SCARED OF SWEATERS?

I know Halloween is near, but it shouldn’t be a sweater that frightens you! If you don’t where sweater for one of the following reasons, this blog post is for you!

1.       It makes me look fat.
2.       I cannot wear a coat with it and feel comfortable.
3.       It is too bulky.
4.       It does not wash well and often shrinks.
5.       I would rather dress in layers.

Guess what? If you use ANY of these excuses as reasons why you have not or would not purchase a sweater, I suggest you stop right now. The crew neck ugly Christmas sweater with the cinched waistband is not your only option! Why miss out on adding this piece to your wardrobe because you’ve had a bad experience? This goes without saying, but I am going to say it ANYWAY… “BUY FOR YOUR BODY TYPE, NOT THE MODEL WEARING IT.”

It is so common for us to compare ourselves to someone else, but what’s worse is comparing yourself to someone with a dissimilar shape as yours. I am 5 ‘9’ and I would not dare wear a dress to work that is modeled by someone 5’6’. I doubt think that my colleagues want to see the inside of my thigh when I sit down at the conference room table for a meeting. The same goes for sweaters. Why by a thick crewneck sweater that cinches at the waist if you are 5’9’, over 200 lbs., and have a cup size of D or better? Of course you are going to be uncomfortable! The assortments of sweater styles today are endless. I use myself as an example, because I can relate. Regardless of the season, my sweaters are always lightweight, cardigan style…and in play!

Do not judge a sweater by its cover! Just because it’s thin does not mean that it is made out of a variation of cotton that isn’t quality or warm. Your selection can range from lightweight cashmere to a linen-like cotton. Depending on what county, state or province you live in, the weather will dictate how warm you need to dress. For the purposes of this blog post, I am going to provide you with a few sweater shopping tips, that I adhere to and that I recommend for those with sweater issues.

1.       If you are a shorter woman:

a.       Bypass sweaters that fall below the hip. Caveat…if you are wearing a sweater dress, DO NOT put pants on up under it! Opt for some sexy pantyhose and knee or thigh boots to give you some length. You could possibly pull off knit pants, but you do not want to run the risk of looking or feeling bulky around the waistline.

b.      Turtlenecks look great on almost anyone (with blingy stud earrings! I normally rock my #Honora 10mm button stud earringsJ... Tangent!). Anyway, if you have a shorter neck…PASS! Opt for a V-neck style.

2.       If you are an average height (taller than 5’4’, but shorter than 5’9’): You can almost wear any style sweater and look GREAT!

a.       I caution any woman about buying the shorter waist sweaters that even look boxy on the hanger! I personally don’t want to look like a square box, but I have seen many women that look great in them. We must be honest with ourselves and say no if the style isn’t complimentary for our figure. If your waistline isn’t want you want it to be…PASS on the short waist sweaters.

3.       And if you are 5’9’ or taller…like me…:

a.       We have the gift of length on our side! (I still caution you about the short waist sweaters…lol). We can sweaters of mostly any length.

b.      Consider the length of your sweater when you select which coat you wear for the day. When opting for a more conservative look, your sweater length should not exceed that of your coat. It’s okay if you going to the ball game and your throwback is longer that your team jacket. (We can talk about coat lengths next month).

c.       Make sure that if you wear a sweater that cinches or gathers at the waistline, that it ACTUALLY REACHES YOUR WAISTLINE!!!!!! No one wants to see you belly button when you raise your arms to scratch your head! LMBO!!! (Being lengthy has its challenges).

Lastly, any type of top can be worn with a sweater. YES, I SAID ANY! That only means is you have to select the right sweater for the look you are trying to achieve, the level of warmth desired, and comfort required. You could easily put a cardigan sweater over a thin cashmere crewneck sweater and still put a coat on top (if you’re in Canada! LOL). All I am saying is enjoy this garment! Buy cardigans with patterns and of different color variations to pair with solids or other patterns. Your look is a reflection of how you feel about you. Let your light (and your sweater) shine so bright that it reflects on others.

These are just a few tidbits of information that I wanted to share. If you have your own, please share them by commenting on this post. We love to get our readers engaged.

By now you should have your fall and winter wardrobe just about complete for 2014/2015. If you passed up that sweater you’d been eyeing because you weren’t sure about it, give it shot. Remember, thinner and lighter fabric sweaters are easier to layer and can be worn year-round. You know A Classy Closet is ALL about timeless and transitional pieces that provide endless style regardless of the season.

Post pics of your favorite fall items! We love you and wish you a warm fall and winter season!
Until next time…keep it Cozy and Classy! (wink)

Don't forget to check out aclassycloset.com and shesa10.com for great #fashion and #accessories!

 

It’s Never Too Early to Start Planning….

It’s Never Too Early to Start Planning….  

YYYYYAAASSSSS!!!!! Summer is here, but Fall/Winter 2014 is on the way! That’s right, I said it. I am not trying to being a kill joy, but I do want you to know that unless you are replacing Spring/Summer pieces worn out this year for next year, you SHOULD NOT be purchasing spring/summer clothing at this time. I will caveat that and say that all of my Cali Chicas and West Coast Beauties get the luxury of rocking the summer gear long after the rest of us have added that staple cardigan or jacket to our daily ensemble. I don’t want to leave anyone out, so if you live in a country that experiences an excess of 4 months of summer weather, STOCK UP ON SAVINGS FROM SUMMER SALES in the states!!!! The savings definitely outweighs the postage (wink).

We are going to cover a couple of topics this month: (1) Taking advantage of end-of-season sales and (2) getting a cutting edge on trends that others aren’t prepared grab!

Let’s start with taking advantage of end-of-season sales. I used to be one of those girls that would get dressed to the nines to spend my last dime in the name of that 4 letter word – S.A.L.E. I also used to think that I wasn’t shopping unless I had more bags than I could carry. And I certainly wasn’t the shopper that would place all of my smaller bags into the larger one, because hey…EVERYBODY had to see that I had been to Tiffany’s and picked up a new piece. BLAH, BLAH, BLAH…Thank God for maturation!

Shopping is so not about the brand names, shopping malls and you guessed it…THE FLASHING SALE SIGNS! Shopping is all about you! If you weren’t at the center of every designer’s and retailers thoughts, they would not spend countless resources trying to woo you. Your needs and desires should guide your selections.

Are you someone who thinks that you are too busy to bother with coupons? Stop cheating yourself! I am not a proponent of store credit cards, but if you have them, take advantage of the rewards that come with them. The amount of interest that you are paying to have the card should be enough of an incentive to get back what you can, especially if the store is one you frequent while on the shopping trail. I am challenging you to find coupons for the stores you frequent and make a list of sales that will be going on!

Let’s move on to replenishing those items that you are getting the most wear out of this summer. Tanks and camis are items that should be replaced each year, along with your undergarments…NO EXCEPTIONS. Sidebar: I know you have read many articles that encourage women to look just as sexy under their clothing as they do in their clothing. It makes a difference. If you think you have a sexy walk in heels and tight jeans, you should check yourself out in a matching bra and panty coordinate or just a sexy bra if you’re truly daring (a personal fav) – wink. Okay, back to the subject at hand! You have your coupons, dates and time of upcoming sales so now we need to figure out what to purchase. Here goes:

1.     Tanks & Camis (which we’ve already established)

2.     Sandals

3.     Maxi Skirts/Dresses

4.     Swimsuits and Cover-ups

This isn’t an all-inclusive list, but it’s a start. These are items that are essential to summertime fun, comfort and timeless style. If there are others that you want to share, please add a comment to this blog post. We need to go ahead and have this conversation now, so that can focus on shopping later!

Maxi’s are not going anywhere anytime soon, so make sure the colors and patterns you select will take you into the next summer/spring season. If they look washed out, like most that containing cotton, or the pattern could be considered dated, go ahead and list it on #threadflip or #poshmarkapp. You most likely will not get what you paid for it, but you will definitely add a few dollars to the shopping budget.

If you aren’t the type of lady that likes to refresh her closet on an annual basis (meaning you don’t like to shop #howdareyou), you definitely have to be careful when it comes to patterns. Classic patterns include stripes, polka dots, some floral and plaids, and definitely solids. Remember, if you are buying something…You MUST giveaway, sell or THROW AWAY something! We are not packrats! We are women that always know what we have at our fingertips for every occasion.

Go ahead and buy a few new maxis if you can 50% or more. Keep in mind what we talked about in February and March, if you don’t love it, don’t buy it! Your options are unlimited thanks to online retailers.

This is also a great time to purchase swimsuits and sandals for next year. I personally love buying swimsuits and cover-ups from #ASOS, #Target, and #VinceCamuto. They have great selections and fantastic sales prices at the end of the season. There is no reason, no matter your size, not to have nice swimwear. If you don’t feel comfortable in a two piece, buy a swim shorts set! Sexy cover-ups are a must, but they can be very pricey. A cover-up is one item that you may feel like you don’t need, until you NEED IT! I purchased one from #ASOS a few years ago that is a blue fishnet halter that provides a sexy solution for all of my food babies and water weight (#ihatecrunches). Don’t let your self-consciousness about your size keep you from having the time of your life during the summer. Find pieces that make you feel comfortable and enjoy yourself!

Trendy sandals have wide price ranges, so you should be able find a few pairs at great prices to kick-off the 2015 season. I caution you and ask that you purchase no more than 2 pairs! I say this because, you are going to want to buy something new next year, and the shopping bug bites at the beginning of each season!  If you purchase two pairs now, you will obtain the same adrenaline rush when you purchase that one pair of strappy pumps or sandals to refresh you for the season. DON’T GIVE ME THE SIDE EYE! YES, that is only three pairs of shoes and I am aware of that! If you follow this blog, you probably have well over 200 pairs of shoes, just as I do. The last think we need to do is indulge in unnecessary buying…that’s why you’re here with me in “Closet Camp”…LOL! If you are working with less pairs that the typically shopaholic, its okay…the buildup is REAL and you are well on your way. The one thing I can promise you is that, your closet will contain all of the items necessary to attend any event on the planet…and it will be ORGANIZED!

Now!...Go through your shoedrobe and pick out a few pairs of sandals and pumps that need to be donated to #goodwill, #salvationarmy, #clothesclosets. One or two of those pairs should include those that are over 5 years old that you’ve been hanging onto, but never have taken to a shoe repair shop. The closet must stay fresh, and as long as you’re here with me, it will stay that way.  

This is not an art! It is all about staying organized and replenishing what is worn out and dated on a somewhat regular basis. You should never have sandal with insoles stained with dirt…come ‘on! I understand the “I don’t like to shop”, or “shopping isn’t important,” but what I do not understand is taking a shower every day and selecting clothing that do nothing for your body or your spirit. What’s the point of bathing if you want to look dirty, washed up, and washed out???? My point exactly, there is no point! Your femininity should not suffer at the expense of a poor ensemble. Select what you wear like you do the food at the supermarket. Make sure it’s fresh and clean.

Share your shopping experiences with us by adding a comment to any of our blog posts! We would also like to hear about your experiences and whether any of our tips helped.

Until next time…keep those Closets Classy and Orderly (MUAH)!

A Classy Closet Boutique
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February Prep, March Purchases!!!!

In February, it was all about making room in our closets for new additions! Now that the purging is complete, it is time to make some great spring selections and not break the bank.

Most people tend to select summer items for the spring when they really should be buying bright and warm items. Taking this approach to adding spring apparel and shoes to your wardrobe will prevent you from being over- or underdressed during different hours of the day. It is very difficult to battle those cool mornings, warm afternoons, and cool nights. Comfort is just as important as being cute! I am not one of those who will tell you to opt for the uncomfortable shoe just because it looks the best; however, I WILL tell you to KEEP LOOKING! LOL

Let’s start with selecting the perfect items to transition from winter to spring. Some who read this blog are very conservative, but I also have my stylishly edgy ladies who sometimes go a little overboard trying to accomplish their look during seasonal changes. My conservative ladies tend to go overboard with boring collar shirts, cardigans, and slacks. My edgy ladies over-dilute themselves in black and gaudy jewels. Depending on my mood, I straddle the fence, but you better know that I do not leave home lukewarm. I am always HOTTT and you should be too! #loveyoutoo

Conservative ladies, you typically do not have a problem incorporating color, but you do have a problem spicing up your shoe collection and experimenting with statement accessories. If you wear a solid-colored sweater, don’t wear a solid-colored scarf or jewelry of the same color. Wear printed infinity scarves with contrasting colors if you are uncomfortable with bold necklaces. Put on the blue bracelet with the green sweater … it is okay! “Your world, your style, your statement!” – Shammara Hasty

Do not be afraid of bold jewelry! One piece is sufficient. Just because you buy jewelry in sets you think everything is supposed to match … FALSE. If I am wearing bold, statement earrings, most often I will not wear a necklace. You can always replace wearing a necklace with spraying or applying some bronzer to your neck and décolleté; this allows your natural beauty to be an accessory.

For my stylishly edgy ladies (and I’m talking to myself too), please try to put the leathers and suedes down slowly. Yes, I am saying it like I am referring to a weapon because we tend to kill people with them during the fall and winter. And another thing, set your eyes on some items that are NOT BLACK!!!!!!!!!! One of my dear friends told me, as I was selecting items to add to aclassycloset.com for the spring, “Please don’t buy anything black.” I thought she was trying to drive a dagger through my heart (lol) … I love you Blair! I said to myself, 80% of the items that I have selected from vendors to purchase this season are black or a combination of black with some other color.

That is why it is important to have friends; they know your tendencies and pull your card when you go too deep within yourself. I had to pull myself out of the abyss of those things black and sexy because, after all, color is sexy too! I know that I cannot ask you to not wear black at all, so I will ask you to take baby steps and use it in moderation. Speaking of addictions, black is one because it is so convenient. Go with the colorful leggings, jeans and tops. If you have to incorporate some black, promise not to make it the dominant color; remember, we have all fall and winter to show the world all of our black pieces. Experiment with different patterns (e.g., dots, stripes, plaid) because they give you that edginess that your desire. The asymmetrical-cut blouses and skirts are also sexy additions that don’t have to be black to have the same effect. Lastly, remember the cold shoulder tops we used to wear back in the day? Yes! Those are great go-to pieces that can be transitioned into the summer very well. Opt for those made of knit or sweater material instead of polyester because they tend to provide a better fit for curvier women and don’t look cheesy. All polyester ones are not cheap, but they look better for body frames with less curves because most do not have any stretch.

You always want your clothes to look like you purposely bought them and not like they were a gift. That means everything in your closet should fit you like you’re modeling it for the designer who made it! This does not mean that it should be tight or mid-thigh; this means that it should look AMAZING on you for the purpose you purchased it for.

If you are not comfortable with shoes of color, opt for those with embellishments with colorful stitching or patterns. Spring is the perfect season for peep-toe booties, sexy mules, and shoes and boots with patterned and embellished soles.

We have some shopping to do, so I suggest you get started!

Remember: (1) Only buy what you cannot live without; (2) Only buy items that you can wear more than one season; (3) Expensive does not mean quality; (4) Bargain shop; (5) Do not be pressured by sales people and do not allow their opinions to lure you to the checkout counter; and finally (6) HAVE FUN!

Enjoy Spring 2014 ladies and be assured that this wardrobe that we are building will only get better as the year goes on! We welcome you to post a comment to this blog telling us some of the great additions you have made to your closets along with photos of your beautiful items. You can see in the photo that I took my own advice and made room for more shoes!!!!Talk to you soon!

www.aclassycloset.com

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Don't You Hate Messy People? It's Time to Clean Up and Clear Out Ladies!!!!!

In January, we talked about making sure our selection of sale items didn't turn into the next delivery at your local Goodwill. We also talked briefly about those items that should remain in every girl’s closet.

This month, let’s talk about cleaning out that closet of yours and making space for newcomers! This topic really excites me because it is the second step to creating a closet that allows you to select items blindly and still walk out of the door making a statement to the world! Please don't think that I am this excited when I start pulling out the oversized shopping bags and garbage bags to fill them with clothes, shoes, and accessories that I have spent my hard-earned money on. This definitely does not fill my heart with joy, but what does put the sparkle into my eyes is the fact that I will have so much room for more STUFF! And when I say stuff, I mean fresh and affordable new items to enlighten my clothing racks and jewelry stands.

Just imagine yourself standing at the door of your closet and saying, "I know I need to get rid of some stuff but don't know to start. I WANT TO KEEP EVERYTHING!"

My sisters in shopping, let me help you get this cleaning party started. First things first, start small. Go to those jewelry boxes and chests and break out the garbage bag to throw away custom jewelry that has tarnished. It's the worst to see some one wearing a costume ring or bracelet that is now red or a rust color because they forgot to take them off a couple of times before washing their hands. I'M GUILTY, so I know what I am talking about. The cheapest thing to replace is the bejewels; however, the cheaper they are, the faster they are to turn. If you are as guilty as I am about forgetting to take off your costume jewelry before washing your hands, invest in some real jewelry. I only wear costume rings when I am going out to an event because I wash my hands too often throughout the day for them. I also stack my costume bracelets with real gold and silver bangles. I typically put a real bracelet closet to my hands and then stack my watch and costume bracelets behind it; that way they catch the water first and slow the tarnishing process for my costume bracelets.

So after we've cleaned out the jewelry, we'll keep up the pace with placing those scarves that are all stringy and those hats with all of the lent balls in those oversized shopping bags for Goodwill. These are items that others can use but we can replace at reasonable prices. If your scarves and hats are designer, take photos of them and place them on Poshmark and Thriftflip for a month to see if you can sell them for a little cash to buy new ones. Keep them in the bag; that way, if they don't sell they are prepared to be dropped off. Scarves and hats can definitely add spice to a weekend get-up. Remember my consignment hat from last weekend? That hat set my outfit off! Oh Yes! Don't be afraid to branch out if you aren't a hat wearer. This is one of the cheapest accessories to experiment with. I had a girlfriend of mine tell me that her head was too big for a hat! I love you A.B., but NO SUCH THING! Just like most clothes aren't one size fit all, neither are accessories. Take your time and find one that works for YOU! Make a day out of it with your girlfriends. Make it a day when you only shop for specific things. If I do any store shopping, I typically only come with accessories, because I truly believe that they are the hallmark to any wardrobe.

Alright, so we are ready get our game face on and tackle the clothing and outerwear. All I can say is have your bottle of wine ready, because after you lace the giveaway bag with all of the items that you've been planning to take to the seamstress to get a button replace or a hem let out, you are going to need it! Don't be like me and have a sewing machine and still go to have seams stitched and alterations done by someone else. SHAME ON YOU! LOL

YES, GIRLFRIENDS, go through that closet piece by piece. You should know exactly what you have to work with. My mom has always teased me about not selecting what I am going to wear the next day the night before. WHY, I say to myself? I know exactly what I have and I know where it is. Your closet should be organized just like the food in your kitchen pantry. For those with sloppy kitchen pantries ... clean it up ladies! LMBO ... now bake the closet purge.

If you haven't lost weight YET … put it in the bag. If you cannot comfortably flex in those tops ... put it in the bag. If you haven't worn it in two seasons (ESPECIALLY if it still has a tag on it) ... PUT IT IN THE BAG. If you have to camouflage missing buttons, busted seams, discolorations ... put it in the bag. And if you have been on your good girl and it's too big ... you should HAPPILY put it in the bag!

Now that that’s out of the way, I want you to get on your knees and say a small prayer because we are about to tackle that shoe closet. Go ahead and take a sip of that wine I asked you to break out earlier. I typically just go ahead and take a bottle into my shoe room with me along with my favorite potato chips (Lay's Plain ... GO LAYS). Yes, this is serious business if you have to be told, so let's get started.

We are going to take this in stages just as we've done with your other items. First, look at the space where you keep your shoes and decide whether you need to make room for more, do a complete overhaul, or just find a totally new space for them! I try to keep no more than 300-350 pairs at one time, so that helps me eliminate when the psychological stress of it all gets to be a bit much.

After we have surveyed our shoe canvas and know what our end goal is (for me it's all about staying under my number because I run out of shelf space), we are then ready to get started. The first ones we want to interview are those with missing taps, very noticeable scuffs, toe creases, filthy insoles (from being barefoot in the summer), discolored leather, Irish pennants (for you military girls, you know that means stray stitching), and tilted heels! Bring them front and center! Guess what? Put them in either bag you want ... the Goodwill or the trash ... BUT THEY MUST GO! You haven't taken them to the shoe repair shop in all this time, so DON'T GET MOTIVITED NOW THAT YOU KNOW THEY HAVE TO LEAVE!!!! No ma'am! Say your last words and kiss the casualties of the foot war GOODBYE! (Before I go ANY further, let me not forget to address those of you who still keep shoeboxes. Ummm, let's upgrade the shoedrobe with some nice fabric or plastic boxes from IKEA or The Container Store if you don't have the shelving to display them.)

Now that I've covered that, let’s do an inventory to determine how many boots (high-heel and flat), pumps, flats, and sandals by color and material. Depending on what region you live in, suede is out of the question in July, so the material of the shoe should have a category of its own. The purpose of this inventory is to get you a great idea of what types of shoes are missing from your shoedrobe.

Once you have taken an inventory, look a look at what you have left. I want you to bring those shoes and boots that you haven’t worn for more than three seasons front and center. Now ask yourself, how many times have you worn them this past year. If the answer is less than five, put them in those things to sell on Poshmark, eBay or Thriftflip! They are obviously of good quality if they've lasted this long, but if you haven't worn them and need the space, I suggest letting someone else take them for a stroll!

Hopefully, by now you have created some much-needed space to fill the gaps you discovered during your inventory!!!! OMG! You have just created a reason to shop!!!!!!! I am literally screaming "WOOT WOOT" right now while typing!!!! I LOVE IT!!!!!!

So for me, I would take a shower, load all of my bags for Goodwill in the trunk of my car, grab that bottle of wine from my shoe room and head to the couch to shop for shoes online ALL NIGHT, but I don't expect you to do that! LMBO! I do, however, expect you to give yourself a round of applause and treat yourself because you have accomplished quite a few things by doing this: (1) You have given your clothing a breathing treatment to assume its duties for the upcoming season; (2) You have donated to a worthy cause; and (3) You have given yourself a reason to SHOE SHOP UNTIL YOUR WALLET CAN'T TAKE IT ANY MORE!!! Now your shoedrobe is looking forward to spring just as much as you are!

Until next time ... keep it classy sassy!

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