​It’s been quite some time since I’ve blogged, and I apologize. I’ve been laying low with my 17- year old daughter here in Phoenix during Covid-19. Unfortunately, the Pandemic numbers are on the incline here due somewhat I’m sure to the Memorial Day weekend parties and protests for George Floyd’s painful death. On top of all of this negativity the Political bantering has gotten so out of control. Sad, challenging times for sure. My heart goes out to so many.
 
Even though it is really hard to focus on what is good in our world, we've been trying  to do our best each day. Emma and I have had hard conversations. It’s not easy parenting a 17- year old cooped up with her mom. I’m the most uncool mom out there if you ask her. Regardless, we’ve cried, laughed, yelled, baked, hugged and played Scrabble. I sometimes question my parenting skills, but I keep chugging along day by day trying to be a loving, compassionate human and role model. Being a parent is the hardest job out there don’t kid yourself.
 
As a Wardrobe Stylist, unfortunately all of my work disappeared on March 16th. I was working for on a 5-day commercial shoot on The Salt River and Dreamy Draw Mountain in Phoenix. I remember pinching myself that day, saying “I love what I do, I’m so darn lucky.“ 
 
Then things changed. Due to the Coronavirus,  were sent home in the rain and the crew flew home early.
 
It got a bit harry when I got home and friends/family in NY were calling and very upset about the virus spreading so quickly. I hadn’t seen any news in a week. I quickly got very worried about my 87-year old parents that live on their own in Upstate NY. My dad has compromised health. Plus my husband Dan was working in Seattle Washington (where the epicenter of Covid-19 started.) and was trying to get a transfer back to AZ. That miraculously did happen. My daughter’s school closed, prom was cancelled, and she finished 11th grade online. Luckily her dance studio offered live-stream dance classes. This helped with her sanity and mine too. Lots to swallow and my story is better than most. 
 
Today, I’ve decided to focus on recharging my personal batteries and focus on the good.
 
Here’s what I’ve learned during the Pandemic. 
1. It’s important to continue to learn one thing new each day. 
I took a 7 week-class online class @ The MoMA called Fashion as Design. I learned a lot about what really goes into how a garment is made and how I can do my part in the world to purchase more sustainable clothing brands and recycle more. I will share future learnings with you in another post.

2. Kindness matters more now than ever. Pretty basic value. Lift each other up people!

3. You don’t need as many shoes as you think you do. Take inventory and downsize. The best things in life are the simple things. Love, joy, family, friends and laughter. Music too.

What have you learned today?

​Nowadays, so many companies do things for shock value. Wardrobe is a prominent way to make a bold statement and stand out from the crowd. It helps shape the aesthetic of a company. This concept can be personal as well. People want change, they want innovation. The idea of straying from the mainstream is something we become more comfortable and excited about as we enter adulthood.
 
This is exactly why I’ve chosen to focus on funky shoes this week. There is without a doubt no lack of substance out there in the world when it comes to this category. After doing a little research, I’ve chosen to focus on something a little more subtle. Some trends as of late that I’ve noticed have be transparent heels, platform wedges and sneakers, and the revival of mules. Shoe companies are doing something very different. Shoes allow a field of creativity that other segments do not.
 
This week’s posts have focused on different mules because I thought this was a great avenue to explore. If you had a chance to look, you would have seen that they featured metallics, velvet, and leather. I even found a few designed with mesh. Can you afford not to follow this great trend? My particular love for this design is that it fits seamlessly regardless of age group. There is also a particular ease of transition between formal and casual settings that mules allow. 

If you guys have seen my posts this week, you know it’s been a week filled with hattitude and vintage hats! I found lots of inspiration from Queen Elizabeth’s vast collection as well as other royal families. The Duchess of Cambridge has been my favorite. I’ve been having so much fun playing dress up with these timeless, classy, and eclectic pieces. Especially for those of you who have ever attended the Kentucky Derby or plan to, this blog is for you.

In lieu of this, I thought we might indulge with a review of some of the Duchess’s best hat moments!

For Prince Philip’s 90th Birthday celebration service at Windsor on June 10, 2011, Kate wore a straw cocktail hat in cornflower blue with split back brim and silk flowers. Kate looks fantastic in blue and this hat and coat ensemble was just beautiful on her.

To celebrate Canada Day in Ottawa on July 1, 2011, Kate sported a red cocktail hat with a straw disk base trimmed with round straw disk flowers and a spray of maple leaves. It was a thoughtful homage to her Canadian hosts and Kate looked full of true patriot love!

For Zara Phillips’ wedding to Mike Tindall in Edinburgh on July 31, 2011, Kate wore a much larger hat than she usually chooses. While some dubbed this the “Potato Chip Hat”, I loved the unique shape and the cabbage rose trim that made it dramatic and fun.

For Christmas Day church services in 2011 while at Sandringham with the Royal Family, Kate wore a beautiful burgundy velvet modified trilby with ruffled back and satin piping. The colour was gorgeous and the velvet was absolutely perfect for Christmas.

For the Diamond Jubilee Garden Party at Buckingham Palace on May 29, 2012, Kate wore a pale pink hat with small, upturned brim. I particularly liked the asymmetrical brim and lace trim on Kate as it framed her features well.

Here's to another year of hat wearing and all of the big events that go with it!

​Continuing on my boot craze, this week's blog is centered around fantastic boots for Fall. Fall is just around the corner and it’s almost time to bring out those boots we’ve tucked away in the back of our closets. Before winter strikes and you need your ultra-thick and warm boots it’s time for you to play with a little color, height and design.
I love a chunky stacked heel on boots that give it subtle character; chunky, cool, not too sexy, yet killer boots. Boots are the perfect “go to” for many upcoming Fall outfits because they don’t have any distracting embellishments and usually have a great neutral color thus they go with many looks.
I’ve found that Free People tends to fabricate gorgeous booties which are typically leather and come in many unique styles. I love wearing the "Dark Horse Ankle Boot", with a little bit of two-toned patterns running through it. These retail for around $178.
A must-have for this Fall is a pair of boots with heels. Why not try a platform boot with leather, wood and color-blocking? You know what they say; “a girl can never have too many shoes!” It’s soo true. Another fun boot is the "Jordanna" platform boot by Dolce Vita available at Free People for $238.50. Wear these with jeans or a skirt and you just might feel like a million bucks.
Feeling a little more designer? Treat yourself to a pair of "Clemence Burberry" rain boots; they're divine! You can hop from the puddle to dinner in these charming boots! Also available at Nordstrom for $385.60.
Lastly, we can’t talk about awesome leather boots without mentioning The Frye Company. They’ve been around since 1863 and they are known for their extraordinary leathers and craftsmanship. The Sabrina Chelsea boot (as featured on our Instagram) is a great classic. These boots will last many years and remain one of your favorites.

It’s Fall. Isn’t it time you invest in yourself for a little extra skip in your step. Nothing feels as good as slipping into a pair of boots that give you a new swagger.
 Jaci- The Wardrobe Stylist

​The biggest trend to watch for this season is plaid.  Plaid in every shape and form. Plaid evokes emotion, is traditional and classic. This season’s plaid is fun and colorful!

Menswear plaid is going to be showing up on every sales floor. It’s a lovely trend. Nothing like a menswear-inspired plaid blazer with a solid T or dress shirt. It's a whole new look that I am loving for men This Fall.

With Womenswear, I enjoy combining feminine and edgy.  A plaid blazer trend does exactly that. Not only does wearing this look make you look cool, but you also look put together. This trend isn’t ONLY going to be in the form of blazers. We’ll be seeing this pattern in dresses, pants, skirts...you name it! 

It’s a tomboy chic look that most anyone can pull off. For example…I like to combine my favorite plaid blazer with a pair of destructed jeans and some heels to play up the femininity a bit more. You can however wear blazers with sneakers and look just as chic.

Grab this look while you can so you’re ahead of the trend. Trust me — your friends will be jealous of your cool look and try to emulate it ASAP! Hint: Zara carries some of the cutest plaid coats I’ve seen. Look for Zara's "tartan" coat as featured on our instagram!

Jaci- The Wardrobe Stylist

As hard as it is for me to say this, this time of year I start to think about the fall season ahead and prep my wardrobe accordingly. With the Nordstrom sale in the dead of summer, it’s the perfect time to pick up a few key pieces for fall and then supplement with any other pieces in the weeks up to fall. 
This time around at the Nordstrom sale I stuck to core basics: denim, tees, booties, and one coat. This AG pair of jeans is actually the pair I scooped up and have already worn them several times. The crop length is perfect for high waist pants, and I love the more casual boyfriend style. In the fall, this relaxed style is perfect to pair with oversized cozy cardigans too for that put together but ultra cozy feel. I grabbed my current favorite Free People cardigan (also from Nordstrom) to pair with this all neutral, classic look. 
Free People is one of my favorite brands ever and I love their selection at Nordstrom.. huge variety, while racking up the Nordstrom points for rewards, plus free shipping – can’t beat that! This casual luxe cardigan + jeans combo will be on repeat all through fall, for sure. And cardigans aren’t going anywhere anytime soon! Take advantage of the good ones while they’re in stock. I keep seeing this sweater pop up all over social media now, so I’m sure it will fly out of stock soon! 
Have fun shopping enjoy the “retail therapy!”