05Feb

How a Personal Stylist Will Become Your New Best Friend

February 5, 2019 Melrose Fisher

No matter who you are, what you do, or what your closet currently looks like – you can benefit from working with a Personal Stylist. A good Personal Stylist is more than just a ‘personal shopper’; she is someone who will take the time to get to know you, your style, and your lifestyle. With this information she will curate a wardrobe that will make you look and feel your best. And that is something worth investing in.

When you’re unhappy with your wardrobe you’re likely to do one of two things: Go shopping to try to update or refresh your wardrobe. Or, recycle the same few outfits that you really like week after week. Thus, creating two problems: You’re either wasting your time and money or you’re keeping yourself stuck in a fashion (and confidence) rut. If you don’t have the tools to properly style your wardrobe, then things won’t change.

This is when a Personal Stylist can step in and help you get back to feeling and looking the way you’d like.

Taking care of your wardrobe needs is a form of self-care. How you look and feel in your clothes affects how you look and feel overall.

A Personal Stylist helps you present your best self to the world.

Contrary to what you may believe, this isn’t just a shopping spree.

Your Personal Stylist will consider what’s currently in your closet. She will help you do a wardrobe audit, determining which pieces are ‘keepers’ and which should go into the ‘donate pile’. After reviewing the pieces that have made the cut, she will know what gaps need to be filled, how some pieces can be worn in new ways, and which pieces can be styled together to create a whole different look.

Make ‘getting dressed’ an enjoyable process.

Clothing can be finnicky – it can shrink, it can get stretched out, it can go out of style (sometimes very quickly!), it can become uncomfortable or unflattering. You will want your wardrobe to contain quality, timeless pieces in a style that feels like your own. But how exactly do you do that?

Your Personal Stylist has the tools to create the look you want in a way that will make you feel comfortable and confident. She will include flattering pieces that can be reinvented so that you’re not constantly wearing the same old thing or spending money on more pieces that will sit unworn in your closet.

An outstanding wardrobe doesn’t need to drain your wallet.

Your Personal Stylist will help you create a wardrobe that can transition and evolve with you and your lifestyle. We’ve all felt the stress of an event that we didn’t plan an outfit for, leaving us in a frantic scramble through our closet to come up with something ‘just right’ as we need to be walking out the door. Or, even worse, the pressure of last-minute shopping for an upcoming occasion, when we often purchase something we don’t truly love or won’t ever wear again.

You want a closet that will have you prepared for any situation. Whether it’s a power meeting that suddenly springs up or a friend’s unexpected celebratory dinner, you will know what to wear and you will be excited to wear it.

However, it’s also important for your Personal Stylist to manage your wardrobe over time so that smart purchasing decisions can be made to extend the life and look of your wardrobe.

Having the right pieces in your wardrobe means that time isn’t wasted on unnecessary, unflattering, or unrealistic clothing options.

The shopping process can be a tedious one. Sorting through racks upon racks of clothing, trying on each piece individually and then seeing how it pairs with something else, waiting for a sales associate to bring over a different size for you to try, and then you need to wait in line to make your purchase.

Or, maybe you’re an online shopper. Sure, that can be more convenient but online shopping can also be a time drainer. Instead of racks you’re sorting through, it’s pages and pages of websites. It’s quick and easy to click “Add to Cart”, but is it as quick and easy to return an online purchase? It’s always disappointing when an online order arrives and the quality of the product is inferior, the style is not what you had expected, or the size or fit just isn’t right. Now you need to start the ‘reverse’ online shopping process – initiating an online return.

I think you can relate. And I think you’d enjoy the relief of working with a Personal Stylist who takes the stress out of the shopping process, who takes the uncertainty out of the styling process, and who gives you back your valuable time to focus on the real priorities in your life.

Working with a Personal Stylist can be life-changing.

Investing in a Personal Stylist is an investment in yourself – your comfort, your confidence, your message to the world. The Personal Stylists at Lots of Luxe elevate the wardrobing experience to a much more personal one.

A Lots of Luxe Personal Stylist becomes your new best friend as she truly gets to know you and learn your likes and dislikes. She chooses each garment specifically to complement your body type, your lifestyle, your personal style, and your goals. Just two or three appointments a year can transform your wardrobe into something you’re proud of, making you look and feel like you can conquer the world. And you’ll have your Personal Stylist to thank for that!

Lots of Luxe is always committed to making your personal styling experience one of joy and ease. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions about working with a Personal Stylist. We’re always happy to get to know you, making sure you’re comfortable with the whole process and enjoying the exciting changes we can bring to your wardrobe and to your life!

23Jan

How to Get More Enjoyment from Your Wardrobe

January 23, 2019 Melrose Fisher

Do you look at your wardrobe, shrug, and want to walk away? Are you uninspired? Do you wear the same basic uniform every day? Have you thought about calling it quits with fashion?

Everyone goes through slumps over their wardrobe. It often takes months, and sometimes even years, to realize we’re in a slump. That’s the bad news. The good news is that you can get out of that slump and have fun with clothes again!

Let me show you where I’m headed with this.

Clothing yourself is one thing – That is, simply, getting dressed.

Then there’s getting dressed with intention.

And then there’s getting dressed and leaving a pleasurable impression.

It’s your choice and there’s help available if you need it. (More about that later.)

We’ve all been left with pleasurable impressions by how someone looks. It could be a stranger in the grocery store, someone at work, a sales associate at a store, or someone in your book club. When you see them, your eyes want to linger and take in their look.

Perhaps her look is creative and clever, and it makes you smile. Maybe it’s a friend who consistently wears color in her outfits in ways you haven’t and it pleases you.

Let’s say you’re ready to leave the fashion slump and dress in a way that puts smiles on the faces of strangers. One strategy is to find something that’s already pleasing to you and then go for it with a little more gusto than you have so far.

Here are some ideas for you:

Leave a pleasurable impression with your use of color.

This could be as simple as introducing some pleasing colors into your wardrobe. Every fashion season there seems to be an emphasis on a few specific colors. One excellent color resource is Pantone, a company that does color forecasting. If you want inspiration, start there. Or simply go to
a retail store where you can pull items from the rack, walk over to a full-length mirror and hold them up to your face. Which colors make you happy? Choose a few colors to play within clothes, coats, shoes, handbags, or scarves.

Take the time to find the colors that flatter your skin tone, eyes, and hair color. It’s important that we wear colors that brighten and compliment us. Bringing the right colors into your life will inspire you and make you feel refreshed.

Leave a pleasurable impression by adding one more accessory.

Coco Chanel is famous for telling people to add accessories to their outfit, take a look in the mirror, take one thing off, and then step out into life. But Coco was an icon during a time when men and women dressed elegantly and much more formally. As people, in general, are looking more and more casual in their dress, this is a rule that typically no longer applies.

If you like rings, add one more to your fingers than you have. If you like bangles, create a cluster of them for your wrist. If you like finer, more delicate jewelry wear two or three necklaces at once. Make accessory additions to your outfit, not subtractions.

Leave a pleasurable impression by wearing one standout piece.

Even if your lifestyle is casual or your workplace is more relaxed, you can always walk out the door wearing one standout piece.

One way to picture this is to think about how you’d dress a table for dinner guests. You may use your everyday dishes and cutlery, but you have fresh flowers at the center of the table in your favorite vase. The centerpiece brings the eye in and then leads you to the other accents you’ve used. So think of the standout piece as being on par with the centerpiece of that dinner table.

Your choices are many. Let me suggest a few:

A blazer in a pattern when you’d have customarily worn them in solid colors.
Carrying an oversized handbag. The exaggerated shape draws someone in, and they desire to see the rest of the outfit.
Instead of wearing a black or tan trench coat, wear one in an icy tone or one in an autumnal shade.
Wear an oxford shoe in burgundy, blush, or blue and give your black or brown shoes a break.
Wear a bulkier scarf than usual. That little bit of extra volume adds drama.

Lastly, organizing your closet can make a big impact.

If your closet is filled with outdated clothing or is generally unorganized, it wouldn’t be surprising that you don’t feel inspired by it.

Get rid of anything that doesn’t make you feel fabulous and donate it. This includes your shoes and accessories. Organizing everything will make it so much easier to see what you already have and what you might need.

Make your wardrobe clearer by sorting it by color. This makes it easier to see what the possibilities are for creating a fun, exciting outfit.

It doesn’t take a lot of change to feel a big lift. Clothes and accessories are here to be enjoyed. When you wear them in a pleasing fashion, you are making someone else’s day brighter as well as your own.

I’d love to help you make some adjustments to your wardrobe, one’s you’ll find pleasing. It’s all possible! Give me a call or send me an email and we’ll get an appointment on the books. You’ll love the results!

08Jan

How to Build a Dream Wardrobe in 7 Easy Steps

January 8, 2019 Melrose Fisher

Building a wardrobe is a truly daunting task. How many of us can devote the time to create a flawless, versatile wardrobe that never leaves us wondering what to wear?

Most of us buy more and more clothing without consciously building a wardrobe that allows for easy access to outfits for every occasion. If we don’t build a functional wardrobe, then we are likely to end up with a closet filled with clothing to mix and match at random. Of course, it ends in wearing the same outfits repeatedly or obsessing over what to wear.

It’s worth it to create a wardrobe that suits your needs, but you may be wondering where to start. It takes some time and strategy to build a wardrobe, so how is it done?

Starting with your own personal wardrobe stylist; I can help you do each of the following steps in order to build a cohesive, varied wardrobe. The end result will be a wardrobe that suits your lifestyle, flatters your body, and expresses your personal style. Here’s the run-down of the steps to create a dream wardrobe easily and quickly.

Establish Your Body Type

You must know what body type you have before building a wardrobe. We are all unique in shape and size and knowing the types of clothing that suits your body type is crucial to looking flawless all of the time. Finding clothes that flatter your body can boost your confidence and ensure you have a closet full of clothes that make you feel great.

Determine Your Color Palette

Just like with body types, we all have a unique skin tone. Skin tones range from not only light to dark but also cool to warm. Knowing your skin tone is key to knowing which colors enhance your look and which colors don’t. Wearing colors that don’t compliment your skin tone can make you look tired, washed out, or simply not your best. Conversely, choosing the perfect colors for your skin tone can enrich your look automatically.

Shop to Fit Your Lifestyle

It’s important that the clothes in your closet suit your daily needs. We can easily buy clothing that is momentarily trendy on impulse, but does it really suit our lifestyle? For example, a wardrobe filled with 40% career-minded outfits, 30% clothing for social events and outings, 20% leisure, and 10% formal special event attire could be suited for your lifestyle.

Detox and De-Clutter

If you’re going to build a wardrobe you love, you will have to get rid of all of the items that you don’t love. Sort through your closet and remove any ill-fitting, unflattering, out of style clothing. Make room for pieces you’ll love and wear frequently.

Create a Foundation of Basics

Building a wardrobe around classic basics makes dressing simple. Choosing neutral-colored tank tops, black pants, pencil skirts, white button-ups, and cardigans are good basics to build from. Most of your outfits will begin with these basics, so having many on hand will create the foundation you need to build a wardrobe.

Add Statement Pieces

You’ll need to let your personal style shine with statement pieces in the colors and fabrics that you love. These statement pieces can be added to your wardrobe basics for easy pairings. Tailored investment pieces can be added here as well.

Maintain your Wardrobe

You’ll need to add to your wardrobe to keep things fresh. This will ensure you’ll always have something new to wear and new outfits to create. The easiest way to maintain your dream wardrobe is Box of Luxe, a time-saving home delivery box of 4-6 hand-selected pieces of clothing.

If you don’t have time to shop and maintain a wardrobe, this is the answer for you! It’s as easy as completing a quick style profile and your Box of Luxe will be delivered to you filled with pieces that suit your style needs. You’ll have five days to try on the clothing and if you decide something isn’t for you, simply return it hassle-free.

Another option is to schedule a consultation call or to meet me for a cup of coffee. In 30 minutes I can help you determine your wardrobe needs and guide you through the services provided by Lots of Luxe. A Personal Stylist could be your answer to a wardrobe that works.

13Dec

More Holiday Style. Less Stress.

December 13, 2018 Melrose Fisher

With the many different events on your schedule, dressing for the holidays can sound like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be another source of holiday season stress. Celebratory cocktail hour with your girlfriends, your family’s special holiday dinner, a corporate soirée, a black-tie holiday gala or charity event – Do you know what you’ll wear to each of these occasions?

We’ve got you styled to holiday perfection!

Let us take the struggle out of your holiday style. Here are our favorite outfits that will have you perfectly dressed for the most casual to the most spectacular holiday event on your calendar.

Casual Christmas Chic

A casual event is still worthy of a spectacular outfit. Elegant knitwear paired with printed or metallic pants with a clean modern fit are tailor-made for holiday celebrating.

Understated Holiday Elegance

Luxuriant silks and velvets and finely crafted knits magnified by dramatic details such as bell sleeves, textured lace, or metallic highlights, create a sleek winter look that’s both sophisticated and glamorous.

Graceful Greetings

Effortless and graceful. Make an entrance in a dress that has a touch of feminine flair and opulent details that’s guaranteed to dazzle.

Formally Festive

Wearing all black in glossy taffeta or bold Venetian lace and velvet creates a look of radiant affluence that’s made for holiday celebrating. The pressure is on to look your holiday best. But no need to stress – Plan ahead and keep these tips in mind and you’ll be ready to walk out the door in style and ready to celebrate!

03Dec

Build Your Footwear Wardrobe for Easy Dressing

December 3, 2018 Melrose Fisher

Whether you’re a shoe lover or you feel like a misfit when it comes to shoes, one thing is certain: we all wear them. Chances are we need ones we don’t own yet. With lifestyle changes, you could be requiring a different type of shoe. Fashion offers new styles using updated technology. Shoes are a quick way to add style to any look. And then there’s that other thing that’s changed: fit needs have changed.

Wouldn’t it be great to have an updated full-service footwear wardrobe? Let’s take a deeper dive into this subject. When you lace up, zip up, or pull on your shoes or boots, I want you to feel confident that you’re in the right pair.

There are shoes and then there are shoes. Some activities are more demanding on our feet than others. The shoe or pump you wear if you’re on your feet all day will be different than the one you’ll wear with girlfriends when all the walking you’ll be doing is exiting your Uber car service and walking into a wine bar for drinks. Here are categories to consider in order to have the right shoes for any occasion.

Boots

Flat booties or flat boots are perfect for active days. Whether you’re running errands, taking a class at the nearby college, or working in a casual setting, they’re up to the challenge of your busy life. Choose a style that relates to your personal expression. You may like a Chelsea boot or a riding boot if you like classic looks. Maybe you prefer a boot with western details. If you like variety in your life, you’ll want to have boots or booties in more than one color and style. Cover your neutral-colored bases first—like brown, black, camel, or charcoal—but don’t be afraid to purchase boots in pops of color.

Dressy boots are a must-have for women who enjoy a more alluring or glamorous look. This boot is generally more elegant and heeled. They’re perfect for wearing with fabrics like lace, velvet, brocade or jacquard. This boot is generally close-fitting to the ankle and calf. Stretchy fabrics are great if you have a fuller calf. If you shop online, add ‘wide calf’ to your search.

Flats

Dressy flats could be used for polished outfits or they could make a statement when worn with casual pieces, like jeans and a sweater. You’ll notice fashion editors inspiring us to put casual and elegant elements together for daytime outfits. What makes a flat dressy is in the details. Look for shoes that are beaded, have sequins, ornate buckles, or bows. They could be ballet flats, T-straps or ankle wrapped. They could be metallic, patent leather, velvet, animal print, or lace. Shop around until something strikes your fancy.

Oxfords

Oxfords are a popular choice if you prefer a menswear look in your shoes. The fact that they lace up can give you a personalized fit. Lace them tight if your heel or foot is narrow. If your foot is fuller, give the laces some slack. An oxford looks sharp with trousers, ankle pants, or rolled up jeans. You’ll discover this style comes in a variety of textures and materials. They may be adorned with tassels, have lug soles, or be heeled.

Pumps

Pumps can function as a professional shoe for some workplaces. Work pumps have a closed toe and are typically low-to-mid heeled. They can be slingbacks or have ankle wraps. The block-heeled pump is a great addition to this season’s trends. Higher, more slender-heeled pumps can look dressy and sexy. These are the heels that earn their ‘killer heels’ reputation because they’re not easy to stand in for long.

Sneakers

The sneaker offers a modern look plus comfort. Slip-on or laced sneakers are having their fashion moment to the joy of many people who are experiencing style and comfort in a shoe they can wear all day. There are many choices so give yourself a chance to explore this style fully before making a purchase. You can get a pair that looks athletic or you can go for sneakers in materials like embossed snakeskin, leopard print, or velvet. If your style is sporty or fashion-forward, you may want a few pairs of this style.

If you’ve read through these categories, you may have already discovered where you need to focus to get the shoe wardrobe that works for you. I’d love to help you update your shoes and be sure you have what you need. Give me a call at (919) 819-9054. A short amount of time devoted to this one item will make a huge difference.

30Oct

How-to: Beautifully Coordinate Your Makeup to Your Outfit

October 30, 2018 Melrose Fisher

No woman is born knowing how to wear makeup that perfectly complements her outfits. And believe me, there are rules for how it’s done.

Now, “rules” imply finite yes and no directions, but I use the term rules more as “guidelines” for how you can look your absolute best. They aren’t meant to be limiting, because every woman has the right to express herself the way she sees fit. However, these are the standard methods from industry professionals on how you can look perfectly stunning all of the time.

For these rules, I need to make a clear distinction between matching and complementing. Now, let me explain the delicate balance of each.

Matching implies picking out a bright blue eyeshadow to match your bold blue sweater. This is a DON’T.

Complementing means pairing a coral dress with a light sweep of coral blush onto your cheeks – simply pair a coordinating subtle shade of blush to your outfit. This is a DO.

Makeup is a fun way to express ourselves and to literally put our best face forward. Makeup can be bold! It can also be subtle. And, either way, each is perfectly appropriate if done right and paired with the right clothing. Let’s get into how it’s done.

Never, ever match your eyeshadow with the color of your outfit.

Rewind your thoughts to school year photos from the ’80s, each girl with her big hair and bold eyeshadow that perfectly matched her silk blouse. Eyeshadow, whether it’s a bold look or not, should never be matched with the color of your outfit.

Think green eyeshadow with a green shirt. Exactly. That’s a no-no.

Striking colors, color blocking, and patterns are fabulous choices for clothes, so if your outfit is adventurous, stick with neutral eyeshadow shades: brown, gold, beige, or soft pink.

If your outfit is neutral shades of black, brown, or gray, it’s perfectly okay to try a smoldering smoky eye, in brown, black, or plum shades.

Never match, but you can complement it. For example, wearing pink can be complemented with brownish-gold shades.

The bottom line:

Bold clothing: delicate eyeshadow shades

Neutral clothing: feel free to spice up your shadow

Distribute colors evenly.

Tip: While matching eyeshadow is a huge no-no, there are chic ways to match your lipstick and blush to your outfit.

Loud outfits and daring makeup are both fine, just not on the same day. So, let’s say you want to wear a bright red lipstick. Instead of pairing red lipstick with a red dress, pair it with a red bag or red shoes. See how different those two outfits are? You can pull off matching lipstick to a bold accessory, but not to an entire outfit.

You can match parts of your outfit to your lipstick while remaining polished and elegant. The trick is just to not go overboard.

If you’re wearing a t-shirt and jeans, you have more freedom to wear bold makeup colors. If your outfit is already loud, downplay your makeup.

Lastly, remember this essential tip…

It’s important to follow these tricks to look flawlessly put together, but the most important makeup rule is to find the shades that complement your unique skin tone and eye color.

18Oct

Building Your Wardrobe is Easy in Threes

October 18, 2018 Melrose Fisher

Quite often we look in our closet, feel like something is missing, but we can’t figure out what it is. Wouldn’t it be great to have a simple way to assess your wardrobe so you know what you need to buy?

Let me teach you my secret process!

By looking at your wardrobe categories (tops, dresses, pants, etc.) in groups of threes, you’ll be able to assess the strength of your wardrobe and pinpoint the most glaring weaknesses. Once you spot the weaknesses, set a priority to take care of those within a month and I promise you’ll never have to worry about having something to wear for any occasion that may come up.

Does that sound like a significant promise? I think you’ll agree that this process will reveal your wardrobe problems quickly. So let’s get started!

Step #1

Think about the activities you get dressed for. Most people get dressed for three different types of occasions:

Casual

Casual activities may include running errands, picking up the kids, going to the grocery store, or working from a coffee shop.

Casual Chic

You want to look a little nicer to meet a girlfriend for lunch, attend a class or lecture, or go boutique shopping.

Chic Elegance

People aren’t always getting dressed up for activities the way they used to. For example, jean outfits show up at the opera. It doesn’t mean you have to wear jeans, but the lines between levels of dressing are a little faded. In general, you want to step up the level of your outfits and incorporate dressy pieces when you go to social events (theater, concerts, art openings), date nights, or celebratory parties.

In a well-rounded wardrobe, you’d have items that would help you build outfits that are casual, casual chic, and chic elegance. Any invitation could come your way and you’d be prepared to say yes without having to go shopping for the “right” outfit.

Step #2

It’s time to examine what you have in your closet that would fulfill dressing for each occasion. You’ll work from head to toe starting with your tops. Go to your wardrobe and choose a top suitable for casual, casual chic, and chic elegance.

Below are some suggestions that may apply to you and your lifestyle. At the very least, they’ll give you a place to start thinking about your wardrobe and what you’d like to wear for different occasions.

As you begin this process, start taking notes. Note if you have each area covered. Note if you really don’t have anything to wear for a specific type of event.

Ready to be illuminated? Let’s begin!

Tops

Casual: Great-fitting cotton tee in a color you love or a plaid flannel shirt.

Casual Chic: Silk blouse or a cashmere sweater.

Chic Elegance: An adorned tunic top or sweater or a lace blouse over a camisole.

Pants

Casual: Frayed jeans or knit jodhpurs.

Casual Chic: Dark denim or pants in prints or textured fabrics.

Chic Elegance: Brocade pants or palazzo or wide-legged pants.

Dresses

Casual: A simple cotton dress or denim A-line dress.

Casual Chic: Boho peasant dress or a wrap dress.

Chic Elegance: “Little Black Dress” or a printed silk dress.

Jackets

Casual: Jean jacket or anorak.

Casual Chic: Moto jacket or a quilted blazer.

Chic Elegance: Velvet blazer or an embellished jacket (fur-lined, leather trim, embroidery, etc).

Step #3

Analyze your results. As you go over your notes, the critical thing to keep in mind is whether each item you chose fits you, pleases you, and could be worn tomorrow. The strength of this assessment is your honesty.

Once you’ve done your assessment come back and let me know how you did. Did you find some holes in your wardrobe? Are you missing some essential pieces?

Let’s tackle this project together this month!

Remember, this is my specialty. I can help you find the items that are missing from your wardrobe and create outfits for each occasion of dressing. It would be my pleasure to help you attain a wardrobe that works just right for you.

Call (919) 819-9054 or shoot me an email and we’ll get started! For your convenience I can also help you do this in a video consultation. However you want to meet, I’m here to help!

10Oct

Add These Accessories to Your Fall/Winter Wardrobe

October 10, 2018 Melrose Fisher

When it comes to a new fashion season, the thought of shopping for a new wardrobe might be overwhelming. A great alternative is to choose a few new accessories to make your existing wardrobe feel brand new.

Here are some ways you can do that.

Scarves

The newest style in scarves is long, long, long. Don’t be surprised if you wrap a scarf around your neck and the tails come to your thighs. In addition to long, cozy scarves are blanket scarves. These scarves come in fabrics that are rich, lush and voluminous. Even more than an addition to your wardrobe, they can become the main attraction of your outfit.

Fingerless Gloves

You know we need our fingertips free for on-demand texting. This accessory is functional and beautiful when it’s in velvet or suede. Choose gloves that come close to the elbow for glamorous flair. Have fun with all the colors available to you.

Tights

Black tights or bare legs are so last years. Branch out into tights of many hues. Wear them with your skirts and dresses for pure fun. If colorful tights are too bold for you a lace tight will update your look.

Hats

Hats add so much personality and punctuation to your outfit. Maybe start by identifying your favorite historical period. Styles include the sombrero, the cowboy hat, the matador, the fedora, and other wide-brimmed styles. Do you prefer caps? Try one in plaid. Use hats to express your personal style. This could be the accessory you wear all season.

Statement Earrings

Are you ready to make a statement? “Ears” how to do it (wink, wink). Big on the earring scene are oversized double and triple hoops. Feathers flock the ear whether they’re real feathers or silver ones. Large jeweled crosses bring lots of bling. Tassels continue to adorn the ear.

Statement Necklaces

Or should we say necklaces! Whether you layer multiple necklaces from your collection or buy one that does all the layering for you, this look could cover your whole décolleté area. This look may not be best on a larger chested person. You decide if you’re a good candidate for this trend. Other choices are chokers high on the neck or necklaces layered over turtlenecks.

Statement Bracelets

Bracelets aren’t just for summer over bare arms. Wear bracelets of different widths and stack them on your wrist or on top of your sweater sleeve. A very pretty look is to wear large cuffs full of lustrous colors. A cardigan, jacket, or coat with three-quarter sleeves is just begging for a statement bracelet or two or three.

Belts

Belts ruled the runway. Looks included buckle belts, leather belts, tie belts, corset belts, bustier belts, and the doubling up of belts. Use any of these on coats, dresses, or skirts of any length. Consider wearing belts that contrast with your outfit colors or choose one in animal print.

Purses

Logo purses are big for fall. Enter the fanny pack, the belt purse or the backpack. For ladylike looks, go for a framed handbag. If you have a busy running-around lifestyle, a tote may be best for you. A new purse adds so very much to your look. Getting a new one could be your number one fashion priority.

To ease into the season, consider starting with accessories. I can help you find the right ones or help you begin to incorporate them into your transition wardrobe before all the woolens come out. The great thing about accessories is that you can start wearing them right away! Let’s get a date on the calendar, okay?

03Oct

Here’s What’s on the Menu for Fall Fashion

October 3, 2018 Melrose Fisher

Are you ready to try some new things from the fall/winter fashion offerings? Whether you sample one item or several, there are some tantalizing treats to choose from. Here’s a sample menu of what’s available to you.

1. I want to draw your attention to the different shades of green. Are there fifty shades? I want to say yes! Whether you like your greens light, dark, deep, intense or muted, this is the right time to explore your options. Green is not just for garnish anymore. It can be the main course of an outfit.

2. For people who’ve been wondering where brown went, it’s back! It comes in all shades of chocolate and on into burnt caramel. Time to stock your shoe and handbag shelves with this rich color or choose a few separates to blend into your existing wardrobe.

3. Velvet has been spanning the seasons. People even wore velvet this past spring/summer. It seems best for cooler weather. Look for it this season in dresses, blouses, and jackets.

4. Prairie dresses look romantic and innocent with high necklines, roomie sleeves, and a floor-length hemline. This is a great option for those looking for something new in the dress department.

5. Floral prints just keep coming. Plan to wear floral print dresses with dark backgrounds. They’re great paired with a colored tight and a boot.

6. There’s an array of plaids just waiting for you to enjoy. Classic plaids of different colorations are being combined in the same outfit. For instance, you can wear a blue plaid pant with a red plaid jacket. Or wear red plaid boots with a blue plaid dress. It may sound less than appetizing but you won’t know until you try it!

7. Don’t know what scarf to wear with your outfit? It’s an easy decision this season. Designers are creating matching sweater and scarf sets. And if you’re just going for the scarf alone, make it long, long, long, like spaghetti-noodle long.

8. Cable knit, smooth knit, or textured knit sweaters all have something in common, they are voluminous and cozy. Make your knits jumbo size this year.

9. Mixing day and nightwear for both day and night keeps us on our toes. This can be a little confusing but if done right, it makes a lot of sense. Wear dressy tops with casual bottoms or dressy bottoms with casual tops and go out on the town.

10. Pants of any length or width are available. Wide, pleat front, flairs, cigarette, printed pants, and painted pants. If you wear pants well, get ready for a smorgasbord.

11. Skirts shimmy up and down the leg. Enjoy a mini, a pencil skirt, something calf-length, or go for the 50’s full skirt. For an easy garnish, add a thick belt to the waist.

12. Train your eye to see sized up jackets as the new normal. Many of them have broad shoulders. Hello, ‘80s! Get used to this new silhouette, it might be here for a while.

13. Blankets are now acceptable as fashion outerwear. It’s a no-size piece of outerwear that covers all. Whether it’s a western print or a solid color, this can beautifully drape over everything and be the centerpiece for your entire outfit.

14. Bring color to your fashion plate outfits with red lipsticks. Red lips go with everything!

Are you salivating over any of these fall/winter fashion picks? Pick your preferences from the fashion menu and let’s have fun exploring them together on a shopping trip. Give me a call. I’ll bring snacks.

25Sep

The Fall Color Trend Report

September 25, 2018 Melrose Fisher

The fall and winter colors have graced the runways and tried and true fall colors have returned but so have some shocking hues. This fall is about more than the typical neutrals, browns, and olives that we expect. While those are always go–to autumnal colors, we can add in some of the far–from–usual trending colors like bright fuchsia, nebulas blue, and intense violet.

Almond Buff

An understated camel hue that is just a few shades lighter and more delicate, almond buff is the perfect soft neutral for the fall. Almond buff is a rich, classic autumn color that adds warmth to a fall wardrobe. Instead of gray or white, add almond buff as a neutral to any outfit for a dreamy, delicate palette.

Soft Gray

Soft Gray is a subtle touch of gray that is incredibly chic and versatile. Gray as a neutral is great for pairing with bright colors or rich black for contrast. Accent gray with a brightly colored belt or shoes. This season, sunny yellow and russet orange are in for the fall, so adding a touch of color to brighten up soft gray is a great option.

Merlot

Deep burgundies, intense oxblood, and wine hues are autumn favorites and are trending this fall. Wine colors can be paired nicely with camel or almond buff, or even with rich navy blue. Merlot can look very eloquent and even romantic. Deep red is an easy color to find in nearly any kind of clothing this year, from stately burgundy trench coats to lacy satin dresses.

Vibrant Blues and Violets

The usual fall colors include the earthy tones of nature; red, orange, olive, tan, brown. However, the cooler shades of the color wheel are huge this fall. Several blues are making a big debut for the fall from the sophisticated navy, to sea blue, to vibrant nebulas blue. Usually, purple tones for the fall have hints of red to add warmth, but this fall they are going the opposite way. Intense, blue-violet and lavender with a hint of blue are both top trends.

Fuchsia

While this is not what we’d expect for the fall season, pink has been favored by fashion designers this year. From hot pink to mellow dusty pink and various shades in between, pink remains suitable for the fall. If you are a bit apprehensive about too much fall pink, then just add pops of pink to black or gray to tone it down but still rock the trend.

Whiskey Brown

Another warm autumn neutral that can be paired with so many colors, whiskey brown is a perfect addition to your wardrobe this fall. Whiskey brown, warm and caramel–colored, is flattering and elegant for all occasions.

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