...attending a college reunion.

With my husband's 25th college reunion in just a few days, my attention is turning to my closet and what to wear.  This isn't just a one night affair, slam-dunked with a LBD (translation:  little black dress).  Oh no, this is a 5-Day event during the course of which, the pendulum will swing from commencement exercises, cocktail receptions and garden party to a reception with the University President and Dean, a Family Field day, a dance party, and a concert with the Psychedelic Furs and English Beat.  Might as well just pack up the whole closet and call it a day.

If you've got a reunion, graduation or wedding coming up, here's a sampling of what I'll be doing:

Do get a mani/pedi!  For manicure, I like nude nails so when they chip during your stay, it won't be so noticable. My fave is OPI Bubble Bath which also comes in gel. I'm partial to red toes right now before we get into summer, but anything goes on the toes!

Image from thislovegame.blogspot.com.

Because I am a person who like CHOICES, to dress on whatever whim I'm feeling or change with the weather that is blowing through Cambridge at the moment, I'm going to bring lots of OPTIONS.

For cocktail reception, enter LBD. This Rachel Zoe silhouette is really is divine, with just the right amount of drape across the tummy to make it all work.  With a white blazer if it's cool.  Add these gorgeous Jimmy Choo snakeskins and all done!

Image from nordstrom.com.

Image from saksfifthavenue.com.

Next up, the garden party.  Picked up this very cute dress at Sara Campbell in Wellesley the other day.  It'll be perfect in the 80 degree heat we're expecting.   I'll pair it with navy wedge espadrilles and a navy sweater or white blazer. 

Image from saracampbell.com.

Just in case, I will also pack this J.Crew pink lace top and Alice and Olivia white pants which will be a good back up for any occasion for the warm weather this week.

Image from pinterest.com.

Image from nordstrom.com.

Concert night?  The Psychedelic Furs/English Beat concert is begging for jeans and a t.  'nuf said.

Top it off with a great purse.  The chain and tassel detail on this Rebecca Minkoff bag will be perfect to hold lipstick, cell, $, and license (though I don't suppose they'll be carding at a 25th reunion) for all reunion activities.

Image from shopbop.com.

And off I go on Wednesday!  I hope to report back with pics of fabulous fashions from the forty-something set in attendance! ~ LB

Changing over your wardrobe.

It's that time of year!  If you haven't started already, it's time to move your winter wardrobe to the back of your closet, to storage or to another closet and bring out the spring/summer clothing.  I have piles of clothing on my bed, in the guest room, and winter shoes stacked on the floor as I pull out my t-shirts, white pants, and sandals.  But, before I put them 'away' (which in my house, means the guest room closet), there are a few things I recommend doing:

Bring your less-than-fresh boots & shoes to a cobbler.

Image from shopbop.com.

Time to take the boots, booties and winter heels to the shoemaker and get them cleaned up before they go 'away'.  I just dropped off 2 pairs of boots in need of new heels and a pair of riding boots needing a shine at the cobbler.  Trust me; there is nothing better than pulling out your refreshed boots on the first cool fall day.  Pop them on and you are ready to go!

Put winter clothes in storage.

Image from classiccleanerssc.com.

Find a dry cleaner to store your heavier winter garments.  Have tight storage space in your house?!  Some drycleaners will store, for free, your winter clothing.  My dry cleaner will - here's how it works:  I take all of my sweaters, winter pants and coats that require drycleaning and bring them in for storage.  The dry cleaner will usually clean them first and then store them over the summer.  In the early fall, I call a week ahead of when I need the clothes to tell them when I would like to pick them up.  They will retrieve them from storage, press them, and have them ready for you.    All for the cost of normal dry cleaning.  Brilliant!

Put your accessories in those cute storage bags and box up your shoes.

Your purse came with the little soft storage bag for a reason - to keep it dust free when it's unused.  My winter clutches are tucked away, and I loved this image I saw on Pinterest for storing clutches, in their little bags, of course.  

Image from pinterest.com.

Same for your shoes - all of my boot boxes are under my bed, and the guest closet has 'off season' shoe boxes stacked high.  You can get fancy, like this:

Image from pinterest.com.

Or, you can simply be realistic and store your shoes in the boxes in which they came.  I'd rather save my money for the next pair of shoes, rather than spend it on cardboard or plastic boxes.  Just saying.  Isn't that green of me? :-)

Off to move around some piles.  ~ JH

Online Inspiration

The most recent issue of Matchbook just arrived in my in-box and I wish I could tear out each page for my inspiration wall, which of course I can't since it's an online magazine.  (Enter Pinterest, where I can curate to my heart's content!)  Online magazines are a great resources to find inspiration and ideas.

Image from matchbookmag.com.

If you haven't paged through an issue of Matchbook, you really must check it out.  Matchbook is a lifestyle magazine that wants the reader to consider them a "field guide to a charmed life".  After this month's issue with Serena and Lily on the cover, I'm feeling the charm, not just for personal clothing and accessories, but for my home.  The Clambake Wish List made my heart pound a little harder for Cape Cod, and the stationery guide has some fun, different ideas which I'm always looking for when it comes to personal paper.

Another good online 'zine is Lonny.  Launched in October 2009, Lonny is the original online mag that kick-started the trend in digital mags.  It's a bimonthly, online home decor magazine that highlights extraordinary interiors, innovative bloggers, and the latest in personal fashion.  As seen in the March/April issue, the Kate Spade bag, Heidi Merrick dress, and kinda crazy Dannijo necklace are hot.

Image from lonnymag.com. 

and look at this Malibu beach house. To. Die. For.

Image from lonnymag.com.

And finally, there's rue...San Francisco-based publication, kind of geared toward a younger reader.  Do check out the shout-out to Boston shops on page 40-41 for the skinny on M.Flynn, Patch NYC, and Good among others.

Image from ruemag.com.

Off to make some tea and curl up with these cool mags! ~ LB

...you are traveling to Paris - daywear.

Oui!  I'm heading to Paris in a couple of weeks and I cannot wait!  Over the next few weeks, I hope to write about the questions we all ask ourselves when preparing for a trip like this:

• What do I wear on an overnight flight?
• What on earth do I pack?
• How many bags am I allowed to check? (Ok, might not write about this, but it's a question that has been frequently popping into my head!)

Let's start with what to pack for daywear.  I'll be walking miles everyday and will want to be blister-free and look fashionable at the same time.  Whether I'm going into Boston, down to New York, or over to Paris, it's the same look.  In Paris, there's a little more pressure to be tailored and elegant.

So - since it's April, I'll start with outerwear.  After all, I'll be in some kind of jacket most of the day while traipsing around, and it needs to look good.  I'll start by packing my rain jacket, a Postcard one I found in New York last spring when I found my winter coat.  It hangs to mid-thigh, stylish, cinches at the waist, and was a GREAT purchase.  It looks similar to this Moncler one at Bloomingdale's:

Image from bloomingdales.com.

Additionally, I'll be packing my short cotton trench coat.  I purchased it about 3 years ago at Comptoir des Cotonniers, after trying on every Burberry short trench I could get my hands on, only to find that they really didn't fit me well at all.  (Altering was an option, but Burberry trenches have very narrow shoulders, so the entire body of any trench I purchased would have needed altering.)  So, I settled on this one, and love it:

Images from comptoirdescotonniers.com.

Between those 2 jackets, I think I'll be set.

Now, onto outfits.  I'll have to pack scarves, and layer, layer, layer.  I'll be out the door of my rented apartment relatively early and out all day, so I need to be prepared for cooler mornings and warmer afternoon temps.  Back to playing meteorologist.

The good news it that Parisians have embraced jeans!  Phew.  10 years ago, not so much.  2 Thanksgivings ago, jeans everywhere.  That's a huge relief, since I kind of live in them.

So, I'll be packing some white jeans - my J. Crew Bootcut white denim...

Image from jcrew.com.

...and some AG Ballads...

Image from agjeans.com.

...and some DL1961 straight-leg jeans that look great with ballet flats.  That and a couple of black ankle length pants should do the trick.

Next, tops.  There will be navy v-neck sweaters in my bag, along with a chambray blouse from J. Crew, a crisp white blouse, tank tops for layering underneath, some linen Vince sweaters, and scarves, scarves, scarves.  Some fun day jackets, like that Milly one I picked up during my Nordstrom shopping appointment back in February.

Image from nordstrom.com.

I won't be packing any t-shirts.  Blouses (with scarved tucked in the neckline) and spring sweaters are the way to go in the day.

Shoes are the last important piece of the puzzle.  While I've been on a heel-craze, it's not really going to help me out in Paris during the day (but stay tuned for dinner attire!).  Too many cobblestones and miles to cover.

I have been on a hunt for a great neutral wedge to wear during the day...any of you who follow my Pinterest boards have been inundated with images of neutral wedges.  I think I've finally found the pair.  These Tory Burch Sally Wedges are just what the doctor ordered!  2 1/2" heel, relatively neutral color tan (I wish it was lighter), a rubber sole, comfortable, and all of my longer pants fall perfectly with the heel height.  So, I'll be traipsing around Paris in these in a few weeks!

Image from toryburch.com.

To cope if the weather is less than perfect, I'll include some patent leather ballet flats for those days.  Similar to these French Sole ones at ASOS, the patent is great in wet conditions while continuing to be stylish.  And most Parisians are running around in ballet flats too!

Image from asos.com.

Finally, I just might back a pair of booties I purchased this past fall - Comptoir des Cotonniers tan suede booties - I have a feeling that they'll come in handy on a cooler day.

Image from pinterest.com.

That's it for daywear!  I guess I'm going to have to print this as my packing list. :-) ~ JH

Demystifying personal shopping - Part 4.

And now, the part we've all been waiting for!  Please welcome guest blogger, Amy Swartz, manager and personal stylist at Nordstrom in the Natick Mall.  As you may recall, Lisa and I just had an appointment with Amy. Amy gives us an overview of the top 5 things to expect in a personal shopping appointment.  Thanks for blogging with us Amy! ~ JH & LB

~~~~~~~~

Thought personal stylists were just for socialites and celebutantes? Not so! Stylists are resident experts at all things fashionable—from knowing who’s wearing what to knowing how to put it all together. They can help make your shopping experience easy and a lot of fun, with personalized attention and advice that’s tailored just for you. In the fourth installment of this series I wanted to go over the “Top 5 Things to Expect in a Personal Stylist Appointment”: 

1.     A full room stocked with goodies and looks upon arrival - When you begin your appointment, the personal stylist will take you to a dressing room where you will be able to look at the clothing, shoes and accessories they have selected for you to try on. If the sizing isn’t working, they will be the one going back and forth to the racks to get a different sizes, colors or styles, while you can sit and relax. Something that can help the stylist when selecting items is sending them pictures or a list of what you’re in need of prior to the appointment. Jen and Lisa do a great job of this. Jen even sends me her Pinterest link so I know EXACTLY what she’s feeling for the season.

2. Time Efficiency/Personal Service – When you first arrive to your room, the amount of merchandise can be overwhelming, but keep in mind that items get weeded out as the appointment progresses. The selected merchandise has been taken from departments all over the store based on what you have communicated to your stylist. I often let my customers know that it would’ve taken them hours to navigate the store and pull items, let alone put it all together. It is our job as stylists to know where everything is, so let us do the grunt work! If the promise of all that schlepping doesn’t entice you enough, how about the fact that someone is there to only talk about you and how these clothes look on you? It's all about the customer during the appointment and sometimes a girl needs that. And it’s great during the holidays when time is of the essence; you can email them your holiday shopping list, and within hours, all of your holiday shopping is done and while still drinking coffee in your bathrobe!

3. Getting the right stuff and finding the right fit - Who doesn't want clothes that flatter them? I think this is one of the keys to style that is hardest to achieve. We are really at the mercy of trends and the shape of clothes is part of those trends. Personal Stylists can choose things for you that fit your body well and flatter your own shape. So if you have a particular body issue that you are having trouble with, they can pick things out for you that you didn't know would work for your shape. Having an unbiased person helps you get out of ruts and step outside of your comfort zone to get beyond body image issues. Once you’ve established that partnership with your stylist you will begin to feel a sense of trust with them. They can pull things that you may have never pulled in a million years, but somehow it looks fabulous on!

4. Work within your schedule and budget (plus it’s free!) - We have stylists here at Nordstrom seven days a week, from store open to close. You tell us when an appointment works best for you and we can accommodate. The service is complimentary and the amount you choose to spend is totally up to you. We work with customers with all ranges of budgets. During appointments we will always try our very best to stay within a specified budget, working towards achieving the best possible value for items you may purchase.

5. By the way, it’s not just for women anymore - As of the January 2012, Nordstrom in Natick has four stylists based out of the men’s area. Whether it’s for your husband, father, boyfriend or son, let’s be honest ladies, all of the men in our lives could use a little shopping help. Men’s stylists are a godsend! They can set these men up for every aspect their lives as well as assist with ordering made-to-measure suits, dress shirts and ties. They’ll be so happy you sent them here they may even come home with a little gift for you!

At the end of the day the stylists and the Personal Stylist department at Nordstrom are here to help make your shopping experience less of a chore and more of an adventure. Just ask Jen or Lisa! Please feel free to reach out to me if you are interested in hearing more about the program or are interested in booking an appointment. Thank you!

...you are dreaming about a white blazer.

Spring is around the corner, my obsession with a white blazer is bigger than ever.  I really don't know how I got obsessed with this, but I think it started with this Pinterest post I saw last year:

Photo from pinterest.com

I thought it was a fun, chic, travel-to-Europe-and-be-cool look.  I wanted to be that girl.  So, off I went, in search of a white blazer.

I found one last summer at Ann Taylor.  It was a cotton sateen, cute jacket, on sale for $99. Great way to test out the look.  It kind of looks like this:

Photo from polyvore.com

I wore it with a matte metallic tank underneath, AG Ballad jeans in a mid-wash, and nude strappy heels, long gold pendant necklace.  Loved it!  Great for a casual night out.

This year, I also wanted something a little more dressy, a little longer and found a great one at the W by Worth show:

Photo from wbyworth.com

While I eagerly await its arrival, I've been thinking about ways to wear it, so that it doesn't scream 'Miami Vice'.  I put some inspirational items on my Pinterest board, but thought I'd share them here.

The 'column of black' underneath is a great idea, with either chic flat or great heel:

Photo from pinterest.com

Ok, it also helps to be Kate Moss.  Just saying.

Anyway, another look, over a dress:

Photo from pinterest.com

Or, with lighter shirt, skinny black bottoms and cute cheetah ballet flats:

Photo from pinterest.com

Items that are current potential partners for my white blazer include this white lace t-shirt, with a slight scoop neck, from W by Worth:

Photo from wbyworth.com

To be paired with skinny dark pants...

Photo from nordstrom.com

Or how about a pair of leggings?  In leather?  That I just happened to find on sale?  I know, crazy, but they are really fantastic!

Photo from vince.com

With pointy-toe heels.

Photo from net-a-porter.com.

Very sharp outfit, for the long transitional season we have here in New England.  How would you wear a white blazer? ~ JH