Which Trend is Trendiest?

Nearly 100 years ago, Chicago's beloved department store Marshall Field and Co. expanded their empire by launching a fashion magazine. Competing with Harper's Bazaar and Vogue was no mean feat, but the company's intentions were good: the magazine, entitled Fashions of the Hour, was "designed to boost interest in the retail store and foster greater customer loyalty" (Jazz Age Chicago par 7).

In essence, the in-house magazine was the New Media of its time. The words "branding," "brand image," or "customers for life" are tossed around freely these days, yet these concepts existed long before HSN, QVC, or anything thought up at Mad Men's Sterling Cooper offices. Marshall Field's clearly knew they were on to something with Fashions of the Hour.

Boosting interest in retail is a very present idea these days as well, especially as we move into Spring/Summer fashions. Generally speaking, sales grow in these months because of the perceived "freedom" of warmer weather. We Chicagoans put away our major artillery (boots, sweaters, ski masks) and begin to seek out clothes which offer independence from heaviness: sandals, shorts, flowy dresses, and NO WINTER COAT.

So the question remains: how do you determine what to buy this spring?

If you go to any retail or fashion magazine websites, the answer varies greatly from page to page. Whereas in the past a single color or print might seem dominant, these days a digital print will be sold right next to a floral. The Pantone Institute may tell us which colors we will be seeing much of in the next year, but spring pastels are being featured right next to bold primaries.

In essence, each trend is trendiest, because it has made it to the retail floor!

In a talk I gave last week, I found myself recommending spring fashions for "all ages and all sizes," distilling the dozens of spring trends out there into five simple pieces. As follows:

1) Shaped Necklines- they flatter all body types, draw attention to the collarbone (very feminine), and come in a variety of shapes and sizes.


2) Bright Tweeds- absolutely age-appropriate for everyone (from Gossip Girls to Golden Girls) and saturated with fresh color.

3) "Far from mellow" Yellow- I thought this was a tricky one to pull off, too, but it's all about the shades you choose. Fair-skinned ladies can pull off lemon beautifully, whereas olive-skinned gals can do muted and yellow-greens very well.
4) Khaki/Neutral Separates- Yes, they are simple and classic (and can be boring), but they also complement what you already own, and there are so many shades to choose from these days! Go for bone or cream if you're fair and tan/beige if you're medium to dark.
5) Punched-up accessories- Think of the old adage "When stocks tumble, lipsticks sell!" Wherever our economy is headed (hopefully up!), we know that we can brighten up our looks without spending a fortune thanks to accessories. A beautiful bright bag, scarf, necklace, or pair of sunglasses can do wonders for your existing wardrobe!


NOTE: A few good stores/sites to visit to find your perfect spring look...

http://www.macys.com
http://www.hm.com
http://www.torrid.com
http://www.thelimited.com
http://www.zara.com

Happy shopping, everyone!

Comfort CAN Be Stylish!!!

More shoe talk...it never gets old!

The other day, I was lunching with one of my favorite clients...my little sister! As we waited for our delicious (and humongous) omelettes to arrive, Tracy's shoes caught my eye. And they were FABULOUS!Tracy was wearing KEDS, of all things! KEDS! My memory of Keds always goes back to the original white canvas or leather sneakers with the telltale blue tag on the heel. Yet the shoes (pictured above) were completely unexpected. Black canvas with white trim and a checkerboard patterned wedge heel...adorable, comfortable, and so spring-y.

It goes to show all those makeover candidates on "What Not to Wear" who cling to their sweats and ratty sneaks that comfort and style go together like peanut butter and Marshmallow Fluff. When you put in the time and effort to finding flattering pieces, it doesn't stop at your feet. Treat them well so that when the time comes to bring out the stilettos, you don't do too much damage :)

To purchase Tracy's shoes:
http://www.zappos.com/keds-midnight-black-gingham

What Not to Wear Official Site:
http://tlc.discovery.com/fansites/whatnottowear/whatnottowear.html

Repurposing Clothes: Fashion for All!

Over the past week, I have been working with lots of different people who need help with...excess clothing, or pieces which need "repurposing."

"Repurposed" clothing is the new term for recycling, reusing, or working with existing pieces and finding new uses for them. Since I work as a Style Consultants and Fashion Presenter, part of my work includes handling closet overhauls, estate sales, and wardrobe organization. As a result, I get to "play" with these extra pieces and find new homes for them.

Sometimes, this means taking career-ready separates to Bottomless Closet, where I know they'll go to a VERY good cause: helping women re-enter the workforce in style. Other times, casual pieces get taken to the Salvation Army, which always has a need for new inventory.

And sometimes, you get to take on the ultimate in repurposed fashion: resizing a classic vintage piece!
My great-grandmother, Celia Jackson (pictured above), was a true dainty English rose, and fashionable to the hilt. The Jackson and Williams side of my family immigrated from Lincolnshire, England, to the States in the late 1800's. Celia lived to be almost 95 years old, and judging by her taste in clothing, she was fashionable her whole life long!



The dress (shown above and below) was Celia's, and was made by a design house named Alex from Montclair, NJ. As you can see, it's a definite product of the 1950's. Made of China silk, the dress is fitted in the waist and has a flared cocktail-length skirt with matching bolero jacket on top. It's fabulously 1950's.





And it's TINY!!! My grandmother, Mary Jackson Foltz (also pictured above) was 5'2" and small-framed, but great-grandmother Celia must've been a slip of a thing! When I tried the dress on, the zipper refused to budge beyond the waist! Granted, I'm 5'8" and wear a size 6, so that may explain it, but still! The woman was in her fifties and wearing what would likely be a size 2 today!

In any case, it will soon be repurposed with a stretch panel in the pack, and worn by me at a later date.

And I look forward to repurposing my great-grandmother's style, taking it from the nifty fifties to the keen teens :)

In Chicago, Beauty is Everywhere

Today was the first day in a long time in which we saw SUNLIGHT! Actual rays of sun, lasting from sun-up to sun-down. It was fantastic!

Although today was a "work at home" day (which can sometimes mean hours spent in front of a computer or sewing machine), I made a point to take a walk down Michigan Avenue around 1:30 PM. Despite it being a Wednesday afternoon, there were hundreds of people around me walking back to work, window shopping, photographing the Water Tower, and anything else you can imagine. When summertime comes around, it can be a challenge just to walk a few blocks down Michigan due to all the foot traffic. Today was a welcome and refreshing change from all of that!

While the store windows are, of course, beautiful (my "mothership," Neiman Marcus, always draws me in, as do the fabulous Burberry windows), I really noticed the individual qualities of beauty on passerby today. My grandmother once told me that "everyone is beautiful in their own way," an expression which should be mandatory teaching in kindergartens everywhere. I felt like every mark of self-expression witnessed today (shockingly purple hair, Jackie O sunglasses, red Bulls puffer coat) were pure expressions; people who knew who they truly were, and adorned themselves in honor of that.

If I can do this on every street I walk, and not just on the bright, sunny days, my outlook on life may change a bit :)

In honor of those unique individuals...



and...



and...

Bottomless Closet and Modern Wave Salon: Fashion and Style Repurposed

Though the event has come and gone, I feel it's right to share the joy with the rest of the blogging world...

Today, my good friends from Modern Wave Salon and I hosted a workshop at Bottomless Closet in downtown Chicago. If you're not familiar with it, Bottomless Closet is a Workforce Agency which empowers women in need to dress for interviews, career transitions, and more, ultimately leading to "self-sufficiency," as quoted on the website. The organization was founded in 1991 by four local businesswomen, all of whom had a deep desire to empower local women, specifically those in challenging situations.

Since 1991, the creed has stayed the same: "to elevate the employment potential and marketability of women welfare recipients who want to work...[and] provide clothing, at no charge, to women on assistance who don't have suitable clothing to wear to a job interview".



Our workshop today, entitled "Hair and Makeup for the Workplace," was designed to inspire the audience to try something new with their look while guiding them towards the colors and styles which work best for their body type, skin tone, and hair color. To say it felt AMAZING to guide these women and boost their self-confidence is an understatement!


Modern Wave Salon is another unsung hero of Chicago, having taken up residence in the Bridgeport neighborhood nearly 25 years ago. Owner Ted has amassed a fantastic team of stylists, colorists, and aestheticians over the years, and Modern Wave will be holding a Grand Re-Opening in their salon March 3rd (tomorrow!) to March 13th. Laura Duarte and I will be holding a Wardrobe and Makeup Seminar on Thursday the 4th from 4:00-6:00, and we'd love to see you there!

Supporting Chicago businesses and charitable foundations is essential in today's economy. For more information about Bottomless Closet and Modern Wave, please visit the websites below.

Bottomless Closet:
http://www.bottomlesscloset.org

Modern Wave Salon:
http://www.modernwavesalon.com

Fashionable Quote of the Day

"When a woman becomes her own best friend, life is easier."
— Diane Von Furstenberg



When you are a mother, student, wife, businesswoman, friend, or even more, you must be your own biggest advocate. It's much easier said than done, but so crucial if you want your life to take direction. We should all take heed from a woman like DVF, who chose to give up princess-hood to become a single parent and start a fashion revolution. She knows herself better than anyone I can think of!

We love you, DVF!