Happy New Year From TSTS

What a difference a year makes! Twelve months ago I wrote my first post about how long I had been dreaming about starting The Small Town Stylist- it's been in the making (in some shape or form) for over 20 years! Now I am meeting amazing women every day and helping them become the best versions of themselves. Who could ask for more? So many exciting things happened in 2015 and there is more to come in the next year. I’ll be back on with my friends on Bridge Street, talking fashion- everything from the latest trends, how to go shopping in your own closet, and even recapping the red carpet fashion from this season’s award shows! Look for me in the March/April issue of Central New York Magazine, with tips and tricks on how to organize your closet and make the most of your existing wardrobe!

Right now the big thing on my clients’ minds (and mine too) is renewal and reorganizing for the new year! It’s a great time to get in those closets and refresh your look, so in the next few weeks I’ll be posting a tips and tricks to help you get started. Or book a Closet Cleanse appointment with me for the new year and we will go shopping in your own closet, find some new outfits and looks, purge what isn’t working, and figure out what pieces you need to take your wardrobe to the next level. I still have a few appointments available at the end of January so call me to schedule yours today. Mention that you saw this post and you will get the 2016 New Year Special Rate of $100 for 1.5 hours.*

More fun fashion projects are in the works for early in the year that I’m really pumped about! Keep coming back, following me on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and keep your comments coming too! I want to know what you’re doing to be stylish despite the winter weather, what are your favorite trends this season, and what are your fashion and beauty tricks?! I hope you are learning from me but I love to learn from you too!

What do you want to see on The Small Town Stylist in 2016? I’d love to hear from you at thesmalltownstylist@gmail.com or comment on my Facebook page.

*Special rate good only for appointments booked before January 31, 2016 for dates in January or February 2016.

Stylish Girls Guide to the Holidays

It’s the holiday season! Fun, family, festivities- and stress? No need to worry because I’ve got some great tips and tricks for you to be stylish and smiling through it all. I shared some of these ideas with Sistina Giordano today on Bridge Street on WSYR Channel 9, but there were many more ideas we didn’t have time for that I’ll post here. Whether you are the hostess or a guest, the key everything is to plan and prep ahead! From the minute my invitations go out I'm thinking, “What am I going to wear?” For great party fashion the key is to keep it simple but feel fabulous! As the hostess my attitude and style sets the tone for the party. I like to choose something that makes me feel great but is comfortable enough to get me through the night. Also, it’s a party so I'll try something new and outside my comfort zone! A holiday party is a great time to make a fashion statement and try on a holiday trend!

Feeling fancy? Faux fur is big right now so try a fuzzy vest over a simple blouse with black skinny jeans tucked in boots. Today on Bridge Street I featured a great pair of pants from Lord & Taylor that give you that leather look but are just stretchy twill coated with a black metallic material by 1.State - more forgiving than real leather but just as fashionable!

Try to pick something you can wear again with accessory changes. A simple black dress or a red top with dark denim can be dressed up or down with gold accessories, decorative hosiery or a plaid scarf.

When in doubt find a great dress. I can’t tell you how many times people say to me, "You are so dressed up!” and I swear all I did was put on a dress. Something about a well fitting simple dress says to others, “She’s pulled together!”

If possible be ready at least an hour before so you aren’t scrambling as guests arrive. Wear a cute apron over clothes so you don’t mess them up- guests will adore it!

Shoes can be tricky- here’s my tip on how to handle:

If you are the host and you want your party guests to take off their shoes, you must do the same. Be thoughtful by providing slippers for guests to put on as they come in and drop off their shoes. Socks can do double-duty as a party favor: purchase fun holiday themed socks for guests to put on for the party and then take home with them when they leave.

If you are attending a party you don’t always know if you have to take off your shoes, especially when you live in a snowy city like ours with messy winter weather. First I make sure my outfit works with or without my shoes. Then I make sure to pack slippers or socks in my purse to put on when I arrive.

Here are a few more of my tips for being a thoughtful guest:

Always offer to help out.

Keep a stash of hostess gifts on hand for the last minute invites such as cute notebook sets, your favorite wine (not just some random brand you picked up on sale but one you enjoy yourself),  or when there is time get personalized notecards for an extra special thank you. I love these by Annie Taylor Designs because they are beautiful whether they are personalized or not, and I know I am supporting another local entrepreneur in my community.

Here are some tips for being an inspired host:

I can’t say it enough to PLAN AHEAD!

Layout out platters ahead of time with post it notes indicating what goes in them. That way don’t have to think when taking prepped food out of the fridge.

Have a signature cocktail that’s easy- this season mine is a grapefruit Bellini with fruit! It looks beautiful, tastes great, adds a bit of elegance to your party but it’s easy as can be to make!

Don’t go crazy with decorations- change out throw pillows  or add one design element at the entry way such as a pumpkin display or large wreath. Guests will appreciate the special touches and you don’t have to spend an entire day (and tons of money) setting up.

For more tips, I enjoyed this article for Dinner Party Tips from 15 Genius Hosts.

Most important is to have fun and enjoy the festivities!! If you aren’t having fun then your guests won’t either!

Thank you to our friends at Lord and Taylor for all these great examples and to Annie  Taylor Designs for her beautiful notecards featured on today’s show. Did you miss it? Click here to watch the segment.

What are your tips and tricks for a fabulous holiday party? Also, what’s your opinion on the shoes conundrum- let guests keep them on or take them off? I’d love to hear from you at thesmalltownstylist@gmail.com or comment on my Facebook page.

Change is Inevitable

They say the only constant in life is change. This is true in so many aspects of our lives, including our wardrobe. Trends come in and out of fashion, and it can be hard to keep up. By the time you are an adult, you should know what your personal style is but it also has to be evolving because we are always evolving too. What worked for you when you were 15 is not only out of fashion by now (although if you are my age it might be coming back into fashion- ha!) but not appropriate for your lifestyle now.

That’s why we need to take inventory of our closets and our lives a few times a year. You may have lived in ripped jeans in college, but they won’t work in the corporate world. That doesn’t mean you can’t keep your personality and whimsy in your clothes- you just need to adjust it a bit. As a person you are learning, growing and hopefully getting to know yourself better all the time, and so it makes sense that your taste and style will grow with that.

I am a 90’s girl- I love the decade including the fashion, which is coming back. Plaid shirts, floral baby doll dresses with leather jackets, and Doc Marten boots- I can’t get enough. But obviously I can’t wear them the same way I did then. Instead of an oversized flannel over ripped jeans and bodysuit (I loved those things), today I’ll wear a more fitted version of the plaid shirt, front tucked into a pair of dark wash skinny jeans and a pair of polished motorcycle style boots. A few adjustments that are age appropriate but still fun and on trend.

And don’t get me started on how our bodies change! I do not know a woman out there who has the same figure she had when she was 20- or who has the same figure she did 3 years ago for that matter. The freshman 15, pregnancy, stress, hormones and age all continuously change our bodies and so it’s no surprise that our clothing will have to change with it. If you have your third baby, even if you lose all your “baby weight”, your body shape is different. Maybe your hips are a bit wider than they used to be, or your feet are a half size larger. These things happen. For women who have had major weight loss, it’s like starting over as a new person that you are shopping for.

Don’t live in the past, or live for the future. In your wardrobe as in life you must dress for the person you are today and be the best version of that person. You may have different tastes next year, or you may lose a few pounds, or you may have a new job, or you may move to a warmer climate- the truth is you can’t predict how life will change, so let’s just take it day by day. Apply this theory to your clothes.

If I look back on how my life has changed over the past decade, it’s interesting to see how the changes in my lifestyle have affected the changes in my wardrobe. I was a young childless woman working a full time job in marketing, so my attire reflected that. Once I had my son and stayed home, my wardrobe was mostly jeans and athleisure wear. When I went back to work part time, my closet had to become more well rounded with both work appropriate pieces and casual pieces. Today as I am running my own business out of my home, my clothes are back to being more athleisure but with some evening and dressier options for client meetings and events. And all the while I keep my personal style in mind so that there’s a cohesive look to what I wear and a good representation of who I am as a person not just what I do for a living.

Lately I’ve been looking at my clothes and thinking about age appropriateness too. There are really no hard rules anymore as far as what is too old to wear certain things. As a twenty-five year old in business, I’d choose separates that were sophisticated and classy so I would put forth a professional and serious image. Today those outfits might come across as stodgy and actual age me, so I’m thinking about working in some newer trends to freshen up my look. You will never see me in a crop top or see through shirt, but a dress with strategically placed cutouts or a sheer blouse with a tank underneath would be a more appropriate but still new take on the trends. My closet is always a work in progress- and yours should be too.

So objectively look at yourself and your wardrobe. Do the items in your closet fit your body now? Do they make you feel confident when you put them on? Do they reflect who you are and your personality? Are they appropriate for your lifestyle and job? If you answered no to any of these questions, you need to make some changes to your closet now. Change is inevitable so embrace it.

If you need some help, email me at thesmalltownstylist@gmail.com and book a consultation today. Together we can turn change into a positive and help you to put forth the best version of yourself.

Athleisure wear: Not a passing fad!

Athleisure is relatively new term which refers to clothes that fit a somewhat broad category of being appropriate for either athletic or leisure pursuits, or both. Athleisure is no longer a trend. People are embracing healthier lifestyles,  and want more functionality from their wardrobes. If you are trying to work fitness into an already overtaxed schedule, who wants to haul an extra outfit to work? It makes sense for designers to be coming up with new solutions. Today on Bridge Street on Channel 9, I shared some great tips and ideas with guest co-host Kelly Springer,  and I showed lots of great options from our friends at Lululemon Syracuse on how to go from spin class to the boardroom.

FROM GYM WORKOUT: Basic leggings, or not so basic like the stirrup tights featured on today’s show from Lululemon, and workout tank top with sneakers

TO RUN ERRANDS: Switch out sneaks for tall boots. On top add a long sleep top and a cute puffer vest or jacket like the on I showed today from Lululemon.

FROM YOGA WORKOUT: Bootcut yoga pants and sports bra

TO MEET A FRIEND FOR LUNCH: A cozy cable-knit turtleneck sweater, cute athletic sneakers like Cons Chuck Taylors, and a cross body bag.

FROM TRAIL HIKE WORKOUT: Run tights in a color like navy or red, wicking tee and your trail shoes with extra deep treads

TO A CLIENT MEETING: Change out your tee for a long tunic top to CYA (cover your assets) and replace the sneakers and socks with ballet flats.

Just remove your sneakers and put on a pair of cute boots, like biker boots with buckle decoration, or anything at the knee or above.

Throw a statement coat over the top, maybe in plaid or a bright color, and no one needs to know what you are wearing underneath.

Don’t forget that if your hair is messy from your workout, it’s a great time to add a warm hat like a beret or cap. It will keep you warm and add style.

Scarves will also add flair but will cover you up if your workout wear is too skimpy to wear out. Also adds warmth.

I keep a separate bag always packed that I grab before I head to the gym or for a hike. In it are essentials like face wipes, hair brush, deodorant, makeup, a hat, and other similar items.

A great source of inspiration is Lululemon’s Pinterest board called to & from.

I get so many people asking me for advice on this. If you missed the segment, watch it here. What are your style secrets that help you transition your outfits? I’d love to hear from you so email me at thesmalltownstylist.com or post on my Facebook page. 

Boston: My Future Home

As we get deeper into the fall and crisper cooler weather, I find myself nostalgic for this summer. Here’s a post I wrote in July but never published. My dream is to someday get a sweet brownstone near Newbury Street in the fun, fashionable and cool city of Boston. We try to make a trip once a year and it’s just as enjoyable with kids as it is as a romantic getaway. I spent the Fourth of July there with my boys this year. We walked the Freedom Trail together, a 2.5-mile-long path through downtown Boston. Marked largely with brick, it winds between Boston Common to the USS Constitution in Charlestown, and passes by 16 locations significant to the history of the United States. There’s so much history and beauty in Boston, but also some awesome shopping. As you walk through the city, there are great little shops I would duck into whenever possible, and Faneuil Hall has been a marketplace and a meeting hall since 1743. After walking the trail, the boys went back to the hotel to rest but I hit the stores on Newbury Street. Being in a big city means I have an opportunity to try on in the shops that I can only buy from online when I’m home in my small town. So I hit up Lululemon, Athleta, Burberry and Madewell. I didn’t get a chance this trip but usually I make an appointment at the Bobbi Brown counter at Neiman Marcus in Copley Square because over the years I’ve found that the staff there is the best around!! Even though I have a local Bobbi counter, the ladies at the Bobbi Boston always give me extra special attention and time, really know their products and make great recommendations based on my skin, coloring and lifestyle, and overall just pamper me. Just thinking about it makes me sad I didn’t get there. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the food in Boston too! Mikey’s Bakery in Little Italy with their whoopee pies the size of my head! Ernesto’s Pizza in the North End where one slice is actually two giant slices! The Capital Grille’s fare is consistently delicious but it’s the service that keeps us coming back again and again and again! And Stephanie’s on Newbury is chic and family friendly place to refuel when power-shopping!

Being a holiday weekend, the streets were busy so there was prime people-watching! I find Boston to be more relaxed fashion-wise than let’s say NYC but that just gives me more ideas for my small town. I saw a lot of cute jumpsuits and rompers- mostly in prints but some denim. Lots of gladiator sandals and flats- like the ones I showed on Bridge Street a couple of weeks ago from Steve Madden. “Comfortable but stylish” or “College girl chic” is how I’d describe what I saw. Also everyone had a cross body bag in tan leather or a print. I picked up a few new items from Lulu and Athlete that will take me from workout to errands in style. (Which will be part of my segment next week on Bridge Street so be sure to tune in!) Boston never disappoints great food, great people, great shopping and great style! What is your favorite stylish city and why? Comment below or on my Facebook page.

Seasons Change

This is my favorite time of year! I’m sick of my summer wardrobe and I’m ready for some changes! I love getting out my cozy sweaters, jeans and boots and adding a few new pieces. The winter is LONG in my northeastern small town so my cold weather wardrobe will be continuing to evolve over the next six months.

With the cooler temps on the way, I have to make other changes besides just adding layers- my beauty routine needs adjusting too. My skin tends to get very dry so I add an extra thick moisturizer for my face and definitely around my eyes. I like Bobbi Brown Hydrating eye cream- I’ve tried many different kinds and this is my favorite by far.

When I find a product I like, I am VERY loyal. It’s the same with my hairdresser- Cheryl Dement, owner of Encore Salon and Day Spa, has been my stylist for 15 years and I don’t trust anyone else with my hair. I usually like to change up my hairstyle often but I’d been growing it long for the past year. After wearing it in a ponytail all summer I realized it was time for a change so Cheryl chopped off several inches last week. I love it!

What are some changes you are going to make this fall? Do you have any favorite products you love and are loyal to? I’d love to hear from you. Comment below, on my Facebook page, on Twitter, or by email at thesmalltownstylist@gmail.com.