Unwrapping your holiday style

[image from Real Simple]

Somehow, you've managed to walk past a million clothing store windows, ignored the dozens of magazines with images of party dresses, and suddenly, your big holiday bash is this weekend. Sound familiar?  Now, before you grab your purse and head out the door to frantically to find something to wear, here are a few things to keep in mind.

1) Start with your closet.  Take a good look at what you already have.  You may be surprised with what you find!  Simply by changing your jewelery, your shoes or even adding a touch of colour, can change the look of your little black dress and turn into a festive frock.  For more versatility, mix & match your separates.  Play with colour, pattern and texture.  Just think how great you'll feel when you tell your friends that you created the outfit with what you already had in your closet!

2) Make a list.  To avoid wondering aimlessly and feeling overwhelmed with the selection, make a list of 3 stores that have worked for you in the past and go to those first. Also, make a list of what you are looking for - a necklace, fitted blazer, long skirt. This will help you from getting side tracked.  

3) Don't buy the first thing you see.  You will need to give yourself some time. Try on a few items at one store - then walk away. Try another store, try on a few more pieces, and again walk away.  Now is not the time to experiment! The last thing you need is another holiday outfit that sits in your closet because a)you don't really like it b)it doesn't fit very well or c)you have nothing else in your closet to wear it with.  Go grab a coffee and think about which one works best for the occasion and what you felt the best in. Then go back and get it!


Armed with this knowledge, you are ready to hit the holiday party circuit, stress free and in style!

Take some time

Before the hustle and bustle of the holiday season takes over, why not take some time for yourself.  Not sure where to start? Here are my top 5 - I'm taking time for me - activities.

1.Go for a long walk.
With the crisp air and vibrant colours, now is the perfect time to go for a walk.  Before the snow falls, and you're stuck indoors cooking, baking, roasting, take some time to enjoy one of the best times of the year.  There is absolutely no substitute to the crunching of the leaves underfoot or the wonderful fresh scents that nature brings.

What to wear: Needless to say, you want to be both comfortable and stylish!  Put on your favorite pair of jeans tucked in to a pair knee high boots, a warm, yet breathable jacket, layer a knit sweater worn atop a cotton tee, and to finish the look off, a bold coloured scarf.

2.Tuck into a book
With December fast approaching, taking time for oneself is at a premium.   The best way to indulge is simply by curling up with a good (or trashy) book.  Escape from all of your daily distractions – that also includes turning off your phone – and let your imagination do all the work.  Or better yet, watch Magic Mike!

What to wear: Again, comfort is key.  However, since there is always the chance of unexpected company, it’s good to be prepared.  Jogging pants are not what they used to be.  Instead of sporting oversized athletic wear; invest in form fitting yoga attire - equally cozy, and extremely trendy.

3.Clean out your closet
Changing of the seasons is always a good time to sort through your closet.  The holidays are right around the corner, making it the perfect time to make room for welcomed additions.  Remember, keep only the items that fit and that are in good condition!

What to wear: As little as possible.  Take this time to try things on and take a walk down memory lane - reminisce, laugh and then get rid of it!

4.Start your holiday shopping early
Once the hustle and bustle of the holiday season arrives, who really has the time to put much thought-let alone effort -into gifts for family and friends?  Take this time to ask what people would like and then browse the stores.  Bring a pen and pad to make notes of what you liked, the price and what store it was in.

What to wear: Whose kidding whom?  We all know, when out shopping for other people, we most often find things for ourselves.  So be prepared!  Wear clothing that can easily be slipped on and off.  Try a cardigan over a simple tee so you can easily take off the cardigan to try on that killer jacket.

5.Go out for dinner
Once again, with the busy month of December around the corner, now is the perfect time to schedule in date night.  Take this time to reconnect with your loved one (just think, no cooking and no clean up!).

What to wear: Choose something that looks great on you, is comfortable, and makes you feel your best.

There you have it - 5 fun things to do this November.  So what are you waiting for?

Break the Cycle

Most of the time when we shop for clothing, we are instantly drawn to certain items, colours and styles. Unfortunately, most women don't choose the right ones. Which may leave you with some great pieces, but these pieces probably just hang in your closet.  They are constantly tried on. Manipulated. But no matter what, they just don't seem to work.

Here are the reasons:
1) It's too big or too small
2) It's the wrong colour for your skin tone
2) It doesn't work for your body type

Let's break the cycle!

1)  Ok ladies. My number one rule (and I am a women with very few rules) is you have to try it on before you buy it! I know that for some of you this is a no-brainer. But believe me, I hear a lot of "oh, I didn't have time to try it on".  These items then are still hanging in closets with tags on. With many thoughts of being returned, but ultimately these pieces accept their fate as closet fillers - and this, whether you are aware of it or not, becomes a closet burden. Bottom line: it's a waste of money and energy. So please, try before you buy!

My second rule is buy items that fit your body NOW. Not "when I lose weight", or "in case I put the weight back on". Again, this is just a waste of time, money and energy.

2)  As for colour, when I work with clients, I know just by looking at them and by a series of questions, what colours suit them best.  If you really look at yourself in the mirror when getting dressed or trying things on, you can see what colours work and which ones don't.

Here's an exercise for you to do at home. Go to your closet and pick out something that you really love and that fits you well, but for some reason, it just doesn't 'feel' right. And then pick out something that you know looks great and it's a colour you always feel good in.  I bet that the reason the first item doesn't work has to do with it's colour. Really take a look at the difference between the two. When wearing a colour that suits your skin tone, you will look fresh and vibrant. The colours that don't compliment your skin tone will make your skin look dull and yellow.    

For more info on colours, click here. 

3) Not sure what your body type is? You are not alone. There are different categories with varying names: pear or bell shape and inverted triangle or martini glass shape. It sounds pretty complicated and to make things worse, you can be a mix of two of them!  When choosing clothing, dress your body by accentuating the areas that you LOVE, and camouflage areas that you would like to minimize.

See if you know the answers to the following questions. If you are not sure, send me an email and I'd be happy to tell you.

Question #1: I have heavier arms. Which sleeves are my best option?

A

loft.com

B

banana republic

Question #2: I have heavier thighs, which jean would suit me best?

A

Gap.com

B

Gap.com

Question #3: I have a boyish shape. Which dress will give me the illusion of curves?

A

my-wardrobe.com

B

stylehive.com

Question #4: I want to create the illusion of a fuller bust. Which blouse is best?

A

jcrew.com

B

bananarepublic.com

Question #5: I want to minimize my bust and make my torso look longer. Which blazer is better for me?

A

lechateau.com

B

h&m.com

Question #6: I want to hide the extra weight around my tummy. Which shirt is my best option?

A

piperlime.com

B

thisnext.com

Next time you go shopping or you are sorting through your wardrobe, keep these tips in mind. When you open your closet to get dressed, you should be faced with items that you love, that fit, that work with your lifestyle and your body type.

Spiral into Control

Having a functional wardrobe means more than just having items in your closet that you love, that fit your lifestyle, and that suit your body type.  It is also crucial to have a system. An organizational system.  Some of my clients like to colour coordinate, some separate into tops/skirts/pants, while others keep their work clothes and casual clothes separated. Which ever method you choose, being able to see what you have and knowing what you have is key.

If you don't have the time or the know-how, Karyn can help.  Karyn Beacock is a trained professional organizer and owner of Spiral into Control.  The following are tips she has shared in order to help you take control of your closet.

Did you know that we only wear 20% of our clothes 80% of the time?

Spring is just around the corner and the perfect time to tackle organization of your closet. But before you can organize you must PURGE! But you say to yourself, “there are so many clothes-how do I know what to get rid of?”

To start, clear your schedule for the day, and set a goal to work through your closet until your spring purge is complete.

STEP 1- Clear out your entire closet, find a good space to work in. Look at each piece individually. Really look at it. Try it on if you need to. And then answer these questions. If the answer if yes, it is time for the piece to go!

· Is it ripped, torn or stained?

· Does it the not fit the way that you want it to right NOW?

· Do you feel less that fantastic in it?

· Have you been holding on to it since 1989?

STEP 2- Sort into categories. Be ruthless as you go through your clothes and in what you decide to do with them. It is important at this point to think about what your image is, what image do you want to project? Now is the time to make choices on your clothes which enforce this.

· Keep- These are the pieces that you feel amazing in, they are the classic pieces. These are the clothes that flatter & complement your figure and that you LOVE!

· Mend- These are the pieces that, if they were not ripped, you would be worn rather than sitting in a pile at the bottom of your closet. If they make the cut bring them in to be repaired. Every girl needs a good seamstress.

Donate/Give Away -Do you have a favourite charity. Do you have a cause close to your heart. There are not for profit organizations throughout Cananda who would be very greatful for the clothes you no longer wear (from 1989 or otherwise).Checkout www.canadahelps.org for a charity near you. Alternatively, do you have a sibling, a younger cousin who would benefit from your hand me downs?

· Sell It- For those who have the patience and talent, Ebay and Kijiji are great places to make money for quality pieces. Also, consignment stores are another great alternative, and they do the work for you.

· Throw Away-These are the pieces that are non salvageable. These are the pieces that are too far gone that it would be tacky to send them to donations. Make them into rags, if you are handy make a quilt but put them out of their misery now and do not pass them onto someone to have to deal with.

**Anything that you love and meets the “keep” criteria but it is out of season put away in storage for the appropriate season**

Once you have sorted through your closet there is one more trick to help with the closet purge. It is called the “Reverse Hanger Trick”

· As you place your clothes turn all hangers in the closet backwards

· When you wear something, wash it and then put the hanger forward

· After 6 months, anything left reversed is donated!

Spiral into Control - Professional Organizing Services focuses on Home, Office & Lifestyle organizing. Spiral into Control works with clients to provide and implement solutions for organized living. Working together to create order from chaos gives my clients more time to do the things they want to do!

Spiral Into Control is a member of the Professional Organizers in Canada. For more information or to get in touch with Karyn, check out www.spiralintocontrol.org

Sorting through and organizing your wardrobe shouldn't be stressful or time consuming.  It is a process that will leave your closet looking clean and fresh, not to mention your clothes will hang properly, look great and will be ready to wear.

Thanks for the tips Karyn!

Please leave your comments or share any other tips or tricks that you might have.

What's in your closet?

I have seen many a closet, and although the items inside may be vastly different from one to the next, there is an underlying similarity - emotional attachment.  Every client has a story behind their most loved - or not so loved - piece.  They can remember when and where it was purchased or given to them. Where they wore it.  Why they bought it.  And how it made them feel.  I get it. I have items like that too.

One piece that fits that description is my pink leather jacket.  I bought it 15 years ago at a clothing sale at Place Bonaventure in Montreal.  It was love at first sight.  I knew I had to have it. I loved the fact that it was a bold, attention grabbing piece. It was unique - at least at the time it was.  It last saw the light of day just under 10 years ago.  I wore it for a photo shoot I had done while I lived in England.  It's because of those images that I no longer wear it!  Bubble gum pink leather jacket with rolled-up jeans. Long blond hair, reminiscent of Britney Spears. Yikes!  But I can't let it go. Why? For one, I really do want to wear it again. And secondly, it reminds me of my time in England.  A time when I really discovered myself. What I wanted. Who I wanted to be. That was a pivotal time in my life. And my bold, pink leather jacket was part of that process.

Maybe this spring I will bring it out of retirement.  All I know, is I better get wear out it sooner rather than later. I have a feeling if I wear it when my girls are older, I may just give them an extra reason to be embarrassed by me.

Alright, so I shared mine.  Now let's hear what item you are still holding on to and why!




Side note: If I can find a picture from the photo shoot, I will post it.