r u l y

*From time to time, I receive articles to consider for publication on my blog. This one from stylist Christie Maruka was well-written and gave some clear tips about how to review white items in your closet during your spring cleaning efforts.

Wearing white all year long has become a new trend – especially in the hot summer months. You’ll want to take into consideration the weight of the fabric, when buying white pieces for all year long.

Here are a few tips to consider while shopping for white articles of clothing:

1. Does white work for you? It works for many women, but not everyone. If you have a great tan or naturally dark skin, it’s beautiful. Warm skin tones go well with white. If it washes you out, forget about it.

2. The hottest way to wear white this season is head-to-toe. It can be really flattering if the proportions and the fit are just right. White jeans and a v-neck T-shirt or crisp button-down tailored shirt are great looks.

3. A crisp white pencil skirt with a classic white top can be fabulous. Be sure everything is slim but not tight. White can be unforgiving. As for jeans, make sure they are not cropped ,or they can make your legs look shorter. Pass on white skinny jeans unless your very slim.

4. An all-white look can be really great accessorized with one of summer’s uber-bright colors such as coral, turquoise or royal blue. A handbag, sandal or scarf in one of these shades can make white pop. A bright print top paired with white pants and blazer is beautiful. And don’t forget stripes with white, especially navy, black or white stripes.

5. The biggest mistake women make with white is what they wear underneath it. When wearing white, it’s critical to wear lingerie that is as close as possible to the color of your skin. Don’t wear white undies because every line will show. Don’t wear colored undies unless you are trying to make a statement.

6. When shopping for white clothes, opt for natural fibers, especially linen or cotton, which are beautiful in white. Avoid white satin or polyester.

7. Beware of cling when wearing white. White doesn’t take well to being too tight or showing bra or panty lines. Dresses that flow gently past the curves look best. Some flowing and billowing sundresses or flirty tops can be lovely in white as well, especially when paired with a narrow silhouette such as a skinny jean or leggings.

8. Avoid white for photos or TV. While it may look lovely in person, it can, sadly, add pounds when worn on TV or captured in photos.

9. When buying something white, especially a dress or pants, it’s important to make sure it’s opaque or solid and not too see-through. Try holding the dress up so the light shines through it.

10. Invest in quality white pieces that you will have for a while. This is where you can feel good about spending a bit more..because quality white pieces hang nicely, wash well, and you can wear year after year.

Please check out: www.fashionfixnj.com for more information on Christie Maruka and The Fashion Fix. She is also on Twitter @ChristieMaruka.

As you are editing your closet based on Christie’s tips:

KEEP OR SHOP FOR

• well-made white linen or cotton clothing
• flowing or billowing white sundresses
• nude-colored underwear
• white pencil skirt
• coordinating pieces and accessories in bright colors or stripes

TOSS OR AVOID

• any white unflattering to your skin tone
• anything too see-through
• anything too tight
• white cropped jeans
• white skinny jeans (unless you are super-slim)
• white satin or polyester clothing

*I have no affiliation with Christie Maruka or The Fashion Fix.

My son's first suit. Wonder if T.M. Lewin would approve?

Since Father’s Day was yesterday, perhaps the tie-giving holiday of the year, I wanted to pass along a tip I learned just recently about choosing good ties.  In the past, I have professed my ignorance about choosing and styling ties.

In the United States, formal wear is something that becomes less and less popular each year.  Even in most workplaces, ties are becoming rare and especially so in the summer months.  So, for advice about ties, it should not be altogether surprising that the answer needed to come from a British source.

Enter T.M. Lewin, a British company which began producing shirts on Jermyn (pronounced “German”) Street in London in 1898.  According to their historical video, Jermyn is the “shirt street” of the world just as Saville Row is known for suits.

T.M. Lewin has a very simple rule for matching ties and shirts that anyone can understand.  You can watch it below.

The T.M. Lewin YouTube channel is so much fun to watch.  If you are a fan of British television, you will love this!

Here they are making over a young college graduate, showing how to choose a suit, shirt and tie,

Here they go to a private school to teach how to tie the “schoolboy knot.”

And here they are teaching us the finer points of menswear, showing some of the collar styles for formalwear shirts.  As with all menswear styling, the differences are pretty subtle.

There are a lot of gems here to learn how to select and maintain your formalwear wardrobe, including:

Know Your Size: Suits

How to Iron a Shirt

How to Press Trousers

This summer, while your suits may be taking a breather, it is a good opportunity to do some closet organization to review your formal wardrobe, clean and press it and refresh it for the fall.

*I have no affiliation with T.M. Lewin.

Ruly at your service! My Halloween costume this year.

In October at Ruly, we focused on the essentials of a good wardrobe. It was a fun month full of tricks and treats.

Treats

We started off with 3 strategies to stay sane during this holiday season.

Then we turned to the women’s closet, identifying classic items for professional and casual dress as well as hearing Ruly Ruth’s take on Fall 2011 Women’s Fashion Trends:

• Closet Essentials: Professional Women
• Closet Essentials: Women’s Fall Casual Wardrobe
• Ruly Ruth on Fall 2011 Women’s Fashion Trends

We had some great comments! From the sound of things, we are all going to be wearing a lot of turtlenecks over the next few months.

Ruth commented that my professional wardrobe choices looked a bit bland from a fashion standpoint. Truthfully, they probably are but sometimes that is the way “classic” pieces work.

diadia gave a great tip for saving money on professional blouses . . . shop in the men’s department!

“White or other color true men’s shirts make excellent shirts for me. The cost for each is usually under $30, poly, no iron. Buttons can be changed on the cuff to give a feminine dash–I use pearl or rhinestone. Also I move the cuff button to hold the shirt sleeve firm at the wrist.”

diadia also gave a comment on the casual clothing post, raising a question about a product I had never heard of before — socks or pantyhose with a separate toe for the big toe. She wanted to use them to extend the life of her summer thong sandals into the winter months. I have never attempted this but do something similar for my girls by having them wear turtlenecks and tights with their summer sundresses in the winter to extend their wardrobes. Diadia later emailed me an update, indicating that she had found the socks in question at eBay and that they are called Tabi socks. She also included a photo of her discovered look. I quite like the look and the ingenuity of the idea.

Winter sandals. Vogue's next trend?

Then we turned to the men’s closet, identifying staple items for professional and casual dress.

• Closet Essentials: Professional Men
• Closet Essentials: Men’s Fall Casual Wardrobe

My son received several positive comments behind the scene for his modeling debut in a thermal shirt.  Also, Ruth received a request on her Facebook page that she consider a menswear version of her commentary on the latest fashion trends.  Men, are you interested in this?

Refashioning Men’s Dress Shirts
I so appreciate all the kind and encouraging comments on this post where I turned my husband’s cast-off dress shirts into dresses for my daughters, particularly since they came when I just confessed my failures at the bake sale on the same day. My wonderful readers taught me a lesson on etiquette here. Whenever someone has a failure, the kindest thing you can do is let them know how great they are at something else!

Fashion and Finances
We contrasted the fashion spending habits of financial guru Suze Orman and fashion blogger Maegan Tintari. Readers provided some great money-saving options for clothes shopping:

Summer commented:

“I NEVER pay full price for clothes, especially clothing for children. I shop sales and clearance like crazy! If there’s something full price I want, I wait for coupon discounts like “friends and family” promotions or those “bounce back” type coupons that clothing stores are now doing (e.g. Gymbucks, Savings Cards, etc.) I also shop for my kid’s clothes at the end of a season and just buy things big for next year. I am totally that customer that walks in and goes directly to the back of the store.”

Ruth commented:

“I’ve been so blessed with amazing friends and my sister’s mother-in-law that love to shop and splurge on their kids’ clothes that my daughter has been lacking very little!! THANKS FOR THAT!! Now on occasion I’ve been very successful in finding out-of-season clothing for especially my son at Goodwill. Especially shorts–most people don’t sell or need them in November–we do!! Goodwill was a god-send then!”

Tricks

No life is perfect and there were a few bumps in the road this month.

Lessons from the Fall Festival Bake Sale
I shared my poorly organized attempt to contribute to the school bake sale and readers commiserated and shared some helpful suggestions.

Mary commented:

“I completely agree with you in that if they want Moms to contribute, then they better lovingly accept flat cupcakes with little one’s fingerprints, squiggled icing and gobs of sprinkles all over the tops of them. Plus, let’s face it, we aren’t living the lives of our grandmothers who stayed home and made goods from scratch on a regular basis. This stuff is out of our element! In closing, I praise you for your bravery and efforts but definitely think next time keep it simple and use that ‘extra’ time to play with the kids!”

Best Wishes Giuliana
My thanks to Ruth and Mary who commented and shared Giuliana Rancic’s breast cancer story with friends. Per the last public update, Giuliana’s surgery went well and based on her Twitter account, she is still going full steam ahead with her busy career! Bill Rancic has done an excellent job in his role as the supportive husband too.

In Praise of the Black Turtleneck: Remembering Steve Jobs
Life has continued on without Steve Jobs but I do find myself thinking of him from time to time and the hole in humanity that he has left behind.  I just read the beautiful eulogy his sister, Mona Simpson, wrote in The New York Times and recommend you read it too.  I love his last words.

Finally, I had a small Halloween celebration on my site yesterday with two posts about Halloween costumes. Again, many thanks for all the positive comments on the Halloween costumes! I am glad to see there are some Charlie and Lola fans out there too.

• Halloween Tribute to Lauren Child
• Halloween Outfits – How Many Costumes is Enough?

Last, I wanted to share my Halloween costume for this year. I spent so much time making costumes for everybody else that I had literally no time to make my own. I told my children weeks in advance that I would go as Amelia Bedelia– another of our favorite storybook characters. I made attempts at cobbling together a costume from a used dress on eBay (which I then forgot to bid on before the auction ended) and had plans to make Amelia’s characteristic apron but ran out of time. My girls insisted that I needed a costume for our trick or treating. So, into my closet I went and came up with the costume you see above. There was literally no expense and no sewing in this costume. The “apron” was the best trick. This is really a white blouse with ruffled sleeves worn upside down with a little clear packing tape to “hem” it. My neighbors had a great laugh when I told them how the costume came together.

It was actually quite fun dressing as the formal maid. On a quick run to the grocery store for candy, I was surprised to discover pride in wearing this outfit. I was not just a mom but a well-dressed professional for my household. I may have to remember this trick the next time I am lacking motivation in my own organizing efforts.

I hope you enjoyed the posts this month and that they have helped give you a new perspective on your own closet.

P.S. In other organizing news.

It was great fun this month reading the advice from South African “Organising Queen” Marcia Francois in her 31 days of organizing questions. Her last post in the series is especially great. Reality happens even to Organising Queens too.

Still following the Apartment Therapy 20/20 Cure posts designed to improve your home in 20 days with just 20 minutes a day. I have not been able to follow all of them to the letter due to the bustle of Halloween but am finding a lot of inspiration just from watching them.

All this month, we have been trying to identify the items in our closets that never seem to go out of style or that we simply enjoy wearing year after year.  While the clothes may not be that exciting they probably form the bulk of what is in most people’s closets.  But what if you want to look fresh and trendy?  What could you add in to your wardrobe from this year’s fashion collections?

For this fall’s guide, we look to Vogue first, who says that some of the major trends for fall include “winter lace,” “the long green dress,” “graphic prints,” bright color block designs and even a “utility” trend which includes “refined, smartly tailored updates on the sweatsuit.”

But, the real question is what does Ruly Ruth think about these trends?  Read on for her analysis.

Winter Lace

BCBGMAXAZRIA Women's Fae Boat Neck Lace Top at amazon.com.

Lace for winter? Vogue says yes. You might need to wear a jacket over these chilly pieces but they certainly add a lot of unexpected style and glamour to a cold winter day.  Ruly Ruth says: I LOVE THIS TOP! Needs a camisole under it for sure—looks great!! Can be worn everywhere–from casual day at work to playgroups to night out. I’m such an all- or mostly cotton gal I want to know if this is “itchy” on though!!

Graphic prints

Missoni for Target Sweater Skirt at amazon.com.	The sell-out trend this fall has been the Missoni for Target collection.  Ruly Ruth says: I totally get this zig-zag print is hot! I hate the skirt–too casual and not a place to accent for most people with a bright pattern—could use the hoodie as a one-off piece and not worn too often–same with the shoes. They’re definitely memorable–but not for every day! They would get tiresome quickly.
Missoni for Target Tunic Hoodie at amazon.com.	Women's Missoni for Target® Zig-Zag Ballet Shoe Flats at amazon.com.

Shimmer fabrics

bebe Dolman Sleeve Lurex Sweater Dress at amazon.com.

Glimmers of silver and gold are hot for fall. One particularly striking trend is a variation of this summer’s head-to-toe nude look where you wear a khaki or beige pant with a gold shimmery top.  Ruly Ruth says: I used to wear almost this exact dress in the late ’80s! Glad it’s back–the skinnier you are the beter it looks–back then I was 112 pounds and 5’8″–it popped! For skinny people…sorry to say! (which is NOT me right now) I don’t think even regular-sized people should wear a shimmer dress or fabrics….for models only.     If it were a wrap–like I like a touch of shimmer in regular fabrics–that would be more wearable for everyone!

Bright Colorblock Combinations

Vivace Crystal Chain Removable White Bib Racer Back Top Aqua at amazon.com.

Fila Women's Pleated Supplex Jacket at amazon.com.

The bright look, echoing the 1980′s, is still a trending look–layering on colors of hot pink, bright blue, etc.  Ruly Ruth says: I love the concept–not really thrilled about any of these specific offerings. I think with black bottoms it would be easier to translate for all body types.A longer hoodie in a bright color over a cute basic white or black t-shirt or tank top would be an easier way to rock this!

Utility Jacket

Vince Camuto Women's Utility Jacket at amazon.com.

The utility jacket, which appears to be a jacket with cargo pockets on the outside, is a trend for fall.  Ruly Ruth says: We should all buy this! I’d like mine in a darker tan or even black—but I love this jacket concept–it’s asymetrical–chunky–love it!! Everyone could wear this.

Chic Sweatsuits

Diesel Women's Fohpa Snap Front Sweatshirt at amazon.com.	The most surprising trend this fall is the tailored sweatsuit look where humble sweatpants and sweatshirts take a designer turn.  Ruly Ruth says: This is part of the trend I go with the pajama jeans—UGH!! I think the bad economy is making us use inexpensive fabrics in very fashionable ways. I’m sure they’re soft and comfy and have great cuts—but I prefer my sweat materials to be in super cute sweat-type exercise styles…not high-fashion. Done with this–wouldn’t buy any of it!! And by the way–the black jacket in sweat material will most likely not wash and dry and wear well for long! Those snaps will eat it up!!
David Lerner Women's Cassie Cardigan Sweatshirt at amazon.com.	David Lerner Women's Rollup Cargo Sweatpants at amazon.com.

Long green dress

PacificPlex Strapless Taffeta Beaded Formal Gown at amazon.com.

For formal occasions, the trend for winter is a long, dress billowing in green silk or taffeta fabric.  Ruly Ruth says: THIS IS GORGEOUS! And it would look so great on so many body types—LOVE IT!!!  Great find!! And the price is so right–hoping this will be for some proms this year—esp. with a beautiful bolero wrap!

The 1970′s

Another trend that Vogue did not focus too heavily on but that we are hearing a lot about in the general media is the 1970′s trend. Specifically, high-waisted bell-bottom pants with skinny belts, tie blouses, maxi dresses, middle parts, big disco hair and braids. (The most beautiful braids I have seen recently have been at the blog of designer Gina Michele who also gives excellent instructions.)

HALSTON HERITAGE Women's Removable Tie Blouse at amazon.com.

Ruly Ruth says: High waisted pants are only good on women with flat or skinny stomachs. Their wearability is very limited in that way. When you do have the body type for that–they look amazing and polished and elegant. The tie blouse is a classic–it reminds me of the late 50s and 60s but this pattern of polkadots reminds me of the 70s. I think it’s gorgeous and it’s gorgeous on everyone!!

Ruly Ruth’s Fall Fashion Picks

What does Ruly Ruth want in her closet?

2b by bebe 2b Faux Fur Collar Cardigan at amazon.com.	I would love this!! I think it’s a staple piece, it’s casual–but classy enough to be worn to a casual office–I love it!
BB Dakota BB Dakota The Garrett Faux Fur Vest in Light Camel Beige at amazon.com.	LOVE this too! Vests are hot and perfect for those in-between temps–esp. with gorgeous turtlenecks underneath.
Coral Bay Misses Coral Bay Solid Long Sleeve Turtleneck Top at amazon.com.	I think this is a stealing price for an all-cotton turtleneck! (I love black!)
Columbia Women Greenway T IV Turtleneck at amazon.com.	or this one in gray.
Things2Die4 Camouflage Studded Rhinestone Buckle Purse at amazon.com.	Camo’s HOT right now–just look at the Camo-print diapers Huggies now has! This bag is fabulous–love the blinged-out camo print!
Calvin Klein Women's Knit Maxi Skirt at amazon.com.	Maxi skirts are STILL haute….already own one–should probably wear it more–but it is fabulous!!

Overall, I have to say, the fall collection is extremely wearable. There are very few pieces that aren’t wearable right off the runway–and that is extremely unusual in my book!

-Ruly Ruth

P.S. on 2010 Trends

In the spirit of streamlining your closet . . . reflecting back on last fall’s fashion trends, which ones have held up over time?

The leopard print booties, the feathered items, and the Halloween colored makeup may look a little dated this year. The boot cut pants are right on trend and the other items aren’t really in or out. Some, like the capes and simple, streamlined pieces, might be tucked away for future when these trends inevitably come back around.

What do you think of Fall 2011 fashion trends? Which ones will you be wearing this year? Please share in the comments.

Fashion is about taking risks and combining new elements.  Sometimes you will find clothes that express your vision straight off the store rack and other times you have to make your own.  For the past year or so, I have been so inspired by all the DIY sewing projects I have seen on various blogs where you work without a pattern and just create as you go.   It has opened up a new realm of creativity for me.  While I still like sewing with patterns, free sewing has helped me learn to see new possibilities in materials and experiment as a designer.

I am hardly the first blogger to be inspired to refashion a cast-off man’s dress shirt.  There is something irresistible about sewing with this material.  Perhaps it has to do with the handsome man who used to wear the shirts.  Perhaps it is the high quality material the shirts are made of.

Whatever the reason, I recently found myself in need of some new formal dresses for my little girls and as a creative challenge, decided to see what I could come up with using their dad’s old dress shirts.

First, I knew that I would need to girl-up the shirts since the patterns were overwhelmingly masculine.  So, with my daughter’s assistance (who is a budding fashionista), we paired the first shirt with lace.

and the second shirt with pink and purple ribbons.

I tried to cut the shirts apart in ways that minimized the amount of sewing necessary.  In general the fabric was quite nice to work with although one of the shirts was made of a very thick material that bent quite a few needles and pins.  I used elastic to reduce the shirts to little girl size and create feminine gathers.  The lace and ribbons were essential to finish the transformation.

What I love the most about these shirtdresses is that it gives our girls a little “hug” from Dad.  This would be a great project to do for Father’s Day, to honor a special man in your life or to repurpose an heirloom.

Have you done any wardrobe refashioning/recycling?  Please share in the comments.

"Fashion Fwd2011-89." Photo by Uptown Saint John. From the Flickr Creative Commons.

One of the biggest hurdles to dressing well is having enough money to afford the latest looks or the highest quality clothes.  Recently, two fashionable women weighed in in the issue of money and fashion, with answers you may not expect.

First, my favorite financial adviser, Suze Orman, talked about the issue on her show.  While the clip was primarily about whether women should be allotted more money in the family budget to take care of their appearance, Suze also weighs in with some fashion advice!

While I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised that Suze has a frugal approach to her clothes as she does with all things money-related, I was surprised.  I assumed that anyone in such a public role would require an enormous expenditure on clothes.  Now, I am certain Suze’s clothing expenses still dwarf all of ours, but it was interesting to know that even a celebrity can live on a clothing budget.

Second, one of my favorite fashion bloggers, Maegan Tintari, wrote a recent post on her blog . . . loveMaegan about how she spends money on clothes.  Maegan, who has the good fortune of looking like a beautiful, human Barbie-doll, posts photos of her outfits several times a week, if not daily.  While she achieves so many different looks, often she is recycling the same wardrobe pieces all the time.  She also adds in these really clever, simple, but very cool DIY projects that adopt high fashion runway looks for pennies.  Yet, in the post that was so interesting to me, she reveals that she is not necessarily about budget fashion and that she does spend a lot of money when she wants to and that she is picky about certain items.

Clothes are one area we try to save money on in our household budget.  When you are dressing children who are constantly changing sizes, you have a lot of clothes to buy–not to mention accessories like shoes, boots, pajamas and coats.  We haven’t had a lot of luck thrift store shopping but we do patronize a lot of discount stores, browse clearance racks, buy online, request clothes as gifts for birthdays and holidays, share hand-me-downs with younger siblings and sometimes I sew or knit things as well.  We also try to buy classic things in the off season sales to wear the following year.  I don’t have a set pattern for what I splurge on.  It’s more of an “I’ll know it when I see it” sort of test.

Where do you stand on fashion and money?  What items are you willing to spend a lot on and where do you try to save money?  Do you save elsewhere to splurge on fashion instead?  Please share in the comments.

In the last post, I shared with you the staples of my husband’s professional wardrobe. His style is also simple and classic for his casual clothes. Like every wife, I interfere with his wardrobe choices every once in a while but for the most part he does his own shopping and sticks to choices that are comfortable but not frumpy.

Men’s fashion generally changes at a glacial pace.  The classic men’s fall casual wardrobe is very easy to assemble and consists of just 2 types of pants and 3 types of shirts.

Pants

Unionbay Men's Cotton Twill Survivor Cargo Pant at amazon.com.

Calvin Klein Mens Relaxed Straight Jean at amazon.com.

The only pants in my husband’s fall casual wardrobe are cargo pants (khaki-style pants but with a huge pocket on the side) and straight leg jeans. While the cargo pants look a lot like his work pants, he goes a bit more wild with the color selection (olive green . . . Gasp! or dark brown for example).

Shirts

The three types of shirts my husband wears with his cargo pants and jeans are: long-sleeved T’s, plaid shirts and polos. All of these shirts have the advantage of making the wearer look very warm and huggable.

Champion Men's Long Sleeve Tee at amazon.com.	Plain is OK in a long-sleeved tee but even better is a printed shirt that expresses some personality. This is a great item to pick up as a souvenir at your favorite vacation spot or receive as a gift for the holidays. My husband tends to have “geek shirts” (with references to computers) or motorcycle shirts. Other common choices are sports shirts, shirts with quotations, or art and photography shirts.
Carhartt Men's Midweight Flannel Shirt at amazon.com.	The button-down plaid shirt has been a staple of the men’s fall/winter wardrobe forever. My husband still sticks to his standard work color scheme when choosing his plaids (black, brown, grey, navy, brick red, burgundy, forest green, etc.) and when you stick to these colors you generally can’t go wrong. There are some very interesting plaids out there with primary or pastel colors but you need a good fashion sense to know whether these will work for you.
Nautica Men's Long Sleeve Pieced Button Up at amazon.com.	The long sleeved polo/rugby shirt is another staple. The best ones have colorblock patterns in primary colors or have a plain background with small stripes in a contrasting color. These are the shirts my sisters and I shamelessly stole from my dad’s closet during our teenage years. (I am not sure if he ever got to wear them himself. Thanks for sharing, Dad!) There are a lot of these polos out now with embroidered logos and other “stuff” printed over the stripes. These are not as classic but I’m sure the right person could carry them off. For most people, the plain stripes are the best choice.

Shoes

Dr. Martens Men's Saxon Boot at amazon.com.

For my husband, Dr. Martens boots are the classic fall/winter footwear choice. They look rugged and go well with both the jeans and the cargo pants. It has been funny to see over time how Dr. Martens boots are a signature style and people who love them bond instantly. A few years ago on a job interview, my husband was told, “I didn’t have much time to spend with you but you wear Doc Martens so I know you would fit in just fine.”

That’s it! Seriously. It’s just that simple. You may be thinking that I must have left something out.

Let’s see . . .

Fall/Winter Dress Clothes

See professional wardrobe. The clothes and shoes are exactly the same.

Sweaters

Columbia Men's Bridge Avenue Crew Neck Sweater at amazon.com.

Sadly, my husband’s fall/winter wardrobe lacks sweaters. He doesn’t like wearing them and says they are too hot (despite my desperate attempts to get him to wear them). A man in a sweater is extremely handsome and I think I would say that even if I wasn’t a knitter. In my humble opinion, every man should own at least one classic sweater or sweater vest.

My trendy pick for fall

Mens Volcom Cavity L/S Thermal at amazon.com.

This is probably not even a new trend but for my husband’s closet this will be a revolutionary change. I have seen so many cute thermal shirts (the same waffle-weave material they make long underwear out of but thicker and designed to be worn as outerwear) for men this fall. I picked up one for my husband to try (round neck with simple stripes) and to my great surprise, he didn’t hate it! We’ll see if this trend sticks around to join the other time-tested classic pieces.

My son in his grey thermal shirt.

Men, what are your fall casual wardrobe staples? What trends are you wearing this fall? Women, what are you buying for the men in your life? Please share in the comments.

Men’s fashion operates on completely different rules than women’s fashion.  I am not sure I understand them completely and I have had to learn how to shop for my husband through a considerable amount of trial and error.

My husband is not really interested in fashion but his personal sense of style aligns perfectly with all the general advice you hear about dressing for the workplace.  What better person to advise us on closet staples for men!

My husband did not want to participate and claims he is not an expert in this area at all.  However, here are a few things I was able to drag out of him.

First, my husband has a built-in set of rules about what he will and will not wear.  Three of the rules I have learned over time are:

1)      It’s all about the small details. Men like my husband are very tuned into very small changes when it comes to clothes.  If my husband picks out a shirt, for example, I will say, “It’s nice but don’t you have one just like that?” He will then point out to me how some very small detail like the shade of color, the thread used in the stitching, whether it has a pocket or not, or some very small difference in the styling, makes it a completely different shirt.  I run afoul of this rule all the time when I pick something that, to my eye, looks almost identical to what he owns and likes and he will point out the difference and explain why he doesn’t like it.

2)      Brands matter. Once my husband latches on to a clothing brand he likes, he is a very devoted customer.  There are certain brands for certain things that my husband requires.  Even if another item of clothing looks identical, he won’t consider it if it is not the brand he wants.  Shoes are particularly brand driven.

3)      Technology is as important as fashion. My husband loves to have technology in his clothes.  He is often looking for clothes that are moisture-wicking, cushioning, or wrinkle-free, for example.

The professional man’s closet is a relatively simple set of items compared to the women’s closet.

A nice suit

Jos. A. Bank Signature 3-Button Jacket at amazon.com.

Every man needs at least one business suit, and most likely it needs to be dark grey or dark navy.  There is no denying that most men look their best in a formal suit.  There are few workplaces left where men wear a formal suit every day and generally suits are reserved for very important business occasions, such as meeting important clients (or clients that dress formally, such as those in legal, finance or the military) or making presentations to the public. My husband indicates a preference for a single breasted 2-piece suit with a 3-button jacket and flat front pants.  The bottom line here, however, is that you should choose a suit style that looks really good on you. A double-breasted jacket can have a slimming effect for some men and may be more appropriate.

Navy sportcoat

Ralph Lauren Mens Single Breasted 2 Button Navy Blue Wool Blazer Sport Coat Jacket at amazon.com.

A sportcoat is a great way to create a suit look when you have to meet with multiple clients on the same day who dress in a range of styles from informal to formal.  My husband prefers a navy sportcoat over khaki pants.

A Tie (or Two)

Geoffrey Beene Men's New Natte Tie at amazon.com.

I have been told by both my husband and numerous tie salespeople that I am terrible at picking out ties!  It is a good thing I don’t have to wear ties!  There is such a huge selection of clever ties and this is one area where a person could express some individuality.  It is really too bad that selecting a tie can be such a fashion minefield! I asked my husband for guidance and he said, “Don’t ask me . . . I hate ties!”  All I could get out of him is “No bow ties” and “No novelty prints . . . preferably solid color or stripes.” I hope someone will chime in on the comments and tell us how to pick out a classic tie.  All I can suggest is that you look at pictures of what high-powered politicians are wearing or ask a male salesperson for help in a good department store or menswear shop.  Many of the ties that we asked someone to pick for us in stores have tiny, repetitive prints but look primarily like a solid color from a distance. Unless your job requires wearing a tie every day, you can get away with as little as 1 or 2 ties.

The everyday outfit: dress pants and collared shirt

Collared shirts

Nautica Men's Solid Non Iron Dress Shirt at amazon.com.

You need at least one plain white collared dress shirt to wear with your suit.  My husband will never wear a plain white dress shirt without a jacket.  For shirts worn without a jacket, his “approved” colors are light blue, French blue, navy, black, brown, grey, burgundy, muted red, forest green, and olive green as well as stripes, plaids and checks in these same general colors.  He strongly prefers the no-iron variety since he does the bulk of the laundry in our house.

Nautica Men's Stripe Non Iron Dress Shirt with French Cuff at amazon.com.

Eddie Bauer Relaxed Fit Wrinkle Free Pinpoint Oxford Blues Pattern Shirt at amazon.com.

Undershirts

Calvin Klein Mens Body 3 Pack Slim Fit Short Sleeve Crew Neck Tee at amazon.com.

Beneath your collared shirt goes a round collar undershirt generally in a thick quality cotton.

Pants

Nautica Men's Sportswear True Khaki Flat Front Pant at amazon.com.	Until you buy a pair of men’s pants, you have no idea how many shades of khaki and tan there are!  Black, light tan and dark tan are the colors my husband says coordinate with the majority of his shirts.  He insists on flat front pants (no pleats) and prefers cuffed pants.  Again, no iron is his favorite.
Dockers Men's Signature Khaki D2 Straight Fit Flat Front Pant at amazon.com.	Dockers Men's Signature Khaki D1 Slim Fit Flat Front Pant at amazon.com.

Jewelry

Suunto X-Lander Wrist-Top Computer Watch with Altimeter, Barometer, Compass, and Chronograph at amazon.com.

The conservative look for the office is no jewelry except for a wedding ring and a watch.  While a lot of people have stopped wearing watches, finally here is one area where you can express a little personality!  A conservative looking watch that does something cool besides tell time is a great conversation piece.

Belt

Dockers Men's 30Mm Reversible Swivel Buckle Belt at amazon.com.

A simple brown or black belt that matches your shoes completes the standard outfit.  You could even be a true minimalist and get a reversible belt that is brown on one side and black on the other.

Socks and Shoes

Dockers Men's 3-Pack Performance Dress Flat Knit Socks Socks at amazon.com.	Black socks always.  A simple Oxford-style lace-up shoe in black or brown is always a classic look.  Keep them in good condition with no scuffs.  My husband likes the Ecco brand as he indicates they have some sort of cushioning in the shoe that makes them as comfortable as athletic shoes when you have to stand on your feet for long periods.
Ecco Men's Boston Plain Toe Oxford at amazon.com.	ECCO Men's Helsinki Lace-Up at amazon.com.

What would you add or subtract from this list?  What are your favorite menswear staples?  Please share in the comments.

Fall is just about to start here in Virginia. Within the next week or two we will enjoy the trees in their fall colors. The temperature has dropped and we have some chilly, rainy days. It’s definitely time to get the fall wardrobe ready!

Last week, I posted my wardrobe essentials for professional women and today I wanted to post my fall casual staples. These are not necessarily the Vogue-worthy pieces but rather the pieces that don’t seem to go out of style and I find myself turning to year after year. After much thought, I decided that my fall casual wardrobe basically revolves around 5 types of outfits.

I actually had to think a little harder about my casual selections than my professional ones, even though that is what I am wearing most often these days! At the moment, due to the recent birth of my son, I am between sizes– somewhere between maternity clothes and my regular size. So what I am truthfully currently wearing is the oh-so-attractive combination of maternity pants with a belt to hold them up!

But what would I like to be wearing?

The Steve Jobs Look – Jeans, turtleneck and boots. I probably wear this outfit the most often in fall and winter. My body freezes below about 70 degrees so I definitely need to cover up to stay warm. I like that this outfit can be either casual or semi-formal so it can adjust to the preschool run or dinner out with friends.

Eddie Bauer Basic Long-Sleeve Turtleneck at amazon.com.

Lucky Brand Women's Vale Easy Rider Five Pocket Jean at amazon.com.

Nine West Women's Magic Boot at amazon.com.

Leggings & Tunic – For more casual days, I like to wear leggings and a long tunic-style top, which can be anything from an oversized sweatshirt to a long sweater. I pair this combination with athletic shoes if I am headed for a workout or cute boots if I am not.

Woolrich Women's Laurel Wool-Blend Tunic at amazon.com.

SPANX Look-At-Me Cotton Legging (1064A) at amazon.com.

BEARPAW Women's Pasador II Fur Boot at amazon.com.

Skirt & Sweater – This is the outfit I keep hoping I will wear more often but it takes more energy to put on so I usually default to the previous two looks! It is also a great causal/dressy adaptable style. Comfortable sweaters are wonderful in fall and winter. At a minimum, I like to have one Aran-style (usually a neutral color like white, cream or beige, with cable patterns), one Nordic style (two-color patterned knitting) and a solid color in a plain style without any details. I would pair this outfit with either a fun clog or ankle boot.

MINKPINK Women's Argyle Crop Cardigan at amazon.com.

!iT Jeans Juniors Basic Knee Denim Skirt at amazon.com.

Capezio Women's Ultra Soft Footed Tight at amazon.com.

Dansko Women's Riki Clog at amazon.com.

Dansko Women's Bobbi Ankle Boot at amazon.com.

Pants and Sweater – This is a more formal outfit great for situations like Thanksgiving dinner or church services. I would pair this with heels, probably the same ones from my professional wardrobe.

Dale Of Norway Peace Ski Womens Sweater 2012 at amazon.com.

ESPRIT Women's Favorite Fit Straight Leg Pant at amazon.com.

Formal Dress

Ella moss Women's Daphne Long Sleeve Maxi Dress at amazon.com.

For formal occasions like a company holiday party, it is great to have a long sleeve long skirted dress that you can dress up or dress down as the situation warrants. If it is really cold outside, pair it with leather boots or otherwise a cute pair of heels.

Undergarments

Duofold Women's Mid-Weight Two-Layer Thermal #627A at amazon.com.

Duofold Women's Mid-Weight Two-Layer Ankle length pant Thermal #627B at amazon.com.

Last but not least, the staple for all of these garments when the weather gets REALLY cold….long underwear! If you are the kind of person who is always cold, long underwear is a must. I don’t tend to wear the bottoms very often unless I am going to be outside for a long period of time but the tops get worn all the time.

So now it is your turn!

Ruly Challenge: Think about your own fall casual wardrobe and see if you can recognize any outfit patterns that you wear all the time. Remember these patterns the next time you are organizing your closet or shopping. If an item of clothing is not something in your regular pattern, it might not be worn as often. Less worn clothes are prime targets for uncluttering efforts.  When shopping, you might not want to spend much money on something you don’t wear a lot.

What are your cold weather casual “uniforms”? Please share in the comments.

When I first started working fresh out of college, I did not have a large clothing budget and was shocked at the price of suits. As a result, my early “suits” tended to be combinations of separate jackets, skirts and pants I found on sale. At the time this was a bit of a fashion risk but now you often see suits where the jacket and bottoms are in different colors or different materials. The trend has shifted in women’s professional wear to be less matchy-matchy and more separates that you can interchange with different items of clothing. This is great for women with limited closet space!

Dressing for work isn’t all that exciting.  There are so many restrictions on what you can wear that often dressing for work feels more like putting on a uniform that someone else chose rather than expressing your own fashion.

While I don’t claim to be a style maven, below are the items I wore the most often as a lawyer (and/or things I would wear now). These are the pieces that don’t go out of style and can be accented with trendy jewelry and accessories.

*Note: My picks include a lot of black. Black is a color you see a lot of in Washington and in New York as well as in a lot of fashion magazines. I have met quite a few people who find black unflattering and it can be harder for fairer skinned people to wear black close to the face without looking sickly and pale. Navy, gray or beige may be a good substitute in that case.

Suits

Evan Picone 2 Piece Blue Hues Skirt Suit at amazon.com.

One dark gray or dark blue knee-length skirted suit for interviewing

Other suits. If you work in a formal office where you must wear a suit every day, you will need at least 5 other suits. These can be either skirted suits or pantsuits. Suits in conservative colors where you can interchange tops and bottoms to create new looks will give you the most flexibility. Black, gray, navy and beige are general staples. Brown and olive green can work too. Classic prints like pinstripes or black and white houndstooth add interest. White or cream can work in summer.

Anne Klein Core VI 2 Piece Pant Suit at amazon.com.

Calvin Klein Skirt Suit at amazon.com.

Anne Klein Stretch Classic Fit Skirt Suit at amazon.com.

Jackets

AK Anne Klein Women's Classic Suit Jacket at amazon.com.

Black jacket – This is absolutely essential and you need at least one. An all-purpose black jacket that can be thrown over slacks, a dress or a skirt gives you endless possibilities. The most classic is a single breasted (i.e. one line of buttons) jacket with inconspicuous black buttons. You may be able to use one of your black suit jackets for this purpose.

BGSD Women's Heritage Three-Button Suede Leather Blazer - Misses & Petite at amazon.com.

Casual jacket. For those odd occasions where you need to look a little more formal than business casual but not as formal as a suit, a casual jacket can add polish. The casual jacket generally has the same cut as a formal jacket but is made out of a more casual material like cotton, linen or suede. You want the fabric to “read” as a casual and not a formal jacket. Again, if you keep the color neutral you will have more opportunities to mix and match in your wardrobe.

Dress Pants

Karen Kane Women's Jackie Wide Leg Pant at amazon.com.	Black dress pants – Black dress pants in a formal fabric like rayon, with a straight/wide leg type of style and a modern waistline somewhere between the hips and bellybutton are universally flattering. They can also be worn with millions of different tops from your jackets to sweater sets or blouses.
AK Anne Klein Women's Straight Leg Pant at amazon.com.	Beige dress pants – This is the female equivalent of men’s khakis. Cotton khaki pants can be unflattering and add bulk. A beige dress pant in a style similar to that described for the black dress pant will be worn again and again. If you can find good dress pants that are machine-washable, so much the better!

Skirts

Jones New York Women's Platinum Pencil Skirt at amazon.com.	Black short skirt – A knee-length rayon skirt in a standard suit-like cut with a mild slit offers a lot of possibilities. You might be able to borrow one of your skirt suits for this purpose. You can pair this with your black jacket for a suit-like look, with a collared shirt for a formal casual look or a sweater or blouse for a casual Friday look.
Mango Women's Skirt Japo at amazon.com.	Khaki short skirt – A knee-length khaki skirt will give you a lot of business casual options paired with a collared shirt or sweater.
Ladies Long Black Jersey Skirt- 8 colors available at amazon.com.	Black long skirt – A long skirt is especially nice in winter to keep your legs warm and as an alternative to pants.

Dresses

AK Anne Klein Women's Split Neck Shift Dress at amazon.com.

Black dress – You can’t go wrong with a black dress, preferably in a slender but not tight cut, knee-length in a rayon-like material. A short to elbow-length sleeve will give you the most possibilities. You can throw a jacket on top for a formal look, top it with a sweater or wear it solo with nice jewelry for a casual or cocktail party look.

Blouses

GUESS by Marciano Margo Bodysuit at amazon.com.

White collared blouse – Collared blouses provide a signal of authority and polish. Most women look odd with a menswear-styled blouse buttoned up to the collar. Look for a collared blouse with nice feminine styling around the neckline that could be set off by a simple necklace. A bodysuit style will keep that shirt from coming untucked.

Other collared blouses. You can get creative here and try out the latest colors and patterns to add interest to your suits and pants. French blue (a medium-shade of blue) is classic and generally flattering on most skin tones. Cream, pale pink, peach, light blue, light green, light yellow, and burgundy are other classic tones. Subtle stripes or checks could also work. Bright colors like red can be very fun but may look dated more quickly.

Women's Affinity open neck 3/4 sleeve shirt at amazon.com.

UltraClub Ladies Whisper Elite Twill Shirt. 8992 at amazon.com.

Chaus Women's Fine Stripe Shirt at amazon.com.

Sweaters

Women's Cardigan Twin Set Cashmere Sweater at amazon.com.

Sweater Set – A cardigan sweater with matching tank underneath in a neutral color like white, beige, cream, brown or navy is an easy, polished look.

Layering Pieces

Tank Tops or Short-Sleeve Blouses – I always found that women and men wore their suits and jackets quite differently. Men must wear a long-sleeve collared shirt under theirs. Women sometimes do but it really depends on the cut of the suit. Many women’s suit jackets are cut so tightly through the arms that it is uncomfortable (and/or unflattering) to wear a long sleeve shirt underneath. Hence, many women prefer a tank top or short-sleeve shirt, or sometimes nothing but underwear. Women don’t tend to take their suit jackets off as a result.

Tanks or other layering pieces can also be worn underneath your collared blouses to add color and interest to your casual outfits. White is the most wearable color for layering pieces and you should have at least 3 white layering pieces. Black is the second most wearable color and you should have at least 2 black layering pieces. The rest can be any trendy color that coordinates with your other wardrobe pieces and looks flattering on you.

AK Anne Klein Women's Basic Tank Top at amazon.com.

Ladies Purple Tank Top with Racerback, Cotton Spandex at amazon.com.

Kensie Girl Juniors Sleeveless Scoop Neck Tank at amazon.com.

Jewelry

Simple but interesting jewelry is the rule at the office.  For practicality, jewelry that won’t break your heart if it is lost or stolen is best.  You also don’t want to cause offense to your coworkers or clients by showing off expensive jewelry.

Kate Spade New York "Lady Marmalade" Clip On Earrings at amazon.com.	White Freshwater Cultured Pearl Necklace with Sterling Silver Clasp (9-10mm) , 18" at amazon.com.
Moonstone Round Necklace in 24 Karat Gold at amazon.com.	Citizen Women's Eco-Drive Silhouette Bangle Watch #EW9012-59D at amazon.com.

Hosiery

Calvin Klein Hosiery Active Sheer Pantyhose with Control Top (904N) at amazon.com.

Gold Toe Women's Micromodal Trouser 3 Pack at amazon.com.

I stick to two colors of hosiery: nude and black. The nude color should match your natural skin tone as closely as possible. I also try to keep at least one unopened pair of hose in my dresser drawer so that when there is an important meeting or event, I don’t have to worry about runs.

Shoes

I always feel the most polished wearing high heels so all of my work shoes tend to be heeled. For comfort, I look for a square toe or a wider toe box and if I can find a thicker heel, I will take it. I generally stick to black leather heels, brown leather heels and for the winter months, brown leather heeled boots.  If I take any fashion risks with my work outfits, it is generally in my shoe choice and I don’t go overboard.

Nine West Women's Lil Mary Jane Pump at amazon.com.

Nine West Women's Abalene Platform Pump at amazon.com.

FRYE Women's Miranda Slouch Boot at amazon.com.

So that is my basic professional wardrobe. Now it’s your turn! What would you add (or subtract) from my list? Please share in the comments.