Change It Up for Spring - Try Mixing Your Prints!

Change It Up for Spring - Try Mixing Your Prints

It has been a long hard winter here in New England.  If you're like me you want to put those dark heavy clothes you wore all winter in the back of your closet not to be touched again for many, many months!   CThis spring why not go way out of your comfort zone?  Try the new trend that is everywhere - mix your florals, graphics, and animal print.

Now, I am totally a left-brain individual.  Everything has to be neat and organized so mixing prints scares me.  However, I ventured into this last year by mixing polka dots and stripes.  This spring I am totally in for this.   Here are the tips I’m following that help me decide what works and what doesn’t.  

1.  Colors are key.  

To be the safest, choose prints that have the same dominant matching color.  Many prints have a dominant white, beige, blue, or black color to them.  If you want go bolder, choose less dominant colors to match.  And, finally, if you want to go all the way just choose colors that look like they go together even though they don’t truly match.

2.  Choose the scale.

The simplest is to pick one print for your top and another for your  bottom choosing smaller, simpler designs to create one continuous flow.  To take it a step further, try one bold print mixed with a simpler print.  Wear the bolder print on your top if you are a triangle figure, or wear it on your bottom if you are an inverted triangle.   Aways keep in mind your unique body shape and what you want to emphasize by directing the eye.

3.  Break up the prints.

Use solid colors to break up the prints.  The solid should match both prints.  An example is to wear a striped top, a floral pant/skirt and then top with a solid jacket or cardigan.  An alternative (and very safe) is to wear two different prints on the top (printed top with printed scarf) and a neutral on the bottom.  Use a solid color belt to break up a printed top and bottom combination.

4.  Accessorize.

Play around with your accessories.  You can use them to help break up the prints and also to emphasize a shade in both prints.  For example, if both of your prints have red then use that in your earrings, necklace, shoes or bags.  Or, again, if you have a floral dress match an animal print bag or shoes.  Just have fun and experiment.

Here are examples of what you can mix:

• Polka dots with plaid or stripes
• Black & white prints
• Two kinds of animal prints
• Floral and Stripes
• Tweed with plaid
• Leopard and graphic

I looked in my wardrobe and took out a floral printed skinny jean from last year that I only wore with a white top.  I paired it with a plaid shirt that I have had for several years and only wore with blue denim.  Then I found a scarf that also looks good with the outfit.  Take a peak at my combinations.  A great on-trend outfit without spending any money!

Once you try this trend and get comfortable with it your wardrobe options are endless!  For some people - there are no rules - go for it.  However, remember this - whatever you wear you need to love it and own it.  Wear it with confidence!  

"Feel Good Factor" Clothes

Do you have clothes that when you put them on you don't want to take off? 

Clothes that you wish you could wear every day?

Your go-to clothes when you need that extra boost of confidence?

Clothes that you think are really you?

These are your "feel good factor" clothes.

Guess what - instead of having a wardrobe full of so-so clothes only buy and wear "feel good factor" clothes.

When we wear these clothes we feel that we can meet anyone and we can take on challenges throughout the day with much better ease and confidence!

www.MyEffortlessStyle.com

Culottes? Why Not!

This spring, culottes are everywhere.  Every few days, my daughter sends me an email featuring some designer’s version of the “modern culotte”.  She suggested (several times) that I blog about culottes.  I thought:  “Culottes? Are you crazy?  Why would I want to blog about a design that I thought I had left behind in my younger days?”  Then I looked at the reincarnated versions that are being featured and I was intrigued and thought:  “Culottes?  Why Not!”

The Beginning

According to Wikipedia, culottes originated with the “knee-breeches” worn by the upper-class gentlemen from the Middle Ages through the early nineteenth century.  The first five presidents wore culottes with James Monroe being the last.  

James Monroe was the last U.S. President who dressed according to the style of the late 18th century, with his Cabinet in 1823.   The president wears knee breeches, while his secretaries wear long trousers.  "James Monroe Cabinet" by Unknown - The Granger Collection, New York.

Support of Women’s Freedom

During the 19th century, women had difficulty doing certain activities as they always wore long skirts.  Split skirts were developed so that women could sit astride a saddle while horseback riding and also allow them greater freedom while gardening and cleaning and, all the while, looking like they were wearing a skirt.  The term “culotte’ was used to describe this split skirt.  After learning this link to women’s empowerment, I was even more intrigued.

My Recollections:  Culottes by Other Names

Over the years, I have worn some type of split skirt as they have come into fashion.  When I went to college (late 60’s), we weren’t allow to wear pants to class and to the dining hall except on weekends.  So, to be a little bit of a rebel we wore “gaucho pants” as they looked like a skirt but were the next best thing to pants.  At one point (not sure what decade! maybe 70’s), I had a pair of brown suede gaucho pants.  I mainly wore them with boots and a poncho.   I loved these and remember them fondly.  Wish I had a picture to include....

The Modern Culotte -  Spring 2015

This spring designers are having a love affair with culottes.  They come in all lengths, widths, and fabrics.  Here are just a few that have come through my email (through my daughter also):

Michael Stars

These are featured as “Cool Culottes” made in cotton, cotton twill and luxe crepe ranging from $108 - $138. Now 20% off with code GETITNOW.

Theory

Theory is featuring the “culotte” as a type of pant "fit" right alongside the relaxed, slim, and straight fit.  Does this mean culottes may be around to stay?  Below I'm featuring the Gera S Pant in Classic Suede.  It is just like my pair of gaucho pants I wore in the 70's.  The only difference is the price at a mere $675!

My Modern Culottes
I was so curious about these modern culottes that I had to go shopping last weekend so I could try a pair.  I ended up purchasing the cutest pair of culottes from one of my favorite stores Anthropologie.  I tried on the high-waisted linen wide-legged and loved them!

I can dress them up with a tucked-in blouse and a heeled sandal for a date night with my husband or I can wear them with a crop top or tee and a pair of Toms for a play date with my granddaughter.  Below is my smart business casual look where I added a jacket and pumps.  Perfect for work or a business meeting.

Thanks to my husband for taking these pictures outside in 20°!

After all the research, here is what I learned - I can still wear culottes and look age appropriate and yet modern.  Culottes aren't so bad - in fact - they're kind of amazing.  Give them a try.

Culottes - Why Not?

Guess what I have to try next - a culotte jumpsuit!

All the best,

Kathy

Help Your Teen Build Confidence - Be the Best Role Model

Many teen girls today lack confidence.  In fact, even though girls are being encouraged by their teachers and families to achieve to their potential, commercial media create disturbing insecurities.  The result is that teen girls are spending a large amount of time on their appearance and, thus, their academic performance and confidence are suffering.  

Some Disturbing Facts

In a recent study of over 11,000 US girls aged 14-17 years, students who perceived themselves as overweight had lower academic performance than those who did not, regardless of medically defined overweight status. The perception of being overweight was a more significant determinant of academic performance than medically defined obesity.(Florin, Shults, & Stettler 2011)

According to the same study:

15% of girls stay away from school on the days they feel bad about their bodies,

13% won’t give an opinion,

5% will not go to a job interview,

3% will not go to work.

It is also a well known fact that a daughter's dissatisfaction with her weight is greater if her mother is also dissatisfied with her own weight, in spite of how much a daughter actually weighs. 

So how can we as parents, grandparents, and adult friends help our teen girls?

By Being the Best Role Model!

I probably was an average role model for my daughters.  However, now I am focused on changing my talk and my behavior in order to help my granddaughter grow to be a confident young woman.  I have tried to adopt these 5 simple tips and am practicing them now as she is a toddler.  I want this type of language and this behavior to be second nature to me as she starts entering into the early teen years. 

#1 Stop Negative Self-Talk: Never talk about your own body, appearance, or anything about you in a negative way.  Research has shown that when women speak negatively about their bodies and their appearance, they negatively impact those around them.  Remember that what we THINK about our bodies has a strong connection to how we TREAT our bodies.  Start today with a goal that you will never again say something negative about your appearance aloud, and soon the negative self-talk that floats through your mind will become less and less prevalent too.

#2 Start Positive Talk:  Choose to compliment the girls and women in your life for character traits, actions or talents you admire about them. The compliments that stick with you for a lifetime are those that acknowledge your valuable qualities, like a positive attitude, perseverance,  selflessness, honesty and so much more that has nothing to do with a cute outfit or a pretty face.

#3 Try Something New:  Show your teen how you keep trying new activities.  Openly talk about your successes and your failures.   She will hear your talk and will learn that failing is just a part of life and it will teach her how to cope and deal with failure.  In fact,  try new activities together. 

#4 Focus on Health & Fitness: Focus your talk on health and fitness.  You can choose anything you want to work toward, whether that is running a mile in a set time, attending fitness classes every week, etc.  Encourage your teen girl to engage in physical activity as a means for improving physical and mental health, rather than a strategy for achieving a “bikini ready body”.  When you set a fitness goal and work toward it, you will find you spend less time thinking about the way your body LOOKS and more time focusing on what it can DO.  

#5 Volunteer and Give to Others: Sometimes the best way to improve our self-esteem is to forget about ourselves for a while and focus on others. Get out and volunteer to help someone who needs a friend or who needs a hand with jobs around the house. Volunteering fills us with love and light that radiate from within.  

Want to Know More? 

Contact me for body confidence workshops or individual coaching sessions.

All the best,

Kathy

Spring Runway Trend: Gingham

As I'm sitting here today in the middle of a snow storm, I am thinking about spring.  Only 46 days to go!

The huge trend on the spring runway that I am in love with is gingham.   It takes me back to my younger years - the yellow gingham blouse with the Peter Pan collar I wore as a little girl, the red gingham tablecloth we brought to picnics, the fabric I used to make dresses for my girls.  But the most memorable gingham was the blue gingham dress that Dorothy wore in the Wizard of Oz.

Elle recently announced that "Gingham is the print of spring 2015" with Michael Kors, Oscar de la Renta, and Altuzarraa all showing gingham collections.

The collection I am so in love with this spring is Diane Von Furstenberg's - dresses, cropped pants, clutches - all to die for!   Check it out on the DVF website

Now, if some of you are like me and just dream about a closet full of DVF, I have some other options for you on My Effortless Style's Pinterest board Gingham for Spring 2015.    The scarf is available at Forever 21 for just $8.50!

So, for now, I'll go through my wardrobe to see what vintage gingham I have, add a couple of new pieces and plan my spring "Gingham Style".  All the while longing for the warm and sunny spring days to come!

With warm and sunny wishes,

Kathy

My Effortless Style

Creating "Me-Time"

The hardest thing for many of us women is to take time for ourselves.  We are usually so busy making sure everyone else is cared for that we forget we need to care for ourselves.  Worse yet - many of us feel guilty when we take some "me time".

This week try taking some time to do something just for yourself - do some extra stretches, read a positive article, try a new beauty regime, or just meditate.  Taking a little bit of time each day can make a big difference in the way we feel and this translates to the way we look and what we accomplish!  We have to look good and feel good so we can do great!

Have a great week!
Kathy

My Effortless Style

The 6 Most Important Elements of Personal Style

There has been much written about “personal style”.  In fact, I always start work with my clients asking them to identify their own personal style.  I ask them what style they identify with most -  Classic, Romantic, Creative, Dramatic, or Natural.  

But just taking a step back, I think there are a few basic elements of style that everyone needs to be aware of as these are essential to great personal style!

1. Confidence:  with your body, your roles, the people you associate with
2. Appropriateness:  for the location/culture, your age, the occasion
3. Body language;  how you hold and carry yourself
4. Cleanliness:  in your appearance and talk
5. Respect and Courtesy: how you treat others
6. Authenticity:  being your authentic self

With warm wishes,

Kathy

My Effortlesss Style