Moving!

My website launched today! I will be posting on there exclusively. Please check it out!

http://www.cottonandcashmerestyle.com/

News Wrap

Here are my top fashion stories of the past few days:

- Styling Maxi Skirts for fall - I wore Gap stirrup leggings under mine with a shell and sweater. So chic and easy.

- Best Dressed list - Kirsten Dunst is killing it lately (more on that later).

- Love this look and this blog - Plus size fashion inspiration at it's best.

- Must buy a leather skirt for fall - I'd recommend leaning toward shapes like Liv and Karolina wear, unless you can pull off a pleated a-line leather skirt (do it!)

- Day in the life with Carine Roitfield - who doesn't want to be her?!? who doesn't love i-D mag?

- Tory Birch does no wrong - I'm not particularly fond of the TB logo everywhere, but I'm impressed with her music taste and outlook on personal style.

- I don't know how this is possible, but I LOVE it - Leather skirt and stacked booties on a bike?

- Michelle Lane's lovely jewelry - Some of the most unique pieces I've seen in a while.

Go Buy Now: Technicolor Coats

Go Buy Now: Technicolor Coats:
"The leaves might be brown and the sky may be gray, but though your surroundings are dark and neutral that doesn't mean you need to wear these colors too! Instead of reaching for your standard outerwear options in navy, charcoal, and noir, now's the time to try something a little more vibrant. Our suggestion? Pick a coat in an ultra-bright hue to inject some serious style into your autumnal and winter outfits."

So well done! Love WhoWhatWear.com.

Color-blocking!

(Kitty Cotten via refinery29.com) 


This is a must see. 


How do you color-block?

Make it Fun

Ladies, it's time to forget the infamous Tim Gunn quote "Make it Work". I love him, I do. But this is just not the mentality we need to use when getting dressed in the morning. 

"Making it Work" is great when you're in a pinch with a project, or having a challenging conversation. It doesn't have to be a part of your daily dressing thought process. 

Instead, what if you shifted the focus to "What makes me feel and look the best today" or "What am I trying to express through my look?".  Let's stop trying to force anything and just be content with being self-assured in your clothes. 

It's helpful of course to have a wardrobe that supports these feelings everyday, but let's face it. No matter how well-curated your wardrobe is, there will be days when it feels like you've just got nothing to wear. 

Now that's when we employ my favorite slogan, "Why not?". Why not try that yellow button down sweater over your favorite black and white print dress? Why not add red heels and silver jewelry? The best way to expand your wardrobe is to play. Unsure of the results? Take a photo and send it to a trusted friend (or me) or ask a roommate. 

So I say "Make it fun!" And above all else....MAKE IT YOU!!  

Moving Closet Organization Outside The Home

Sometimes closet organization projects move outside of the home - and are just as fun and exciting.

Recently, I had a lovely time helping Kayla organize part of her wardrobe that was kept in a storage closet. We met in the morning and went through dozens of bags of clothing.

Using my, "Is this how you want to look moving forward?" mentality, we separated her wardrobe into piles of Keep, Donate, Consign. It was inspiring so see Kayla welcoming her new perspective on life and dressing and letting go of the old looks. And let go she did!

Out with the old, in with the new!

Check out her thoughts on the process here.

Box? What Box?

I've been working on moving farther and farther out of the box, sartorially speaking. Ever since I left my 9-5 to work at Nordstrom earlier this year, I've enjoyed playing around with my style and image (much to the chagrin of some on-lookers, haha).

I have been blessed with a style confidant, my husband Lon. He's usually there for my most fashion forward looks and is always ready to offer a "yes", "no", or "add a belt". How lucky am I!?!

Now that I'm on my own as a wardrobe stylist,  I've found even more freedom to express my inner-mismatchedness.

Recently, this has been expressed through a favorite mismatched print outfit. A blue and yellow floral blouse tucked into a black and off-white printed midi-skirt, accented with a gold belt. Yes, it does work.

Pardon the low-res. photo. Here's the outfit after a day's worth of wearing (brunch, drinks, shopping, more drinks):

My obsession with Anthropologie adds to this freedom. As I buy most of my clothes and LOVE bringing clients there, finding prints is pretty easy. The sales girls are now friends and are normally my first judges of a new look. They encourage me to mix and match pieces and voila - a fun new outfit.

This, combined with my "why not" attitude, has created some ingenious looks.

Please do this, next time you are putting together an outfit or shopping, employ the "why not" tactic. If some pieces seem to match in the slightest, try them together. Take a picture on your phone to test it.  Then, add some accessories and go for it. Testing on a friend or loved one helps, but honestly, a bit of confidence goes a long way!

An example - I just got this dress from Anthro for my 30th b-day dinner.

I'm dying to try it with this jacket for dinner:

And this for drinks downtown after!

Honestly, that dress can be paired with anything. Now I just need the budget....

How fun styling can be - even when it's just dressing yourself!