Have you done an audit on your closet yet this season? Spring is a good time to take account of what’s in your closet and what shouldn’t be. Still have items with tags, with the promise “I’ll wear you soon!” GET RID OF IT. I recommend the Poshmark app. For the rest of your wardrobe, ask individual pieces these questions: have you worn it since last year? Does it fit? Does it need tailored or repaired? Also, don’t forget storage: time to store your heavy winter sweaters for next season and redd-up the sandals collection.
I have at least five skirts that need to go to the tailor before I enjoy this spring (um, that I purchased LAST spring… I need to heed my own advice).
Regardless, after taking an audit of what I needed, I added these few items to my closet:
1. A raincoat. I have no idea how I’ve made it this far in life without a rain coat. This Columbia jacket was picked up at REI and stood the test of a couple-miles walk to the train stop AND an afternoon of tailgating in drizzle. Not to mention, it’s fitted super cute. 30-something APPROVED!
2. These slip-on sneaks from Skechers. Ugh, the first time I wore them (in the rain), gave me blisters on BOTH heels AND the inside of my toe box after walking just a few blocks between bars (yeah, I took a “personal day” during Beer Week to bar hop-day drink). They were so comfortable in the store, which is unfortunate. I’ll try again because I’m a sucker, but… Dammit.
“Comfy” = wearing bandaids on my heels for an entire week.
3. I love easy-breezy spring dresses and also love polka dots. How can you resist this dress from LOFT? Super. Cute. I love the fit and material — a really easy get-up-and-go outfit for this upcoming spring weather (it’s on the way, right?)
Add any fun spring pieces into your wardrobe? Have you completed a seasonal sweep of your closets?
My neighborhood is filled with inspiring, supportive and successful women. One of those neighbors is a consultant with the UK-based company House of Colour. House of Colour has consultants around the U.S., and Julie is here in Pittsburgh — right in my neighborhood — helping women look and feel their best. And she does it through the power of color!
Let’s face it: I have always needed a little help with dressing myself. I don’t really “fit” into any of those pre-determined body fruit shapes; I’m long where I should be short — short where I should be longer. I can’t even figure out the shape of my face (maybe a heart? oval?), and I’ve only recently realized how important it is to accentuate my waist. Regardless of my ignorance, I knew I needed an appointment to sit in Julie’s studio to determine my colors. She categorizes this in “seasons,” which was done using a series of fabric drapes in various colors to determine my skin’s undertones first (on my clean, no makeup face). Once it was determined I had cool undertones, she continued placing and removing these drapes, placed over a white smock, to show the real life effect certain colors had on my face in natural light. As the session progressed, it became much easier to see what colors were either emphasizing my features or making me look sallow, “washed out,” and tired. The results were undeniable. WHO WANTS TO LOOK THOSE ANY OF THOSE THINGS WHEN YOU’RE 30-SOMETHING?!
Results: I’m a WINTER.
Which means I’ve been an Ice Princess all along… Muah-hah-hah
I have blue undertones, when I always thought I was yellow. I definitely went in thinking I’d be an Autumn (if based on nothing more than the current collection in my closet and the colors I trend to). No wonder warm tones and makeup and hair color wasn’t working for me, and I worked doubly hard to “warm” my skin and clothing, which had the complete opposite — I’m a COOL tone. Embrace the pale, Mel. Also, HELLO, my color profile includes Pantone’s Color of the Year: EMERALD.
After determining my season, Julie also put some makeup on me — and I definitely played up the dramatics with red lipstick. Yes, I — who “can’t wear red” — was wearing red lipstick. Well, I CAN wear red, it’s just I need a blue-tone red. She went through all 36 colors in my season (yes, 36!) and rated each on a star-or-check system and also on a percentage of saturation, based on placement of the color in the garment (head-to-toe, accent, accessories). What I was also impressed with was the ability to match several unique colors together and have everything look perfectly matched; it’s all about making sure the shades are within the same season and have the right tone.
There was so much valuable info — and I went home with a small binder of all my swatches and checklist to help me shop and dress (and clean out my closet)! I’m so lucky to have Julie’s color services right outside my door (but she’ll also come over and help separate/clean out closets based on your color analysis or can go shopping with you AND will soon offer styling sessions). This session will definitely save me money in the future and hopefully prevent my hoarder-like tendencies to keep things-in-my-closet-that-I-never-wear-yet-maybe-will-one-day. Truth is, I’m not wearing these items because I likely don’t look good in them.
Buh-bye browns and oranges. It’s like you don’t even want me to root for my favorite football team anymore.
I totally failed my November shopping ban. Totally. Completely. Utterly. Failed. This is what happens when there are sales, coupons and discount offers all up in my email this time of year.
But… I’m not mad. I’m EXCITED.
1. Rice Dot Tee {LOFT} / 2. Sims Pants {Trina Turk} / 3. Cozy Cable Cardigan {LOFT} / 4. Chunky Cable Open Front Cardigan {LOFT} (I love cardigans!) / 5. White Wool-blend Belted Coat {Banana Republic}
I also picked up a standard gray crew-neck tee shirt and gray-and-cream striped sweater from BP
Retail Therapy
See, when I turned 35, I made it a year-long mission to reinvent my closet. I now seek out classic, versatile and well-structured pieces. Clothing that is an investment (for, hopefully, the next 5 or so years of my age bracket) takes over where throw-away trends are concerned. On that same note, I needed long-sleeve shirts, which is where the $30 tops and sweaters sale at LOFT comes in. I have, like, one long-sleeve shirt in my closet. And it’s misshapen and almost five years old itself. Why the former obsession with 3/4-length, Mel?
Plain-and-simple, I need to dress more like I am 35 and less like I am 25. There’s a difference between being young and youthful, and being chic and playful with your wardrobe. And by “your” of course I mean myself.
About a Coat
I’ve had my (current) tan-colored wool coat from Banana Republic for nearly a decade. But… I’ve grown out of it (and by “grown” I mean it’s easily four sizes too large for me; someone at the consignment store will surely give it some more love). I bought it at an end-of-season sale for almost 50% off. It was a good deal then, and considerably so now, for how long it’s lasted in my closet.
Alas, it’s ill-fitting now… boxy — even with layers of sweaters underneath, it just looks like I’m wearing my grandpa’s coat — so I wanted a new warm winter coat that was fitted to my proportions and more chic.
I FOUND THE PERFECT COAT (see above)! On top of that, the coupon for friends & family deal (50% off!) from my neighbor was just too kind. This was also an excuse to head into the cute local neighborhood, Shadyside, of Pittsburgh. I only hope this one lasts me another decade. I can’t lie, I’m terrified about the winter white. But the style and fit was too pretty to resist.
Retail as Therapy. Makes me happy inside and out. And probably just as expensive.
Do you take advantage of great sales this time of year for personal shopping? Tell us about your Biggest Score in the comments!
THIS statement necklace, as seen on Michael Phelps’ sister at the Olympics:
I was stupid excited to see it on TV that I shouted “I HAVE THAT!” out loud.
This large, beautiful beaded piece arrived in my last CakeStyle box and I KNEW that I had to own it (mine is the white and gold version).
I’ve seen it attributed to a few different designers, so I can’t figure out Who Made it First, but you can purchase the style in orange, white, blue, emerald and pink at, well, an online boutique called red (funny name for a jewelry boutique, no?).
Don’t you love when certain items are just meant to be?
Because let me tell you, SEVERAL dresses that I loved at our local boutique Pavement were not. Thankfully, I found a couple cute shirts to add to my new super-small closet.
But I digress…
THIS PURSE (pictured above, stupid) I eyed up on my last visit to Pageboy (another awesome boutique in Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood). I didn’t buy it. So, when it was still hanging from the purse tree on my visit last Friday, it was a serendipitous purchase decision, naturally. Not to mention, tagged as sale.
The color orange has found its way into my closet in a number of ways — including in this hint-of-sparkle knit turtleneck (that I have to fold down twice so I don’t choke), these faux leather boots and this multi-tiered chain necklace.
For whatever reason, when I get into this color mood, I play matchy-matchy. Not a usual trait of my style, but this outfit feels so Fall, especially on a particularly gloomy, drizzly day when the boyfriend and I traveled Lawrenceville-to-Garfield for some delicious noms at both Tamari and Salt of the Earth (yeah, we’re like the traveling dinner party over here). But, Happy Birthday to the boyfriend and all that gooey stuff.
Bonus: I kinda like blending in with all the pumpkins. Gives me the warm fuzzies. Now, if only there were any pumpkins around…
These boots were super cheap, are totally versatile, and are SUPER COMFY… and are now entering into their fourth season. I’m not sure that they’ll last another winter, but I can’t find another replacement pair like them. Recommendations appreciated!
Top: hand-me-down (from my cousin, by way of my sister) Jeans: J Brand (awesomely repaired by Denim Therapy) Boots: CutesyGirl (who I stopped shopping with a couple years ago because of their insane shipping “rules”… I wonder if they’ve come to their senses) Necklace: Gabriel Brothers (I knotted the chain in the center for a different look)
I’m really over this 80-degree weather in October BS. Can I have my tights and boots and layered wardrobe, please?
On top of the heat, on our way to Date Night, we got a cab with no working A/C. *groan*
My mind instantly went “Oooh, 80s temperature = 80s dress!”
Enter: this short, sassy number. I love how this dress fits, even if one of the shorter items in my closet. The bottom actually contains a secondary tiered slip, which looked all kinds of weird. I considered ripping it off because I like the fit of the rest of the dress… but it will take some considerable tailoring efforts, considering how it is sewn rightfully in its place. So, I rolled the excess “skirt” from the back-to-the-front (which is brilliantly split in the back at the zipper) and tied it off to the side — and what do you know? It worked.
Note: I also ripped out the “modesty panel” that a previous owner had sewn into the V-neck. Modesty. Pssssht. I layered with a light-colored lace slip instead.
I originally styled this dress with those cute purple socks, as previously blogged, but changed on my way out the door. First, I thought my legs were far too white for this late-summer madness. Second, I felt… stumpy. Plus, derby bruises on my shins. So, I opted for a knee-high pair of black trouser socks. Naturally, I forgot to snap a picture.
Dress: Vintage (purchased online; can’t remember where) Slip: Gadzooks Shoes: Rocket Dog (via TJ Maxx; years ago) Socks: Guess? Necklace: Lionette, courtesy of Spoil Me Fashion Bracelets: hodge podge o’ stuff from my jewelry drawer Ring: Nina Nguyen, courtesy of Spoil Me Fashion
