Buy accessories you love.

I usually give the advice to only buy complete outfits, and don't buy something unless you are absolutely certain you've got something at home to go with it. As I was getting dressed yesterday, I realized this doesn't hold true for accessories.

Here's my advice on accessories. When you're shopping and you see an accessory you absolutely, positively love, BUY IT! We all tend to gravitate towards our favorite colors or basic colors, so chances are very good that when you buy an accessory you fall in love with, it will work with several things in your closet. The thing I've come to love about accessories is that they don't have to be a 100% perfect match with your outfit, and in fact, it's usually better that everything isn't perfect. (Perfection tends to look too contrived and a bit old fashioned.)

Let me give some examples. Yesterday I decided to wear my new Chaiken, charcoal gray pencil skirt. I paired it with a black, ballet neck sweater, (a favorite that I've had at least 5 years.) I then added black patterned tights, (with an open weave,) and red, patent leather, peep toe platform shoes. I don't really wear a lot of red, but when I saw them, I knew they'd be perfect to pair with almost any black dress or skirt. It happened to be gray in this case.

The outfit still needed something. I was picturing a long, pearl necklace, but I'm truly not much of a pearl girl. So instead I added a grey and black, chiffon printed scarf with black tassels. It was amazing! I bought the scarf on a leap of faith, knowing it would always go with black. And it wasn't an exact match with the gray of the skirt, but that's what made it great.

Have fun with accessories in your favorite colors. They can even turn a pair of jeans and a white t-shirt into an outfit that turns heads!

SOL

If you have never been to SOL Lingerie in Cherry Creek North, you must go for a bra fitting. They are truly experts!

I had bought lingerie there in the past, a pretty nightie and my wedding panties. And I had heard they were great for bra fittings, but I had no idea how many bras they have. Thousands! You see them when you head into the fitting room area completely off of the sales floor. There are hang bars with bras practically floor to ceiling that go on for miles.

I worked with Lara, and here are a few things I learned.

-You get 85% of your support from the band, so the proper band size is crucial.

-Your bra will actually be more comfortable when it fits a little tighter. It prevents the bra from riding up in the back, which creates discomfort.

-When you buy the bra, you should fasten it on the loosest hook. As it stretches, as all bras will, you can tighten it and still have a proper fit.

-For the longest life, wash your bra every time you wear it. It's easiest to have 7 on hand, one for each day of the week, so you're not spending your life at the sink.

-When your bra straps feel like they're falling off, it's usually because the band doesn't fit. It's riding up in the back and making the straps loose.

-Don't tighten the straps when this happens. It destroys the integrity of the fit and support. (Run, don't walk, to SOL.)

-There are different bra styles for different garments:

T-Shirt bras with completely smooth cups are ideal for close fitting knits; however, they don't always allow for the best support.

A lacy seamed bra will give you the best support. Fine quality lace lies smooth and gets smoother with each washing. Most of SOL's lacy seamed bras are smooth enough to wear under most knits.

SOL carries a bra called the Chantelle Fete, which gives amazing support to larger busted women. It creates kind of a "pointy' breast silhouette, which seems a little strange at first, but it makes your rib cage and waist appear absolutely tiny!This is also a wonderful bra for blouses. It lines you up perfectly with the darts.

If you've always thought a bra, is a bra, is a bra, SOL will change your mind. A bra in the right size that's right for your body type, can make you look 10 years younger, not to mention thinner! (I am all about that. Bring on the chocolate!) By the way, SOL didn't pay me to write any of this. I was that impressed.

More Wardrobe Essentials

Here's a continuation of my recommended wardrobe "must-haves."

Black/Brown Pants: These are in addition to your suit pants. They'll be a real work horse for you, so they'll need to be dry cleaned more. It's important to dry clean all of the pieces of your suits at the same time, so that one piece won't become more faded than the others.

I actually wear my brown pants more than my black pants. They're my all time faves, and sadly are starting to wear out! I love brown with purple, teal green, turquoise, peacock blue, pink, and lime green. You can wear brown with just about anything you'd wear black with.

White blouse: White blouses are classics, but they're especially hot this year. You can wear it with your suit, jeans, layered under vests, jackets, sweaters, and to quote my friend Stacy, who owns Violet and Chromosome, "everything!"

It's worth your time to search for one that fits well and that you really love. However, I don't see spending tons of money on it, because, come on, it's a white shirt! Doesn't everyone spill on occasion?

Cute jacket: Ideally, you want one that you can wear with your suit pants, your basic pants (above) and your jeans. Tweed can be great-a real departure from the suit jacket. Depending on your budget and how often you like to shop, this jacket can be a trendy shape or a classic shape. Make sure either works well with your body type.

Sweater set: I know a lot of people don't like these, but hear me out. Cardigans are so much more versatile than pull over sweaters. I'm big on jackets for professional dress, but the reality is that there are days when most of us want to wear something more comfy and cozy! A matched sweater set is the closest thing to a jacket in terms of authority, credibility, etc.

As you're trying to get your head around wearing a sweater set, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. It doesn't have to be that cutesy, old lady style. Look for styling your really like, perhaps one with beautiful beading, a really long one or one with a belt. There are lots to choose from. Also, the shell doesn't have to be a jewel neck that is hard for most women to wear. Next, be sure to look for colors and fabrics that you're absolutely crazy about.

Of course, if you can't stand the idea of the sweater set, the cardigan can still be worn over blouses and other knit tops. And the shells are great under jackets or even by themselves in warm weather. (Don't wear it alone in the office, though.)

Dressy Pumps: I love sling backs, but if you were only buying one pair of shoes, I'd recommend a basic, high heeled pump with a semi-pointed toe in the neutral you wear the most, i.e. black. They can be worn with everything from the LBD, to the suit, to the jeans. Of course, if you can't wear heels, look for the most elegant leather or leather-like shoe you can find that's comfortable.

These all great basics to get you started with a wardrobe. Of course, as I mentioned before, there is a lot of room for personal style, but these items will all take you far in all but the most casual wardrobes.

Photos Courtesy of Nordstrom and Talbots

Wardrobe Basics

I was recently asked the question, “If you were stuck on a deserted island and could only have ten pieces of clothing and three accessories, what would they be?” Wow, what a loaded question! The fact of the matter is, I don’t really have a pat answer of must haves. Everyone’s needs and tastes are completely unique. It’s truly impossible to suggest the same 10 items for all women.

But wanting to be helpful, I’ve given some thought to my friend’s question and have come up with some ideas of garments in general that could be useful. However, if one were really stuck on a deserted tropical island, I’d suggest a swimsuit and a cover-up. I’d then suggest using any additional garments to make S.O.S flags!

Remember, these are merely suggestions. Feel free to adapt to your likes and needs.

Little Black Dress: It doesn’t really have to be black. It could be any dark neutral color that looks good one you. The important thing is choosing a relatively dressy fabric in a simple style that can be changed easily with layers and accessories.

Swimsuit: Really. Even if you don’t swim much, you never know when you’ll need one. A Jacuzzi is a requisite for any hotel I stay at. Plus, you never know when you’ll be whisked off to a tropical island!

Black suit: Again, it doesn’t have to be black. Any dark neutral color, such as navy, charcoal, or brown would be suitable. Even if you’re not involved in the business arena, a suit is appropriate for a huge variety of occasions, from a funeral to a dressy dinner to a fun, funky look with a t-shirt. For the most versatility, try to find a skirt and pants that match the jacket. Feel free to dismiss the previous advice if you strictly wear pants. I know a lot of women who have freed themselves of skirts. If you have occasion to wear suits a lot, I’d suggest a suit in a lighter color like khaki or beige for warm weather.

Flattering jeans: Other than the swimsuit, we’ve got a real theme going on! If you’ve got a casual lifestyle, you may only need casual jeans, like Levi’s. If you want the most versatility, go for a dressy pair of jeans to wear with heels, more casual jeans to wear with flats, and super comfy weekend jeans that can take a lot of wear and tear.

Silver or gold hoop earrings: I’m a big fan hoops! (I’m actually a big fan of diamond studs too, but I don’t foresee those in my jewelry box any time soon!) The nice thing about a medium sized hoop is that they work for both long and short hair. They give short haired heads some volume and interest. They’re big enough to be seen if you’ve got long or thick hair. Another thing I like about hoops is that they are a nice blend of dressy and casual. Lastly, they are a simple compliment to a statement necklace, keeping you from being to matchy-matchy all of the time.

Check for more wardrobe essentials next time.

Coats-my necessary evil!

I have to admit, I don’t really like wearing coats. Strange for Colorado, huh? I like looking at coats, but not wearing them. Luckily, contrary to popular belief around the country, there aren’t many days here in the winter that you need a heavy coat. Nevertheless, I’ve found that no matter how hard I try to deny it, we need coats! Last year I was really excited to find a lightweight winter coat. Unfortunately, I learned it’s not warm enough!

So…I found myself coat shopping at the big sale at Macy’s over the weekend. It led me to thinking about what’s important to consider when you’re shopping for a coat. Here are a few thoughts to ponder:

-Do I wear mostly pants or skirts? A car coat is fine if you rarely wear skirts.
-How dressy are most of my clothes?
-What’s my body shape? Will a fitted coat suit me or is an A-Line better for my figure?
-Will I wear jackets and bulky sweaters under my coat? If so, be sure to try the coat on over both.
-What’s my personal style? Am I more sophisticated or sporty?

Here are some great coats:

This one is great for a triangle figure. The double breasted style widens the upper body. The a-line bottom accommodates hips and thighs.

Great for an inverted triangle, the wide sleeves will visually widen the hips, balancing the figure.

This is a simple, sophisticated style that flatters many body types.

What an amazing color! This a a great car coat for business casual and would be hot with dressy jeans and boots.(I put this on my wish list!)

Photos Courtesy: Macy's, Nordstrom

The Little Black Sequined Skirt

On Saturday, I participated in the Best Ever Holiday Extravaganza benefiting Warren Village. As my contribution to the event, I did a presentation on dressing for the holidays. My first idea was to show a little black dress accessorized in a variety of ways, but then I found the cutest “little black sequined skirt”, (LBSS,) at Ann Taylor and decided it would be a lot more useful and fun!(Don't let these pictures throw you off. Both pieces are much cuter than they appear here. I think Ann Taylor should let me style their photo shoots!)

Since shine is such a big trend for fall, there are ways to wear this skirt pre and post holiday season.

I love mixing dressy items with casual pieces. So I combined the skirt with a black, cashmere, faux wrap sweater, black tights and black, high boots. It’s all about mixing up textures that make this modern look interesting. This is a dressy look that’s not over-the-top. It would be perfect for an office party, dinner party or dinner out at a romantic restaurant.

The next look is inspired by an article I saw in Vogue, written by one of their fashion editors. She paired the skirt, (well actually hers was a mini-skirt,) with a white blouse and a big slouchy sweater. She wore it with thick tights and chunky shoes. It makes a great weekend look. In spite of the sequins, it’s casual.

For my presentation, I paired my skirt with a long sleeved black t-shirt from the Loft, a black DKNY rayon blazer that I’ve had for a few years, and the same tights. (Charcoal or aubergine tights could be cool, too.) I belted my waist with a black patent belt and changed to short, suede boots. I felt very fashionista!

Last but not least, I paired the skirt with this magenta INC top I’ve been coveting for a couple of months now. (I got the last one at the store!) For this look, I’d shed the tights and change to strappy, sparkly sandals. It’s truly a fun look that will really go to any dressy occasion except for all but the most traditional, black-tie affair. (The top shown obviously isn't the exact top, but it's similar.)

For my presentation, I actually made my changes in front of the group, so if you have a variety of events in one evening that you’d like different looks for, you can too. I started with a stretchy, black camisole under the sweater, then layered the t-shirt and blazer over it, then changed to the dressy top, popped off the cami straps and wriggled the top down over my hips. I also loved that any of the tops I used can also be worn with jeans, so if you had a super, casual event, you could even change from the LBSS to jeans!

Where do you shop?

If you live anywhere in Colorado, and you're updating your wardrobe for a season and want to have the very best selection of clothing, you need to visit Cherry Creek Mall or Park Meadows Mall. Forget about convenience! I live closest to Westminster mall, but they don't have the stores I like, and because the chain stores there are considered 'C' stores, they have very little merchandise. On the other hand, if you're looking for a bargain, perhaps something you've seen at one of the larger stores and now it's on sale and gone, you might try one of these outlying stores.

Ann Taylor at Cherry Creek by far has the most merchandise. They get the best selection and a lot of it. I was at this store on Friday with a client. There was a ton to choose from and they had my client's size in everything! I popped in the Ann Taylor in Park Meadows on Saturday and saw several things I'd seen at CC, but I was astounded at much less they had. (In their defense, it appeared they'd had a busy day and probably had sold a lot.) One more tip I should share about A.Taylor is that many times they mark items down, but the pieces don't automatically go on the sale rack. If you typically head for the sale racks, slow down and look through the whole store. You're missing bargains!

Dillard's at Park Meadows mall has more suits and suiting separates than I've seen anywhere else. A sales associate told me they're the Antonio Melani store, meaning you'll find the whole line there and most likely only clearance items at their other stores.

I've also found that Park Meadows as a whole seems to be a "suit mall." Macy's has a lot of suits also...far more than Cherry Creek.

Last but not least...Nordstrom! Although I love the new Cherry Creek store and have been there several times already, I for the most part prefer Park Meadows. Park Meadows is a much bigger store, and like the rest of the mall, they have a lot of suiting and other professional clothing. On the other hand, what makes Cherry Creek's Nordstrom special is the they have many designers that aren't in their other stores. One department I've got my eye on is called Via C. It's an area with up and coming designers such as Vince and Philip Lim.