Hi there. It’s been a while! As you’ve probably noted from my Twitter feed, most of my blogging energy these days goes toward the fashion blog at the Chicago Reader.

However, I did notice this article over at the Wall Street Journal that I wanted to share with you. It deals with a conundrum that many of my clients face as they get older:

It is likely that I will land a job as a human-resources executive with a company where most of the other executives are fit and energetic men in their 30s and early 40s. I’m a 52-year-old woman, size 16 and 5 foot 2, and I want to exude a youthful aura; I want to avoid a matronly look yet convey “approachable authority.” I tend to wear dark slacks and silk shirts (with a thin sweater over my shoulders) or dark colored pants/jacket; I wear interesting high-end jewelry and medium heels. What do you suggest, and what should I avoid?

There’s some good advice in the answer, particularly about being too “matchy-matchy” and staid. You don’t have to change over your whole look: the answer can be found in updated details and a more contemporary fit.

Times are tough. I know a lot of folks don’t have a lot of extra money for clothes, let alone wardrobe advice. However, I still think it’s worth making an investment now to save yourself money in the long run. To that end, I’m offering a new low-cost consultation and a teleseminar to help you with your wardrobe issues right now.

Mini Closet Edit: This is a compact, one-hour version of the Closet Edit. I’ll send you a list of questions to be sent back to me before the session and assign some (easy) homework. Once at your house, we’ll take a tour through your closet and figure out what the most pressing issues are for you and how you can address them. It includes:

• discussion of your tastes, lifestyle, and personal wardrobe challenges
• guidance on what to keep, what to toss, and what to buy
• insight into the best colors and styles for you

We’ll get you moving toward refining your personal style and developing an action plan. Be ready to take notes! Just $150. (The fee is a little higher if you live outside the city or nearby suburbs.) Contact me via email or by calling 773-898-3131 to schedule this service.

New teleseminar: Fashion Survival in a Recessionista World. In this one-hour seminar you’ll learn do-it-yourself techniques for cleaning out your closet and how to shop without breaking your budget.

We’ll  discuss:

• identifying what you need–and what you don’t
• how to get into a “defensive shopping” mindset
• how to avoid buying items that don’t work with your style or existing wardrobe
• when to splurge and when to save
• websites, email lists, and techniques for buying on sale

The only requirements are a phone and a computer or access to a computer and a printer, so you can follow along with a handout during the call. You’ll have access to a recording of the call for 30 days (on the phone or available for download in mp3 format) in case you have to leave early or miss it. I am keeping the group small to ensure that everyone has a chance to ask questions, so you should reserve your space early. Just $60.

When is it?

The teleseminar is scheduled for Tuesday, March 31, 2009, at 8pm Central time.

How do I participate?

Click the “Buy Now” button below, which will take you to a secure PayPal site to pay with a credit card. (Note that you do not always need to have a PayPal account to use this service.) I will email an 800 number for you to call and instructions for participating in the conference call in the days leading up to the teleseminar.

If you cannot use PayPal or prefer to give your credit card information over the phone, you can contact us directly at 773-898-3131.

This article in the New York Times–about how retail staff at some high-end stores have gone from haughty to helpful thanks to the recession–was interesting in itself, but I draw your attention to these two sentences:

A former employee of the Yves Saint Laurent shop on Madison Avenue once confided that it is a common and effective practice to size up a customer by looking at two simple things: his watch and his shoes. If the accessories are not expensive, he is not worth the effort of even a simple hello.

Not that you should care what some snooty clerk thinks, but this highlights the fact that shoes are an important part of an outfit. A lot of people cheap out on shoes, for the simple reason that footwear is expensive. A shoe, when you think about it, is a complicated piece of clothing that has to withstand a lot of abuse. No wonder good ones go for hundreds of dollars.

Even if you aren’t buying Manolo Blahniks and Christian Louboutins, it’s fun to let your shoes take the lead once in a while. This is called “dressing from the shoe up.” That doesn’t mean you have to wear all black. Just start with the shoes and pull clothes that play with their texture, color, and style.

For example, a pair of flat, strappy sandals calls for the sexy, louche Mediterranean look. Think a sexy, beachy, Saint Tropez vibe–a silky halter dress or a simple white cotton tunic and stretchy skirt. Vintagey ankle boots could inspire a 30s look–short, fitted jacket, straight skirt, close-fitting hat. Edgy pumps require an all-out effort–I could see these with one of Phillip Lim’s boundary-pushing designs.

Take a look at your shoes and your clothes and don’t just think about what will “go” together–think about making an impact, telling a story. Stretch your imagination!

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.

Remember Carrie Bradshaw’s big flower pins in Sex and the City? Everyone was wearing them pinned to tops, jackets, and coats. I still like the look–particularly if they’re oversized or in clusters–but here are a few other ideas for your flower pins.

You can thread one through a skinny belt to make a cool on pants and jeans, or over cardigans and jackets. For more impact you could do several bunched together, perhaps of different sizes, shades, or textures.

For a quick hair ornament, thread the pin onto a narrow headband so it’s a little off-center. If you have some stray ribbons around, you could do the same thing, then put your hair up and wind the ribbon around your head a couple times for a very romantic look. If you’ve got a long neck, use the ribbon and flower as a choker. Get creative!

Assuming you haven’t been living in a cave, you know that the economy is in trouble and that the retail sector is especially desperate. Every day I get about a half-dozen emails advertising 30 to 40 percent off new items at boutiques, chain stores, and department stores, not to mention gift cards worth up to $50 off. This past weekend Saks held a fire sale on designer items–prices were slashed up to 75 percent.

It’s a great time to find deals or splurge if you’ve got the money. But I often warn clients to be careful about sales–that low, low price can blind you to the fact that it doesn’t look all the great on you or that you’ve got absolutely nothing to wear with it.

By all means, take advantage of the sales this season! But hang on to the same standards you would use if something is full price. Take a deep breath to clear your mind and ask yourself these questions about each item:

• Is it on your list of items of clothing you are actively looking for?
• Does it fit perfectly? Will it need complicated alterations?
• Does it go with at least three things you already own?
• Would you like it as much at the full price?

If the answers to these questions is “no,” it’s not really a bargain, no matter the number on the price tag.

The first major snowfall in the Chicago area yesterday means you were probably scrambling around in the closet for your sturdy boots or some sort of protective footwear to brave the snowy, salty sidewalks. If you’re realizing that your ten-year-old hiking boots don’t quite work with your fabulous outfits, here are a couple ideas.

La Canadienne knows from making chic yet weatherproof boots, being based up north in Montreal. Many styles are waterproof and have microfiber linings that are antibacterial and wick away moisture to keep your tootsies warm and dry. The Tula is a nice mid-calf option, while the Tracy is a good basic flat style if you’re going to be running around a lot. Added bonus: the company is very eco-aware and uses high-quality Italian hides that are left over from the food industry, eco-friendly dyes and protective sealants, and even boxes made of recycled paper.

If you don’t want to give up your heels, consider the Shuella. The name is a play on “shoe umbrella,” and basically they are galoshes that are designed to slip over heels. No more toting rubber boots! Choose from basic black or cheery yellow, pink, or green. They even fold up into a little bag for easy storage.

Plus you’ll be supporting a local business–founder Rebecca Miller is a Chicagoan!

I belong to an online community of freelance writers, many of whom work at home (where it’s all too easy to stay in your bathrobe until 1 pm). Recently a group of them decided to do a “fashionista 30-day challenge”: they would make an effort to get dressed up every day–accessories, makeup, the whole deal.

I think this is a great idea, even if you work outside the home. Too often we get lazy, telling ourselves that it doesn’t really matter because we’re not going anywhere special, and it’s too much trouble. Or we get stuck in a rut, wearing the same boring ensemble day after day.

Why should you bother? Well, you’re getting dressed for yourself, first and foremost. There’s no denying that how you dress affects how you feel. In my high school drama class, our teacher used to make us wear skirts for roles that called for them, because they made us act and walk differently. Getting dressed in a flattering outfit, even if it’s just your best jeans, a great top, and your favorite bracelets, will make you feel good.

The key to success, as with so many things in life, is planning ahead. At least once a week, take some time to put together some outfits. Don’t plan on wearing each one on a specific day–you may not be in the mood for polka dots on Monday morning. Don’t worry about being overdressed–unless you’re wearing a ball gown to a breakfast meeting, it’s always better to be overdressed than underdressed. (And I think a ball gown at breakfast could actually be very chic, if you have the nerve to pull it off.)

The holidays are the perfect time to start this challenge, as you’ll be in the habit of dressing up for parties anyway. Dressing up always helps create a festive mood–and let’s face it, during the holidays, what with the family and the shopping and the overeating, sometimes you need all the mood elevators you can get.