Ok- this could mean tons of stuff. But let’s narrow it down to the nitty gritty and see what it is you can re-style over and over: Staples.
So, whether you’re the type of girl who needs tons of stuff, or you’re a minimalist, here’s my Stylist point of view on some must-haves:
At least one day bag and one evening bag. Here everyone thinks black (so that it goes with everything)- I’ll let you in on something; come closer: Black can age you and can actually ruin the whole look! Yeah you read that right. A better choice would be something colorful enough to wear during the day (so it matches with pretty much everything!) Or even a paillettes- colourful gem.
These go with absolutely everything…even if at first you wouldn’t think so!
And for the evening, why not a delicious metallic gold or silver? Perfect!
For sure and evening dazzler…but why not for daytime as well?!
Get yourself a great jumpsuit. This little gem can be dressed down with sneaker and a jean jacket , or dressed up with bling and sling back sandals. You need this- and- somehow it’s always on trend.
Far left has bling on the shoulders; Middle can be dressed up or down; Far right is a palazzo darling!
A suit jacket/blazer (men’s even better!). Wear it belted (with nothing under- like a shirt) ; open over jeans; dressed up with a gorgeous scarf and pants or skirt; over a dress. Ok I’ll stop- too many possibilities!
How fun is this?!
And you remember these two…
Shoes? This is where I go a bit overboard- but actually, it’s necessary! You should own about 5 pairs per season. Example Summer:
Colorful flat sandals that go with bermudas or short dresses;
Make it fun- add some bling on daytime cuties too!
High-heel sandals for dressier times.
Great sneakers.
Add some pizzazz to your sneakers by getting platforms- and even better in metallic colors!
Low or high-heeled mules for in-between go to’s (they look good with anything).
Mules…I could literally live in them all year round if I could!
And lastly, no need for pics here: flip-flops as dressy or casual as you need! Your choice!
Dresses
You need at least one long dress – sleeveless is preferable so you can wear it dressed up or down by layering it.
You can add one cocktail dress- but these days a great pair of pants with dressy top can also do the trick – so I leave this to your discretion.
Who says a great pants- outfit can’t outshine a cocktail dress?! Do you see a metallic pattern happening here? Yes…that’s key to everything , darlings!
You should also have at least one fun shorter day dress that you can take from day to evening.
Lace! Fresh in the day and exquisite for the evening. Accessorize and bring it to another level; like this Chanel collier I paired with it!
Lastly, a versatile kimonowanna-be for cooler evenings; as a cover up; worn as a blouse- it’s a passe-partout! (good for any occasion!) See my article on that here.
Cover-ups…but make it more!
Since we’re headed for summer: Sunscreen, sunnies, and a pretty hat.
Lastly: The most important must have though…is Attitude. A feel-good in what I’m wearing attitude. Confidence is everything! If you feel good, you’ll look good.Flaunt your attitude. Stylist’s Orders.
You’re done…until next season!
#Confessionoftheday:My number one go-to- and the one I most highly recommend my Lovelies really is ATTITUDE.
This Week’s Favourite Fashion Styling Diva is: Joy from Joyouscloset on Instagram
This girl rocks!! You should see her closet- AMAZING Collection!! Go check her out!
If you would like a chance to be featured, make sure to follow me on Instagram, or Follow this blog– if I fall in love with your style, I’ll feature you for sure!
And now time to spread some blog love! I love reading other great blog posts- so I thought to include some really good ones for you to check out! They have linkup parties where you can link your own posts. Go check them out and show some love. Have a good one!
Gonna hit you with my question right from the start…Would you guys be interested in me doing a weekly Link Party? I always link my blog to other blogs- and I enjoy this so much. I get to read what other bloggers have to say and I think it’s a great way to open the communication and to get tons of ideas and open up our minds.Plus it gives us all exposure- win/win!
I was thinking of doing a Linksy every Friday. What do you think? Please let me know as I would love to get your feedback on this! Thanks!
Now onto the post! So here we are knocking on Weekend’s door…already?! It’s been pretty busy! So here is what life in this styling diva’s world looked like:
I loved joining another challenge on Instagram: #7daysofprints! It was a lot of fun. This was led by Annette from @vintageplendor and Aubrey of @thedandyliar. Mixing prints can be so liberating if you just go with the flow
Here are some of my print-mixing styles for this challenge (some of these you’ve seen before!) :
Here’s a clip of me styling these up:
And of course, for me there’s nothing more perfect in my styling world…than doing at least one or more diy’s !
What was once a boring white top who’s had its days, that is now-under this striped blouse- a newly cropped top turned dickey
Here’s a clip of the diy and styling (you also get a glimpse of my Mother’s Day Gift!). At the end of the clip I also add the diy of an old filing cabinet we’ve had for centuries lol!…we gave it a facelift!
This was an old ugly filing cabinet that became super cute I find! Don’t you?
What about Mother’s Day though? Memorable that’s for sure, is all I can say. Who would have thought we would be social distancing with our own kids and grand-kids? I found this very difficult- but at least I got to see them! Even if from afar.
Keeping Social distancing away from these loves is so difficult.
A special Zoom Happy Mother’s Day for all the moms of my youngest daughter’s Synchronized Skating Team- Les Supremes
I recieved a beautiful piece of jewelry from my kids- earrings, by Katherine Karambelas!
Then yesterday, I received this beautiful art work from a very talented Montreal artist: Shiny Art. This is my blog post pic- I’m thrilled!
Finally, maybe the warm weather is really here to stay? Have a wonderful weekend, and week to come my Lovelies,
Lucy xx
I love reading other great blog posts- so I thought to include some really good ones for you to check out! They have linkup parties where you can link your own posts. Go check them out and show some love. Have a good one!
I believe so. As if I weren’t already obsessed enough with transformations, here I go with even more of an excuse: Time.
Time- that luxury we crave. The obsession of never having enough of it. Well, now that we are forced to making some…we start packing it all in. I’ve mentioned before how we gotta be careful with this feeling of always needing to be busy- READ that Article here.
This time however, I won’t be blaming myself for induging in compulsive behaviour, I’m just gonna blame it all on Covid. Or rather…my personal cure to stop-obsessing about Covid! How do I do that? I re-style, re-purpose, re-love, re-wear, re-fashion my clothes!
I’m getting a clearer vision of what it is I want to wear; what I need to wear; what I feel happy wearing- and then: Out come the scissors!
This time I’ve changed up an animal print, turtle-neck dress…into a Cardi! But there’s more! I’ve incorporated a scarf (just in case I want that option), and a turban (or headband) as well!
This dress is cute…but a bit limiting (I’m too warm in it- it suffocates me!) So, layering is the last thing I want to do with this one…So: A-Chopping-it-will-go!
What a difference! And so many possibilities…
Can you see that the scarf is an integral part of it…
I linked the scarf through the two openings I slit…
Oh…and also made use of this turban…
Wanna see how I worked this DIY and styled the whole look? You can watch the process here:
What have you been DIYing?
#Confessionoftheday: My compulsion is real. But it’s healthy, right?
I love reading other great blog posts- so I thought to include some really good ones for you to check out! They have linkup parties where you can link your own posts. Go check them out and show some love. Have a good one!
Weekend is here! Does that even make any difference these days? We can’t lose track- so we gotta make it fabulous!
This series is all about those things I’ve loved this week (and the one prior since this is my first Fabulous Fridays segment!)- and some maybe a bit less.
I’m missing my hairdresser terribly! But I’ve been lucky to have her ship me my root color. It turned out pretty good (thanks to my daughter who lives with me and is also a hairdresser), and my blow drying wasn’t bad either!
Still on the beauty topic, I learned a nifty hack for applying mascara! Just bend the tip! You can watch here:
First things, I had a blast during my #chic robes challenge- loved how so many participated! Have also been joining a few other challenges on Instagram. The Hodge- Podge Challenge-by Audrey of Affectionately Audrey– was such a hoot!
She’s actually mixing 8 prints here!!
You had to keep adding prints every day to your look. Not easy- but super challenging and fun!
Blame it on the weather! But I did so enjoy watching those who tagged us. If you do walk and talk and want to join our movement just tag me @lucybertoldi and @livingoncloudnine and we’ll put you in our stories.
What else? Correcting last minute and putting together new lesson plans for summer courses beginning net week.
Oh, here’s a quick and hearty recipe of what I made:
In the crockpot: onions, chick peas, boneless chicken thighs, potatoes, tomato coulis. Add olive oil and your favourite spices. Turn on high for 4 hours. Voila!
I have to say that the highlight of this week in fashion for me has been learning about this amazing 91 year-old Georgian Fashionista- MUST WATCH!!
See you next week- Have a Fabulous Weekend my Beautiful Divas , Lucy xx
Linkingtime!
I love reading other great blog posts- so I thought to include some really good ones for you to check out! They have linkup parties where you can link your own posts. Go check them out and show some love. Have a good one!
How creative are you with your style? If you’re finding that your wardrobe is lacking a bit of spunk or that it’s always same old, same old- then now’s the time to do something different!
Diy’s are always fun to do, especially when we really can’t wear the piece anymore (example: it doesn’t fit). But there are some diy’s that require No Change at all! It’s called: Creative Styling.
Creative styling just requires you to use your imagination to start wearing an item in a completely different way than it was originally intended- WITHOUT altering the piece.
The possibilities are endless. Today, I’m gonna do Number 7! See how I turned 3 short dresses into midi looks- just with one skirt!
Here are two of the dresses I creatively styled-up.
This is the way the dress is originally intended to be worn
All you need is one long SHEER skirt….
Wear the dress over the long sheer skirt, plus a belt: Here is Look No. 1
Same Skirt- different Dress: Look NO. 2
Same Skirt , third dress: Look NO. 3
And there you have it! Seriously…How easy was that?
Wanna see the process? Please watch here:
I strongly encourage you to play in your closet and do some Creative Styling of your own! If and when you do- please share and link back to me! I’d love to see what you come up with and will share in my insta stories as well. Enjoy!
In other news…This week my article was featured in Links a la Mode!
And now…ANOUNCING: Favourite Fashion Styling Diva of the Week!
Once a week I will be featuring and linking a super stylish lady whose outfit made me swoon- and will surely inspire you as well. If you get featured, please spread the love by mentioning it on your own site with a link back to mine.
Go check out her Instagram- I am obsessed with her style!
Linkingtime!
I love reading other great blog posts- so I thought to include some really good ones for you to check out! They have linkup parties where you can link your own posts. Go check them out and show some love. Have a good one!
#Confessionoftheday: I am seriously addicted to clothing, footwear and accessories. In that order.
Now, how do I deal with this. So, a big part of accumulating these loves of mine has to do with shopping. I’ve worked on refraining this part quite a bit. In fact, since before Christmas, I’ve been on a serious shopping hiatus.
The real reason for this though has become deeper than just to keep my shopping addiction at bay. I’m seriously- and have been for awhile- considering the tragic effects that fast fashion is costing our planet. As a fashion teacher, I definitely have to set some sort of example as I am teaching the designers and students of the future how to create more sustainably!
Last week was the anniversary of 2013’s catastrophic industrial and historical event that happened in Bangladesh. To sum it up, I copied this quote from the Take Action page of Fashion Revolution.org link here
“Fashion Revolution Week happens every year in the week surrounding the 24th of April. This date is the anniversary of the 2013 Rana Plaza collapse. Rana Plaza, a building in Bangladesh, housed a number of garment factories, employing around 5,000 people.The people in this building were manufacturing clothing for many of the biggest global fashion brands.Over 1,100 people died in the collapse and another 2,500 were injured, making it the fourth largest industrial disaster in history. The victims were mostly young women. Thats when Fashion Revolution started.”
I participated by choosing my mom’s gorgeous top which was part of the gown she wore as Mother-of the Bride. It has such a special meaning to me- and that’s what Love Story is about. You pick a garment that has sentimental value to you and make a Love Story around it.
This fabric…
And the workmanship…made 34 years ago!
This is how my Beautiful Mamma wore it 34 years ago on my wedding day. It was worn with a beautiful long satin golden-amber skirt.
If you watch my youtube video (scroll down)- I explain the whole story behind this top…as well as my mom’s own contribution and love for fashion and design.
Here is how I styled this beautifully tailor-made- top that means the world to me!
See that you don’t have to wear it all dressed up for a special occasion anymore!
I’ve created my own Love Story video for Fashion Revolution 2020 – and its #haulternative. Watch it here:
If you want to create your own Love Story video, or letter, or haul…Check out Fashion Revolution and download the How-to section and use the hashtag: #haulternative
If you do go to their site, you can download all sorts of guides to be part of the movement to make fashion more sustainable and raise awareness. I encourage you to go check it out. Yes, the event is passed but the movement must never stop!!
Linkingtime!
I love reading other great blog posts- so I thought to include some really good ones for you to check out! They have linkup parties where you can link your own posts. Go check them out and show some love. Have a good one!
Thought this styling exercise might come in handy. Just because at a time when we fashion lovers need to do the most we can to keep clothes out of landfills- it’s a good idea to put good styling habits back into perspective. What’s the purpose?
Well, for starters, when you’re well-styled, feel good and the fit is right- chances are you’ll get more (and longer) use of your outfits- and that’s a step in the right direction. So here are some of the tips for practice that I usually recommend to get the best styling looks while working with what you’ve got!
Let’s do a Getting Styled with Lucy, Exercise.
Part 1: VISUAL
At home: Take a LOVING (and I do mean loving) look at yourself and figure out what your best features are. (And come-on, you Do know what those are). That will be the first thing to focus on when styling: Wear what accentuates those best features.
First, browse through magazines, online runways… what attracts you most? Is it color? Patterns? What speaks to you (forget the negatives of “Oh I could never wear that. Bad vibes)”. This is an exercise so go with it. When you’re ready to go shopping, head for local or sustainable designers, thrift or vintage places, slow fashion movement outlets,Then: look for what inspired you.
Huge Point to work on: Let go of your neutrals if you have already a lot of those; go for colour! (Try it vice versa if you’re a color-go-to gal).
Now…just by eying it does it look like it might accentuate what you wish it will? (Example of this could be: a mini if you’ve got gorgeous long legs; detail in a low cut top that oughta make your girls look even more attractive; mid-calf pants for those pretty ankles of yours; form fitting top that shows off those beautiful straight cut shoulders; for your gorgeous back…a backless dress with detailed attention back there…I could go on and on..).
Part 2: TACTILE
Now that you’ve zoomed in on what you find attractive and gives you that feel good feeling…hone in on the quality. If it’s fast fashion…it won’t be made to last. But if you go with designers that are working on sustainability from fibre and textile selection right down to who’s making your garment; you’re on the right track. Go for quality vs trends!
Once you’ve got that down-packed, feel the texture (after all it will be touching your body, so it may as well feel delightful!). This is a huge one, because sometimes we may go ga-ga on a print and know it’s well made, but then the fabric is not quite what we had in mind in terms of comfort and drape.
Part 3: KINETIC & SENSORY
Before we even get into this- here’s an absolute Must: Make sure you know a great seamstress, or that you know how to sew yourself. Without this, I’m afraid your look will never be A+. Make this a priority.
So now you try on baby! And with that try on comes the determination of if it fits right. Is it pulling too snug- you need a bigger size. With the bigger size there’s no more pulling but at places it looks too big…That’s where you need that seamstress, or your own (even if minor) sewing skills! It’s all about: Adjusting, adjusting, adjusting!
So now that we’re able to make it fit; move around in it. Is it comfortable or do you feel trapped in a concoction? You need to be able to move like you were born in it!
You can move! Are you feeling terrific in it? That’s where you need to be at. The mood it brings is Everything.
If something still feels a bit off- RECHECK how well it’s accentuating your best features!!
Less Is More…
MAJOR TIP here: If something is competing with your best feature; that’s not optimal. What am I saying? Example: Ok- Cleavage looks great, and so do those legs. PICK which you wanna show: Legs or cleavage? Not both. They will compete and somehow the look gets lost. Plus, the outfit may turn into one that you hadn’t planned on at all (it could also distract or attract- not sure which is better. So just don’t). Trust me on this one.
Part 4: THE FUTURE
WHAT OTHER PLANS do you have for this new closet arrival?
Will you only wear it once? You need to seriously think about this. In my styling process, I know that NO outfit comes out only once. You need to be able to wear and re-wear it without it looking old or passe.
To Keep in mind before you decide to Ka-ching, Ka-ching…
Are you willing to keep on making it look new? If so, you gotta have a plan. We already talked about getting chummy with a seamstress- The next are equally important:
ACCESSORIZING: This can make a world of difference in changing it up to keep giving it a fresh and modern look. Think hats, necklaces; long or short or multiple; new makeup- or hair-do; adding jackets; changing shoes can change a look; changing handbags; adding a scarf…Invest your creativity in this area big time.
WASH/CARE Instructions: Read religiously.
TIME FOR A FACE-LIFT Once you’re done with all the aforementioned quick fixes, at some point your outfit may need a face-lift. Think: Upcycling or refashioning it with a good DIY (keep the seamstress buddy on fast-dial- or try your own!). I can personally vouch for this one as I am most well-known for how I diy just about all of my clothes – and those of my clients too!).
A NEW LIFE- A NEW BEGINNING:And then comes a time when you just need to say good-bye. Think of either selling it online; giving it to charity or goodwill; doing a clothes swap; or simply passing it on to a good friend or relative. The time has come.
Ladies, there you have it! Following these steps will ensure that you’re happy with your purchase, how it looks, how it makes you feel and ultimately how good it can be for the planet!
Here’s an example of how this exercise worked for me:
This is NOT a top! I just could not pull it down past my hips!!
1-Visual: Mini dress -Having decided that my legs are a good feature- I love prints in hues of blue and burgundy- colors bring life to my face
2-Tactile: I love the feel of silk- great quality- purchased some 10 years ago in Rome (locally made)
3-Sensory Kinetic: Draped beautifully- felt so fresh on the skin- breathable. Definitely a great dopamine feeling when wearing it.
4-The Future: Done the accessorizing. Kept it new and fresh by observing the care instructions. I’m presently at the FACE-LIFTING STAGE.
So why do I need to give it a face-lift? Well, firstly I’m not yet ready to give it away for its new life! BUT- it no longer fits (blame the Quarantine!).
DIY it is! Here’s the result:
Seriously…How cute is this?!
Watch the Video to see how I did this:
And now…ANOUNCING: Favourite Fashion Styling Diva of the Week
I‘ve decided to add this section to my blog!!
Once a week I will be featuring and linking a super stylish lady whose outfit made me swoon- and will surely inspire you as well. If you get featured, please spread the love by mentioning it on your own site with a link back to mine.
You know I love me some bright color and a good print! How elegantly superb is this look?!
Linkingtime!
I love reading other great blog posts- so I thought to include some really good ones for you to check out! They have linkup parties where you can link your own posts. Go check them out and show some love. Have a good one!
Creative artists that baffle us with fantastical fashion are the ones that capture our attention and set the trends. But what if a fashion designer could do more than that? What if they could alter the way they create for the better…for sustainability? What if they could do this without limiting their creativity? These would be the true geniuses prancing one step ahead of the game.
I’m always on the lookout for such geniuses and am pleased to find that there is truly a movement happening! And who’s at the helm of it all? Don’t look any further than Stella McCartney.
From her fabrics, right down to her manufacturing, offices and retail outlets- all is in regard for the environment and its protection. Her products are sustainable in every way. Her motto is to make clothing that last- quality is key. She is a pioneer in her field and there are others are quickly following suit.
As we become more educated and sensitized, we realize how much it makes all sense. But bear in mind that ultimately, design, comfort, color, originality and trend, flash first in our mind and that’s mainly what sells if you don’t know any better. Bottom line: We must fall in love! So, it’s imperative that sustainability matches a desire for the garment!
Check out these following designers who have adapted sustainability in their practice- you’ll agree that they don’t disappoint! When you can marry good sense with extraordinary beauty and creativity- well that’s a match that can’t be beaten. These are the fashion designers that must be applauded…as well as lauded.
