We’ve all seen a list of the 10 most versatile wardrobe pieces you should own. You probably already have some of them. The trick to making wardrobe pieces versatile is making them your own. Each piece should be representative of your personal style.
On any must-have list, you will find the classic white shirt. I find this shirt in almost everyone’s closet. However, most people don’t actually wear it. Why? Because they saw it on the list and went out and bought a classic white shirt, not a shirt they actually want to wear.
When you are purchasing staple wardrobe pieces, keep the following in mind:
Click here to view my list of the 10 Most Versatile Wardrobe Pieces.
A FREE ONE-TIME ONLY TELESEMINAR EVENT
Is your professional wardrobe keeping you from receiving the promotion you deserve or the job you want? Do people talk about your skirt length instead of the impressive report you gave at last week’s meeting?
55 percent of the message you send at work comes from the way you dress. What you wear to work is the key to your professional success. Whether you are looking for a job or trying to break out of your professional-wardrobe rut, this seminar will provide easy ways to dress for success on any budget. Join me as I share the secrets to dressing for success in this FREE ONE-TIME ONLY TELESEMINAR.
(In a hurry click here to sign up.)
On this call, you will discover …
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Okay, we all have the little black dress, black power suit or favorite pants. Now, the challenge is wearing them over and over again without telling the world you are wearing them AGAIN! All women, in my opinion, want to be pretty. However, in today’s economy, there is less to spend on the pursuit of style. Style can be effortless. There are ways to enhance and even create the look you want to achieve without overspending. The key is versatility and convertibility in your wardrobe. Jewelry instantly and dramatically changes any outfit. Today there are countless options for jewelry from costume to Cartier. Look for pieces that can be worn multiple ways with various settings. Here are a few tips:
Earrings are great. They come in every shape and size. Don’t be afraid to dangle. Drop earrings are hugely popular and look great any time of day. Many dangles look great at the office, and then look amazing with you hair pulled back at an evening event. I recommend that you stay lightweight or else your gorgeous drops will be a big headache, literally! The perfect earrings can complete a style and the right dangles are ageless. You can find great earrings in every budget. Even you lovely ladies without pierced ears can find clips that look phenomenal!
Necklaces, ooh, la la. You can do so much with a necklace. Necklaces add personal style to any outfit. Long necklaces offer a lot of versatility. They add length (therefore you look thinner, yay!) Beyond the benefit of looking trimmer, they are convertible. Look for pieces that offer multiple looks. Choose necklaces that look good with your power suit and favorite pair of jeans. Many long necklaces can be doubled for a completely different style. Best yet, choose a long necklace that can be worn doubled over and has a removable pendant. That is a jewelry staple that offers versatility and instant style.
Bracelets are perfect for quick added color and fun! They fit every budget and can morph to match any ensemble. When you are wearing a dress or shirt that has a neckline or print and you have no necklace that “fits” throw on a fun pair of earrings and a bracelet. Bracelets that are very dainty can get lost on a person in the summer with short or no sleeves. Try a bangle or even two worn together. Just be cautious not to “over stack” and look like you could not make up your mind so you just wore EVERYTHING. There is a fine line between tastefully chic and “bad idea.”
You thought we were done….but, brooches and hair pieces are great accents. Don’t be afraid. Just remember that “fine line.” You may be the lucky girl who has all these in her closet. Just choose carefully and do not wear it all at once. . I challenge you to be creative. Find new ways to change your old favorites. (PS a pair of awesome shoes always help….I find lots of favorites at Susan Michelle Boutique in Mount Pleasant.)
About the Author:
Feel that you may want a quick jewelry in-service? Visit http://www.lellafoster.com and send me an email. I am Lella Foster, a jewelry artisan in Charleston SC. I love working with clients to make custom pieces that are “perfect” for any outfit or event. I also love creating my own designs. I feel strongly that all women should have the opportunity to feel beautiful and bring out their inner fashionista. I work to make jewelry that is striking but attainable, and can be worn in multiple ways and settings.
Imagine having a closet full of clothing you truly love. The only challenge to getting dressed would be deciding which fabulous outfit to wear. Getting dressed would be quick and easy, and you would feel great every time you walked out the door.
All of this is possible if you adopt a love it or leave it attitude. It is easy to be seduced by price, styles that you love but that won’t work for your body type, friendly encouragement from sales people, and numerous other factors. As you shop for wardrobe additions or as you edit your closet, you must be ruthless. If you don’t love something, you’re never going to be happy wearing it. Give it away, or leave it at the store!
5 Things Each Piece of Your Clothing Should Have
1. The fit makes you feel great about your figure.
2. The price does not affect your desire to buy it.
3. It makes you feel confident and unique.
4. It can be used to create many different outfits.
5. It has special details that speak to your personal style.
It is impossible to create a wardrobe that allows you to get dressed quickly when you have no style direction or goal in mind. What you get is a closet full of clothes you don’t want to wear.
Whatever your wardrobe challenge is, it can be fixed! You just need to figure out why you are not happy with your style. And thinking to yourself, “I don’t have a perfect body,” is not a reason. Start by determining your style goals.
Observe what people are wearing when you think to yourself, “Wow! They look great!” Do you notice a pattern in what you like? Is it always a certain style?
Become aware of styles you naturally gravitate to. For example, when you are out shopping are you constantly drawn to classic and sophisticated looks, or bohemian chic ones? Make note of this.
Ask yourself how you want to look. Do you want to look younger, more modern, more professional, more put together. Then ask yourself why you want to look this way. The why is important.
Pretend you live in a perfect world with none of your lifestyle and body constraints. Now, what would you like to wear everyday?
If you feel stuck, get inspiration from fashion magazines. Cut out pictures to narrow down what you really like. Don’t focus on what you think you can wear, just focus on things you like.
Take some time to think about these questions and write down your answers. Your responses will help you determine why you are unhappy with your current wardrobe. Then, work towards creating a versatile wardrobe that meets your style goals and functions for your lifestyle.
Let Charleston Style Concierge show you how to create a wardrobe you love to wear. Through a compete image and style assessment, clients learn how to create an easy and effortless style.
When I started Charleston Style Concierge, there were some who wondered what the benefit was to helping people “find style.” Being concerned about having great style seemed shallow and only relevant to people of celebrity status. In some ways, style and fashion can be vain or shallow.
But I believe that your personal style sends a message to the world about who you are and what you stand for. Every day you interact with many people, only some of whom you actually talk to. The majority of people you come into contact with are forced to form judgments about you from just your image. 55% of the image you portray comes from your appearance alone. This means what you wear and the style you create really does matter. I encourage you to take some time to think about the image you put out into the world. What does your style say about you?
5 Ways to Create a Style That Enhances Your Image
Thursday, March 14, 2009
FREE Teleseminar: “Get Dressed in 10 Minutes or Less”
Getting dressed can be quick and easy!
Do you stand in your closet staring at a sea of clothes feeling as if you have nothing to wear? Do you have the perfect outfit in mind but can’t find the quintessential piece in the depths of your closet?
We only wear 20% of the clothing we own. Creating a plan for both your wardrobe and closet will help you wear what you have more often, save time getting dressed, and help you spend LESS on your wardrobe. Join me and my special guest, Sean Johnson, an organizer extraordinaire, as we share these secrets with you in this FREE ONE-TIME ONLY TELESEMINAR.
(In a hurry, click here to reserve your spot now.)
This call is hosted by Sean Johnson, organizing expert and owner of Organized Bliss, and Lee Heyward, style expert and owner of Charleston Style Concierge.
On this call, you will learn:
· How to wear what you already have more often.
· What you can do to make your closet and wardrobe work for you without spending a dime.
· How to use household items to help organize your closet.
· How to make your wardrobe more versatile.
· Why you always feel like you have nothing to wear.
· How to keep unwanted pests out of your closet (and we’re not talking about the kids!).
· Why less really is more.
For more information or to sign up for this seminar click here.
The key element to complimenting your body type is wearing clothes that create balance. Whether you’re smaller on the top, bigger on the bottom, or fall somewhere in between, it’s important to understand the power of fabric colors, textures, and sizes, when finding a figure-flattering dress.
For people with . . .
· Curvaceous Hips: It’s important to balance out your body shape, since those with curvy hips tend to be larger on the bottom than the top. Balance can be achieved by wearing a dress that has a wide V-neck, boat neck, or off-the-shoulder top. Try to stay away from dresses that have bulky fabric at the bottom. This will add even more curve to your hips and draw attention away from the top portion of your body. A pencil skirt matched with a wide V-neck top will also flatter curvy hips. Also, wearing lighter, floral, or vibrant colored tops and dark colored bottoms will equalize your look.
· Petite: Go for slim fitting dresses and skirts if you have a petite body. Anything baggy works against your look, making you appear lost in the material. Also, matching a slim fitting top and high-waist skirt (that comes above the naval) is the perfect combination for petite figures. To appear taller in your spring dress, trade in flats for espadrilles or strappy heels. Another way to create the illusion of height is to wear a pencil skirt. They’re slender, which adds length to your body.
· A Larger Bust: Wearing dark colored tops and light colored bottoms will create a balanced look for those who are well-endowed. Also, look for dresses that allow a small amount of cleavage to peak through. A little cleavage can go a long way. It’s important to find dresses that fit appropriately on top. If you wear a dress that is too tight on top, you’ll start to bulge in numerous directions. Bulge can also happen if you are wearing the wrong bra size. Experts say women should be sized for their bust area every six months, as there can be slight fluctuations in weight, hormones, and body shape. A full-coverage, proper-sized bra will hold you in, while still showing a little skin.
· Plus–Size: Tailored dresses that glide along the shape of the body are perfect for plus-size figures. They’re not too snug and not too baggy. Materials that are too stretchy or thin will fall on unwanted bulges, so it’s important to look for dresses that have a thin lining. Also, look for dresses that are darker in hue since they tend to make larger figures look slimmer. Again, every aspect of the dress should graze the skin, not snuggly hug it.
Now that you know what types of dresses flatter your body type, it’s time to find the perfect dress and shoes. Let Charleston Style Concierge be your personal shopper in Charleston, SC, and help you find the best clothes to fit your individual lifestyle. We are dedicated to helping men and women feel more confident by developing a unique personal style. Contact us today at 843.323.2466.
For more tips on dressing for your specific body type visit Find the Perfect Bathing Suit to Flatter Your Body Type, or visit Find the Perfect Pair of Shorts to Flatter Your Body Type.
More often than not, each piece of your brand image was created when you needed it, but not altogether in a strategic fashion. Your image may look fine, but does fine help you grow?
Eventually as you scale, your image foundation cracks, and the way your business presents itself no longer helps propel growth – costing you time and money to fix.
When you unlock your brand power, you get to pick and choose how people perceive you and your brand.
Our Image Mastery System™ takes the 5 key brand components that you already have and ties them together in a way that amplifies your results and achieves your vision.
