Two Piece Suit

 

 

Oh, the forgotten wardrobe staple... a two piece suit.  We usually think of it as a blazer paired with a matching skirt or pants.  Most people have at least one two piece suit.  They pull it out for a job interview or a funeral.  Tragedy.  An absolute tragedy that one would wear the same thing to such very different occasions. 

 

A two piece suit can have so much more power.  First of all, you can always guarantee you have something in your closet that matches.  The top and bottom of your two piece suit always match.  The confidence that your outfit matches perfectly is pretty powerful.  A two piece suit also has the power to coordinate into two different outfits.  A different top with your suit bottom and a pair of jeans to wear with your suit top. 

 

My two piece suit is from www.sheinside.com.  They have a ton of fun two piece suits (along with a ton of affordable clothing and accessories), but beware, it's a company in China and their tops run significantly larger than their bottoms.  If you tend to run a bit bigger on the bottom compared to your top, you'll want to order pieces separately.  And that goes for any type of suit.  Buying the top and bottom separately guarantees a good fit.     

 

Don't forget about how powerful and versatile a two piece suit can be.  A little tip: Calvin Klein has the most amazing line of suit separates and you can actually get them for a steal at Burlington Coat Factory.

 





Shopping Tip #1

One very common complaint I hear from Clients when I'm Personal Shopping is that they don't know what pieces coordinate with what.  You walk into a store and you're instantly overwhelmed with all the options.  The lights are bright, the music is loud, you look around and all you see are size 2's.  That's great if you've had six cups of coffee and you're a size 2.  Your instincts tell you to turn around and run.

Instead of running, take a deep breath and remember Chelsea's Shopping Tip #1.  Find one item that you like and approach the rack.  The clothes are hung from the smallest size in the front to the largest size in the back.  Find your size, and depending on whether it looks a little small or large, also grab one size up or down. 

Clothing racks normally have several bars on each rack and believe it or not, the clothing companies are trying to make coordinating your clothes easier than you think.  Right next to that beautiful burgundy blouse (pictured above at H&M) lies a pair of black skinny trousers.  Coincidence?  I think not.  They go together perfectly.  Grab your size and the next size up or down.  WHAT?  Right next to the blouse and pants hangs a versatile black and white blazer with leather embellishments?  Yup.  Get two of those and head for the dressing room.

You must try things on.  You're a fool if you think that you don't need to.  Fit depends on so much more than size.  The fabric, the cut, even the style can all have a major impact on how things fit.  So, you tried on the blouse, the pants and the blazer.  Thank goodness you grabbed two sizes of each because maybe the pants ran a little big or the sleeves on the blouse were too long on the larger size.  Keep what you love, toss what you don't and get ready to tackle the next rack of coordinates.

Shopping can be a lot of fun and very rewarding.  Walking out of a store feeling confident in your purchases will radiate throughout your life.  When you look good, you feel good.  I have many more shopping tips, but that's for another blog.  Try my Shopping Tip #1 and I would love to hear about your experience!  Still feeling overwhelmed?  Personal Shopping is my thing.  E-mail me at chelseakray@hotmail.com. 

Wear a Costume for Halloween

One day a year, you can be anything you want to be.  I mean, technically you can be anything you want to everyday, but Halloween allows you to be something totally ridiculous without looking so.  For example: last Halloween I was Snow White.  A grown woman dressing up as Snow White is pretty unacceptable most days of the year, but on Halloween... it's awesome.  The response to my costume was pure envy by every little girl that came trick-or-treating, and honestly, I think the Moms were a bit envious too.  You know they were thinking, I should have dressed up too.  Yes you should have.

Women's costumes tend to be short, sexy and wildly inappropriate for trick-or-treating and family-friendly parties.  The good news is that you can always add to any costume.  Wear leggings, tights or thigh-high stockings to cover your legs.  Wear a shirt underneath or add a cape to keep your top warm.  Add a little fun and fashion to a once sexy costume to make it all your own.  But for heavens sake, be fun this Halloween and wear a costume!  Your friends, co-workers, family and trick-or-treaters will love it.

Animal Print

Animal print is such a funny thing.  As soon as it's out, it's back in.  One season it's python, then it's all about cheetah.  Who can keep up with it all?  Well, my girl Teresa does.  This is how she shows up to lunch, downtown, on a Friday.  Fabulous.  Straight fabulous.

Teresa sells Real Estate in Maine.  No wonder her business keeps growing.  When you come to a showing looking this good, who can say no?  Check out her website at www.TeresaMedved.com.

In my opinion, animal print is here to stay.  It's a sexy way to let people know you like to have fun with your style.  The key to wearing it is to only wear one animal print piece at a time.  Head to toe zebra stripes will make you look ridiculous.  Pump up an all black outfit with a pair of cheetah print booties or wear an abstract animal print mini dress (from LOFT) with jeggings, like Teresa. 



How a Peplum Saved Me

I used to keep my disease to myself.  It used to be unheard of and rarely talked about.  My sophomore year in college, I was rushed to the Emergency Room for what the Doctors thought was a appendicitis.  When I woke up from surgery, the Doctor told me they took my appendix out just to be safe, but what was causing my pain was that my intestines were infected and I had Crohn's Disease.  I had never even heard of it. 
Flash forward ten years later and I'm back in the hospital with the same pain but my medication isn't controlling my flare up.  A million tests and a couple colonoscopies later and I was rediagnosed with a rare version of Crohn's called Lymphocytic Colitis.  Today, I'm accurately medicated and living (most days) in remission.
I tell my story because it's a good reminder that no one is perfect and most people have some sort of issues they deal with daily.  That's where the fashion piece comes into play.  Looking good means feeling good.  The picture taken above was on a day that I was feeling pretty sick.  My intestines were flared up and my abdomen was making me look 6 months pregnant!  I remembered I had bought a peplum dress at What The Frock (www.WTFrock.com) the week before and when I put it on... it totally saved me.  

Faux Leather Leggings

Now that you have purchased your black booties (as I insisted last blog), you are ready to pair them with the next instant wardrobe update: faux leather leggings.  Leather is one of the hottest Fall trends this year, but who can afford it?  Plus, leather can be a bit binding and requires maintenance.  The solution is stretchy, affordable (borderline cheap) and figure flattering faux leather.  I got my faux leather leggings at Old Navy*. 

I was on the hunt for a pair of khakis for my son when I stumbled upon them for under $20!  At that price, I was willing to give them a go even if they only lasted through a couple washes.  I got home, pulled them on with a white long t-shirt and black booties and felt like I could take on the world.  I really just went grocery shopping, picked the kids up from school, took the little one to Karate and made dinner, but I did it all feeling comfortable and confident in my favorite new faux leather leggings.

I've worn and washed them at least a dozen times and they still look as good as the day I bought them.  Pair them with a t-shirt or a sweater or even under a summer dress that you're looking to transition into Fall and Winter.  I LOVE my faux leather leggings and you will too!

*I picked up my faux leather leggings at Old Navy in size Medium (I'm an 8).  If they don't have your size available in store, you can also get them at www.oldnavy.com for $19.50.  They have a ton of fun prints and a wide range of sizes.  It's a great place to stock up on leggings!



Black Booties

I often Google an item I'm planning on blogging about for inspiration and to ensure accuracy.  What a surprise I got when I typed "women's black booties" into Google this morning!  I honestly thought images of short black boots were going to appear.  That was not the case.  Not even close.  I can't unsee what came up on my screen, but it was a good lesson.  Use your words on the Internet wisely.

Now, to talk about (what it means in my head), black booties.  I like to suggest to my followers items that I really love.  This is not one of those posts.  Today, I'm going to do more than suggest... I'm going to insist.  Black booties can have a heal, be flat, have a peep-toe or be fully closed, but what makes them considered "booties" is that the top of the boot hits just at or above your ankle.

There are few items in your closet that you can wear ALL four seasons.  Black booties are definitely one of those items.  Keep your boots above the shin for Winter, (and for cooler climates) Fall and Spring.  With booties... the possibilities are endless!  I wear my black booties with skinny jeans, boot cut jeans, leggings, shorts, skirts and I have even worn my more fancier booties with a sexy dress.  All appropriate and fabulous!

Booties are so "on trend" right now (and for years to come), that you'll instantly update any look with the right pair.  Not sure what type of booties to buy?  Well, take it from me who owns three pair of black booties and two pair of tan ones.  My go-to pair (pictured above) are from DSW.  They have a chunky 1 1/2" heel, suede black fringe and zip on the inside which makes putting them on and taking them off a breeze.  For these booties, comfort and function are everything.  If you're booties are not comfortable, you just won't wear them. 

If you don't already own a pair of black booties, please go invest in a pair.  I promise you'll wear them.  If you take my advice and get a pair that are not only cute, but also are comfortable, you'll wear them all the time.  You'll be like, "I should always listen to Chelsea"!  Ha ha, but in all seriousness, buy yourself a pair of black booties.  You'll thank me.  Oh, and don't Google it.  Just go to your favorite shoe store and try on every pair you like.