Packing for a Trip

I am packing for a week-long trip to the east coast and I am amazed how easy it is this time! Normally I would keep putting more and more clothes into my suitcase because I wouldn't be sure what to wear. This time I have mix and match clothes that will all go together, and layers to compensate for the temperature fluctuations.

I have included two pairs of dress pants; a tobacco colored linen pair and a black stretch fuller leg pair, 2 print blouses, two solid colored light weight sweaters, a black jacket, and two dresses. I will wear a pair of jeans, a white long sleeve tee and a tan cotton sweater and sandals. Also in my bag of tricks are two scarves and two pairs of business shoes, a pair of heels and a pair of pajamas.

All my clothes will go with each other and I can mix and match between the pants, tops and jacket/sweater or add a scarf for different looks without having seven whole outfits!  Between knowing what colors look good, what shapes look good and having clothes that fit and travel well makes my life much easier. I can look great every day without much work.

If I would not have had to bring lots of files I could have gotten by with a small suitcase. If you need help with what to bring for a trip contact me and we can figure out a great plan for you too!

Girl Time

I recently went through my closet and got rid of the items that were out of date, did not fit well, and were just plain cheap and looked it. Because I have put on a few pounds I justified not spending much on clothes and ironically I have way too many items that did not survive washing well. I probably spent more on many poorly made items than I would have with a few things that are a better quality that really fit well.
I ran into an old friend who is a CAbi consultant. If you do not know, CAbi stands for Carol Anderson by invitation.  The CAbi website explains her history like this; After 25 years of selling her designer collections in Nordstrom and other upscale department stores and specialty boutiques across the country, Carol decided to bring her expertly designed clothing directly to the customer in the form of the ultimate personal shopping experience! The only way to get these clothes is through a CAbi consultant with a personal viewing or in a home show setting. So I figured, what the heck, I'll invite some ladies to my house to experience this and have some fun girl time too.
Delores, the consultant, explained about CAbi and went through the Spring/Summer 2012 collection. She gave us ways to mix and match the clothing while we got to mark our paper with what we wanted to try on later.
And try on we did! I had 2 bathrooms and two bedrooms ready and we all got the items we were interested in. It was fun tho watch something that looked like "a dog on a hanger" turn into something very different on a body! It was great fun to watch my friends who arrived in  drab fleece and boots transform into colorful, fashionable, shapely visions of spring! There were a variety of sizes from XS to XL and there was enough variety to fit any body shape. Many of the items are vintage inspired but with a modern twist. I found the quality to be very high and the clothing felt great on!
All in all it was very fun, we all got great advise, and were able to place orders if we wanted. It is nice to know there are more ways to shop than going to the mall.

Hot Colors for Spring

The best place to check out the trends in colors is pantone.com. From their website, "For over 18 years, Pantone, the global authority on color, has surveyed the designers of New York Fashion Week and beyond to bring you the season’s most important color trends." This is a fun site to browse and there are portions dedicated to fashion and trend forecast and they have a wonderful blog too. 

Experts say, when we go into a recession the colors get darker and drabber, and when we come out of it the colors brighten up along with the financial forecast. Let's hope this is true because the colors for spring are light and bright with some exciting pop colors. Here are the colors that are hot for spring;

Tangerine Tango: I have seen orange shades in the stores for a while but this I love for spring! This reddish orange is all about energy and fun. You must have at least one new item in this color. If you cannot wear it near your face, think shoes or a bag!

Solar Power: A bright vibrant yellow that screams vitality! This is a great pop color that can be worn alone or is perfect worn side by side with Sodalite Blue or Bellflower for zing! 

Bellflower: A lovely purple, not too bright yet not too muted. Just right for Spring!

Cabaret: This rosy red that will be perfect for garments and accessories as well as cosmetics.

Sodalite Blue: A true maritime blue that is as calm and relaxing as a day on the beach. This color can be a staple in your wardrobe.

Cockatoo: A blue-green that is soft and light-hearted and sure to feel fresh on a warm summer's day.

Margarita: This yellow-green is the color of the summer drink with salt. Think spring green leaves with a warm breeze. 

Sweet Lilac: A soft pinkish lavender that adds a touch of romance to any outfit. 

Driftwood: One of the neutrals for Spring. It is a soft beige grey that has a slight weathered feel.

Starfish: This is a light pink beige that will compliment the whole Spring color palette as a neutral.

Happy Spring shopping!

A closet full of clothes and nothing to wear

Do you have a closet bursting with clothing and shoes and yet struggle to find something to wear each day? This is not an uncommon problem. In today's blog lets explore how this becomes a problem and what are some solutions.

Problem: I need something to wear for a certain occasion so I will go shopping and buy it. As new occasions come up, new outfits are purchased and the closet become full of outfits that we feel everyone has already seen. By not keeping in mind what is already in your closet a person ends up with pieces that may not work together so they will have a few "outfits" but not a wardrobe of cohesive, harmonious pieces.

Solution: Clean out the closet and start with a few basic items; blouses, jackets, pants in neutral colors. Build on these core items to have pieces that work together, that can be mixed and matched. This will create new looks with fewer pieces. When an event comes up, a new piece may be added such as a beautiful jacket, a colorful scarf or accessories to change the look without having to purchase a new outfit.

Problem: There are way too many colors going on in my wardrobe and nothing works together. It is so easy to go shopping each season and buy the new trendy colors. That mustard sweater looks so great on the model in the magazine, you think "maybe I 'll look as good as her if I wear that color too."

Solution: Have your colors analyzed and determine your "season". This will tell you why some days you look like you rule the world and some days you look sick or tired and really feel fine. Wearing the colors that work with your skin tone will make shopping easier and all your clothing will go together. Clean out your closet and get rid of the colors that don't look good on you. If you cannot part with a certain item for some reason just don't wear it up by your face or soften the effect with a scarf that is in your season palette.

Problem: The clothes in my closet were purchased with the help of a friend that always looks put together, but when I put them on they just aren't me. 

Solution: There are different fashion personalities and if you are not sure of yours you will feel uncomfortable when you venture in to a different style. An example is if you are a Natural fashion personality and you wear something very dramatic, you may feel like you are trying out for the band, KISS, but if you are a Dramatic fashion personality and you wear something very natural you will feel very under-dressed and plain.

Problem: My clothes are good quality but nothing seems to fit right. Maybe you have lost or gained weight or just cannot seem to find clothes that play up your assets while camouflaging your problem areas. A person can spend hours trying on every item in the store until they find something that works and who has that kind of time?

Solution: Every body is different. Some of us are big on the bottom, some are big on the top and so forth. It makes sense that one clothing shape will not work on all bodies. Finding out your body type will solve that problem and will make shopping easier. The goal of covering in clothes is to have a look of balance in our bodies. This can be achieved by the illusions we create with different clothing shapes. In your closet there may be items that almost fit, a shoulder that is too large or small or pants that are too long or wide. These items can be tailored to fit. Most clothing does not have a perfect fit off the rack, but small things can be altered.

Problem: I don't know how to do any of these things but want control of my closet.

Solution: All these service along with closet organization and wardrobe shopping is available through me, your image consultant. Wouldn't it be great to spend LESS money on clothes but always have something appropriate to wear?

What is Fashion Design in Milwaukee?

Fashion design is not a word I hear often in the Milwaukee suburb I live in. Most people in my city shop at Target or Kohl’s and get the fashions long after they have been released as a new trend in the fashion capitals of the world. Usually those trends start out in the US at each coast and slowly make their way to the center. By the time they get to Milwaukee the styles are morphed into something mass marketed and cheaply manufactured. The average woman thinks they have no need, or hasn’t a clue how to find fine fashionable garments. Milwaukee is largely made up of German immigrants who value frugality and prudence. This is not a population that will jump on the latest trends just for the sake of something new. Although most garments purchased must be practical, that does not mean everyone dresses in beige! There are many pockets of quality fashion design to be found here.

Little does the average Milwaukee woman know there is a fashion designer in their midst. Shanel Regier is a Nebraska native that moved to Milwaukee to attend Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design as a sculptor. As her education in art progressed she found she was creating more and more wearable art. According to a 2006 article in Onmilwaukee.com, Regier says, “Most of my inspiration comes from historical, or period, clothing. No matter what, I always go back to the 19th century Victorian era.” She loves the Victorian era and always seems to go back to the idea that women were trying to escape the traditional role of a woman only being seen as a wife and mother and the clothing of the time express that turbulence.

Milwaukee is not a place that dresses up. Even in the nicest venues you will find jeans. How did Shanel Regier make a design business work in such a market? Chicago is close by and she does take advantage of that. As a matter of fact, Chicago’s 2006 Gen Art Fashion Show said, “Regier was number two on the "Top 10 things to talk about" list” according to an October 2006 article in Onmilwaukee.com. Although Chicago is a larger market she prefers Milwaukee and was able to pursue her love of fashion design full time. At the present time, Shanel Regier is still creating wearable art as a fashion designer. She now specializes in custom special occasion dresses and bridal dresses. Today there is not much publicity for the young rising star of six years ago, although she has current designs on her Facebook business page.

Milwaukee is also home to Mount Mary College. Rated as one of the top undergraduate programs in the country, Mount Mary College’s fashion program provides a strong foundation for careers in the fashion industry. With an emphasis on quality and creativity, the fashion program prepares graduates to excel in their field. Students gain a working knowledge of design, patternmaking, buying and inventory management. They are able to network with working professionals and internships are available. There is a study tour in New York and study abroad opportunities in Paris, China, Ireland, Italy, England, Nicaragua and Peru. Many students have participated and received numerous awards in local, national and international competitions. There are many fashion programs of study including an Apparel Product Development Major with concentrations in technical or creative design. The Fashion Department also puts on an annual fashion show to showcase the student designers and their work. It is attended by 1,200 people and is regarded as one of the top student fashion shows in the country.

Milwaukee may be a small metropolitan city that does not always appear to value fashion design yet it is apparent that there are great things happening here. When one looks below the surface it is easy to see the hunger for fresh new designs and that the population is looking at the trends. It is nice to know there are designers in our midst as well as students that are learning and growing and adding to our local fashion scene as well as to the fashion design industry as a whole. 

Fashion personality

Have you ever wondered why sometimes you feel "at home" in your clothes and sometimes you feel like you are wearing a costume? How come your best friend can pull off a look with style that makes you feel like everyone is laughing behind your back when you wear something similar. have you ever put on a new outfit only to wish all day to take it off and put on something else because you felt like the clothes were wearing you? That my friend has to do with your fashion personality!

There has been much written about Fashion Personality (FP) and there are anywhere from four to 12 personalities. In my business I like to keep it simple and use the main four: classic, romantic, dramatic and natural. Most women have a main FP and a secondary. Knowing who you are, in regards to your FP, helps you shop easier, feel better in the clothes you wear and not have a closet full of clothes that never get worn.

Classic is the woman that likes suits and sweater sets with sleek, simple lines in neutral, solid colors like navy, white, brown or cream. She does not leap out each season to purchase the latest trend because her clothes are always in style and maybe just need a little tweaking once in a while. Jewelry is simple but expensive looking and makes an understated traditional look. Conservative, sleek, and elegant, this FP always looks put together! Think Jackie O or Audry Hepburn.

Romantic is the lace and ruffles woman that loves ballet flats and always looks like she should smell like flowers. She loves soft, flowing fabrics, pleats, pastels and floral patterns. Jewelry is vintage and antique, think cameos. Even is jeans, this woman adds a soft breeziness that reminds us of a truly feminine woman from days gone past! Think Nicole Kidman or Crystal Gayle.

Dramatic is the woman that is willing to wear shoes that are really uncomfortable just because they are perfect in every other way! This is the woman that loves bold colors and prints. The newest fashions are the ones this woman craves. Hair, makeup, shoes, handbags and jewelry is all about making a statement and nothing is too bold. There is a confidence in her that most of us long to have! Think Cher and Kelly Osborne.

Natural is all about comfort and casual. This woman loves natural fabrics in neutral colors. Jewelry is kept minimal as is makeup and accessories. Jeans, tees, sneakers or flats and yoga pants are the staple of her wardrobe. The best shopping moments happen at The Gap, Old Navy and Lands End. If it is not comfortable she will not wear it because she values comfort most of all! Think Cameron Diaz the girl next door.

If you are interested in finding your type or how to use the FP information to your best advantage at work and home please contact me. I'd also love to hear your experience with fashion personality on this blog so please post:
What is your Fashion Personality?
How does this help your shopping experience?
How has this helped your image and your self-esteem?

New Year

 This is the time most of us make resolutions and go buy workout clothes in hopes of getting fit. This year I resolve to live like St Francis of Assissi and try to think about how I can take control of my life and not expect others to "make me happy". I do have a choice how I want to act and what I want to contribute to each day and each interaction. I want to be an instrument of peace in 2011!

Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury,pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.


O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen