March Must Have Madness

Signs of spring are out there, but it still feels like winter in my small town so my March Must Haves help me ease the transition to the warmer weather.

1. A classic pair of Converse- A warm weather staple in my closet for years, I pull my two pairs- white low tops and black high tops- out of storage once the snow starts to melt. It’s a fun and casual spring look for when your toes aren’t quite sandal ready!
2. A great pair of shades- I love sunglasses! I’m not big into accessories but this is one I can’t get enough of. Right now I am rotating two- both Burberry. I prefer the frames to be in a light tone that works with my skin and hair color. Aviators are still hot and I predict colorful frames will be big for the summer.
3. Layers- It’s cold when you leave the house, warms up during the day, and chills down in the evening. The only way to look good with these ups and downs is to dress in layers. My favorite spring look incorporates a t-shirt under a jacket or blazer with a large lightweight scarf which can be removed as the day warms up. You’ll see me wearing the Azul Infinity Scarf from Noonday Collection that I can’t wait to pair with my new Regent linen blazer from J.Crew. Pair with skinny jeans that hit at the ankle bone and a cute pair of flats and you’re ready for anything Mother Nature throws at you.
4. Bronzer- See that woman at the grocery store with a tan in March? Unless she just spent spring break in the Bahamas, it’s not real! But when we start to cover up less as the temps warm up, our pasty winter skin makes us want to shrink away. Add a little bronzer to your makeup routine. Apply to the areas the sun would naturally kiss- temples, nose, cheekbones and chin. My favorites are both Bobbi Brown- Bronzing Powder ($40) and Brightening Finishing Powder in Bronze Glow ($52).
5. Catalogs, catalogs, catalogs- It’s time to start thinking about your spring wardrobe! When you live in a small town like me, you might not have a lot of shopping options. That’s what catalogs are for! I always look forward to getting my J. Crew Style Guide in the mail. I rip out the looks I love and put them on my inspiration board. Let the spring style planning begin!!

Grammy Awards- Feeling Nostalgic

The Grammy Awards is my favorite award show for two reasons. First, anything goes here fashion-wise. I expect surprises- good and bad! Second, it makes me feel very nostalgic for my time in NYC and that I had the fortune to learn from and be close to an amazing artist and creative inspiration, Jennifer Elster.   This was the first time in my fashion "career" when something I collaborated on and created with my own hands was seen by not only myself but by the world. In 1999 the band Garbage was nominated for a Grammy and I had the pleasure (and luck really) of making the dress that the lead singer, Shirley Manson, wore to the show. Jennifer had been inspired by a piece designed by Martin Margiela. The process of putting it together from scratch and fitting it to Shirley was unbelievable for me, a young girl who up until then had only been sewing for herself.  Here she is on the red carpet.

That season I worked with Jennifer to bring her creative vision and designs to life and to create not only that dress, but build an entire wardrobe that Shirley wore for the Garbage World Tour that year, including a performance on Saturday Night Live. I still remember how it felt to see her singing on the SNL stage wearing a hot pink dress I had fitted on her with my own two hands. At the time, it felt cool to work with a celebrity, but in hindsight I should have been focusing more on the creative process and asserting my unique gifts. Jennifer believed in my talent much more than I did at the time. It's an important lesson I wouldn't learn for many years after that.The time I spent with Jennifer was an amazing and emotional time for me-although I didn't realized at the time how it would effect and change me. Like many 20-somethings I didn't know what I was doing or who I was really. She influenced me in many ways and taught me so much- she still is to this day. Today she is, among many things, a screenwriter and filmmaker, and I follow her successes and am still influenced by her talent and uniqueness. So when I think back on that time- even though it was hard work, uneasy at times, scary, exciting and new- I feel blessed to have had that time in my life , inspired to be creative in the present and determined to have continued success for the future!

Must Haves- Freezing February!

My small town happens to be in the Northeast, so my February Must Haves are definitely needed in a cold, snowy climate.

adidas Outdoor Choleah Padded PrimaLoft

•  Creamy nighttime moisturizer- the best is CeraVe® Moisturizing Cream. It is ideal for drier areas of the body including elbows, knees and heels and can also be used on the face as it’s noncomedogenic (does not cause pimples or acne by clogging pores), non-irritating and fragrance-free.
• Workout pants that keep you warm and cozy- I purchased mine several years ago at Lululemon in Boston and I’m never disappointed. The inside legging keeps me warm and the outside layer is windproof and adorably casual yet chic so I can run errands after my workout and still look good. The closest version to the ones I have are probably the Studio Pant II Lined.
• Several tubes and tubs of Aquaphor Healing Ointment- Available at all drugstores in both the skincare and baby aisles, this multi-purpose product will be a purchase you will not regret. I use it for chapped lips, dry and itchy skin, on cuts, to smooth flyaway hair, and if you have a baby, apply liberally after every diaper change. I keep a tub in every bathroom and small tubes in my car, office and purse.

•  My instinct on a cold and snowy day is to stay in my pjs, bake cookies, thrown on a rom-com film and veg out on the couch with an issue of Vogue and the fireplace roaring- sound nice? That’s why my winter Must Have includes a motivating and inspiring trainer/gym and keeping things interesting. That's why I've got a few differently places I am currenlty sweating at. Orange Theory is my go-to now for a killer workout with tons of sweat and a heart monitor that tracks my training so I can't cheat myself. Sophie at Syracuse Yoga gives me the mind-body connection I crave, allowing me to quiet my mind, strengthen my body and push myself in my yoga practice. I've been doing Barre 3 with owner Jen Rubin for about two years and so I am super excited her studio is finally opening this weekend in Dewitt. I describe it as a combination of strength, barre and yoga- the philosophy is to give your body what it needs and to accept that it will change every day. Classes are free this weekend and you can find out more information at their website. 

* Some content has been updated as of 1/31/18. 

Beauty Basics Every Day

I consider myself to be a low to medium maintenance type woman.

Having said that, you will rarely see me outside my house without makeup, and it’s not because I am vain. It’s because I just feel better when I do. And I don’t mean all glammed up, because I rarely look like that. I mean, a little bit to look refreshed and pulled together. The trick to every day makeup is to look like your best natural self. Everyone’s bag of tricks is different depending on age, skin type and preference, but here is my must have list for every day beauty basics.

After washing my face with water and a washcloth, I apply a daily moisturizer with an SPF. I like CeraVe a.m. with SPF 30. If there is one thing you do every day, this is it! Using an SPF every day, even in winter, protects your skin from harmful sun that not only can cause cancer but also wrinkles. Next I apply my under eye cream- Bobbi Brown is my favorite. Once the moisturizers have had a few minutes to absorb into the skin, I dab on my light under eye concealer, and I love Bobbi Brown tinted eye brighter. The formula is light so it doesn’t fill up in your creases. Next is a little creamy blush on the apples of my cheeks- Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge is my go to. Blend it in well so it looks natural. Mascara is next and this is a biggie. On work out days and in the summer when I know I am going to be sweaty, I always apply Bobbi Brown No Smudge mascara in black. Last but not least, dab on a little lip gloss. Bobbi Brown lip gloss in Buff is great for all skin tones and very natural if you just use a tiny bit. That little routine should take less than ten minutes and goes a long way to making you feel confident and pretty when you are crunched for time but want to feel your best.

Everything happens for a reason!

I’ve been dreaming, plotting & planning this website for a long time- every time someone asks me to go shopping with them, every season when I create my inspiration board and every time I pour over a new issue of Vogue & Harpers. What held me back was what holds everyone back from doing something new- fear of the unknown and failure. But I was inspired by this quote by the late, great Oscar De La Renta. I am committed to helping you navigate big city style in a small town. I do it every day and you can to. Let’s do it together.

XOXO The Small Town Stylist