I had the privilege of hitting up the Barneys Warehouse sale with LA stylist Lizzie Curtis who has styled for the likes of Nylon, Target, GQ and Converse. While shopping Lizzie gave me the inside scoop on how to shop the most anticipated sale of the season without feeling overwhelmed.
Here are her tips for successful purchasing and getting through this massive event alive.
1.) Assess your closet before you go. Figure out what is lacking in your wardrobe and plan on getting solely those items to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
2.) Get there bright and early on the first day (if possible)
3.) The back bins are generally where you can find the “good stuff” – don't forget to check them out!
4.) Figure out a method for trying on before hand. Leggings that you can pop items over or a loose skirt works great for an open dressing room situation. Footwear that is easy to slide in and out of is a must!
5.) Use your friends to help you edit pieces as you try them on as mirrors are sometimes scarce; and always try things on because pieces may be defective and/or be sized wrong, stained, etc!
6.) Always consider that a fantastic piece can be altered if the price is right, but don't assume altering will make the piece perfect!
Lizzie Curtis with avid BW shopper Cheryl Spotted! Closet Couture's very own Kelli Wallace!
I couldn't get enough of this girl Ashley, a fashion student at the Art Institute who promised herself only ONE purchase and boy did she make a great one. She snagged these amazing red Louboutins and had the right idea by wearing leggings to try things on over!
Face it, no one has a cuter closet than designer Erin Fetherston. It’s fanciful. It’s dressy. And it’s totally Erin – there's even a glittery mouse mask! A lot of us first met Erin when her Erin Fetherston line appeared at Target ('member the heart-shaped tote? Love it!) and, today, are still totally enamored with her classic-meets-pixie designs.
We caught up with Erin this month to talk first-fashion memories, style icons and fashion SKELETONS in the closet:
1) How would you describe your personal style? Which designers rule your closet, besides your own? I think my personal style is feminine with an edge. My closet is full of Erin Fetherston clothing, and also a lot of vintage clothing. When it comes to accessories I stick with vintage Chanel handbags and Miu Miu shoes.
2) Whom or what do you look to for design inspiration? I find inspiration everywhere, from everyday things to more researched imagery. I constantly look to film, art, and the many inspiring female friends I have in my life to inspire me.
3) Why did you start out in Paris? And what prompted you to come back to NYC to work? I went to Parsons in Paris and ended up starting my collection there. Paris will always be very special to me, but New York is the center of the universe in terms of fashion. I really moved back to the US to grow my collection and my business.
4) How do you design? What is your process? After every collection I have to hide away and escape from the world for a little bit to find my inspiration for the next season. I do a lot of reading and I watch a lot of old films, and once I find the heart of my inspiration the collection just sort of evolves from there.
5) Tell us about your first fashion memory – how did you get hooked? I got to attend my first fashion show when I was 18. It was a Calvin Klein fashion show at Milk Studios and after the show was over the beautiful models of that time like Amber Valletta and Shalom Harlow were just hanging out, draped on the sofas drinking champagne and I think I was totally seduced by the glamour and decadence of it.
6) What is your fashion skeleton in your closet? Something that you just cannot part with no matter how out of date, etc…. Havaiana flip flops….once summer comes around, there is no resisting them.
7) Favorite accessory that you have? My heart shaped tote bag that I designed for Target.
How do you like to shop? Do you prefer going with friends or alone or having things sent to you? I like going alone. 9) What is your favorite city to shop in and what are your favorite stores / haunts there? I love vintage shopping on the west coast, when I’m on a vintage tour I go from LA, to San Francisco, to Portland. My favorite store of all is Shareen’s in Los Angeles.
10) Who are your personal style icons? Jane Birkin, Bianca Jagger, Catherine Deneuve, Lou Doillon, Tinkerbell (always need 1 part fairy in a good outfit) 12) What is your favorite kind of event to get dressed for? I absolutely love dressing up, so any sort of red carpet event or cocktail party is always fun to dress up for.
13) What’s the usual Erin Fetherston outfit for casual dinner with friends? An Erin Fetherston dress, opaque black tights (depending on the season), and a great pair of heels. 14) What do you love about Closet Couture? Closet couture offers such a unique and personal perspective on style!
Don't forget to style an outfit for Erin from her closet – Make sure you are following her, then go to the Create a Look link under My Closet. Then, Switch Closets into ErinFetherston, and make an outfit for Erin using one or more pieces from her closet. You can add in any other items from other closets to finish the look! Save the look as “For Erin” and you are entered to win the cutest dress ever! Good luck, and may the styling fairies be with you!
Blame it on my beloved red cowgirl boots that I fell in love with at age six, but there’s something so genuinely stylish about cowgirl boots that it gets me every time. Come fall, boots are those coveted and exquisite accessory that have the ability to transcend all style expectations and take you from the crisp autumn days of fall to the dead of winter. While there are a plethora of low-heeled ankle boots this fall varying from the tough chic of motorcycle boots to the more relaxed leather booties accompanied by an assortment of hardware such as buckles, studs, and straps, cowgirl boots evoke a certain nostalgic aesthetic that never seems to be outdated. Styled with jeans or paired with a vintage belted dress, with cowgirl boots it’s all about the attitude and creativity.
My track record for lacking the proper attention and care regarding my clothes made me particularly interested when I was approached by The Laundress, a company spearheaded by two female entrepreneurs who saw the need for creating a luxury fabric care and specialty detergent line. Declared to take the ‘chore out of laundry,’ I was more than willing to test a few of their products. (‘Frustration’ and ‘struggle’ are two associations that come to mind when thinking about the process of laundry.) The result is that these women have mastered the art of laundry with a balance of the eco-friendly science of their products and the convenience of a complete line of detergent that equips you for any situation (i.e. specific detergents for specific fabric needs.) My favorites are the Denim Wash, the Delicate Wash in baby scent, and their new All-Purpose Bleach Alternative. In the midst of marathon training for fall, I'm particularly obsessed with their new detergents targeted for keeping sports gear and exercise clothes clean: Sport Detergent and Sport Spray. In other words, if you could ever go green and simultaneously do your laundry in class and style, it would most certainly be encapsulated by The Laundress' solution for any laundry-related dilemma. http://www.thelaundress.com/
It really is that time of year, already, isn’t it? Back to work, back to school, back to everything…..
In the spirit of the 7th grade, where I reached some sort of peak in the frenzy of back to school shopping, I have been looking around for some less expensive pieces that I can add to the wardrobe that makes me feel like I am coming back to work new and improved (even if colleagues saw me on Friday!).
I picked these items because they all mix well with the ubiquitous black pencil skirt or trouser, or even better, heather gray pieces. (Gray is big right now – take note!)
Here is what I found – the price exception is with shoes…. Because I got all caught up in the Rachel Zoe picks for Piperlime.
From top, Left to Right:
Juicy Couture Elephant Charm Bracelet: click here to buy or for more info
Marc by Marc Jacobs Patent flat: click here to buy or for more info
Elisabeth and James Summer Blazer: click here to buy or for more info
Betsey Johnson Leopard Pump: click here to buy or for more info
LaRok Rooftop Ruffle Top: click here to buy or for more info
Giuseppe Zanotti Pewter Pump: click here to buy or for more info
T by Alexander Wang Grey Sleeveless T-Shirt: click here to buy or for more info
CourtneyGrace wouldn’t be caught dead wearing sweatpants. Period. No intern at Vogue who embraces the nuances of la bella figura would. But it’s what she does wear that’s really of interest to us at Closet Couture, which is why she gets to be a fashion editor here and post on our blog. Or, rather, why we are lucky enough to see into her closet!
Brace yourselves, fashion lovers! We have big things on tap for next week.
Fabulous and gorgeous designer Erin Fetherston will be our guest editor for next weekend’s styling contest! All you have to do is use at least one of the pieces in her closet in an outfit, and title it “For Erin” and she will pick her favorite outfit on Sunday night. The winner will get this beautiful dress from Erin’s new collection!
Start following Erin now by clicking here and you will have access to her closet in your dressing room. Get ready, get styling, and…. Wait for it…. Til next week…!
We will announce it officially next week for that weekend's contest in our newsletter next Wednesday.
After a recent purchase of yet another menswear inspired blazer, I knew it had come time to share with you all my current obsession with incorporating menswear into my wardrobe. From the runways to the streets here in the Big Apple, I’ve been inspired by the infinite ways a tailored blazer can add glamour, sophistication, and structure to create an instantly polished ensemble that is decidedly both feminine and smart. Similar to the LBD, a tailored blazer is a magic garment in any women’s wardrobe that can instantly transform an outfit. Mix in bold jewelry, boyfriend jeans, soft makeup, killers heels- the variables are endless. After a preview of some fall collections, the addition of feminine details like puff sleeves and peplum silhouettes thrown into the mix add a particularly structured feminine chic and smart sexiness about them. In my fantasy world of fashion heroines, she would currently be wearing a blazer of the like.
Here are some ways I’ve been incorporating this magical little garment: 1. Upgrade your jeans: Yesterday I wore a tailored black blazer with white jeans and lace up ankle boots, similar to Shopbop's Elizabeth and James Elizabeth IV Blazer. Pairing a blazer with boyfriend jeans is also another interesting dimension for a more downtown ensemble. 2. Mix with feminine pieces: Play with girly hemlines and floral prints. Try pairing a blazer with a floral dress for a bit of structure. I'd pair this Parker Floral Cami Dress from Shopbop with this Theory's Gratian Blazer. The juxtaposition of feminine/masculine elements of dressing are fresh and very fun. This is a great example of the way a blazer can transition seasons. As evenings become coolor, a tailored blazer with a feminine dress is a great way to simultaneously style an outfit and be prepared for cooler temperatures. 3. For a bit of sophistication: Match a blazer with a sharp pair of trousers. I'd suggest these Theory Fraine Pants from Shopbop with the same Theory Gratian Blazer for smart office dressing. For a sophisticated glam look, I'd pair this blazer with a bodycon inspired dress, such as Rag & Bone's Pipe Dress with a blazer longer in length and a burst of color like this Elizabeth and James 'James' Blazer in red. 4. Feminine details: Take advantage of this season’s trends by incorporating blazers with feminine details, like this Puff Sleeve Pleat Blazer from Armani Exchange. 5. Sequins: Finally, and last but not least, for the stylishly adventurous: Robert Rodriguez's Sequin Jacket.
How do you like to shop? Do you prefer going with friends or alone or having things sent to you?
