29Apr

Life, Simplified: How Home Delivery Services Have Changed the Game

April 29, 2020 Lots of Luxe

Let’s get straight to the point: We are always busy. Especially women who tend to wear many hats. We juggle careers, marriages, kids, finances…all of it. Even while under a stay-at-home order, we’re busier than ever. And what we’re learning during this stay-at-home period is how convenient delivery and subscription services really are.

We can get anything delivered, from meal subscription kits to bags of fresh groceries to essentials from the pharmacy. Subscription services are also in every niche imaginable, from makeup to coffee, all tailored to your tastes and delivered to your door. We can even get food from restaurants that traditionally don’t deliver brought straight to us wherever we are via food delivery services. Even when we’re not super busy, it’s easy to use concierge-y services to help us out while we kick-back.

Another benefit of these delivery services is they can be automated, so we don’t even have to think about them. And the coolest thing is, none of these services break the bank…not even close. I’m trying really hard to see any downside here!

So if you’re already using UberEats, Instacart, Home Chef, Ipsy, and others, have you tried our Box of Luxe yet?

Box of Luxe allows you to stay on top of your wardrobe needs with beautiful pieces from the Carlisle and Etcetera collections. For no additional fees or commitment of a subscription, clothing pieces are selected by a Personal Stylist who carefully considers your lifestyle needs, your likes and dislikes, and even fit issues. These carefully curated wardrobe pieces, your Box of Luxe, is then delivered to your doorstep.

Box of Luxe makes managing your look, adding new pieces to your closet, and updating your clothing each season easy. You can consistently maintain a stunning, fresh wardrobe without shopping.

Honestly, it’s a no-brainer, and you’ll have a team of Stylists behind every choice, guaranteeing you’ll love everything. If you don’t love it, return it within five days, no questions asked.

How it Works

Complete a Style Profile. Tell us about your style so we can pick the perfect items for you.
Receive your box. You’ll receive 4-6 pieces personally selected for you by a Stylist from our Carlisle and/or ETCETERA collections. Your Box of Luxe will be shipped to you free or hand-delivered by a Stylist.
Try on your clothes You’ll have five days to try on the clothes. Keep what you want. If needed, exchange what you want for another size, or return anything you don’t want hassle-free.

The Benefits

Your time is respected. Save lots of time by having clothes shipped straight to you; avoiding those time-consuming trips to the mall.
You’ll have a stylist on your side. A Personal Stylist can help you make purposeful decisions about your wardrobe. Take the guesswork out with a Personal Stylist.
It’s tailored to you. Box of Luxe picks pieces from the Carlisle and Etcetera collections that match your lifestyle, size, body type, and personal preferences.
There are NO FEES! You will never pay any membership, styling, or subscription fees. No deposits and no return shipping fee.
You have control over delivery. Get a box when you want it. You will not be committed to a subscription. If a subscription is your preference, no problem. We can arrange that for you and help determine the timing.
Use your preferred payment at sign up. You only pay for what you keep.

Style, Delivered

Box of Luxe brings you the freshest pieces each season from the Carlisle and ETCETERA Collections. You can count on the finest fabrics, a fabulous fit, and superior service that consistently delivered with each Box of Luxe. If you have questions or you’d like to know more, contact me.

Ready for your first Box of Luxe? Complete your Style Profile here.

15Apr

A No-Fail Wedding Guest Style Guide for Her

April 15, 2020 Lots of Luxe

Weddings are exciting events to look forward to! Getting the invitation is a moving experience as you anticipate the big day with loved ones and friends. And then, the invitation addresses attire in two words that don’t even go together: Beach formal. What’s that even mean?

Before we decide exactly what to wear to a wedding, we have to decide how dressy to get. That’s where it gets tricky. What’s the difference between white tie and black tie? Black tie optional? What about an invitation that is vague and doesn’t mention a dress code?

Don’t worry, I have answers.

I’ve created a quick guide on wedding attire and what to wear, in all scenarios.

Quickly though, some very general rules:

Women wear dresses and men wear suits.

Women don’t wear white, in any form. This rule is an old rule that falls within the social norm to not outshine a bride on her wedding day. Unless the dress code is specifically noted in the invitation, e.g., a “white wedding” or “black and white attire only”, stay away from white dresses.

Time of day matters. Day weddings and night weddings mean different things in terms of how formal to get. Day weddings are automatically less formal than night weddings. So, an early afternoon ceremony followed by a brunch reception means lighter colors, cocktail dresses, sundresses, informal maxi dresses, and the like. Evening weddings that go on into the night mean more formal dresses, longer lengths, deeper colors, fancier accessories, etc.

White Tie

This is the most formal dress code for a wedding, and it’s typically not too common but it happens. Be sure to wear a formal, full-length gown in rich hues or black. Most white tie events happen in the evening, so night wedding rules apply. Feel free to go all out on your ultra-formal look: Updos, makeup, and statement jewelry.

Black Tie

Black tie is more common and these weddings are less formal than a white tie event but still require proper dressing up. Wear a floor-length gown or formal cocktail dress. Depending on the venue, a formal jumpsuit can be appropriate as well.

Black Tie Optional

The name may be confusing, but it simply means that this event is a bit more toned down than a typical black tie event. You have some wiggle room here on how fancy to get. The black tie dress code is a good jumping off point: Wear a floor-length or cocktail dress.

Cocktail Attire

Cocktail attire is fancy but more laid back than black tie. These weddings are festive events where you are free to dress less formally than the previously mentioned style rules. Cocktail dresses or skirts and blouses are appropriate.

Beach Formal

Beach formal is an upscale beach wedding where flip flops are never allowed. Maxi dresses, knee-length sundresses, and wedge sandals all fall within the beach formal dress code. Remember that wedges and espadrilles are your best friend, as heels and sand never work. Makeup and hair should be polished, yet much more relaxed, like beachy waves or a simple chignon.

Casual Attire

Casual attire is laid back wedding attire. There is still some dressing up to do, just much less formally. Wear sundresses, relaxed maxi dresses, or a skirt and blouse. Subtle accessories are fine.

What to do when the invitation is vague?

When the invitation doesn’t mention the dress code, there are a few clues to follow to gauge how to dress. First, how fancy is the invitation? The invite is a good clue as to the formality of the coming event. If the invitation is very formal, consider black tie or cocktail attire. A more casual invitation means less formal.

Second, with a bit of investigation about the venue, you can also gauge how dressy to get. Where will the wedding be held? Use the venue space as an indicator.

Need extra assistance during wedding season?

Formal dress codes often mean getting help from a personal stylist. New gowns and cocktail dresses definitely require tailoring to look and feel your best at the event. I can guide you through wedding season! If you need anything, consider reaching out. That’s what I’m here for

XOXO, Melrose.

26Feb

How to Recycle Outfits: Here’s How to Wear the Same Outfit Twice

February 26, 2020 Lots of Luxe

While some would consider wearing the same outfit twice a huge faux-pas, we all do it because we’re human and we use what we’ve got. Why not wear something twice -or three times- a month if we love it, it’s comfortable, or we just feel confident in it? I say if you love it wear it, and really, who cares if we’re caught wearing the same outfit twice? If celebrities and even Duchess Kate Middleton have been caught wearing the same thing twice, we can too.

But, there are ways to make it seem like your wardrobe is endless and you wouldn’t dare recycle an outfit. Sometimes we’d like to wear the same dress to two different events but not get caught in pictures wearing the same thing. If you want to create the appearance of an abundant wardrobe or just add more creativity to what you wear, here are some great ways to add diversity to your favorite outfits.

Here’s how to wear the same outfit twice and fool everyone. A few subtle tweaks are all it takes.

Play with Makeup and Hair

Makeup and hair can completely transform your look even if your outfit is the same. The art of playing with a bold lipstick or new hairstyle can change the vibe of an outfit. It also completely takes the focus off your outfit and onto you! Using celebrities as an example, typically, when a celebrity wears the same dress twice, she will have changed her hair or makeup to try to throw us off. An evening gown look can look different with an elegant updo versus a long, flowing hairstyle. Using that image for inspiration, why not get creative?

Style, Restyle, Style Again

A quick way to easily get away with wearing the same outfit over and over again is by restyling! Changing up how you style an outfit can add some flair, dress up or dress down any kind of garment. A t-shirt and jeans can be switched up by knotting the t-shirt, to create a casual look. Switch heels for flats or sandals for sneakers for a fresh look to your outfit.

Add or Subtract

On a similar note to the above suggestion, don’t underestimate the power of accessories when restyling your look. Add a belt, hat, blazer, or jewelry to your restyled outfit. Layering is fun, great for seasonal wardrobe changes, and a must-do when recycling outfits. A sundress with a sun hat is a much different look than a sundress paired with a leather jacket. Contrarily, subtracting from your outfit can drastically change the look of it.

Capsule Dressing

One of our favorite ways of creating a wardrobe that is versatile enough to utilize pieces more than twice is to create capsules. When updating your wardrobe each season with new pieces, think about what’s in your closet and then select pieces that allow you to easily mix and match creating the perfect capsules for a weekend getaway, business trip, or an easy dressing work week.

Create a Purposeful Wardrobe with Box of Luxe

Most women don’t have time to be constantly thinking about their wardrobes, which results in recycling outfits. It’s just easier that way! But, there is a way to build a wardrobe without having to do any of the work and it’s called Box of Luxe. Box of Luxe is the answer for busy women who don’t have much time to put in the effort of shopping and creating the wardrobe of their dreams. With Box of Luxe, a personal stylist uses your personal style, body type, and preferences to deliver 4-6 pieces of clothing to you. Keep what you love, and return what you don’t. No subscriptions, no fees. Any questions? Contact me and I’d be happy to help!

11Feb

Celebrate February in Red and Pink: The Psychology of Two Powerful Colors

February 11, 2020 Lots of Luxe

Red is one of the most manipulative, dominant, and effective colors. Red is naturally occurring in nature, and cavemen wrote in red on cave walls. Fruit is the ripest when it’s red and many are used as precursors to romance. Red is an important color in many cultures, signifying energy, prosperity, good luck and more. Red is the color of our blood, the life force in us. Vivid shades of red are reminders of power, sex, and dominance.

Countless studies show that men and women are perceived to be more attractive and sexy when wearing red. Red roses are associated with romantic love, red sheets signal passion, and flushed red cheeks mean robust health and good circulation. The color red has no choice but to evoke emotion from us.

So, what happens when we wear red?

You’ll get noticed! There is no doubt that red influences our feelings. Both humans and primates respond to red in a primal way. In the animal kingdom, red is a sign of dominance and humans see red the same way, in many cases. If you want to get noticed in the office, on a night out, or anytime really – wear red. Even just subtle red accessories or red lipstick will do the trick! Red can be a very empowering color if you want to feel more confident, sexy, or in charge.

Is red flattering for everyone?

Good news! Red is universally flattering on everyone, go ahead and feel good about wearing it.

There are more than enough reasons to wear red but what about red’s lighter counterpart, pink?

In essence, pink is just a calmer, lighter hue of red, which means it signals many of the emotions that red does, but more subtly. Like red’s little sister, pink is the ultra-feminine color that is associated with love and romance. It’s also a cue for compassion, kindness, and nurturance. Different shades of pink can predict behavior. Light pink is known to be very calming and it is even used to calm prison inmates. Hot pink, on the other hand, is vibrant, creative, and full of life.

What happens when we wear pink?

Pink is flirty, refreshing, fun, and joyful. Pink is the most “feminine” color, which stems from little girl’s toys being made in pink for decades. Pink is youthful and vibrant. Depending on what shade of pink you choose, the color can influence people’s opinion of you. Light and medium pinks show the world that you are sweet, kind, happy, and nurturing. Hot pink and deep pinks can be construed as creative, euphoric, and vivacious. Again, just wearing pink accessories can do the trick. If pink isn’t a color you’d typically wear, remember that there are several shades of pink. Check below for a quick guide to which one will look the best on you.

What shade of pink is best for your skin tone?

Warm undertones: Raspberry, coral, and peach
Neutral undertones: Deep pink, amaranth, and rose
Cool undertones: Carnation pink, purple-pink, and hot pink

More good news: Blush is another universally flattering tone. No matter your skin tone, blush looks good on everyone!

The Spring Collections of Carlisle and Etcetera are Brimming with Pink and Red Options

If you want to add more powerful colors and prints to your wardrobe this season, check out the newest collections from Carlisle and Etcetera. Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and so is spring, so now is the perfect time to add more red and pink to your closet. If you need any help with choosing pieces or deciding which shades to pick, I am always here to lend an honest opinion.

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