Everyone loves holiday gatherings, but not everyone knows how to dress for them. The truth is looking fabulous and not cliche does not have to be complicated. The best thing to do is wear something festive yet not distracting, and to be comfortable but not frumpy. Here are some ideas regarding what to wear to a holiday party.

First of all, don’t be afraid to wear something that you can wear to work or another occasion. There is nothing wrong with a multipurpose outfit that happens to have red, green or other popular holiday colors. As long as you put thought into it, you will look put together and people are likely to notice the appropriate color choice.

High-end fabrics such as satin work well for nice gatherings. They tend to look sophisticated, and can brighten the entire outfit. Stick to colors that are similar to precious stones, and don’t limit yourself to emerald and ruby. Just aim to look good, not necessarily match the decorations!

Ladies, don’t forget to wear jewelry and give thought to your accessories. Gold or silver earrings, necklaces, bracelets, or rings, along with the right shoes, handbags, and hair clips or pins can really add class to your holiday attire. Choose a focal point and please, don’t go crazy with glitter or sequence.

For New Year, Thanksgiving or Christmas you can use the seasons as inspiration. Think of the holiday foods and the autumn leaves when you choose colors. Match neutrals like brown or black with deep seasonal colors like orange, red, or purple. Use a rich material like cashmere and you will have a very elegant look.

Lastly, don’t forget that you need to be comfortable. Avoid wearing clothing that is too tight, hot, or awkward. At the same time, don’t just throw on a huge sweater that will make a tent over your body. You can look put together and be comfortable at the same time.

Hi Kathi,

What colors go best with eye colors?  What Gotchas should I be aware of? Please point me in the right direction.

Thank you very much.

Regards, Lacey

Hi Lacey,

Thanks so much for this question! I am sure many others are also curious.

What I have discovered over the years is that eyes, like hair and skin tone tend to run either warm or cool, so let’s start there.

In order to answer this question and create a game plan you must always also consider the skin and hair color. The combination of all three elements will determine what colors you should wear close to your face.

Carole Jackson, author of Color Me Beautiful originally and ingeniously developed the idea of seasonal palettes and complexions. She makes it fairly easy to determine your seasonality through her in depth descriptions and color photos. You might want to pick up a copy of that book to actually see the colors that I will refer to in this article. I will also write a more detailed article about seasons and colors with and include a link to it at the end of this article once it is posted. Check back in a week or so.

Green Eyes

Green eyes come in a variety of tones, from gray/green, clear green, avocado green or hazel with a gray tone. If your eyes are gray/green, or clear green a cooler color palette will work best to compliment your eyes.

If you have the green eyes with the warmer tones of avocado or hazel, you can create a striking combination by wearing warmer colors.

Brown Eyes

Hazel / Brown eyes often have flecks of gold or green within. They would be considered a warm tone and are fun to highlight because they can change tonality or color depending on what colors are close to the face. Sometimes they can look green, sometimes gold or at other times, simply brown. These eyes work well with warm, muted colors and tones.

Some brown eyes are very dark, almost black/brown. If this sounds like your eyes and you also have blue/black hair and blue undertones in your skin, then you are probably a winter complexion and cool, clear, crisp colors will look best around your face.

Blue Eyes

Blue eyes that are deep blue with gold flecks, blue/green, turquoise will look best in softer, warmer tones.

Blue eyes that are deep blue with white flecks, aqua/ grey, clear blue, or will look best in cool colors.

I explain how to determine which season you are and the colors that will look best on you in more detail in the upcoming article titled: Seasons and What Colors to Wear. Check back next week for this article.

About a month ago,  during a sweater shopping spree, I decided that I am now all about tactile  and ‘soft to the touch’ fabrics. I have always been a cashmere junkie but now it goes even deeper than that. I can no longer take scratchy, stiff or super heavy clothing. The good part of this realization was that it became easier to weed out more items in my closet. If they did not pass the soft and cozy test they were donated to the Community Resource Center and moved onto a better life.

Now, I am sure you are thinking to yourself, soft and cozy does not necessarily jive with fashion forward and you are correct. There are always compromises in the quest for fashion. I still hold fast to my mantra that if you are wearing the right clothes, they should be comfortable enough to sleep in. The right fabric, cut and fit for your body makes all of the difference between comfort and discomfort and looking disheveled or well put together.

As a long time avid fan of microfiber panties, I was very interested when a Adea the clothing manufacturer approached me to try out their new product line. *I have to say, I really like their product line for many reasons.

Back to my initial statement, soft is one of the first attributes I now consider when I add new items to my closet. This manufacturer uses Italian-made stretch microfiber tops that simply feel really great on my body! They feel like a second skin, breathe and are really soft to the touch.

I use the two shirts I own most frequently under other clothes. Unlike other camisoles I have owned in the past, the microfiber of the Adea fabric helps it stay where it should and not roll or ride up thoughout the day.

One of the current challenges with fashion is that necklines tend to be cut very low. As a professional, showing a lot of cleavage is not ideal. Because of this, I frequently advise my clients to wear camisoles under their tops. Most of they typical camisoles prove to be problematical and uncomfortable.

I personally enjoy the cami scoop neck and back because it covers up my bra straps and cleavage at the same time without having to squirm to keep it in place.

The 3/4 sleeve vneck top, hides everything it should (ie cleavage) and flatters in all the right places.  Vneck tops with  3/4 length sleeves are universally flattering. Additionally, the microfiber does not wrinkle so it stays looking crisp and fresh all day long.

Adea shirts are nice enough to wear alone and also perfect for under suitcoats and blouses. All necklines are designed to hide and flatter at the same time with a choice of scoop, crew or vneck.

So, if you enjoy soft fabrics and need a new camisole or two, check out the new Italian line by Adea.

*A quick note ~ I do not recommend any product if it doesn’t provide a solution or benefit for my readers regardless if it was comped, which these were. The products that don’t pass this criteria are simply not reviewed on this website.

Almost every year I find myself working with brides to help them find the perfect gown for their perfect day. For me, the ideal gown is one that will highlight their best assets and detract from their less flattering features.

This case study is about an athletic bride, a rock climber, hula hooper and yoga instructor. As a quick reference, other possible body shapes include heart shapes, trilliants, ovals, and heart on hearts.  You can check back to this site where I will be adding an article about each shape as a bride but meanwhile, let’s get back to the bride at hand.

This bride was a classic emerald shape meaning that she had an athletic build with her shoulders, hips and waist about the same size.  As an athletic adventurous woman, Stephanie started her wedding dress quest with the vision of a tea length dress, nothing fancy or bridal. Since I had known her fiance for several years, and saw the love they shared, I felt this would be her once in a lifetime wedding. I also knew that the groom’s style was simple, classic, elegant and romantic.

Due to these factors, and the fact that I am a firm believer in wearing a gorgeous gown whenever possible, I wanted to give her the sensation of wearing an actual wedding gown. If she decided at that point to stay simple and not wear a gown, that was fine.  But I knew that this was her once-in-a -lifetime chance to be in a full regalia and I felt it was important to at least put her in several versions of gowns from simple to floor length with train so that she could make an educated decision.

Well, needless to say, once this bride-to-be experienced the Cinderella feeling of wearing a ‘real’ wedding gown, there was no turning back. She quickly embraced the fun and beauty of wearing a once in a lifetime gown!

The gown we ended up selecting was simple and classic. The A-Line was a perfect choice knowing that a true ball gown would be way too much for this particular bride. The key ingredients of a sweetheart neckline and an A-Line construction were included.

I really wanted to build a few curves into her athletic shape and the sweetheart neckline combined with diagonal pleating in a criss-cross pattern added effortless curves. The A-line shape with asymmetrical pleating along the full bodice added curves in all of the right places. The ivory fabric was chosen because it was perfect for her complexion and the floating pearl necklace and earrings were her something borrowed from me!

This close up  photo shows the details included on this gown. Note the asymmetrical layering and floral embellishment at the hip. Both of these, along with the sweetheart bodice and neckline added curves where it counts.

This gown had just enough train to work for an outdoor wedding and the bride and groom were able to kick up their heels in the surf after the wedding with the gown bustled!

And they live happily ever after with baby Bella now in their life!

For Your Quick Reference:

For heart shapes, I add weight below the waist to balance the top of the dress with the bottom.

For the emerald shapes, I build in curves.

Heart on Heart Shapes need to keep their balance and accentuate their curves. If you’ve got it, flaunt it!

For the inverted heart or trilliant, I add volume on the top.

When styling oval shapes I create a visual waistline and often choose empire construction.

Check back often for more wedding gown articles. This is the first in the Gown For Every Body series.

This discussion was recorded between myself and a client who came to me to review and update her image and wardrobe. The common denominator of many of my image clients is that they hire me when they are going through some type of transition.

A life transition is the perfect time to hire an image consultant. We help clients reevaluate if their wardrobe and image to ensure that it will serve them as they move into a new phase in their life.

This client graciously describes her thoughts about her style, wardrobe and image. I love her candor and insight!

Kathi: Here I am talking with Anita and we’re going to talk about your wardrobe and your image today. Tell me Anita, why did you call me and what was it that prompted you to make the call?

Anita: Okay, I’m in a transition place. I’m at a transition point in my life and I would like to know how to dress better. I called you because I would like to learn more about what works with my body, my color, and my size/shape.

And what I am really going for more than anything else, what I’d really like to determine are two things – my style, and remain consistent with my style and two is, I want to be able to go into my closet, pull things out and look good all the time.

While I’m not working, I want to look put together, neat, fun, professional. I want to look good and when I am working and as I’m interviewing, I want to be able to have the right clothing for interviewing. I just want to look put together.

Hair Before Makeover                             Hair After Makeover

Side view of fabulous haircut – sassy!

Kathi: Okay, and how do you feel right now with your current wardrobe?

Anita: Truthfully, I have some nice pieces in my wardrobe and in my closet but they’re hit and miss. I don’t always look good in them. You know what Kathi, I am very comfortable being sloppy and I don’t want to be sloppy. I want to present myself with thought. I have been very comfortable being sloppy and I don’t want to be sloppy any longer!

I want to make the effort and take the time. Right now we have a complete raw canvas just so you remember and I remember when I hear this again, I just got back from the gym. There’s no makeup on, I’ve got a big breakout on my lip. You can see the whole raw pallet, wrong color.

Kathi: Black’s the fall back, we try hard to not have the black around the face but that’s such the easy thing to find. That’s what kills me about today’s stores. But that’s okay, so you’d like to put yourself in your new wardrobe, put together, professional, kind of always coordinated. And the thing about style is if you have the right things in your closet, it’s easy.

It’s not like you have to be uncomfortable to be stylish, because the stuff will fit you nicely, it will feel like a second glove when you put it on, and you can go anywhere and do anything and not feel like you’re primped up but still look really put together.

So that’s my goal for you is to give you the elements so you can just throw and go, look good, not that much effort, and head out the door and feel like you’re presenting yourself to your best ability.

Anita: Right, good! Because that’s important to me, and that’s why I called you instead of the other numbers of image consultants. It was so clear that that was your focus and really working with each individual client, each body, each style, each age.

Kathi: We all have different bodies and we all need to begin to embrace dressing our bodies with confidence as they are right now. This is my goal for you!

Stay tuned to listen to this interview once it gets downloaded. There will also be a follow up ‘after transformation’ video posted in the future so check back on this client’s continuing journey. She is a beautiful and amazing woman!

Situation:

My client was ending her long time career as a freelance consultant and transitioning into an entrepreneur. She needed clothes to show that she was a serious business professional while she was networking that she could change out of quickly when she had to switch into yoga or surfing instructor mode.

Challenge:

As a water baby who always has her feet in the sand, my challenge is to create a wardrobe that works with her lifestyle but still looks ‘put together’ even right after she gets out of the ocean. She never knows who she might meet as a potential client or partner on the beach or around town and wants to look her best at all times.

At the same time, she can’t really wear suits, business clothes or look too ‘businessy’ since she owns an active lifestyle business and conducts much of her networking and business in an ocean setting or yoga studio.

Solution:

This was actually a pretty simple solution. I found a new collection of skirts, cute dressy pull-over shirts, sexy flat sandals and simple cotton jackets. When she gets out of the water, she can simply pull one of her skirts and shirts on over her swimsuit and she immediately looks like a business owner instead of a casual surfer chick. Because most of her wardrobe items are cotton, they are washable and will dry quickly in the sun.

Now that she has released her clunky Birkenstocks and added a few pairs of cute feminine sandals, she is now light years ahead of her old casual chunky style!

Her business is thriving and I am so proud of her. Check out her school and philosophy at Mary’s website.

What My Client Said:

Hi Kathi,

Thank you so much for all your help! I can’t tell you how excited I am about our shopping adventure.

I had a session with a client yesterday evening and the first thing she said was “oh my god, you look great!” – just a few changes can make such a huge impact!

I can’t tell you the difference I feel with my new wardrobe – it’s so fun to have something cool and creative to wear every day, what an amazing change!

Mary McGibbons-Craft

Waves of Change

Situation:

This client flew in from Canada to update her wardrobe. She is a horsewoman who was used to wearing oversize sweaters and faded jeans with mucky boots because of her hobby and the cold climate.

She traveled frequently and was tired of feeling frumpy and under dressed especially when traveling to Europe or larger cities where folks are more fashion forward.

Challenge:

I only had a few days to pull together a new wardrobe that worked for her lifestyle, body shape and cold climate.

She is what I call an ‘emerald’ shape or a ‘long and lean’ so my goal was to build curves into her figure and silhouette. I also had to find clothes that she felt comfortable wearing that were a step up from her uniform of jeans, tshirts and sweaters.

Her glasses were a bit outdated and too large for her face so I wanted to find better frames for her as well.

Solution:

I found some really nice empire seamed dresses and fitted jackets which will draw the eye to her tiny waistline and give her great built-in curves.

I also advised her to button one of the buttons on her sweaters and jackets so that the clothing seams I selected would play a larger part in building her curves. We were able to find a couple of pairs of cute boots to get her through winter a bit more stylishly than her old ‘comfortable’ shoes.

After shopping, we took a trip up the coast to my salon of choice and gave her a new hairstyle which made her hair look much healthier.

New glasses were also selected to make her new look completely current. We found two new pairs that worked perfectly for her face shape and size. One pair had great style for everyday wear and another pair with red rims are for the days when she is feeling sassy!

What my client said:

Hi Kathi,

Had dinner with my fashion savvy girlfriend tonight and she gives thumbs up to what she saw.  She says I look very put together and she likes the hair.  I told her wait till she sees my cute dresses later.
Hope you are well.

Linda Kim

Situation:

This very successful, powerful woman was used to wearing hippie chick tie dye and/or goddess clothes every day, even while working with clients. Her shoes did nothing to elongate or flatter her curvaceous figure.

Challenge:

She wanted to hide in oversize clothes. This is a very common scenario when we gain weight. We often think that if we wear larger clothes, we will hide our issues BUT actually, the very opposite effect happens. We end up looking larger than life and, instead of hiding our extra pounds, we add on a few more!

Another challenge was that this client had some foot issues and wearing heels was a challenge so the shoe collection was less than flattering.

Solution:

We started by weeding out the clothes that did not flatter her shape or coloring. After reviewing her shoe collection, I went on a search for pointy toe shoes that would actually fit and be comfortable. I can hear your thoughts right now and yes indeed, it is possible to find pointy shoes that you can wear all day in comfort! You might have to try on more pairs than usual, but if you persist, you will find the perfect pair.

I also favor v neck and scooped necklines as they elongate her figure and she has fantastic décolletage. I then convinced her that pencil skirts were very flattering for her body type and made her visually lose weight instantly.

I went searching for the perfect dark wash jeans (check out the great jeans above) that could also be worn as dress slacks on the days she did not feel like dressing up for meetings. Everyone, by the way, should have at least one pair of dark washed jeans with no fading, rips, or distress markings!

After eliminating the goddess outfits, I concentrated on adding a nice selection of jackets to her wardrobe so that she could appear dressed and professional in a snap.

She is now embracing pencil skirts, pointy toe shoes and looks fantastic. Isn’t she beautiful!

What my client said about her new wardrobe: “I am so glad that I brought you home to my closet after we worked on my office file system. My husband is ecstatic and you have gained a lot of credibility around this household. Thank you!”

What her husband said: “Thank you Kathi for getting rid of all her tie dye clothes!”

What my client said after organizing in her law office:

“I was astounded at how much we accomplished in 4.4 hours last week. My whole office just feels so different now that everything has its correct place. I was so inspired that I spent another 5 hours working on my own. I am so excited at the prospect of bringing you home so we can do the same magic. I can’t thank you enough for your expert advice. You are worth every cent and more.”

All the best, Belinda Rachman, Esq.

Divorce In A Day Mediation

This special report is a compilation of 8 years of private consultations with my male clients. It covers their most commonly asked questions with succinct and easy to implement ideas and advice. It also includes a list of the 18 essential wardrobe elements that every well-dressed man should have within his closet.

Topics within this report include:

• Men’s 18 Essential Wardrobe Elements
• How to Select the Perfect Suit
• Choosing Your Perfect Shirt Collar Shape
• How to Become a Sharp Dressed Man
• Frequently Asked Fashion Questions

Situation: This client had just graduated from college and was beginning her first job search quest.

Challenge: Her college clothes were worn out and not interview appropriate. Her black shoes and slacks left over from her waitress job were not going to create a great first impression. Our budget was limited and we needed to find enough clothes to wear during first and second interviews if necessary. Also my goal was to find enough coordinates so that she would have enough wardrobe variations to last through her first week or two on the job or until she received her first paycheck.

Her plus size stature made it difficult for her to find clothes that she thought would look good on her body. She did not feel confidant that she could find a suit that did not make her appear old and dowdy. I did not want to put her in black head to toe and was happy to find a nice brown jacket which really highlighted her green eyes. After all, she is only 22!

Solution: I was able to find her a few separates that all worked together to create 5 different outfits. We ended up with this great pair of black shoes, 2 pairs of slacks, one skirt, 3 shirts and 2 jackets. She was amazed that we could find so many pieces that all worked together and even fit!

I always recommend that my clients wear their jacket buttoned as they enter the interview meeting and every time they enter a room. A buttoned jacket makes the outfit look more ‘put together’ and sharp with minimal effort.

A side note: She received a gift certificate for my services as a graduation present from her step mother. We started by working together on her goals for a full time job and career using the What Color is My Parachute Book to help her determine her skills and passions. After this session, she had more insight onto the type of jobs she wanted to pursue.

The second part of her present was a Macy’s gift card which we used to purchase the clothes which she needed to pursue her career dreams.

What an incredibly thoughtful and life improving gift!

If you are set on wearing red and green during the holidays, try these tips to make sure you don’t get mistaken for one of Santa’s little helpers:

* Use pops of red, instead of an all over look, like in a shoe or bag.

* Choose deep jewel toned greens in rich fabrics.

* Elude to the idea. Try not to wear either or both in an overwhelming and obvious

Women: I don’t suggest wearing sequins unless you know that the party really is a formal one or your sequins are scattered in very small amounts. Sequin gowns at non-formal events scream either (a) HELP! I’M STUCK IN 1992! or (b) I have nowhere else to wear this, and really, really, really wanted to. Rather, wear a tasteful cocktail dress. Something nice, maybe with minimal beading or a sequined neckline, but for the love of all things holy, please don’t wear head-to-toe glitter.

First, you must acknowledge your audience.  If you are attending a work party, you must remember to always look sophisticated and proper.  That doesn’t mean that you have to come in the same old suit.  Switch it up a little by pairing the classic black dress pants with a fun colorful sequin top.

Or maybe you are meeting your potential in laws for the first time.  You don’t want to look like you are trying too hard.  Our suggestion, a classic sweater paired with jeans.  To add a little kick to your step add some stylish boots, and accessories.

Finally always remember to be comfortable.  If you are in an outfit, but are in agony, know that the outfit is as well.  If you are comfortable, it shows.  Being comfortable in your own skin is the biggest success of them all!!

Dear Kathi,

Women go through many changes in their lives. Making the transition from work clothing to retirement is my most difficult challenge. My eyes still wander to classic clothing when shopping instead of cute, fun, playful, retirement appropriate styles.

Thanks for all your help with what works after 60.

Pat

Dear Pat,

I am a strong believer in classic timeless wardrobes. That being said, it is really fun to play with trends throughout your life and this should not stop as you get older. I love seeing retirees embracing a few of the latest trends when it is done ‘right”. You need to create a balance between trends and your own personal style. As we age, it is generally more stylish to accentuate the classic with only small homage to trends.

I think the proper way to have fun is to mix new ideas with tried and true classics that you know already work for your body. For instance, I am flying to work with a client in Ohio today. In the airport, I saw a stunning woman who appeared to be in her 70’s. She had on her basic black slacks which fit perfectly, a tweed jacket and then really unusual shoes that were the young hip, sporty tennis shoe style. Her shoes combined with her  modern hair style made her look youthful and classic all at the same time.

If there is any advice I will follow when I reach retirement age it will be this: Stick with the lines and styles that work for my body, not against it. Combine new trends that work  with my classic standbys to create an image that has a little hint or element of the youthful ‘look’ of the day, whatever that might be at the time.

I don’t ever want to fall into the complacency of wearing clothes simply because they are ‘comfortable’.  I will not get stuck in my old ways like other retirees often do, but instead will always strive keep current in some fashion or another. That being said, I think where some older women go wrong is that they completely ditch what they have been wearing for years and construct entire outfits entirely with current trends. This creates an image of trying too hard and often looking quite foolish.

Whether you are young or old, the key to keeping in style is wearing clothes that are classic cuts in the right color and the perfect fit for you. Pay homage to the current trends by adding them to your outfit in the form of a blouse, shoes, bag, haircut or accessory. This will not only help your budget but will also keep your style authentically you!

Tis the season to layer multiple necklaces and wear bold chunky earrings. With cool weather and sweaters, layered necklaces help balance the bulkiness of your sweater. Bold and larger earrings provide the same effect. Since fashion trends tend to repeat every 30 years, big chunky earrings from the 80’s are the hot accessory this season.

When you layer your necklaces, make sure to combine short with long.  Combining chains with pearls is also a really current look right now. If you have been remiss about breaking out your pearls and they have been neglected for the past few years, here is your chance!

Michelle Obama joined into this trend by combining two necklaces together for this outfit.

Broaches are also back! Pull out your vintage pins and attach them near the neckline of your dress for a more modern twist on the traditional lapel placement. If you are feeling more adventurous, use your broach to clasp your multiple necklaces together.

Whatever you decide to wear, make it bulky to offset the layers and bulk of your winter outfits. Even if your apparel is not bulky, this is the time to chunk it up with your accessories!

We have worked hard designing and fine-tuning this website but realize that there is always room for improvement.

This is your chance to let us know how we can provide more information about what truly matters to you.

Click here to take a super quick survey

Situation:

This successful entrepreneur has an incredibly casual work environment so jeans and sports garb were common office attire. As he began serving on numerous city boards and running for council, he wanted to step up his image for the increased community visibility.

Challenge:

Helping this client realize that ‘stepping up his image’ would not mean wearing uncomfortable clothes. Getting him out of his day-to-day tennis shoe routine. After all, tennis shoes should only be seen when going to and from the gym or a sporting event!

Solution:

Finding separate pieces that were casual and comfortable but were a tad dressier than the clothes he normally selected. I found dark washed jeans that he could pair with a nice shirt and even a sport coat, if necessary, for board meetings. Also, dark green and brown jeans that had a bit more edge than blue jeans when paired with a sport coat.

I found incredibly stylish shoes that had tennis shoe soles and similar fit and feel but were constructed in dark brown leather.

*Please note: This photo was taken during shop phase and before tailoring and alterations.

Situation:

An upper level manager who travels frequently and needs to look professional. She is required to dress up for formal meetings but at other times does not want to appear too formal or intimidating to her staff.

Challenge:

The biggest challenge for most women is finding suits that are not black! Most women beyond their 20’s, and unless they are true winter complexions, are best served to keep black away from their faces. Unfortunately, when it comes to suits, it is very difficult to find very many choices besides black.

Solution:

This client looked good in almost every color except black and especially great in lime green and navy. After much searching, I was able to find a navy suit and a lime/brown suit that we could dress up or down based on her schedule for the day. Two suits can turn into at least 6 outfits when paired perfectly together.

You can see that this suit looks just as nice during “Jeans Friday” when dressed down with jeans, as well as during formal client meetings.

Check out the incredibly fun and sexy shoes that she is wearing with her jeans outfit above!

The outfit below shows how to combine a suit coat with a jersey knit dress to create another style.

Situation:

Everyone needs one perfect little black dress. It is one of my 18 Essential Wardrobe Elements. This client wanted to reinvent her style. Many of my clients request the same shift after they have been out of school and in the work force for a few years.

Challenge:

Amazingly, this job was not a challenge at all! I was searching specifically for 40’s inspired pieces and was lucky enough to find several with little effort. That will probably never so easily again, but sometimes the stars align perfectly with my desires!

Solution:

This client looks and feels great in classic vintage inspired clothes. The lines are a perfect fit for her body and her personality. As you can see with this dress, it is ultra feminine and very flattering. It is so unique and form-fitting, it should be couture! We also found beautiful cardigans with interesting beadwork, lacy camisoles and peep-toe pumps to reinforce her new style throughout her entire wardrobe.

We even found this simple and stunning ivory satin dress below which later became her wedding gown!

I was asked to test out a new product recently and I have to say – I love it. This entrepreneuer has designed a clever new way to clear the everyday muck from our handbags!

The Purse Perfector makes changing purses really easy and effortless. Being a no-fuss kind of gal, I do not change purses very often (can you believe this coming from an Image Consultant?!) As a Professional Organizer,  I simply love what this little organizing device does for the inside of my purse.

#1 It keeps everything vertical at all times from my pens to my business cards, sunglasses and lipstick!

2. Everything has a place to live (a home). Although this is basic organizing 101, it rarely happens inside the great abyss of our purse!

3. This organizer can change shape with the zip or unzip of a zipper! So it can fit into a small clutch for formal affairs by just using half of it (I do change purses for these events!) It works well with longer short and narrow purses  by simply unzipping and unfolding.

My favorite moment was when I discovered I could tuck my fat wallet into the middle by simply unzipping one end. Now my wallet has the prime position in the center of it all. You never know when you might need the debit card quickly!

My lipstick, pen, and business cards are there standing straight up and waiting for me to pull them out in a snap! Kudos to this sewing designer/entrepreneuer!

On a green note: Each Purse Perfector order is hand-packed and shipped by a local nonprofit, Easter Seals Work Resource Center, an organization dedicated to training the developmentally disabled in meaningful work.

As an aside: These little perfectors come in crazy bright colors along with grey and tan. I would like to see a version made in black or chocolate brown as well. Maybe with enough orders, this little start up business will blossom into more colors. Check them out!

Kathi,

I’ve been invited to an event and the invitation says it is semi-formal. What does this mean? Do I wear a knee length or long dress? Thanks for your help.

Deb, Cardiff

Deb,

Semi-formal invitations are the most tricky to decipher. Usually they imply that long dresses are not required, nor are tuxes. An evening wedding (after 6 PM) would still dictate a cocktail dress for her and a dark suit for him. Daytime semi-formal events mean a suit for him and an appropriate short dress or dressy suit for her.

If the invitation states Formal attire or Black Tie, you can wear a long dress, or a dressy evening gown. In trendier areas like LA, men could also wear a tux with a black shirt with no tie.
Black Tie Optional means you have the option of wearing a tuxedo or long gown. It can also tip you into the formality of the event, meaning a dark suit and tie would be your other option.

This is a fable written by a friend that reminds us that we are not always the size we think we are. As a stylist, I caution every client not to get hung up on the size printed on the label. The International Sizing Standard is no longer adhered to, so you could fit perfectly in three different sizes of jeans depending on the whims of each manufacturer. Go for fit over size. Keep an open mind about the size that the label says that you are!

Now for the fable…

by Margaret Harmon

Once upon a time a man bought a pair of shoes that looked very handsome on his feet.  By the time he got home, however, the shoes were pinching him terribly.  It occurred to him to return them to the store, but he remembered that his father’d always said, “Nobody likes a complainer.”

The man tried to stretch his new shoes with shoetrees.  He tried to soften the leather by bending it back and forth, back and forth.  He decided to wear thinner socks with these shoes.  He laced them looser.

The shoes were extremely well made, and the man felt dashing in them. But they pinched his feet as painfully as ever.

The man discovered that if he pulled his toes back into a clump the shoes didn’t hurt quite so much.  He found, though, that the dull pain made him stoop a little and place his feet more carefully when he walked.

When he first put his shoes on in the morning, they hurt him very much, but by the time he got to work, his feet were numb and he didn’t feel them any more.  He was learning to walk faster with his toes curled.  And by swinging his arms a bit harder, he could walk quite well bent forward.  But it did interfere with his breathing.

The man had responsibilities and eventually forgot about his shoes.  He put them on each morning, curled his toes, bent over, pumped his arms, breathed tiny puffs of air, and carried on with his work.

A year later his handsome shoes were no longer new.  The soles were worn thin, the heels were run over, and the stitching was loose in two places.

“What size do you take?” asked the salesman.

“I don’t know,” said the man.

The salesman picked up the old shoes and looked inside.  “12-B,” he said.  And he brought the man five pairs of stylish new shoes to choose from.

The man selected a smart-looking pair of cordovan wingtips that cost a great deal of money.  He curled his toes, bent over, pumped his arms, and sucked in tiny puffs of air as he walked to the cash register to pay for his handsome new shoes.

The wingtips were heavier than his other shoes, so he had to bend over a little farther and pump his arms a little harder to walk with much speed.  He could breathe in only little squirts of air this way, his back was developing a great hump from being bent all day, and the pain was making him clench and grind his teeth.  The only advantage was that with his face so close to the ground he often found money other people had lost.  He once discovered a twenty-dollar bill floating in a gutter.

During that year the man had to have all his teeth extracted and false teeth fitted.  But he found a total of $67.84, two different fourteen-carat gold earrings, and a mother-of-pearl key ring.

It took the man years to wear out his wingtip shoes because it was so uncomfortable to walk now, that he rode everywhere he possibly could.  His legs atrophied a little and his feet shrank a bit; his eyes grew weaker because he looked mostly at the ground, which was never more than a few feet from his face.  He huffed and puffed, inhaled and exhaled, but his lungs began filling with fluid because he never straightened his torso anymore.

The longer he stayed bent, the harder it was for his heart to pump.  The harder it was for his heart to pump, the more fluid seeped into his poor squashed lungs.

At last the wingtips wore out, and the man took a taxi to the shoe store to buy some brand new shoes.  He was very excited.

The salesman noted, in the wingtips, that the man was a 12-B, so he brought his finest new 12-B’s for the little bent man to see.  The man peered at the shiny new shoes and stroked the smooth leather with his fingertips.  He hefted the shoes for weight and noticed the crepe soles on the casual ones.

He was enjoying the new-shoe smell of a lovely caramel-colored loafer when, in his excitement, a drop of saliva caught in his bent-over windpipe.  The man coughed and hacked, choked and gasped.  In his paroxysms, the fluid in his lungs frothed and burbled and got in the way.  His false teeth slipped from his gums, compounding his problems.  The man turned blue, bulged his eyes, and grabbed the salesman, who didn’t know what to do except slap him on the back.

That was exactly the wrong thing to do.  The man snapped in two and died on the spot, before they could even call an ambulance.

The morticians sewed the man back together for his funeral.  They combed his hair and dressed him in his favorite double-breasted pinstripe suit with coordinated French-cuffed shirt and red silk tie.  But when they put his shoes on him, he bent over too far to fit in his coffin unless they turned him sideways.

~  The end  ~

Margaret Harmon is the author and illustrator of A Field Guide to North American Birders–A Parody and The Man Who Learned to Walk In Shoes That Pinch, Contemporary Fables by Margaret Harmon. Her humorous essays, short stories, fables, and feature articles appear in newspapers, journals, magazines, and on public radio. Click on the above link to get an autographed copy of her book where this fable is published or click here to buy on Amazon The Man Who Learned to Walk in Shoes That Pinch: Contemporary Fables