Black Out

Black makes such a statement.

 

Want to wear a whole lot of texture, shine, ruching  and beading? Do it in all black.

So simple and chic. Add cropped denim jacket and Doc Martens. Maybe ballet flats and a cardigan for the beach.  Jewels and Louboutin for a fancy party. If this came in a cotton I would wear this dress the first day of every period. Yes, I just got real. I hate to have clothing touching me during that special time. I bet you don’t either.

If this were blown up I would love to have this hanging in my home somewhere. Hmmm DIY.

I recently discovered this among my tweets. Check out the links below.

 

kristrangekristrange

@HowSheWoreIt What is the CA angle on: How Not to Wear Black http://tinyurl.com/3rjszg4 via @sassyhongkong

 

Well, I thought, I am the wrong girl to ask this since I love an all black outfit. My entire wardrobe consist of so much black. I love it. My mother hates it. It’s an on going battle.  Although I don’t necessarily feel slimmer in black, I like the clean line it gives to my short body.  And it’s so easy to put on and even easier to fall into a rut.  But a girl cannot dress by black alone.  I do wear color. Lots of it. Bright color. Muted color. Printed color. All color.

 

This outfit reminds me of a vacation.

Cute little dress from Target for my sisters wedding a couple of years ago.

BBQ with friends. I love this coral

 

But black really lends something to a wardrobe. It’s such a safe color too. I’m not talking safe like depressed kid trying to be all emo or goth or beatnik. Safe as in black is such a great color to take risk with. Black allows you to try a trendy dress or top silhouette without risking a wardrobe fail.

 

 

Visualize this dress in  any one or all of the colors of these chairs

It would be too much and overwhelm the person wearing it.    A stylish and artful impact is made with the dress in black and what appears to be eggplant.  The color doesn’t take over the design. Which if you chose to wear this dress you are wearing it for the design, I hope, to begin with.  Some things are better left black and if not black a solid color. Also, it is nice to wear a creatively designed garment because of the lines and shapes it holds.

Black on black with colored shoes and accessories is a low maintenance look. Most people have a goal of looking neat groomed and put together each  morning. If you are on a budget and can only afford a few looks for your office wear and going out wear buy these in black and break it up with color.

Black is only as good as its blackness. I can’t get the laundry thing down. I ruin and have to fix up a lot. We have all been guilty of mistreating our clothing, especially in regards to laundering. A bottle of Rit Dye will spruce your black and make it like new again. Like the one black top that got mixed with the white in the laundry and now has white fuzz that just won’t go away, dye it. Whitish pills on a sweater from mistreatment. Dye it.  Faded with a gray haze. Dye it. Follow the directions on your fabric label, washing machine, and dye.  

Think of an all black outfit as a canvas ready to be adorned in which way you like.

Thanks google search and pinterest for my images.

Rosé Out Look

 

 

The warmth of rose gold is amazing. Here’s a lovely trio of heavy meal and here’s how I would wear it…So simple. Since the items are so chunky you are going to want to dress simply.

Pair a white v neck tee with denim. A skirt is fine short as well.

A cute pair of chunky wedges in a nude or camel color.

A small pair of earring because the necklace is so bold and wear the bracelet and watch on the same are for major impact.

Put your hair off your shoulders as well. With your hair up you will get a nice clean line You should always dress with the intention of a long clean line.  That’s the ultimate weekend combo. Sassy and sophisticated. Enjoy!

Found here

 

Found here

Found here

Color Me In

 

Camel, a classic neutral pairs well with my fave color of all time fuchsia.

 

 

 

 

Navy is such a great and lesser used neutral. I love pairing it with icy yellow. Yellow is THE color this season.

 

 

Gray is fantastic next to orange. I love it. VERY fresh.

 

Kelly green and white is like grass on clouds. Simple and clean.

 

A lesser done combo, but super worthy of trying is lilac and mocha. 

Color can be an excellent addition to your wardrobe no matter your lifestyle. If you don’t feel comfortable with color on your clothing make sure your accessories have  Also, tune up or tone down the intensity of a color. Intensity meaning how dull or bright, light or dark Like lilac  and eggplant they are both purples. I’m telling you a little color will change your life and your day.

I am going to wear something bright today.

What are you favorite color combos?

A Crinkled Line Between Love and Hate

I love love linen in the summer. Who doesn’t ? But loving the relaxed look and airy feel and actually linen are two different things. Every summer I hear from clients at least 30 times, “ I love linen but I hate how it wrinkles”. Thus leaving an amazing outfit behind. Linen is easier to care for than you think. Over the years my mom, the ultimate fashion icon who turns heads every which way as she passes, has cultivated and perfected total linen care for our clients and now you can too. It’s so easy.

 

NEVER dry clean your white linen it will turn yellow. If you do you MUST ask that the smelly chemicals are not used. I don’t know what they are called but I ask that if I do dry clean anything as a rule. Every year I get a few ladies who are disappointed when their outfit turns a pale dingy yellow. This totally breaks my heart.

Another reason I just plain don’t like dry cleaning my linen is the fact that I don’t like having to pick up my clothes, it’s just one more errand I don’t want. Another is that a majority of the linen silhouettes I wear and sell are relaxed cuts.

 

 

When taking care of my own pieces I first wash in the washing machine on delicate. IMMEDIATELY after the cycle is complete I begin to “iron”. I shake my garment and reshape it. Line up my seams for a crease in my pants. Put on a hanger and and use my hands to smooth out all the major wrinkles. Rough drying as its called is so easy. So now you wonder what happens once you are dressed and going about your day?

 

When wearing linen keep a little spray bottle about your person. Lightly mist the areas when your outfit has crinkled. This will mainly occur if you have been sitting the areas most likely affected are in front where your hips and legs bend and in back where fabric may have bunched. After misting smooth as you would just after washing. This technique is so effortless and it keeps you cool. The great thing about linen is that dries quickly. I wore a linen top and pants the other day at the shop and I had the “Sitting creases” and a customer walked in wearing the almost identical outfit with the same crinkles in her shirt and pants. I quickly showed her and she was totally amazed and vowed to keep a bottle of water about.

 

That’s it.

 

And yes, it’s that easy to stay calm, cool, and collected when frolicking about in your linen sundress.

Fashion Foils

Do you find yourself standing in from of your closet every morning ( or evening if you're organized like that) searching for what to wear? Are you a new mom who used to be hip but cant seem to get it together since you've had a baby? Recently change careers and what a new look to go with your new position? Fresh out of college? Weight loss? Divorce? Married for ages and find yourself not feeling to sexy anymore? What ever your station and budget you too can look amazing everyday. It doesn't take much effort to look polished even in sweats and flip flops.

Come, walk with me, tell this Fashionista whats going on in your closet. Drop a question in the comment box and I will guide you to the light or the mall.