What to Wear: Happy Hour

Colored skinny jeans are a big trend for fall. Try wearing them out for happy hour!

1. Roe Habitat Blouse from Anthropologie $168

2. Pilcro Serif Cords from Anthropologie $88

3. Metal Edged Bangle from Topshop $25

4. Floral Textured Flower Skinny Leather Belt from Topshop $32

5. Joe's 'Candy' Sandal from Nordstrom $224.95

Heading out to happy hour

top from Nordstrom junior's department, belt from Target, Pilcro

skinny pants from Anthropologie, thrifted bangle, MaxStudio heels

Fall Must-Haves

I set out to make a list of the top ten must-haves for fall but couldn't narrow it down so, it's a top eleven list. You, however, should narrow it down. Don't feel the need to go out and buy everything on this list, just pick 2-4 items that really speak to you to add a little freshness to your fall wardrobe.

1. Long pleated skirt: so feminine and ethereal; just remember to keep the pleats small and delicate not school girl-y
2. Navajo inspired prints: we often see tribal prints on trend but this season we're seeing some unique Navajo and western inspired ones
3. Cape: such a fun layering option
4. Colored jeans: these usually look best in a skinny version
5. Striped sweater: such a great weekend option paired with jeans
6. Color-blocked handbag: a unique option, choose a classic shape with two or more tones
7. Wedge ankle boot: great with a pair of wide leg jeans
8. Fur trimmed coat: or you can go with a fur trimmed cardigan
9. Stacked heel boot: all the height with none of the hurt, stacked heels are much more comfy than stilettos
10. Chunky knit sweater: so cozy!
11. Slim, cropped pant : pair with flats a la Audrey Hepburn or roll up the bottom and pair with a stacked heel

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Shopping for Missoni at Target

That's right, you read that correctly: Missoni has created a line for Target! This is probably one of the biggest designer collaborations Target has ever done. The 400 piece collection will hit stores (and online) on September 13 and I have a feeling these things are going to go fast. Here are some of my favorites:

The swimsuit is adorable, the maxi and long cardigan, while a little matchy-matchy together would be great individual pieces and I would wear that cape/cardigan with an all black outfit or jeans all winter.

If you're intimidated by Missoni's sometimes loud prints, take a baby step with some accessories. Prediction: those flats will be one of the first things to sell out and the printed bobby pins are to die for!

There are even pieces for men and kids. I'm loving these ties. And this jacket and rain boots are so adorable for a little girl.

I'm actually most excited about some of the pieces for the home. I would buy everything pictured above.

And how can you resist this bicycle?! I rarely ride a bike and this one might motivate even me to hop on two wheels more often.

Happy shopping and let me know what you score!

Photos courtesy of Target via Fashionista.com The line is not on the Target website yet but follow that link to see a preview of the entire collection.

Embrace Your Personal Style

I recently started reading the book Everyday Icon: Michelle Obama and the Power of Style by Kate Betts and I am really touched by her message. She uses Michelle as an example but the book is mainly about the power of personal style and she's managed to articulate the way I feel about style better than I think I ever have. The opening paragraph of her book is as follows:

"In many cultures - French, Italian, Russian, and Japanese, to name a few - why style matters is self-evident and arguing in defense of it is like arguing on behalf of music or art or even clean water and fresh air. But Americans are ambivalent about style. We are by turns attracted to and afraid of style, fascinated and suspicious. We confuse it with transient fashion trends and logo-splashed clothes. Too often American women subvert their sense of style and don a uniform instead. They play it safe so as not to detract from their intellecual contributions. Style is frivolous; style is for airheads. Tenacious conventions pit style against substance and suggest we have to choose one or the other as a defining focus or sensibility: you can work for shoes and bags or you can work for world peace. But not both."

I sometimes worry that other people think what I do is superficial or frivolous and I have to stop and remind myself that I don't think it's silly. I think style can be so powerful. There is a quote that I believe is from Chanel and I cannot find it at the moment but it says something to the effect of, your clothes do not change who you are but they can change how you feel and that, in turn, can change who you are. Feeling good in what you wear and how you look can give you confidence, which can change your life. Once you've changed your life and are happy in it, you can move on to changing and improving the world around you. You can have fabulous shoes and bags and world peace. Plus, it's just nice to be surrounded by beauty. It's part of human nature to be attracted to things that are visually appealing and we all tend to be happier and more relaxed when we're surrounded by things that comfort us and that we find attractive. So, don't worry that the people at the office won't take you seriously or that your intelligent friends will think you're silly for dressing with style. In fact, the confidence you gain by doing so will make people stop, think again and take you seriously for you who are and what you have to contribute.

I Can Relate: A Personal Shopper's Tale of Shopping Frustration

My fiance and I have been working on our wedding registry lately and after several slightly overwhelming trips to Crate and Barrell, Bed, Bath and Beyond and Bloomingdale's, I had an epiphany: I finally truly understand how my clients must feel when they're shopping for clothes because I feel the same way trying to shop for housewares. I don't really enjoy it as much as shopping for clothes, I don't really get excited about water glasses or toasters, I don't feel like I have all the information I need to shop efficiently and successfully so I end up spending a lot of time trying to figure it out and I don't really have as good a sense of style for my home because there's definitely a different approach to things you use everyday than items you can change multiple times a day if you feel like it. But, at the same time, it's important to me to have things that work well for my home and add a sense of style to my life. I could really use someone to just come in and tell me: what is the best cookware brand for the best price? Where is the best place to shop for china? What kitchen appliances do I really need? What is my personal home style?

This made me think about what I do for my clients. When my clients first come to me, they generally don't like to shop that much, they don't have the information they need to shop efficiently and successfully, and they don't have a good sense of their personal style or what works well for their bodies and lifestyle. I help my clients figure out where to splurge and where to save, what are the best brands for the best price, where is the best place to shop for jeans, which items of clothing and accessories they really need and what is their personal style? I walk them through the process so they don't have to spend time figuring it out on their own.

I know it would save me a ton of time and money if I had a personal shopper to help walk me through this process of shopping for my home. This is a whole new shopping experience for me.

The Search for the In Between: Walkable Wedges

I'm always looking for those 'in between' pieces for my wardrobe: things that are not too dressy but not too casual, stylish but comfortable too, things that can go from day to night, be worn to work and on the weekend. These are the things that my clients have the hardest time with. They're always telling me they need more versatile pieces and the key to versatility in your wardrobe is to go for the in between; look for pieces that are not too work but not too weekend, not too day but not too evening, not too trendy but not unstylish. One of the categories I have the hardest time with is shoes, I find everything to be either a fabulous (and uncomfortable) high heel or a too casual flat. When I'm working with my clients, getting down and dirty in their closets or walking around the shops for six hours, it's not practical to wear a three inch heel but I also don't want to be in flip flops. So, join me on my search for some walkable wedges to get me through the rest of the season and into the beginning of fall. The ideal walkable wedge will give me at least a little bit of height without being too tall and will take me from a client appointment to dinner with friends to a weekend outing - AND they'll be in a neutral color so they'll match everything I own. Is that too much to ask for?

1. Clarks Thimble Flash$65.50

2. Kelsi Dagger Kassa $66.75

3. Giuseppe Zanotti Design $510

4. Enzo Angiolini Lamella $69

5. Michael Michael Kors Flex Demi Wedge $89

6. Clarks Thimble Clover Sandal $71.99

What to Wear: A Day at the Beach

1. Icon Eyewear "Maureen" Sunglasses from Nordstrom $10
2. Beach Linen Pull-on Pant from Victoria's Secret $27.60
3. Slung Scarf Tank from Anthropologie $88
4. Giovannio Fedora from South Moon Under $28
5. Green Bikini Top $25 and Bottom $15
6. Havaianas Slim Flip Flops from Zappos $24

Fourth of July weekend at Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
thrifted top, Melissa Odabash pants from Everything but Water, fedora picked
up on a Greek island, shades from Nordstrom, thrifted bangles