This is sound advice for any time of the year, but since we just rang in 2012 it’s time to take action and build some new style habits!

• Invest in Good Under Garments: I can not stress enough to my clients how important proper undergarments are to your wardrobe. There’s no point in building up a great wardrobe if you’re going to hang on to saggy stretched out bras, granny panties and refuse to step into a pair of SPANX.
• Start by visiting a reputable lingerie boutique or certified bra fitter at Nordstrom to get fitted for new bras. A good rule of thumb is to get fitted once a year or (+) or (-) 10 to 15 pounds.
• Try out various styles of body shapers. SPANX has many variations of body shapers that cater to different amount of control for different areas of the body. SPANX also makes a brand called ASSETS sold at Target stores nationwide.
• Accessorize Every Outfit: Accessories really do transform an outfit. Even when you’re in your casual duds and running errands there’s no reason to not accessorize your outfit. Adding a simple scarf to your outfit can elevate it to another level. Adding a pretty little something will brighten your day!
• Keep a Clutter-Free Closet: Now is the time to clean out your closet and maintain it throughout the year. Invest in velvet non-slip hangers like these. They maintain the shape of your clothes, nothing falls off of them and they make it easy to build outfits. Having a clean and clutter-free closet makes getting ready in the morning much easier and stress-free!

Year-Round-Gifts: J.Crew offers Shoe-of-the-Month, Jewelry-of-the-Month, and Cashmere-of-the-Month clubs… oh my! Call 866-739-5944 for details

Unique Gifts: Shop www.ofakind.com for limited edition apparel and accessories (men’s and women’s) from up-and-coming designers

Responsible Gifts: Give fair-trade, handmade jewelry, clothing and accessories made by women around the world at www.globalsistergoods.com

Educational Gifts: Books, books and more books. For the artist, for the historian, for the designer

Technological Gifts: Nordstrom has iPhone cases in designs from Marc Jacobs, Kate Spade, Juicy Couture, Tory Burch and Jonathan Adler

Travel Gifts: Luxe City Guides are the perfect pocket companion for the traveling fashionista

(Reposted from the Huffington Post)

America’s Most Shopaholic City: Washington D.C.!

The Huffington Post Ellie Krupnick

There are a select few American cities that are renowned for their shopping: New York with the likes of Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman, Los Angeles and the iconic Fred Segal, even Dallas as the famous birthplace of Neiman Marcus.

But none of those cities, according to a new study, rate as the country’s most "shopaholic." Bundle.com gathered up US Census spending data, info from credit card companies and "third party data providers" and figured out which American metropolis boasts the most shopping-crazy residents.

And the winner is…

Washington D.C.!

It’s true: while the national average spent per month on clothes, shoes and other "wear" is $142.08, D.C. residents spend an average of $263.

Which other cities ranked as the country’s big spenders? See Bundle’s list, below:

1. Washington D.C. Residents average monthly spending in clothes, shoes and other wear: $263

2. Arlington, Virginia
Residents average monthly spending in clothes, shoes and other wear: $254.58

3. Nashville, Tennessee
Residents average monthly spending in clothes, shoes and other wear: $251.17

Scottsdale, Arizona
Residents average monthly spending in clothes, shoes and other wear: $243.17

Dallas, Texas
Residents average monthly spending in clothes, shoes and other wear: $228.58

San Francisco, California
Residents average monthly spending in clothes, shoes and other wear: $227.42

7. San Jose, California
Residents average monthly spending in clothes, shoes and other wear: $221.17

8. Seattle, Washington
Residents average monthly spending in clothes, shoes and other wear: $221.17

9. Austin, Texas
Residents average monthly spending in clothes, shoes and other wear: $213

10. Bakersfield, California
Residents average monthly spending in clothes, shoes and other wear: $201.50

Where’s New York? Where’s Los Angeles? Chicago? Miami?

Some of the major cities may be absent, we’re guessing, because their populations include both the wealthiest and the poorest. In Manhattan, for example, one in five residents lives below the poverty line and the gap between the wealthy and the poor is the widest in the country (which sort of explains this).

Read more about the study at Bundle.com. Have a bone to pick with the list? Voice your opinions below.

2011 Trend	Where To Find It
COLOR: Mustard Yellow	Banana Republic, $150
COLOR: Jade Green	Diane Von Furstenberg, $695
COLOR: Cobalt Blue	J Brand, $176
Polka Dots	Marc by Marc Jacobs, $188
Pleated Skirts	Vince Camuto, $99
Leather Skirts	3.1 Phillip Lim, $695
Colored Pants / Jeans	AG Jeans, $158
Plaid / Tartan	J.Crew, $250
Peplum Blazers	Rebecca Taylor, $350

]]> http://www.guideyourstyle.com/fall-2011-fashion-trends/feed/ 0 http://www.guideyourstyle.com/stylist-looking-for-summer-intern/ http://www.guideyourstyle.com/stylist-looking-for-summer-intern/#comments Thu, 19 May 2011 13:29:23 +0000 Lisa Tumbarello http://www.guideyourstyle.com/stylist-looking-for-summer-intern/ Intern with a Personal Stylist

Are you interested in fashion? Are you passionate about customer service? Do you want to learn the ropes of running your own business and being an entrepreneur?

Guide Your Style (www.guideyourstyle.com), a personal styling and wardrobe consultancy, is looking for a summer intern.

This internship would be best suited for someone who can work flexible hours on Thursdays, Fridays and some weekend days during the summer (start and end date negotiable and hours are flexible).

Candidate must be able to commute to the stylist’s location in Columbia, Maryland and client locations between Baltimore and Northern Virginia.

Duties May Include:

· Accompanying stylist to in-house client appointments and assisting with all aspect of a given appointment including note taking, photographing and taking video

· Joining stylist on shopping appointments to assist in pulling/organizing/returning of merchandise

· Drafting post-appointment client recap documentation

· Conducting research on fashion trends, bargain hunting, and get-the-look tips for newsletters and blog

· Blog writing: Proficiency with WordPress a plus

· Developing and Updating social media campaigns via Facebook, Twitter and Linked In

· Bookkeeping: Updating client information in system, entering expenses, etc.

The ideal candidate is someone who is…

· Between 17-22 years old (high school or college student preferred)

· Passionate about working in the fashion industry

· A self-starter who can complete tasks upon first direction

· Mature, responsible, fun and easy-going

Note: This is an unpaid internship that can be completed for course credit. It is possible to have your writing published to the blog and any hands-on styling work can be photographed to build a look-book for you portfolio.

To Apply: Please send cover letter and resume to Lisa@GuideYourStyle.com no later than June 1^st. All inquiries will be considered and candidates will be notified by phone no later than June 5^th.

This year for Mother’s Day you could let your mother/wife/sister know how wonderful she truly is by giving her pretty flowers, cooking her a Sunday brunch or by spending some much needed quality time by her side. Those are all wonderful gifts, but why not give her something she REALLY wants and needs this year? A personal stylist.

The gift of a personal stylist will help her rediscover her style and confidence. If you’ve ever heard her utter the phrase, “I have nothing to wear,” then you know this gift is going to be a HUGE hit! Contact me today for more details on how you can be a Mother’s Day hero and rescue the special woman in your life from wardrobe chaos.