Outfit Inspiration – New Years Eve

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DRESS (Alternative Option)  |  CLUTCH  |  SHOES

EARRINGS  |  DRESS (Alternative Option)  |  CLUTCH  |  SHOES

CLUTCH  |  EARRINGS  |  SHOES

EARRINGS  |  DRESS (Alternative Option)  |  CLUTCH  |  SHOES

DRESS (Alternative Option)  |  EARRINGS  |  CLUTCH  |  SHOES

 

New Years Eve is just around the corner and, with tons of deliberation, I’m ready! Unlike when you are in your early twenties, dressing for New Year’s Eve tasks on a new meaning in life as a mother. I want to look fun, but not in the way I did back then. Finding a balance between being a big sparkling ball of wonder and looking like a lady of the night is always difficult, so here is what I’ve settled on:

By keeping the glitz and glam away from the main attraction (my dress) and letting it settle on the accessories, you can give off a more sophisticated look on New Years Eve. I also like to move away from the expected on New Year’s Eve. Instead of doing loads of sparkle or sequins until you can’t see straight, go for something a little more subtle, like leather. It still gives a shine but keeps your outfit on the calm side. I am also mindful to keep plunging necklines at bay.

I added my pops of flair in the shoes, using “blush” as my accent color with feathers as a fun touch. Oh, and news flash ladies… These heels are a dream for your feet! Sole Society has a fabulous reputation combining affordability and comfort. This is a must on New Years Eve as we all end up walking way more than expected. And I  of course rounded out my outfit with a handy-dandy clutch! Leave your oversized bags at home please.

Finding the right bag can some times be tough. How much do you really want to carry verses how much you NEED to carry is always the question. This mid-sized bag is great for hauling the essentials. The added gun-metal sheen helps pump up my look just a little more too!

Hope these holiday tips and tricks inspire the confidence you need to look and feel fabulous !

Cheers to a beautiful New Year in 2018!

Jen Young

How To Wear A Hem

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When it comes to jeans most of us know the basics: Length, shade, rise and in-seam. Did you know there is something more to the fit of a jean though? Something that has nothing to do with the denim pants themselves??

 

The deciding factor of pants being a do or a don’t resides in the shoe. That’s right ladies! Shoes once again are the thing that matters most.

 

Ever put on a pant and thought to yourself, “These just don’t look right…”? You’ve worn them a million times before and never had a problem. It is the holidays and all, but you got them buttoned so it isn’t your waistline being the problem.

 

Even if the fit is just right, wearing the wrong shoe with an ill matched hem line can make all the difference in an outfit. Here are a few of my fashion do’s when it comes to hem line / shoes type matches:

 

Hem Frayed

JEAN  |  SHOE

 

Frayed Hem & Heel: The jean that started it all. I recently purchased a pair of frayed jeans like the ones in the photo above. Upon trying them on I had a long conversation with all the sales reps about why they didn’t look just right (but were still something I HAD to buy). They informed me that swapping my flats out for a higher heel would do the trick.

Sure enough, all I needed was to balance the frayed edges with a little pop of height.

 

Hem Cropped

JEAN  |  SHOE

  

Cropped Hem & A Strap: I am honestly not the biggest fan of a cropped hem. Maybe it is PTSD from my pedal pusher days, or perhaps just something I don’t think looks right. Though, if you are going to do a cropped hem jean, the way to do it is by breaking up the lines with more lines!

Pair with a strappy heel to keep the eye going in the right direction.

 

 

Hem Flare

JEAN  |  SHOE

 

Flare Legged Hem & Platform: When it comes to flare legged jeans, the whole point is to elongate. My rule of thumb is to keep the length going as long as you can. Max out on the height with a pair of platform heels or booties.

Stay away from flatter shoes or a lesser heel, it usually gives off a stumpy look.

 

 

Hem Skinny

JEAN  |  SHOE

 

Skinny Leg Hem & Flat: Not so much that it is how you have to wear them, but how you get to wear them! Skinny legged jeans are on the list of those which can be dawned with flats. Since the tailored leg allows for a slender path, it is great for making into a more casual look with a flat.

 

Hem Cuff

JEAN  | SHOE

 

Cuffed Jean & Bootie: A cuff of some sort is always in style. May the cuffs of your jeans be skinny and rolled like the ones shown above, or thick and singular how they are being worm now. The problem with a cuffed jean is that they can easily cut your height in half. The harsh stop often times becomes a distraction, and when not paired with the right shoe can be detrimental (not to be dramatic) to an outfit.

I always suggest wearing a bootie of some sort. It keeps in line with the cut of the cuff but still gives an elongated look when turned to the side.

 

 

So before the next time you slap on a pair of jeans and shoes, take a moment to think, what would your little jean angel do?

 

 

Stylishly yours,

 

Jen Young

 

Holiday Highlight – Haute Exchange

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consignment

 

It’s holiday highlight time again for my favorite stores in the greater Austin area and this one goes out to my lovely friend, Natalie Thorp, Owner of Haute Exchange. Not only do I love shopping her consignment finds, it is a reliable resource for me and my clients.

 

Consignment is a thoughtful way to get a little cash back for your gently worm items and make room for something new. Working with Natalie and her team makes it easier than ever. The staff at Haute Exchange is kind, organized, and helps you re-home the old and welcome the new!

 

Even more than being the perfect resource for your closet, re-selling your consignment potentials also helps the environment.

 

Here are a few words with Natalie on why that is true and how her business owning dreams came true:

 

 

JY – Tell us the background of how Haute Exchange can to be and why you chose to work in the consignment industry instead of classic retail?  

 

NT – I’ve been consigning and purchasing consignment clothes since I was 16 years old. I was raised in Temple, Texas and there was a consignment shop that I thought was a great business model.  My husband is an entrepreneur and this was his idea to start the business in Dripping Springs.   But most of all… I am a recycler.  I am also a treasure hunter. This business keeps my interest.

 

JY – Please explain why recycled clothing is so important to the environment?  

 

NT – Textiles are toxic when buried in our landfills.  In 2013, Americans recycled some 2.3 million tons of textile waste. That brought a reduction in greenhouse gases equivalent to taking 1.2 million cars off the road for an entire year.  Would you throw a car away when you’re done with it?  Used car sales brought about consignment for clothing. We want you to consider consignment as an option for all your clothing. We spend so much on our attire it is a wonderful option to get some of your investment back from unwanted items.

 

consignment kate spade

consignment coach

 

JY – What are a few tips you have for shoppers over the holidays? 

 

NY – Shop local. Don’t buy at full price. Always consider consignment as an option to the mall.  Also consider vintage clothing for a change.  You can find wonderful vintage coats, jewelry, and purses especially.

 

JY – What does your store specialize in?  

 

NT – We sometimes take clothes that are brand new. People order off the Internet and decide that’s not what they wanted or perhaps it didn’t fit properly. There are so many options in buying clothing at a consignment shop. We may have that suede fringe jacket you’ve been wanting for less than half the retail price. It’s really the thrill of the hunt, the treasure hunt!  If you get it in your blood it doesn’t stop.

 

We have a 3 generation concept.  You could bring in your teenage daughter or your mom.  We have brands for everyone at any age.  Most of all we inspect the garment completely, so you know you are getting quality pieces without snags, loose buttons, etc.  We never want you to pay full price for your fashion.  Most of all if you purchase something with regret you now have a chance to make some of your hard earned money back!  We accept consignments daily!

 

When you shop here…You will start to look for that unique thing that nobody else has or something you can’t buy any longer.  We may have it here!  And that’s what we seek out at Haute Exchange. We want one of a kind, unusual, very attractive items in our shop. Will also take all the Chico tops that you have too!  Ha!

consignment Ralph Laurenconsignment shoes

consignment Michael kors

 

JY – What other things would you like potential customers to know? 

 

NT – We are here for the Dripping Springs community to repurpose their clothing. I just want to foster those ideas in the community that some things are meant to be reused and that it’s ok for you to shop resale.  Our shop is clean and neat.  We have the best consigners, the best brands and our clothing is top notch.

 

 

For those looking to consign, here is our extended preferred vendor:

 

    

    

 

 

Happy and Peace-filled Shopping to each of you this Holiday Season.

 

Jen Young

The Gift That Saves Time & Money

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Gift That Saves

We are only two weeks away from Christmas which means sheer panic has set in. HA! If you are anything like me, there is not ONE gift under the tree to date, nor do you even have an idea of what you need to purchase.

 

Hopefully, you saw in my blog last week how local boutiques like Raven and Lily hold such a dear place in my heart and how finding brands that give back as a part of their mission helps your holiday shopping make an even larger impact.

 

Next week, we will reconvene for our boutique spotlight series and touch on the importance of recycling and re-homing fashion {as I call it} with a wonderful re-sell shop I adore, Haute Exchange. It’s like an adoption process but for clothes. This topic just makes me giddy—especially for my clients who struggle to let go of those items they have purchased but still have tags hanging on them. Or those still-so-fabulous items that no longer work for your body type.

 

Pardon my interruption, but this week, let’s unpack the theme of TIME.

 

TIME is of the essence and each year there seems to be less and less of it. TIME is a big thing I often help my clients with and a topic of interest I value. Though my services focus on bringing peace to the daily dressing routine and fine-tuning a person’s individual style, they are also geared to help you save time and minimize the clutter of your life.

Gift Closet

Working with me during a thorough closet assessment allows the opportunity to make educated choices on what you should and should NOT wear/keep, as well as make room for new things in your life. Like that fabulous pair of shoes you want for Christmas! Personally, my heart is set on these Valentino Studded beauties. What can I say ? This girl can dream.

I also help with the ins and outs of your everyday wardrobe through personal styling! And thanks to this amazing thing we call technology, I have recently added a virtual styling option to the mix. That is right my friends, you can inventory your closet online, and I can help you style, fill in gaps, and organize your clothing all over the world wide web. Woo hoo. It is a more affordable way to stay organized all the while keeping your fashion mojo intact.

Gift Shop

SHIRT | LEGGINGS | SLIPPERS | NIKES | NECKLACE | PERFUME

 

Although, best of all in my opinion, is that you can now save even more time and money by shopping my top monthly picks under the categories: For Her,  For Him,  Home Items, Things Under $100 all on my website! Never overthink what to purchase for you or a loved one ever again!

 

So long story LONNGG, as we continue with our month of shopping with a purpose, I would love to have the privilege to work with your special friend or someone this holiday season. Consider purchasing a gift card from Forever Styled as your thoughtful  way to bless those in your life with an experience way more creative than a spa treatment {although don’t get me wrong…. massages are also straight from heaven!}

 

Gift Card

I will be offering my Seasonal Closet Nip and Tuck for $375 (usually $495) or if you Prepay for a year of Virtual Styling I will give you a month for free – $600 value for $550. Both options make great gift card ideas!

 

 

Wishing you all a HAPPY HOLIDAY!

 

Jen Young