5/31/12 - Blue is the order of the day!

The Chaus silk top was $3.50.  The Emma James navy dotted skirt is reversible with a floral pattern underneath (about 10 years old).  The cream Gianni Bini open-toed heels were $17 and are about 6 years old.  The fabulous multi-colored blue stone pendant was purchased in Llano, Tx and can be converted to a shorter necklace - it was $28.

5/30/12 - Total outfit cost $6 (top and skirt)

The little cream skirt has stripes of blue, yellow and taupe - $3.  The zip front blue top is by Express and was $3.  The top has zippers on the sleeves as well.  The snake print shoes are by Nine West. 

5/29/12 - Total outfit cost $5.(Top & Skirt)

The skirt is Jones New York ($3.) The top is Rebecca Malone ($1.91).  The shoes are by Unlisted - they are cloth paisley print with leather (red!) soles and cork heel. The open side and bow are trimmed in black leather.  These heels get plenty of attention.

But I Want a Trend!

Have you ever watched a fashion show from New York or Europe and thought, "have those guys lost their minds?  No normal person would be caught dead in that outfit!  What lunatic would wear those shoes?"  Well, in reality most of the things you see on a runway are not meant to be the complete outfit you would wear on the street.  Really, are you going to wear those purple tights - with psychedelic 6 inch heels - a rainbow bright horizontal stripe top with armholes down to your waist  - and orange floral mini skirt - all at once?  It takes a special person to accomplish this (usually someone 5'10" with an improbably tiny figure and employed in the field of modeling).  In fact, buyers for a store will pick and choose different 'pieces' of a collection for their particular market.

Each season the 'trends' change.  The 'new color' changes.  The 'it pattern' changes.  You are not bound by any of these things to make yourself look great and stylish.  The first part of the year touted kelly-green as the 'fresh' color for spring.  The dainty, thin, spare bangles are out and big, multiple bangles are in.  Don't let yourself fall into the 'got-to-have-it-to-look-current' trap and run straight to the mall with your stretched-thin wallet.  Chances are very high that you already possess at least ONE of the current 'trend' items. So let's use them. 

We have all heard the phrase "we wear 20% of our clothes 80% of the time."  Sadly, this is not just a lot of blah, blah.  There are a few reasons:

1. We wash, dry and put those items back into the closet in the handiest spot possible.  When it is time to get dressed, we grab the handiest clothes we see - which happens to be the ones we wore last week (or day before yesterday).
2. We classify some of our clothing as 'dressy' or 'casual' and can't seem to weave them into our normal wear.
3. We see the items we wear all the time and already have an idea of what they will 'go' with (since we wear them all the time!) and other items would require too much thought.
4. Because we haven't worn things in a while, we truly forget that we have them.

Let's fix the situation right now. 

SHOP YOUR CLOSET.  Yeah, yeah, you've heard that before too.  However, you haven't done it, have you?  Have You?  Um hum.  It really doesn't take forever to shop your closet.  You do need to set aside a few hours, but not a whole day.

• You actually need to Take Things From The Closet.  Don't simply shove hangers aside while you peer into the crevices of your wardrobe.  That will not work.  You will not benefit completely from the shopping experience.
• Okay - you don't hear this from anyone else, but I do NOT say 'get rid of anything you haven't worn in a year'.  That is crazy!  Why would you do that?  Did we not discuss that you are only wearing 20% of your wardrobe?  You have 80% to work with - so work with it!  
• Pull out each item and look at it good and hard.  You bought it for a reason.  Did you purchase it thinking "ooohh, I can get a cute red jacket with black buttons and this will look so Great with it!" And, since you didn't actually purchase a cute red jacket with black buttons, you have never worn it at all?  (This scenario is Very Real and Extremely Common).  Forget your first idea.  Look at the item with a new perspective of, "Wow, what a fabulous piece.  I KNOW I have something that works with this."  And, you do.  Really.  Do not box yourself into a single idea for any piece of clothing. 
• That amazing silk shirt you got over a year ago to wear to your cousin's wedding can definitely be worn Any day - don't save your 'best' things for only super-special occasions.  Why spend a load of cash on any garment you end up wearing only once (we are not talking about your wedding dress, prom dress, etc).  Isn't is just plain smarter to actually wear the clothes you purchase?  Someone will notice, too.  "Gracious, your shirt is so pretty - I haven't seen you wear that before!"  Wear your good stuff.
• When you have pulled out all of your clothing, you can see that you truly do have something to work with. With clothes outside the closet, you can better mix and match with an open mind.  Your eye is not distracted by the clothing surrounding it.  

When you have perused all your goodies, you will clearly see that you DO have a current trend (promise)!  No need to buy more right now - use your 80% that has been patiently waiting for you to come visit them again.  Expand your wardrobe - look in your closet!

That is what The Closet Fairy is here for - to help you find your better self.  Contact me with any ideas or comments.

God bless you richly.  I know that He has blessed me!

5/25/12 - Total outfit cost $7 (Jumper, Shirt & Shoes!)

Okay - the heat of summer is here.  The little yellow shirt is long sleeved, but cool -cost $2.  The Jumper is by Tommy Hilfiger and was $4.  The Steve Madden shoes are cloth & basketweave heels at a mere $1!

5/24/12 - Total outfit cost $27 (dress & shoes)

This black dress with shades of purple dots is by Robbie Bee - $10. while the Antonio Melani heels with
plum and black pattern are extra comfortable and were only $17.

5/23/12 - Total outfit cost $37. (Top, Skirt & Shoes)

This Herringbone pattern top matches the Herringbone pattern shoes($3.93) by Madeline.  The skirt has about 30 panels in it which makes it extra fluffy.  Purchased the skirt in NY ($30.)

5/21/12 - Total outfit cost $18. (dress & jacket)

This Ann Taylor purple & olive floral dress is extra cute.  The jacket is by J.J. Basics and is older - with little jewels and beads all over the front border. (Sorry about photo quality - camera insists on being fuzzy today, no matter the setting.)  The plum shoes are J Vincent.

Are you eating that muffin or wearing it?

Muffin tops.  We all know what that means.  It doesn't even sound good. And, it definitely ain't pretty.  It is hard not to stare at someone who has managed to squeeze themselves like sardines into pork sausage casings resulting in a giant overflow of flesh. Eww. 

• Wikipedia: "Muffin-top" is a generally pejorative (derogatory) slang term used to describe the phenomenon of overhanging fat when it spills over the waistline of pants or skirts in a manner that resembles the top of a muffin spilling over its paper casing.
• Urban Dictionary: When a woman wears a pair of tight jeans that makes her flab spill out over the waistband, ..
• 'Muffin-top:' A bellybutton flasher losing the battle of the bulge.
• The muffin-top’s legacy, if anything, describes the disaster that can result when the fashion industry goes terribly wrong.

See that last one?  'when the fashion industry goes terribly wrong.'  Yes indeedy.  Terribly wrong. Exposed poundage of flesh can happen to the best of folks - even skinny folks.  Just wear something that is Too Small!! We have discussed this previously - you Must wear what fits. I saw a photo of a famous actress (teeny-tiny and toned) wearing too-tight pants that left her with overhang!  If you are one of the offending muffin top gals: Take Heed.  No one, and I mean NO ONE wants to see your exposed, flesh popping, waistband stressing, body overhang.  You might have paid a lot for your jeans and your too short top and your tramp stamp tattoo, but the world does not want to see your flab - no matter how tanned it may be.  Ever.  Don't believe me?  Just ask them. They may be too embarrassed to tell you what they actually think, but they are Not going to say, "Love your fleshy spillage".  They will not tell you they think your pink thong looks great peeking from the top of your too low pants - in fact, they will be wondering a whole lot of other things - all of which are 'derogatory' (see definition number one).

When you sit down at a chair in a restaurant, and your little top, which doesn't cover your backside properly slides up to show the small child in the next booth that you have a stretched-out tattoo which is spilling dangerously outside your waistband - then you are a muffin offender.  If your love handles are hanging out to the world (not just your 'love' at home) then you must fix this immediately.  Put on pants that fit - they do Not fit if you have spillage.  Move on to the next pair or bigger size.  The world doesn't care about your tail-bone tattoo, make sure your shirt covers You.  Longer shirts are out there, non-low rise pants are out there, and something that Fits you is out there.  Go get it and put it on. 

Anyone can suffer from this little flabby ailment - but don't let it be YOU!  You can leave your front door every morning with the knowledge that you Fit into your clothes and do not fall into a baking category!

You only get One chance to make a first impression.  It really should be fabulous.  We can make that happen.  Let me know if there is something you'd like covered by The Closet Fairy.

God bless you richly.  I know that He has blessed me!

5/17/12 - Total outfit cost $17.(Top, Skirt & Shoes)

The taupe skirt is silk and has a wide lace inset at the hem - it is by H & M and I bought it in NY for $5.  The top was $3, and the Steve Madden pewter colored heels were $10. 

5.15.12 - Total outfit cost $15. (top & skirt)

It's a Navy day!  The skirt is Chico's, the top is Ralph Lauren, the shoes are Vera Wang (they were $15). Today's accessories are silver and my granddaughter picked out the cream flower pin.

5/11/12 - Total outfit cost $10.00 (top, sweater & skirt)

Remember that you can add any color with black & white.  While the 'outfit' cost $10, the whole thing top to bottom totals $32. - necklace, brooch, belt, bracelets, shoes, sweater, top & skirt!  You can't see the tiny ruffles at the neckline of the top, the necklace is Dana Buchman, the belt is Guess (it is wonderful), the shoes are Rampage suede peep toes.

She said What?

Have you ever been insulted in one of those back-handed ways?  Where the people weren't trying to insult you, but that was the complete result?  I have.  Repeatedly.  It seems that somehow people just feel comfortable exhibiting their Tourette's tendencies if it involves me.  Oh well.

Do you remember, back in the late eighties and early nineties when women of all shapes and sizes went to have their 'colors' read?  You know, a 'consultant' laid all of these different swathes of fabric under your neck and across your chest to determine what 'season' you were.  You had an option of the four - spring, summer, fall, winter.  This test established which colors were the most flattering on you.  At the conclusion of this wonderful experience, you would receive a small booklet with your 'best' colors and then you could head to the mall and never, ever again pick the 'wrong color' for you!  How great!  You should avoid all of the other colors as they didn't bring out your 'best'.  If it wasn't in your color swatch - ignore it completely.  Imagine how easy that made things for people (if you could find your specific color of red, blue, green, etc). 

So, like many women who wanted to make sure I stayed stylish, I went to have my colors done in 1992 (I still remember the name of the consultant).  After sitting patiently while the very pretty specialist laid out all of the colors from each season against my skin - she said "Hmmm."  Then she did the procedure over again. Then again.  Finally (here comes the insult) she said, "I have never had this happen.  You have No good colors."  What??!! She said it quite calmly and dead-panned in spite of the fact that this just hadn't happened to her before: that I had no good colors. It never occurred to her that she had just left me in a daze.  There was nothing that looked good on me - nothing.  There was no way in the world I could ever look good!  How disheartening.  How jaw-dropping.  How insulting that she would say it out loud in front of me! Um - now what?  What were my alternatives?  She suggested that I "just do the best you can". (Not joking).  I remember walking quite shell-shocked to my car.  Where I cried.  How do you resolve the fact that Nothing looks flattering on you?  There is not a single color or season or tone that works for you.  You are without hope to ever look outstanding.  I let that sink in.

Then I took action.  If this was my fate, I decided to look at things from a completely different perspective.  They were wrong.  I didn't have 'best' color/season because they were all wonderful.  They all looked fabulous, that's why she couldn't find one that was better than the others.  My whole attitude changed and I promise the world took notice. Now, I KNEW that without a doubt I could look fantastic.  Period. How dare anyone say that there was no way I could look good.  I could.  You can.  No matter how pitiful, unattractive, disheveled, sloppy you feel (or worse, people tell you) - you CAN look great.  You can be marvelous in spite of them.  There is something that you can do.  But first, it has to start with You and your attitude - internally.  When you are determined to look good, you will.  You may need help getting there - but it is absolutely possible to walk out your door so that the world takes notice in a positive way. If you need help, then contact me and we will make you fabulous. There is hope. 

God bless you richly.  I know that He has blessed me.

5/9/12 - Total outfit cost: $13.00(includes skirt, top, jacket & shoes!)

Today's my Birthday! The entire outfit for $13, including Matisse shoes and a leather trimmed jacket - not bad!

5/8/12 - Total outfit cost: $27 (includes top, skirt & shoes)

Today was a Color day for sure! The skirt is Dana Buchman, the shoes are Vera Wang (electric blue) and the top is Rafaella.

What is a Girl to do?

What is a girl to do every day?  First you get/fall/tumble out of bed and in a dazed stupor while mentally going over the list of things you have to accomplish in order to walk out the door and head to work, you wander to your closet and decide what to wear for the day.  Can you already see how dangerous this is?  The words "dazed stupor" are a hint.  One of the most important things you will do all day is put yourself together to greet the world - and you do it through half-closed, hair-covered eyes while distractedly thinking about something else altogether.  There are so many important things you Must do before leaving the house - find your purse, call the school to make sure there is money in the kiddos lunch account, feed the dog, let the dog out to take care of business, grab the utility bill you must drop off Today, find your keys, make sure you have the paperwork for your meeting at 10:00, try to make a mental note of the grocery items you need to pick up for dinner, remember to call the insurance company, did the kids say they had a project due in two days?  It is no wonder you get into the car and look down to see that your clothes absolutely do Not match.  At all. Sadly, this has happened before.

Most of the time, we gals put ourselves pretty far down the list of things to take care of.  Why? 
That old adage, "if Momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy" is so very true.  If you start your day knowing that you don't look great because you seriously don't match, your clothes don't fit, the dog just jumped all over you and left paw-prints everywhere, you realize you are wearing the top you wore Yesterday - and it smells, or you realize you just hate your outfit - then things do not bode well for the rest of your day.  Why do we need to start our day badly?  We don't.  We shouldn't.  We Won't!  Be absolutely resolute in that final statement:  We Won't start our day badly.  We will have a plan for ourselves.

How many of us have read some article about planning ahead which includes:

1. Laying out your outfit for the next day (a smart idea)
2. Have all your clothing "basic" (Boring)
3. Have all your clothing monotone (Even more boring)
4. Reduce your wardrobe to 10 core items (What? I really did see this on a television show)
5. Let your small child pick out your clothing (almost always guaranteed to be unacceptable).

Let's tackle these items.
1.  You don't have to actually pick out every single piece of clothing for the next day - but it is to your advantage to at least have a good idea of What you want to wear before you fall asleep.  While you are still lucid, you can remember if that clothing item is dirty or the button is missing (because you aren't going to remember in the morning and you will search everywhere in vain yanking things willy-nilly and making yourself more stressed and tardy - or you will actually find the item, wear it and have to safety pin yourself back together).
2.  More money managers are telling people to wear 'basic' clothing as a way to "save".  Pooh.  Somehow they expect you to throw out all items of clothing you already own so that anything else you may purchase (which they don't advise) will automatically fit into your 'basic' color scheme.  Blech.  Wearing beige, black or brown every day is just wrong.  No one will say you look great.  Why?  Because there is no difference from what you had on every day before.  They can't tell you have any sort of clothing personality except "Bland".  Is that your clothing choice description?  No?  Then don't listen to the folks who have no sense of style. No one tells them they look great or good or even memorable.
3.  Please see #2 - only now your clothing choice has been reduced to a single color.  Hmm. Not an option. (really, where do these folks come from who suggest these things?)
4.  I have seen and heard this ditty voiced frequently by more than one individual who should purchase a mirror and look at how absolutely drab/boring/repetitive/non-stylish/blah(how many adjectives are there for this word?) they present themselves to the public.  You are allowed to have clothes that look fabulous!  Ignore those who proclaim otherwise.  You are your Core Item.  Build from that. 
5.  Does this really need tackling?  You don't look good in the "Cinderella" top.

Mentally choose your outfit in the evening while you can still think clearly.  Without a doubt, you will be far more successful the next morning and thereby be more fabulous and happy with the world.  As stated above, You are your core item and I am certain that you are not boring.  You are fabulous and should look it. 

Let me know if there is something specific you would like discussed.

God bless you richly.  I know He has blessed me!

5/4/12-Total outfit cost: $25.00

The skirt is BCBGMaxAzria and has tons of pleats.  The top is rusched at the waist.

Total Outfit cost - $6.00 (dress & top)

Purple flowers everywhere! Are we into summer or what? Ann Taylor dress was $3!  The grape colored shoes are Gianni Bini.