Closet Re-Do: Andrea

Closet Re-Do: Andrea

Today's photos are going to blow you away. I am just so incredibly lucky to work with such smart, fun, gorgeous women. Andrea is no exception. We got together last weekend to transform her closet from one full of incredible vintage finds that she never wore (or only wore in one way) to a versatile, playful, organized treasure trove full of outfits made just for her. Not bad for three hours!

All images from our time together.

The Process

We met up over chicken and bubble tea in the fashion capital of Maryland: Rockville. Just kidding. Yes to chicken and bubble tea, no to fashion. However, leave it to Andrea to have scouted out not only a great lunch spot but also a fantastic thrift store next door.

Clearly, she's the type of person you want to know! What she told me was a fairly typical story: she likes shopping, especially finding unique items, but when she gets them home she doesn't always know how to wear them. She found herself wearing the same things the same way-often on the same day! When she told me that she has a "Tuesday dress," I knew we could have some fun together shaking things up. Here's how it went down!

In her own words

Start Close in: What were you hoping to get out of our time together?

Andrea: I was stuck in a rut--bored with my clothes (even though my closet was pretty full). I was wearing the same thing every week (dress+belt+flats) and had bought a few items I really wasn't sure how to pull together. I'm a clothing scavenger--I pick up items that I like here and there but never really think about how they will work with my other items. I was hoping I would feel excited about my clothes again without buying new ones. Lastly, I was hoping it would be fun and relaxed--which is was.

What was the experience like for you?

Bringing the clothes of out my closet and looking at them made me realize I have many more options than I thought. The pile was huge (and there was a lot we didn't even get to!) A few times you asked, "what do you usually wear this with?" and I couldn't even remember the last time I had worn that garment. It was great to have fresh eyes on clothes that I have owned and seen hanging in the closet for a long time. It was also fun to have some validation about some of the more interesting clothing pieces in my closet. There weren't too many things you couldn't make an outfit out of (plaid shorts, not-withstanding).

Did anything surprise you?

The time FLEW by! Also, you were able to make my most unwearable pieces wearable (too big old lady skirt and grandpa shirt: I'm looking at you!) and make them look good. It's easy to forget good combinations, which is where the pictures come into play. I didn't think my wardrobe is as versatile as you showed me it can be.

What are you most excited about that came out of our time together?

Having outfits grouped together will help me fight the urge to grab a dress and a belt in the dark at 6am. The pictures are reassuring so I know that I don't look silly in something if it's out of my comfort zone. I feel like I have "new" clothes to wear since some of the outfits are very different from what I would have picked out myself.

Anything else you'd like to say?

I'd say if you are at all considering working with Ella--go for it! You have nothing to lose by spending three hours hanging out with someone fun, chatting, and playing dress-up. Since you already own the clothes you might as well get some use out of ALL of them (grandparent era clothing included!) As if re-arranging my closet wasn't enough, she brought us some home-grown tomatoes, which was really sweet! (Oh, thanks, Andrea! You're adorable.)

Andrea's adorable dog in our fashion show front row!

The Closet Consultation (aka Shopping Her Closet)

After meeting with Andrea, I created a Pinterest Board to get myself focused on some ways to help Andrea feel more polished in her professional life (blazers, belts, monochromatic looks as well as pattern mixing) and also take more risks in her weekend wear. I knew that she relied heavily on wearing dresses since they're simple to throw on and that she, a distance runner, often wore t-shirts and shorts when not at work. I knew there was a balance between the two that would reflect her personality and flatter her figure, too. I think the result was incredible, don't you?

 Her yellow and black skirt suit (top shown here with the infamous "Tuesday Dress" and over a sundress at left) was one of Andrea's incredible vintage finds. We went from her not knowing exactly how to wear it to us describing it as "a staple." The key was breaking it up into a blazer and a skirt. Both fit well and had great texture. It went with everything once we broke it up into pieces!

Andrea has great shoes so that made it easy to infuse some youthful style into even the most professional looks. Some of her vintage clothing veers toward the grandma end of the spectrum, and we loved contrasting that with her edgier footwear.

Here, I layered the suit jacket over a sundress to help her wear it into fall or winter. The belt was an easy addition to cinch in her waist because it was yellow, too. The booties and rolled sleeves helped the look feel youthful despite the vintage touches. We discussed wanting to maintain a balance between professional at work with her keen sense of personal style while not feeling too young. I love this look!

Andrea is smart about buying shoes that go with almost everything but are classic, too. In her office, most people don't wear heels, and she's most comfortable wearing flats to work. I found it easy to work with her shoe selection because her clothing tends to be more colorful, letting the shoes fill in as an easy neutral. Yes, I consider a wedge desert bootie a neutral!

We had a lot of fun pulling out items from Andrea's closet that felt to me like they belonged together: a rugby shirt and gingham collared shirt disguised a high waist on a pair of basic black pants that she hadn't worn in years. Adding the incredible plaid bag she said she never uses (!?!), pearl earrings, and a scarf was just the icing on the preppy chic cake. And yes, I've threatened to take that bag home myself if she doesn't start wearing it more!

We also had a blast putting together things that visually count as neutrals (the skirt below left and jacket below right) with patterns and a few contrasting accessories to tie the looks together. And yes, that yellow and black jacket counts as a neutral! That means it can make friends with any other color and patterns, too!

Some Insider Tips

Andrea worried that her eye for great fabric and shape had led her astray with this lavender skirt, above. It didn't quite fit her, and she just wasn't wearing it. But, adding a whimsical "Free People" inspired shirt and belt meant that we'd fallen back in love with the skirt and convinced ourselves she could wear it often.

Here are a few more tricks I had up my sleeve that might apply to your closet, too! 

Thank you, Andrea! I had so much fun playing dress up. I'm glad you feel like you have a whole new wardrobe now! See you soon, and you'd better have that plaid bag with you. 

Weekly Roundup: Transitioning to Fall Fashion

Weekly Roundup: Transitioning to Fall Fashion

Here's the deal: I like fall just fine. The problem is, I really dislike winter. I am, as my husband pointed out the other day, one of the few people who likes to be hot. While everyone spends the summer complaining about the heat, I am happy as can be. So no, I'm not thrilled with fall sneaking up on us because it's a slippery slope to winter, which means constantly being freezing. I grew up in Vermont-I know about cold!

However, one great thing about fall is the fashion. I have turned my cold hands and feet into the perfect excuse to own far too many hats, jackets, scarves, gloves, and boots. And today's post is a celebration of one of them: jackets, blazers, and coats in lots of sizes, all mixed together, all on sale. Let's not go too crazy here and talk about real winter gear, just something you could put on soon-over your cropped pants, maxi dresses, or other remnants of summer. Sigh.

Sale alert! Save 15% off ModCloth Party Dresses with the code PARTY15. Until 9/13 at 11:59AM PST. 

Size XL only

This blue faux leather is just gorgeous. Wear it (or something like it that you already own!) over a maxi dress for a little feminine edge or with a similar color jeans as a nod to Fall 2013's blue-on-blue obsession. 

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Sizes 2-6

I have a similar jacket from The Loft, and it's become one of the most versatile things I own. Wear this over contrasting colors, over blues, or with summer's stripes in similar tones. Add some coral lips now and deep burgundy lips in another month. You won't regret it.

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Size 8 only

Oh, size eights! Everyone else wised up to this little number and scooped it up! Now it's on sale and calling your name. This is a great office item because it goes over everything (wear it with this winter's pastels), looks insanely comfortable, and still manages to look polished. It's basically the trifecta of sweater/jacket/tops. 

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Size 12 only

If I had a size 12 client right now, I would purchase these for her and insist that she take them and wear them. They're that good-and on sale. Now I feel like a drug pusher, but seriously, these are just gorgeous. The military buttons on the left are both trendy and classic. I've actually been meaning to update a jacket I already have (boring black blazer) with a whole bunch of buttons in a little DIY action. And the fur shoulders to the right? They made me break my promise not to get too far into winter, but they were worth it! I love how she's wearing all neutrals and a skirt that's just a hair longer than the jacket to really let it shine.

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How to do a Closet Cleanse: Part II

How to do a Closet Cleanse: Part II

I'm so excited to talk with you about how to organize your closet! I got to spend some time with the creative genius behind Love Always Hannah this weekend, and, as always, the world will never be the same. At least her closet won't be, that's for sure! Her closet started off like this:

(check out that Wear White After Labor Day outfit we created on Skype the other night for her hanging on the left!

And after about an hour of checking to be sure that only items that fit her and didn't need repairs were allowed back into the closet and of hanging outfits together on hangers and sorting sorting sorting...

We ended up with this-a color-coordinated, rainbow-hued, approachable closet with space to move hangers and to breathe. Phew!

I think she was pleased. This is our actual Gchat conversation about it:

Me: Thanks for taking closet pictures!

Hannah: Are you kidding me? You changed my life in a morning! Let me know if you want a quote or something.

I think that will do just fine!

Here are two tips:

• Use all one color (preferably white or those black fuzzy ones) hangers. It makes the closet look more cohesive, more like a store. Since we're trained to like the way clothes look in stores, it helps our brains to be more excited about our closets when they're organized. That means more fun in your closet!
• Organize your clothes in a way that works for you. I like rainbow because I wear too much black, and it helps me to realize how many other colors I do have. I put all of her black up top in her closet because it's an easy color to use and doesn't need to be highlighted. She knows it's there to grab if she wants it. Having colors coordinated helps you to dress effortlessly in monochrome as well as to mix colors and patterns in new ways.

If you'd like more tips, you'll have to have me over to your closet! We'll get you ready for fall fashion in no time!

P.S. I'm pretty intrigued by this company, Twice, that lets you Buy and Sell used clothing. Has anyone used it before?

Start Close In Styling wants YOU!

 Start Close In Styling wants YOU!

Hi! This is how I showed up to meet a client friend at the mall to shop. She didn't have a ton of money to spend, but she needed to refresh her closet. It had been a long time since she'd gotten herself anything new, and she said that getting dresses in the morning felt "sad." By the end of the day, she felt "like her old self." I almost cried with joy.


So...I'm just going to come out and say this: I want to look in your closet. I want to go shopping with you. I want to Skype, Facetime, or Google Hangout with those of you outside the DC area and have you hold up clothes you love/hate/want to wear more/are sick of the way you're currently wearing/etc. 

A few months ago, I launched this site, and it has not yet become a business for which I am charging. Part of building up my styling portfolio means working with more people to refine my skills. Would you like to be one of those people? I sure hope so! I promise, it's not scary at all!

Here's what I have to offer:

I have a great eye. I am really good at seeing the potential in what you'd like to be dressing like. I'm excellent at looking over what clothes you have (in person or virtually) and chatting with you about how you might wear things in different combinations than you currently are. I'm also, thanks to my Mom, a great bargain shopper and can help you find (or find for you) any clothing items that you might want to fill in the gaps between what you currently own and what you'd like to be dressing like. At the end of our time together, I'd love for you to feel more comfortable in your own skin, more able to quickly get dressed in the morning, and more excited to be YOU.

If you're comfortable with it, I might take pictures of you to include her on my blog or I might just talk about our time together. Of course, I can also skip all of that.

So think about it. Think about if there's anything you'd like to change about how you feel getting dressed for your daily life or for an upcoming event. Then email me, and we'll set something up. It's startclosein at gmail.com

I can't wait.

Joint Shopping Trip & Tips

Joint Shopping Trip & Tips

What a fun day. I've got the biggest smile on my face, and it hasn't budged for hours. This morning I spent about three hours with my dear friend and coworker as she found freedom in clothing. I know that sounds dramatic, but it's really what happened! Instead of feeling stuck in all of the old rules she'd made for herself (only things that match go together, or, no horizontal stripes), by the end of our time together she felt free to mix and match, to layer, and to play with clothing.

I was a bad blogger and didn't take many pictures, but between the BB cream at Origins and the blue/white stripes paired with blue/white polka dots under a tan military jacket with the sleeves pushed up, the smile on her face went on for days. She was thrilled to try on pieces that followed some basic tips for creating a wardrobe that is easy to wear-and looks stylish, too.

Like many woman, she rarely makes time for herself. I was so honored to be a part of this time today, and thrilled to see the variety of styles that she ended up buying! We joked that she finally put herself on her own "To Do" list. And the results were magical. Look out, world.

Email me (startclosein(at)gmail.com) if you'd like to take me shopping with you, too!

Weekly Roundup

I'm constantly seeing amazing deals or fantastic items that I'd love to share with everyone I know who is that size. Well, this is it! My weekly roundup will feature those items in a variety of sizes and styles. I hope they inspire you not only to shop but to shop your closet for similar items! Then, check out some styling ideas here!

Size XL-3X. Every time I hear an ad for "back to school," I cringe. I still have first day of school nightmares, even years after stopping teaching full-time. My solution for this in-between time is to wear dresses, and I think you should, too! What better way than to celebrate the fact that it is still summer while also wearing something you can transition into the fall with tights, boots, jackets, and sweaters? I love these two from Forever21.

Size Large (only). This skirt is the perfect way to continue wearing the most comfortable piece of clothing ever (maxis) into the fall because the colors aren't too summer-y. Wear it with a t-shirt and a moto jacket, a blazer and a tank, or a sweater and boots once it gets chilly. 

Size L only, was $89.50, on sale for $49 with an extra 40% off through 8/13

Size Large Maternity (only). The color! The shape! Add a light cardigan and plan to skip tights since you'll be nice and toasty anyway!

On sale for $48.88 plus an additional 40% off

Maternity. I'm not sure of a size for this, but I think this dress would work really well for maternity since the comments say that it's fairly shapeless. Also, the little belt would look adorable worn over the top of the bump! The fall colors mean that you could wear this with a blazer or cardigan well into fall.

$59.88 Was $89.50, plus an additional 40% off

Sizes XS-L. This modal tank would hide bra straps or look adorable without a bra for those who can do that. I love the dark green for fall! This would look great tucked into the skirt above, with a blazer, or just with white or patterned shorts while it's still hot outside.

All sizes, was $34.50, now $29.00 plus an additional 40% off until 8/13

 Size Medium (only). This is a splurge even on sale, but it's also striped and cashmere, so I had to include it. I really like it with the white jeans on the CM website, but I'd also like it with a dark denim and booties for fall and some chunky, dark jewelry, maybe wood? You could also JCrew it up with a button down buttoned up to the neck underneath (and a pencil skirt!), although it would be a pity to miss having that cashmere against your skin!

XSmall or Small. This dress is available in all sizes and seems to run about a size small based on the comments, but with the thin straps, I think it's probably best for a smaller size. Flowers on black are still a strong trend and could easily transition into fall with a little jacket and tights.

Was $89.50, now $49.88 plus an additional 40% off

That was so fun! I love virtual shopping for you all!

Nordstrom Sale-Shopping a Great End-of-Summer Outfit

Hey! Did you see that Nordstrom is still having their summer sale? I've seen it on a few blogs, but I kind of assumed that I had missed the boat. But, I didn't! I will preface my favorites by saying two things: many items have limited sizes left BUT read the reviews because Nordstrom shoppers seem to be very dedicated about reviewing their clothes, and you might need to size up or down even by 2 sizes.

This is an easy format for a great outfit.

Start here.

great lengths

 

the cute butt

These two pants are the perfect end-of-summer length. Either could be worn down or cuffed, with flats or wedges. The bottom style shows off the the butt with those back pockets. I don't think mint is too spring-y to buy now; just wear it with neutrals or fall colors (orange!) as the summer winds down.

 Add a fun "t-shirt." I mean that loosely.

 

party in the back

The shirt above is technically a t-shirt, but it's so much better! This shirt with those pants almost kills it for me, but if you can ignore the pants then the top is actually great. This kind of detail in the back adds a little style to office clothing-or playground clothing! But, I'm thinking that this seems a bit tight across the chest and might be better for a smaller chest.  

Or add a loose, comfortable t-shirt in a contrasting color. 

boyfriend tee

boyfriend tee

I love the contrast of wearing a boyfriend tee with a more structured bottom, like the chinos above. Of course we can all wear jeans or black pants like these two are doing, but I love when women tuck a baggy shirt into a pencil skirt or throw a structured blazer on top. 

 

T-shirt alternative

T shirt alternative

Most of us have t-shirts that we love and would love to wear everyday. These two alternatives capture the ease of wearing a t-shirt but add a bit more style. Both could be dressed up or down with a skirt (I would love to see these in a monochromatic look with a skirt or pants in the same color family) or blazer or funked up with skinny jeans and ankle boots for the fall. 

Top it with a blazer. And ohhhhh, the blazers themselves could take up an entire post! Here are some favorites.

the linen blazer

This blazer comes in a few colors, and it looks so adorable! The double buttons are good for those of us with bigger boobs, and the sleeves are a nice length to show off bracelets or pull the sleeve of another shirt through. 

the linen jacket with the best sleeves

the knit blazer

 Go wild and swap your pants for a dress. I love this for fall with one of the blazers above.

Or, keep this in your office or take it with you to the movies for when you get chilly and your "t-shirt" layer isn't enough.

chilly office comfort

 

This is fleece. I have a friend who will die that I'm advocating for fleece after all the crap I gave her about her fleece addiction, but there it is! I like the button, the drape, and the fact that it would keep you warm in the office or at the movies.

Happy dressing!