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Does anyone feel like you’re in a reality show where the host is going to jump out of the bushes at any moment and yell, “Psyche! You’re on hidden camera!” Does your show include waving to your neighbors, those you have been social distancing for years, and notice something’s a little off? Wait, are they wearing sweats? He looks like he hasn’t shaved since….the quarantine started. She didn't put on make-up? Now that's a change! It’s almost like that Batman movie where the joker infected all of the makeup so no one could wear any. The news people had rashes from it and sunken eyes.  In Batman (1989) the news anchors stop wearing makeup after the Joker poisons beauty hygeine products in Gotham. Is this where we’re headed? Is the Joker behind the camera? Apparently not, and the WHO says WFH is the way to go. But a hidden camera reality show is almost more believable. So here we are, keeping the show going until the hidden camera stops rolling. And yes, it’s time to keep up appearances, both for your own mental health AND job security. If you are one of those fortunate souls able to WFH (work from home), it’s important now, more than ever, to maintain your polished appearance and send a message that’s consistent with your in-office persona. After all, people are used to seeing how you look in the office. Having a crumpled, frumpled appearance at home is sending mixed signals about your consistent behavior, dedication to your goals, and attention to detail. Consider your next video call as a made for TV moment you can use to your advantage, to shine as much during video calls as you do in person. Here’s how… 1. Keep design details near the face As Ashton Kutcher says in Cheaper By the Dozen, “my face is the money maker”. This is where you want the focus. How can you keep the focus on your face? Wearing a shirt with a collar is a great way to bring the focus near your face. Angular collars will appear more polished and purposeful than rounded collars. A third layer piece will also add some visual authority and help your appearance to be more consistent with your message. The third layer will also provide contrast in the center of your body leading attention up to the face. A row of buttons on your shirt, a necklace or scarf will also draw their eyes up to the "money maker". 2. Fit matters You want your shirt or jacket to fit well. How can you tell? The shoulder seam line should line up with shoulder joint. Collars and lapels should be in scale with the frame of the person wearing them, narrower collars/lapels on a narrower person, wider collars/lapels for a wider person. This same principle of scale applies to accessories such as necklaces, scarves, ties, etc. 3. Grooming is important You want the focus of the video call to be on your face and what you have to say, not the wrinkles on your shirt, the grease spot, or bed head. Make sure your clothes look neat, ironed, hair is done well and make-up looks naturally enhanced. (Ex nay on the Joker infested not gonna wear make-up today look.) 4. Wear the right colors Not much has been written about this one and yet it’s a simple way to create a strong message. Repeat your eye color in your clothing and others have trouble focusing on anything but your eyes. Repeat your lip color and others will focus on your mouth. You could also take one of the colors in your background and repeat it in your clothing. For example, if there’s a green plant in view, wear emerald green to coordinate with it. 5. What about the background? Eliminate as many distractions as possible. Keep the background simple, neat, and organized. The last thing you want is for them to see the dirty clothes on the floor or a cluttered, dated room. If that’s not possible, search for an app that allows you to change the background. You in front of the Bay Bridge is much more fun than you in front of a sink full of dirty dishes. 6. Good lighting, strategically placed “Proper lighting eliminates unwanted shadows that may skew a person’s facial expressions or appearance. Sit facing a light source. Sitting with your back to a window or bright light source can negatively impact the quality of the video call by giving you a harsh silhouette effect. Whenever possible, sit facing a window, desk lamp, or other light source to ensure your face is well illuminated and clearly visible.” Natural lighting it great. If possible, sit facing a window, if not possible use soft directional light, the closer it is to you the better. You may even want to set up two lights. If you imagine a clock in front of you, position one light at at 11 o’clock and one at 2 o’clock. Using a lot of white or bright surfaces and walls in your room will brighten up the space by bouncing light around. (Lighting tips provided by lifesize: https://www.lifesize.com/en/video-conferencing-blog/video-conference-lighting) Not sure how to make your clothes work for you? I'm just a video call away!  The ultimate date night is almost here. Do you feel clueless about what to wear this Valentine’s Day or any date night for that matter? Do you feel like it’s easier to just throw on that sweater and jeans than spend precious time nailing the perfect look? The truth is, you just need to understand a bit about the psychology of clothing to know which pieces communicate softness, fun, motion, gracefulness, and approachability verses strength, force, and authority. And yes, btw, it’s important to know both and when it’s appropriate to use them. Look for these details in your date night look and brace yourself for the magic that’s soon to follow. 1. Put a little curve in your shape with puffy or rounded sleeves.
Or hourglass shapes fitted at the waist.
2. Rounded patterns are an easy way to bring out the lovey-dovey soft side in you. Try them in floral prints.
Or heart shaped patterns. If the heart sweater is too overt for you, try the heart pattern in a smaller scale.
3. Warm colors are an easy way to spark the love. Try burgundy, pink sapphire, deep red, rose coral, even a rich chocolate brown. For more ideas on color check out Showing the Love in Your Valentine's Day look and my Fox13 video with Big Budah HERE.
Feel free to combine all of these elements in the same outfit, but for a subtle date night vibe you are wise not to overdo it. Using one or two of these strategies is sure to get you and those around you feeling the love. Don't forget the accessories, you'll want them to repeat the same curvy shapes and textures you're wearing in your clothes. Wondering how to adapt what you have to fit your date night or any other occasion? You'll love a wardrobe evaluation, the perfect, sweet, calorie free gift you'll enjoy every time you get dressed.
 This is the perfect time to declutter and organize your wardrobe. Now that the holiday mayhem has subsided you may even find yourself with a little extra time on your hands. And who doesn't love walking into a well-lit, well-organized closet that gets you excited to start your day? Or are you one of those people who wears the same thing every day? And when you do venture out of your same outfit comfort zone, do you spend 20-40 minutes putting together something new? If you organize well, putting together new looks that make you feel inspired will take you 5 minutes max. Here's the system...watch out for the biggest mistake you may be making.
Looking to add an extra half hour to your day? With a professional wardrobe evaluation you'll experience efficiency & inspiration that puts time back on your side! Learn more HERE.  Don't you just LOVE plaid? It's one of those classic patterns that will always be around, especially this time of year. Because of the often larger, bolder horizontal and vertical lines, the effect can enlarge the figure...looking like bricks on a house. The right colors for the holidays? Yes. And who doesn’t want that “homey” feeling this time of year? I’ll never forget that December when I found myself wearing red and green plaid flannel pjs. I felt so warm and cozy, and oh so….plump. It wasn’t completely holiday weight, it was holiday pattern arrangement and placement. The wide horizontal and vertical lines on the top and bottom made my silhouette appear about a foot broader than it really was…truly like a brick house. (Cue the Commodores...video below.) If you're interested in rocking the plaid without looking like a brick house, check out these smart, slimming ways to wear your favorite plaid. 1. Wear the plaid diagonally. Diagonal lines tend to be more slimming than vertical/horizontal lines. Look for clothing pieces with diagonally placed plaids and watch visual weight disappear. You'll find this strategy applied to tops, bottoms, dresses, breast pockets on shirts, and even scarves. If you have a plaid scarf, twist it so that the plaid is turned diagonally.
2. Wear a smaller scale pattern. Plaids and checks are similar with their vertical/horizontal design. In general, expect smaller check patterns to minimize the figure and larger checks to maximize or enlarge the figure.
3. Wear plaid on your slimmer area to balance the fullness elsewhere. Is the bottom half of your body larger than the top? Or do you want your shoulders to appear more broad? Try wearing the pattern on your top to balance bottom-heavy weight, creating the illusion of a more balanced, ideal figure. Top Half Appears to Be Bigger/Broader
Is the top half of your body larger than the bottom? Try wearing the pattern on your bottom half to balance top-heavy weight, creating the illusion of a more balanced, ideal figure. Bottom Half Appears Fuller
Looking for more slimming ways to wear your favorite patterns? You'll LOVE a Fabulous Fit session. Appear taller, slimmer, and leaner with techniques customized for your figure type. Call/text 385.229.6297 or message Dani@StyleByDani.com The one, the only, Commodores doing She's a Brick House: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrBx6mAWYPU
 Boots at H&M Do you have a favorite pair of boots? Boots that you could wear anywhere and everywhere, that always look good and are oh so comfortable? If you don't, there's a perfect pair out there with your name written all over them. If you do, what makes them so special? So perfect? Answer that question and you'll find the perfect pair no matter what the seasonal trend may be. You've got questions. I've got answers. Learn what to look for in a boot meant for walking vs. cat walking and everything in between. These boots are made for walkingWEDGE SNEAKER BOOTIE A sneaker bottom with snakeskin top is the ultimate mix of comfort and beauty. The 2" heel is perfect to give everything about you a lift while still being comfortable enough to walk in all day. The sneaker bottom suggests you wear this with sporty looks and generally limits this shoe to more relaxed occasions. Pull the clothing colors from the pattern, off-white, white, black, and warm taupes or plum will be wonderful with this shoe.  Linea Paolo Amber Wedge Sneaker at Nordstrom WAFFLE BOTTOM BOOT This rugged looking shoe is great for cold weather comfort. The waffle bottom suggests plenty of traction for slick surfaces. A less refined suede texture is your cue to wear this shoe with equally textured fabrics such as denim, flannel, tweed, herringbone. Obviously a great shoe for daytime, active comfort, not so much for evening events.  Marc Fisher LTD Izzie at Nordstrom MOTO BOOT Oh the moto boot! Cool, chic, heavy and great for walking comfort. Pull out the leather or denim jacket with this boot and you're good to go all day long. This boot packs a rebel without a cause vibe and is best worn in a more casual or creative setting, generally limited to daytime events.  Spring Step Diony Motorcycle Bootie at DSW These boots are made for cat walkingSTILETTO BOOT There is no doubt that this is a beautiful shoe. The snakeskin and slouchy heeled style is very much on trend. The heel and shaft height are great with midi length dresses, they actually slim the leg where the hem hits the calve instead of causing it to look wider. And yes, this is a common problem for midi lengths on bare legs. If you can wear a high narrow heel all day, feel free! For the rest of us, this beauty will be the statement piece for the next evening event.  Jessica Simpson Saferra Boot at DSW LIGHT COLORED SUEDE BOOT Another gorgeous boot. However, the light colored suede can show wear quickly and denim may dye it slightly blue. Spraying with a scotch guard protectant, the second you get home, will help clean the dirt off more quickly. The color and the heel height dictate that you wear this beauty selectively for clean, mostly seated events.  Louise Et Cie Sevita boot at DSW These boots are made for anything and everythingBLOCK HEEL BOOTIE Simplicity is the key to versatility. The 2" block heel in this bootie provides all day comfort without sacrificing the lift that we all love. The smooth leather allows you to dress this boot up or down with understated elegance. A boot that works for so many occasions and is comfortable to wear all day long is worth the investment.  Compass in black at OTBT.com (get an extra 15% off with code DANI15) WEDGE BOOTIE A wedge heel gives you pleasing height in addition to comfort and stability. All trademarks of a - wear for hours on end - type of shoe. The three different textures in this bootie allow you to pair it with a variety of textures from denim and suede to more refined fabrics with some sheen like satin or crepe. It's easy to dress this boot up or down and lovely for many occasions.  Dharma in Acorn at OTBT.com (get an extra 15% off with code DANI15) WEDGE OVER-THE-KNEE BOOT Another lovely wedge style boot, this one has a 2-1/2" heel, my favorite height for all day wear. Great for a slimming leg with midi length dresses without sacrificing comfort. Wear with skirts or dresses of any length as well as fitted pants. For the most slimming ways to wear this and other styles of boots check out The How To Wear Boots for Longer Looking Legs Guide.  Colitta Over-the-knee boot at Nordstrom 2-3" HEEL HEIGHT BOOT The optimal heel and shaft height for day and evening. This boot also captures the animal skin trend without looking too trendy. And the versatile cinnamon rust color is great with most colors you pair it with. The heel height, design, shaft height and color all make this another gorgeous boot for a variety of occasions.  Jeffery Campbell Candle Knee High Boot at Nordstrom No matter your walk of life, there's a boot out there that's calling your name. Need help choosing the right one for you? I'm just a CLICK away! CHECK OUT MY LATEST SEGMENT ON FOX 13'S THE PLACE AS JENNY AND I TALK THROUGH THE PROS AND CONS OF OUR FAVORITE BOOTS Get the falling for boots CatalogWith discounts on my favorite styles  It's October and it's cold... today... lovely tomorrow afternoon... then rainy and cold in the evening. October is predictably unpredictable when it comes to the weather. The key to being comfortably warm is to layer, take off a layer and you're comfortably cool. Aside from being comfortable in any type of weather, layering is a great way to create more looks from fewer clothes. If you know what you're doing, it doesn't take much to triple the looks in your wardrobe. There are two main guidelines for layering well. First, the outer layer needs to be cut slightly bigger than the one underneath. Second, the outer layer should be a heavier weight (or at least appear to be a heavier weight) than the layer underneath. Here are 3 ways to take basic pieces and create multiple looks with them. Be sure to watch the video at the end, where Budah and I show the do's and don'ts of layering. Start With...A button up collared shirt - blue chambray is my shirt of choice 1. Wear with a tank under and roll up the sleeves.  2. Layer under a buttoned up cardigan, or a cowl neck or turtleneck sweater and pop the collar to frame the face.  3. Add a blazer for even more polish. (Hint: every time you add a layer it’s instant street cred.)  A straight, button up shirt dress 1. Wear as a dress with the fabric belt (as show above)or tie a bow in front of the buttons.  2. Change the belt. The dress often comes with a belt, lately we are seeing them in fabric. Swap this out for a nice leather belt and the effect is oh so rich.  3. Wear as a duster vest or jacket. When the dress is left open, the narrow column of color that's left in between creates a slimming effect. Who doesn't want that?  Blanket scarf 1. Some dresses are difficult to layer, a swing dress was made for a large scarf. Drape the scarf like a ruana, over the shoulders and draping in the front. Add a pin to hold it in place on the shoulder and/or belt to keep it close to the body. Be careful with the belt as this can add visual weight to the tummy if the scarf is bulky.  2. Bunch the scarf together so that it is narrow and long. Layer it under the lapels of your blazer or trench coat.  3. Wear it like a shawl with matching boots.  See how it's done in real time when Dani and Big Budah discuss the do's and don'ts of layering with sweaters, shirt dresses and collars poppin' like a preppy. Layering is a great way to discover your own personal style and develop a look that is uniquely you. Searching for more ways to layer the basic pieces in your closet? Then you'll love a wardrobe evaluation. Get the details HERE.
Take a walk on the wild side - which ANIMAL PRINT is best for your hair, eye color, and skin tone?9/17/2019
 Photo credit nobasicgirlsallowed.com Animal prints are making their presence known in a big way this Fall. Most of my clients have a love/hate relationship with them. The hate may come from the element of drama they tend to communicate. Animal prints can be bold, daring, and exotic. Which doesn't resonate with everyone's personal style. But depending on the color scheme and animal being imitated, they can also become a subtle pattern that emphasizes your personal coloring well. If you’re ready to take a walk on the wild side, here’s how to wear these prints without looking like a wild thing. 1. Match your hair color to the a color in the pattern.
2. Repeat eye and blush colors in the pattern.
3. Keep the background color the same degree of warm or cool as your skin. This one is more complicated to navigate. Here are some examples of repetition of skin color done well and not so well.
Animal print patterns are a chic, classic print that also happen to be trending right now. When you keep in mind these three points, you’ll look like a class act instead of a wild hot mess. Not sure what your best hair, skin and eye colors are? Get your personalized color palette in my brilliant coloring session! For more INFO ON BRILLIANT COLORING click HERE or contact me below. Check out my latest Fox13 segment (below) with Amanda Jones to see more examples AND the best neutral colors to pair them with. Don't forget to hit the like button!  As your personal stylist, helping you navigate the trends is a responsibility I take very seriously. Knowing which trends to adopt and which to avoid will reduce your risk of becoming a fashion victim yourself. Here you have your 3 fashion myths debunked. Be sure to check out the video at the the end for examples. 1. Nude heels make your legs look longer & they go with everything. Not necessarily. According to Judith Rasband, Master Oogway of image consulting, "Light shoes are too delicate to support a dark outfit. Nude heels disappear when they match your skin. They can make you look like you forgot to put on any shoes. Others will say, 'Nude heels go with any brightly colored dress or suit for an elegant finish.' No they don’t. Nude is a subtle, dulled flesh color in opposition to bright fashion colors. They make you look like you don’t know how to coordinate your clothes." Before you go and toss them, try wearing them with light colors such as shell pink, nude, cream, and tan colored clothes. 2. Black is the most slimming color. Nope. According to classic art principles, dark, dull and/or cool colors appear to reduce, recede, and minimize making you look slimmer when you wear them. Black is not the only dark, dull color. Navy blue, olive green, charcoal gray, aubergine and others are also beautifully slimming colors. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying to throw out all things black. Instead, know that you have many slimming options in addition to black. 3. Don't wear white after Labor Day Nah. The rule about not wearing white after Labor Day is more of a guideline anyway....cue Pirates of the Caribbean. What’s the logic behind the rule....er guideline? It’s not about the date, per se, it’s about the temperature change. In theory, it’s just after Memorial Day when temperatures get warmer and we opt for clothes in lighter colors that reflect instead of absorb the light. They also help us feel light and sunny, and put us in the mood for warm weather. One of the reasons why white is always in season in tropical climates. After Labor Day, we may naturally gravitate toward clothes in darker colors that absorb the light. They help us feel warmer. Continue to don the white after this weekend. Here are some ideas how: https://www.stylebydani.com/blog/can-i-wear-white-after-labor-day4063613 Ignorance is bliss, as the saying goes. You are no longer ignorant. You are liberated from the online fashionista faux pas. Enjoy your new found freedom! Do us all a favor and report any other fashion myths below in the comments to enlighten others who are confined to fashion victim status. Anyone else tired of trying to find shorts that make your legs look as long and toned as the model showing them off? The two most common options available for shorts just aren't cutting it for most women. Option one: shortie shorts, which can be lovely on a select few, but more often than not, they call attention to all kinds of cheesy, cheeky skin that's better left unseen. Need I expand? Admit it, you've all seen more than you want to under some of those cut-offs gone wrong. Option two: longer, bermuda style shorts, which may provide nice coverage and tall skinny legs look fabulous in them. But add some curvy hips or bootie and boom that's where the focus goes. Is it possible to find shorts that work for your figure? Maybe... but there are so many cool, comfy, and cute ways to replace shorts that your need for them may been reduced. Here are a few ideas. You can also see the complete catalog with more options here. 1. Light-weight joggers
2. Relaxed, wide leg pants
3. Casual skirts
4. Fun in the sun dresses
Looking for a unique and custom approach to adding some late summer cool? Let's chat!
 Ever had one of those days where you don’t want to get out of bed because that means you have to go to your closet? If you’re like my client and friend, Janice (name changed for privacy), the bed blues is an all to often occurrence and triggered by the overwhelming task of going to the closet to find clothes to wear that day. This is how Janice describes her journey from starting off her days completely overwhelmed to having a peaceful easy feeling….  A huge thank you to Janice for finding the courage to overcome the daily triggers of an overwhelming wardrobe and for putting words to the mental health issues so many struggle with on a daily basis. Keep up the good work my friend!
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Dani SlaughImage consultant and personal stylist. Dani is happily married, the mother of 3 charming children, and an Aussie named Josie Wales. Archives
January 2021
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