Top 5 Tips to Make YOU a Better Shopper!

One of the main concerns I hear from clients is that they feel like they're not good shoppers. Plus, they're busy so when they do find the time to shop it's on a weekend...and the day ends up not being productive but instead overwhelming as more and more people fill up the store, just as eager to shop, and then you end up leaving feeling deflated and bruised from being pushed around. Let me tell you something, don't fool yourself- weekend shopping is like Black Friday only with just-under-the-skin hysteria instead of full out espionage. I've been working as a personal shopper in this city long enough to know that what you really need is a game plan if you even think about shopping on a Saturday. And when you're in the Mecca of shopping destinations, aka downtown San Francisco (yes, we are definitely big enough to call ourselves a sartorial Mecca), you need to be smart. And the smarter you are in the attack, the quicker you'll be through and onto a glorious lunch with drinks.

 TOP 5 TIPS TO BEING A BETTER SHOPPER:

- Get there when they open. Seriously. It's usually 10am. Just do it.

- Know your exits and bathroom locations. Again, seriously. If you've got family in tow or kids with temperamental bladders, you need to be able to move quickly.

Be like this woman! Grab multiple pairs

- Shop shoes first. I know it sounds backwards but trust me, if you're going on a weekend, that department gets slammed pretty quickly. Plus, when the store's just opening it's quieter so chances are good you'll have an associate all to yourself. **EXTRA TIP ** Keep yourself on-budget by buying only what you NEED, not what you love...sorry. I know the shoes are pretty but you DON'T need them all!

- In clothing, look for areas that are merchandised with a color palette you tend to wear/look good in OR those that are item specific, like a rack with only dresses or coats. If you're working from a list (which you should be) you can check off the specific items after perusing these racks.

- In accessories by a harsh critic. You can easily pick up 5 pieces (or is it just me?) and have inadvertently added $-$$$$$$ dollars to your end total. Be mindful! Buy only what you need. But if you don't have anything, buy gradually. Start with what you need, like a scarf and hat over earrings and a bracelet, and work your way up from there.

See, don't you feel good now?! I bet you're ready to tackle the weekend warriors, those ever vigilant shoppers who've turned a pastime into a sport. Good luck!

Image(s) courtesy of google image search

Stylist Picks: Wooden Accessories

Bright printed skirts, sun hats and maxi dresses... I'm loving so much of the boho chic clothing that's so popular again this summer (especially in San Francisco during all of the musical festivals). 

Not ready to dive straight into a look that, if not done right, could have you confused with the real hippies in Haight Ashbury?  A quick and affordable way to add that bohemian vibe to your wardrobe is through accessories- wooden to be exact.  Here are some of my favorite picks:

Stella & Dot "Casablanca" bib necklace $89

Lauren by Ralph Lauren "Java" wooden bangles $58

Yves Saint Laurent "Arty" wooden ring $275

Kenneth Jay Lane "Wave" bangle $45

Forever21 "Tribal Glam" bracelet set $6

Holiday Parties with Ugly Sweaters and Ties

It's officially December. I can't believe it. The turkey and stuffing and ham and mashed potatoes are still fresh on my tongue! But, December has its moments. One of the best- and possibly worst- reasons why this month can be fun is it's the official start to holiday parties. Sometimes the prospect of what to wear can be daunting. Is it office appropriate? Where do I find an "ugly" Christmas sweater? Should I wear a suit? It's like you've just come from seeing all your family, which can be overwhelming enough, and now you have to figure out how to dress for all the parties you'll have to attend. Luckily, you have me- perpetual shopper!

A great online source, if you've got time to wait for a package, is uglyxmasparty.com. The name says it all. There are so many cute and yet somehow still ugly sweaters, you're bound to find one you (secretly) like. Plus, they're also an Etsy store!

Uglyxmassweater.com, $24

If you need something now, hit up the always reliable Nordstrom. A cute cardigan with a festive theme will suffice for most Christmas sweater parties. You don't always have to go ugly.

Fair Isle cardi, $38.

Guys, if you have that hipster-style, then include this sweater in your daily rotation for winter. If not, just wear it as a gag. Either way, it passes as a holiday sweater. And if you have a girl like me, she's probably going to steal it from you when you're done anyway.

Urban Outfitters, $74

Last but not least guys, if you have to wear a suit this year do so with a novelty tie. The suit makes you look good but the tie shows you're fun. I could show you where to go to find a tie but you know where they are. Any clothing store worth its sand is going to have festive ties this time of year. Instead, I'll show you how to TIE that fabulous tie once you've purchased one. It's the gift that keeps on giving. Isn't that what this time of year is all about?

ABCNeckties is the go-to resource for anything you ever wanted to know about neckties, including a history of them! Over 15 different types of tie knots exist (who knew!?) with great names like Balthus Knot, Cavendish Knot, and Half Windsor knot. There's also a video accompanying each type with a step-by-step process for how to get the job done. Gentlemen, prepare to be fit to be tied.

abcneckties.com, $10

 











Image(s) courtesy of Google Image Search
 

How To Tie A Scarf

I love scarves, as do many other women.  But I get tired of wearing them the same way all the time.  Lucky for me, and now you, I found a great website with chic illustrations showing some great ways to incorporate scarves into more of your outfits.  Below are some of my favorites~

Butterfly Wrap

A beautiful way of tying a scarf, accenting the elegant you. Can be sported with any outfit in your wardrobe.

Step 1	Fold the scarf using the basic fold 3.
Step 2	Let it hang around your neck with roughly one third of the scarf on one side (A) and two-thirds on the other (B) and cross these as illustrated.
Step 3	Bring A upwards to make it pass through the cross so that a sort of loop is formed.
Step 4	After tossing A underneath B, let it pass through a second loop again.
Step 5	Now when you pull one end firmly, you’ll get your butterfly wrap ready!

Casual

A lovely scarf tying style; ready in a manner of seconds. Suitable to be worn with any outfit; the minimum effort required to get this style ready is the cause of its immense popularity.

Step 1	Fold the scarf according to the basic fold 3.
Step 2	Let it dangle around your neck with one side (B) a bit shorter than the other (A).
Step 3	Take A and after crossing it over B let it pass from under B so that a sort of loop is formed.
Step 4	Bring A towards the neck again
Step 5	After letting A go around the neck, bring it down again and let it pass through the loop that was made before (in step 3).
Step 6	Your casual wrap is ready!

Crown Wrap

This is a relatively informal but stylish way to cover the head, named so because it creates a fabric crown over the head. An oblong scarf is needed for this wrap style. 

Step 1	Drape the rectangular scarf over the head off-centered so that one end hangs much farther down the body than the other.
Step 2	Gather the ends of the scarf at the nape of the neck and cross them behind the head.
Step 3	Form a rope by twisting the longer end; then lay along the front edge of the scarf approximately 1-2 inches from the edge (over the top of the head).
Step 4	Continue the twist around to meet the other, shorter, end of the scarf and knot the two ends together.
Step 5	The ends can be left loose to drape over or behind the shoulder, or may be guided along the back of the head and tucked under the scarf.

To see all of the other scarf tying instructions, click here.

 




Image(s) courtesy of http://www.texeresilk.com/cms-scarf_tying_guide.html

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?

Tips to Organize Your Closet

Better Homes and Gardens posted a great article on tips to organize your closet.  Here are some of my favorites:

small section of my temp closet

-Keep out-of-season clothes, shoes, and accessories in the back of the closet or in another closet; same for those "wish clothes" that don't fit but you can't bear to get rid of.

-Also, professional organizers suggest turning all of the hangers in your closet the opposite way. Every time you wear an item, turn the hanger around. After a few months, you can clearly see what clothing items you could live without.

-Organize your own closet -- or a child's -- with a combination of double hanging rods, drawers, and shelves. Drawers corral small items such as socks while cubbies hold folded items. Upper shelves can store out-of-season shoes and clothing in clear bins with lids.

-If your closet is also your dressing area, make it more functional by hanging a large mirror on the wall behind a dresser. Or consider hanging a floor-length mirror on a door.

Tip #4- I can not stress enough how important a full-length mirror is.  You can't get the full effect of your outfit if you can only see the top half of it.

I started this hanger trick fresh one month ago.  Wow, I wear such a small percentage!

Tip #2- I also do this hanger trick myself.  Being able to see what you do and don't wear plain-as-day in front of your face, makes it much easier to self-edit when you are ready to shop for the upcoming seasonal changes.  Start with all of the hanger facing forwards towards you (being hung from the back).  As soon as you wear something, not just try it on, hang it back up facing the wall.  So when you decide to go clean out your closet again, first take a look at all of the items still facing you, and ask yourself why?  Is it too big/small?  Is it out of season?  Does it fit my current lifestyle?

Consider putting unwanted items in consignment to earn some money for future clothing purchases.

New Shoes Causing Blisters and Discomfort? Tips For Breaking In New Shoes

For the right pair of shoes, I have been known to throw caution to the wind and wear some of the most uncomfortable, yet amazingly beautiful, shoes.  If you are a regular reader of my blog, you've seen some of the pictures I have posted.  But even some of the most comfortable shoes have that break-in period when first worn.  Here are some of my tips for breaking in your favorite new shoes, or fixing the odd pair that might not fit quite right:

This Shoe Survival Balm is great for preventing blisters on your heels.  It feels like you're rubbing deodorant on your heels, but it protects your skin from the friction cause by new shoes rubbing up and down your heels, without damaging your shoes.  I have a hard time wearing slingback style shoes because the elasticized straps seems to dig in and move around.  Products like the Shoe Survival Balm help keep the skin from getting irritated, and possibly blistering.  For a more affordable option, try this anti-chaffing stick.  If you do end up with those pesky blisters on your feet, try these blister cushions to protect them from getting infected, or continuing to rub in your shoes.

The Foot Petals Stiletto Stylist Kit saved a pair of Christian Louboutins of mine.  My heels are narrow, but widen towards the toes.  For comfort, I purchased the CL shoes in a 37, a half size larger than my normal... basically, the shoes were a little too big for me.  The larger size worked great for the balls of my feet, but my heels kept slipping out while I walked.  Enter the Foot Petals.  This kit contains cushioned pads of various types and styles to make any pair of shoes feel custom fit to your feet.  I inserted a pair of HeavenlyHeelz to keep my skinny heels from sliding up and down, and a set of Tip Toes into the foot bed to keep my feet from slipping forward as the satin wore in.  Now they are my go-to black pumps because they fit so comfortably.

If you made the mistake of trying on shoes from the department store, first thing in the morning, you may have gone home with shoes too small for you.  The longer we are on our feet, the more they swell.  So it would make sense to purchase shoes at the end of your shopping trip to get a more accurate gauge of your shoe size.  The solution to tight shoes? A shoe stretcher.  This handy device has been a God send when I've needed to break in a pair of new shoes really quickly.  The knob and handle on this stretcher adjust to stretch out your shoes not only in width (for those of us with wide feet), but also in length.  No, you can't make shoes longer, but you can break in the heels with this device, instead of on your own feet (needing the products listed above).  A quick word to the wise: unless you have the patience to stretch one shoe at a time, buy two of these :)

These are just some of the tricks I have found to survive new or ill-fitted shoes.  What do you do?






Image(s) courtesy of sidewalkskincare.com, http://www.handbagcom.com/christian-louboutin-very-noeud-slingback-shoes-p-3799.html, drugstore.com, http://www.footsmart.com/P-FitRight-Two-Way-Shoe-Stretcher-90120.aspx

Tips to Maximize Your Closet Without Spending a Dime

This vary gracious client of mine allowed me to post her pics, but kindly requested I didn't identify her (fair enough).  These photos were taken during her in-home wardrobe consultaton.  Here are a few of the outfits we put together for her, using two black dresses and various layering techniques.  All items we pieces she already had in her closet... So much for "having nothing to wear".

You can't see it very well in these photos (my apologies), but we used her black vest and paired it with a couple of her jersey dresses.  In this first picture (left) the jersey dress was quite shapeless and looked like a sack on her nice frame.  By layering the fitted vest, it re-defined her waist line and accentuated her nicely shaped arms.  The necklace and black boots helped to complete the look.

The dress on the right was more of a sweater knot, and quite fitted.  The vest is layered on top added visual interest and dressed up a plain black sweater dress.  Obviously there were many other options we could have done with a great staple like a black sweater dress, but that's for another posting :)

We took the same black jersey dress (above left) and layered a gray wrap sweater on top.  Just like the vest, layering something more fitted on top of a shapeless dress can bring your wait line out of hiding.

In this last picture, the black sweater dress was belted and we threw a sweater coat on top.  The belt accentuates her nice waistline, and the sweater coat give the outfit a bit of ta-dah.  The beauty of this is that she can take the coat off and still look more put together than if she had just worn the dress alone.

What she learned most from this experience (and I've heard this many times before), is that she needs to be more open minded and creative with how she pairs items in her closet.  Any closet maximizes exponentially if you know how to layer and accessorize properly.  Don't limit yourself to the possibilities you may not even know you have in your closet already.



Images taken by Jennifer Held

Celebrity Fashion Tip #9

“If you aren’t sure about what you have on, you won’t go out the door looking great. Be confident in your choice.” Cindy Crawford

Celebrity Fashion Tip #8

“Go for the wow factor with amazing accessories.” Sarah Jessica Parker

Celebrity Fashion Tip #7

“Have fun with fashion. I’m not intimidated by what I see on models. I like to play with clothes and express myself.” Drew Barrymore

Celebrity Fashion Tip #6

“Express yourself in everything you do and that means in what you wear as well.” Jennifer Lopez

Celebrity Fashion Tip #5

“I carry safety pins with me everywhere. If something pops off, like a strap, you can take care of it.” Rihanna

Celebrity Fashion Tip #4

“A sexy dress is fine but it shouldn’t be short and low-cut. One of those at a time is enough.” Mischa Barton

Celebrity Fashion Tip #3

"From stylists I’ve learned to get things altered, since everyone’s body is different.” Sandra Bullock

Celebrity Fashion Tip #2

"Tear out images from magazines and buy a few signature pieces. Use them as staples in your closet.” Maria Menounos

Celebrity Fashion Tip #1

"Just because a trend happens doesn’t mean you should adopt it. Wear what best fits your shape” Janet Jackson

image courtesy of style.com

This is great advice, and something I do myself.  It's important to note that no two brand's sizes run the same.  For that matter, even within a line things can run irregular.  Some of the reasons for this can be the cut, fabric, whether or not it has stretch, etc.  But it doesn't hurt to know which labels tend to fit you better than others.  It will help cut down shopping time and frustration when you are hitting the department stores and online shopping.