Gone Summerin'

Gone Summerin'

As you can see from a recent mirror shot, I'm tired and in need of some rest from blogging. So I'm off house sellin', house buyin', client stylin', new website designin', and generally enjoying this early summer. Back soon!

A Peek Inside

A Peek Inside

So maybe you're hoping that I have another new post about style, but I thought you might want to know what we've been up to lately. Putting our house on the market! It's so much work, isn't it?! I thought since we (hopefully) won't live there much longer, I'd share some of our realtor's pictures with you all! Here's our living room...

I'm so proud of how the house looks right now, though, especially when I think back to how it looked when we bought it. (Even though I do wish that coffee table were centered.)

If you'd like to see, here's how the living room looked when we saw our house online and then the day we moved in below.

Where to Find Cross Back Bras in A Range of Cup Sizes

Where to Find Cross Back Bras in A Range of Cup Sizes

Hi guys! Remember me? I've been really ignoring this space of the world, and I apologize! Some of the things we have been up to lately include putting our house on the market and looking at homes in Baltimore. It's so exciting but also a LOT of work, especially with my husband traveling most of the week lately. Phew!

I wanted to pop in and share some great finds with you. I recently became obsessed with the idea of wearing some open and drapey backed shirts this summer; have you seen the look I'm talking about? Like this.

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I never felt comfortable with open back shirts because I need a bra, and my bras I guess didn't feel pretty enough to show off or felt too much like that one season of Sex in the City where all we saw was bra, bra, bra, but the arrival of some gorgeous bras with strappy backs lately got me thinking that this could be the summer of the back!

The Many Faces of Ella

The Many Faces of Ella

So one of the many reasons that I haven't been writing a lot here is that I'm working on a new website for StartCloseIn Styling. I'm really excited about it, and it's getting closer to ready, but I've been spending a lot of the time that I typically use to write here doing that. Thanks for bearing with me!

I thought you might like to see some of the behind the scenes things that I'm creating for my new site. I was thinking of doing a casual photobooth vibe for some shots of me, and I made a collage with some of my many faces over the past year!

Stay tuned for more on the new site!

What to Wear to a Casual Rehearsal Dinner

What to Wear to a Casual Rehearsal Dinner

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This weekend, I'm in my cousin's wedding! She is more like a sister than a cousin, and I'm so excited. She was in my mom and stepdad's wedding, that's how close we were growing up! I have my dress for the day of the wedding, but somehow had blanked on the whole night before outfit. I had the perfect dress...and I already wore it to her bridal shower. Of course I'll wear it again, but not for this same series of events.

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So my plan is that

My Curly Long Bob Option

My Curly Long Bob Option

A few weeks ago, I bought this life-changing curling iron. That's not a phrase I thought I'd ever write, but it's true! I have lots of thin hair, and I had never considered wearing it curled to be an option, really. Now I've been wearing it curly to work and for fun, too. I've been trying really hard to get a good picture for you...

These two are how it looks when I first finish: it's a bit tight, but once I pull on the strands and just live life it drops a little and looks less ringlet-y.

Really hard...

The way I've been curling it is by following this Tiny Twisst video. I found it really useful because she has very similar hair to mine. In the past, looking at videos of women with very thick or very long or naturally curly hair has just not helped me.

It's so fun to have a new way to style my hair after all of these years with it stick straight! I hope you like that video-she has lots of fun ideas for how to style mid length hair, too, so check those out if you're interested!

In Search of Flares

In Search of Flares

Last week I went in search of flared jeans. I was going to try on as many pairs as it took until I got a great pair, and I was prepared to spend up to $150 for them. That's the most I've ever spent on jeans, but I know that I want flares to be my go-to-jeans for this spring and summer. I took my phone camera along with me for the ride in the hope that I can save you some time.

Wedding Client Question: What Do I Wear to a Casual Spring Wedding?

Wedding Client Question: What Do I Wear to a Casual Spring Wedding?

About a month ago, I received an email from Irene. She lives a few hours from me and was looking for virtual personal styling help for a family wedding coming up. The image above is the quick snap she sent me this past weekend, and I can't wait to share more images with you.

Irene wrote: 

In April my brother is getting married and I was wondering if you could help me with some fashion questions. I already have a dress but would like some help putting together the rest of the outfit. I'm not sure what kind of shoes, jewelry and hairstyle would look good with it.The wedding is on a Friday in the afternoon at a church and then the reception is at night. Even though its a Friday night reception its not formal because there will be kids and families there...I will be about 36 weeks pregnant that day, I'm thinking I don't want to wear flats maybe a wedge because I would like to elongate my legs. Maybe it would take some of the emphasis off my heavy middle area. I'm afraid wearing flats might make me look frumpy. Can you think of what might be a fun color to wear from afternoon to evening?  

My hair is shoulder length in layers. I was thinking about getting a blow out. Would that be enough?

Thanks so much!

 My first email back was this:

Tidying Up-And Paring Down to 5 Colors

Tidying Up-And Paring Down to 5 Colors

I'm back from Las Vegas, land of Red Bull and sequins. I never drink the stuff, but it's practically in the air out there. Gross.

In an effort to detox from that whole experience, I wanted to bring you up to speed on some cleansing that I've been doing over here recently. I read the incredible book The Lifechanging Magic of Tidying Up, which I highly recommend, and I put some of her tenants to practice.

The main one is to put all of your clothing in one place; I took things out of storage and from closets, and I put it all in one room by category. I had too much clothing, and she says it's ok to do shirt, pants, dresses, etc., so that's what I did! Then, you handle each item and ask the question: does this spark joy?

If it doesn't, you let it go. You get rid of it, donate or sell it. It's that simple. I was so ready for this! What I found after making my way through most of my clothing was very revealing: about 5 colors spark joy for me consistently. Black, white, gray, blue (mostly navy), and tomato (veering to coral, too). My husband says that black isn't a color, white is questionable, and gray barely qualifies, but that's just semantics! I'm going with five.



I have mostly whittled my clothing down to those five colors by this point, only keeping things in my closet that spark joy. I found a very few items that are outside of those colors that also sparked, and so I kept them, and stripes in all colors light up my heart. I've moved the patterned pieces to a separate chest that has hanging space so that my closet reads as far more cohesive and joyful now. I love it!

If it sounds too extreme for you, I suggest that you read the book or at least skim a few pages. You might be surprised by how incredibly light you'll feel afterwards! I am still dreading getting rid of books, though, and have been putting that stage off.

Let me know if you try it and what you think!

Weekly Roundup

Weekly Roundup

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I'm off this week traveling for work and didn't write enough to post this week in advance. But I do have a few silly things to leave you with, some silly, some serious, and some gorgeous.

First, have you SEEN John K's Tina Turner on Lip Synch Battle? Also, Chrissy Teigen is unnecessary, huh?

What about 10 ways to style a crop top without showing skin?

Did you read this intriguing article? So interesting how the men didn't seem to get what the benefits would be beforehand. They seem brave in that light.

Or this one on why to mother with style? Not sure what I think about it still.

And it's been out for awhile, but I still love the ideas in this ManRepeller post.

Have a great week! See you soon!

Rules to Break: Plus Size Boho

Rules to Break: Plus Size Boho

Have you noticed that almost every time you see bohemian chic it's on a stick skinny woman? I'm starting to feel like there's an unspoken rule that curvy women, including plus sizes, should not wear festival-inspired, boho chic. I even had a gorgeous, curvy client ask me the other day if she was "allowed" to wear a boho style. Of course!! 

So today I'm here to say that I'm thrilled about the trend toward breaking that ridiculous rule. A site that has incredible options is ModCloth, which I typically love for retro looks, but they've got so many amazing styles for this summer, too! 

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They also have

Mother's Day Gift Guide

Mother's Day Gift Guide

Sometimes I just freeze when it comes to buying or making gifts for my mom, my sister, my mother-in-law and my mom friends. I do the old flowers sent the day before, but I'd really like to have my Mother's Day gifts lined up beforehand so that they're a little more thoughtful. Today I'm going to share some ideas I have!

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I think it is hard for me sometimes given all of the sadness that I have around not (yet) becoming a mom myself. But recently I've resolved to celebrating the children in my life--and that also means celebrating their mothers! I admire moms more than I can explain, and so I really love the idea of taking one day to honor them the way we'd like to every day. 

For my best friend, Texan born and raised, mother of two, soul sister. 

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 For my neighbor, free spirit, lover of Hawaii, mother of a crazy cat, best baker I've ever met.

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For my sister, mother of a 12 (!!) year old, Yogi, dancer, teacher, healer. She'd never wear it, but I love the idea. 

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For my dear friend, whose baby just turned one, to take on date nights instead of the diaper bag. 

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And for my own mother, master gardener, Devil's advocate, the original Martha Stewart.

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What about you? What wonderful mothers surround you?

Have You Noticed Printed Denim Dresses?

Have You Noticed Printed Denim Dresses?

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Lately, among the sea of little denim dresses, I've noticed some gorgeous printed dresses. I think that the basic denim dress looks best when it's styled very simply, but the print adds such an interesting element to it, don't you think?

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 I love these dresses-and also the basic denim dress-with something a little edgy, like the boots above or the rugged belt below.

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Very Coachella in your backyard, don't you think?

Reader Q&A: What Should I Wear on a Date?

Reader Q&A: What Should I Wear on a Date? 

Thanks to Molly for sending in a question about ideas for a date for plus sized figures. I loved answering this question because there are so many gorgeous options out there! Molly described not finding anything that felt special, but I think i've found some great choices!

Embrace Color. I find that many of my clients of all sizes tend to shy away from color on a date, but I really recommend that you consider wearing a bold color, especially if you wear plus sizes. Why? You've got the curves and shape to really make an impact, and a date is the perfect place to show them off! Plus, a bold color is confident and happy, which are two things I'd love to see walk through the door on a date, wouldn't you?

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And say yes to bringing flowers to your date, too! 

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Dress for the Occasion. In your search for something special, don't lose sight of the fact that not all dates are created equal. Your first stop in picking out what to wear doesn't need to be

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Your dresses; in fact, a dress might be an awkward choice if you're having an active date. Or, if you're just not into dresses, don't force yourself to wear one! Show up like yourself. You'll never go wrong. 

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I like how she's showing off her gorgeous legs and neck like a dress would, but she's able to be active in the capris and flats. She could take off the jacket if it warms up but also be covered up if she doesn't want to get too much sun or gets cold in a restaurant in the evening. 

Be Cheeky. On the other hand, if you love wearing dresses or have a new one you really want to wear, do it! Just because you're going to a baseball game or something doesn't meant you need to force yourself to wear shorts or pants. I think it's fun to wear something special (like this dress) with something that nods to the date event (like the cap in the image below!)

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Or, keeping with the sporty theme, what about this top with a skirt or under overalls?

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Wear a Bold Pattern. When I lived in New York City, my dad would often take me out to eat on Thursday nights. We called it "Match.Com Night" because almost every other table was occupied by a pair who had clearly just met each other. These days it could be "Tinder Night." Every single person, to the person, wore black. Here in DC it could be beige or navy. Don't fall into that trap. Even if it's a Thursday night and you're coming to the date right from work, bring something patterned and put it on in the bathroom. Even if it's black and white like this gorgeous tribal print! 

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Why? A pattern stands out from the crowd and is memorable. Even in a group setting where you might meet a possible romantic interest, don't we all say "Remember the one in the striped shirt?"

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Channel Your Inner Superheroine. There's something very empowering about dressing up like a superhero, don't you think? A date night (or just a night out) is the perfect time to bring out your inner Wonder Woman. Wearing something that feels a bit like armor might give your heart the chance to soften up. It's like reverse psychology clothing! 

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The tube top above can be tricky since it requires a strapless bra, but why not try it with a tank top under and have the straps show? Or wear it under a blazer with a regular bra. Or do it up with a corset...which brings me to underwear! The same super heroine trick goes for what you wear underneath! It can help you feel confident even if no one but you sees it--but especially if they do! Oh wow! They actually have Wonder Woman undies, too! 

Sorry. I got distracted. 

Thanks again, Molly! Thanks for writing!

Current Mood: Come On, Warm Weather!!!

Current Mood: Come On, Warm Weather!!!

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Amiright?!

The Details

The Details

I took these pictures of my client in a really simple outfit to show how important fit and details can be. On the left is how Jen was dressed when I arrived to help her "shop her closet" since she wanted to focus mostly on work outfits. 

The first thing I said was that if she were going to buy pants in the near future that she needed a size down (or even two). However, since those were the pants she had, we'd work with them, of course! 

First, I pulled them up and tightened her belt. I think women often wear our pants too low, which can cause us to look wider across the hips. It also raised the rise and the pant length to a more appropriate length for her. 

Then I did one of the most important things for most women: rolled up Jen's sleeves! It's amazing what a difference this simple thing can make. The whole shirt suddenly seems to fit her better, doesn't it? 

It's just really flattering to show off the skinny parts of your body: ankles, wrists, neck. For a real outfit, I'd have given her a necklace or bracelets to fill in the space that we created with that neckline and rolled up sleeves. 

I also gave her a military tuck for her shirt, which helped to cinch in the sides. While I might have liked for her to go a size smaller on a new shirt, she also worried about having a gap in the chest if she went a size smaller. A good tuck and some rolled sleeves can make up for that!

That's it, just a few tweaks, but they can make such a difference. Give them a try yourself!

Easy Work Outfit Template

Easy Work Outfit Template

I was reminded of my client, Debbi, the other day because of this snapshot I took of her. 

The outfit that I put her in here was a revelation for her, and I think it's such a simple template that many of you could follow, too. Here's the formula for an easy template that you can wear with endless combinations:

Neutral Pants that Fit You Well + Tshirt + Lighter Neutral Blazer

That's it! It could be tan pants, wide leg pants, skinner pants, jeans, a graphic tee or something with a pattern. It could be dark pants and a jean jacket. Grab whatever you've got in your closet that fits into each category, then lay them all out on your bed. Mix and match until you find something that speaks to your heart.

If your office is as cold as mine is, a tshirt can be in a lighter color and feel more like spring, but a long sleeved one can help keep you warm!

Extra points for adding bright lipstick or an accessory!

Open Back Tops for Women Who Need to Wear A Bra

Open Back Tops for Women Who Need to Wear A Bra

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Add caption

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Around this time of year, every year, I start to stare longingly at pictures like these. They feel like summer to me--warm and free, open backs and all. Then I remember that I've worn a bra every day since I was 11 give or take a few days when I didn't leave the house or wore a bathing suit all day.

I just never thought I'd feel comfortable in a top with an open back, but lately I've been starting to put those mental images above together with some of these below.

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And this halter beauty, and this one! Do you smell what I'm cooking here? I think there's hope for wearing something like this

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with one of the gorgeous bralettes above. Of course I'm not saying we'll all be doing jumping jacks or anything because they're not going to give a ton of support, but it gives me hope for a boho kind of summer! Want more inspiration? I've got it here.