Thanksgiving Day...what to wear?

I can't believe Thanksgiving is next week!!  For me, almost as important as the food, is what to wear.  We aren't going "full-cocktail" attire but I also don't like to look sloppy.  Of course, comfort counts on a day of feasting and I am always mindful of that!  I have put together 3 different options for what to wear.  Within each of those choice you can still modify and create options by merely changing the footwear, legwear and accessories.  Read on for more information. 

Let's start with option 1.  Pair a cashmere sweater with a great pair of comfy black pants.  The pants shown are one of my favs from Loft earlier this season.  They are ponte knit so comfortable yet I think they give a more dressy or dressed up vibe.  The sweater is up to you.  Options would be crewneck? turtleneck?  v-neck?  Scarf around the neck?  necklace?  or maybe just a great pair of statement earrings and an arm party of bracelets!  How cute!

Option 2.  The Little Black Dress (LBD).  This one is a turtleneck.  Your options here would be:  give the dress a more casu

A trip to Chicago haul ....

I wrote a post about my haul from the Chicago trip but here's a video to go along with it.  I hope you enjoy it.  I hope you see some helpful tips and perhaps some inspiration for how you will be putting together your outfits for fall and owningyourstyle.  

 

 

The Mister recently took me to Chicago to celebrate my birthday and a "labor day weekend show".  While in Chicago we stayed at one of my favorite hotels there and did some great, yet limited, shopping.  I may share some of my shopping stories later but for now we will focus on where I had the most "luck".  

After working in retail most of my professional life, customer service is really number 1 for me.  If the service is poor I won't stick around to shop.  If the service is great, I will give almost any store a try.  Do you know what I mean?  There are stores that just aren't right for me whether it be my age or size or whatever but, of the stores I choose to shop it's the service that determines if I stay long enough to look around.  We visited one of my favorites first.  I was in the mood for some new shoes and this store is  known not only for shoes, but also for it's service.  I was looking for a particular brand and style.  I had to approach a sales associate which is not typical of this store.  When I inquired about the shoe in question she pointed to "where they would be if we had them".  Guess what I did next...well I typically would have exited.  But, I tried one more time....this time I got a different denial "nope, that doesn't sound familiar".  I replied that I had seen them on their website, after her shoulders shrugged,  I left.  

We traveled on.  The next stop was Loft.  Loft is a store I either have a ton of luck at or can't even find a scarf.  This time was awesome and it started the minute I walked in the door and was greeted.  The service was fantastic which caused me to try stuff on (key to making a purchase).  I was treated with respect, and had fun and some laughs while there.  It was a great experience overall.  I bought some great pieces for fall and never would have bought as much had it not been for the sales associate.  I thanked her personally before I left the store as she did not take care of my purchases, someone else did.  Folks in retail always hear the bad but don't hear the good often enough :)  

So on to the shopping and what I got (or as the folks say...my haul).  What caught my eye initially was a pair of cropped pants in the window that looked stunning....really. I immediately walked in, asked for that pant and chose them to try.  Here is what I bought:

A few things about each piece...

1)  The back button sweater.  The color is a lovely shade of gray, which for me is a great neutral.  The sweater is lightweight enough I won't sweat to death in it but truly says cooler weather.  It will be to layer or wear alone.  It will be great dressed up with pearls and a skirt or casual with a pair of distressed jeans.

2)  I don't remember the official name but this is a long sleeve tee "ramped up with style"  It's again gray (okay it's my new obsession).  It's long enough to wear with a lot of different bottoms.  Again, this piece can be worn alone or layered.  It can also be dressed up a bit with the scarf seen in the haul :) 

3)  You guys this skirt!  It's a great knit material.  It's got fantastic detailing with the buttons in the front.  The minute I put it on I had tons of ideas swirling in my head for what I could do with this single piece.  Dressed with tights, a turtleneck and my chunky Mary Janes.  Tights and high boots and a sweater.  Sheer hoisery, dressy Mary Janes or my SJP Carrie heels and dressy sweater or silk blouse, Long sleeve tshirt and booties and tights, or as pictured with a denim shirt and tights and brown boots....on and on.  

4)  The scarf...the picture does not do the colors justice.  There is a vibrant persimmon type shade in this scarf paired with the shades of wine in this.  It's beautiful.  It can be worn simply with a sweater, jean jacket or would look great with a camel blazer.

5)  The star ...the black pants.  I have already worn these.  The material is wonderful.  It's washable (yay) and soooo comfortable.  The cropped length is great year round with so many shoe choices.  (Including those shoes I was searching for at the fancy store).  I can't say enough good things about these pants.  Worn with a denim shirt and loafers for fall or paired with a beautiful silk blouse for New Year's Eve...both will work.  Win!

The best part of the whole deal...ALMOST all of it was 40% and I earned the infamous Loft Cash to spend later.  Go ahead, get out there and shop.  Shop wisely - get versatile pieces you can wear lots of different ways and more than one year.  Have fun!  Reward great service with a sincere thank you!  Have fun!  As always, if you need advice or tips don't hesitate to contact me.  

Same pants, 3 ways

It's transitional time of year.  One day it's 89 degrees with 100% humidity and the next day it's 68 degrees and sunny.  Before you know it, fall will be here.  I say "yay" it's my favorite season!  I love the versatility of pieces you can wear in between seasons.  Here is a quick video of just that.

Jeans and Fall

As I have mentioned before, there are special times of the year that are best for buying different products.  During the "special" time, the prices and selection will be better.  The new styles of whatever the item is will be introduced and selections will be at their best overall.  For example, January is the best time to buy both a television and bedding.  Well, August is that "special" time for jeans.  This is the time of year when not only do the basics typically go on sale, but also new styles, colors and trends are introduced.  

I have just a few suggestions about buying denim.

1)  You MUST try on and try on and then try on some more.  Take 2 sizes of each style in the fitting room with you.  Once you have success and find a cut, fit, size, etc you love on you only then will you not have to try on to purchase a second pair.  Trust me on this one.  The time you spend will be significant but the pay off is better.

2)  Get out of your comfort zone.  Go to a store you don't typically go to.  Try a style you don't typically go for.  

3)  If your budget allows, make a plan to buy 2 new pair.  One pair will be known as your "basic" pair.  This is the pair you can put on with anything on any given day and feel good in.  The second pair is your "trendy" pair.  This pair will be more fashion forward, perhaps more dressy or more edgy.  This pair will be perfect for dinner out, a date night, or a night out with friends.  If the budget is small, spend more on the basic pair.  Trust me.  

Here are some of my picks for the Trendy pair

Jeans and Fall

White House Black Market jeans
whitehouseblackmarket.com

Jeans
kutfromthekloth.com

Gap
gap.com

White House Black Market skinny jeans
whitehouseblackmarket.com

Most of the styles I have shown have a small amount of stretch in them.  This is great not only for comfort but for keeping their shape after wear as well.  The Kut from the Kloth is one of my favorite brands.  Just this fall they have introduced their Kurvy Kut which is perfect if you have fuller hips and a smaller waist (yay me!).  

I encourage you to do your homework in advance.  Peruse online and write down some styles you want to try and then plan some time to shop stress-free.  Grab your favorite drink from your friendly Starbucks (or your choice) and enjoy this adventure.  

Your Chapter 2

I am turning 53 in a few weeks.  As I reflect back on where my career started and where I am now I so excited about my own "Chapter 2".  When I was young I thought I wanted to be a teacher.  However, I spent hours upon hours playing some form of "store".  I was even lucky enough to have a real cash register for each of my stores and locations. Once I entered high school and there was talk of planning for my future my favorite teacher of all time talked me out of going in to teaching and steered me towards a career in retail. For me, the best part of my career was the time spent with great customers and being part of some awesome teams.  I have since "retired" from retail for other worthwhile ventures.   My son's senior year of high school was the year I started to plan my "Chapter 2".  I wanted the best part of the career I had loved to work with the lifestyle my husband and I had grown to love.  After much consideration, research, and yes - prayer my new business was started.  Your Closet Your Style is all about me working with clients to help them be the best they can be starting with their wardrobe.  I truly believe if you feel great in what you are wearing and how you look, you will have not only more confidence but will be  happier overall.  

Another thing I learned a long time ago was to surround yourself with people smarter than you, and experts in areas you are not.  One of the people I love to be around is my friend and past co-worker, Tina Nicolai.  Tina and I worked together a long time ago traveling all over the country hiring teams to run warehouse sales. Tina has since gone on to great things including starting her own successful company that creates unbelievable resumes and provides personal coaching as well as other services.  Tina has been successful in her own "Chapter 2" so there was no one better to collaborate with on this piece.  

I posed several questions to Tina looking for advice all of us could follow they are below in bold.  Her answers follow.    There are some serious nuggets of wisdom for you!

I believe many women over age 40 are searching for what I like to call their “Chapter 2 Career”.  Many are moms, some are not.  Many have had corporate jobs for the past 20 plus years.  Some had corporate careers and then stepped away from that to stay home with kids.  Now, the kids are grown and women are ready to begin their next chapter. 

As an experienced coach, recruiter, entrepreneur and a woman who has begun her own Chapter 2, would you give your top tips for beginning this new journey?

“Chapter 2 can be daunting for some, while invigorating for others. It really depends on how we choose to navigate our course.  Top tips include:
*Be confident.  Sear your strengths into your mind by accepting them with 100% appreciation.
*Commit to developing your strengths with irreverent passion.
*Cut anything and any drama from your life that feels like you are tethered to a post. This includes people who are negative and non-supportive. 
*Invest your time into what you love.  If you love to blog, do it. If you love helping at a shelter for homeless or animal rescue, do it. Throw your heart into whatever it is you love. When we are passionate, we do our best and everything falls into place.
*Be patient with your set-backs. They are all temporary.
If you’re Chapter 2 was non-voluntary (eg Job Loss) grieve for a bit, but do not allow yourself to stay in a victim mode for any extended period of time. It’s normal to grieve and have self-doubt, but the sooner you move yourself into the thought process of, “I have a clean slate and fresh start” mindset, the quicker your Chapter 2 will manifest and take off.”
 

Perhaps some tips for getting back in to the corporate world such as interviewing now vs maybe 20 years ago.  Then some tips for if starting their own business, regardless what it is, and the differences between the two as you see it. 

 

Best tips to begin a Chapter 2 is to start a small business, volunteer, or combination of both. Update all of your social media sites, specifically Linkedin.com and consider starting a business or blog page on Facebook.  Re-brand yourself and tell others what you are doing. If you’re doing a small start-up and you’re skilled in marketing, showcase, tweet, post, blog, and/or share your progress. People gravitate to positive and fresh new products or services on the social sites. Not good with the written word? Fall into instagram and post captivating images of the products or services that you offer.  Using a simple smart phone is all that you need.
One of the major set-backs most people have is putting up roadblocks such as, “I need to have XYZ to start a business.” Nonsense. All you need is drive, self awareness of what you love, and an appreciation of what you offer.

Tina's bio:

Tina Kashlak Nicolai, Chapter 2, CEO/Founder Resume Writers’ Ink and Talent Acquisition Partner for a global retail corporation. After 25 years of corporate HR, Tina found herself earning a pink slip during the 2009 recession. She rebuilt herself by starting her executive resume and coaching business. Six years later, she was scouted and hired to work for a global retail brand in talent acquisition. Today, she juggles both careers and is currently writing a book. www.resumewritersink.com  

 

I love the last bit of wisdom from Tina where she says in part "...all you need is drive, self awareness of what you love, and an appreciation of what you have to offer,"  Dress your confidence and your ability to present your skills and goals, and then dress yourself to match and you are sure to be successful.  

same outfit 3 ways

So, first I was going to title this "cheap pants, 3 ways" but I changed my mind.  However, that's what this is.  I picked this pants up at Old Navy for less than $15 bucks!  They are all cotton, washable, and comfy.  In addition, this style is "trend-right".  They will not only be wearable for more than one summer, they can also be paired with boots for a cooler time.  

The photo on the left is a look I would wear on a cooler evening for dinner with friends or perhaps a meeting with a client.  As a side-note, though this is not meant to be a story of budget but I must tell you the shoes cost more than the outfit but are one of my favs.  The middle outfit is something I would wear today.  The temperature is set to be in the mid-80's today but as I have mentioned, I am not one to go for shorts first.  The scarf as a belt softens the outfit a bit as do the shoes (another of my favs).  You could easily change this out with a cloth belt and sneakers for a more casual look.  The outfit on the right is perfect for date night in the summer on a cooler night.  I love the way that just changing to heels and adding a casual jacket you really can change the look of an outfit.  One final note, it is the final touches of each outfit (blazer, jewelry, and shoes) is where my money is ... versatile, high-quality, classic pieces.  

My challenge to you:  Shop your closet today and find some versatility!  Get the most of your stuff!  Need help?  Have questions?  Contact me!

Own it and fix it if you need to...

Listen, I am the person that says "own your style!"  "be yourself!"  But, I also know when something isn't right you need to fix it, or forget it!  Or...choose a different outfit.  I bought this beautiful silk, flowy, jacket-like, piece at the beginning of Spring.  I even wrote in a musing how I might wear it different ways including with just a tank underneath.  So, today when I put on a tank and then the beautiful, flowy, "jackety" (I know that's not a word) piece on top and caught a glimpse in the mirror...well let's just say I couldn't own it!  Here's what I mean:

I am pretty sure my face in the pic (both pics) gives it away but just in case:  pic on the left is bad... pic on the right....better.

So I layered with the tank just like I told me to.  I didn't, however, take into account the particular tank I had would be so form fitting and so transparent.  People!! Do you see my pale skin and my stomach?  Do you see all the "bumps" underneath from my jeans, the waistband and all?  Do you see clearly where my pale skin ends and the jeans start?  If you don't either the picture quality is bad or you might need a trip to get new spectacles!  I didn't feel good in this outfit.  I was not owning my style.  I didn't feel confident.  These are the characteristics I look for when I am helping clients choose their best looks.  It isn't so much about fashion rules as it is about how you feel.  So, I knew I had to change the outfit without changing the concept (and do it quickly).  I simply added a thin tshirt over the tank and that's what you see in pic 2.   The flowy colorful outer layer is still the star of this outfit but now the layer underneath looks good as well.  You don't see anything you aren't meant to see and the focus is not on the bad tank.  

This just goes to show that you must own your style!  You can do several looks with one piece.  You can be inspired but you have to make the look work for you!  If you want to capture the look but the first try didn't do it, fix it!  

White pants ....

Since it's Tuesday I guess I could have called this "Try it Tuesday" or "Tuesdays are for trying" but, no.  If you know me very well you know that for me personally, I do not like white pants.  I have thought of maybe trying a white jean and quickly talked myself out of that.  I have always been opposed to white pants for sure.  I can't fully explain why I don't like them perhaps a little "ice-cream man"?  For me there is such a fine line between the pants looking cute and going over to the frumpy side - which I cannot take.  When I am helping a client I try not to let my own style preferences carry over into helping them discover their style.  The white pant issue is no exception.  I have assisted with many a cute combination using a white bottom, all the while avoiding ever adding it my own closet.

Until now... A few days ago I posted a picture of a recent haul from White House Black Market.  In that pic was a pair of white pants.  It's taken several days for me to even try them on again but today I did.  I am wearing them today paired with a loose fitting multi-colored tshirt.  The pants are very lightweight cotton with lots of seaming details and even a couple of zippers.  I purchased them for 3 reasons really:  1)  they were on sale  2)  they are lightweight and it's the hottest week of the year here and I don't like shorts  3)  sometimes I feel like you need to branch out.  So here we are - with me wearing white pants.  I have gone between feeling okay and feeling borderline frumpy so I will see how the day plays out.  I will try them a couple of different times, worn a couple of different ways to give them a fair shot.  

Which camp are you in????  Do you wear white pants ??  No Way!!  or Yaass girl!!  Let me know your thoughts.