Shift Into Spring

Transitioning stylishly from this cold, cold winter into the warmer days of spring can be tricky with the up and down temperatures. Today on my Bridge Street appearance, co-host Sistina Giordano and I talked about how to stay stylish as the seasons change. Try these tricks: Dress in layers: Cover up for the cool mornings and evenings but lighten up as the day warms up.

Lightweight jacket: Try military inspired, like the cute one featured in my segment from Bounce Boutique in Armory Square, or a school boy blazer, like the one I wear from J. Crew in navy.

Wide leg trousers: Denim is a hot trend to embrace for spring. I found a great pair from Seven for All Mankind.

Trench coat: Classic and perfect for April showers, Sistina has a unique polka dot one from Boden USA, or you can choose a classic like mine from Burberry.

Add accessories: Sunglasses protect your eyes from harmful rays and add a cool-factor. Hot trends right now are aviators, colored frames and 90s inspired round frames. There's a great selection at Bounce Boutique and Etcetera Boutique in Armory Square. How about adding a scarf, great for layering and to add color. I featured a special one from Lili Pad Creations, handmade by a talented local designer. You can follow her on Facebook.

Refresh your makeup: Try a bright lipstick and add tinted moisturizer with SPF. My favorites are from Bobbi Brown.

Shop you closet first: You may find you already have these items.

Have fun with it! Did you miss my segment on Bridge Street today? Click here to watch it. What are your favorites this spring? Let me know by posting a comment on my Facebook page.

April Must Haves

After such a long winter, it's hard to believe it's actually spring. But April is here and the warmer weather is on it's way. Here is my Must Have list for April. Moisturizer and makeup with SPF- I use sunscreen products daily all year long, but with the longer days and warmer weather I'm outside more, so it's even more important to get into the habit now. My first layer is a moisturizer with sunscreen- I like CeraVe AM. I used to really love the oil free version of Bobbi Brown's SPF 15 tinted moisturizer but they discontinued  the formula, although the regular version is still pretty good. Instead I've been using the BB Cream SPF 35- I like that it has a higher SPF and slightly more coverage while still being lightweight.

A Trench Coat- April showers require a lightweight rain coat, like my classic Burberry trench, which is also my most prized possession. It can dress up jeans and sneakers, and is a perfect cover up for a dressy night on the town. There are great trench coats out there at all price points, including this cute one from Banana Republic.

TRX- So only nine weeks until summer, AKA bathing suit season, so it's time for me to step up my workout schedule. I started doing TRX with my trainer, Trish, from Method 360. Three years later I still love it and I swear it's the most effective and least boring way to stay strong. I got my very own for a birthday gift this year, and although I prefer the classes at M360, it's easy and convenient to get in a session at home if I have to.

A Baseball Cap- My worn and faded Yankee cap used to be a casual staple for me in my twenties, but in an effort to be taken more seriously, I packed it away. But I'm bringing it back this spring! At this point in my life I've already proven myself, and I don't really want to take myself- or life- too seriously anyway!

What are your April Must Haves? Share in the comments below.

The Small Town Stylist in the Big Apple

I may reside in a small town now, but my heart will always belong to a big city girl! So spending a long, sunny weekend in NYC is pretty much my ideal getaway. I walked, window shopped and people watched- the best way to spend time in the city, if you ask me. I always leave my visits in NYC feeling revitalized, inspired and energized!

Worth every penny, The Soho Grand gives all their guests the celebrity treatment. From my view of the Empire State Building, the eclectic mini-bar selection, 24 hour room service, and state of the art security, I didn't want to leave. They even accommodated our large party of friends in The Club Room at the last minute, providing excellent service in a chic but relaxed atmosphere.

I like to treat myself to something special when I go on a trip, but I was on a mission to find a great pair of trouser jeans, having been unable to find them in my small town. At the Seven for All Mankind shop on Bleeker Street, my timing was right beause they just got new stock in. As usual, they are about a foot too long, but I can hem them easily. They've got that 70s vibe that's very in right now, perfect for transitioning my wardrobe into summer.

My most prized possession is my classic Burberry trench, and it was the perfect temperature all weekend for it. It's great to dress up jeans and sneakers for daytime window shopping, and for an evening out in the Meatpacking district for a nice dinner out and people watching at a speakeasy.

I couldn't have enjoyed a weekend in NYC more! What's your favorite big city and why? Let me know in the comments below.

Wardrobe Planning 101: Spring

Twice a year, usually spring & fall, I like to plan and organize my wardrobe to make the most of what I’ve got and what I’m going to get. Here’s how it goes:

• 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.
• 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.
• Once I know what my “looks” are going to be for the season, I can assess what I’ve got in my closet. How are my wardrobe “staples” holding up at this point, is there damage that will I need to replace or repair, or do they need to be replaced with an updated version? Anything that can transition into spring, such as blouses, lightweight pants, cotton sweaters, etc., need to be assessed for damage too. I toss anything that is worn beyond repair. That can be difficult if I am emotionally attached to something, but I can’t look good if I am wearing a sweater with a big pull on the arm, no matter how well it fits. Anything out of season that’s in good shape, I pack it away. When I pull it out for the next season it will seem new again. But I take it out of the rotation now because I only want items in my view that are good choices for now. I jot down the items that are missing from my closet from my “Style List”. That’s my shopping list. I carry that with me so you can reference it.
• 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 try my best to stick to it. I try to be sure if I’m going to buy something I REALLY love it. If I’m not sure, there are two options. I will walk away, and if I keep thinking about it days later, I go back to get it. Or I check the store’s return policy. Many places let you return an item if the tags are on and it hasn’t been worn. Often I will purchase an item, bring it home and try it on with things I already have in my closet. If I don’t like it I bring it back. Learn to hem a pair of pants but still find a good tailor! Rarely do I purchase a pair of jeans that are the correct length so it’s great that I can hem my own pants. But for more extensive tailoring like a jacket or dress I have a great one who knows my body. That extra nip/tuck makes all the difference.

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

Let me know how your spring wardrobe planning goes! Comment below or send me an email with what works for you!

Spring cleaning- of your closet!

Hanging out with Sistina Giordano on Bridge Street is so much fun! I'm so lucky she asked me back again to talk fashion. On March 31, 2015, we continued our spring wardrobe planning discussion and focused on spring cleaning-of our wardrobes! Actually, Sistina's wardrobe, to be specific! I talked about my process, creating toss and keep piles, and why it is so difficult to get rid of certain things. Then I assessed a few items from Sistina's own closet and we decided whether she should keep or toss! If you missed the segment, click here to view it. Check out my latest post called Wardrobe Planning 101 with more tips and details on how to make the most of your wardrobe for this season and the ones to come! Welcome to spring!

Ready for Spring?!

This week I went on Bridge Street Live on Channel 9 WSYR to talk about how I get ready for Spring! It may not look like it outside right now, but I promise spring is around the corner. I don't now about you but I want to be ready. Sistina Giordano and I had so much fun chatting about fashion and how women can save money and time by doing a little prep work. Step 1 for The Small Town Stylist is putting together an Inspiration Board. I clip pictures out of magazine and flyers of outfits and color swatches that I like. Then I organize it all on my Inspiration Board which I hang where I can see it every day. Doing this helps you focus on what you like and the looks you want to incorporate into your Style List, which is Step 2.  I like to include a list of outfit ideas, colors I want to wear, and stylish people who inspire me. This is going to be our blueprint for our wardrobe so include anything that will help you stay focused when we move on to Step 3 Closet Assessment. We'll cover more on that on my next Bridge Street appearance stay posted and follow me on Facebook and Instagram to find out when I'll be back on! If you missed Tuesday's show, click here.