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5 Ways to Wear Short Pants in Cold Weather
Not too long ago, short pants were a seasonal wardrobe choice worn mostly in warm weather. Today, they are literally…
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Three Cheers for the Mall! (& 5 Reasons Why They Are Still Relevant)
This time of year, America seems to have a love/hate relationship with malls. Some have fond memories of going to…
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5 Fashionable Ways to Fall Back in Love with Fall
No one seems to want to let go of this endless summer in New England. With cooler temps heading our…
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Wedding Season Attire: How to Dress Well with or without Royal Connections
This year the kickoff to wedding season could not have been more exciting when American actress Meghan Markle wed Great…
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A Sneaker Moment: 5 Ways for Guys & Gals to Kick Off (and Kick Up!) Summer Style
Sneakers are indeed having a moment. No longer just for exercise, they are showing up in board rooms, at parties…
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5 Tips to Be on Point with Pins
With historical dramas more popular than ever in movies, television and online, pins and brooches have made a fashion comeback. …
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Vacation Ready: 5 Must-Pack Pieces for Tropical Fun
I love helping my clients prepare for all their vacation getaways. This time of year, I am most frequently pulling…
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500 Black Dresses: A Lesson in Individual Style
Usually when I snuggle up on a wintery January night to watch the Golden Globes, I expect plunging necklines, colorful…
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The Versatile Vest (5 Ways to Wear Winter’s Best Accessory)
For many of our clients, vests are only thought of for very casual activities and are often regulated to the…
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Welcome 2018! (& Dressing Well in the New York Times: Winning Winter with Outerwear)
2018 is off to a great start here at Dressing Well. Our stylist team is busy helping our private clientele…
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Picture Perfect: Getting a Headshot You’ll Be Proud to Post
A professional portrait—referred to in the business world as a "headshot"—serves a multitude of purposes. It instantly conveys what you…
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The Shoulder Season: Successfully Transitioning your Wardrobe from Summer to Fall
The term “shoulder season” is most used by travelers and golfers. It marks the time between peak and off-peak seasons, especially spring…
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5 Easy Ways to Freshen Your Summer Wardrobe Without Breaking the Bank
In this month's blog, we share 5 easy ways to freshen your summer style without breaking the bank. Enjoy!
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Donating with Respect
Early in my career as a wardrobe consultant, I volunteered to help set up the clothing donations at a new…
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Dressing Well's Top Ten Fashion Picks for Women: Spring 2017
Spring is officially here and our consultants are busy helping their private clients get their closets in order and shopping…
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Comfortable Shoes for Uncomfortable Feet
Over the years, the number one style issue that the majority of my clients ask for help solving is finding…
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Five Ideas for Adding the Power of Red to Your Day-to-Day Style
The Power of Red. No other color is charged with as much energy, power and, on days like today, fun…
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Leadership Lessons from the Closet
In addition to fashion, design and style, I am equally passionate about personal development at all levels. In fact, one…
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Get the Hang of Your Coat Closet (5 Styles to Stock Up On Now)
During the winter months, it takes a variety of coats to get you out the door feeling stylish and pulled…
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Five Fresh Ideas for Starting 2017 in Style
Time to pack away the holiday sweaters and push the refresh button on your winter wardrobe. Below are 5 fresh…
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Kick Up Your Office Party Attire: 7 Stylish Ideas for Men & Women
Interested in kicking your office party attire up a notch while still keeping things business-appropriate with the powers that be? Read…
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Dressing Well Gift Guide: 5 Stylish Accessories to Give in 2016
Accessories are a fun and easy way to give the gift of style. One size truly fits most, making them…
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Top Ten Picks for Men & Women: Fall/Holiday 2016
It wouldn’t be fall without posting our seasonal top 10 fashion picks. As an extra bonus, we are giving them…
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Summer Social Style
In between the dress categories of "business" and "casual" is a category we call "social style." It is often the…
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How to Pick an Outfit That Will Get You Hired
(Excerpted with permission from Lens Magazine, an edition of Gatehouse Media’s Massachusetts daily and weekly publications.) Nothing is more unnerving…
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The Skinny on Men's Suit Shopping
One of the most popular male fashion questions we are asked during executive image seminars and private coaching sessions we…
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Get a Handle on Your Totes
Does the thought of organizing your closets for spring seem overwhelming? Consider starting your seasonal wardrobe cleanse by getting your…
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Winter Pastels: 5 Ways for Men and Women to Wear Them Well
Today’s winter wardrobe is no longer limited to the blacks and browns of years past. This time of year, many…
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Winterize Your Closet
Winter seems never-ending when you’re smack in the middle of it. Our wardrobes are often on the frontlines of this…
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Five Fresh Ideas for Starting 2016 in Style
2016 is off to a great start here at Dressing Well. Our consultants are busy helping their clients look their…
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"UnStuff" Your Closets with this 3-Step "Recipe"
I love Thanksgiving, cooking and fashion. In honor of Thanksgiving, I thought I’d combine my joy for cooking and clothes…
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Athleisure: Making Activewear Work!
Wikipedia terms athleisure as “…a trend in fashion in which clothing designated for athletic workouts at a gymnasium, sometimes termed…
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Leather Weather
What is “leather weather”? It’s the time of year when cool and sophisticated leather (and suede!) fabrics that instantly shout…
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Fall Greetings (& Top Ten Fall Fashion Picks for Women)
Fall is off to a great start here at Dressing Well. Our consultants are busy working with their private clients…
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Is Hosiery History?
While word on the street in some circles is that traditional pantyhose are history, we could not disagree more. The…
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Summer Fashion Flashback - Grease is the Word!
When I recently attended a middle school production of Grease to see the junior rendition of this tongue-in-cheek look at…
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The Summer Shoe Pledge
For those of you who have been in our community for a while, you may recall that we used to…
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Your Visual Resume
Recently, I had the privilege to present one of our signature workshops, “Your Visual Resume,” to a group of students…
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5 Ideas for Building a Cost-Effective Jewelry Wardrobe
My years as a former accessory buyer for Talbots came home to roost recently when I was working with a…
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The Skinny on Jeans Shopping
Buying a great pair of jeans can be a daunting experience. With the exception of finding a suitable swimsuit, jeans…
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5 Fresh Spins on Navy Blue
Being married to a State Trooper, I’ve acquired a certain level of respect for all things blue. This season, navy…
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Train Your Eye
My freshman basketball coach was the first person I recall telling me I had a “good eye.” Back then it…
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Revisiting Paris
One of the best parts of being a stylist is experiencing a small part of the trips your clients take.…
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The Power of Red (Part II)
Mary Lou Andre’s post a few weeks back about the power of red got me thinking. I love incorporating red…
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Après Skiwear for Spring Breakers
Like most New Englanders, I have just about had it with the day-to-day nuisances caused by so much snow here…
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50 Shades of Gray
A home improvement project brought me to the paint store this past weekend in search of the perfect shade of…
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The Power of Red (& Pink!)
We love the color red and are always looking for new ways for clients to wear it well. In professional…
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Shovel Out Your Closet
Shoveling out after yet another snow storm here in New England got me thinking. We clear out the snow so…
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Four Good F Words
Welcome to the inaugural issue of our Dressing Well Blog. We are excited to bring timely and relevant fashion tips and ideas…
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Comments
Thanks Sarah.
As presentation coaches, my team always recommends navy blue as the go to color for first meetings and friendly yet professional appeal.
I just forwarded your blog to my blue navy blue colleagues at the speech improvement company.
I look forward to connecting with you soon
Hi Laurie!
dressingwell.com
Thanks for your comment -- navy blue is truly a powerful color and does not come across as harshly as black sometimes can. It is incredibly versatile for business and a great addition to any wardrobe.
Please feel free to reach out to us directly! We also offer professional seminars and would love to connect with you. info
Thanks, Sarah. Great post. I love navy. And it does look great with a pop of color (orange, pink, red, powder blue, lavender).. and I always love navy and grey together. I have been looking for a navy pants suit for several years now. They are hard to find!
Hi Donna--
There are some suiting brands that I find reliable for neutral colors year after year -- depends on what fit is best for you of course! I find my go-to brands when shopping in department stores are Anne Klein and Tahari for simple (no hardware) business separates. Good luck shopping! Feel free to connect with me direclty if you'd like to learn more about our services.
I've loved navy blue since I was a girl and my mom put me in sailor dresses! One challenge I face in adding it to my wardrobe is the many shades of navy. If I'm out shopping and see a new piece, I can't be sure it will go with what I already have. Any advice?
Hi Melinda-- good call! This can be tough. I find there are two tones that I'm generally working with--Navy and then dark navy which has more black in it than your standard navy.
There is a lot you can get away with in this color family, but if you are trying to match more specifically, bring the piece or shoes you have in your wardrobe with you when you are shopping.
If you are looking for shells to pair with suiting, we have a fantastic affiliate partner myadea.com and they have beautiful shells in both navy and dark navy.
You can also go darker on the bottom (a dark navy shoe can ground a regular navy pant or skirt). Having some distance between two pieces can work too by adding a neutral skirt or pant in between two different tones.
I would stay away from pairing a jacket and pants/skirt that are not part of the same dye-lot (i.e. same brand and color) as it will look like you got dressed in the dark! Hope this helps!!
I enjoyed your ideas for taking navy away from its associations of authority and education. It was a long time before I could stop connecting navy with school uniform plaid, but now I love navy blue as a basic, especially in the spring and summer months.
Hi Elizabeth! Yes, navy no longer has the stiff reputation of yester-year! It truly softens outfits in a way that still adds polish, but just takes the edge off a bit (as opposed to all-black-all-the-time). Perfect as we are enjoying the warmer months. Thanks for your comment! :)
Hi Sarah, Your article was timely. I have added so many navy elements to my wardrobe in the last year. I am trying to make black more of an accent rather than a neutral, and navy has fit the bill for me; however, it can be a little matronly at times. I love your suggestions, and will wear my slim navy slacks and navy moto sweater with a yellow tank and my beige flats tomorrow. It will take the frump right out of the whole ensemble. The navy flats were just 'too much' when I tried it last week. Thank you!
Hi Debbie-- You are spot on! Beige flats really do lighten your look and are a great alternative summer shoe choice. I like to stock up on various finishes and heel heights in the beginning of the season so I'm ready for any hemline, long day of work, or last minute invitation! Cole Haan has a nice patten leather wedge pump (closed toe) right now and their standard summer open toe low wedges are back too. They are worth it! You will look fab in your navy, yellow ensemble! Thanks for your comment! Sarah