In the dog days of summer (which we are fully in here on the East Coast) I think it's easy to get a little lazy with laundry and dry cleaning given we are running around looking for ways to shed layers and keep cool. In between weekend trips anywhere there is water or shade, the work week takes an extra toll as the days heat up and we are out and about. Trinity Rose, a personal stylist and image consultant, as well as Closet Couture stylist, whipped up this quick reminder list of how to make sure your clothes make it through the summer looking their best.

Dry Cleaning: It's definitely worth using a “Green” dry cleaner instead of a regular dry cleaner. Its better for your health and clothes – but don't expect miracles – they still use lots of bad chemicals so dry clean sparingly – and any cleaners will age the life of clothing. Better is to do it yourself with a home kit like Dryel, available here, so you can do it for less money and with fewer harsh chemicals. Save the professionals for the truly big jobs.

Machine Washing: As a general rule, machine wash clothing using cold water and dry on low or line dry: hot water is the number one reason clothes fade, shrink and age. And don't forget HE (High Efficiency) detergent for your washer so it doesn't get too soapy and start to mildew in the summer heat.

Delicates: Hand wash all dedicates (and some dry clean only items) in cold water with a natural mild detergent and line dry or block dry. Lingerie can be washed, of course, but so can favorite t-shirts or jeans, so go crazy with the Woolite!

Stain Removal and Fabric Brightener: OxiClean, as seen on TV, is an inexpensive and eco-friendly cleaning agent that I love because it brightens whites, removes dinginess and brings old color clothing back to life. Be sure to pre-make the Oxi Clean solution first by dissolving it with warm water (one Oxi scoop per gallon of water). Available here.

Pilling and Lint: One of my pet peeves is lint or pilling on garments (guaranteed to make even the nicest dress look ratty). Make sure you have a lint roller on hand and always take the time to rid of any pilling, lint etc, before walking out the door. A good trick to remove pilling that won't come off with just a lint roller alone, is to take a razor and gently (carefully!!) shave off the pills. Don't be tempted to pull them off, your clothing will snag and it can ruin an item.

Re-soling your favorite shoes: Try to take your shoes into a good shoe repair man once a season, or at least before the soles wear down too much. I have had some of my favorite boots for over 5 years which I wear all the time and I am on sole number 3 for them. It has made the investment into a quality pair of shoes well worth it and they still look great. Summer is the perfect time to take all your fall and winter shoes into the shop while you won't miss them.

Tailor TLC: Summer is also a good time to take your garments to a good tailor. Any sagging hemlines or snagged sweaters or items that still don't fit quite right can be freshened and fixed. Plus, I always like to shorten dresses or skirts depending on how hot it is… sometimes a new dress is in your closet in the form of an old dress that can get a facelift and look terrific.

Remember our stylist rule of thumb: Attention to the little things makes a big impact. Have a great, green summer! xx Trinity Rose

Photo by Tracy Morford

Win a School Of Style Scholarship!

Love rock and roll? Love fashion? We love both, which is why we are excited to announce a styling contest with School Of Style, the place to learn the basics of becoming a celebrity and red carpet stylist. Founded by Luke Storey, celebrity stylist, School Of Style is best known for styling some of music's top artists including No Doubt and Marilyn Manson…. Luke dresses rock and Hollywood royalty.

But now, Luke wants to see how YOU would style your favorite musical artist. The best outfit will win a scholarship to School Of Style, the world's first and only school for aspiring fashion stylists.

Details: From July 6 through July 12th, members can style an outfit that is inspired by their favorite rock and roll music artist. The looks will be judged by celebrity stylist and founder of School Of Style, Luke Storey. School Of Style has provided some of their favorite pieces to get you started. The member who creates the best outfit will win a scholarship to School Of Style's Class 1 in either New York City or Los Angeles (winner's choice).

Prize: The grand prize is a scholarship to School Of Style Class 1 in either New York or Los Angeles, which is a weekend-long workshop that prepares students for a career in wardrobe/fashion styling. Valued at $375*.

To Enter:

Remember Daniel Vosovic on Project Runway? He stole my fashion heart with his orchid-inspired ensemble which Michael Kors described as so chic….. and now he is back showing in NYC at Exit Art this afternoon. Daniel's presentation was lovely and not a traditional show format – rather he had his model's all out on risers and the guests could walk amongst them and really see the clothes. And what a lovely selection.

Above are some of my favorites, including my most most favorite look, the gray shawl lapel coat and trouser suit. This would look great on just about everyone, no matter your age or body shape. The black short sleeved suit is also a winner – with a shirt beneath the jacket for those not into the whole bare tummy thing (like me).

The marbled silks (like the rust-colored ones above) were beautiful in it's craftsmanship, but might be harder to incorporate day to day. The overall collection was lovely and chic, and very wearable. How would you wear these looks?

(Photo of the designer is top)

Fall's strong shoulder, though not for the meek, by no means requires one to channel Star Trek, Joan Collins, Working Girl or otherwise be a victim of the fashion way-back machine.

Smythe's puff-sleeve equestrian blazer presents a sillhouette that inspired a the Closet Couture team to style in both classic and trendier ways.

Kelli, our style editor, worked in stirrup pants and a black turtleneck (we LOVE turtlenecks this fall) and used accessories to make her look stay totally “now.”

Alyson went for a classic take on the jacket in order to let the fresh details of the piece stand out.

Chris put together this look: “this jacket reminds me too much of one I had as a kid – I could never get away from it, it was Ralph Lauren and I never could figure out how to make it my own. This is my grown up attempt, but I think I am back where I started. But I like the hat with it.”

Ashley: I am loving the mix of brown and black here and am channeling a bit of Blair Waldorf with this look.

The new pant: it's perfectly draped, probably tapered, definitely pleated and surprisingly wearable, with styling that's at once fresh and classic. Pull them up your calves with heels. Wear them long with flats. Tuck them into boots. Pair them with tailored tops or slouchy, luxe knits. See where I'm going with this? They're capital-V versatile, even though they have capital-A a lot going on. Kind of like you. Which is why they're perfect for everyone. And every body. See how the Closet Couture team works their “new pant” … and make your own look by borrowing them from my closet!

Just add them to your closet and style them into a outfits. Here's where to find them >>

Alyson (Product): Here's what I'd do with them… I'm all over this season's time-machine-like freedom. So why not pair the new trouser with a vintage scarf top and “tomorrow's” heels (these United Nude ones are designed by architect Rem Koolhaas – they're like buildings for your feet)! And toss in a little 80s-inspired lime-neon leather, courtesy of Marcy Marc.

Ashley (Art Director): I went for a classic take on the peg leg but jazzed it up a bit SJP style with surprising accessories like this miu miu pin!

Chris (Founder of CC!): These remind me of my old peg leg fold jeans but I like how tough and fresh the overall feel is. I stayed with navy and black for this one (super chic!)

Aihui's look (Aihui is our awesome tech star): As fall approaches, summer dresses are not the best option for chilly fall nights but yet I'm not willing to part with them! To have the best of both worlds, I would wear my summer dress with a pair of slouchy pants. It's chic but more importantly, the pants keep my legs warm!!!

Marc Jacob's Cartoon Paisley Bag

We adore the whimsy of this Marc Jacobs Cartoon Paisley bag, both in the pattern and mixed media approach… Velvet AND chains AND leather! It's pop with a whiff of gypsy and a soupçon of rocker. Since this is the fall of layering trends on trends, we wanted to see what the chics at Closet Couture would do with a “mixed messages” piece.

What would YOU do with it? Find it here to style your own look: Marc Jacobs Cartoon Paisley Bag >>

If you want to share your outfit, click the Embed <> button and paste the message board code into a comment to this post!

Alyson's Look (Alyson works on the user experience at Closet Couture): “Fall in L.A. and other warm climes just means your clothes get darker and there might be some heavier fabrics like velvet and a boot… but you're still working with short hemlines and bare arms.”

Kelli's Look (Kelli's a style editor at Closet Couture): “Wacky Wednesday is all about taking colored accessories to the next level. I am really into pairing neutral colored apparel and shoes, with brightly colored accessories. I took the accent colors of the Marc Jacobs bag (Magenta/Purple) and paired it with gold based accessories to complete my Wacky wednesday look!”

Look from Chris, CC's CEO (that's Chic Executive Officer to you): “I got overwhelmed by the colors so I paired it with white and navy for a crisp take”

Look from Ellen, who does operations at Closet Couture: Given the colorful and patterned bag, I was happy to work with my favorite look of all – monochromatic black, with simple lines and great structure. But, I love the little bit of funk the look gets back with the large cuff and the tiny earrings that bring back the wild pattern of the bag.”

Art Director Ashley's Look: I love the idea of mixing the paisley with stripes and letting the bag add a pop of color!

My personal belief is that the statement ‘the grass is always greener on the other side’ can be perfectly applied to fashion; in the heat of summer adorned head to toe in crisp whites and vibrant shades of the season I’ve caught myself on more than one occasion longing for the darker, edgier shades of fall. Longing for a bit more- the ‘je ne sais quoi’ that can only be delivered through a black LBD, suede chocolate brown leather boots, or even say, a silk charcoal blouse. Perhaps it’s the cyclical change of seasonal collections that brings creative energy into both our wardrobes and lives, but I must say, the colors of this fall are worth the wait. The traditional blacks and grays of fall are updated with sumptuous fabrics like velvet, suede, silk and leather become quite non-traditional with detailing such as embellishments, studs, and cutouts. While some collections were almost exclusively grounded in black, the colors of fall offer wonderful contrasts with a neutral inspired palette and injections of rich hues like berry reds and jewel tones. So here are fall’s 5 standout colors, as well as some of my favorite items from our retailers in this season’s color trends…

Gunmetal Grey- The widespread influences of charcoal, metallic, slate and iron inspired hues makes gunmetal grey the new black of the season. Gunmetal grey is a strong yet understated color that can be both sophisticated and trendy all at the same time. What I love about grey is that although it is such a timeless neutral, this season it is shown in completely unconventional ways. Favorite Picks: My Shop's 'Roger Pants' @ Shopbop, Chloe's Silk Batwing Blouse @ Saks Fifth Avenue, James Perse Clean Drape tank with racer back @ Shopbop, LaROK Studded Pocket Cardigan @ Nordstrom

Nude- This season rich neutrals set the stage for designers to play with textures like a leather camel coat at Bottega Veneta, a timeless tweed suit at Ralph Lauren, or even a luxurious camel coat at MaxMara. Neutral skin and leather tones were a heavy influence on accessories and the ‘nude’ color trend ran the color spectrum varying from light beige all the way to a dark cognac. Favorite items: Donna Karan's Belted Double-Breasted Coat @ Saks Fifth Avenue, MICHAEL Michael Kors Drop Shoulder Sweater @ Nordstrom, Prada lace-up ankle boots @ Saks Fifth Avenue

American Beauty Red- American Beauty Red (ABR) blanketed the runways this season in crimson coats at Giambattista Valli and Prada and exquisite burgundy suits at Lanvin. ABR is a flattering ‘true’ red as I like it call it. The rich and deep hues of ABR are neither too severe nor too over the top to inject a sophisticated burst of color into your wardrobe this fall. Although I’d recommend saving ABR for a stand out items or an investment piece such as a coat. And don’t forget to consider a little rouge for your maquillage this fall. Top ABR picks: Suzi Chin Maggy Boutique Stretch Charmeuse Sheath Dress @ Nordstrom, Tory Burch's Mathias Melton Split-Neck Coat @ Saks Fifth Avenue, Marc by Marc Jacobs Twisted Q Riz Bag @ Shopbop

Black- Failing to mention black as a stand out color this fall would literally be leaving you in the dark. While black exclusively prevailed on the runways with designers like Calvin Klein, Lanvin, and Vera Wang, this season it is all about the textures and fabrics. Embellishments, studs, and hardware for accessories- the theme is black re-invented via details. Top items: Vince's 3/4 Sleeve Boyfriend Blazer @ Shopbop, Just Cavalli Cut-Out Dress @ Saks Fifth Avenue, Diane von Furstenberg 'Nanni' Dress @ Nordstrom, Proenza Schouler Motorcycle Booties @ Shopbop

Majolica Blue- Out of all the jewel tones that painted this season’s grey, neutral, and mostly black canvas this fall, Majolica blue is a cross between teal blue, navy, and cobalt blue- it is a vibrant and exotic blue that adds a little more vibrancy than your traditional navy. Mixed with neutral colors or on its own, majolica blue evokes a sophisticated chic vibe with a unique factor that makes the color so attractive. Favorite picks: Isabel Lu 'Chloe' Ruffle top in Moroccan blue @ Nordstrom, Burberry's Packaway Coat @ Saks Fifth Avenue, Geren Ford's Ruffle neck top @ Shopbop

Cutout booties are EVERYWHERE this season. “What happens when it rains?”-type questions aside, working the bootie can be a challenge. A tapered or cropped leg favors this shoe sillhouette as do skirts and dresses. The Closet Couture chics' looks run the gamut from classic to rocker.

Look from Chris, CC's CEO (that's Chic Executive Officer to you): “My goal was to take these booties uptown and make them Park Avenue rock n'roll”

Look from Ellen, who does operations at Closet Couture: I love the simple chic of this booty, and immediately was drawn to pair it with something else leather, which I found in the jacket. Then I wanted a statement-making dress that would hold its own but bring the right amount of femininity, especially when paired with just a few accessories in a soft coral color.

Helmut, how do we love thee? Let us count the ways… by styling your minimalist chic jersey hooded dress in the way that we would wear it if given the chance.

More Helmut Lang…

As you check out how we'd wear this dress, imagine would YOU style it? Would you go uptown? Downtown? Preppy town? You can make outfits and leave them as a COMMENT on this post! It's easy. Here's how>>
1. Copy the dress to your closet here: Link to dress >>
2. Style your outfit… SAVE it.
3. Click the button that says “Embed”.

4. Choose from the 3 outfit layouts.
5. Copy the code for a “Message Board” and paste it in the comments… your outfit will show up here!

Outfit by Alyson, Product Designer at Closet Couture: “I love gold accessories with gray knits. Does that make me a contratian?”

Look by Kelli, Style Editor at Closet Couture: “I decided this would be best worn on a foggy Monday when there is no visible sun in the sky. The sleeve length is perfect for a grey mid-week workday, when you have a casual lunch meeting with an important client. Keep it neutral with silver, grey, and black. In addition, I believe you should belt everything that doesn't already have a fabulous shape!”

How Chris, the Founder and CEO of Closet Couture would make her look: “I would wear this every day – I love gray.”

Closet Couture Art Director Ashley's Look: ” I would let the hood hang out over this leather jacket and would pair with a bag with exposed zippers like this Alexander Wang Crossover.”

Ellen's Look (Ellen is Closet Couture's awesome business development person!): I would typically be tempted to pair black with a beautiful gray dress, but given the hoody I wanted it to be paired more casually, so added a big fun pop of color in the belt and bag, and kept the rest of the accessories very understated.

Closet Couture's Tech Star Aihui's Look: “I'm just not into accessories. Period! Maybe because I'm petite or just being paranoid, wearing more than 1 piece of accessory makes me feel like a walking Christmas tree!
I love to express myself in pops of colors, depending on the mood of the day. Red for a hint of sexiness and a touch of playfulness, great color for weekends and parties!”

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.

These are my top 5 cowgirl boots for fall from our retailers:
1. Sam Edelman 'Nile' Ankle Boots @Nordstrom

2. Heather Studded Flat Boots by Cynthia Vincent @Shopbop.

3. Frye Harness Cuff @Zappos.

4. Frye's Deborah Studded Booties @Shopbop

5. Laredo Cowgirl Boot @ Zappos