Guest Post: The In-Between Time
Today's guest post is written by Kalyn Johnson, a new friend of ours — a former corporate lawyer, she is now a fashion stylist and blogger.
If this past weekend's weather is any indication, Spring might be here to stay. But, Mother Nature usually has a few tricks up her sleeve when it comes to permanent nice weather and I'm not expecting this year to be the exception. The hardest thing about transitioning from a Winter wardrobe to a Spring one, is having the right clothes to wear for those in between days. You know, the days when it's 50 degrees and chilly although it was balmy and in the 70s over the weekend. And honestly, 70 degrees in April is just not the same as 70 degrees in June.
So, what's a girl to do?
The first step is to dedicate a few hours to cleaning out your closet. A lot of people dread cleaning out their closets, but I love it for two reasons:
(1) It's an opportunity to cull (i.e., get rid of the stuff you held with hopes of wearing only to find that it never left your closet) and refine your Winter wardrobe before retiring it; and
(2) It's always fun to shop in your closet and rediscover gems you've totally forgotten you own.
Next, pack up and store your true Winter items – coats, furs (faux and real), boots, bulky sweaters and the like. Keep things like your wool and cashmere cardigans for layering, a few of your wool sheath dresses, suits, slacks, skirts and maybe a black turtleneck to integrate with items in your Spring wardrobe.
This Spring it's all about neutrals, florals, bright colors and statement jewelry. So, as you organize your Spring clothes, pull out your trench coat, brightly colored t-shirts and shells, light or bright colored pashminas, romantic blouses, sparkly baubles and anything with a floral motif to mix-and-match with the Winter items you've left out to create your Winter to Spring Transition wardrobe.
The final step is to mix-and-match your “transition” outfits. I promise that you will save yourself time and anxiety in the mornings to come if you take the time to mix-and-match your outfits. Doing this upfront will save time on the back-end and will ensure that you're bedroom won't look like a tornado hit it each time you leave in the morning. Et volià! Getting dressed in the am will be a cinch – you'll have 15 extra minutes to sleep, work out or spend time with your significant other.
Now that you've got something to wear for the next few weeks you can turn your attention to what's HOT for Spring 2010. What's even worse than not having something to wear during the transition from Winter to Spring is Spring finally arriving and not having an updated Spring wardrobe! If you need help trying to figure out which Spring trends to incorporate into your wardrobe, check out my blog, Possess Your STYLE, for some tips and ideas and of course feel free to shoot me an e-mail.
Happy Spring!
p.s. Here's a little detail on the items pictured above, all available at Amazon: Lauren Jeans Co. Coat, $179; AK Anne Klein Petite Jacket, One-Button, $99.98 and Pants, $59.98; Kenneth Cole Women's Ruffled Blouse, $34.33; Double Strand Pearl Necklace, $119.99; Silk Scarf, $34.99; L.A.M.B. Women's Hoshi Slingback Tie Pump, $227.77; Large Faux Pearl Dangle Earring, $10; Pashmina Cashmere Scarf,$29.99; and Lauren Merkin Ava Stingray-Print Clutch, $295.
Fashion Stylist and Lifestyle Blogger, Kalyn Johnson is a former corporate lawyer who turned in her precedent binder to pursue her passion of making fashion attainable. Her company, Style by Kalyn Johnson, is a style consultancy focused on personal branding for professionals. Kalyn dresses men and women who who don't have the time to focus on how they look but who know that looking the part is a part of the formula for success.
I am new to Corporette, but I love the recommendations. The guest blogger’s point is well taken. I am in the middle of a closet clean-out and it has been both disturbing and amazing. Some stuff I can’t believe I have kept for so long, while on the other hand, it is like going shopping at home. Thanks for the great tips!
Another tip — check everything you’re about to stow for whether it’s freshly laundered/dry cleaned. Stealthy spills can turn colors in the intervening months (such as, um, as a hypothetical, white wine on light gray pants).
Currently trying to wear a few items “one last time” before sending them for pre-storage cleaning!
So happy to know I’m not the only one who sneaks “one last wear” out of stuff. Once again, I thought I was OCD and now I get to be normal again.
I call it my “farewell tour” – I wear my favorites as long as I can… ;-)
On a similar note – does anyone use a stylist? Looks like a fun blog to watch etc… but planning to do a full scale wardrobe cull, and wondering if anyone is using a 3rd party…..
Any reco’s in the Chicago area? I have a contact at Barney’s but, as much as I both love Barney’s and am willing to push the envelope a bit at work, not sure Barney’s is the proper resource…
You may want to search the Daily Candy website. I seem to remember them featuring a few Chicago-based style consultants, though it has been a while.
Hi Divaliscious11 –
I hope you do end up watching Possess Your STYLE. To answer your question about what a stylist can do for you – here’s a posting I did on the very topic that I hope you find helpful: http://tinyurl.com/ydnfsta. In a nutshell, having someone come into your home to help you cull your wardrobe, help you define your personal style and then help you shop for those items can be a liberating experience. Amy Salinger is a great stylist in Chicago, check her out at http://www.amysalinger.net.
Best of luck with your closet! And if you have any additional questions, please feel to contact me directly.
Stylishly yours,
Kalyn
Thanks for the tip and will do!
ps..I too, have a passion for the Tribute….lol!
This isn’t exactly a helpful answer, but I am planning to use a stylist once I lose some weight. It’s my “gift” to myself when I get down to my goal weight. Personally, I wouldn’t go with someone affiliated with a certain store because I’d want the stylist to be free to pick from a range of stores and styles. So although I know that JCrew and a number of other stores offer in-store stylists, I’ll probably hire an independent stylist.
Actually, it’s a huge motivator for me. I’ve never really been able to nail that “stylish” image I’ve always wanted, so hopefully this will be the kickstart I need. I’m guessing it’ll cost several thousand dollars for the stylist’s services and the new clothes.
Ariella –
Size is just a number printed on a tag. Don’t get caught up in waiting to reach you’re ideal “size” to be stylish. Stylish women come in all shapes and sizes. I often tell my clients that they should focus on being stylish at whatever size they happen to be. Ideal size or not, people are much more confident and happy when they like they way they’re dressed. So, invest in a few key items now and when you reach “goal” weight, then treat yourself accordingly! I write about this issue frequently – be sure to check out Possess Your STYLE.
Stylishly yours,
Kalyn
Thanks, Kalyn. Good advice. I am actually plus-size and I find it extremely difficult to dress stylishly (especially because I am an “apple” and carry the majority of my weight in my belly – hard to feel sexy!). You’re right that I should find a few styles for now that make me feel good. The problem is that I just can’t seem to find those styles! I’d happily spend the money on them if I found them.
Ariella –
The Style gods are on your side today, I work with a number of plus-sized clients. Let’s chat offline when you get a minute; shoot me an email at kalyn@kalynjohnson.com.
Stylishly yours,
Kalyn
Hi Ariella
I do not want to seem cliché but I would have to say: “it is mostly in your head”.
I used to be so self conscious about my butt and thighs that I would even change the way I walk and stand hoping to “minimize” their aspect.
Eventually, I have learnt to appreciate my figure and feel better about myself. I still would have a very hard time wearing some types of clothing, but I already feel liberated.
I started dressing nicely at my previous size, my posture change, the way people perceived me changed because I was beaming -I actually had to fake it for a few weeks, but eventually got into that mindset :)
I am sure you can look really attractive, and when you do you would lose some weight and be happier and then again look even more attractive (it’s a cycle).
I hope this helps a bit, just dress to your best and then treat yourself every now and then :)
Cheers and best of luck for your weight loss journey
P.S. Excuse my english, I am not native
Way to go, Ariella! I know exactly what you mean about that kickstart. Mine was fitting into a wetsuit for scuba diving. I did it, and you can too. I think you’ll be happy not only about your new wardrobe, but about doing something really tough and reaching a goal. Good for you!
I used a personal shopper at Saks and found her extremely helpful. She stayed within my budget and recommended excellent basics that I purchased, but she was also good at noting things I could buy to mix into these basics from other shops like JCrew, Banana, AT, etc.
I use a personal shopper at Nordstrom on a regular basis. (We go shopping together about 4-6 times a year, and she also shops for my fiance.) I absolutely love her and what she has done for my wardrobe and am thinking about making an appointment with a stylist who isn’t connected to a specific store since I am supposed to be dramatically cutting my shopping budget this year and that means less Nordstrom, more J Crew/Banana/AT/etc.
I agree with Lulu,
I have had a single shopping experience at Nordtrom and it was amazing.
I had one guy for the shoes makeover, and one lady for the clothes.
They did wonders and respected my budget (can’t pay more than 99 dollars for a pair of shoes, willing to pay up to 200 $ on THE pair of jeans, everything else is very classic and understated).
They were patient and I was self conscious when they were bringing tons of styles but eventually I loved it because they were so helpful (I somehow got to learn my own style through teh different questions they were asking me about my preferences).
Definitely worth a trip :)
Houda,
Please don’t apologize for your English! You express yourself very well, and I always enjoy your comments and perspective.
Just keep an eye on the weather – I made the mistake of clearing out my wardrobe too early and after three days of blissful spring garments I had to dig my boots and woollies out again!
At the moment I’m staring longingly at two new dresses for which it’s not quite warm enough yet. Unfortunately I’m a really average size, and for several shops I know if I don’t pounce there’ll be nothing left…but I want to wear my new clothes and I really can’t. (Mind you, let’s not get started on the fact that the local department store hasn’t got any stockings more than 20 denier left in stock. It’s been close to freezing at night!)
good tips, but we zipped through spring last week and, as of today, are definitely in summer. ;)
I am a little fuzzy on what is meant by mixing and matching the transition outfits to save time in the mornings. Is the advice to put outfits together ahead of time and hang them that way in the closet? I have the tornado-swept room effect a few times a week and would love to avoid it … just a bit confused as I typically interpret “mix-and-match” to mean wear a top with a suit one week and perhaps under a cardigan the next. So is the advice to group outfits on a weekly basis? Thanks!
I have over-the-door hooks on my closet door and I hang out two or three outfit possibilities on the hooks at the beginning of the week. That way I don’t have to dig through my closet in the morning, but I still have a few choices of what to wear. I hang the clothes together on one or two hangers – top under cardigan on one hanger, with the skirt beneath, for example – so I can see what they look like. I also drape the appropriate bra over the hanger, so I don’t accidentally put on the wrong type of bra while I’m drowsily getting dressed in the morning (which I’ve done before) and realize midday that you can see the bra pattern through my top.
Hey Ashley –
Sorry, if my advice was unclear. You got it, group your outfits on a weekly basis. By mix-and-match, I mean put your outfits together ahead of time and either take a picture of it or hang it in the closet. Whatever is easiest for you to do.
Best of luck with your transition outfits!
Stylishly yours,
Kalyn
Love the idea of “take a picture.” That way I can just store the idea in my digital. No clutter! Also, in my opinion, mix and match means to use a few warmer items with a few lively spring items. I love the idea of “in-between” and how to do it well.
You got it Lizette – Match, Snap & Store!
Stylishly yours,
Kalyn
Ladies – Thanks so much for all of your great comments today.
And Kat, thanks so much for inviting me to be one of your Guest Bloggers – it’s been a ton of fun!
Stylishly yours,
Kalyn
tornado bed room…. yes. It was 60F last week; Wednesday is supposed to be (eek) mid-80s and next week back to 40F/60F. I did put away the heaviest things, but lately what I select the day before I have to change because it is just getting too warm!
I have a love hate relationship with the weather channel for the same reason… and I’ve been dragging a cardigan all over the place with me!
Great post! I have a summer internship in Europe this summer. I want to buy professional clothing for the internship, however, I’m nervous because I don’t know if the trends in Europe are the same or if it is more or less conservative than here. I’m working at the International Criminal Court. Would a personal shopper know styles in Europe? As a law student, money isn’t abundant, are their budget friendly personal shoppers or shopping assistants?