Visions of Summer Dance In My Head

Snow is beautiful...in movies, calendars and ski resorts. In black and white photographs, a la Ansel Adams, or during Christmas time. It's fun to see children sled riding or driving down the street and seeing cute snowmen with twigs for arms and carrots for noses...but do you know where snow ISN'T beautiful? On my car. On my porch. Quite frankly, all around me.

Please don't get me wrong. I love winter. I love pulling out my sweaters and my boots (I LOVE my boots) and I'm excited to wear my cute gloves and scarves. But enough is enough! I look in my closet and see my maxi dresses hanging and peak in a shoe box at a gorgeous pair of white and silver sandals. I run my hand over my colorful array of tanks and pull open my swimsuit drawer. I try on my espadrilles and wedges and how could I completely forget I bought those adorable short shorts!?!? Ah, how I miss my summer wardrobe.

Then I look back outside at the snow and icicles. I can feel the frigid temperature through the window. I'm telling you right now, summer cannot come soon enough!

But like the rest of us, I must wait patiently for the temperature to rise, the days to last longer and the sunshine to be consistent. When the time comes, I know I will be prepared...at least my closet is.

 Hat: Bebe; Infinity Scarf: Unknown (gift); Locket: (Vintage) Classy Lady Jewelry; Sweater: New York & Company; Leggings: Juicy Couture; Coat: Sonoma; Ring: Juicy Couture; Handbag: Coach; Riding Boots: BCBGeneration

 Coat: Sonoma; Ring: Juicy Couture; Handbag: Coach; Boots: BCBGeneration

Hat: Bebe; Infinity Scarf: Unknown (gift); Sweater: New York & Company; Ring: Juicy Couture; Coat: Sonoma 

 

Locket: (Vintage) Classy Lady Jewelry

 

reStyled By Liz

A few months ago, I decided to start my own business, which is called reStyled By Liz. I offer such services as styling, personal shopping and closet consultation. I wanted to bring my interests and background to those in my hometown of Bridgeport, West Virginia and surrounding areas.

My career in retail has spanned fourteen years. I started out with cashier and sales associate positions and quickly advanced to visual and management positions. I've worked at malls and boutiques and from a small town to larger cities to the Fashion Capital of the United States.

Some of my favorite stores/boutiques I have worked for have been Macy's, Chico's, Bebe, Tilly's, Banana Republic, The Body Shop, Juicy Couture and the Gap. Each of these brands have their own customer demographic and their own vision. It has been a whirlwind going from brand to brand and learning the secrets of the trade for each respective one. Not one store/boutique that I have worked at has resembled the next, which makes it more educational for me as well.

I gained a ton of styling experience while working at stores such as Bebe and Juicy Couture. Here, we had client books and were encouraged to create lasting relationships with loyal clients. If we made appointments with them, we would pull items that we knew they would love and we would either add to or create their perfect wardrobe. Styling is easy once you create a relationship with a client. Once you understand their personal style, it is easy to look over a rack in a store and pull out items that will compliment their wardrobe and style.

I have two Bachelor's degrees. One from West Virginia University in Psychology and the other from the Academy of Art University in Fashion Merchandising, with an emphasis on Visual Merchandising. I love it. I would be in charge of the entire look of the store, including all displays, mannequins and windows. I have been a part of every visual team in every store I have worked at, either being a visual associate or the visual manager. Normally, you are given a corporate standard's book to follow, in regard to floor sets, mannequins and windows, but normally each store allows creative freedom for leftover windows, walls, doors and/or mannequins. This was the most fun. To have your creativity on display for the world (okay, customers) to see. I love that I could place my personal stamp on each display I have created over the years.

I use my background in visual for not only styling and personal shopping, but also in my closet consultations. It's fun to look at a closet, sketch out all you can do to have the maximum use of space, a clear organizational view and to find fun ways to display your accessories and clothing. I love to work on standards such as hanging and folding items properly, to ensure a long life for your wardrobe, and to color coordinate or organize seasonal clothing. It's not a job to me, it's fun. Though sometimes I miss doing my windows (especially in New York), I love to bring my knowledge and expertise to those around me.

Floral Handbag, Mesh Platform Heels, Three Tier Necklace and Black and Navy Handbag: Simply Vera Vera Wang; Satin Scarf: Vintage;  Blue Teardrop Necklace: Pier One; Studded Pumps: Aldo

Mesh Platform Heels: Simply Vera Vera Wang; Blue Teardrop Necklace: Pier One; Three Tier Necklace: Simply Vera Vera Wang

Blue Clutch: Liz Claiborne; Handbag: Juicy Couture; Blue Beaded Sandals: Gianni Bini; Necklace: Liz & Co.; Scarf: Unknown; Glass Bangle and Blue and Silver Bangle: Pier One; Black Strappy Sandal: Lauren Ralph Lauren;

Blue Beaded Sandals: Gianni Bini

My kind of vintage

I miss my grandmother. She had an extraordinary beauty both inside and out. She was kind, charitable, polite and had a wicked sense of humor. She was very beautiful and had a chic style.  The first thing to come to mind when remembering my grandmother’s style was her scarves. She always wore a scarf when she left the house. Though she had brooches in her jewelry chest, she pinned every single one of her scarves with a pearl head straight pin. Her scarves ranged from long to short, colorful to neutral, silks to polyester and solids to prints.

She has been gone a little over a year now, but her scarves still have the scent of her favorite perfume on them. I will wear these scarves from time to time, but I have yet to master the look such as she did.

My grandmother’s jewelry armoire was a treasure chest. My mother and sisters and I went through it after she was gone and had the best time playing “dress up.” My grandmother had plenty of luxurious items, but her armoire consisted mostly of costume jewelry. Plenty of pearls (she mixed her real set with her faux), gold chokers, crystals, long beaded necklaces, charms, bangles, chunky silver jewelry, rhinestones and more.

When looking at her jewelry or wearing it, I try to remember each piece on her. Whether it is a real memory or my imagination, she wore her jewelry with panache.

Her closet consisted of a little bit of everything. Over the years, her closet has seen a variety of fabrics such as denim, jersey and silk and styles such as embellished jackets, fur and printed blouses and colors such as neutrals, jewel tones and pastels. I do not recollect one specific style over the years; her fashion sense concentrated around classic staples with “at the moment” trends to add flair.

She understood fashion trends. She and I would discuss trends we would see in some of our fashion magazines, mainly Vogue or W but also Elle or Harper’s Bazaar as well. We would talk about what we loved, hated, who in the world would wear such things, and anytime she ran across a fabulous pair of shoes in a magazine, she would mark the page so I could see it and we could discuss footwear trends as well.

She taught me a lot, not only about style but also life in general. I miss her like crazy, but I know she lives on in memory, photographs and of course, her fashion.

 

 

Winter Blues

What is your favorite color? Most people I ask this question to answer the same: BLUE. Honestly, almost every single person I talk to loves blue. Well, I love purple. That is my favorite color.

I'm obsessed with all shades of purple. Be it dark or light, in a print or solid, I love it. I have purple handbags, pumps, sandals, flats, jackets, tops, skirts, dresses, earrings, well, you get it. I believe that purple works well on every skin tone and works well combined with other colors.

A few months ago, something changed me. I was looking through one of my fashion magazines (like all fashionistas, I subscribe to them all) and I came across a beautiful blue, faux crocodile satchel designed by Liz Claiborne. I couldn't take my eyes off it - and not only because it was Liz Claiborne.

I have to admit I am a tad sentimental over Liz Claiborne handbags. I had interned for Liz Claiborne Inc. during my time in New York City. I worked in the LCNY Accessories division in the Product Development department. I was witness to the conception, design, sample and final stages of their handbags. It was truly a one of a kind experience.

Needless to say, after about a month, I purchased this bag. Now I can't let it go - the bag AND the color blue.

How could I have lived for so long and cared so little about the color blue!?! Was I living in some sort of alternate universe? Am I the last person to learn about the secret of blue? Was I even fully alive before this? Okay, maybe.

So, I decide to venture into my closet and after glancing at my shoe rack, I notice a pair of barely worn BCBGeneration navy suede platform pumps with an adorable jeweled detail near the toe. Seriously? Why have I barely worn these!?! They are beautiful. I must wear them now.

Speaking of accessories, I look up at my hat collection (I LOVE hats) and I have a Gap navy wool floppy hat. Maybe worn once or twice. Why? Why did I choose to not wear this color before now? I must also wear this now. Not only is it cute, but it's BLUE!

Enter Kohl's. I love Kohl's. Since I moved back to WV, this is where I shop the most. Can you guess what I gravitated towards? This gorgeous blue blouse from the LC Lauren Conrad collection. It's a must have. Done and done...and this shade of blue is stunning!

I feel like a child with a new toy. I'm excited! Purple? What's that? Blue has been my shade for a few months now. Will this love affair last? Too soon to tell. Winter has certainly brought the blues...I wonder what Spring will bring me?

Top: BCBGeneration; Pants: Gap; Watch: Guess; Charm Bracelets: Tiffany & Co.; Crystal Bracelet: Swarovski; Sterling Silver Bracelets: Style & Co; Handbag: Liz Claiborne

Pants: LC Lauren Conrad; Pumps: BCBGeneration

Pumps: BGBGeneration

Wool Hat: Gap; Heart Necklace: Swarovski; Watch: Guess; Charm Bracelets: Tiffany & Co.; Crystal Bracelet: Swarovski; Sterling Silver Bracelets: Style & Co; Top: BCBGeneration

Top: LC Lauren Conrad; Jeans: LC Lauren Conrad; Pumps: Aldo

 



Top Necklace: LC Lauren Conrad; Bottom Necklace: Blogger's own charms and chain

New State - New Coat

I'm cold. There is snow and frigid temperatures outside my window. I'm originally from Bridgeport, West Virginia, but have moved many times in my twenties and early thirties. Most notably, I lived in St. Petersburg, Florida and New York, New York.

I missed the snow terribly during my time in Florida. I was bothered by wearing shorts and a tank on Christmas day. The coldest month, if you could call it that, was January. It was then that I felt the need to break out my "winter coat." Granted, some may find it odd that my "winter coat" in Florida consisted of a buttery soft black leather jacket, but it warmed me just right. If memory serves me correctly, I owned one light scarf and a pair of gloves for when I traveled back to West Virginia. Needless to say, those stayed in my closet tucked away for those few and far between visits.

After close to five years down in Florida, I made my way up north to New York. Anyone who knows me, knows my love of New York. My father is a native New Yorker and my entire life has been consumed with love for that city. So, as hard as it may be to believe, I moved away from the beach and warm temperatures and straight into the heart of winter in New York City. Needless to say, my chic leather jacket couldn't necessarily be my "winter coat" up there, so I had to buy a REAL winter coat...or two...or three. I also quickly became aware of winter accessories, a necessity for those of us (many of us) who walked everywhere or rode the train. So off I went buying scarves and hats and gloves to mix and match with my coats. If I had to freeze in New York, I would at least freeze with style.

All in all, I am not a fan of cold weather. But I am willing to live in an area where we have all four seasons equally (for the most part). So here I am, back in West Virginia and bearing down with the rest of the US during this polar vortex, arctic blast and everything else thrown into the mix. The only good thing to come out of this winter is the fact that I can break out my winter coats (admittedly, new ones that were bought upon my arrival back to West Virginia...apparently I have a motto of "New State - New Coat") and my variety of fab winter accessories. I'm loving my latest, a Christmas gift from my sister, which is a pair of Calvin Klein Tech Gloves, which consists of "touch technology" where I can use my thumb and index fingers on any touchscreen device. I feel these gloves have replaced my favorite fingerless gloves that I was obsessed with from the Gap.

Here are a few photos taken of my favorite winter coats and accessories. Like I said in New York, if I have to freeze, I will at least freeze in style.

Hat, Scarf and Gloves: Calvin Klein; Jacket: Gap; Jeans: Gap; Boots: Madden Girl

Hat, Scarf and Gloves: Gap; Coat: St. John's Bay; Tee: Gap

Hat, Scarf and Gloves: Simply Vera Vera Wang; Coat: Sonoma; Dress: Simply Vera Vera Wang; Tights: Chinese Laundry; Pumps: Guess