Transforming your summer threads into fall ensembles can be as easy as adding a jacket, cardigan, or under-layer like a long sleeve, fitted cotton tee.

Take your favorite summer maxi dress (you know the ones – those sexy, grecian-flowing, full-length cotton or silk jersey dresses you wear with beautiful flats or flips).  Create a foundation underneath with a tissue-thin t-shirt and top it with a tailored blazer or jacket.  Instead of your beloved flip flops, trade up for a pair of low-heeled riding boots with tights for another layer shielding your precious legs from the fall nip. The long dress looks effortless, comfortable and still sexy in a very reserved fashion. The blazer adds a tailored bit of structure, and the pretty t-shirt puts comfy cotton against your skin and adds a pretty pop of color underneath the seasonal re-emergence of black (black…always good for fall).

Check it out…

Easy and inexpensive, from one of my favorite stores - Target!

Can't get enough of JCrew's basics - Cardies, tanks, and these great Ts

A good blazer is one of the best investments you can make. It transforms anything into a polished, fitted, and sophisticated look. And it acts as your "coat" in the in-between weather temperatures, like in fall.

Like a good blazer, a well-made pair of boots go with EVERYTHING no matter what you're doing. The tall shaft make them ideal for all lengths of bottoms and the low heel is the saving grace of your feet for a long day at work or running around town.

Scarves! Next to rings, bracelets, necklaces, handbags, shoes, and belts, scarves are my favorite accessory. But it currently has bubbled to the top of my pool of adornments as my current favorite.

Let’s explore because a life without scarves is a life not worth living.

An organic silk chiffon short scarf can be the perfect dose of color to an otherwise simple neutral top. The scarf can be tied in a short, taut bow, dangle loosely to the side (as pictured) or just tie two points behind your neck for a drapey/cowel-like effect.

A long, skinny scarf like this, made from silk chiffon can be wrapped several times around your neck like a faux-turtleneck. Alternatively, you can wrap it one single time, loosely with both ends in front. I even love to tie these in my hair and let the ends hang down my back.

This boho-chic number can be used for warmth on a crisp spring morning and then transforms into an accessory against a crisp white shirt or tank top. Heck, I'd even pair this with a hot pink top (you risk looking like an Easter egg, but who cares?). I like to pair scarves like this with a comfy v-neck t-shirt and my favorite jeans on a Saturday afternoon of movies or errands.

This viscose scarf can provide warmth with your best pea coat or driving coat in fall weather. With the pom poms and ruffle-y layers of fabric, it's feminine and functional, chic and cozy.

How beautiful--a-spring-made-from-wool-for-the-winter! This wrap (super wide as it is long) drapes casually over your shoulders for an effortless pop of color to layer over your coat and again over your shirt when the coat comes off. The colors are delicious and bright, successfully reminding you that spring is just around the corner.

Linen is a natural fiber, lightweight, comfortable and high quality. This casual scarf should be loosely draped around your neck, or for some drama, over your head 50's-style for a ride with the top down in a convertible (if you have one).

Possibly one of the most famous designers of scarves, pictured above is the signature colorful, geometric silk of Pucci. This is a scarf masterfully turned into a top. If you're not this daring, you can certainly tie it around your neck and pin it with a beautiful golden broach. This is a pricey accessory, but Pucci says instant class and will never, ever go out of style.

Make no mistake–scarves are not just for warmth. I’d argue that’s the last thing they’re for! They’re an accessory, a necessary one. They come in all price points, lengths, widths, and functions. There are umpteen books dedicated to just tying a scarf.

Go.

Buy.

Play.

Per special request, a word (or few) about tailoring.

The truth?  Most clothes aren’t made ready to fit perfectly to everyone woman’s body. The apparel industry has to rely on norms, estimates, and best guesses when creating clothing and their relative sizes. Dependant upon the designer or store, sizes can vary as much as….well, a lot.  A size 6 in some stores can be a size 10 in others or a size 2 in yet more. That said, it’s important to know that tailoring is crucial. So rarely does something fit perfectly right off the rack.

Examples:

PANTS

Petite women such as myself have to contend with a lifetime of shortening pants. The pants will fit wonderfully from the ankle up, but then I’m left with a pool of fabric flooding my feet.  If they’re good pants or jeans, never mind the length…just get them hemmed.  I sometimes hem my pants for heels and now, I’m shortening them for flats.  Since I don’t care for cuffs ( they interrupt the long line of a pant leg and create a cut-off at my ankles), I will have cuffs removed when I get them tailored.

Length isn’t the only thing that may need to be altered.  For women who are pear-shaped, they must buy the size that will accommodate their curvy hips. The downside is that this often leaves a gap in the waistband. Since they can’t go a size down (lest the pants be too tight), the waist is a simple fix with a nifty nip from your expert tailor.

SHIRTS/SLEEVES

I also often have a problem with sleeves – they’re too long for my arms!  Over the course of the last year, I’ve taken in many of my blazers to get sleeves shortened. You can have a fabulously fitted jacket but if the sleeves are too long, the look is ruined.  The cuffs should hit just above your first knuckles when your arms are at your sides (and to your wrists when your arms are held out in front of you). If they go past this point, they’re too long!

If it’s tops you have troubles with (i.e. you can’t get them to button around your chest…which is a good problem to have), buy a size up and have a nip/tuck in the back to get the shaping corrected. No one wants gaping button holes.  While I’m sure your lingerie is lovely, no one should be seeing it due to malfunctioning buttons.

………………….

Here are some other potential situations where some tailoring is needed.

–When getting your new jeans shortened, ask for the original hem (you paid good money for that fraying)

–Skirts should hit you at the knee or just above (that’s a good rule of thumb for 99% of women). If they hit below, you’ll look like a librarian (not the sexy kind). If they go above, depending on your age and your legs, they could run in the dangerous-non-flattering-miniskirt territory.

–If your new pencil skirt is riding up, that means it’s too tight around your hips.  Buy a size up and tailor the waist to fit.  It should be fitted but you shouldn’t look like a real-life Jessica Rabbit.

–If the arm holes in a sleeveless day dress are too big (as in, I can see the side band of your bra), but the rest of the dress fits like a glove, have the shoulder seams taken up to close up the hole.

–If you love the design/pattern/color of a pair of your cropped pants but they look more like high-waters (side note: cropped pants are dangerously unflattering because they make too many of us look cut off and stumpy), have them shortened to the knee for chic walking shorts.

–Likewise, some things need to be let out.  I have a dress that is perfectly fitted everywhere except for a slightly snug waist. If I bought the larger size, the entire dress looked like a potato sack.  So I bought my true size and had a fabulous tailor let out the back seams a couple inches, et voila! I was wearing it the next day.

Bottom line/Golden Rules:

Buy clothing to fit the largest part of your body…your hips or rear, your bust or waist and shape everything else around it.  If it’s a quality piece that’s part of your working wardrobe, it’s worth it. There’s nothing worse than a fabulous suit that looks sloppy.

OR…

If every part of the garment fits you well except one (like my dress), consider having that one piece altered to your body

This post was specially requested by my friend, Janai who feels that tailoring should be acknowledged and recognized as a consistent and necessary part of our wardrobes.

Whether you’re putting together an outfit for work or a party, or trying to construct a “look” for a special occasion, you can never forget the importance of balance. Again, dressing and wardrobe is all about following natural lines and direction that are provided by your body. Showcasing your best features, camouflaging the lesser favored parts. The key to creating this harmony and fluidity in your appearance is by using balance. Here are some examples:

Say you’re wearing a voluminous skirt complete with ruffles and lace. Super pretty! You may be tempted to follow the theme of that skirt with an equally ruffled blouse. Instead of highlighting the gorgeous skirt, the specialness is now lost because there is ruffle and texture and all kinds of things going on from top to bottom. Instead of looking chic, you run the risk of looking costume-y. Each piece (though both pretty) has lost its uniqueness. And your body is now carrying volume on top and bottom adding bulk and weight to your frame. Instead, try a simple t-shirt in a pretty color and a sweet ballet flat to balance and truly show off your skirt. The same rule applies if your top has texture and volume - wear a simple pencil or a-line skirt on the bottom.

Think about balancing different styles of dress as well. Perhaps you’ve dared to don the uber-chic slouchy pants/crops or (now that we’re in summer) slouchy shorts. These can be a little more industrial and casual in style. Instead of carrying that theme forward with a plain T or tank, you can balance out this industriousness with a silky blouse or rouched knit top. Keep this going with strappy sandals or even classic pumps and you’ve elevated the slouchy, comfy bottoms to a fashion forward, compliment-worthy ensemble.

Lastly, and most importantly, balance is the key to camouflaging and accentuating. If you’re a pear-shape, think about adding some dimension to your top half to draw the eye up. Do this with details like ruffles, pattern, or layers from a blazer or cardigan. Likewise, you can ensure that your pants are boot-cut or have a slight flair which will counterbalance your hips.

These are just a few examples but hopefully provide some insight into how to keep your body and your ensemble balanced and not overpowering your frame (and others’ eyes!). But if you still aren’t sure, just ask me

Website coming soon...www.callastyleco.com

I’ve devised my own set of (not golden) Sparkly Silver Rules for shopping in the form of questions that I will ask. Since options are limitless and our budgets are not, there are some ways to whittle away the superfluous choices and get to the meat of the true finds and good purchases.  Below are the questions I apply regularly that help me separate the “I want that!” from the “I want that and I really do need that and I really can use that…for a while.”

1) Does this item go with more than 5 things in my closet? I try to make sure that garments will go with several different items – if it’s shoes, they should go with jeans and trousers. If it’s a top, it should look good with slacks, a skirt, and maybe even leggings.

2) Does this item pinch, pull, tug, gape, bunch, or wrinkle easily?  Try it out. Sit, squat, lean and dance if you have to. But if it does any of these crazy behaviors, put it back.

3) Is this item the best quality that I can afford in my budget? Always buy the best of what you can afford. Buy a $75 pair of jeans rather than a $35 pair if you can. They’ll fit better, look better, and last longer. This rule especially applies to your wardrobe staples (black pants, black dress, jeans, etc.)

4) Can I wash it or is it dry clean only?  If you don’t like to spend extra money on cleaning, then put it back.  Dry cleaning is great but it does come with a price. So check the label to make sure you can “manage the management” of your new purchase.

5) Is this my color?  It pays to know a bit about your own personal color palate.  The garment could be a beautiful Ella Moss dress but if it’s in moss green, I have to put it back.  There’s no point because everytime I put it on, my skin will look yellow and I won’t look my best.  Make sure that the item is your best color and/or pattern. Otherwise, buy it as a gift and admire it on your friend.

6) Is this trendy or is it fashion forward? These are two different things.  Trendy is current, ephemeral, and guaranteed to have a shelf-life.  But fashion forward has a longevity that is worth every penny you’re able to spend on it.  I have boots that are in their third season (and good for two more) because they’re basic black, round toe, with no fancy embellishments.  I spent $300 on them.  The champagne colored strappy flats that my girlfriend bought, however, are a bit more trendy and she paid under $50.  Smart decisions considering the two items.

The bottom line: I get uber-overwhelmed by all the flash, color, sparkle, and shimmer in my favorite stores. I load up my arms and then go to the dressing room. I apply my rules and come out with 1, 2 or sometimes 3 good pieces that I know will enhance my wardrobe and are perfect for me in my life. 

Question:  Any suggestions for short legged and long waisted girls? (especially for pants).

Answer:  While I don’t know all the details (i.e your body shape, proportions), I can give you some good rules of thumb. The key is balance, creating ideal proportions on your body by controlling where garments hit you.  You want to lengthen the legs while shortening the waist, at the same time.  My first inclination would be to recommend tops and jackets that hit above your natural waist. Try a cropped jacket or blouse with horizontal or diagonal lines/details in the upper bodice.  This breaks up the long line of your uber-long torso and draws attention up rather than down to your long waist.

At the same time, pants should be higher or normal rise.  While you’re creating interest in the upper body with details (i.e. bows, shirred sleeves or shoulders), lengthen your legs with tapered pants, skinny jeans, or straight leg cuts.  If you choose a flared leg or boot cut, just make sure you are wearing high heels.  High-waisted jeans and pants are super stylish right now.  Even better are high-waisted pants with wide waist bands, which also breaks up your long torso.

In terms of shoes, heels, heels, heels.  Platforms are great ways to get height and they don’t kill your feet as much as a stiletto. If you want to expand beyond pants, try cute mini-skirts or mini-dresses with platform heels, or short shorts and a billowy top (just make sure these are appropriate for the occasion).

I hope this helps! Happy Shopping!

Who would think that flowers would ever be “hot”?  But they are. Florals are gracing  garments everywhere. These lovely brightly colored petals are cascading down blouses, dresses, skirts, pants, lingerie, and even shoes.  Some women think flowers are too “girly.”  I suppose if you’re sporting flowers on an Easter bonnet or Victorian style garden party dress, sure. But there’s no shame in a rose or a tulip adorning your clothes. Flowers can be treated a zillion different ways to create the best pattern for you.

Dramatic Flower Power–Large, abstract florals: It takes a bold woman with a bold presence to carry off a pattern this large and saturated in color. So beware that when you wear a print of this nature, you’ll be noticed. Make sure that the colors work with your hair and skin.  If you’re a petite woman with petite features, this print may overpower your stature and distract from your face. Ideally, prints of this size would work well on someone of average or taller height and body frame.

  
Dainty, Subtle, and Pretty: For those of us who aren’t as concerned about looking too girly, smaller prints are fun and can make a simple trouser or pair of jeans much more interesting. Here are some options that aren’t too over-the-top-give-you-a-headache-busy.  Keep in mind that while these can work for most anyone, more petite sized woman with more intricate facial features would benefit most from a smaller print. 

Alternatively…: Who says that the floral has to dominate the garment? You could incorporate one subtle flower printed on a t-shirt, or find a piece that has flowers embroidered into the fabric. You could even wear a monochromatic outfit and sport some adorable floral pumps. Here are some options…

However you choose to do your flowers, for goodness sake, do them!  Prints successfully hide many-a figure flaw and they’re an effortless way to look dazzling. They bring cheer and they’re good for your “feng shui.” What else do you want?

Trends surround us. They always look good because they’re styled by professionals, captured on film in the perfect light, and cropped and digitized to make them look flawless. The truth is, not all trends are for everyone no matter how good they look. But the good news is, most of us can make most trends work with just a little tweaking. The first example is SHORTS.

Many women shy away from shorts because they equate the notion of shorts with “daisy dukes.” We’re afraid that if our legs aren’t amazonian, golden brown and sunkissed, we’re not worthy of this summertime saving grace of a garment. However, I am a lover of shorts, walking shorts, that is. I wear them out and I wear them to work. I wear them to the movies and I wear them to the market.

There are several versions of shorts that are appropriate for different bodies, environments, and occasions (not just the uber-slender, blessed by her x-chromasomes woman we’re all so lovingly jealous of). Two options are:

Walking or Bermuda Shorts: Hits modestly above the knee, generally straight leg and may have a looser shape than dressier shorts, typically made from cotton and have some stretch, available prints and styles. The length is long enough that most women can be comfortable and they’re a great alternative to a skirt or dress. Click below for some great walking and bermuda shorts. Pair them with flat sandals, your favorite flip flps, or wedge platforms/espadrilles for a chic and effortless look.

AnnTaylorLoft.com

ShopBop.com

Anthropologie.com

Knee Shorts: These generally are longer and more work appropriate. They can vary in fabrics from light summer-weight wool to structured cotton with spandex and are a bit more formal in look than your average bermuda shorts. Also straight leg in shape and many have belt loops and back pockets for a more “upscale” alternative to a straight skirt at the office. Pair these with peep-toe pumps for the spring and summer and your favorite cropped blazer. A beautiful silk tunic and ballet flats is another elegant option for an office look that can easily go to dinner when the clock strikes 5.

Nordstrom.com

Norstrom.com/2

Hope these have changed some minds and emboldened those who may have been hesitant to reveal their legs.

Breana did jeans in the office in the perfectly right way.  The denim was a trouser leg in a dark wash; ultra-flattering to most shapes.  The top was a tunic-style short-sleeve knit (a nod to the incoming spring weather) that had some engaging embroidery on the top half. The empire waist added a baby-doll effect but still allowed it to be age appropriate. And, the color could be likened to watermelon; cheerful and oh-so-yummy.

But, these two pieces were elevated to chic by her fabulous pumps. Caramel-colored leather with a chocolate brown bow take these peep-toes from classic to deliciously fab. 

Thanks Breana!

I have been thinking a lot about all of the different messages a woman can send via her image (clothes, accessories, hair, and make-up) and was just recently having this conversation over the weekend.  It is possible for a woman to get in her own way by being too hot.  

I’m speaking specifically about our professional lives.  It’s possible to be too sexy at work:

You know that I believe we all should be as stylish and “of the moment” as possible. But there is a balance between stylish and over-the-line-sexy-that-could-hinder-others-taking-us-seriously.  It’s hard enough for women in this world…I do believe that we have to work just that much harder to prove our worth in business. 

A side note: I was asked once what I thought the most challenging part of being a woman was. My answer was something reminiscent of, “That I have to be tough enough without being a bitch, that I have to be attractive enough without being too hot, that I have to be smart enough without being intimidating…that I’m proving myself all day, everyday.”

I work in media/publishing and my office dress code is at the more lenient end of the continuum. I tend to err on the side of trendy in many of my clothes and my wardrobe often doubles for both in and out of work. But I know that for meetings, client presentations, interviews and situations in which I am truly representing my colleagues and my company, I will streamline myself, leave the leggings at home,  and select a more traditional style. 

I’ve noticed that casual Friday has bled into casual everyday. Again, for some lines of work, this is acceptable.  But in banking, finance, law, and other such industries with a history based on male-dominance and tradition, a woman can’t walk in with a brightly colored dress and platform heels.  It won’t fly.

I will most certainly take this into account with my clients.

What kind of business is she in?  Does she work at all? Is she a teacher where a nice pair of khakis and a sweater set would be appropriate?  Perhaps, she spends her days behind a camera and needs jeans and a blazer that aren’t restrictive but are still fitted and tailored.  Maybe she’s reviewing contracts and stands in court…this would require an appropriate colored suit and classic heels (they can still be Christian Louboutin, no one has to know!).

The bottom line is, we need to be aware that even though we may work in more lax surroudings,  presenting ourselves as professionals is the number one priority. And often times, sexy skinny jeans and form-fitting sweaters (though they may look curvalicious) aren’t always the best choice.

Soundbites to remember: Beauty doesn’t always equal appropriate.  Casual doesn’t always mean sexy.  Trendy should still be tasteful.

Just check the mirror once before you leave the house and ask yourself, “Would I wear this on a date?”  If the answer is yes, consider changing.