Move Over Tees, There's A New Blouse In Town...



 

 

 

 

 

 





Pumps: Guess; Jeggings: LC Lauren Conrad; Floral Top: Nicole by Nicole Miller; Suede Moto Jacket: Elie Tahari for Designation; Earrings: Unknown (gift); Handbag: BCBGeneration

I love tee shirts.

Have I mentioned this before?

A few months ago, as I was shopping my closet for another blog photo, I was completely astonished by the amount of tee shirts I have.

Graphic tees. Solid tees. Short sleeved. Long sleeved. Plain tees. Embellished tees. Neutral tones. Brightly colored. Designer tees. Off the rack.

You name it, I own it.

So it has been my mission to upgrade my tee shirt driven wardrobe. I have pushed past my fear of button down blouses (a fear many busty girls have - FYI : camisoles are your friend!) and I can proudly say that my closet is (slowly) being consumed by beautiful blouses.

I picked up this Nicole by Nicole Miller sleeveless button down at JC Penney (it's beautiful, form fitting AND was on sale...what's not to love?) and I knew immediately that I could wear it separate, with a blazer or with this fierce suede Elie Tahari for Designation black moto jacket.

Since another staple in my wardrobe is a skinny jean, this top was a perfect match. I love the low seam in the back of the top and how it falls from the back of the cropped jacket. The flow of the top balanced out the tightness of the jeans.

Next was my favorite part of dressing, my shoes, and picking out which worked best. I wanted a neutral heel, something simple, so I went with my Guess pumps. Every woman needs to have a pair of black patent leather pumps in her wardrobe (with whatever heel height makes her feel comfortable - most of my heels are 4 to 5 inch heels) that you can pair with a dress, slacks or jeans.

So I looked in the mirror, and felt this outfit was missing something. Another accessory, of course! I added my chartreuse BCBG box crossbody bag for fun and I was out the door.

Liz

Lost and Found

I'm baaaaccckkk !!!!

Sorry for the hiatus, I recently moved to a new place and have been unpacking like crazy!! Sadly, I lost my walk in closet; however, I gained forgotten clothing! By packing up my old closet, I found items that have been long forgotten!

For example, this dress I have on. It's Lauren by Ralph Lauren and hugs me in all the right places. This is a great dress and I LOVE the colors in it. I cannot believe I forgot I had this!

How often do we do this? It can be a favorite tee from years back that was pushed to the back of a drawer. Or those sandals you bought on sale at the end of summer last year and kept in the shoebox on top of other boxes? Organization plays a key role in closets, do not get me wrong; however, sometimes it's also nice to do a closet inventory.

This should be done at least once a year. Go through each item in your closet. Do not just glance at it and move on. Pull out the item. Ask yourself these questions:

~ Have I worn this in the past six months? In a year?
      ~ If not, odds are you will not wear it again.

~ Does this still fit?
      ~ Take the time to try it on. The worst thing you can do is assume it fits and is flattering at all
         angles. If you like, have a friend with you and get their opinion as well.

~ Is it still wearable?
      ~ Check to see if the clothing needs to be repaired or requires any tailoring. If it is stained, ripped
         or faded, toss it. If the item needs repaired, place it to the side. DO NOT PLACE IT BACK IN
         YOUR CLOSET. Either take it to a tailor or fix it yourself.

~ Do I still love it?
      ~ This question is very important. Why have a piece clothing in your closet if you don't love it? If
         you find it boring, are tired of it, or if you are questioning why you ever bought it in the first
         place, get rid of it.

         Do not make snap decisions, however. If you have a hard time answering this question, you
         need more time. Place the item in the front of your closet for a while. After a couple months,
         look back at the item. What are your feelings now?

~ Can I name three other items I can wear this with?
      ~ How often do we buy an item and think, "I'll find SOMETHING to wear with this!" and then
         the item sits in our closet? More often than one would think. Make sure your clothing can be
         mixed and matched with other items in your closet.

If you answer no to any of these questions, it is time to get rid of the item. There are plenty of options for these discarded pieces. If you would like to make some money, you can take the clothing to a local consignment shop. If you like, you could take your gently used clothing to donation centers such as Goodwill. Or, if the clothing is in good condition, you can always give it away to friends or family who may get more use out of it (just ask my sister!).

By doing a closet inventory, you are not only getting rid of items that you will never wear (and that are taking up your closet space), but also finding long forgotten items that you can incorporate into your current wardrobe!

Earrings and Necklace: Nicole by Nicole Miller; Dress: Lauren by Ralph Lauren 



Earrings and Necklace: Nicole by Nicole Miller; Dress: Lauren by Ralph Lauren; Pumps: Jessica Simpson

 

Clutch: La Regale 

 Earrings and Necklace: Nicole by Nicole Miller; Dress: Lauren by Ralph Lauren; Clutch: La Regale; Pumps: Jessica Simpson



Earrings and Necklace: Nicole by Nicole Miller; Dress: Lauren by Ralph Lauren

Dress: Lauren by Ralph Lauren; Pumps: Jessica Simpson



Step Into My World...Or At Least My Closet

My closet is my happy place. If I am feeling down or having a "blah" type of moment, I walk in my closet and take a deep sigh of relief. My closet is full of all textures and colors. It is filled to the brim with accessories (we all know I'm an accessories type of girl) and clothing that ranges from mini skirts and wide leg trousers to sequined tanks and cable knit sweaters. Every item has it's place and I wouldn't have it any other way.

How often do you find yourself thinking you had an item in your closet and you spend a ridiculous amount of time searching for it, getting mad when you cannot find it and then proclaiming you have nothing to wear because your closet is all haphazard? I'm sure it has happened to all of us at least once in our lives. Wouldn't it be easier to open or walk into your closet, step back, scan it quickly and piece together an outfit from head to toe? We all know the answer to this: YES!!!

I have a visual merchandising background, so it goes without saying I treat my closet as a display case. I show off my shoes, I have some necklaces hanging and pretty brooches on a mini body form. My hats are neatly lined up on a shelf and my clutches are displayed on a small bookshelf. I have my sunglasses on a mirrored tray and just tried out a new way to house my denim. I have a hanging organizer in my closet and I decided to roll up each pair of jeans and place them in the organizer, throwing in colored denim as extra pops of color against the normal blue. It looks great and holds all my denim (like I mentioned in my previous post, I have a lot of denim). I can walk right into my closet, and know that my tops are organized by sleeve length and color. My skirts and pants are hanging in separate sections and my sweaters are folded in drawers. I know exactly where to look for a specific item and I never have to worry about not finding an item. It's a "stress free" zone.  It's my happy place, because it suits me. I have made it as functional as it is fabulous.

Printed Blouse: Catherine Malandrino for DesigNation; Skirt: LC Lauren Conrad; Tights: Simply Vera Vera Wang; Pumps: Guess

 

 

Printed Blouse: Catherine Malandrino for DesigNation