How to Remix Your Wardrobe – Q&A with Audrey Tom of Putting Me Together

For me, the perfect wardrobe is full of multipurpose items that can be easily mixed and matched. Audrey Tom of Putting Me Together has mastered the art of reimagining – or remixing – pieces in her closet, resulting in a versatile and fabulous wardrobe. The best part is that she has moved beyond bland neutrals and has successfully integrated colors and patterns without ending up with a closet full of one-hit wonders. We picked her brain to find out how she buys clothes that can be remixed with the rest of her closet, and how she puts outfits together.

SB: What is the most versatile item in your wardrobe?

A: Oh, this is a hard one! I think it’d either have to be my mustard cardigan or my floral tank. Those two pieces go with nearly anything!

mustard cardigan – J.Crew, floral tank – Quicksilver

SB: What’s your starting point when you’re building an outfit?

A: I usually start with the bottom half. I naturally tend to stick with skinny jeans and a cute top, so in an attempt to vary my outfits I now start with the bottom half so that I’m not always defaulting to regular old jeans.

SB: What’s your favorite base outfit and how do you give it more character?

A: My favorite is a cute top and jeans, and I usually change it up with different colored blazers,

How to Successfully Purge Your Wardrobe – Q&A with Katie Anderson of modern-eve.com

Nostalgia has always kept me throwing away old clothes, even when I know they’re past their prime. And even though I know it’s irrational to hang on to old t-shirts from my stint as a cheerleader in high school, until recently I had trouble letting go. My problems were solved when I came across an amazing chart created by Katie Anderson that’s seriously the best method for editing down any wardrobe. I sat down with her to chat about how to remove unnecessary items from my closet.

SB: You made an amazing graphic on how to edit your wardrobe. What are some of the benefits of periodically purging your closet?

K: Regularly purging your closet not only simplifies your dressing routine, but will also contribute to looking and feeling better about yourself. Getting rid of clothes that don’t fit or flatter, are outdated, or

Holiday Party Dress How-To – Q&A with Christa Spengeman of Bow & Drape

It’s the time of year when our mailboxes fill up with invitations to all kinds of holiday and New Year’s Eve parties…office parties, house parties, cocktail parties. It’s exciting – but sometimes challenging – to find the perfect dress. Christa, from made-to-order dressmakers Bow & Drape, sat down to explain how to pick the right dress for your body and how to deal with winter weather without  sacrificing your style.

SB: What dress shapes are best according to body type?

C:

• Hourglass - The Jackie is perfect for an hourglass shape. The silhouette is designed to accentuate curves.
• Pear - The Michelle Swing is beautiful on a pear shape figure. The combination of the full skirt and the fitted top is an interesting contrast.
• Apple - The Twiggy is well-suited and flattering for apple figures. This 60′s-inspired shift dress is a simple and chic look.
• Petite - All our silhouettes have the option to select hem length. For a petite shape, any design with a mini or knee length hem will be ideal.
• Tall - The Diane Maxi is stunning on a tall figure.

sketches of some of the dress styles Bow & Drape offers

SB: What little black dress can I wear to fancy cocktail parties but also to more casual holiday parties? How should I accessorize in both situations?

C: The black Twiggy with a scallop hem and brass beading is a versatile and classic look. For a fancy cocktail party, I would accessorize with a statement necklace and bright colored heels. For a more casual look, I would accessorize with black tights and jewel-toned flats.

LBD – Bow & Drape, necklace – ASOS, blue pumps – Rachel Roy, opaque tights – Ralph Lauren, flats – Madewell

SB: How do I pick the proper skirt length for my body?

C: A good rule of thumb when choosing the hem length on a skirt is where the skirt falls around your

10 Easy Tips To Organize Your Closet – Q&A with Arianna Belle

Arianna Vargas of Arianna Belle Organized Interiors

Keeping your closet organized and clutter-free is easier than you think. Interior and organizational expert Arianna Vargas gave us some tips to help improve even the tiniest city closet on a small budget.

SB: What’s the first thing I should do when starting to organize my closet?

A: Declutter – which basically means edit, edit, edit. Get rid of all the items that no longer suit your style, don’t fit properly, have stains or are too worn out  - generally anything you don’t feel good in. Getting rid of all the clutter will free up valuable space and allow the items you do wear and love room to breathe.

wire laundry hamper - Container Store, pink ruffled laundry bag - UO , drawstring laundry bag - UO , free standing closet - Crate & Barrel

SB: I love a walk-in closet just as much as the next girl, but in the city that’s often not an option. What are some space-saving closet storage tips?

A: In small spaces, maximize vertical space as much as possible. Install shelves and keep out-of-season or less frequently worn items up top. Use hooks on any available wall space for handbags, belts and necklaces.  For shoes, try an over-the-door rack.

over the door shoe rack – Whitmor, coat rack – CB2, wall hooks – Kohl’s, storage bins – Container Store

SB: I often can’t see the forest for the trees when it comes to accessories. Any tips on how to keep small items neatly organized and visible?

A: A hanging organizer with clear pockets like this one is great for separating small items and allowing

4 Ways to Look Stylish This Fall – Guest Post by Anya Sarre, ShoeDazzle Stylist

We’re excited to welcome our latest guest blogger for Style Expert! ShoeDazzle stylist Anya Sarre regularly appears on Entertainment Tonight, The Insider, and the STYLE network, and styles alongside celebrities like Kim Kardashian. She shared with us her secrets on how to update your wardrobe and rock your latest fall purchases.

Anya Sarre ShoeDazzle Stylist

Fashion is a way that we express our personality to the world. The clothing we wear is often a reflection of who we are and how we want others to see us. It is a form of expression that enhances our appearance. The most important thing about clothing and fashion is that whatever we wear, we do it with confidence and comfort. If you wear something that fits your style and feels comfortable, you will look beautiful no matter what brand or designer it is.

Not all fashion trends will suit everyone’s body and personality but confidence is an accessory that everyone should carry with them, regardless of what they are wearing.

• Spice Up Your Daily Routine -

1. Shoes with a small wedge and boots with a mid heel can give you extra height for casual looks.
2. This season’s cap-toe stilettos and wedge boots will look good for nights out. Curvy girls should look for clothes that will showcase their enviable curves. Dare to take advantage of your fashion sense and display yourself and your style.
3. Try pairing colored denim with a ballerina flat or a maxi skirt with thin sweater this fall for the perfect seasonal look with a fraction of the headache.

draped dress - Helmut Lang, silver cuff – TopShop, pointed-toe ankle boot with cutout – ShoeDazzle, open-knit linen sweater - Kain Aire, envelope clutch – Wendy Nichol, maxi skirt – Reiss, ankle strap flats – ShoeDazzle

• A Trendy Pair of Flats  - You want to have a nice pair of flats for days when you will be doing a lot of walking. This fall season, it is all about embellishment. You can purchase ballerina flats with sequins, studs, or beads. Cap-toe ballerina flats or pointy flats are also a huge trend. Another shoe  making a comeback is the slipper, also in a variety of materials, patterns, and of course, embellishments.
  

  Ankle strap cap=toe flats with stud detail – ShoeDazzle

• Colored Skinny Jeans- The uniform for summer was sorbet-colored skinny jeans; this fall, colored jeans are still a big hit. Choose a pair in the fall tone that best suits your

Wardrobe Secrets of a Fashion Blogger – Q&A with Alicia of “Cheetah is the New Black”

In the morning, I usually read my bloglovin’ feed while sipping a cup of tea and I’m amazed that so many bloggers are able to post creative outfits nearly every day. Do they have bottomless closets or are they some how able to figure out how to reuse key pieces over and over? We asked Alicia of Cheetah is the New Black to tell us about the go-to pieces that make her wardrobe go the distance.

portrait courtesy of Cheetah is the New Black

SB: What are the top five clothing pieces your closet wouldn’t be complete without?

A: 1) Leather Jacket 2) Pants 3) Boyfriend Jeans 4) Leopard Print Heels 5) Silk Blouse

leather jacket – Rag & Bone, boyfriend jeans – Current/Elliot, leather pants – Acne, silk blouse – Equipment, leopard heels – Ivanka Trump

SB: What are the most useful wardrobe basics you own? 

A: Classic white and grey t-shirts (Old Navy sells my favorite tee’s at an unbeatable price point) and a great fitting pair of jeans.

t-shirts – Old Navy, outfit photos courtesy of Cheetah is the New Black

SB: How do you use them?

A: I like to pair dressier separates (e.g. skirts and pants) with a simple tee, or my boyfriend jeans with

20 ways to spot authentic designer vintage – Q&A with Joseph Mazzola of Hello La Mode

A few years ago I found what I thought was a killer Louis Vuitton camera case at a vintage shop. Sadly, a friend of mine pointed out that it lacked lining and actually had a plastic zipper – it was a fake. Of course I was mortified and ever since I’ve been leery about purchasing designer goods secondhand. With all of the designer resale sites popping up, I’ve been tempted to try buying a vintage bag again but I want a little reassurance that what I’m buying is real. Luckily, Hello La Mode has experts that confirm the authenticity of every item sold through the site. We spoke with their expert Joseph about how to spot the real deal!

photo of Joseph: Fichera Fotography

SB: Can you give specific tips on how you can tell if a luxury handbag is authentic for each of the following brands: Chanel, Coach, and Prada?

J: Chanel bags are the third most replicated designer brand in the world. Some details to look out for when purchasing a second hand Chanel bag are the stitching.  

1. Stitching should be consistently even and about 6 stitches per Inch.
2. The top hook of the right C will always interlock with the left C and not the other way around.
3. Whenever possible, ask for the certificate of authenticity.
4. Chanel puts a hologram on the inside of their handbags and has done so since 1988. These holograms feature a Chanel logo and serial number that will match the one on the certificate of authenticity. If you try to remove one of these hologram seals, they will come off in pieces and make a mess.

chain strap purse: Chanel

Coach products have become very popular to reproduce recently. Even large stores have started carrying “Coach-like” bags. 

1. The letter on a Coach bag will always be a double “C” – not a “G” or “O”. The “C’s” will always be in an even row lining up into the center of the bag. The “C’s” will also be in doubles, not alternating with every other one in an opposite direction.
2. Coach dust bags will always be a deep chocolate color with a red drawstring.The Coach logo and