Happy Spring! You may be feeling the itch to pull out those brighter, or pastelly colors. Haven't seen those white jeans in a while? Now is the time to embrace the idea that warm weather is coming. That's probably why this week is National Closet Clean Out Week​. As a professional stylist who has seen many a closet, I understand how overwhelming the task seems to be. If you're like me, it feels like an easy thing to do on a low-key Sunday afternoon, but doesn't quite get to the top of the list, and next thing you know it's Monday. Here are some simple solutions to save space and make the first place you go in the morning your happy place.

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The satin bridal gown looks harmonious with satin wedding party dresses.

Repeating the floral or lace pattern in the bridal gown is beautiful in a mother of the bride dress. 

What’s your secret pleasure? Chocolate, sauna houses, binging holiday movies with one of those huge bags of Boom Chicka? One of my secret pleasures in life is to sing, high and loud. This practice started for me when I was 5 years old and would climb to the top of our metal swing-set and sing through the hollow tube the chains for the swings hang from. I would sing at the top of my lungs and loved every second of it. As it turns out, that A-frame swing set was a dynamic megaphone, and the neighbors loved it as much as I did…well I’m pretty sure they loved it…actually who knows, my mom may have received a few complaints but she never mentioned them to me. Now that I’m an adult, it’s a little awkward to stand and sing at the top of a swing set. Yes, there’s always the shower but somehow it’s not the same. I’ve recently discovered that our community has a choir that sings Handel’s Messiah at Christmas. It’s a perfect fit for me, I can sing loud, and the soprano part is oh so high! The rush I get from singing loud and high about Christ helps me reclaim the joy in Christmas.  We recently had the Messiah sing-a-long performance. This is where the audience sings with the choir. One of our conductors, the founding father of this community singing adrenaline rush, has been doing conducting for over 40 years. These days he leads the last couple of songs. During the Hallelujah chorus, he has been known to get emotional. It’s as if every ounce of energy is being poured into his heart and out through his arms and into the little stick he holds in his right hand. Often the tears start to well up in his eyes as his love for the spirit in the music manifests itself. This kind of emotion is contagious. It can be difficult to hold back your own tears just watching him, and before you know it, the entire choir is mirroring the passion of the conductor. Then the beauty of the moment fills the room as you notice the eyes and hearts of the audience begin to well up also. The influence one person can have over how you feel is amazing and unforgettable. What does your influence look like? Because what you wear significantly impacts how you feel and then how others feel, being strategic about your appearance is an easy way to hit the right note when connecting with others.  

When you’re balancing work deadlines, family, social plans, and self-care (those nails won't paint themselves), who has time to think about influence?   I do, I've done the thinking for you. And you don’t need a major closet overhaul.  In fact, you may already have many of these key pieces in your closet just waiting for you to tap into their potential.  Lean on these smart pieces to transition from conference calls to dinner plans, with just a swap or two. Below is my curated cluster/capsule for outfits that feel effortless, polished and a little festive - your inner choir will be singing hallelujah.  And those in your sphere of influence will catch onto your joy as if you were the conductor. 

You may have something similar at home? 
Pro Tip: Include at least 3 tops, 2 bottoms and a third layer piece that all work together. Be sure to include the colors of the season (aka reds & greens with navy, black and/or gray below or chocolate brown with  burgundy and hunter green / navy).  Well chosen accessories include a scarf and shoes for walking, and at least one pair you can dress up or down. Click on any of the images below for shopping links. 

Are you wondering what it looks like to be more influential, charismatic and confident at Christmas and beyond? Check out my best deals, wrapped up for Christmas, HERE.

Marion from Raiders of the Lost Ark - I picked up these wild red pants and top at H&M this summer, thinking it would be the perfect fit for our trip to Greece. Who knew it could also double as Marion from the first Indiana Jones movie. Add a black belt and monkey or frying pan and you're good to go.
​Turn it into a couples costume - Every Marion needs an "INDYYYYYY". Khaki pants, off white or white (Preferably linen) button up shirt, add a hat and whip or even a leather bomber jacket if you have one and channel your inner-adventurer. 

Boxer - my kids happened to have these fun boxing gloves that became the inspo for this costume.  Add a silky robe, tube socks, maybe a black eye...can you say, "cut me Mick"?
Turn it into a couples costume - Your partner could be the wild haired boxing announcer with a microphone and black suit. Or turn your guy into the boxer with the lovely lady wearing a sign with the boxing round number on it in high heals and a swim suit! 

Dia de los Muertos (aka Day of the Dead) - take any black dress or black and white (even better) and add a mask. Amazon shipped this one overnight. 
​Turn it into a couples costume - put your companion in a black suit and tie and boom you're set!

Last but not least... The Not-so-ugly Halloween sweater - for the more mellow approach to Halloween. 

Turn Halloween into your version of fun that's also not so complicated! Need help?

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Are you wondering which colors are so unique to you and yet so adaptable that they weather all of the "seasons"? Then you will love my Brilliant Coloring session. Check it out HERE. 

All of the sources for images above can be found in my online catalog HERE.  For a more customized approach to know the best fit for your figure, you'll love my Fabulous Fit session.  You'll know your figure type and love the many options you'll have to create your illusion of the ideal - looking true to you gorgeous! 

I hear this question throughout the year, but more often in the summer. That's when you’re wearing less clothes and everything you wear needs to work a little harder to make your outfit feel complete. I was recently camping with a friend who is a foodie and great cook. For a picnic at the lake, she hand delivered 15 of us sandwiches.  Not just any sandwiches...grilled salami, cheese, olives and lettuce on croissant sliced bread.  The sandwiches were good, but what made them great?  The bottle of Mike's hot sauce to dip them in.  It's a spicy, vinegary concoction with enough heat to make it interesting without overpowering the other flavors in the sandwich. It made the sandwiches spicy, magical and memorable. In a summer world of tank tops, t-shirts and jorts, it's fairly easy to look and feel ho-hum. Here are a few ways to spice up your look as if it were Frank's hot sauce. ​

Still not sure how to put these strategies into action for yourself? Allow me to style your looks AND get your closet organized so that you can get out the door quick, looking AMAZING, with a wardrobe evaluation. Details HERE or click below. 

When a friend asked my husband and I to spend a week on a boat in the Caribbean docking at a different island every day to  beaches only accessible by boat, our quick answer was yes! When the offer came with the request to just bring a single small carry-on? Pause….longer pause….the answer? "Emmm sure." Packing for a week in a small bag takes a little more thought, but is 100% doable and eliminates the stress of lost luggage upon arrival. (I'm sure you or someone you know started the first 3 days of their vacation having to wear what they wore on the plane because their bag wasn't there upon arriving at the destination - worst start to a vacation ever!) Shopping links below.

So can you pack for the beach in a backpack without looking like a hot mess every day? Yes, you can. Here’s how…
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1.  Start with the sandals. Nothing is worse than having a blister or aching feet on the second day of vacation because you didn’t take care of them on your first day of vacation.  These will be your one and only pair of shoes, so they must be…

• Comfortable
• Water-friendly
• Versatile enough to wear with a sundress in the evening or swimsuit during the day

2.  Plan 5-10 pieces that coordinate with your sandals of choice. Here are a few suggestions

• 3 swimsuits
• 2 sundresses
• 2 pairs of shorts and 3 tops that all work with the shorts. I will have a t-shirt, a lightweight sweater and button up shirt that can double as a swimsuit cover-up.
• Wrap skirt that works with one or more of the tops above and one of the swimsuits above.
• A single pair of socks in case your feet get cold on the plane.
• Packable sun hat and/or baseball cap.

3.  Add minimal make-up, sunscreen, and hair products.

• Make-up go-to’s include waterproof mascara.
• Elf’s charming stick of color for lips, cheeks, and eyelids.
• Sun bum’s tinted sunscreen.
• Shampoo and conditioner. I will often leave in the conditioner - because some of us have Donna Summer-esc hair when graced by humidity.
• Not you mother’s mousse for said humidity and to bring out every ounce of mermaidy curl.
• Itty bitty hair ties for braiding.

​Pro stylist tip: zip-lock bags are your friend for any liquids or items that are wet once traveling. A friend of mine showed up at the hotel on the first night of vacation, and opened her bag only to find her bottle of lotion had exploded inside the suitcase and had gotten on everything. What a mess! And what an easy way to ruin your first night of vacation. This could have been avoided by putting the lotion in a zip-lock bag to contain a potential spill. Be sure to put your sunscreen in a zip-lock bag! Packing cubes are also great to contain dirty clothes.  

4.  Add a sand-free towel and light-weight beach bag.

• This is light-weight, not bulky and can double as a blanket in the airport.
• A bag that can fold into your suitcase is super handy.

5.  I even had space for a snorkel and travel water colors - because it's fun to feel like a mermaid and capture those magical moments with paint.  And also, the water is so lovely you tend to float without the need of swim fins. 

If your closet is constantly in chaos and you never have “anything to wear”, you can build a new wardrobe one piece at a time that will make your closet a place of joy – not frustration. Here’s how to go from clueless to charmed in your closet:

1. Find a source of inspiration that DOES bring you joy! – ideally that piece has a pattern of colors in a print, stripe, or plaid – to inspire the color scheme.
2. Plan for 5 to 8 easy pieces of clothing – at least 3 tops and 2 bottom pieces. Are the pieces basic? Meaning, are they simple in style, line, and shape? If yes, they will be more versatile in the beginning when you have fewer pieces to work with.
3. Choose pieces that go together – that will work with at least three, four, or more other pieces. Choose pieces that are distinctly different from one another – no two pieces are alike, not yet. This may include a third layer piece, a button-up shirt, and crew-neck or t-shirt for tops. Bottoms may be a pair of pants you can dress up or down and skirt.
4. Add accessories to go with the clothes – essential basic accessories first. AKA shoes you can walk in all day. A shoe you can dress up or down possibly with a heel is great and the other flat.
5. Make a list of missing items & shop to gradually – if you’re starting over this list could be long.

​Lucky you! You’ve got a pro ready to help. Contact me here for your own curated wardrobe. Or see below for shopping links to the video above - those that I love this Spring!