Finding the perfect LBD

Every woman needs a LBD (aka Little Black Dress) or two in her closet. It should be your go-to-piece for when you want to look and feel your best. The perfect LBD will make you feel like a million bucks and be versatile enough to be dressed up or dressed down. With the Little Black Dress Event coming up next week, I've been thinking about the importance of finding that special dress. This summer my favorite LBD was actually a piece I received from Stitch Fix. Not only was the dress adorable but it was comfortable too. The material doesn’t wrinkle so it is great for travelling. It washes easily. The length is perfect for my short frame. It has a cool cutout detail across the shoulders. It dresses up and down easily: worn with a denim jacket and studded black leather birkenstocks for a casual weekend and a black leather jacket and knee high boots for a gallery opening in NYC. Versatile and stylish.

Here are some tips on how to style your LBD from brit.co.

Here are some ways to wear the LBD from stitchfix.com.

Here are ways to make the LBD more versatile from stitchfix.com.

Thanks to Stitch Fix for all the great tips and for supporting this post. Like to try Stitch Fix for yourself? To schedule your first "fix", click here.

Tell me about your go-to LBD in the comments below. Or share a picture of your favorite LBD with me on Instagram by tagging me in your photo and using the hashtag #thesmalltownstylist.

Join me on Friday October 14th at 7pm for the Little Black Dress Event at SKY Armory benefitting the WISE Women’s Business Center. I’m so pleased to be a part of this event for the second year in a row. Click here to get your tickets.  Put on your LBD (little black dress) and toast the WISE Women's Business Center in celebrating 10 years of training and inspiring women entrepreneurs. The evening includes featured wines and craft cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, stations, desserts, live music and dancing. Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (WISE) is an entrepreneurial initiative of the Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University dedicated to training and inspiring women interested in launching or growing a business venture.

To purchase your ticket today, click here.

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Summer Wrap Up

No matter how much I protest, summer is coming to an end. Normally by this time I am so ready for my kids to go back to school, craving our routine, and excited to have time to myself to work uninterrupted. But not this year. The difference is that I decided back in June to put my family first for the summer. Ambition was set aside and I had to say no to a lot. It made every moment with my boys that much sweeter, that much more enjoyable, and that much more meaningful. Here are some of my favorite moments:

When they go back to school and my house is quiet, I will choose to focus on my business and my work and my clients. And that will be sweeter too. I truly hope you enjoyed your summer. That you lived in the moment. That you took it all in. That you took deep breaths and really savored your time. That you chose to be present. Now bring on the rest of 2016.

Grown ups only in Austin, TX

What do you do when your entire family moves to Texas? Seize the opportunity to explore a part of the country you’ve never seen before of course! In February we visited family just outside of Dallas. It’s a beautiful community and we had a blast watching our boys enjoy time with their cousins. The plan was to spend a few days there and then visit Austin as a family for a few days, but the boys had other ideas. They were having too much fun. So they stayed with Grandma and Pop while we drove to Austin for a kid-free weekend. Sounds terrible, right?

Austin was awesome. The weather was sunny and warm, and the streets were immaculate. There was great food, music and art. We ran along the Lady Bird Lake Hike and Bike Trail and then ate brunch at an outdoor cafe in the 2nd Street District. We stayed at the beautiful Driskill Hotel, a landmark of legendary Texas hospitality. It’s located in the heart of downtown Austin, and featured a super fun bar with live music and great drinks. And Austin's 6th Street music scene was just outside the doors, so at night we strolled the street listening to music and partaking in the best people watching. Did you know that Austin is known as the "Live Music Capital of the World®”? When in Texas you have to get Tex-Mex food, right? The mole sauce was fantastic. Of course I can’t go to a new city without checking out the shopping scene. I follow Once Bitten on Instagram so I had to stop in to meet owner, Joanna, in person. I left with two great dresses, including the black cocktail dress I wore to the Boeheim Ball in April.

Have you been to Austin and if so, what was your favorite thing to do there? What are some other great cities and sights we should visit next time we are in Texas? I’d love to hear from you. Comment below or send me an email at thesmalltownstylist@gmail.com.

Busy with the blog

Did you know I started The Small Town Stylist to be a blog? Just a simple little weekly fashion advice blog. I’m happy and proud to say it has become so much more than that. Maybe you’ve noticed that I’ve been posting once a week on my website. To be there for my family this summer I had to scale back my work schedule, so posting regularly on my blog is my way of consistently connecting with you. This week I’m sharing two blogs that I love to follow which also happen to feature ME. I lovingly refer to Method 360 as my “gym” and my “tribe”. Guest blogging for them was fun for two reasons. First, I get to talk about my fitness routine which is what keeps me sane and healthy. Second, Jen Liddy, friend and partner at M360, edited my work, which is a luxury I do not have when writing my own blog posts, and she makes me sound GOOD.

Read it here. Then add two things to your To Do List for fall: register online for my favorite M360 Upper Body Class on Monday’s and join the Whole Running  Group as we explore amazing trails together in CNY.

I am many things, and one happens to be the mom to two boys. So in my business I love working with other mom’s, whether they are going back to work after staying home with their children for a few years, going out on a date for the first time since their baby was born, or just needs help getting back to looking and feeling her best after putting their family first for a few years. When Cheryl Meany reached out to me to consult on a post she was writing on capsule wardrobes for Syracuse Moms Blog I was excited to be a part of it. Be sure to check out her post here and then follow the blog on Facebook for more informative posts.

What are some of your favorite blogs to read? What would you like to see more of on this blog? I’d love to hear from you. Comment below or send me an email at thesmalltownstylist@gmail.com.

Gallery Opening leads to NYC Nostalgia

I began my career in fashion in NYC. While working in magazine publishing and advertising straight out of college, I actively pursued a job- any job- in the world of fashion, sending letters and emails to anyone in the field. I was thrilled to receive a call from Jennifer Elster, a conceptual stylist with a studio in Battery Park. Jen was working with amazing clients like David Bowie and she hired me to assist her. We worked on photo shoots & music videos, shopped the coolest boutiques, and borrowed amazing pieces from top designers. We dressed a Grammy nominated musician for her tour, a Saturday Night Live appearance and even the actually Grammy Awards Show. It was hard work and I often crashed on an air mattress in her studio.

I learned so much from Jen in my short time working for her. Of course I learned about being a stylist for our clients like Bloomingdales and Bacardi. She is a savvy businesswoman and a creative thinker- two things that often are mutually exclusive. Most of all she is a caring woman who supported me when I made mistakes and encouraged me to be honest and thoughtful in all my duties. Many times in the years since we worked together I’ve applied those lessons to my life and found success.

So I was so excited to receive her invitation to come down for the private opening night of her exhibition, “The Retrospective of an Extroverted Recluse.” Of course I’ll take any excuse to visit NYC, but this one felt extra nostalgic and special.

I love: The view as I drive across the George Washington Bridge which I have done hundreds of times. The sounds of horns honking and the bustle of the people on the streets. Eating at an outdoor cafe and people watching which usually includes at least one celebrity sighting. Riding the subway and thinking back upon my many trips underground getting off at the World Trade Center to walk over to Battery Park. Shopping. Eating. Walking. The amazing energy which is different, but the same, with every visit I make.

Jen’s pop up gallery was in Tribeca, so we could see the new Trade Center as we came out onto the street. Despite being a half hour late, we were some of the first to arrive, but the large room with exposed brick walls and high ceilings quickly filled with guests like ourselves, eager to see what was in store. After working with Jen, I knew this wasn’t going to be your typical boring gallery opening. I knew it would be something special. And I was not disappointed.

To read more about the exhibition, click here for an article from observer.com. To learn more about Jennifer Elster visit jelster.nyc. What is your favorite thing to do in NYC? Comment below or post a message on my Facebook page.

Spring Cleaning (a bit late)

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I like to plan and organize my wardrobe to make the most of what I’ve got and determine what I’m going to need. This year I’m getting to my Spring Cleaning a bit late- but better late than never! The easiest way is to do it in steps so you don’t get bogged down. Here’s my checklist of what I do and I hope it inspires you to get your wardrobe organized. Or you can always contact me and I’ll come do it for you!  

First I create an inspiration board. It’s made up of photos, magazine articles, key words, color swatches- anything that I’ve collected that is going to inspire my new season’s style. Think of it like a visual reminder of your taste and style.

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Then I like to make a Style List- literally a list of what my style is going to be. I’ve been doing this for years and it’s a great reference for shopping. It’s also very fun to look back and see who your style has evolved (or not).

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Once I know what my “looks” are going to be for the season, I can assess what I’ve got in my closet. I toss anything that is worn beyond repair. Anything out of season that’s in good shape, I pack it away. I jot down the items that are missing from my closet from my “Style List”. That’s my shopping list.

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Next step- shopping!! The nice thing about doing this assessment every season is that now my closet is full of staples and wearable items and shopping is a way to add a few new on-trend items every few months. When I shop, I always keep in mind my “Style List” and I check the store’s return policy. Rarely do I find a pair of pants that are the correct length so it’s great that I can hem my own, but for more extensive tailoring like a jacket or dress I have a great tailor. That extra nip/tuck makes all the difference.

Maintenance is the key. I run through this at least twice a year.

Give it a try and let me know how your spring wardrobe planning goes. Comment below or post on my Facebook page to let me know how it’s going. And if you get stuck you can always schedule an appointment with me so I can walk you through the process in person. Book online or email me at thesmalltownstylist@gmail.com today.