Buying Button Downs that Fit!

Ever notice that womens' button downs never seem to fit quite right? Well the reason may be that you are buying one not fitted for your body shape. Did you know that all clothes are actually designed to fit a specific body shape?

Banana Republic can be a great place to look for button downs as they carry both regular sizes as well as petites. Two Nordstroms brands, Vallette and Classiques, also offer really great fits. The Classiques are especially good for women who have larger chests and need something to fit well through the torso. Nordstroms also carries a brand called Foxcroft which are wrinkle resistant, fit well with women who have full body shapes, and come in every color of the rainbow. Pink, Ted Baker, and Theory are other brands that make fun shirts that fit petite women very well.

What to watch for:

Does the shirt fit in the shoulders?
Does the end of the shirt line up with the end of my shoulder?
Do the buttons bulge across my bust and chest?
Can I move freely without feeling constricted?
If I tuck this in will it stay tucked in all day?

Shoes: Comfort versus Sassy.

It used to be that if you wanted to wear a drop dead hot pair of shoes, you prepared yourself for ending up in near tears at the end of the day from the pain and discomfort of walking in your gorgeous shoes. This, thank goodness, is no longer the case. With the emergence of some new brands over the last couple of years, you can look hot all day long and not sacrifice that much needed comfort.

The great new brands on the scene include: Corso Como, DKNY, Soft Souls by Kenneth Cole, and now Ecco. A great way to check out these shoes is to use Zappos (www.zappos.com). With free overnight shipping and free return shipping there is no harm in trying. A rule of thumb is to always walk around your home in your new shoes. If they hurt or pinch anywhere when you put them on, think twice about the purchase since this discomfort will likely never go away.

To wear skinny or not to wear skinny??

Who would have thought that almost three years later and skinny denim is still holding on strong. I encounter many women who are convinced that they can't wear skinny denim, but the truth is that anyone can pull off a pair-- it just takes the right balance.

With dresses over pants and shirts getting longer and longer, often times wearing a trouser jean or a jean with large bell bottoms doesn't work. This is where the skinny denim can be the perfect ingredient. The skinny fit often looks great under these longer items and adds that extra layer of warmth that is oft-needed in the San Francisco and Pacific Northwest.

The Basics Battle

Basics: something we as women wear every day. They are an essential element to layering, creating the longer length tunic look, and achieving a longer and leaner feel in an outfit. The new and exciting battle that has surfaced is that we now have so many different options-- not only when it comes to brand, but now when it comes to price. The old staples are still around like Three Dot (available at www.Nordstrom.com and www.Shopbop.com), James Perse (www.neimanmarcus.com and www.eluxury.com), C and C California (http://www.candccalifornia.com), Zooey (www.revolveclothing.com), and Splendid (www.saks.com). But is it still worth it to pay between $35-65 dollars for a white tee shirt when you can now buy one at Forever 21 or H&M for $10?

If you are like me, you will somehow manage to destroy a white tee shirt in three months flat by staining it, ripping it, or dying it some weird color. So for me, the option of buying a basic that has a lifespan of three months is a great way to go. I have taken to buying basics at H&M and I am fairly impressed with the quality of the cotton and the fit. I, however, still believe there is room for the expensive basics. They offer great style details that are hard to find at other places such as very high quality cotton and longevity.

Whether you choose to invest in your basics or go the cheap route, they are a basic necessity to any great wardrobe collection.

What to Wear at Work

What kinds of messages does your clothing send about you? It’s not a question we spend a lot of time thinking about, but what if it was keeping you from that promotion or new job you really wanted? Are you clear on what your style says? We all know that first impressions matter and that most communication is actually non-verbal so how much of that is being directed by your clothing? I have constructed some simple ways to tell if you are leaving people with the impression you want.

1. Create a Survey
a. Ask friends, family, and coworkers what their description of your style is. For example: professional, sloppy, comfortable, stylish, unapproachable?
b. Does this style match your personality or the working relationships you want to have?
c. What are the pieces in your wardrobe that are a reflection of their feedback?
d. What colors are you wearing that may lead to their opinion of your style? For example: do you wear a lot of red and black that may justify a feedback that you are unapproachable?

There are some easy ways to combat these descriptions of your style without spending a lot of money.

Here is a quick guide:
1. Unapproachable/ Harsh
a. If you wear a lot of solid colors that are either black or primary colors and you’re getting a feedback that you are unapproachable or harsh, try wearing colors that are based more in brown tones such as khakis, creams, light greens, blues and purples.
b. Is your clothing too structured? Clothing that fits well is very important, but are you wearing things that are too structured? For instance, are you always wearing a suit Jacket? Try wearing knits like a great wrap around knit sweater or cardigan instead of a suit jacket.
2. Sloppy/Not Trustworthy/ Young
a. Does your clothing fit your body? Can you grab a lot of extra fabric under your arms when you put on your button down or blazer? Does the shoulder of the shirt actually line up with your natural shoulder? In a button down or blazer these should always match up exactly. Try a new store or new brand to see if it will fit you better-- Banana Republic is perfect for busty women whereas Theory is really good for women who are petite.

Try these new styles for a couple of weeks and then redo the survey. You will be surprised at the results.