Casually Chic, Simply done.

While out at the Farmers Market Today, three people really caught my eye. Not because they were dressed outrageously, or so fashionably that they stood out from the crowd; but because each of these people were dressed appropriately for a casual Sunday morning in the sun to buy produce while still looking stylish and sophisticated.
It was the way they were able to dress in an understated manner that allowed them to be distinguished among the crowd, yet fit in. In these same looks, any one of these three could have easily moved on to a nice lunch in San Francisco or even a casual business meeting.

• The first woman who caught my eye was wearing a simple black collared shirt, Black pants that fit her perfectly, a fitted vest in a mossy teal, simple black loafers and a strand of big fabulous Pearls. Without the pearls that caught a tone of grey in her hair I probably would have not noticed her. That simple addition to a very basic, yet elegantly simple outfit, made her distinctive

• The next person I saw whose outfit really caught my attention was a man in Jeans and t-Shirt. The Jeans were a simple dark wash with a hint of fading; he wore a grey t-shirt with a brown pattern on the front, and a cotton sport coat in the same brown tone. His shoes and belt were unremarkable, but in a similar brown so the whole look somehow related while still looking accidental. This guy, in a casual manner looked really chic. Again this simple outfit caught my eye with the single element of repeating color.

• Finally a woman in navy caught my eye. This woman was the most elegantly dressed person I’ve ever seen at the Farmers Market, yet she still looked like she fit right in. She wore all Navy: shoes, pants, and a knit top under a longer white and navy cardigan. Her hair was in a neat ponytail and she had simple silver studs in her ears. The brilliance of this outfit was simply in its neat simplicity.

What all three people had in common was simplicity with attention to the details. Nothing was too trendy or bold, yet they all had unmistakable style. They were dressed appropriately casual for the environment, but looked very chic so that you couldn’t help but notice of them.
Very Well Done!

The White Shirt: A Staple

CRISP. CLEAN. CLASSIC. CHIC.

What is the right white shirt for you?
How do you find the white shirt that is most flattering and appropriate for your body and that expresses your style best? There are many different Elements to the design and style of a white shirt. To wade through these elements you must first know what situations you would be wearing the white shirt in, secondly take your body type into account to find the style that fits your body best, and finally think about the details on the garment itself.
The Design elements:
• The collar, particularly, should be proportionate to your body and face. Think about the size of the collar in proportion to your facial features and your shoulders, the width of the collar compared to your jaw line and neck length. In general, a squarer face can wear a wider collar and a oblong face works better in a narrow collar. In terms of style; the more angular the collar shape the more dramatic it will be, the softer the shape the more feminine the style will be.
• Sleeves are a very important design element, especially now. A sleeve with a bit of volume at the shoulder can create added stature, but too much volume can make you look like a football player or simply cartoonish. Extra volume at the bottom of the sleeve will add width to the hips; great for someone with narrow hips but may be too much for a fuller hipped individual. The length of sleeve should also be taken into consideration as it can have considerable influence on the garments wear ability.
• The simpler the design, the more versatile the garment will be in your wardrobe. Extra “stuff” can also be distracting. So think carefully about all those ruffles, puffs, pockets, buttons and bows: they may be cute, fun or trendy, but how useful will they be for your wardrobe?
• Ruching, where the material is gathered together to create a rippled effect, is generally an amazing design element for hiding unflattering curves. Occasionally, ruching has been known to work against you, so try the shirt on before you purchase it, or at least before you wear it to a must-look-great occasion!
• Look at the seams and darts on the garment, the more there are the more fitted it will be. If you want an easier fit, go for less construction, if you want something to fit close to the body in a flattering way, the more structure the more shape you will get. Vertical seams tend to be more flattering then horizontal ones. Be careful of darts; if they fall at the correct curves on your body they are terrific, if they fall at the wrong place they will make you look awkward.
There are many elements to consider when choosing a great white shirt. The right one will be the most useful garment in your wardrobe, the wrong one can pull your style down. If you are feeling overwhelmed, but know that a white shirt is what your wardrobe is missing, think about getting professional advice, it can really help.
What design details do you think work for you best?

Soft Utility Dress - $110.00 A perfectly chic blend of feminine attitude + utility function.

From Martin and Osa

Soft Utility Dress - $110.00

A perfectly chic blend of feminine attitude + utility function.

The White Shirt: A Staple

Crisp. Clean. Classic. Chic.

The white shirt is not only a classic piece for your wardrobe, but it is an anchor that many looks can be built around, plus it has the versatility to work with almost anything else in the closet. The right white blouse can also be incredibly flattering to your silhouette. It’s just a matter of finding the white shirt that is right for you.
(A Classic style by Theory found at Nordstrom)

There are many different styles out there and each style is going to work for a different body and style personality.
But nothing says style like a great White Shirt

Look for two more upcoming chapters on “The White Shirt, a staple”

(A Wrap Style from the Donna Karen Collection, found at Nordstrom)
What are the different styles?
The white shirt has become such an important garment that there are now many styles to choose from, it can be overwhelming to try to find the perfect one for you!

• There is the Classic men’s wear inspired shirt; which can go from something very fitted with well placed darts and seams, to something more relaxed and easy in fit.
The Classic White blouse is structured and collared. It fits a person with a more classic or conventional style, but it also the most diverse type of white shirt. The range of fit and design varies greatly with this classic shirt, so you still must be selective and finding the right one for you. There are some really beautiful classic white shirts out there now, so well designed and constructed that they can be worn as a jacket, (a great alternative in warmer weather.)

• There is the Tunic, which is longer at the hem, and designed to wear out and let flow. The tunic can still have a tailored fit, but is generally more casual in feel and works well for someone with a dramatic or creative style. The tunic is often constructed with a variety of different fabrics including jersey and lace. The Tunic is often that easy throw over anything piece. It is considered a comfortable and stylish garment. This is a great white shirt for traveling, especially if it is made out of low maintenance material. A structured Tunic works well as a jacket alternative as well, over a colorful tank or T.
(A Tunic Style by XCVI wearables at Nordstrom)

• The Wrap is another popular style the white shirt is found in. The wrap shirt is a very body conscious side to the white shirt and usually very flattering. Sometimes this style can be a bit to revealing, so make sure it falls across your bust line appropriately. The wrap appeals to a woman with an alluring, or sometimes elegant style. The wrap style is often found in dressier materials great for evening wear and creates a very sophisticated cocktail look when paired with dress slacks or an evening skirt. The wrap Blouse can also be great for a business look if it is properly fastened, or worn with a camisole underneath, it looks terrific underneath the right suit. Another take on the wrap style white blouse is the Cinched blouse, which creates emphasis at the waist with a belt. And is a great addition to a professional wardrobe.

What Style of White Shirt has the most Appeal for you?

Keep in mind that all three of these styles vary tremendously with variations on collars, sleeve lengths, cuffs, hem details, and closures. This is a lot to think about, if you feel overwhelmed, you may want to get a professional to help you.

What Was She Thinking?

It is Valentines day, and today there are plenty of adorable couples out and about holding hands and enjoying being in love.

While out this morning with my own Valentine, I saw one such young couple.

They were adorable and probably a new couple as they seemed to be trying very hard to impress one another.

However, in trying to impress her date the girl's dress choice created some confusion to the outside world. Dressed in only a black strapless mini dress with a sweetheart neckline complete with lace detail, she seemed misplaced on this casual Sunday morning. The dress was also an odd choice for a morning in February....yes, it was beautiful today, but it is still winter!

Perhaps they had a very fancy dinner planned, but it seemed to me that 11am was far to early to be dressed up for dinner. Even Audrey Hepburn's classic LBD in 'Breakfast at Tiffany' was day time chic for the era, and let's face it, very few of us can pull off what Audrey could. So,.....

What was she thinking?

To use this particular type of garment in a great day to night ensemble, I have a few options for those of you who may find that must-wear-now dress, even if it is a bit early in the day!

A great cardigan would have made this look work. Either a cute cropped 'cardi', or a longer belted knit jacket would be perfect. An edgy option is a great vest. Again your choice among the many styles would stylishly dress down the dress. From a softer knit vest to a structured men's wear inspired vest would add simple day time style. Finally a funkier shoe choice like a bright chunky heeled sandal would look hip and be completely surprising (in a great, non-confusing way)

So next time you find yourself desiring to wear a coctail dress to breakfast, consider these options, even if you are on a hot date!

A lovely Valentines option

I was shopping at Nordstrom's today for a client, looking for great travel sleepwear, when I saw this....the Short Robe "in bloom" by Jonquil.

What a great Valentines gift: cute, sexy, and will continue to work when this day of heart mitifs and pink and red is over!

Tell your valentine about it, or simply surprise them.

Can you stay stylish at a sports event?

OK ladies, I know I should of posted this yesterday, or even last week, but this didn't occur to me until I was actually at a Superbowl party this afternoon!



If you are really into football, that is great.

But, if you insist on wearing your favorite team's jersey, just remember that it was designed to fit a man's body and chances are it is not that flattering on yours!

So if you are going to do it anyway, try a a few style tips to flatter your figure a little better.

If the Jersey is to big for you, then try a casual belt lower on the hips with skinny jeans or leggings. Flats or boots are great with this look and are casual enough for a sports based social event. Some great jewelry will also help keep your look a bit stylish.

If the jersey fits you, you will still need some help defining your body under the shapeless garment. Try wearing a short jacket or cardigan that hits at your waist, over the jersey. This will look best with boot cut or wide leg jeans and either flats or "fashion" athletic shoes.

Hope this helps you be Well Dressed the next time you find yourself wearing a sports jersey designed for a man's body.