I was also interviewed by AOL’s StyleList about whether it’s OK to wear white after Labor Day, and if so, how? (Hint: don’t wear white linen.) My thoughts are in this article, along with tips from Charla Krupp, author of How to Never Look Fat Again.

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.

As it’s skirt-wearing season, this questions comes up a lot–especially since hose seems to be making a little bit of a comeback, especially patterned stockings. I’m not a big fan of pantyhose, although men seem to like it (and occasionally wear it themselves, apparently). However, what men don’t understand is that women usually dress either to please themselves or to impress other women–not for men.

I really think in this day and age are unnecessary. Unless you are older and/or prefer to have more coverage on your legs, skip ‘em.  As for the office, some workplaces are more formal than others. You may be stuck with them if you work in a conservative field such as finance (in which case I suppose having to wear hose is a small price to pay for still having a job) or the law. Hose should be either sheer (no horrible suntan shades, please), black, or navy, and you should spend a bit more for quality, i.e., don’t buy the stuff in the plastic eggs at the drugstore. I hate the fact that hose are so fragile and expensive. If I worked in an office where they were part of the dress code, I would demand that the company reimburse me. After all, men don’t have to wear items of clothing that cost at least $20 a pair and last two wearings if they’re lucky.

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!

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.

]]> http://heatherkenny.com/blog/2009/03/145/feed/ http://heatherkenny.com/blog/2009/03/all-this-social-media-is-making-me-dizzy/ http://heatherkenny.com/blog/2009/03/all-this-social-media-is-making-me-dizzy/#comments Thu, 05 Mar 2009 04:13:05 +0000 admin http://heatherkenny.com/blog/?p=141 As you can see from the widget in the sidebar, I’ve joined Twitter. Please follow me for quick updates on when there’s a new post, bits of style news, etc.

So yes, styling might be a quick way to make some cash off of friends or acquaintances once in a while. But that hourly number is only a small part of the picture. I get a lot of emails from people who want to be stylists, and sometimes it’s hard to impress upon them that there’s more to it than just liking clothes and shopping.

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!

Ahh, Paris! Je suis tres jalouse. I think the main thing to remember when you’re packing for a vacation, especially a destination with as much of a reputation for stylish inhabitants as Paris has, is not to try to compete with them. Unless you are Anna Wintour, you will lose. After all, they have hundreds of years of history as the center the fashion industry behind them, not to mention their entire closets at hand. Rather, you want to blend in. Please note that in Paris and other stylish capitals of the world, blending in does not mean “looking boring.” It means adding those tweaks and details that make everyday dressing so much fun.

Anyway, one of the biggest traps women get caught in when they go to Paris is wearing things they would never wear at home. You want to look like yourself, after all, not like you’re wearing a costume that’s your version of what you think French people wear. And vacation is no time to find out that the skirt you bought for the trip tends to ride up while you’re walking or that the wide-brimmed hat makes your hair sweaty and stick to your scalp. You want to be psychically and physically comfortable.

Here are some essentials that will help you blend with the natives:

1. A smart trench coat (read: not something a Wall Street banker would wear—or used to wear, when they had money). Also necessary because it can be rainy and cool in spring. Neutral colors are OK, something colorful could also be cute. You can wear it over nice dark-wash jeans, cute flats, and a scarf, et voila! Speaking of the scarf…

2. A pretty scarf or two. Maybe a long pashmina-type thing, which you also can wear over your shoulders with a sleeveless dress. An Hermes scarf can be fun to wear, either hanging loose under a trench or wound around the neck and knotted over a sweater. Don’t get too wrapped up (sorry) in how to tie them if you haven’t mastered a technique. You can always use your lack of knowledge as an excuse to ask a stylish French person for help and maybe make a new friend.

3. Good shoes. Unless you’re some sort of fashion superhero, you will probably prefer to walk around in flats. You’ll need something chic, such as a contemporary penny-loafer style or a ballet-type flat—NOT beat-up sneakers or any sort of athletic shoe. Trust me, you will be marked as a tourist immediately if you wear Keds.

4. Dark-wash, basic “dressy” jeans. Your faded 501s will not work for you here, unless you are a 22-year-old man with a two-day scruff, full lips, and a way with rolling cigarettes. It is no longer true that no one wears jeans in Paris. You will be hard-pressed to find people over 55 wearing jeans, however, and jeans worn at a nice restaurant are still a no-no. Even if French people do occasionally do this, we are under the “Ugly American” burden and so must have higher standards for ourselves.

5. A fashionable handbag, preferably leather. No cute quilted or appliqueed totes, nobackpacks, no fanny packs. This should go without saying.

If you are looking for ideas or even just the flavor of what people are wearing, take a look at the street-style blog the Sartorialist and look at the photos taken in Paris. They’ll help familiarize you with shapes and silhouettes.  One note: the photographer tends to shoot a lot of fashion people who are all decked out in short skirts and heels, but remember they most likely have a car service.

Bon voyage!