7/31/10

How to Navigate Barney's Warehouse Sale in SF- THIS WEEKEND!

Here are some great tips from Shop Darling on how to survive the Barney's Warehouse sale:

Rule #1.   Don't bring a bag.  You'll have to wait in line to check it and then again to pick it up.  Come equipped with your wallet, and nothing else.

Rule #2.  Since it's going to be hot outside anyway, wear the smallest, most slip-like dress you own. There aren't dressing rooms, and it's insanely crowded, so the less clothing you show up wearing, the easier it is to try on more.

Rule #3.  Same goes for shoes — flip flops are ideal.  Our fashion editor says, "Scan all the aisles of shoes to find the style you want, and then concentrate on finding your right size because they're usually mixed up and you can miss what you really want when it's hiding in the size 5's! Also, people stuff shoes in the back of the shelves behind the boots so check there"

Rule #5.  Don't buy something just because it's on sale.  As appealing as that wedding-like Rodarte dress may be, you're not going to wear it.  (Though if you're still thinking about it come September 5th, chances are it's still there, maybe $400 cheaper and only slightly more torn.)



Image(s) courtesy of Barney's

7/29/10

Recessionista Secrets- and how YOU can master them


Why is it that the desire/need to shop is always at its greatest when you can least afford it? The simple fact is LIFE GOES ON, even when our wallets can't keep up.  The economy may have come to a veritable stand-still, but our lives are still moving on. No matter how cinched our budgets become, we still need new items of clothing from time to time.

How to Smartly Shop During an Economic Downturn:

1. Go back to basics. Concentrate on acquiring the key pieces at the foundation of every great wardrobe. The classics, like a good coat, hand bag and shoes are important anchors to putting stylish looks together.
2. Make a list and stick to it. Determine the gaps in your wardrobe before you set out to shop. Only buy what’s on the list. It’s that simple.
3. Choose pieces appropriate for multiple occasions. Before buying, ask yourself, “Where am I wearing this? Can I wear it for more than one purpose?" For example, a sassy cardigan can be worn to the office and also on a weekend getaway to Napa.
4. Go easy on the trends. Hop off the trend wagon, for now at least. Set a goal to invest only in classics and incorporate a few trendy accessories to keep looks current, like scarves, leggings, tights, bangles.
5. Embrace quality over quantity. Opt for well-made clothing in high-quality fabrics to ensure your pieces have the bandwidth to last more than one season.  This is especially true with your basics that go with everything.  Spending more money on one item may seem counter-intuitive to being on a budget.  Americans are into "throw-away" fashion, with stores like H&M and Forever 21 feeding the budgeter's urge to spend.  The point here is to get items that will stand the test of time not only in style, but also regular washings.  Save the $15 shirts for trendier pieces, not your wardrobe staples (see #4).
6. Know when to shop the sales. Department stores like Macy's are constantly putting out printed coupons.  When using coupons, be sure to read the fine print and find out whether or not the items you are wanting to purchase are actually a part of that sale (which happens more often that you would think).  Know that the MSRP of a BCBG shirt will be the same at the boutique store, as it is in the department store down the street.  Because of that MSRP, that BCBG shirt will be the same price at Nordstrom as it is at Bloomingdale's and Neiman Marcus.  Know when your favorite brand is going on sale at your local department stores- you may find the items cheaper than if you went to the boutique.
Get onto your favorite brand's mailing list for updates on sales.  Like them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter for the most up-to-date information on discounts and specials in-store and online.

Make sense?  Do you have any tips of your own?

7/26/10

Wardrobe Inspiration: David Beckham

Who's wardrobe inspires your style?
David Beckham looking not only sexy, but quite stylish.




Image(s) courtesy of Shrimpton Couture and Google images search

7/20/10

--UPDATED-- Final Thoughts on the Brazilian Keratin Treatment

So it's finally day 4.   Tuesday morning 9:30am, the day I get my hair washed for the first time since getting the keratin treatment on Friday.  I can't wait to see it clean and styled the way I like it.  I'm going to spare myself the humiliation of posting yet another humiliating picture of myself on the world wide web (because my Facebook page has enough of those already), and not post a picture of it as it is now. My hair is pretty scary at the moment.  I've pulled out my largest and darkest pair of sunglasses to wear to the salon in hopes no one recognizes me.  If I thought it was flat and slightly greasy before, well, I think I could fuel my car with the amount of oiliness it has after four days.



I'm off to the salon now.  I'll post the results as soon as I get home...



--UPDATED--
It feels so good to heave clean hair!


I can't begin to tell you enough how glad I was to have my hair washed.  Once I was washed and plopped my butt into the chair, the first thing I noticed was how easily Jeremy combed through my wet hair.  That little fine-toothed comb went sailing through my locks like butter... smooooth.  The end result, super soft and manageable hair.  While drying, he just used his fingers to style.  And look how nice and frizz free it is!


All in all, I think this is an amazing product for straight hair and am excited to wash it at home and let it air dry to see what it does with my natural waves.  We'll see if it really lasts the 3-6 months like they say.  The process was painless, but unfortunately takes four days to set in.  Four days that I did not leave the house for fear someone would recognize me.  But so far, it was worth it!  I'm giving the Brazilian Blowout an A- (minus only due to the four-day-scalp-oil-slick I had to deal with).

7/17/10

The Brazilian Keratin "Blowout" Explained (no, not the waxing kind)

I blogged previously about the Brazilian Keratin treatment I was getting from my go-to hair guy, Jeremy Boatman, and promised pictures.  Before I give you my personal spiel, let me give you some 411 on the product/treatment from the product website:
image taken from www.braziliankeratin.com
- Quick - On average, the treatment takes one stylist 1 ½ to 2 ½ hours depending on the lenght and texture of the hair.

- Universal - It can be used on dyed or highlighted hair. In fact, it can be used on any type of hair.

- Gentle - It is NOT meant to be permanent and it DOES NOT require neutralizer or immediate rinse. It requires redoing approximately every 3 to 4 months.
That is why you can leave it on the client's hair and walk away if you have to. That is why you can use it on children. That is why it blends with the natural growth of hair.

- Natural - It does NOT use strong chemicals to open and close the hair cuticle in an effort to straighten it, “breaking the bonds” of the hair shaft. Keratin is a natural substance which comprises approximately 88% of your hair.

- Healthy- It penetrates the hair repairing internal damage and coats the hair preventing further damage. The results are SOFT, SHINY, STRAIGHT hair.
 
- Easy - Begin with a shampoo designed to open the cuticle. Saturate the hair with the product (an average of 3 ounces). Blow dry. Iron small sections of hair close to the scalp with a low heat flat iron. Iron the entire head with a high heat flat iron to seal  the keratin into the cuticle.

- Simple -
Do NOT wet, wash or use any clips or pins (or anything) on your hair for FOUR days. After  the fourth day, shampoo and condition your hair with products free of sodium chloride and sulfates, which will strip the keratin from the hair. Our specially formulated line of shampoos and conditioners are the best available for maintaining the most long-term results.
- Simply Amazing - The results speak for themselves. As one client said: “I'm so happy I don't need my therapist anymore!”· Good for anyone who has hair.

What is it?


Keratin is a type of protein high in the amino acid “Cystine.”  This special amino acid is what makes hair super tough and extremely elastic. Scientists refer to Keratin as a “Biopolymer,” due to its unique structures and interesting properties. Biopolymers are found throughout nature and give form and structure to naturally occurring substances all around the world; everything from leaves to trees, and turtle shells to goose down. Keratin is a classic example of a Biopolymer and it is the main structure building protein in our hair and nails.
So here are my two cents:

I had a very busy day yesterday with the Anniversary Sale.  After shopping like crazy, Lola the rat dog (aka Canine shopper extraordinaire) and I headed over to the salon to get our hair done.
Lola getting her hair did as well
I've heard great things about this treatment, and seen it advertised in many fashion magazines.  Being warned that I would not be able to wash my hair- or pin it back away from my face in any way- for four whole days, I still wanted to do this.  Why?  Because I have wavy/straight hair that is prone to frizz.  The thought of being frizz and straightener free for 3-6 months was enough to get my butt into the chair.  Just think, less money spent on styling products and less time under the dryer and round-brush in the mornings.  Just wash and go... I liked the sound of that.
Day 1- It looks a lot scarier here than it did in-person
So $300 and 2-1/2 hours later, I left the salon feeling greasy as if I had washed my hair in canola oil.  Due to the application process, my hair was soft and very straight (aka flat).  Application: It starts out with a cleansing wash, then dried.  Little section of hair are coated in the product, dried completely, then flat ironed 7 times!  That's each little section.  If there was any upside to the fact that my hair is now thinner due to wedding planning stress back in December, it's that it shaved some time off this application process.

As part of Jeremy's Brazilian package, he is going to wash out my hair for me on Tuesday morning (and two more times in the next 3 months).  I'll be sure to post again with a picture and my thoughts on the results. But for now, I'll just say I am very optimistic for the long-term (well, 3-6 months) results and excited to see how it looks and feels on Tuesday.  Stay tuned.....

7/16/10

Memoirs of my morning at the Nordstrom Anniversary sale

waiting with at least 50 other women for the elevators to open
My amazing friend Lindsey gets me up at 5:45 every year to get coffee and gear up for the doors to open at Nordstrom Westfield Centre.  7am hits and we are first into the elevators.  With quiet anticipation, the very full elevator explodes onto the sales floor and spills forth into the shoes...
The damage done in the shoe department (my CC is starting to smoke already)
With the game plan in play and shopping lists in hand, we head from shoes up to the clothes.  Using the circled and dog-eared preview catalog as my compass, I glide through the clothing racks (dodging the other shoppers) searching for the perfect tops on sale to wear with my jeggings.
My morning hair and yoga clothes (hey, it was 7am at THE MALL!)
After bogarting the fitting room for over 30 minutes (exiting to glares from the ladies in line), I end this early morning madness with a final stop in the lingerie department.  I'm bummed to find out that, along with my waistline, my boobs are growing as well.  So I take this opportunity to try on larger bras (on sale for under $40!) to wear with the shapewear now practically required with every outfit.

Surprisingly, once I get home and walked through the door with my many bags, the first thing I can't wait to try on again are the over the knee socks I picked up last-minute.  After giving it all the once-over in my own mirror (why do clothes sometimes look different on you once you're home?) I am satisfied that I only need to return one item; the flats that made it into my bag in the wrong color.

If you listen really carefully, you can still hear my credit cards crying out for help!

7/14/10

DIY TIPS: Why most people wear 20% of their clothes 80% of the time

Most people only wear 20% of the clothes in their closet 80% of the time.  This statistic explains why we can look into our overflowing closets and say "I have nothing to wear."  Does this sound like you?  Sometimes it's just a lack of organization that makes the morning rush that much crazier. 

Here is a great article that can help you get started organizing your closet at home.
Most people wear 20% of their clothes 80% of the time… That sounds like a bit of a waste doesn’t it? And the reason they tend to do that, is because many people’s closets are over-stuffed and in chaos. How would it feel to open the doors on a well organised wardrobe every morning? Would it save you 5 minutes every day? That adds up to a lot of time in a week or a month, but the benefits of being well organised with your clothes are even greater. Having a well ordered closet can help you feel more confident in what you wear, and get much more use out of the garments you already have.
Everything in your wardrobe should be well loved, fit to wear and easy to find. If it isn’t, your heart is going to quietly sink every time you open it. If you see items that you’re slightly too big for, the fact that you’re bigger than you want to be is going to nag at you below your consciousness. That isn’t a great way to start the day! If the things in your wardrobe don’t really suit you, you’ll feel a sense of frustration with the way you have to ‘fight’ through it to find something you like. That’s another battle you can do without. 
If a lack of organization isn't your problem, it could be an overwhelming/underwhelming amount of clothes in your closet causing problems.  For all of my clients, their in-home wardrobe consultations with me all go through the same process (male and female).  And this is something you can do at home as well.  The next best thing to working with me in-person is to utilize my own strategies when going through your own wardrobes.  Here are my five tips you can do at home to get you started:

1. First go through and try everything on.  If it doesn't fit, donate, consign, sell or toss it.

During a wardrobe consultation with my client, we do a lot of sorting and trying on.  It's not so much organization as it is purging.  By the time we are done, there should be nothing left in your closet but a bunch of great pieces.  My clients hear me say over and over again "It's not good, it's great", or some other variation depending on the item.  Don't settle for anything less than good while aiming for a closet full of great.

2. While trying everything on, use your imagination and mix-n-match items to create new outfit possibilities.

One common trait I find with most of my new clients, is that they have a hard time putting outfits together.  Retailers and merchandisers spend lots of time and energy visually merchandising the store to appeal to you.  Those mannequins dressed up all over are not there to remind you that you'll never be that skinny or tall.  They've been styled to lure you in and show you some of the outfit possibilities.  Don't be afraid to ask a sales associate their opinion on how to change up an outfit.

3. Create a shopping list for yourself based on the holes you've found in your wardrobe.

Are you short on trousers?  Pardon the pun, but this doesn't just mean quantity :)  Do you have enough pairs of jeans to complete your wardrobe (medium/dark wash denim, short for flats, long for heels, jeggings for boots, etc).  Do you have a ton of cardigans but lack enough tops to layer under them?  If the one suit you own for the limited number of weddings and funerals you attend, has dust on it, consider whether or not the it still fits and is still in style before getting rid of it and buying a new one.

4. Once you have decided what you are going to keep, organize the closet in such a way that you can track the wear of your items.

You should be doing a regular inventory of your wardrobe and keep it as organized as possible.

5. Finally, I suggest organizing your closet in terms of the type of clothes, rather than its color.  Closets that are organized by color are beautiful, but not so easy to pair outfits by.  Putting all of your like items together- pants, shirts, jackets, etc- will help you add that little extra your outfit could be missing.  For example, if you've already got your jeans and top picked out, but want to add a cardigan layer, it's harder to remember what cardigans you have if they are all organized by color.  but by having all of the cardigans together, no matter what color you choose, you will clearly be able to see what cardigans you have to choose from.





Image(s) courtesy of Clutter Control Freak Blog


7/12/10

Men's Fashion: Wardrobe Inspiration

One of the blogs I like to follow is TrendyCrew, that spotlights street fashion.  I love seeing what "everyday people"- people not in the fashion industry- are wearing.  I find inspiration for my own outfits while perusing the web, and suggest my clients do the same.  Do you have a fashion icon?
streets of Paris
So guys, what do you think of his outfit?  Is this something you would wear?  What do you think of his brown shoes with this outfit?

Image(s) courtesy of http://trendycrew.com/street-fashion/tim-paris/

7/7/10

Pics from my June photo shoot

As promised here are some of the pics that came out of my photo shoot at Barney's a couple of weeks ago.  It was a last minute throw-together for a book I am being published in (details to come).
here I am getting my hair done for the shoot
Thank you Jeremy for doing such a great job on my hair.  I swear I hand out more of his business cards than I do my own.  I've been trusting Jeremy with my troubled tresses for years, and you can too... here is his website: www.jeremyboatman.com.  You can check him out as well as his other clients on Facebook.  I'm getting a Brazilian blowout from him in a couple of weeks... stay tuned!

What do you think of all of the prints?

So smart, he hid his reflection behind the mannequin

My boobs look HUGE in this dress, so it will not be making it onto my site ;)

These are my favorite Burberry rain boots (yes they're rubber)
These are just a few of the many taken that afternoon.  My photographer, Patrick Roddie, was able to work with the schedules of the many people involved.  Thanks to Edward at Barney's for staying late at work and letting us take over his department.  And thanks to my sister in-law Alison for being such a trooper and coming with me to the shoot while being here in vacation.

7/6/10

And the WINNER of the Next bracelet is.......

The winner of the Next bracelet was chosen randomly by using Random.org.  To be eligible to win, you had to like me on Facebook and follow me on Twitter, then submit a comment to the original post telling me how you would have styled this bracelet yourself.

Thank you to all who entered, and my apologies to those who posted their comments on my Facebook wall instead of the original blog post and were not entered into the drawing (I will make that more clear next time).

Without further ado, the winner is...... Diana!!!  If she were to style an outfit around this bracelet, she said she would "wear the bracelet with either my favorite black dress (originally modeled by my grandmother) or navy blue sleeveless top, classic white pants and cute kitten heels."  Congrats to you!  If you email me your address, I will have one of these beauties sent directly from Next.
Image(s) courtesy of Diana's FB page (thank you!)

7/1/10

I'm ready for fall fashions and leopard prints. Are you?

Yeah for Topshop and their American shipping!
YES YES YES

Just as the weather is heating up here in northern California, all of the ads for the cool autumn winter clothes are coming out.  Not that I'm ready for the cool weather (my skin is just now starting to turn gold in the sun), I just LOVE fall fashion!!!!


Image(s) courtesy of Shopbop, Solestruck

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