V-Style

Client Favorite: Gold Ballet Flats

If you are an earth tone or gold jewelry gal (most women are) then you need yourself a gold flat. A gold flat solves the which-shoe-works-with-this-outfit problem faster than any other colored shoe. Browns don't always work. Nude can be too neutral and all other colors can go wrong easily. 

When working with my clients I always put a gold flat on our shopping list. Which gold flat depends on the client, but my go-to gold flat choices are Jimmy Choo's "Finlay" flat and Michael Kor's Aria ballet flat in gold. The Michael Kors flat I get at Macy's, but they do not have it available online, so I have linked to it's pewter, and equally fabulous, sister on Zappos. Both these flats are incredibly comfortable, especially the Michael Kors. Every single client comments on its comfort.

Today, I put a pair of the Michael Kors on a lovely fifty something woman and ordered four pairs of the Jimmy Choo for a client that fears the "Finlay" will stop being made. A smart move. The perfect gold flat will never go out of style. 

Personal Style Profile - Gary Ware

Occupation: "By day I do the agency thing as the Director of Digital Experience for a local full service agency (I do online marketing), and by night I delight audiences as an improviser." 

Wearing: "I'm wearing a cardigan from Target, gingham print shirt from Macy's, Legendary Tie print shirt from TeeFury.com, jeans from Old Navy, Vans boat shoes, my socks are from HappySocks.com, and my Star Wars satchel is from ThinkGeek.com. I'm also wearing a bracelet from Daniel Jewelers, my wedding ring is from Kay, I use an "Up band" that is made by Jawbone to monitor my physical activity, and my glasses are from warbyparker.com."

Personal Style: "I like to describe my style as geeky chic." 

Favorite Store: "I love shopping at Banana Republic and Macy's. For Tees I have a variety of online sites I have bookmarked: www.threadless.com, www.redbubble.com, www.bustedtees.com, www.snorgtees.com"

Favorite Fashion Trick: "You can dress up a t-shirt and jeans by adding nice shoes and a sports coat." 

On A Woman: "I love a pair of nice boots and a skirt. Bonus points if they are worn together." 

Personal Style Profiles feature folks with a strong sense of fashion. They often embody the exception to fashion rules. These individuals are not my clients.

Solid Gold Case For iPhone 5

As you may have noticed, the price points of the items I recommend span from cheap chic to a bit of a splurge. Rarely do I find clothing items or accessories worth the price tag when you head beyond the "splurge" category, but rarely is certainly not never. 

Brikk has brought customizing your iPhone  to a new light with the Haven, a solid gold iPhone 5 case. Priced at $11,610, this accessory certainly leaves the bit-of-a-splurge level for most people and sits in the investment category, literally. Gold is a fantastic investment, making this case absolutely ridiculous and incredible all at once. You can certainly rationalize this purchase, but then the logic of toting around your sound investment around all day, dropping it on the ground, and perhaps in the toilet, could almost seem silly. Almost. Once you realize the authenticity of the material means the stunning color does not wear off, and then find out there is also a rose gold iPhone case, you take a look at your budget and see if it works.

Each gold model features 75 grams of gold, while the platinum model features 100 grams of platinum with customized versions available with diamonds and precious stones. I highly recommend skipping any jewels. Even though it ups the price, it will cheapen the look. Instead have your name or an inspirational sentence engraved on it. 

To further my Haven desire, all products are currently made in Los Angeles and a percentage of the proceeds from each purchase of a Brikk product lends aid to ending hunger in the form of rice. As stated in their press release, when someone buys the Haven, 1 metric ton of rice is donated. 

Although I wonder how it deals with scratches, the Haven is becoming more and more enticing. 

Mid-Calf Brown Boots

Frye Shirley Strappy Short

My go to casual shoe in cold whether is a slightly rugged, viciously comfortable shorter brown boot. There is so much more character, texture and style in brown boots over a black boot. With so many nuances and variations in brown boots, I find myself like a cat lady in the winter, "there's always room for one more." Obviously leggings go beautifully with a boot, but there is nothing cooler than skinny jeans and brown boots.

As spring crops up, boots are fading from retailers, yet the chilly weather is still crawling on us, making our footsies cold and inspiring another boot purchase. Thankfully, numerous boots are still available online and have even gone on sale.

Durango Philly Harness

Bedstu Maya

Born Alamid

Durango Philly

Ralph Lauren Cacey

Stylish Trench Coats For Spring

Photo by Robin Dayley

If the trench coat has a season, it is spring. Light weight and water resistant, the trench is the perfect cover-up for the breezy temperatures and watery air of March and April. Obviously, it can be a multiple season piece (Seattle anyone? London?), but the grey skies of spring are truly trench inspiring. Usually I don't put this inspiration to use. Like hats, vests and lace-up flats, a trench coat is a stand out piece a client needs to request for me to put it on the shopping list. It's a style choice; not a go-to item like work appropriate blouses, jeans, shorts and dresses. Another reason I don't recommend a trench coat purchase to many clients is the lack of selection. Each year, Burberry and other high-end designers provide many high-quality, high-style trench coat options in the $1,000 and up price range.  This is a logical investment for a true trench coat mistress. The heavy price tag is justified in the extensive use of the coat and the joy it will create in the trench's owner, but for those with less passion for the garment, the price can be excessive. Most people, like many of my clients, are interested in a trench coat without being so die hard. They don't want to spend at the $1,000 mark, but still want a quality trench with some zing. An extensive collection of trenches that fit this bill has not shown itself in ages... until now.

While shopping for a low key client, I spotted an entire section of trench coats. I realized immediately how rare it is to see so many well priced, well made and stylish trench coats at one time. I wanted to hug them all and yell like Anchor Man, "Come see how good these look!" I considered showing the client of the hour, but it was a push for this client to even consider a studded ballet flat, let alone a studded trench. I let her off the hook, but I noted the unusually expansive trench coat selection for today, for you. Now is the perfect time to check in with your trench coat desires. Following my own advice, I checked in on my own trench coat dreams. With absolute excitement, I just ordered the studded mint-colored coat for myself. Which trench is for you? 

Kenzo $1,510

Ivanka Trump $148

Burberry $1,095

Via Spiga $138

Burberry $1,395

Vince Camuto $138

Burberry $1,995

Sam Edelman $168

Soia & Kyo $275

How To Wear Pearls In A Modern Way

The fabulous Linda Rocco of Hot Rock Jewelry always tells me pearls are a woman's true best friend. Under her passionate talk of pearls, I often nod then move on to her more fabulous gems, but I have been thinking about her dedication to pearls recently. Pearls often look fuddy duddy, old, retro or conservative, but so many of my clients have pearls in their jewelry cases. I too have pearls in my collection. They sit there in a girly vintage way, confusing us, yet demanding to be used. "I am classic!" They scream at us. "I am your mother's!" They yell. "I am your Great Grandmother's!" They taunt. Then you put them on with with a dress and you feel like a 50's housewife, or your grandmother, which may or may not be one and the same. 

Try skip the dress. Pearls and a dress often say girly conservative. This most likely is not your personal style. Instead pair it with casual separates. Pictured below is a fabulous pearl necklace paired with a chambray shirt on my client, Katie Farris. Try your pearls with a bold colored blouse and jeans, or perhaps a dressy shorts look. Stay sophisticated, but have fun. Be casual and use soft fabrics and upbeat, even unusual prints.

If you adore pearls in general and want to add more to your collection, look for more complicated pearl pieces versus the standard strand. Look for mixed mediums like pearls and diamonds, pearls and leather, or pearls and fabric. A creative combination of the mediums will put pearls in a modern mood.

Katie Farris

This picture of my client was taken as part of the outfit creation portion of my services. This picture was published with my client's permission. No client photos are used on V-Style without the client's consent.

Everyone Needs Black Pants

"Everyone needs black pants, right?!" My client exclaims to me as we edit her closet. She is mocking herself, but would also like an answer. At this point in the closet purge, this is the sixth garment she owns simply because she thinks everyone needs one or "just in case." She has just-in-case leather pants, just-in-case black dress, just-in-case black blazer. She wears none of these items, but keeps them just in case and then shops for items "everyone needs." One of these "everyone" items she picked up was a white button front office appropriate shirt. As an out-of-the-office mother of three she does not need this garment, but the "everyone needs a white button front blouse" motto that shows up in fashionable literature year in and year out, rings in her head. 

No garment is necessary. No one needs a blazer. No one needs black pants. No one needs leather pants. Each item you purchase should fit and flow with your body type, personal style and lifestyle. You could even eliminate an entire category of garments if you wanted. If shorts are not your tasty delight and have no utilitarian need for them, don't wear or own them. 

If you are reading in hopes of finding a great pair of black pants, here is my tip. I have been high on Ann Taylor's straight leg slacks. Between the different fits, like Modern and City, I have yet to find a body type it doesn't slim and lengthen, and the quality and price are perfect. Just to warn you, it won't flare like most slacks and this is good. A flared dressy black pant is dated.

How To Wear All One Color

Monotone dressing is an art form. A simple, yet complicated gallery of garments that need to be embraced with confidence. When dressing in all one color, you will get attention. It is too interesting to ignore, too chic to dismiss, and too fabulous to skip. 

If you are going to dress in all one color, let's begin with a timeless one that flatters you. For instance, wearing all yellow when most of that particular hue doesn't flatter your skin tone, puts you onto the wrong path. Once you've chosen the right color, the key to creating a whole outfit from it is to combine the dark side of that color's spectrum with the lighter side. You want to create contrast. You also want to avoid the bright-bright tones when going for monotone. It is too trendy and can be oddly shocking when used in monotone looks. It turns you into the blob of (insert color of choice).

Pictured is a perfect example of a successful monotone look. The sea of greens is a delicious collection of hues for fair skinned blonds, and the mint paired with deep emerald have stunning differences. I also love how the darker green draws the line, literally, between the top and matching cardigan. You never really want two of the same shade smacked next to each other. And the difference of texture between the blouse and the Halogen pencil skirt, with the brown belt in between seals the perfection of this monotone creation. A complimentary belt that steps away from the color scheme is a great tool to break up the monotony of wearing all one color.

The last tip for wearing all one color, is mix it up with the jewelry. Keep the oneness with the clothing and sometimes the shoes, not your jewels. The woman pictured is wearing a gold bracelet. Had she been wearing a green bracelet, the outfit steps out of chic street wear and ushers it into costumey candy land zone. Too much of a good thing is too much. 

Can I Wear White?

Naomi Watts in Louis Vuitton whites has me loving every inch of fabric and fearing for her bum on dirty seats. White is truly a nuisance in all its beauty. All skin tones can wear white from warm skin with tones of gold and yellow to cool skin with undertones of red, blue or purple. Cool skin tones can handle pristine whites, while warmer tones are best with softer whites, but who can keep this snowy shade clean?

For my mommy clients, we have a rule, avoid white. Kids are messy. For myself, I have a rule, uh, avoid white. I am a kid. I became momentarily tempted by a Calvin Klein blouse. I brought it home and then thought to myself... am I willing to pay this amount of money to only wear the blouse once? We must always remember price per wear. I know for a fact, I am going to get salsa, spaghetti sauce or wine on it immediately upon putting that thin white fabric on my body. I realized it was not worth it to me and returned the garment.

I took a look at my closet and checked on my whites that passed the price per wear questioning in the past. All the thin cotton based items were stained, but my two outerwear whites were fine, in spite of their solid postion in my wearing rottaion. My Bobeau cape made of 90% polyester with a hint of Rayon and Spandex is in perfect condition, and my thick white military jacket from Zara made of 100% cotton, had some light shading on the right shoulder from my, apparently filthy, purse straps, but that could easily be cleaned at the dry cleaner or by my own hand washing. 

Taking a look at Naomi Watts' outfit a second time, all of us may not be able to keep that frock clean, but that coat will put up a fight. As my military jacket has proved, thicker white fabrics used in jackets and coats seem to be a great way to add white to your wardrobe. The placement of the garment also ensures it's lasting power. You take it off when you eat and often move it aside when sitting down. 

Despite this research and logic, I bought another white blouse yesterday. It was too pretty to pass up. Unlike my other white blouse attempt, this one I am willing to wear only once before forfeiting it to the stain gods. 

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Is it Better To Be Over Dressed or Under Dressed?

Life is an occasion. Dress for it. This means, look your best. Don't save your nicer garments for parties you never go to and people you'll never see. Whether you are heading to the grocery store, having casual drinks with friends, or eating dinner at home with the family, step it up and dress as if you are meeting a stylish friend you have not seen in a long time. I am not saying dress as if you are about to run into your favorite ex-boyfriend in a club. Instead, respect yourself and the company you keep by looking nice. With that said, there is a time to be over dressed and a time to be under dressed. 

Times To Be Under Dressed

1) Walking the Dog

As pictured, it is quite impractical. My canine friend Jesse definitely wanted to go faster than my heels allowed and silk is not conducive to animal paws. Best to stick with jeans, shorts, summer dresses and other easy to wash clothing. This goes for most dirty and physical activities, although I can vouch that going to the batting cages in heels can be done.

2) Day Date with a New Fella

Whether he is kind of new or brand new, look great, but dress casual. Leave the heels and dress at home if you are not a dress kind of gal. Overdressing will only escalate the uncomfortable for both of you. He will either jugde you for the high effort or make him feel guilty for being too casual.

3) Outings With a Male Co-Worker or Friend's Husband

No need to send mixed signals to men you don't need attention from. Unless you are always fabulous, hold back on the over effort when specifically hanging out with these sorts of fellas.

Times To Be Over Dressed

1) Dinner Out

Use this as an excuse to dress up. It doesn't matter where you are going, enjoy the evening out in your favorite dress or heels.

2) Having People Over

This is your house. It is absolutely the most perfect opportunity to take your look wherever you want. If you feel self conscious about being the only one well-dressed, prepare your guests for your attire and request they join in on the theme.

3) Job Interview

Unless explicitly instructed, or you are sure the tone of the company or industry would find it inappropriate, go for the suit instead of business casual. The sophistication of your outfit will show respect and the seriousness of your desire for the position

4) Drinks Out

I repeat, use this as an excuse to dress up. It doesn't matter where you are going, enjoy the evening out in your favorite dress or heels.

5) Lunch with your best friend

She loves you! Make a plan to get dressy and grab those sandwiches or sushi.

6) Holidays

There is no need to stay in your pajamas for Christmas. Show your festivity by throwing on a great dress.

7) Cocktail Parties

If the party on Saturday has the word cocktail in front of it, grab your most fabulous dress and display your good taste. Just hold back on the floor length gown. Save that for the formal wedding, Oscar party or when you have people over. 

8) Party or Event

If the occasion came with an invitation, time to bring out a stunning outfit. Why not? I dare you.

As you can tell there are far more occasions and reasons to dress up then to dress down. The only time you want to dress down is when showing too much effort could damage a relationship or your clothing. 

Photos by The Marvelous Robin Dayley

(No animals were harmed during the production of these photos, although that cannot be said of the dress)