Wikipedia terms athleisure as “…a trend in fashion in which clothing designated for athletic workouts at a gymnasium, sometimes termed activewear, is worn outside of the gym to go to the office or shopping or other social occasions.” It has arisen from women (sorry guys, but mostly women) choosing to wear yoga pants outside of the gym and coordinating them with their existing wardrobes, both casual and dressy.

Fall is off to a great start here at Dressing Well. Our consultants are busy working with their private clients and our workshop and speaking schedule is in high gear. We are truly blessed to be doing work we love.

Of course our fall is never truly underway until our annual "Top Ten" fashion picks for women are selected and posted. This ritual began over 20 years ago when we launched our Dressing Well snail mail newsletter. (Yup, there was no internet back then and we were primarily working only with women!) It was instantly popular and is now the most frequently visited section of our website.

While word on the street in some circles is that traditional pantyhose are history, we could not disagree more. The "executive presence" discussion regarding all types of hosiery has as much to do with industry, company, ethnicity, situation, age, leadership goals, body type, personal style and, of course, common sense than what is "trending" at the moment.

When I recently attended a middle school production of Grease to see the junior rendition of this tongue-in-cheek look at 1950s teenage culture in the U.S., my eye was immediately drawn to the full-skirted plaid and polka dot dresses worn by the talented 7th grader playing the lead role of Sandy. Each dress was beautifully styled and surprisingly current. I found myself mentally translating the trend for my chic clients who enjoy appropriately incorporating "fashion flashbacks" into their wardrobes.

For those of you who have been in our community for a while, you may recall that we used to share The Summer Shoe Pledge each year in our summer newsletter. Originally emailed to us in 1999, I’m not sure who authored it, but I do know this light-hearted oath was always a hit. I recently came across it and was struck by how relevant it still is. Here it is again for you to read, share and enjoy – we welcome your comments, too!

Recently, I had the privilege to present one of our signature workshops, “Your Visual Resume,” to a group of students at a local women’s college. The students were fantastic and eager for advice on how to navigate the tricky wardrobe transition from classroom to office.

Now that that the caps and gowns have been put away and the focus for many college grads in our midst is on job hunting, I thought I’d share the top five tips from my presentation that resonated the most with this group of students. Feel free to use them as a refresher course for yourself and/or share them with young women that you think would benefit from this super simple (and cost-effective!) guidance.

Buying a great pair of jeans can be a daunting experience. With the exception of finding a suitable swimsuit, jeans top the list of most stressful shopping experiences for most women (and often men too!). With a multitude of brands, cuts and styles, you may become overwhelmed before you even step in the dressing room!

Here are 5 ideas I frequently share with female clients interested in cutting jeans shopping time in half while arriving home with selections they love to wear:

Being married to a State Trooper, I’ve acquired a certain level of respect for all things blue.

This season, navy blue is commanding my attention in many new ways. It is timeless, exudes confidence, and says ‘perfectly polished’ like no other color. It has been a personal thrill to see this sophisticated hue take over the racks of my favorite stores.

Here are 5 fresh spins on navy that I have been using to effectively update the spring (and summer!) wardrobes of my female clients.  I hope a few resonate with you and make it easy to put this perennial spring favorite to work in your wardrobe too.

My freshman basketball coach was the first person I recall telling me I had a “good eye.” Back then it was because I could consistently put the ball in the basket from outside the key. Given the fact that I was vertically challenged and seriously lacking in most other basic basketball skills, I remember this feedback making me feel like I had a special gift. These words never get old, especially with what I do now professionally.

As a stylist, having a “good eye” is about picking winners off a sales rack or easily making outfits from what first appears to be a closet full of clothes with nothing to wear. Like being on a basketball court and making the ball swish, it’s magical when a well-trained eye helps you present yourself better. You can quickly dismiss items that you know won’t work while embracing others that you may never have considered.

One of the best parts of being a stylist is experiencing a small part of the trips your clients take. Researching the weather, reviewing their itineraries and coordinating outfits that will help them feel terrific each day they are away is very rewarding.

When I was recently asked to help one of our virtual clients pack for 6 weeks in Paris, I also got to relive my own days traveling there as well.

In this week's blog post, I share some of my favorite international fashion insights.