| Dressing Well Tip of the Month |
Our "Tip of the Month" provides cost-effective strategies for managing your wardrobe and mastering professional and overall personal style and image.
Hello Spring, Good-Bye Winter!
A March Message from Mary Lou Andre
After a long and relentless winter here in the Northeast, it is finally time to start packing winter away while getting your closet ready for spring’s softer and easier looks. This month, we feature our popular Top Ten Picks for Spring 2010 to give you some inspiration about what you might like to add to your wardrobe this season. No matter where you live, we hope many of these ideas resonate with you!
Dressing Well Video Tips
We are grateful to our friends in the media who continue to call upon us to bring our tips and strategies alive for their viewers. We have parked these "video tips" in the "In the News" section of our website for you to view. Last spring, I appeared on Fox News Boston to share tips for packing winter way. Pictured here with me is anchor Kim Carrigan who always brings her own great insights to the topics we present. Our March Q&A posted below covers many of the tips captured on this Fox segment. Whether you read or view these tips, they offer tried and true advice for transitioning your wardrobe from winter to spring. On March 16, I will join Kim again at 8:45 am to showcase our top ten picks for spring. Do tune in if you live in Boston. We’ll get them posted on our site promptly for all to enjoy.
From all of us at Dressing Well, here’s to spring 2010!
Mary Lou Andre
Editor, dressingwell.com
President & Founder
Organization By Design, Inc.
Top Ten Fashion Picks: Spring 2010
You don't need a whole lot of clothes to get out the door each day feeling your personal best. Shop in your closet first, make a list of what you need based on your lifestyle and personal preferences, and then visit stores and websites that complement your budget and personality.
Here’s our top ten list for the season ahead. We hope it helps bring some focus to your shopping this season!
#1 Not so Boring Beige
Pair it with pale yellow or crisp coral for a fresh look.
#2 Animal Prints
Trench coats, shoes, bags and belts come alive with what has emerged as a classic print.
#3 The Little White Dress
A fresh twist on a perennial classic. Pair it with a jacket or cardigan for work — glam it up for a night out on the town.
#4 A Big, Bright Floral Blouse
Belt it over a skinny pant or wear it as a soft, flowing jacket over a simple dress.
#5 Pencil Skirts
High-waisted silhouettes, below the knee hems and stiletto heels give them modern appeal.
#6 Colorful, Oversized Handbags
Pick a hue you love and wear it with everything!
#7 Denim Galore
Classic jeans, of course, but also jackets, vests and skirts too. White and black denim provide a fashion-forward contrast with colorful tops and accessories.
#8 Ballet Flats
Choose those with a slight heel & snipped toes for a fresh look.
#9 The Boyfriend Jacket
Mid-thigh lengths, strong shoulders and rolled up sleeves give it signature style
#10 High Impact Jewelry
Think big. Think bold. Think bargain. Scout out tony boutiques, garage sales and your grandmother's jewelry chest for one-of-kind pieces you'll love to wear!
March Q&A
Q: I live in the Northeast where it may continue to be cold for a while. What steps can I take now to get my closets ready for spring? I’m psychologically done with winter!
A: Early spring is a great time to review and make adjustments to your outerwear collection. Here are six easy steps to get you started:
- Coat Closet First. Visit your coat closet first and start packing your heaviest winter coats away. Be sure to check the pockets and, if necessary, remove pins from any lapels before putting them away. I once had a client who reclaimed over $100 by cleaning out her coat pockets!
- Partner with Your Drycleaner. Consider taking your heaviest coats to the dry cleaner now to free up room and psychologically get you in the mood for spring. Most cleaners will store items free of charge for the cost of the dry cleaning.
- Lighten Up. If you are not quite ready to part with all of your wool coats this early, consider adding a lightweight wool scarf in a vibrant color to brighten your look.
- Gather Winter Shoes & Boots. Pile all the shoes that you wear in both winter and spring that have been soiled by the wear and tear of winter into a handy tote and make it a point to drop it off at the cobbler for repairs and polishing. In a month or two when you put on your spring fashions, you’ll be glad you took the time to clean up your shoes. There is nothing worse than shoes that have salt and snow stains all over them in April and May!
- Review your Spring Coat Collection. Trench coats are great when transitioning from winter to spring. Trench coats with a lining can be particularly handy to help you chase away any remaining chill in the days ahead. Many of our clients have long parted with some of their heavy wool coats, preferring to wear a lined trench on most winter as well as spring and fall days.
- Use Scarves. Silk and rayon scarves generally look the best with trench coats. Wool scarves tend to be too heavy. Use the colors in these scarves strategically to connect your coat to the outfit you are wearing underneath.
What’s New Now
6 Style Tips for Interview Success on Yahoo HotJobs.com. Mary Lou Andre's interview with Robert DiGiacomo of Yahoo! HotJobs appears on the career tools section of this popular job search website.
Warm Welcome to our New Subscribers. A warm welcome to the many new subscribers we met at our corporate and public speaking forums this past month. Our speaking is diverse and customized for each group we serve. For instance, on March 18, we present "Using a Professional Image to Produce Business Results" to executives at Raytheon. On March 25, we switch gears and share our top ten picks for spring at "A Girl Thing" — a local benefit to support school enrichment programs in our hometown of Needham, MA. We welcome the opportunity to learn more about your organization and how we can customize our message to fit your needs. Please call 800-578-3770 to learn more. Visit the event section of our website to learn more about events open to the public.
February Winner. Congratulations to Joanne Antun of Valley Stream, NY, the winner of our February monthly contest. We will be sending Joanne a $25 gift card courtesy of The Container Store. For your chance to be our March winner, please register to win by midnight on March 31. Good luck!
Quick Tip
Go on a scarf diet!
The long, flowing scarves that are the accessory of the moment can go a long way to hiding a thick mid-section when draped over tops and inside jackets.
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© 2010 Organization By Design, Inc. / Wardrobe Management & Fashion Consulting
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