Just got back from a quick trip to Miami. I didn’t take any pictures of what people are wearing–I mean, you can imagine, right? Lots of bikinis and cover-ups. There were some lovely boutiques but also a lot of, shall we say “flashy” clothing. We also saw a guy with a snake around his neck and another man on a moped with a parrot perched on his shoulder. (We just needed to see someone with a panther on a leash to win South Beach Bingo.) I was more impressed by the interior decor and architecture there.

The lobby of the gorgeous Delano Hotel in South Beach. I would love for my home to look like this. No, we didn’t stay there. Maybe next time!

All images copyright Heather Kenny.

Drinks at another cool hotel bar, the Shore Club. I swear we did more than have cocktails on this trip.

All images copyright Heather Kenny

Casa Casuarina, onetime home of the late designer Gianni Versace. It’s now an ultra-exclusive boutique hotel and restaurant. Versace didn’t build it (although he did undertake some major alterations)–it dates from 1930. And yes, he was tragically murdered on its steps in 1997.

All images copyright Heather Kenny.

So we don’t end on a sad note, here are some palm trees. Think warm thoughts!

So I was sitting here mulling over good topics for January, but they all were so hackneyed, e.g., New Year, New You! Your 2009 Style Resolutions! And so on.

What I’d really like to address this year are the deep-seated beliefs and negative voices that keep people from really going for it, style-wise. You know–those voices that tell you that wearing that new purple dress to a dinner party is too dressy and will make you look like you’re showing off,  so you go with your usual, safe uniform of a nice top and pants instead. Or a memory of your mother telling you that wearing tight jeans makes you look like a hussy, so you still stick with the baggier versions even though they’re unflattering.

I’m not talking about not having the money for nice clothes or genuine physical characteristics that keep you from finding clothes, like if you’re bigger than a size 12 or have an extra-generous bosom. For some, the hurdles are more psychological in nature. For example, I’ve had clients nervous about the attention and comments their new look will get from office mates  or refuse to wear certain items because a family member made fun of their legs 20 years ago. Or they feel guilty about spending money on clothes when people are starving all over the world. Additionally, we Americans seem especially conflicted about clothes given the Puritanical nature of this country’s early history, not to mention the fashion industry’s worship at the altar of celebrity, thinness, and wealth.

Well, I don’t want to write a thesis–at least not here! What I would like to know are the negative thoughts that go through your head as you get dressed–the thoughts and beliefs that make you decide in favor of the safe black dress instead of the red one, keep the dramatic hats you adore stowed away in the closet, or stick with “sensible” clothes instead of the edgy ones you really lust after. Respond in the comments.

A girlish beret from Urban Outfitters.

I dropped my favorite winter hat (a knitted beret-type thing) in my sister-in-law’s parents’ driveway on Christmas, so until my s-i-l gets around to sending it to me, I’m stuck with the second-tier hats in my collection–a floppier, flimsier knit beret, a classic wool beret, and a giant faux-fur concoction that makes me feel like an extra in Dr. Zhivago. (This is actually the second time I have lost my favorite chapeau–I bought another one after I lost the original within a few weeks of its purchase. As you can see I get attached to my hats.)

It drives me crazy when I see people on the street who have obviously given no thought to how their winter outerwear–coat, hat, scarf–looks together. Colors have no relation to each other, textures are at odds, styles are all over the place. Not that everything has to be all matchy-matchy, but there should be some harmony amongst the elements.

Cashmere cloche by Eugenia Kim.

Outerwear is a part of an outfit–in winter especially, a lot of people you pass on the street are never going to see your cute dress or your new sweater. All they’ll see is your coat, your hat, and your scarf. Hats are a very noticeable accessory, so it’s worth it to give them some thought and make a little investment. Whether you go for an ironic pom-pon hat or an elegant wool cloche, make sure it works with both your outerwear as well as how you’re feeling that day–playful, glamorous, or retro. That’s why it’s good to have several options ready in your closet. And with the holiday sales on now, you should have no problem picking up a few on the cheap.

Welcome! As both a stylist and a writer I am really excited about this new blog, which I have wanted to add to the site for a long time. I plan to post often about everything from new boutiques to street style, and I look forward to your questions and comments about all things fashionable.

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