrom a couple of weeks ago and one of the ladies working there gave me a copy of the latest March catalog. It’s really nice quality. I use to work with the Creative & Direct Marketing teams for a women’s retail brand that put out more than 30 catalogs a year. I learned a lot about what it takes to put together a catalog and I gained a great appreciation for the catalogs that retailers use as marketing tools. This particular catalog looks like a work of art. As I flipped through the pages, I have to admit that I found myself folding down almost every flap to bookmark items I liked. Both the presentation and selection are beautiful. This is the sort of resource that makes for great inspiration in a new season.
 
Another place I always turn to is Pinterest. If you filter for specifically what you’re looking for, you can find endless inspiration for an outfit or a season. Create a Spring board for your newest finds and add everything from color pallets to prints and styles to accessories. This can be a great way to get ideas for what to wear to your next event or what kind of shoes will go with the new dress you just bought.

Wherever you find your inspiration... look for ways to incorporate it into your wardrobe this season. It might help you to see what you have in a new light!

Here are a few of my favorite picks from the Nordstrom March Catalog to get you started:

Inspiration from September Catalogs

I get a countless number of catalogs sent to my house. Most of them, I never even open. With that said, I do love to sit down with a few choice catalogs and a glass of wine to see what's new in retail and fashion. Some times it's easier than trying to online shop. Most retailers put their best items on display to get your attention.

I worked in corporate retail for a company that put out approximately 36 catalogs/mailers a year. It is a very extensive process which I have a great deal of respect for. As a result, I think I appreciate catalogs more than I did before I knew how much work went into them. 

One of my favorites is always Anthropologie. I love the photography, the layout and the flow. I draw great inspiration from the pictures and the outfit combinations. The latest September issue did not disappoint. 

One other catalog that caught my attention this month was Lucky Brand. In the section for her, they highlight jewelry & accessories. In fact, there isn't very much women's clothing featured in this catalog but the few pieces that I do see, have me wanting more. I'm intrigued by the look and feel of the entire catalog even though there are less than a handful of pieces I would want to check out. But they have clearly done something right here. They have successfully used this catalog as a marketing tool to get my attention. The best part? They included a 25% off coupon! I have a feeling I'll be stopping by Lucky Brand pretty soon!

Both of these catalogs are incorporating the use of black & white photography. In concept, this seems like it might not be the best idea, since you can't show off your fall color palette in black and white. But it works very well for both of these catalogs. I think they are using black & white to create a mood and a flow which I for one, absolutely identify with.

So, if you're looking for a little extra inspiration for your Fall wardrobe, pick up a few of those catalogs that are sitting on your coffee table and see what catches your eye. You might find the standout piece, you've been looking for.