By Michelle A Heath, on 11.14.11 | I was reading the November edition of InStyle and came across a great article called Color Crash Course – Hot Pink. I was hooked. Funny, when I read the article, I realized that I have several hot pink pieces in my wardrobe. Some cute tops, tees, a sweater, a dress or two with a mix of grey or black and hot pink. Not to mention some super-hot stilettos I bought in the Spring.
 H&M Ladies Homepage The misnomer about hot pink is that it doesn’t work for everyone. I hear that all the time and it makes me bananas! Hot pink can work on everyone – even you redheads out there. It’s all about the shade and the amount of pink versus blue or purple. Blondes and darker-skinned lovelies can really wear just about any shade of hot pink. Brunettes, red-heads and fair-skinned ladies should look for a deeper and darker undertone to balance hair and skin. You might need to try on several shades before you get it right. I love hot pink because it makes a statement while being ultra feminine and as the article says…”done right, it’s cool, not cute.”
Otherwise known as fuschia, this gorgeous color is a great way to really add a hot pop of color to your closet. My clients are always looking for ways to add color to their wardrobes and I love helping them experiment with bold colors like hot pink.
As for how to wear it, today – for inspiration – I paired a gorgeous silk ruffled blouse in hot pink with a slim black skirt and black patent-leather belt. Wolford tights (of course) and my Tory Burch leopard print wedges (my fave purchase from last season). The color makes me feel alive and is perfect for a Monday when staying in bed when the alarm rang at 5:30am was a much better option:) And I just happened to check out the H&M site today and there it was on the homepage…great timing and H&M is always on the trend.
So, my fashionistas…have you experimented with the power of hot pink? Do tell.
By Michelle A Heath, on 09.16.11 | There is nothing like a sharp dressed man. You might be thinking ZZ Top’s 80′s hit. I’m talking well-tailored suit, eye-catching shirt, well-planned tie, properly-polished shoes, precisely-folded pocket square…the whole nine yards.
Suiting up a client is something I love. And, I love it even more when it’s for a great cause.
 My client, Jeff, was selected to participate in the Project Smile 5th Annual Charity Date Auction. What a great concept. A bunch of hot single guys and girls who are bid on. The highest bidder enjoys dinner and a fun night out and a potential love connection with a devilishly handsome guy like my client or one of the lovely ladies up for auction. The best part is that all the proceeds from the evening go to Project Smile, a non-profit that donates stuffed animals, coloring books/crayons, small toys and children’s reading books to police and fire departments for police officers, fire fighters and paramedics to give to children involved in traumatic situations. As a mom to two kids, I love that this charity is focused on children and helping them through tough times.
So, the first order of business for Jeff was to plan his outfit. The invitation for the event said “business/cocktail attire.” This is where most people have the “holy crap, what does that mean?! moment.” Do I wear a suit? Do I wear a ball gown? Do I wear jeans and a blazer? The problem with telling someone what to wear is that, unless it says “wear a suit” or “wear a tux,” everything else is up to interpretation.
Jeff and I brainstormed on what he was most comfortable in. He works in sales and is used to being dressed for work – shirt and slacks. We decided that a full suit and tie felt too dressed and instead we would work with what he had and go from there. The starting point  was a great shirt. A great shirt is a staple and an amazing outfit can stem from this simple piece. I’m not talking a white button down or a pinstripe shirt. I’m talking about a statement shirt. You’ve seen them – bolder patterns, color, interesting details like fabric-lined collars and reversible-patterned cuffs. Robert Graham is the master of such shirts and it so happens that I had already helped Jeff pick out a beauty. They’re not cheap, but again, it’s a wardrobe staple that goes with jeans to a bar, dress pants to a club, a suit to a wedding or event and with just about anything to dress it up and take the hip factor to another level.
I decided that I wanted Jeff in a classic black suit. It would be a perfect way to showcase the shirt and show-off Jeff’s fun and adventurous side while helping him invest in another staple for his wardrobe – the black suit. We set a budget and I knew exactly what I wanted. Simple lines, no stripes or checks, straight leg, European-cut jacket, flat-front pants. Stylish. Classic. You’ll have it and wear it forever. We set a budget and set off for the Men’s Shop at Lord & Taylor on Boylston St in Boston. L&T has an amazing Men’s store – great selection and prices, along with serious sales and coupons that can save lots of $$, which I love.
The first order of business was getting the right fit. The shoulders should fall perfectly. Sleeves hit perfectly at the top of the thumb, not too roomy in the jacket. Then, the fabric. All season is key here in Boston and is the most versatile. I chose a European-cut Calvin Klein suit for him to try, along with a DKNY suit. Both similar but I knew they would fit differently. A guy might be a 44R but each designer is cut in a unique way so one designer’s 44 is another designer’s 46. Gotta try the jacket with a shirt and the pants.
 To the dressing room we go. He came out in the Calvin Klein and…wow! It looked amazing! The pants needed a hem but the jacket fit perfectly and with the shirt, it was stunning! He looked like a million bucks…and felt like a million bucks. Iliana came and took up the hem, promised them in two days (love that) and off we went to the register. No joke – 45mins tops from selection to try on to hem. The retail price for the suit was over $500. The sale price was over $300 and with the coupon I printed out for Jeff, he got an amazing suit including alterations for about $200.
I cannot wait to see the pictures from the event and hear the final bid. Knock ‘em dead, Jeff…you look amazing!!
By Michelle A Heath, on 10.11.09 | It’s that time of year. The nights get longer, the mornings get cooler, the leaves start falling from the trees. Most people go apple picking or pumpkin patching. I on the other hand go closet cleansing. For me, the change of seasons is a perfect time to get my wardrobe organized. You see, I live in the City and that means one rather small closet to fit my entire wardrobe. Blazers, handbags, pants, jeans, shoes, boots, tops, tees, tanks, dresses and sweaters all packed in to one small space.
The challenge for me is that I don’t have the luxury of keeping more than two seasons of clothes in my closet. Some might say it’s the evidence of a larger problem, I say it’s just the way it is. In any case, I can only keep Spring/Summer or Fall/Winter. That’s the reality. So, as I say good-bye to sandals and sundresses, I unpack the bins of last season’s Fall and Winter goodies. As I conduct this ritual at least twice a year, there are some tips I thought I’d share to help you as you organize and turn-over your closet each season.
1. Before you start buying new stuff, be sure you know what you’ve got. For those of you who, like me, love boot-season, you know it’s so easy to start  gobbling up the latest boot styles in September. But, before you start adding to your wardrobe, get your closet organized and know what you have and what you need. You’ll often find that last year’s purchases transition perfectly and you can update them quickly and cheaply with a few trendy accessories.
2. Take everything out. I mean everything. Just shoving things into hidden corners will do you no favors when it comes time for finding those items next season. I literally work from corner to corner in my closet. I start with handbags, work down to dresses and hanging items. Then folded items and I save shoes for last, but not least.
3. If you haven’t worn it in at least two turn-overs of your closet, I am sorry dear friend, but it is time to LET IT GO. I try to think about it like this. If I don’t wear it, haven’t worn it, maybe someone else can? Whether you pack these items up and bring them to your local donation center or sell them on eBay, it frees you from the clutter of stuff you don’t wear and someone else will thank you.
4. Decide how you get dressed and think about how your closet can be organized to make that as fast and easy as possible. Do you wear jeans and tees every day? Put them close to each other so you can easily coordinate your outfit for the day. Wear suits or dress casual? Think about how you can mix and match your blouses, tops, suits and blazers to create new outfits every day.
5. Put as much as possible in plain-view. If your closet is like mine, there’s alot of things to squeeze into a small space. Add or adjust shelving to make it easy for you to quickly scan your closet and see everything you have. Most of the time, those items hidden in the back shelves never see the light of day. If you can’t put everything up-front, rotate the stuff in the back every few weeks.
And last but not least, admire your work and identify your 5 must-haves for the season. This is the part I love best. Maybe your favorite black pants have seen better days and should be replaced, or you could update your jeans and tees with a fun pair of cowboy boots. Whatever it is, create your list and carry it with you. Then, as your shopping, you know what you need and you can focus your time and money. Well, I’m off to do some shopping with my new list. Look for my next post on Fall must-haves and, until then, here’s to closet organization and the joys of Fall fashion.
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