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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Q&A: What can I get for a pregnant friend?

Q&A: What can I get for a pregnant friend to help her feel her best?

This is a great question that I've heard a few times and even asked myself. Most of us are pretty comfortable buying adorable gifts for the baby, but it's hard to figure out what to give our pregnant friends or, even harder, co-workers! We want to get them something to let them know how happy we are for them, but we're not sure what. I'm excited to interrupt our fashion fest to introduce you to a company that has some ideas for us: Baby Bump Bundle. I hope you enjoy their insights!

Plus, visit their blog today to see my favorite maternity picks for Fall featured on What to Wear Wednesdays!

 

 

What is Baby Bump Bundle?

A company that curates gift boxes, or as we call them “bundles,” for mom-to-be by trimester, baby, and nursing moms. Here are a few things we are featuring right now in our online shop where you can build your own bundle!

                                                                    1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Any tips for maternity or motherhood fashion?

In regards to maternity fashion, have fun with it! People feel very differently about their body during pregnancy. Some love their bump and show it off with fitted clothing and others feel self conscious and can’t stand the weight gain. It is all about being confident in who you are though and staying true to your style before baby. Try to utilize what you already have so you don’t have to spend too much money but also have fun with shopping for go-to pieces like maternity jeans or leggings with flowy tops so you are comfortable but stylish. Jazz up sometimes boring maternity clothes with scarves and fun jewelry like sparkly earrings and you are sure to look and feel fabulous! (Start Close in Note: I love those scarves-you could even twist them together to wear both the leopard and the pink together!)

Why did you start the company?  What need did you want to fill?

Baby Bump Bundle was born when co-founder Mairead was pregnant in the spring of 2012. One of her friends put together the first Bundle without even realizing it! It was filled with ice cream, pickles, stretch mark cream and other assorted goodies for the pregnant woman. It was such a thoughtful idea and it occurred to Mairead that all pregnant women would love to receive a little something for themselves, and she shared her feelings with Michelle, who agreed how unique and special gifts for pregnant women could be.

Yes it is amazing when friends and family gift the necessities for baby like diapers and baby bottles at the shower, but what about mom-to-be when she is going through such an exciting yet emotional and challenging time of her life? And so Baby Bump Bundle came into being with a mission of creating Bundles for pampering pregnant women, with both fun and functional items. We have a Bundle for each trimester (available by subscription or just single boxes), a BabyBundle for when the baby arrives (in various sizes including small, regular, or large for twins), and for nursing mothers, a BreastfeedingBundle as well. And coming soon, a fitness focused box for health-conscious expecting women!

Any advice about starting a business?

Utilize free resources where you can! There are plenty of small business centers, blogs with a focus on providing tips for new entrepreneurs with free newsletters, and places like SCORE, that can help you to put together a business plan. Make sure you set realistic goals and map out how much money you need to make the business happen and another thing is to always expect that you will need to pay experts for something and that is OK- you don’t need to do it all or you might get too bogged down and overwhelmed. Whether it is for website design, accounting, or wherever, it is worth it to get aspects of your business you are not skilled in, done correctly and efficiently! 

Tell us a bit more about your products!

What we like to do provide the mom-to-be with a mix of items that cater to what she is going through during that trimester, but also make her feel special. Though most every bundle is unique, a first trimester BumpBundle may feature lozenges to ease nausea if she is dealing with morning sickness, cream to lather on her growing belly and body, to moisturize her skin, prevent itching, and stretch marks, and nail polish that is pregnancy safe. Then we do a fashion accessory that she can use well after pregnancy and a piece of clothing that she can wear throughout pregnancy and after birth, like a cami or other maternity fashion essentials.

Check them out here! Or on Pinterest. Thanks for the tips, BumpBundle!

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Black and White: Updated for Fall 2013

Black and White: Updated for Fall 2013

Saying that black and white are "in" for fall is sort of like saying that pants are back in style. It's what my husband would describe as "Duh, Gee." Black and white are never going anywhere, which is why they're a great investment. But, if you want to wear your black and white staples and still keep up with the Fall 2013 trends, here's what I think are some great ways to do it.

Try a Black Victorian-Inspired Statement Necklace

I sort of hate the name "statement necklace" because it makes the trend sound new. We've long worn necklaces that are big and bold, so I'm not sure why these need to be defined as "statement." Regardless, they're here to stay for fall, but with a twist. I love the dark, broody Victorian twist jewelry is taking for the fall. Here is a big, bold necklace with a Victorian twist paired with what looks like a lace t-shirt but could easily be a regular cotton tee and a black blazer. Likely things you already own with a new necklace. Think of it like a gateway to the lockets and pocket watches of the Fall 2013 runway. I love it.

Black and White Lace

The Anthropologie dress on the left is to-die-for, right? And I love the weird necklace with it, by the way. Lace is here to stay for Fall 2013 so pull out any lace that you might have in your closet already. Instead of putting it with a colorful "statement" necklace, try it with a larger necklace in a metal. Or, if you're inspired to buy something new, you'll find a lot of similar dresses for a lot less. I got on ModCloth planning to show off dresses from other sites, too, but I really liked their selection and range of sizes. All of the dresses on today's post are from ModCloth.

Quirky, Modern Black and White 

I love Norwegian home decor for its simplicity, its stark white with contrasting black and warm wood...but not for my home. I love it for my closet! Most of us have a brown belt to use with black and white to re-create the blazer/dress look above, and Fall's leather looks amazing with summer's stripes. I've shown the glasses dress before, and I still love it. I would also love a black and white outfit paired with mint inspired by the room to the upper right.

Classic Black and White: Stripes and/or Dots

You likely have something striped or polka dotted, but if not, it's a strong trend that's also a classic staple-win win! The room is by Ikea, and I still love the clean lines when it comes to clothing, don't you? The Mad Men influence is still going strong for dresses, and the result is that they're really flattering, well-cut, cinched in around the waist, and lovely. I tend to think of stripes as being more nautical and better for summer, but the cut of these means that they're not too summery. For the strapless, just add a blazer and wear it into winter!

Get the links to these dresses and all my inspiration rooms on my Pinterest Boards.

ModCloth is a sponsor because they're awesome, but this isn't a sponsored post. I just like 'em!

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?

True Life: You are already enough.

This week I shared with you how I'm helping support Hannah from Love Always Hannah in her mission to abstain from shopping for clothes for herself for six months. I wanted to talk a little bit today about some of the more emotional parts of shopping and fashion.

 Peppered throughout this post are some shots of me during this summer and last. Notice anything?

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.

UPDATE Shop Your Closet: How to Wear White After Labor Day

Shop Your Closet: How to Wear White After Labor Day

I have to admit, I never think of this "rule." It just doesn't occur to me-from winter white to patterned white, white is just like black in my mind: seasonless. But, I'm often reminded that folks do feel obligated to relegate their white clothes to the summer months. I'm here to change that.

Recently, Hannah from Love Always Hannah recruited me to help her meet her goal of no shopping for six months. We had a Virtual Closet Consultation over video the other night, and we made an important discovery together: she didn't feel confident wearing white after Labor Day. So, we've decided to pair up over the coming months to tackle that old feeling: "I have nothing to wear..." despite a full closet. Starting with bringing her whites into the fall/winter seasons is an easy way to shop less (or not at all!) but still feel excited to get dressed in the morning.

Looking at the white clothes in Hannah's closet in a different light means that she'll be less tempted to buy new clothes for the fall and winter, and she'll look gorgeous. Win for the No Shopping team! Here's what I suggested she do. Check out her plan not to shop for 6 months here. I'll update once Hannah posts the looks we created for her.

UPDATE! 

I'm beyond thrilled to share Hannah's "Shop Your Closet" looks. This, my friends, is how you not only wear but WORK white after Labor Day!Isn't she gorgeous?

Visit Hannah's site for more looks and a breakdown of how we created her new signature "Who me? Of course I wear white year-round" look.

Keep reading for more of my tips!

Body Party

Body Party

For many, many years, I thought of my body and myself as two separate entities. Isn't that weird? I freely thought about and talked (at least to myself) about my physical body in ways that I would never have talked about "myself." My body was weak, a failure, too much of one thing and not another. I would never have described myself as weak or a failure, but this body I was living in? I threw it under the bus on a regular basis, as though the two were not the same thing. I have since come to learn that the way that I think about my body reverberates throughout my life-I can't be proud of myself without being proud of the part of my self that is my physical body. It's impossible.

Part of loving to help style other people and create a closet space that reflects who they currently want to be-and are- is a celebration of our physical bodies. Part of separating this blog from my personal Cheddar N Grits blog is wanting to create that space for us to show off our physical bodies in a way that we don't often get to. I am blessed to have friends who look incredibly different from me, and I have so much fun dressing them (in my head or in real life!).

My best friends represent the variety and beauty of the female body, but so often our shapes are not the ones that are represented in magazines and even online. There is this strange uniformity to the type of female body we celebrate as feminine and beautiful, and it's typically a skinny, but busty, taller,but not "too tall," form. Today, I'd like to move away from that shape, and I'd like to celebrate that shift here over the weeks. 


Today I'd like to talk up my tall women. I'm not sure exactly what constitutes "tall;" different people and stores have their own measuring sticks, but I know that I'm not it. However, I tend to have at least a few good friends who are tall everywhere I live. I love tall women-they tend to be confident, thoughtful, and good fun to be around! Yes, those are stereotypes, but in my experience taller women have been through it with their bodies and what perfect strangers feel is appropriate to say to them, and they're often incredibly sensitive as a result. Here's to you, and those legs that go on for miles!

All photos today via

It's hard to find pictures of tall women without ending up with a lot of celebrity shots or women's torsos that may or may not belong to a tall woman. But, I know that you guys won't let me off the hook with just two pictures. You want to know where to shop!

One website that was new to me but seems like a keeper is Long Tall Sally. The name is a little weird, but the clothes look great (love that blue dress with the yellow necklace!), and they have free shipping over $100. 

Find these and other links for stores that are easy to find near you or online (look at you, JCPEnney, TopShop, and Gap with the stylish options in talls!) on my Pinterest Board.

Q&A: How to use a scarf to make your outfits more interesting

Q&A: How can I use a scarf to make my outfits more interesting?

I was asked this question during a client lunch the other day, and I think it's a great one! As you can see from my personal pictures above, I love a good scarf! In fact, I have somewhat of a scarf problem. I love the feel of them around my neck, I think they work in all situations below 70 degrees, and I can't say enough good things about them. 

What I have noticed is that women are sometimes confused about how and why to wear them. Here are some suggestions because once you start wearing scarves you may never stop.