Good morning and happy Sunday to all,

My usual weekend A.M. routine is pretty consistent: a walk with a friend, maybe tennis or the gym, but definitely  some type of physical activity. Waking up this morning after staying up quite late, (went to a Fleetwood Mac tribute concert at the Public Theater that was excellent!) I didn't have the energy or the inclination to do much of anything.  A stroll for coffee followed by a walk in the park seemed like the perfect alternative on this beautiful June day. What I found so interesting: Sunday morning style is as varied as the people themselves. From ultra-casual and sporty to morning-after chic, to dressed up, the park was the most enjoyable place to sit back and watch the parade of street style....

Athleisure

​NYU Tisch School Students -
I'm not sure they actually were  - but I sat and watched them for almost an hour doing their thing. It was so enjoyable!

The best style isn't always on the runway. Look to the streets for energy and inspiration! 

Enjoy your evening and thank you for reading,

​Lori

Are you ready to Spring Clean your closet? There IS snow on the ground and supposedly another storm is expected on Tuesday, but I for one am ready to embrace the new season. March, the end of the winter (we hope)  is a perfect month to focus on de-cluttering and organizing your wardrobe.  Time to part with those items in your closet  that you didn't wear even once - or possibly for the past several winters.  Yes - it is often difficult to let go of certain favorite things... but the truth is, if something doesn't flatter, fit well or suit your present life style, it is not something you should hold on to.  Give away, consign or simply toss! There are many people out in the world that will love (and truly need) your discards. That in itself feels fantastic....

Set aside a few hours for this task...

Think about your lifestyle, your body type, your age, etc.  What is the image you would like to project?  Editing your wardobe is not about throwing things away needlessly but "clarifying". It is about redefining and renewal not just clearing out the clutter.  Clearly if something has holes, is frayed, faded or just tired it is meant to be thrown away. But what about those other things? Those favorites that you just love, got for a great price etc, but just don't fit/work for you?  They can: 
1. Continue to hang unworn and collect dust, taking up valuable space in your closet and probably making you feel worse about the purchase every time you see it, OR
2. Deal with it now - give away or consign ...and give the clothing you actually wear and like some breathing room...

The truth is : we all have MUCH more than we actually wear when it comes to our wardrobes myself included! Most of us have clothing in multiple sizes and from various stages in our adult lives. Also - who doesn't like the idea of a bargain when we see one?  The only way around all of this is to edit your overgrown wardrobe from time to time. You may need a major overhaul or just a little tweak, but the result will feel the same.  Bagging up the discards, organizing the rest, dropping off donations and  just plain cleaning up (old plastic cleaners bags, wire hangers, tissues, wrappers , stray socks,  empty boxes, dust bunnies! ) will feel incredibly cathartic.  

Maybe then you can reward yourself for all of that hard work and add in a few new pieces to fill in the gaps and round out your wardrobe :)
​
"Less is more. Better to have less and love more than to have more and love less" 

Enjoy your weekend!
Lori

​With the holiday season in full swing, it's always good to have a little black dress to fall back on for the endless stream of parties and gatherings that pop up during this festive season... or is it? Easy yes, but what about something a little more interesting?  Building a chic and on point cocktail look from separates takes a little creativity but the result is worth it. Tis the season to dress up and be noticed....

Metallics: 
Try one high-impact statement piece to make classic, tried-and-true basics appear instantly more modern.

​

​Winter Florals   
Wear straight from your office party to a night out on the town.​ Delicate, ladylike, and sexy all at the same time.

 ​Velvet
Velvet has been a huge trend all season long for day and evening. Instead of basic black try some bold jewel tones for a rich and glamourous holiday look.  

Statement Tops -
​Feminine, romantic and just so pretty!  A very cool approach for the big evening...

Furry Scarf or Wrap
For me, one of the hardest things to do during the holiday season is to look chic and put together when it's freezing outside. These furry scarves wrap comfortably around the shoulders or neck adding glamour and style to 
what ever you have on. Fun and functional...

Yes the "rules" have changed a bit but don't be afraid to ditch the LBD in favor of separates that will make you stand out (in the best way possible, of course )on the holiday party circuit.  Are you feeling festive yet?

Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah and Happy Holdiays to All!
​Thank you for reading,
Lori

Good morning! I came across a few fashion-related quotes last week and they were so good I wanted to share them with you.  A little lightness and fun to balance the rest of what we are all thinking about these days.....Hope you find one or two you can relate to as well. Here you go....

                 "AS FAR AS IM CONCERNED LEOPARD IS A NEUTRAL"
​                                                                                                   Jenna Lyons

​

Good morning!
A wet, cold and very dreary day needs a pop of color to clear out the cobwebs don't you agree?

   I am usually drawn to more neutral colors when making a new handbag selection, but when this beauty came into my life at a charity event auction not too long ago, I was quite thrilled at my good fortune.  This being said, I wasn't quite sure if carrying a fushia colored handbag really felt like "me" - my personal style is typically more understated.  I decided that to make the best use of this bag I should gift it to my daughter Jaime - and she was very happy to accept :)   Fast forward a few months time...  as luck would have it,  Jaime and her husband now live very close by. They were getting ready  to leave for a lovely week's vacation.  I thought this might be a great opportunity to try a little experiment. I asked Jaime if I could come over and "borrow" back the handbag. I wanted to see how it would fit into my wardrobe for the upcoming week. Would it work with everything? Here is how it went...

Day One:   Saturday night casual dinner out with friends
                      Neutral color sweater, black flares, print scarf, luggage color block heel - so far so good..

Day Two:   Stroll in the Park..  
​                        Oversized sweater, T shirt, cropped flare jeans, loafers...

  Day Three: Walking Maggie my Yorkie
                            I literally threw this on to walk her but the bag still looks good!

 Day Four : Dinner with Hubby..
                         Floral Blouse (from the Scoop sample sale last week) and brown backless loafers

Day Five:  A visit from Matt ..
                       Trench coat, jean shirt,  jeans and those same loafers...

Day Six:  Out and About...
                   Army Green Jacket, Black Floral Scarf

Day 7  -  Friday night movie
                 Brown leather jacket, purple and grey scarf

 Funny how no matter what I pulled out to wear during that entire week, the handbag really was perfect with everything.  I didn't change my style at all - wore my regular jackets, shoes, scarves etc.  It was actually really refreshing to wear something so not what I thought was in my fashion comfort zone.  Maybe you will be inspired to do the same!

Thank you for reading,
​Lori
​

Good morning! I'm  ready to enjoy this beautiful day.  Ready to leave my boots and coats in the closet for a few months...ready to "spring forward" with a few new pieces to update what I already have. 

NEW DENIM TRENDS

Denim is always a staple in my wardrobe and probably yours too.  This season we can all finally take a break from straight skinnies and try one of the many great new shapes and styles. Try a flare, a crop flare, or maybe DIY - cut your old boyfriend jean a little shorter and fringe the hem. I did, and  love how my old jeans feel new. These shapes are comfortable and fun and will instantly update your look.  A few of my favorites below:

Denim on Denim looks great too.  I also love the resurgence of jean skirts. Great alternative to shorts and they come in a lot of  new shapes - A -Line is my favorite :)
​

New pant shapes require new footwear to make everything look just right.  Thankfully these new styles are much easier to walk around in than spiky heels...  

MINI HANDBAGS OR BETTER YET ....SMALL HANDBAGS
I love the idea of not lugging around half my life on a daily basis.  Mini bags are the trend but don't always make sense.  The trick is to find a style that can still fit your wallet, phone and maybe a small water bottle.  A great way to add a pop of color too...

Spring is the perfect time to lighten up and take a break from somber winter colors and styles.  It is also a great time for a fresh start - maybe get out and try something new?  This week I went to my first opera :)  I loved the whole experience...people watching, the champagne at intermission and of course the beauty and the talent that unfolded before my eyes. Magical!

Enjoy the beautiful weather and I hope it inspires you!

Thank you for reading,

​Lori

Hello and happy January to all,

Are you one of the many who made a New Year's resolution this year?  Out with the old and in with the new?  Have you started a cleanse, a new exercise program, organized your home, been more productive, kinder etc?? Diet and exercise have topped resolution lists for as long as I can remember but interestingly "de-cluttering" whether it be one's home or one's wardrobe and has become quite a hot topic as of late.  I'm sure by now you have heard about and maybe even read "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up" by Marie Kondo.  The simple premise : a detailed guide for determining which items in your home "spark joy" and which do not, tossing out the ones that don't. When we reduce what we own it has a "detox" effect on our bodies and our souls. Sounds like a great way to start the new year, although I will say I had to take some of Kondo's advise with a grain of salt. (The idea of dumping all of my belongings into the center of each room and sort through was a bit overwhelming.) This aside, I was intrigued by the chapter on wardrobe and wardrobe editing and would like to share a few thoughts… Get some garbage bags ready...

"Being around things that spark joy makes you happy" 
Yes -  but sometimes it's all in the mix and how you style something. Finding new ways to wear something that you were about to discard is definitely joyful!

"Learning that you can do without"
Agreed - Most of us are guilty of having way too much. We don't even know what we have. I like to sort clothes by category to get the true sense of volume of what I own. Discard everything that looks dated and doesn't fit or flatter. 

"Downgrading something to loungwear is taboo"
Yes and No - We all have downtime - especially now that the weather is so frigid. I will admit that last year when I did a makeover on my husband Alan,  I kept one of his cashmere sweater discards and wear it all the time in my cold house. Not that you need a closet full of blah-  just a few pieces.

"Eliminate the need to store off-season clothes"
Nah - disagree. It's not a big deal to move seasonal things to another part of your house if you have the room to do so,
however, before you store for the season, purge.

"Unpack and detag new clothes immediately"
Disagree - Changing your mind is OK :)

"Empty your handbag every day"
Not sure about this one either. No explanation needed...

There are a lot of chapters in the book devoted to folding, storage etc… to become neater and tidier - all good information, but for me a little too unrealistic to put into practice. 

What I did take away -A wardrobe that consists of things that spark joy does make you feel good. Getting rid of the rest feels good too. How simple is that?

Happy New Year and Happy Tidying,
​Lori














 

Good morning!  I am sitting here in my warm kitchen, (heat is officially on) cup of coffee in hand, writing this. After a magnificent summer and equally lovely fall, it does seem that cooler days are probably here to stay.  I'm not complaining. With the inevitable winter chill comes an opportunity for some new and innovative fashion choices. There is a lot to choose from. To be perfectly honest, most of us do not really need anything more than what we already have. My question to you, "If you were only going to add a few new things into your fall/winter wardrobe what would you choose.?"  Here are a few of my picks  - some new and some not so new...

                                                                              Alexander Wang  Boot
My criteria for a new boot purchase was fairly simple :
     1. Something that I could really walk in (no big heels)
     2. Something significantly different from all the other boots in my closet. I'm really trying not to keep buying the same things over and over...

I ended up choosing this one.  It comes in a few colors and two heel heights. Really soft leather, edgy, but not too edgy, not inexpensive, but not over the top either.  Definitely a luxury and not a necessity, but will update my current footwear wardrobe nicely. Perfect day into night. For me a good purchase...

                                                                                             Flare Pant
I still love my skinnies! They will always be a staple in my wardrobe and probably in yours too. If you want a chic, sophisticated alternative,  buy one pair of flares in basic black. They will make you look taller and thinner instantly. (Always a great reason to buy something :).  I got mine at Compliments Two,  Livingston, New Jersey.  

                                                                                                Fun Furs
Faux or real, ( I would opt for faux if making a new purchase but this is a personal decision) "furry" is a must in my closet this year.  I am usually fairly understated as far as my personal style, but after freezing my butt off last winter and yes -  ransacking my mothers closet (with her blessing) I have jumped big time on this band wagon! A few of the really cool things she held on to that I now own:

Mink Stole
I will wear this either alone, or make it more casual over my puffy jacket for warmth in place of a scarf… 

Leopard Vest Lined with Leather
 Originally a stole from the 1960's that my mom made into a vest.  Very creative of her ...

Fur Jacket -  Fox and Sheared something, not sure what..
Glamorous and quite eccentric for me. I never thought I would go for it but I'm going to try! This was from the "80's disco era… 

My own Faux Fur 
I bought this last year on sale at Max Mara and have worn it a lot.  It's perfect with anything from jeans to a sheath dress. 

                                                                                          Leather Tote Bag

Possibly the perfect tote bag if there is such a thing.  My daughter gets the credit for this one.  It's light weight, durable and well priced.  Beautiful, soft, pebbled leather. Comes in a variety of colors.  You can also personalize with your initials - such a nice touch... Prices from $150.00. Available on line only.  Cuyana.com 

​

Final thoughts: if you happen to find something you love, chances are you will want to wear it all the time - springing for it can be as smart a buy as that seemingly more reasonably priced, not so exciting piece that ends up sitting in your closet. Be selective,  but don't be afraid to make a statement: your own personal statement! 

Thank you for reading,
​Lori

Hello!  Hope this post finds you relaxed, and into your summer groove (and with a nice tan )... 

Who among us doesn't enjoy  a sultry summer day spent relaxing at the beach or lounging by a pool?  A
bathing suit, cover up, a pair of flip flops and some good company are pretty much all you need to complete this perfect picture. Seems that summertime fashion choices are easy right?  Easier said than done…

Fact: Summer days on the east coast (when not poolside) are muggy, sticky and sweaty, especially in the city - think communal steam bath :)  In fact, I just read an article about a comedic performance art group  "Improv Everywhere"   - they turned a subway platform into an ‘unauthorized luxury spa’.  

One way to embrace the heat!

All kidding aside, it can be a challenge for anyone past a certain age to stay stylish, cool and comfortable on these high humidity days and nights. 
The good news: summer is the one season you can find on-trend pieces at amazing price points.  
The not so good news:  It's hot and the temptation is to wear less.  Less is usually more in my opinion most of the year but not necessarily now - 

A few  thoughts:  
Resist the temptation to go too bare:  Not the most flattering choice for most of us - 

Shorts:
Shorts are OK if you are sea side or exercising, or young, but there are better options . I will admit I'm one of those people who pretty much hates shorts—they are just not cool and not flattering … I know for many they may seem easiest but there are many other better choices: 

Skirts and dresses….
You can wear with sneakers or flats.  Pretty and comfortable too…
Add a few interesting accessories - maybe an across-body bag and some layered necklaces for a casual cool finish.

The summertime version of the LBD - why retire the most popular of color choice when a heat wave strikes?  

Culottes? 
I was resistant at first but they are a great alternative to skirts and better than shorts… Even my mom bought a pair  - denim ones!  She looks great in them too..This seems to be  a trend that is gaining momentum - so don't be afraid to try...

 

We are coming into the home stretch of summer  - be ready for some cooler nights..

Stock up on summer classics  – a plain white shirt, white jeans , a denim jacket, denim shirt and skirt – these are some of the most basic wardrobe staples and are truly timeless.  Always in style and always perfect together.. and perfect with most everything else.

One last thing on a separate subject..
My daughter Jaime has a friend who writes a very funny and fabulous cooking blog:  Plumbers Daughter
Jaime and I made one of the pasta recipes from the blog last week for dinner. It was good!  Healthy, fresh and delicious.

Enjoy these beautiful summer days and thank you for reading,

Lori

As I sit here writing this early morning post I can't help but take notice of the forsythia in bloom outside my window, the green grass that is not covered in snow and the sounds of birds chirping. With much relief spring is here and I think we can safely say that the paralyzing winter weather is behind us.  That being said,  stores have been promoting spring fashions since February.  I for one was not able to wrap my head around any new purchases back then - the idea of taking off all those layers of winter garb to try anything on was a feat in itself.  More importantly, I think it takes a bit of time just seeing what is new and what is trending before buying anything new.  For me this strategy helps to eliminate impulse purchases which can drain your budget and over stuff your closet. 

After a quick seasonal closet self - edit and careful consideration ...my new selections….

Multi Purpose Jacket
I absolutely love this look !  I found mine at "The Kooples" sample sale which was held  at 150 Wooster Street last week. (This location is a great venue for sample sales if you are a fan, and they usually have a new sale every week.) I've worn my jacket with everything from dresses to jeans and sneakers, and also out at night with heels and a silky blouse. It is perfect every time...

Lazer Cut Leather Dress

I have a very stylish friend who introduced me to a cool little store in the West Village : Diana Broussard. What a gem of a boutique! I strolled in one day and saw this beautiful piece. Literally made my heart skip a beat :) The dress is not nearly as short on me as on the model below and it needs a bit of tailoring  - so I can't show you the finished product just yet… 

Gently Used Chloe Leather Handbag

I used to be a bit of a snob when it came to buying anything that was not brand new but that is no longer the case.  You can find the most amazing things! It's important to go to a reputable store or website so that you know you are getting what you are paying for.  My leather Chloe may not be the latest style but it is positively perfect for me. The straps adjust so it can be worn cross body or doubled up and made shorter as a chic ladylike shoulder bag. It can dress up or down any outfit.  The color can be worn year round.  Meets all of my criteria for a new bag purchase! 

Final thoughts:
When looking ahead to the new season I try not to get caught up in trends and also try not to buy anything that doesn't suit my lifestyle, age, or body type.  I look for quality pieces that will enhance what I already own.  I'll try a trend,  but only if I can adapt it in a way that suits me.  We are all such visual beings - it is easy to get caught up in the latest and greatest of the moment styles, but usually what works on the catwalk doesn't translate so well in every day life. 

Enjoy this beautiful weather!  Happy Spring :)