Women's Work Clothes

I would like to make this a kind of regular topic, since the business casual craze got huge, and the business suit is no longer a uniform, it can be difficult to figure out how to dress for work. Many of my clients are concerned with this subject and I love to help.

So I'll start with dresses, I think they are so easy to wear - no need to think about coordinating too much, very easy to throw on in the morning.



This would look adorable with black tights and shoes - flats or heels, and SO easy!

Or these incredibly discounted Emporio Armani jumpers -





Please try to forget that Yoox has styled the dress with leggings (the horror!) you can wear stockings like the grown-up you are should....

Happy shopping.

Perfect Black Skirt...

I love this Nanette Lepore skirt that is somehow marked down to $84, I can't believe it!

Huge Le Creuset Sale

Not usually in my purview but this is AMAZING - Le Creuset pots are on a crazy sale at Bloomingdales. My dream pot, the 9.5 qt Oval oven in red is usually $300, although le creuset prices seem to have risen this week (one day this week suddenly they were up around 10% at Williams Sonoma) so it went up to $325. This pot is now $260 at Bloomingdales. Insane.

Other sizes and colors are also on sale.

I will spend the day dreaming of all the briskets and stews I will be making in that massive pot!

Award Season Fashion

I didn't post much about the award show fashion of the past few weeks, somehow it just got past me, except for a couple of dresses that I keep going back to -

This is amazing, the shape, the color, everything. I guess I'm a little biased, my wedding dress was sort of like a white, strapless version of this, fitted to the mid-thigh with a trumpet skirt, it's just such a flattering style. But what is also really special about this one is the top - the v-neck and strap detail over the shoulders. I love it.

And Christina Hendricks always look amazing -
I love how the dress shows off her hourglass figure, and it's perfectly proportioned as well. Many red-heads are afraid to wear red, this proves it's not scary! It looks fantastic.

Boots to Brighten Your Winter

There is yet another something I have been trying to talk myself out of buying -




These gorgeous Modern Vintage Boots that are on sale at Goldyn. I love the fold at the top, the seams at the ankle and the color. If you are looking for something to brighten your winter I think these boots could be just the thing. They look like they could easily be worn with skirts, or with pants, especially jeans tucked inside. It's amazing to think I was resistant to that style for a while a few years back when it became popular, it's become my go-to look. But back to the topic at hand...the heel also looks totally manageable for a day.

They would look incredible with that red bag I posted the other day...

Cute, Interesting Sweaters

I find it can be hard in the winter to feel excited about getting dressed, particularly when it's been cold for a while and the new sweaters are no longer feeling so new or fun. How about something different then,

like this one -

Botkier Bags at Gilt Group today!

Botkier bags are on sale at Gilt Group through tomorrow, I had forgotten and waited until now to look, and to my surprise there are still plenty of styles available (although the shoes are sold out)

so get on over to Gilt, if you aren't a member use this invitation link.

A good foundation

So strange, after blogging about the bag yesterday, on my way home I saw a woman carrying it. Not in red, hers was navy blue I think, and it looked cool - but red is cooler.

Anyway, another thing I have been noticing lately is the lack of good bras around - I have said it before and I will say it again - there is no more sure-fire way of looking fat and dumpy than having a bad bra on.

let's remedy that situation - I promise these will change EVERYTHING, at least how you see yourself in the mirror -



I love wacoal, they do the most amazing job.



And they aren't boring or ugly either...they also aren't cheap, but they are worth every penny. You can spend tons on the clothes that go over it, but if the foundation isn't good, you might as well buy cheap clothes that fit poorly.

Stylish Women's Work Bag

Briefcases or work bags can be difficult to find, you want quality, and for women in creative fields with flexibility, the old standard bag modeled on men's bags just aren't a good fit.

I found this gorgeous bag on sale at Endless -




and I think it's perfect as a briefcase stand-in. It's dimensions allow for standard size laptops and files, along with all the things we need for a day - and look at that color! In addition to the short straps visible in the photo, it has a shoulder strap.

I love it so much I was trying to come up with justifications for getting it myself, but I did just buy that Gustto bag last week so I can't really do it - but you can! It was almost $600, and now it's $285. I have another Rachel Nasvik bag and I LOVE it, it's amazing quality and it isn't an obvious brand so on your way to work everyone won't be able to immediately identify it and someone ALWAYS complements it.

Happy shopping

Hunter Boots on SALE

I love wellies - the knee high (or shorter) rain boots that can come in fun colors or basic black. This version is on sale at Endless in 4 fun colors that look like patent leather, it's still fun but not as girly as the patterned kinds -








I own a basic black version, but there are lot's of options and the original rain boot by Hunter is on sale at Gilt Group today and tomorrow. They have them in black, brown and hunter green with fun striped accents - if you aren't a member use this link:

http://www.gilt.com/invite/elenaaronson

Leggings are NOT PANTS

Yes, you heard me yelling that - Leggings ARE NOT PANTS. Nor are they appropriate for women over 16, maybe 17, unless it's for Yoga.

I had a client this evening, a lovely woman who wanted help with her wardrobe. She had seen another Bay Area personal shopper/stylist a couple of months ago and this "professional" actually tried to get her to buy leggings, and not for yoga. They bought adorable wool skirts, and the leggings were, gasp, to go under those. The horror. I'm sorry, this client is a doctor, in her mid-thirties, and she looks young enough to be mistaken for the baby sitter without the sartorial insult known as leggings. THERE IS NO EXCUSE. No grown woman should dress that way, and no one who is supposed to be a professional should be telling a grown woman to dress this way. ugh.

Phew. I've gotten it off my chest.

Now if anyone has made the mistake of thinking you can wear leggings as a substitute for pants, or tights, just head right out and buy some opaque black tights. Leggings cut you off at the ankle or calf, a very unflattering point. Tights, especially with a shoe that's the same color, will elongate the leg.



You can make them fun with a subtle pattern -



I will admit that a friend showed me a good way to wear leggings - MATERNITY leggings, with a long sweater over them with the bottoms of the leggings tucked into her frye boots. That looked stylish, but the leggings weren't very tight, and when hidden on top by a long sweater and on the bottom by the boots, they no longer looked like leggings. And let's be honest, who is going to begrudge a woman with a growing belly a pair of comfortable elastic waist pants? Not I.


Anyone else however, unless you are under 16 or on your way to the gym, just say NO to leggings.

Read Real Simple! (And Today's Sales!)

I might have forgotten to mention this on the blog, but I am quoted in the January issue of Real Simple! It's very exciting for me, as it is my first mention in a national magazine. The article is "Twenty Tips to Make a Wardrobe Last," mine is the first tip! Unfortunately it's not available online ( I know, low tech mag) .

So before the month is up when you are at a grocery store, check it out.

Now onto the business at hand - all the sales today.

First, on Gilt Group is Women's Final Sale, they have Cynthia Steffe skirts for $28, Marc by Marc Jacobs shorts are also that cheap - perfect if you are going anywhere warm this spring, or just want to get a GREAT deal for next summer. Also, Vera Wang and Vera Wang Lavander lines are available (great party clothes!) and many many other (Adam, Alice and Olivia, Edun, Zac Posen and on and on...)

if you aren't a member become one with this link:

http://www.gilt.com/invite/elenaaronson


is offering an extra 20% off of all sale merchandise. Use the code EXTRA when you check out. This deal is good through Saturday. Even though they use my blog name as a tag line, I like them. What can I say? With the original sale + this discount, there are Belle by Sigerson Morrison and Botkier shoes that are downright affordable!


Banana Republic sale stuff is marked down an extra 25%, use code Take25.
Shopjake is offering 25% the ENTIRE site through the weekend, use code save25.
Outerwear Sale at New York & Company - up to 50% off!


And last but definitely not least, one of my absolute favorite online stores,
has a HUGE selection of sale stuff. I have had nothing but great experiences when I've ordered from Revolve - they ship for free, and not an exaggeration at all - I have always gotten my order 1 or 2 days after placing it. I don't know how they do it, It's like Amazon somehow.

Out of the new-to-sale items, I really like this merino wool hoodie -




It's great for casual days with jeans, or work over a button down with trousers. It comes in black as well but I do like this teal color.

If you are looking for something cozy and super casual, this is great -




Even with the pockets in front, the seams give it shape even with a defined waist! What more can we ask for in a sweatshirt. Love it. Perhaps you can tell from my choices that it's rainy and cold here again, and I'm looking at warm cozy options.

Happy Shopping!

Our new first lady (of fashion!)

I love this article in the New York times - The First Lady Tells a Story with Fashion.

The best part is definitely the paragraph:

Here is a bolder woman, a serious woman from Chicago and Harvard who is not afraid to express herself with fashion, and it is the kind of confidence that many women will recognize in themselves. Her clothes tell us that she has an adventurous spirit, as well as a sense of humor, and if some of these garments have almost an old-fashioned womanly quality, then they tell us that she is indeed not your average fashionista.

A serious woman who loves clothes. Love it. Read the whole thing.