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As a fashion coach, I teach people to organize their closets in a way that gets them dressed quick and out the door looking amazing. I have been in A LOT of closets! These are a few easy costume ideas based on what you may already have lurking in your closet. Do you own a white t-shirt? Jeans? Striped top? Black yoga pants? Anything fuzzy and furry looking? How about a new (or old is even better) barn coat? If yes to any of the above, I've got a great last minute costume you can throw together quick and get out the door looking appropriate and amazing! (Click on any of the images for shopping links.)  Dad Joke Do you have a white t-shirt? A decent knowledge of corny jokes? Write them down on a big t-shirt, barrel jeans work great here as well, add a pillow (unless you have a baby bump), maybe a mustache and trucker hat and you’re all set to be classic dad joke. My favorite dad joke: What does a mermaid use to clean her clothes? Tide - hahahahahahaha  Mime If you prefer to be understated, and not have to talk much, this one is perfect for you. Black and white striped tee? Black yoga pants? Turn it into a mime costume with white gloves from the dollar store, black and white face paint and maybe a beret. Ballet flats work great if you have them and voilà!  Fly Guy Wear your black pants, black shirt, and glasses. Go and grab some foam core from the grocery store and this fly guy costume is all yours! This was one of my kid's favorite books because the fly would talk your ear off - it always sounded like buzzzzz. Here's a link to the book if you're in what all the buzz surrounding Fly Guy is all about.  Cheetah Fuzzy sweater and/or anything animal print - just get yourself some ears and take a walk on the wild side. This one is subtle, tried and true and never fails. Feel free to add a tail or a hunter (below).  Hunter One of the Fall trends I’m seeing is a barn coat. Add a newsboy cap, shirt and tie, simple pants and tall boots (wellies will do brilliantly). This one is great if you have a hunting dog as an accessory, and a nerf gun wouldn't hurt. What to wear when the mountains say Fall, but the temps say Summer? Would you rather be outside soaking up the last sunny days before winter hits instead of changing your closet out for winter weather? The weather hasn’t quite committed to being cold all of the time, we get warm days with cooler mornings and evenings. And you may not be ready to take all of the light-weight summer pieces out of your closet yet. Here’s what to do before you’re ready to truly commit to winter-wear. Oh and be sure to check out my shopping links for cluster/capsule shown above HERE.
There’s no need to do a full closet clean-out for winter yet. Get out and enjoy the beautiful fall weather by tweaking just a few things to look and feel perfect for the season by adapting your summer-wear for cooler Fall temps. Winter revamps for October and November are filling up fast! 
 It’s back to school week and you’ve got enough to do without thinking about ironing your clothes. Here’s what to do instead: SMOOTH FABRICS WITH YOUR HANDS DIRECTLY OUT OF THE WASHER OR DRYER
Looking for more ways to save time getting ready for your day? You'll love my course on how to create efficient clusters / capsules in your closet that help your get ready quick and out the door looking amazing! Learn more HERE!
 Are you thinking of trying out tennis core? Not sure what tennis core is? Without sounding redundant, it’s preppy, sporty clothing with a 1970’s era tennis styling at it’s core. (By the way, I’m not sure who decided to put the word core behind every new trend lately but we’re going with it.) It may include white stripes or trim next to saturated, yet slightly muted colors like tomato red, hunter green, navy and white. The style gives a definite Steve Prefontaine vibe. I’ve seen it looking lovely on some and not so lovely on others. So I’m here to offer some guidance on how to make it work well for you! If tennis, golf, pickleball or cute short skirts are your thing see below. If not, skip down to see how to incorporate tennis core style into everyday looks. 1. Look for the line placement - Make sure horizontal lines don’t cross at your widest place.
2. Get the right amount of support - we gotta lift the girls
How to get the tennis core look for everyday style Look for classic pieces, those that fit and flatter most figure types. Polos and V-neck sweaters with a striped detail give country club vibes in a classy tennis core way. Add drapey-fabric pleated pants and you will have aced the look. Here are a few suggestions:
Not every new trend is for every person. Are you wondering how to pick and choose which new trend to adopt? Which one works best for your personal style? Then you will love my personal style session where we build a road map that defines where to spend your money and where to watch the teenagers become regrettable fashion victims instead. See the full TENNIS CORE catalog HERE!  Believe it or not, just as people have different figure types and face shapes, with only a few who are actually ideal, the same goes for feet and ankles! There are wide feet, narrow feet, wide ankles, slim ankles, with every variation in between. So if you happen to have wide feet and/or ankles, which is great for balance, but looks less than ideal, you’re in the right place. If you happen to have narrow feet, and choose to fill them out slightly, you’re in the right place. If you would like to know which style of shoes will make your legs look longer, yes, you are in the right place! You only have to remember that the Height x Direction x Width = the perfect sandal, (the HxDxW also works when measuring furniture btw). Be sure to check out the shopping links for my top summer sandal picks at the end. 1. Height - Even a little heel lifts the look, lengthens the leg and narrows the foot.
Vamp is not short for vampire. The vamp relates to the rise on the sandal, how high it comes up on your foot, and affects how long your legs look. The higher the vamp, the shorter the leg appears when the top of the shoe is exposed. When worn with cropped pants, ankle pants or skirts, the legs appear shorter. If you love your high vamp shoe and want the illusion of longer-looking legs, pair them with pants or skirts that cover the top of the vamp.
2. Direction - Pay attention to the line direction of the straps. Diagonal and vertical lines can be more slimming than horizontal lines as they tend to narrow the foot, If you're looking to widen your foot, choose horizontal lines on the straps instead of vertical or diagonal.
3. Width - The width of the straps is like the stripes on your shirt. Narrow stripes appear to narrow and lengthen, while wide stripes appear to widen.
When the shoes don't work, it doesn’t matter how great the rest of the outfit is, the look is off. When choosing the right shoe for your foot remember the basic measuring principles of H x D x W and you’ll have the right shoe for your foot and your look every time. Click HERE or the image below for my top summer sandal picks.   What you wear affects your mood. You can’t be amazing if you don’t feel amazing & your clothes affect how you feel. If you find yourself looking through the clothes in your closet in the morning saying, no, no, that doesn’t fit, hate that, that was a gift, not my style, too hot, too dressy, too casual, no, no, no. This takes too much time, and it’s also a negative start to an otherwise lovely day. By decluttering and letting go of clothes that no longer serve you, you can lift your mood every time you go to get dressed. Breaking emotional attachments to clothes can be challenging, but here are some strategies to help:
If reminders of a heavy past are weighing you down every time you go to get dressed, and you need a little extra assistance, I'm here help. Learn more about a cleansing, refreshing, wardrobe evaluation HERE. Oh and Mother's love a closet refresh even more than flowers!
 What you wear is heavily influenced by the weather. Let’s face it, all of your best plans for that fail-proof, always-look-great outfit can be easily foiled if the weather takes a turn in an unexpected direction. It’s that time of year to expect the unexpected. I still have gloves and a hat at the ready in case it decides to snow, as well as sunglasses and sunscreen if and when the sun decides to frequent the moment. When the trees are blooming with pastels, bright colored tulips, and daffodils are popping up, who wants to go back to wearing heavy, dark winter clothes? These conditions naturally put a spring in our step and change our attitudes about the clothes we are drawn to. It’s time to dress like a Spring if you’re into that kind of thing. Here’s how to be in the moment, look and feel as spectacular as the blossoms, and still be comfy when it’s cool. Focus on the colors of Spring in medium-weight fabrics. What are the colors of Spring? Lighter, brighter, warmer colors. Those colors help us to feel youthful, nurturing, and romantic. When you wear them in all-season fabric weights and even heavier weight fabrics you’ll look and feel like Spring without having to compromise being warm. For more on what colors communicate, especially pastel pink, check out this post.  Easy to layer, soft cozy sweater, that also happens to have the perfect color name - Spring Blush! Layer it up All-season fabric weights can be chilly on a cloudy, 20 mph wind day….unless you layer with a windbreaker. Thin layers insulate one another as they are trapped under a windbreaker and keep you warm. A button-up shirt is a great solution. For more tips, check out my Layering 101 post.  Linen shirts - warm enough for cooler weather with a sweater over or roll up the sleeves when the glorious sun does come out. Keep a few cozy comforts at the ready. These are things I might keep in my car glove box until it’s actually summer just in case I’m caught in a cold rain or wind tunnel. Umbrella there’s a reason they say April showers, socks in case it’s cold to show your ankles in those trendy loafers, gloves when your fingers are cold, you’re cold, and a warm knit hat to keep the heat in. And when that glorious sun does make an appearance I would keep the sunscreen, chapstick with spf and maybe a brimmed hat handy.  Be ready for every and anything while looking seasonally appropriate with the right, bright colors and adjustable fabric weights. Speaking of changing seasons...is your closet ready for a Spring Clean & to put a spring in your step with some fresh new looks? I'm just a click away.
 If you've ever driven the streets of Boston, you know they are anything but intuitive. They’re winding, crooked streets that are often one-way and sometimes change names halfway through. There is a complete lack of any grid structure or logical system. Do you know why? According to Robert Fritz’s book, The Path of Least Resistance, a common legend says the streets in Boston were just paved over the cow paths that were there when the first settlers showed up. So the street system in Boston was essentially designed by cows and not humans. Why? Because it was the path of least resistance. On two levels, first, the cows were actually taking the paths of least resistance as they were walking around, up and down the hills, and the humans took the path of least resistance and just paved over those cow paths to make the streets. Do you ever feel like you are taking the path of least resistance when you get dressed in the morning? Ever feel lost in your closet? Can you relate to one or more of the following?
"The way you dress affects the way YOU think, the way YOU feel, the way YOU act. It also affects the way OTHERS react or respond to you." - Judith Rasband How would it feel to wake up, look in your closet, and love everything? To feel motivated and energized by the clothes you put on? When all of the clothes fit your figure, allow you to feel great for many different occasions, and are in harmony with your coloring and style…. your clothes become motivating instead of draining, energizing instead of fatiguing, and open up new opportunities instead of boxing you into a corner. Getting each day off to a great start doesn't need to be so complicated! I'm here to provide a little help to get a wardrobe designed for maximum efficiency so that you can get out the door quick, looking amazing, ready to focus more on people and purpose and less on if you wore the right thing.  Traveling to a cool place this winter? Why wouldn't you? Winter is a great time to avoid the crowds and get discounts on travel. Sounds like fun fun fun until you find yourself having to pack for the trip! Did you know that packing for vacation is most people's LEAST FAVORITE THING TO DO? That's right, it ranks as high as public speaking and going to the dentist on people's hate-to-do-list. And winter travel can be even more challenging with weighty fabrics. So is it possible to pack everything you need to be warm without packing a jumbo suitcase or multiple jumbo suitcases? It’s easy to pack small when you’re taking swimsuits and flip-flops, but jackets? No way. What if I told you it’s possible to have over 20 different cool weather looks in a carry-on? Impossible you say? Prepare to learn my method for the impossibly possible. (Check out the shopping links and video at the end.)
1. Start with the shoes. 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. If you’re looking at vacationing in a cooler climate with the potential for wet weather, your shoes need to be considered carefully. Waterproof boots that can be dressed up or down are a good place to start. Plan the looks that coordinate with them. I love a variety of activities on vacation - my last trip included the opera, going to church, running & hiking, with maybe a beach or spa day depending on the weather. You may take an additional 2-3 pairs of shoes that include running shoes, sandals, and another good pair of walking shoes. These 3 pairs that you’re not wearing on the flight all fit in one side of the carry-on. Shoes take up a ton of space so maximize their storage capacity by putting socks, belts, and underwear in a zip-lock bag inside the shoes. 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. Packing cubes are great to contain dirty shoes, or dirty clothes while traveling. 2. Plan the clothes. What does your itinerary look like? Plan 10-15 simple basic pieces that mix and match to accommodate all of the fun included in your agenda. (With a few extra looks for whatever else might come up.) I will usually include 2-3 jackets in this mix - one more dressy, and one more casual. 8 tops and 5 bottoms. Wear the most bulky pieces on the flight to maximize the clothing space in your carry-on. Layering is key! With each item you add, ask yourself these two questions: does it work with 2-3 other things & can I layer it? If the answer is no, chances are it doesn't add value to your carry-on. See all of the looks I created with the pieces above, with shoppable links, HERE. Pro stylist tip: Cool weather game changers include tights or stockings (that you could layer under everything if needed), gloves, a warm hat, a stuffable windbreaker, and a blanket scarf. If you need a heavy coat, take one that compresses down. The first 4 take up minimal space but can make a huge difference in cooler weather. Wear the blanket scarf on the flight to double as a blanket when you’re cold.  3. Don’t forget a tote bag that slips over the rolling carry-on. This bag should include anything you might need to have overnight and the next day. It’s not uncommon for you to get to the gate with your rolling carry-on and tote bag only to be asked to check the rolling carry-on. Once in a while these little bags get lost and you find yourself on vacation waiting 2-3 days for your bag to show up. Yes, you may be able to track it but being able to see where it’s at almost makes the waiting-for-it-to-get-to-you game all the more painful. Pack the essentials for at least the first day in the tote just in case this worst-case scenario happens to you. How to pack warm clothes in an itty bitty bag and still have enough pieces for a variety of occasions is the classic conundrum. A strategy that includes lots of layers, wearing bulkier items on travel days, and smart footwear will have you traveling light AND prepared for the little emergencies life may throw at you. Speaking of which, you will love this post on how to be ready for any and everything while traveling here.  Looking for a little assistance with your vacation planning? I've got you. Get the details here. PACKING FOR WINTER VACATION IN A CARRY-ON WITH GOOD THINGS UTAH There’s that word I’m hearing everywhere. Vulnerable, lately it's used in a positive way such as, “I appreciate your vulnerability.” And, “if I can be vulnerable, I can start the process of healing.” It’s generally used as a term for a weakness, one you have the courage to admit to having, when in a safe environment. Or used as a way to show you are human, and somehow relatable, approachable with a degree of humility, because like everyone else, you have flaws. Where there are appropriate times to be vulnerable, there are also times when we need to be strong and resilient. Because what you wear affects your mindset and therefore your actions, choose the colors you wear strategically. Turns out, you may need both this February! If you're vulnerable to seasonal depression, like me, one surefire way to become more resilient is to wear the right colors. Here's how: Soft and muted colors like pastel tones, pinks light blues, or gentle greens are often associated with vulnerability, conveying a sense of openness and sensitivity.  The opposite of vulnerability is often perceived as strength or resilience. Colors associated with strength include bold and deep tones such as rich blues, dark greens, or powerful reds.  The same principle applies to clothing colors. A bold strong red is more dominant - wear when you need to feel and appear more reliant. The subordinate and more vulnerable soft pink - is a great way to show your more sensitive side.
A darker, more saturated green is infinitely more strong than a softer pastel green - despite the expression on "soft green guy's" face. (Is that an I'm annoyed expression or smolder? Not sure...)
Still wondering which colors appear more sensitive and vulnerable vs. bold and resilient? Maybe the blues below will help.
Vulnerable is good at times, but prepare to be bold as well if you're going to conquer the world! In the end, it pays to have a variety of clothes in your wardrobe that represent you well for the different occasions you find yourself in. Finding the right color for you is not only about skin tone and hair color. It's also about how the colors you put on make you feel. For a comprehensive color analysis that includes the psychology of color AND your personal coloring (skin, hair, eye, lips, blush color) AND the colors that transition well into every season, contact me HERE.
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Dani SlaughImage consultant and personal stylist. Dani is happily married, the mother of 3 charming children, and an Aussie named Josey Wales. Archives
October 2025
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