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Stop feeling frustrated with a closet filled with clothes and nothing to wear. A few simple tips will help you save money and buy only the clothes that are right for you! 

Buying a dress may be one of the most challenging of experiences, right next to buying a swimsuit.  The good news is that it doesn’t have to be so complicated.  Here are some tips to help you decode the right dress for you.

Having great style has nothing to do with your age, your size or your weight.  Instead, it comes from knowing what’s right for you, wherever you are in your journey! All women can have great style, and can dress to look like a million bucks.  But knowing how to put an outfit together that flatters your figure and helps you to stand out for all the right reasons can take your confidence and your credibility to new heights.  When we look great, we feel great - and when we feel great, anything is possible! Here are my best tips for dressing to impress, if only for yourself:   1 The Power of Color  One of the first things people will notice about you is the colors you are wearing.  Color has the power to affect your mood, make you look great, make you look tired or make you stand out.  Wearing a color that makes you look great is a surefire way to attract people to you.  But knowing what color to wear isn’t always easy.  Many women are hit or miss when they choose colors and often choose incorrectly, resulting in wearing a color that can make them look old, tired or ill.  A few easy ways to discover some of your best colors are to look at yourself with a close eye.  Your haircolor, eyecolor and skintone are all colors that, when you repeat them in your clothing, will help you to look gorgeous!  2 Body Beautiful Dressing for your own body type may sound like a no-brainer, but often times we elude ourselves and dress for the body we had 10 years ago, 20 years ago, pre-baby or the body we wish we had.  Ladies, as hard as it may be one of my BEST pieces of advice for you is to take a good, hard look at the body you have right now.  Love your every curve and embrace those new squishy areas that you didn’t realize you had.  They are part of you and once you can come to terms with them, and dress them for who they are, you’ll look amazing, no matter what your size.  3 Face Time Your face does more than just take a great selfie; did you know that your face shape determines the best necklines for you, the best jewelry, hairstyle, glasses, prints – even shoes?  Understanding your face shape can unlock the key to many design elements in your wardrobe.  I always wondered why I felt ‘dorky’ when I wore round toe shoes and had a big ‘a-ha’ moment when I learned that it was because I have an angular face shape(go figure).  So now that I know, I choose to wear pointy toes because they make me feel more like me.  Once you understand your face shape you’ll understand your ‘inside line’ and it will be easy to choose:   Your best necklines The right prints for you Your best glasses The right shoes for you Jewelry to enhance your features   Many women leave these decisions to random selection and end up with a hodge podge of lines that are too distracting to be flattering or create harmony.  When you know what to look for it saves a lot of trial and error,  but just that information doesn’t guarantee that you’re dressing right for you.  It needs to come into play with other elements to create a style that’s uniquely you.      4 Tip the Scales Your personal scale helps you to wear things that are proportionate to you.  It determines how big your handbags should be, what size and how much jewelry works for you, how wide your belts are, how visually heavy or light your clothing should be, etc.  Many women don’t understand how scale comes into play and handbags are a great example of this.  When you carry a handbag that is too big for you, it makes you look smaller.  Conversely, when you carry a handbag that’s too small, it can make you look bigger (who wants that, right?) To make it easy, I’ve broken scale down into 4 categories.  Which one do you relate to? Goddess – you’re large in body and in spirit; dress yourself accordingly Rock Star – Not quite as big as a goddess, a rockstar has a strong presence and can get away with an armful of bangles and big, bold touches.  In fact, she needs these or her accessories will get lost on her Glamour Girl - your scale is not too big and not too small, but just right Dainty Diva – petite by nature, your best look is understated and on the smaller scale   5 Your Style ID Every woman is born with her very own authentic personal style that is unique to her, much like her fingerprint.  Yet not all women are in touch with what their style actually is.  I hear women often say they don’t have a style.  In fact, they do, they just haven’t discovered it.  Knowing yourself and what’s really ‘you’ goes a long way in helping you to create an outfit that’s going to have you feeling more like yourself.  Have you ever walked out the door wondering if you look like a fool in your new outfit?  Chances are it’s because it wasn’t really you.  Discover your true style and then you can dress like you mean it, every single day!   Dressing to impress isn’t about caring what others think; instead, it’s about discovering who you are and expressing it from the inside out.  When you take into consideration your elements of style, you create a look that nails it every.single.time.  And that, my dear, is pure magic! Take our free mini-quiz and discover your very own Style ID and see how amazing it can be to dress like you mean it!      

When you look in your closet what do you see? A thoughtfully planned wardrobe, rich with investment items and peppered with those less expensive items that bring in a dash of style, allowing you to get dressed easily and effortlessly every day? Or is it more an assortment of one-hit wonders bought on the clearance rack that doesn't actually go with anything and have never even been worn. In fact, the price tags are still on many of the items and you cringe every time you see that glaring price in red ink and think of how many lattes or fresh flowers you could have bought for that price (or even the $300 jacket you REALLY wanted). A closet full of good intentions Why does this happen? You set off with good intentions but go shopping without any real goal in mind. You drift aimlessly from store to store in search of that 'perfect something', even though you have never defined what that is. Oh, you already know that we'd love to have those perfectly tailored camel trousers that could be worn 12 months a year and would go with just about every top in our closet, but they're $250 and that's way too much to spend on a pair of pants. So instead, we buy things to satisfy our desire but, like a craving for food, it never really does the trick. So you buy more to fill the void. You’ve overspent (much more than the $250 the perfect pair of pants would have cost) but all you have to show for it is a closet full of sale items that are just ok. Help! Well, the good news is you're not alone. In my experience as a style expert, I see it all - the good, the bad and the ugly (so no need to be embarrassed). Most of us don't grow up knowing how to build a wardrobe (yes, build - not just throw together) so we do the best we can. Trust me, I've been there. But instead of carefully planning out our wardrobe we end up with a random assortment of items that may (or in most cases, may not) go together. It can be an exercise in frustration to get dressed. But the worst part is how much money we throw away.  PRO STYLE TIP: “Buy only what you love. If you’re not sure, the answer is NO!”Here are some tips to help you plan your wardrobe and get the most bang for your buck:  1. Buy only items you truly LOVE and can't wait to wear. You'll relish each time you put them on and ensure that you get your money's worth.2. Do a cost-per-wear analysis - Figure up how long you might keep an item and how many times you might wear it during that time. For example, if you bought the $250 pair of pants and kept them for 5 years, wearing them 50 times per year, that's 250 times and comes out to be $1 per wear - a real bargain! Conversely, if you spend $40 on a trendy top that you keep for 1 season and wear 4 times, that's $10 per wear. Not such a bargain!3. When you buy something ensure that it goes with at least 3 items you already own (and wear). For core items, they should go with many more. 4. Learn your best colors and styles so you can be assured that you're buying what's right for you. This will help you avoid one-hit-wonders, mistakes and wasted cash. 5. Plan your wardrobe. Working with an image consultant can save you valuable time and money. Invest your wardrobe dollars wisely and you'll reap the return for years to come. Click here for more on how to build a wardrobe building. 6. Clear Out Closet Clutter. Keep your closet organized and free of unworn, worn out, or outdated items. Those 'monsters' can hide the treasures hidden in your closet. Click here for more information on closet clarity.  7. Learn the Secret Power of Accessories. Accessories are a fun way to add some fun and pop to an outfit. It's a great way to show off your style in a way that is unique to you. Depending on your style and personal scale, you'll want to select the right necklace, bracelet, or scarf.  When approaching your wardrobe I want to encourage you to look at it as an investment – not only financially, but one that will give you benefits for years to come. Shopping wisely isn’t something you’re born knowing how to do but it is a skill you can learn, and quickly at that!  BUYER BEWARE: some items that cost an arm and a leg but are NOT of good quality. Sometimes you’re paying for the name but the garment isn’t any better quality than something you’d get from Target. Know what to look for and be discerning! You’ll be glad you did! PS. When you ready to go deeper into taking the dress out of getting dressed, you may be interested in the StyleFinder School of Style. It is a great community full of supportive women and each month we tell you what to wear and how to wear it for the season. Membership is limited. Click here to check the status.

It seems that the beginning of each season is ripe with conferences, retreats, meetings and travel.  While these events can be wonderful experiences, many women I talk with dislike packing for them almost as much as they dislike shopping.  Personally, packing used to provide a big challenge for me.  I would always choose the biggest suitcase I could find and fill it to the brim with many more clothes than I would actually need or wear.  While my ‘be prepared’ approach borrowed from the Girl Scout motto may have seemed a good intention, it did not serve me well on my journey.  Often I’d find I’d have too many shirts, but not the right pants, or I’d have the perfect shoes for the dress I left behind.  When you have a packing strategy you will know for sure what you have and what you’ll need.  You’ll also pack less while creating more wardrobe consistency and will make it a piece of cake to get dressed each day!  Try these tips on your next trip: 1/ Plan your wardrobe around your shoes – Yes, you heard that right.  When space is a consideration, starting from the feet and working your way up can save you valuable space in your suitcase.  For example, if you want to take your best black heels, plan several outfits that they will go with, rather than just one.  Several print dresses will be a perfect complement, maximizing the versatility of the shoes.  This way you can take only 2 pairs of shoes (at least one pair of flats just in case).  I recommend sticking with a darker neutral shoe because it will be ‘least memorable’ and no one will notice that you’re wearing the same shoes every day – only how fabulous you look! 2/ Metallica -   When packing jewelry decide on either silver or gold and stick with it.  This means all your metals should relate, including those metal bits on your handbag, your dress or your shoes.  When opting for a solid metal rather than anything that has color or gemstones to it will be more versatile. This allows you to swap out your earrings, pile on an extra necklace, add a cuff and give your most simple (and elegant) jewelry multiple personalities. 3/ Remember Your Pashmina – When sitting in a conference room all day, chances are it’s going to get a bit chilly.  A pashmina can work as a scarf for outerwear then double as a shawl when you get cool.  Also, try rolling it up and using it as a pillow on the plane for even more versatility! 4/ Your Bottom Line – During my travels I have seen more underwear snafu’s than you can imagine. To avoid this, lay out all your outfits and then determine which undergarments you need for each outfit.  Remember, white underwear/bra does not go under white (choose skintone).  If your dress or top are cut low on the sides, bring a cami.  And a thong is not always the best choice. When you wear the wrong underwear with that fabulous new outfit, it only takes away from your look - and your credibility.  5/ Less is More – When traveling, create a wardrobe capsule that will ensure all your needs are met and that you have multiple looks from only a few pieces.  Plan to start with between 7 – 12 pieces of clothing (fewer for a short trip) and ensure that all your pieces are interchangeable and can be worn in multiple ways.  You’ll have many options from few pieces and can get away with only a carry on! Bonus tip – When you do need to check your bag, pack a back-up outfit in your carry-on just in case.  On a recent trip, I witnessed at least several women whose bags were MIA and had to go out and spend several hundred dollars just to have 1 or 2 outfits after they had already gone shopping for new and fabulous clothes for the trip.  A lightweight skirt and top or dress in a deep neutral that can be rolled up and stowed can save your image and leave you feeling like a savvy traveler.

One of my favorite wardrobe building principals that I have taught to hundreds of clients is to create a wardrobe capsule.  Typically a capsule involves between 7 – 12 items of clothing that work together interchangeably, mixing and matching to create up to 20 (or more) outfits.  This strategy works well while building your wardrobe each season, too! We wanted to have a little fun with it and decided to put our style expert skills to the test.  Today on StyleFinder LIVE we took the Capsule Challenge: 5 items, 5 outfits.  And can I just say that we passed with flying colors? Here’s how I pulled it off. First, I chose a destination.  After all, how can you know what to pack if you don’t know where you’re going?  Because I’m a wine enthusiast, I chose California wine country – Sonoma Valley, to be exact.  We’re heading there this weekend and I wanted to look chic!  (a gal can dream, right?) The core pieces: 1/ White silk tank 2/ Tees by Tina navy skirt 3/ Navy and white print cropped pants 4/ Long white cardigan 5/ White linen jacket with embroidery  Each of my core items can be mixed and matched and worn with the others.  Choosing a neutral palette of navy and white gave me great versatility.  Typically I recommend that you choose 2-3 colors as the foundation of your capsule.  Then I added in different shoes and accessories to make it more fun. *In reality, I would pack more than 1 shirt because I have been known to spill red wine or coffee. ;-)   Now that I have my foundation, I added in a few fun items to stretch these pieces and give them some personality.  The accents: 1/ Navy cropped leggings 2/ White with navy ‘literary print’ scarf 3/ Blue color burst scarf 4/ My personal hat The scarves were worn a couple of different ways. In the picture above, I wore them as a ruana but I could also wear them around my neck just draped, or in a loop.  I chose silver as my metal, adding in pewter metallic wedges and silver jewelry (that would coordinate with everything).  I decided at the last minute to add in my caramel slides because they coordinated with my hat, and chose a pair of gold earrings with blue freshwater pearls to tie in with them.    In actuality, I believe I could create at least 13 looks just using these pieces mentioned above, which just goes to show what’s really possible when we see it from a different perspective.  This was a fun exercise that stretched the way we think about putting outfits together, and helped us see how creative we could be.  My challenge to you: get into your closet and create your very own Capsule Challenge!  Choose 5 items of clothing and create 5 different looks, adding in only accessories to change it up.  Then tag us on Facebook @StyleFinderBoutique or @shopstyleFinder on Insta.  We’d love to see what you create! 

When you look in your closet what do you see? A thoughtfully planned wardrobe rich with investment items and peppered with those less expensive items that bring in a dash of style? Or do you see a hodge-podge of items bought on the clearance rack or a budget store that don't actually go with anything?   Many women go shopping without any real goal in mind, drifting aimlessly from store to store in search of that 'perfect something'.  Oh, you already know that you'd love to have those perfectly tailored camel trousers that could be worn 12 months a year and would go with just about every top in your closet, but they're $150 and that's way too much to spend on a pair of pants.  So instead, you buy things to temporarily satisfy your desire but, like a craving for food, it never really does the trick. So you buy more to fill the void. You end up overspending (much more than the $250 those pants would have cost) but all you have to show for it is a closet full of sale items that are just ok. Help!  Well, the good news is you're not alone. Most women don't grow up knowing how to build a wardrobe so they do the best they can. Trust me, I've been there too. Instead of carefully planning out your wardrobe you end up with a random assortment of items that may (or in most cases, may not) go together. It can be an exercise in frustration to get dressed. But the worst part is how much money you throw away.  Really, when you think about what you have in your closet versus what you actually wear, the truth might surprise you! Next time you go out shopping, think long and hard about what you buy. Because going cheap is costing you WAY more money than actually investing in a nice wardrobe would.  Here are some tips to help you plan your wardrobe and get the most bang for your buck:  1/ Buy items you truly LOVE and can't wait to wear. You'll relish each time you put them on and ensure that you get your money's worth.  2/ Do a cost-per-wear analysis - Figure up how long you might keep an item and how many times you might wear it during that time. For example, if you bought a $250 pair of pants and kept them for 5 years, wearing them 50 times per year, that's 250 times and comes out to be $1 per wear - a real bargain! Conversely, if you spend $40 on a trendy top that you keep for 1 season and wear 4 times, that's $10 per wear. Not such a bargain!  3/ When you buy something ensure that it goes with at least 3 items you already own (and wear).  4/ Learn your best colors and styles so you can be assured that you're buying what's right for you.  5/ Plan your wardrobe. When you look at your wardrobe as a comprehensive whole rather than just what you’re wearing at any given moment, it brings a new perspective to it and helps you to approach it more effectively.   You’re going to buy clothes, so why not spend your money wisely and ensure that you always have something wonderful to wear?

The way you shop makes a difference. Always shopping the sales? Or do you shop more like a man, getting a season’s worth of clothing at once? Your shopping habits can be very telling when it comes to your wardrobe, but also when it comes to your wallet and your confidence! Women are going to spend money on clothes. But did you know that the way you spend money might be costing you more? Often I’ve found that women who only bought a piece or two at a time, or only shopped sales, thought they were spending far less money than they actually were. Conversely, those women who spent $1k or more in a strategic way actually saved money by buying more at once. Can you believe it? Over the past decade as a Master Style Coach, I’ve noticed that women generally fall into one of five categories. I’ve also seen how their habits can destroy their confidence, or can boost it exponentially. Take note of the pros and the pitfalls with each category, and see what subtle shifts you can make so that your shopping habits work FOR you and not against you. 1/ Desperate ShopperThe desperate shopper waits until the last minute to shop for an outfit, and often en route to an event or even a job interview. Because they lack sufficient time to seek out items that are truly right for them, the desperate shopper settles for something that’s less than ideal. Maybe the style isn’t quite right, maybe she can’t find the right shoes, or she needs alterations. There’s no time to go anywhere else because she has less than 24 hours before her big event. Sometimes she even changes at the store to head straight to her event. Paula was a desperate shopper on her way to a job interview when she popped into StyleFinder for the very first time. This was a risky move because she didn’t really know what we’d have and we had never worked with her before. We were quickly able to help her find an outfit that worked and she got lucky that we had her sizes in stock. She put together some jewelry that finished it off, but she had not worn the right shoes and, with just 5 minutes to spare, didn’t have time to shop for those elsewhere. She headed out the door feeling good, but could have felt so much better if she weren’t in a panic. Mindset: “I’m not worth taking time out to shop or plan. I’ll just wait until the last minute.”Pitfalls:• Never gets it quite right• Doesn’t want to wear things again because they didn’t really work the first time• Never takes time to build a wardrobe• Has way too many clothes but nothing she loves 2/ Bargain ShopperThe bargain (or discount) shopper ONLY shops the sale rack, or at discount stores like Target, Old Navy, etc. She is a sucker for a bargain and will settle for something that’s less than perfect if the price is right. She builds her wardrobe on cute, trendy and cheap pieces that aren’t built to last and never really has the foundation she needs. Sarah was a bargain shopper when she first called me years ago. I got into her closet and quickly understood her issue: her wardrobe was built on cheap pieces bought at Target/Old Navy or on sale. After just a few wears many of them had pilled, stretched out or shrunk, and were no longer appropriate for her career. She felt frustrated that she had spent so much money, but had little to show for it. I taught her the principles of building a wardrobe, and she began to understand how to invest in her wardrobe, rather than just go cheap, and how it would save her money in the long run. Mindset: “I am not worth paying full price to get what I need; I can always find a better deal”Pitfalls:• Sacrifices quality for price• Settles for something that isn’t quite right for price• Never really buys outfits, just separates • Lots of one hit wonders or stray items• Always has a closet full of clothes nothing to wear • Missing core pieces that are the foundation of her wardrobe 3/ Casual ShopperThe casual shopper loves to shop and often enjoys it with friends on the weekend or an afternoon outing. She’s always on the lookout for the latest trends or something new to add to her wardrobe. She’ll buy a piece or two here and there, but rarely does she buy a full outfit. Terry is a casual shopper who loves to check out her favorite boutiques after lunch with friends. They’ll stroll in and out of their fave shops to see the latest accessories, colors, shoes and trends. Occasionally they’ll find something and each of them will have to have it: a necklace, a cute hat, a fun pair of pants. But rarely does she take the time to try on a full outfit. Terry confides in me that she feels like she spends so much money on clothes but can’t figure out why she has such a hard time getting dressed in the morning. Mindset: “I deserve to look good and am always looking for something to add to my wardrobe.” Pitfalls:• Buys a piece or two at a time, hoping things will work together (but they rarely do)• Never buys an outfit or even a capsule• Buys more clothes but never ‘builds’ a wardrobe• Too many clothes, but it doesn’t all work together 4/ Get it Done ShopperThe Get it Done Shopper is a serious shopper who shops like many men do. They go into their favorite boutique once or twice a year and buy a season’s worth of clothes at once, including accessories and jewelry. Then they don’t set foot inside a boutique for another 6 months or so because they have what they need. Our client, Irene, is a get-it-done shopper. We see her a couple of times a year and we know that when she makes an appearance, she means business. When Irene shops, she doesn’t want just items, she wants outfits, complete with the best necklace, earrings, scarf or jacket to complete the look. Ready to invest in her wardrobe, she knows that if she spends $1 - $2K now, she’ll have exactly what she needs all season. She is sure to get everything she needs – including advice on what shoes to wear – so that she can go through the next season looking and feeling great! She is able to get dressed quickly and easily each season and knows she always has something to wear. Mindset: “I don’t like to shop, but I want to look polished and need to do this for myself; I know if I invest the time and money to get what I need, I won’t have to think about my wardrobe for another 6 months.” Pitfalls: • May fall into a rut• Wears same outfits over and over• Doesn’t refresh often 5/ Strategic Shopper This type of shopper is the ideal type. She shops once a quarter, booking an appointment with her favorite Stylista to ensure she gets what she needs for any events, trips or just everyday wear for the upcoming season. She is sure to build a capsule, including jewelry and accessories, and get advice on the right shoes and lingerie. Because of her habits, her look is consistent and creates confidence. Mary is a strategic shopper and knows exactly what she needs. She books her appointment with us quarterly for a Wardrobe Strategy Session and often brings in a few pieces from her wardrobe. Mary knows time is money, and she is not afraid to buy exactly what she needs. She also pops in a few times throughout the season to add in those touches she know will set off her wardrobe including tops in bright colors, fresh jewelry or an unexpected jacket. She is sure to buy only things she knows will work with what she already has in her closet. She gets dressed in five minutes or less everyday because she has taken the time to build a wardrobe, and she cleans her closet out at least twice a year. She loves her closet and feels great when she walks into it, knowing it supports her in her life. Mindset: “I’m worth it and I’m going to invest time and money into my wardrobe, knowing it will pay me back in spades.” Pitfalls:None Take note of which type of shopper you are and what tweaks you can make to your habits to set yourself up for success. Need help? Our Stylistas can help make your shopping more efficient while saving you money. Book your complimentary Wardrobe Strategy Session today! https://shopstylefinder.com/appointment/

Jeans are a staple in most women’s wardrobes, but when it comes to finding a great pair of jeans, knowing where to start can be a bit confusing. After all, there are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of jeans manufacturers. What works on your friends, your sister or your daughter may not work for you at all. So how can you find your perfect pair without tearing your hair out? Follow these 5 steps and you’ll discover how easy getting the perfect pair of jeans can be.

Cropped pants, pedal pushers, capris, clamdiggers, shorts…. They may be known by many names but these short pants have become known and loved by women of all ages, shapes and sizes, and with good reason. Cropped pants offer a cool alternative to full-length trousers or jeans, and are perfect for summer weather. Capri pants became popular in the 1960’s with the Mary Tyler Moore show, and caused a bit of a stir.  Today, Capris and cropped pants of all lengths have gone mainstream and are right on trend. Years ago, before I became a style coach and know what I know today, I had a pair of cropped pants that made me feel frumpy.  The rise was too low, giving me a muffin top.  The hemline stopped at the widest point of my calves and made my legs look much heavier than they were.  And the whole look was just not right.  Yet somehow I convinced myself to buy these horrible pants and wear them because I felt that I ‘should’ be able to pull off cropped pants, and that if I just lost a few pounds they’d be perfect.   When wearing them on vacation, I remember feeling awful in them.  But I was determined to wear what I had spent my hard-earned money on.  Once home, I took a long look at a picture of myself in the pants and recoiled in horror.  While I had no idea why they didn’t work (I thought it was because I was too fat), I got rid of the pants then and there.  Years later, I found out why they weren’t right for me – and what I could have done differently - and now I want to save you from making the same mistake.   While cropped pants may be popular, there is no one style that is right for everyone.  There are several important factors that should be taken into consideration to ensure that you’re getting the best look for you. Finding the best style for your body isn’t just a matter of luck, or being born with legs for days.  What matters is proportion.  Once you crop your pants, the ratio of pant to leg becomes an important factor.  When done right, your cropped pants can make you look inches taller and pounds thinner. Follow these guidelines and you’ll nail it every time:   1/ The Hemline is Key Where the hemline of your pants hits your leg is the number one consideration when determining what’s right for you.  Make sure the hemline ends at the narrowest part of your leg. If it stops at the widest part of your calf, your legs will appear larger and shorter. Do not leave this to chance, for this can make your legs look much shorter/heavier than they are if it stops at the widest point.    To determine where your pants should fall, find the widest point of your calf – this is where your pants should NOT stop.  You want the hem of your pants to hit you above or below this line.  Typically, just under the kneecap is more narrow and makes a good stopping point.  If your calves are on the heavy side, then opt for ankle-grazing pants.  With so many lengths of cropped pants available, don’t settle for one that isn’t right.  Find one that is or have the longer pair tailored to suit you.   2/ Tapered or Flared When your cropped pants are tapered, or slim-fitting, they create a harmonious silhouette against your leg.  In short, the eye is drawn vertically and they have a slimming effect.  A slight flare at the hemline can work for you as well, but avoid a full-on flare as it can create a horizontal visual, cutting your leg off and shortening you.  Plus, you run the risk of looking like you’re wearing high-waters.  A skinny or straight leg is your best bet.   I’ve been putting many of my clients with a little extra around the middle in our skinny crops paired with a longer tunic and the effect is astounding!  While the tunic has to be the right cut - a longer top that covers your bottom - it can visually take off pounds!   3/ Off the cuff Cuffs on cropped pants and shorts can make your legs look heavier, and therefore are best on those with long, nimble legs.  If your legs are shorter or heavier, staying away from a cuff is your best bet.  If you do choose a cuff, select a cuff with a width that is proportionate to you.  If you’re tall, you can wear a deeper cuff.  If you’re of average height, a more narrow cuff will look better for you.   4/ Low Contrast Take into consideration the contrast between your pants, shoes and skintone when wearing cropped pants.  When you keep your pants and shoes in a tone not too far from your own skin, you create a lengthening effect.  Dark pants create a stark contrast against pale skin, and vice versa.  To counter the effect, keep your footwear in a color closer to your skintone than to your cropped pants.  Many of my clients want to wear black cropped pants, but they don’t realize that the contrast with their pale skin is very harsh, especially when worn with black shoes.  It is anything but slimming, and just not flattering.  A white, midtone or bright would be a much better choice, paired with sandals in a nude or metallic tone.  Teal and turquoise can also be a great choice for shoe colors, as these are ‘skin intensifiers’ and look gorgeous against your skin.    5/ Shoe In The shoes you sport with your cropped pants can have a big impact on your overall look.  To create an elongated leg-line pair your cropped pants with heels or some of the season's hottest wedges. Flat shoes can give this look a dowdy appearance. Opt for a sandal, pump, wedge or flat-form to give you a little height while making you look sleek and chic.   So now your only real dilemma with wearing cropped pants should be choosing a color.  Choose with care and you’ll rock your cropped pants all summer long, looking chic and keeping your cool too!

You know your wardrobe needs an update, but where do you begin?  First of all, don’t jump the gun.  Shopping can be the most fun process, but doing your homework can help you to make the best decisions and not become tempted by things you don’t need.  Here are my suggestions to prepare you: 1/ Make a list - Start by going through your closet to determine where there are “holes” in your wardrobe. Do you need the basics – a new suit, a few pairs of pants, great tee shirts – or do you need colorful accessories that will make our core items pop? 2/ Think Twice - If you find yourself tempted by something that’s a great deal, ask yourself if you truly love how it looks on your body and if it’s something you’d pay full price for.  If the answer is yes, and it works with at least 3 items in your closet, then go for it! 3/ Get the Munchies - Grab an energy bar or some trail mix and a bottle of water.  You’ll need sustenance and don’t want to risk making a wardrobe decision if you’re feeling light-headed. 4/ Know Thyself - Know what styles flatter your body best and stick with them.  Don’t be afraid to try something new, but if you’ve learned that a certain cut doesn’t work on your body type, steer clear of it and stick with cuts that enhance your assets. 5/ Color is Key - Know what colors are your most flattering tones.  These will make you look your best and enhance your natural coloring.  If you have had your colors done, take your palette with you.  6/ Mix high-end and low-end - Shopping can be a fun game and shopping in a variety of stores helps you to create a look that’s all your own.  You can mix investment items with something you found at a consignment shop to great effect and no one will ever guess how much (or, rather, how little) you paid for it when the overall effect is nothing short of fabulous!  Plus your look will have your personal stamp on it rather than looking like it’s right off the rack.  The most fashionable ladies shop this way and it makes for a much more interesting effect overall!  7/ Have a Strategy Your core pieces are the ones you want to invest in, but seasonal trends are where you can get away with going budget.  Trendy items won’t have the longevity of the classic items in your closet.  Do a cost per wear analysis – divide the price by the number of times you think you’ll wear an item.  For example, if you pay $30 for a dress, but only wear it twice, that’s $15 per wear.  If you pay $300 for a suit and wear it 100 times over the course of 5 years, that’s $3 per wear.  Which is a  better bargain in the long run?  8/ Three is the Magic Number -When you buy something it should go with at least 3 items you already have in your closet.  “ Fashion can be bought, style one must possess.” Edna W. Chase

Many women I work with profess that they have a closet full of black and I have to (gently) break it many of them that black is not one of their best colors. Sure, black does go with everything, but black can also be very draining. Black can be a powerful, serious color, but it doesn't exactly fill you with exhilaration or make you happy. Bold colors, on the other hand, can make you feel hopeful, happy and excited. Aside from how colors can make you feel, I want you to think about how they make you look. Wearing the right colors can help you stand out from the crowd and get you noticed. Have you ever put on a top in the perfect shade for you and just felt like, WOW? It really can color how you see yourself, and how your whole day goes, so I encourage you to experiment with color and find those colors that make you pop! Here are a few tips for incorporating color into your wardrobe, and for making the most of your own personal coloring:1/ Wear your eye color One of the best colors for you is always your eye color (called your ‘eye enhancer’). It brings subtle attention to your eyes and will get you tons of compliments, especially if your eyes are blue or green.2/ Wear your hair color If you have highlights then choose one or several of the colors in your hair to repeat in your clothing. It's very personalizing and helps you to create a look that's all you. Wearing a jacket in your haircolor that has a metallic or pearlized finish is an amazing way to boost your style quotient.3/ Turquoise, Teal and Blue-green, oh my! Do you realize how flattering bue-greens are to all skintones? From the palest white to the deepest ebony, try a turquoise, teal or other blue-green and see how gorgeous it can make your skin look! Find the blue-green shade that works best for you, whether light or dark, and stock up!4/ The Power of Brights Brights can put the wow in your wardrobe and take your core, best basic colors to new heights! Ensure you have the right shade for your coloring, as well as your personality, and temper your brights to suit your personal intensity. • If you have dark hair, choose bolder shades such as jewel tones. • If your hair is lighter, choose less-intense, medium shades.5/ Accessories Whether you're dressed head to toe in black or you opt for a nice balance of neutrals and brights, add in some colorful accessories for the finishing touch. A scarf, a necklace or earrings can be a great way to bring color to your face and lighten up a dark look. Shoes or a handbag in a vibrant hue can add a touch of whimsy and lighten up a serious look.If you're not used to wearing color, start out slowly. Once you find a few shades that are really 'you', you won't look back! While determining your best colors may be a scientific process, wearing color with confidence doesn't have to be rocket science.

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