You’re familiar with this scenario. The weather forecast calls for 65º and sunny. Your new spring outfit complete with accessories is steamed and ready to go for tomorrow. Then you wake up to cloudy skies and SNOW! Panic attack! What are you going to wear? Never underestimate the power of mid-weight basics in neutral colors. Also consider a few garments such as jackets or sweaters in mid-weight to slightly warmer fabrics in bright colors. It’s a great way to keep your sunny, spring outlook without freezing. Yes, this situation is fresh in my mind, because it’s exactly what happened last week. Since I wasn’t able my new spring dress, I was ready to go with my black Kenneth Cole, poly/rayon blend pencil skirt, my Adea micro-fiber tank, topped off with my Azalea pink cotton twill blazer. Bare legs certainly weren’t going to work, so I opted for black patterned tights. The pattern felt so much lighter in mood than opaques. Ever optimistic I first grabbed my black slingbacks, but realizing the ground was pretty mucky, I opted for high black boots. (They’re way more comfortable anyway!) The variations on this snowy, spring day uniform are endless. Of course pants can replace the skirt (Read more...)

I can't say enough about the power and ease of basics. Basics are the pieces in your wardrobe that are simple and provide a canvas for the more exciting, detailed, or decorated pieces. I'll share a personal story to illustrate. The other day I was pre pre-shopping and made a little purchase for myself, the sweater to the right. I couldn't wait to wear my new sweater the next day, but I was in a bit of a hurry when I was dressing. So, I looked for some basics to pair it with. I ended up with a black pencil skirt and a black, lace trimmed camisole, both quite basic. Even though the cardigan has the drawstring, it's still pretty basic. I added some color with one of Rhoda Design's purple, semi-precious stone necklaces to give me a little umph! To finish the outfit, I wore hammered silver hoops, black tights and black slingbacks. Because I hadn't originally intended to wear the sweater with a skirt I was especially excited about it. Since I'm all about cost per wear, and I'd only worn the sweater for a few hours the day before, I wore it again the next day. (Of course I (Read more...)