Mary Lou Andre’s post a few weeks back about the power of red got me thinking. I love incorporating red into the wardrobes of my clients too. Red makes me think of energy, power and determination and totally punches up your look for the season.

Like most New Englanders, I have just about had it with the day-to-day nuisances caused by so much snow here this winter. However, I must say that one of the up sides of this weather for me and my family is the extended ski season we now have. One of my favorite things to do is to pack our family up and head to the slopes. We are all outdoor enthusiasts and, as a stylist, I keenly understand the ease of our trip preparation when our ski clothes are organized and ready to go. Parka? Check. Ski pants? Check. Goggles? Check. Snow boots? Check. Checklists are great.

Yet, when you go on a ski vacation that lasts longer than a day or two, packing can get tricky, especially when you want to dress well for the après ski scene, which is often as memorable an experience as skiing itself. Whether you’re hitting the local slopes with friends and family or heading out west or internationally for March break, there is an après ski wardrobe that will fit your budget, taste and personality.

A home improvement project brought me to the paint store this past weekend in search of the perfect shade of gray for our new bathroom. We picked out a few samples, tested them on the walls and finally settled for a shade that made everything in the room fall into place with the intended style. Extra bonus, I can now say I’ve seen “50 Shades of Gray!”

Whether you decide to see the movie or not, it is fun that “gray” is getting so much “play” right now. Not only is it a box office sensation and hot base neutral in home décor, but it’s also a great way to lighten up your wardrobe as we head into spring.

We love the color red and are always looking for new ways for clients to wear it well.

In professional situations, we often treat it like a neutral for women, grabbing red jackets, skirts, pants, blouses, dresses, shoes and bags that are appropriate for business to give a pop of color to what is often an otherwise fairly dark wardrobe.

Where I personally have the most fun incorporating red into a wardrobe is with evening wear. Coordinated well, it can be bold, sexy and eye-catching all at the same time.

Shoveling out after yet another snow storm here in New England got me thinking. We clear out the snow so we can hit the road fast and effortlessly. When I first work with a client in their closet, we are often “shoveling out” so that they too can hit the road in record time, regardless of the weather.

Here are five quick tips to help you “shovel out” your own closet (and snow days are great days to tackle this process!)

Welcome to the inaugural issue of our Dressing Well Blog. We are excited to bring timely and relevant fashion tips and ideas to you a few times each month using this new format. Some of our ideas will be shared via bulleted tips. Other times, our stylist team will share personal and client stories to make an interesting style statement.

We’d like to make our blog as interactive as possible. Please leave a comment about something we’ve shared (we love the power of group commentary!) and don’t forget to let us know what you’d like to hear more about. We’re listening and eager to respond.

To get things started, I thought I’d outline our signature “4 Good F Words” that are the cornerstone of the work we do helping clients develop their personal style. Whether shopping in your closet or shopping at a store, adopt these words as a way to build a wardrobe that truly fits and flatters all your many personas: