How to Plan Your Wardrobe

How many times have you looked into your closet and uttered the words "I have nothing to wear!" But before you go shopping it's always a great idea to plan your wardrobe. Follow these tips to and you will be on your way to a fashionable wardrobe.

Edit your Wardrobe: Before you go shopping, weed through your wardrobe to find out what works and what doesn't. Keep the items you want hung up. The remaining items will fall into the "Donate to a clothing charity pile" or the "Might work if I get them altered pile".

Create a few Looks: Try on your best pieces to assess what you are missing. Have you noticed any "holes" in your wardrobe? Do you need a some new accessories? Are you missing the always neccessary "Little Black Dress"?

Create a Style Inspiration Diary: Get your favorite fashion magazines together. Starting now rip out pages of any looks you may want to try. Place they pages in a three ring binder or secure them to the pages of a notebook.

Make a Wish List: Using your style diary, create a list of items that you need and what you want. Take this with you whenever you are out shopping. This will avoid those impluse splurges and you will shop for the key items.

There is a way out of this "What do I wear dilemma"!  A properly stocked closet with all of the right items. How do you plan your wardrobe? 

January 22nd is National Swap Day in Atlanta

My Top 3 Stylish Celebrities of 2010

As I look back over 2010, there are a few celebs that I admit gave me a little style envy. They always seemed to just pull of a look that made such a stylish statement. My faves include:

Rihanna- She is so versatile and doesn't mind taking risks. Always staying ahead of the fashion trends, she still remains true to her authentic style. Over-the-top, glamorous and totally orginal.

Halle Berry- Still a classy bombshell who will never age. She wears her clothes well and always looks effortlessly chic, very relaxed and confident.

Zoe Saldana- A very feminine, flirty yet sophisticated look. Whether it's a body hugging dress or romantic ruffles, Zoe just always seems to get it just right.

These are my top 3 celebrities, who would you add to the list?

Confessions of a Thrift Shopper

Ok I admit it…I love shopping at thrift stores, it was my best kept shopping secret! You would be amazed at the fantastic items that I have scored over the years.


Because of the economy, there is no longer a social stigma attached to shopping for secondhand fashion. Many see it as a great alternative to shopping for a new-to-you wardrobe.


But if you are new to this fashionable trend, I offer the following tips to help you have a wonderful shopping experience:


1. Make a list and check it twice: When you enter a thrift store it can be overwhelming. All of those racks of clothes. You have to approach it as a treasure hunt. So take an inventory of your closet to see what you really need and shop for those items first.


2. Wear leggings, tank top and flip flops: Some thrift stores have a final sale policy and many do not have dressing rooms. So make sure you wear something that is easy enough for you to try on clothes.


3. Best Location: Thrift stores located in affluent neighborhoods tend to have a better selection of items.


4. Become a preferred customer. I make it a point to go thrifting at least once a week. Some of the employees at my favorite stores know me. So they keep me informed of when the new merchandise comes in, upcoming sales and much more.

Do you have any tips that you would recommend to a first-time thrift shopper?








Christmas Day Style

Since your Christmas things-to-do list is complete. Now it’s time to think about the perfect outfit for Christmas Day with the family.  Whether it's going to grandma's house, lunch with the in-laws or eating out with your girlfriend’s at your favorite restaurant, you must plan this outift carefully.



Remember it must meet a few requirements including being warm and comfy, stylish and festive, plus have a little extra room around the waist area. Below is one of the looks I am inspired by. This slouchy sweater dress paired with w/leggings and comfy knee boots get my seal of approval!

BCBGMAXAZARIA Sweater Dress

P.S. Don’t forget to pick a nice oversized tote bag large enough to hold your camera, the presents you are bringing and the ones you will receive, plus room for your to-go plates.

So what is going to be your stylish look for Christmas Day?

Out with the OLD, in with the NEW

More important than buying new clothes because you think you have nothing to wear, is sorting through exactly what clothing you own.

Take an honest look at your wardrobe. Is your closet a gallery of your favorite items? Do you have clothes with tags that you haven’t worn? Do you take longer than usual to put an outfit together? If you have answered yes, then it’s time to purge your closet.


Here are a few tips to help you get started:

(1) Invite one of your trusted friends to assist you. Especially one whose style you absolutely love.

(2) Go through your closet and assess your clothing. Keep the items you definitely want hung up and the rest separate them into two piles A no pile and a maybe pile.

(3) The “No” pile should be clothing not worn in the past year. If these items have sentimental value, put away in a storage tote and store them away. Other items can be donated to charity or save for a fashion swap.

(4) Now go through the “Maybe” pile. This is where your trusted friend is invaluable. Try on each piece and only keep items that you can wear immediately. No excuses, like I will lose weight etc. Any items that need to altered should be brought to seamstress ASAP.

(5) Change out any mismatched hangers. Having the same looking hangers give your closet a nice uniform look. Your closet will be organized and more user-friendly.

(6) Lastly, organize your closet. I suggest organizing by three categories: career, casual and evening wear. Then by color. Trust me, this will make getting ready so much easier.

After following these tips, go through your closet again. You now have made space in your closet. If necessary, you can make a nice shopping list of items that you need to update or refresh your wardrobe.

Remember if this seems overwhelming, hire a personal stylist. These trained experts will guide you along the way to a clutter-free closet and a fashionable new you.

New Year, A New Stylish You? Hire a Personal Stylist

Is a wardrobe update or new image one of your New Year's resolution? But do you know that research shows that about 80% percent of people who make resolutions on Jan. 1 fall off the wagon by Valentine’s Day. But that's not you, that's those other people.


One way that you can make sure you keep your style resolution is to hire a personal stylist. We all have our personal style, it comes naturally to some of us. But others may need a little help to find it.  Just like you would hire a lawyer if you get into legal trouble or a mechanic if you your car needs to be services, you should hire a professional expert to help you with your personal style goals.

Here are a few things to consider when hiring a personal stylist:

• They will work with you to develop a wardrobe that reflects your lifestyle, mood and the image you want to project.

• Having an expert to handle your shopping, manage your wardrobe and provide unbiased feedback on your look is invaluable. Plus it leaves to time to take care of other day-to-day activities.

• They are affordable. Do you research and determine your needs. Do you need a wardrobe audit? Styling for a special occasion? or Someone on-call for your fashion emergencies? This will ultimately determine your price.

• It is an investment in your image. As experts in the field of fashion and style, you will learn and always be in the know of the latest trends, do's and don'ts of fashion and this will help you to maintain your polished look.

So be a part of the 20% who actually keep their New Year's resolution and consider hiring a personal stylist today!