Ode to denim

Denim rocks! That's all there is to it. Denim is a wardrobe staple, and all women should have 3 pairs minimum.

Casual style for flats

Dark wash bootcut to wear with boots and heels

Funky, stylish denim fit--here are trouser jeans, or you could pick skinny, high waisted, or embellished styles

Denim fit is most important, though, and allow me to share a secret with you: http://www.zafu.com/. If you haven't already heard, this free website asks a few short questions then outputs dozens of denim styles and brands based on your body type. Think of all the time you can save in the stores thanks to this great tool!

Live in color!
Lauren

Fashion Fit Formula

How does off-the-rack clothing fit you? Do you have to hem pants, adjust sleeves, nip fabric in at the waist, or not buy some pieces because they fall at the wrong places on you? Take heart--you are not alone. Less than 1% of all women fit properly into store bought apparel.

Why don't clothes fit us right? The answer is simple: The retail industry mass produces clothing, manufacturing it to a perfectly proportionate standard of 8 equal head lengths. The good news is that we have access to all kinds of clothing thanks to mass production. The bad news is that no one measures up to that perfectly proportionate ideal due to our unique bone structure.

Speaking of bone structure, I'd like to introduce you to a revolutionary tool called the Fashion Fit Formula http://www.fashionfitformula.com/. It is an indispensable tool in my wardrobe business, one which teaches women their ideal clothing and accessory lengths down to 1/8 of an inch in accuracy.

1/8 of an inch in accuracy--can you imagine? The Fashion Fit Formula provides your ideal necklines, sleeve lengths, and short, skirt, Capris, dress, and even coat and jacket lengths. The beauty of this tool is that you can apply it to clothing hanging right now in your closet. In fact, when the formula is applied to new and existing clothing, you appear perfectly proportionate lengthwise and 10 to 15 pounds slimmer!!

You read me right--10 to 15 pounds slimmer with just a nip and tuck of fabric. See some before and after pics for proof:

Our client here was covering her plus-sized frame with loose and long garments. You see that by hemming both the skirt and jacket, she appears at least 20 pounds more slenderized. We also brought the sleeves up to an ideal length and added a soft scarf at her ideal neckline point. Immediately slenderized!

On this model, the scarf on the left was adding bulk and cutting her off at the neckline. The scarf was then tucked in and placed at her ideal neckline point, opening up that area and visually slenderizing her face. The skirt was hemmed up to create more proportion for her, and the jacket pockets were folded inside to slenderize the hip area.

The Fashion Fit Formula is such a fantastic tool that wardrobe consultants like myself here in the U.S. and Canada offer this directly to clients. It lasts a lifetime because your bone structure remains constant throughout life--even when weight fluctuates.

Live in color!

Lauren

The fashion highway

Just as our tastes in music, food, friends, and hobbies change as we mature and evolve, so do our tastes in fashion. Traveling along the fashion highway should be an enjoyable--not tedious--journey for us. How DO we travel life's fashion highway, though? It's simpler than you think.

The first step is to determine your wardrobe constants. Your fashion constants are those items that you always enjoy wearing, feel most like you, and are consistently on your 'need to replace' list. Some of my fashion constants are denim, form fitting T-shirts, hoop earrings, and summer sandals. Year after year I replenish my stock of these constants, and they make my ride along the fashion highway much smoother!


The second and final step is to freshen up your look as you evolve. Inject fun and interest with new patterns, textures, colors, and/or accessories that inspire and reflect the new, ever changing you!

Live in color,

Lauren

Got color? Got job security

Job security is on everyone's minds these days, and the thought of losing one's job, revamping a resume, and going back out on job interviews distresses most people. Have you ever thought about how to ensure job security, though? It extends far beyond technical abilities, continuing education coursework, reaching quota, meeting deadlines, working well under pressure, and dealing with interoffice politics.

One crucial way to safeguard your job is to pay close attention to your external appearance. This involves not only dressing the part, but also dressing in the right colors. Color accounts for up to 90% of that vital first impression, and it evokes an immediate response from others--be it positive or negative.

Why is color so vital to your job security?

You look competent in the part--When you wear your correct colors, you look more polished, professional, and put together. You look like you belong in the position you currently hold or--better yet--are poised to land that great promotion.

You set yourself apart from the competition--Very few people pay attention to their color choices because they don't understand how integral color is to their look. You can immediately gain a competitive edge over coworkers or other job applicants by wearing your best colors always.

You garner more respect and trust in the workplace--Studies have shown that when people wear the wrong colors, others are put off and find it difficult to listen to or trust them. The opposite is true for those who wear their right colors, as others both listen more intently and are more drawn to them.

You control your image rather than have it control you--When you wear your best colors, you can better control how others perceive you. You can also begin to understand how to use color to evoke certain emotions and send clearer messages in the workplace.

You exude more confidence--Wearing your colors not only impacts others positively, but it also makes you feel more confident and put together. We all know that a confident employee or job applicant fares better than a person who is insecure about his or her appearance.

Got COLOR? Then you got JOB SECURITY!

Live in color,
Lauren

My emerging love affair with hats

I have found a new love--hats! What a great solution as my short curly hair grows out into a bob! So far I bought a tres chic red beret and a funky page-boy gray cap.

Why do I love hats so much? For starters, they are a fun way to express fashion personality. They also express my creative side, and they are ageless. Lastly, only women with confidence and swagger can truly wear hats well......

Since I'm in an experimental phase here, I'm only buying inexpensive hats from Target and Forever 21. In time hopefully I'll have a collection of cool hats to show off!

Live in color,
Lauren

Take a cue from Coco Chanel

In the words of Coco Chanel, "I don't do fashion--I am fashion."

It is said that when Coco Chanel passed away, she only possessed 5 or 6 pieces of clothing in her wardrobe. She understood how to make every piece do double, triple, even quadruple duty, and she epitomized fashion and class until the very end.

Why is it, then, that we feel the need to keep buying piece after piece after piece of clothing for our wardrobe? We only wear 20% of it anyway. Did you also know that we waste 9 years of our lives shopping only to toss or return 80% of what we purchase?

I encourage each and every one of you ladies to keep your wardrobes simple. Make sure that the few pieces you love are of good quality, flattering cuts, and of course in your color palette!

Live in color,
Lauren

New Year New You

Happy New Year 2009! Let's chat about New Year's resolutions. Most of us set them but falter and lose hope after just 30 days. Scores of articles are written about why we don't keep resolutions or how we can better follow through on them.

Here is my month-by-month, easy-to-follow guide to improving your appearance in 2009. This is one resolution you'll want to keep!

January--Sift through your wardrobe and get rid of things that are old, tattered, ill fitting, or that you haven't worn in over 2 years.

February--Pull out 5 favorite pieces from your closet and make a list of pieces that you can add to them--i.e. accessories, jackets, new shoes, etc.

March--Focus on color. Think back to the colors you've always enjoyed wearing or gotten compliments on.....buy more of these colors!

April--Consider a new hair style, even if it's just getting highlights or creating new bangs.

May--Revamp your cosmetics palette. Summer is around the corner and our skin color generally bronzes slightly.

June--Buy 2 pairs of white jeans--one for heels and another for flats. This is by far the most versatile and figure flattering item in your summer wardrobe.

July--Try some of the great self-tanners out there, or even go to the salon for a spray-on tan. They can look very natural!

August--Save your dollars for cashmere this winter.......set a goal to buy 1 cashmere piece each season in a fun new color.

September--Time to change cosmetics again. Pick some new lipstick and nail shades.

October--Buy some fun accessories for winter--funky hats, scarves, and gloves.

November--Shop early for holiday party attire. Get yourself a fab pair of evening heels, sparkly earrings and/or necklace, fab handbag, and coat or throw.

December--Buy that cashmere you've been wanting--on sale!

Live in color!
Lauren