Inspiration

Inspiration Overload

I ran into a friend on Saturday morning at my son’s karate class and we started chatting. She said “do you have any plans tonight?” and I said “actually I’m heading to New York this afternoon to attend an event for New York Fashion Week”. She stopped dead in her tracks and I watched her eyes bug open. She looked at me, smiled and said “your head must be ready to explode”. And she was right.

I only found out a few weeks before that I was going to have this opportunity. But what an opportunity it was. It was my first NYFW event and I have to say it was definitely memorable. I learned a lot that I am excited to share with my clients and my blog. I saw so many inspiring styles, not just on the runway but in the audience too! The crowd really does dress to impress and I was overwhelmed with the amazing styles and fashion risks.

I saw outfits that looked amazing on the person wearing them even if they were something I would never wear. I saw outfits that pushed against the edges of over the top yet totally worked for that individual. I saw so many women using accessories to make statements and bold colors to draw the eye. In all of these cases, I saw women walking tall and exuding an air of confidence that I found intoxicating. In all of their looks, the key was how they worked it. What they wore reflected their personal style and as a result, enhanced their beauty. My take away from this? As much as looking good is about dressing for your body, beauty is truly about how you feel inside and how you carry yourself. I stress this with my clients and will continue to impress it on those I work with. The key is to feel strong and confident about the person you are.

So I might look at these high fashion outfits and think “that’s not for me” but that doesn’t mean there isn’t inspiration to be drawn from the crowd. How colors, fabrics and textures are combined can give you ideas about your own wardrobe. A white dress with gold booties. A leopard print faux fur coat over a white jumpsuit. Neon used to accentuate and highlight. I have to say that I walked away inspired by the uniqueness of the looks I saw. Each woman was speaking very genuinely to her own style. That alone is inspiring!

I have so much more to share about this past weekend… stay tuned for an upcoming post on my new favorite brand Tibi and their Spring 2019 runway show!

For now see some of the amazing outfits from the audience at the Tibi Spring 2019 Fashion Show from NYFW:

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Time for a closet clean out?

New year, new resolutions... new wardrobe? Maybe just a new look or new style? Something more age appropriate? Something that better fits your body type? Something to wear to a new job? We all have different reasons for trying something new. Be bold and own your style this year.

No matter what the reason is for wanting to change your wardrobe, the best place to start is a closet clean out. I know that the thought of even approaching this task is exhausting. But I promise 2 things: (1) it won't be as bad as you think (2) it will make a huge difference.

Cleaning out your closet means you critique each piece. Does it fit? Is it in good condition? Anything that does not fit or has a hole or stain should be discarded. Then you start to focus on your personal style goals. Do the pieces that sit in your closet line up with those goals? Anything that might be considered a basic or one of your go to pieces should absolutely stay.

You might be wondering how to go about a closet clean out? The best way is to take everything out of your closet. Start fresh. Put back one item at a time after critiquing it. Organize your items as you place them back in your closet. How you organize your items actually depends on what is easiest for you. Do you find it easier to have all your work clothes together and then weekend clothes separate? Would you rather have shirts/sweaters/pants separated? Or perhaps you prefer to have your items organized by color. Whatever method your choose is fine - if it's going to work is has to be easy for you.

Once you have an organized closet it will be very easy for you to pair outfits and identify key pieces that will compliment what you have and fill out your style goals. If you need inspiration there are lots of places to look. One of the most popular is Pinterest. There are great style and outfit inspirations on Pinterest. Follow your favorite or brand or a site like Beacon Style on Pinterest for ideas. Under the About section of this website you can see a Pinterest page that will show you a few of the boards available to follow.  Also be sure to check this blog for new outfits ideas/trends/suggestions for 2017! 

A Little Inspiration For Your Winter Shopping Plan

With so many sales going on right now, it's easy to get overwhelmed! Before hitting the store or the websites, plan ahead. Take inventory of your wardrobe and figure out where you need to fill in the gaps. What are you missing to complete your wardrobe this winter?

Once you have a feel for the items you need to add, start window shopping. Depending on whether your needs are vague or more concrete, you might want to see several options before you make a purchase. Compare colors and fabrics to ensure you get something that not only matches your wardrobe but also your style personality.

Round out your wardrobe by picking items that are unique to what you already own yet versatile where possible. Start with the basics and add in specific needs... for example,  a dress for an upcoming holiday party or a moto jacket to make your outfit a little more trendy. Shop with confidence when you know what you're looking for and what you already have!

For some clothing options you might be searching for now, find inspiration here:

The Basics

J.Crew Tippi Sweater

J.Crew Tippi Sweater

J. Crew Excursion Quilted Down Vest

J. Crew Excursion Quilted Down Vest

J. Crew No. 2 Pencil Skirt in Double-Serge Wool

J. Crew No. 2 Pencil Skirt in Double-Serge Wool

Holiday Sparkle

Ann Taylor Shimmer Jacquard Flare Dress

Ann Taylor Shimmer Jacquard Flare Dress

Ann Taylor Embellished Chiffon Top

Ann Taylor Embellished Chiffon Top

J. Crew Metallic Chiffon Top in Ditsy Floral Print

J. Crew Metallic Chiffon Top in Ditsy Floral Print

BCBG Aniya Sequined Dress

BCBG Aniya Sequined Dress

Versatile Dresses

Banana Republic Fit & Flare Bi-Stretch Dress

Banana Republic Fit & Flare Bi-Stretch Dress

Banana Republic Herringbone Fringe Dress

Banana Republic Herringbone Fringe Dress

Banana Republic Flannel Shift Pocket Dress

Banana Republic Flannel Shift Pocket Dress

BCBG Sheridan Faux-Leather Dress

BCBG Sheridan Faux-Leather Dress

Outerwear

J. Crew Double-Cloth Lady Day Coat With Thinsulate

J. Crew Double-Cloth Lady Day Coat With Thinsulate

Ann Taylor Notched Wool Blend Moto Jacket

Ann Taylor Notched Wool Blend Moto Jacket