By Jennifer Bakken
5 key items to invest in NOW!
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Suzy's galpal Jennifer is a stylist and wardrobe consultant with a savvy eye and amazing style. She'll be appearing regularly in our fashion section offering must-haves, trends, tips and terrific finds.
5 key items to invest in NOW!
Because using the words spandex and "elastane" just isn't that sexy – the fashion-friendly term is now "stretch'. Stretch keeps jeans from sagging, it works WITH any little bulges you may have, and it allows us to MOVE in a pair of skinny or slimmer cut denim. My absolute favorite pair of slim yet FLATTERING denim are 7 For All Mankind, straight leg in Lightweight Mercer; $155.00 at REVOLVEclothing.com.
What would I do personally without my closet full of blazers? I'd be losing my mind standing in front of my closet for on average 23.5 minutes more than the 4 minutes that I do every morning before I head to the office. I'd also be spending a whole lot more money on "cute going out shirts" that I would be sick of by the third wearing. A blazer is THE solution for pulling an outfit together in no time. A blazer goes with all, from jeans, to skirts, to pants, to city shorts – they all work topped off with a blazer and based on your shoe of choice you can keep that look as dressy or casual as you choose. I have probably 10 blazers from J.Crew, one of my favorites this winter, (a total Chanel knock-off), is on final clearance at jcrew.com for a steal! It's the Bouclé tweed Penny jacket, formally $228.00, now only $99.00.
OK, so mine aren't real diamonds, (it's a life goal of mine), but until then I'll stick with my fake ones that get misinterpreted for being real. Where to buy these magical faux gems you may ask? Well, my latest are from Banana Republic, "Princess-cut stud earring, $22.00, and I'm really pleased with them. They're not too shiny, which is a dead give-away for fakes. My older pair are bigger, which I love to put on when I'm wearing no other bling – the extra "pop" is fantastic; those are by Lauren. Diamond studs are the staple every woman must have and again they go with everything and work for any occasion, even a run by the bay.
(my personal fave – tried and true from J.Crew, "Solid washed favorite tank, 3 for $20 on jcrew.com). I wear my tanks for dressy occasions with a sexy necklace and a BLAZER – (see above), on top of it. I wear my tanks with my cargos and a zip-up sweater on the weekend. I wear my tanks to bed, (p.s. Men think they're the sexiest things, next to wearing nothing or maybe La Perla lingerie...).
Until you get one, you can't know what I mean, but once you go there, you'll NEVER go back. I remember the first time I REALLY invested in a bag, it was for my birthday, and only 4-5 years ago. I remember the thrill of picking out THE "it" bag for me and I remember the pride and awe I felt when I placed it on the counter that night within my site line, to gaze at it throughout the rest of that evening. The very best thing about buying "a killer bag" though is how put together and confident I feel every time I carry it. A stunning bag can make almost anything right, from a mediocre outfit, to a crappy day. Because there's a really good chance on that crappy day, you'll be stopped by some envious onlooker that asks, "Where did you get that amazing bag?!?". And if that's not a day-brightener, I don't know what is. Right now one of the best deals on a bag I've been eyeing for months is at Barneys.com, it's the Miu Miu Nappa Hobo, once $1445.00, now it's only $579.00.
Jennifer Bakken is a San Francisco based wardrobe consultant. For more information: cabinetdenvie.com.
5 key items to invest in NOW!
- Any pair of fantastic looking denim that "stretch".
Because using the words spandex and "elastane" just isn't that sexy – the fashion-friendly term is now "stretch'. Stretch keeps jeans from sagging, it works WITH any little bulges you may have, and it allows us to MOVE in a pair of skinny or slimmer cut denim. My absolute favorite pair of slim yet FLATTERING denim are 7 For All Mankind, straight leg in Lightweight Mercer; $155.00 at REVOLVEclothing.com.
- A Blazer.
What would I do personally without my closet full of blazers? I'd be losing my mind standing in front of my closet for on average 23.5 minutes more than the 4 minutes that I do every morning before I head to the office. I'd also be spending a whole lot more money on "cute going out shirts" that I would be sick of by the third wearing. A blazer is THE solution for pulling an outfit together in no time. A blazer goes with all, from jeans, to skirts, to pants, to city shorts – they all work topped off with a blazer and based on your shoe of choice you can keep that look as dressy or casual as you choose. I have probably 10 blazers from J.Crew, one of my favorites this winter, (a total Chanel knock-off), is on final clearance at jcrew.com for a steal! It's the Bouclé tweed Penny jacket, formally $228.00, now only $99.00.
- Diamond stud earrings.
OK, so mine aren't real diamonds, (it's a life goal of mine), but until then I'll stick with my fake ones that get misinterpreted for being real. Where to buy these magical faux gems you may ask? Well, my latest are from Banana Republic, "Princess-cut stud earring, $22.00, and I'm really pleased with them. They're not too shiny, which is a dead give-away for fakes. My older pair are bigger, which I love to put on when I'm wearing no other bling – the extra "pop" is fantastic; those are by Lauren. Diamond studs are the staple every woman must have and again they go with everything and work for any occasion, even a run by the bay.
- The tank top.
(my personal fave – tried and true from J.Crew, "Solid washed favorite tank, 3 for $20 on jcrew.com). I wear my tanks for dressy occasions with a sexy necklace and a BLAZER – (see above), on top of it. I wear my tanks with my cargos and a zip-up sweater on the weekend. I wear my tanks to bed, (p.s. Men think they're the sexiest things, next to wearing nothing or maybe La Perla lingerie...).
- A killer handbag.
Until you get one, you can't know what I mean, but once you go there, you'll NEVER go back. I remember the first time I REALLY invested in a bag, it was for my birthday, and only 4-5 years ago. I remember the thrill of picking out THE "it" bag for me and I remember the pride and awe I felt when I placed it on the counter that night within my site line, to gaze at it throughout the rest of that evening. The very best thing about buying "a killer bag" though is how put together and confident I feel every time I carry it. A stunning bag can make almost anything right, from a mediocre outfit, to a crappy day. Because there's a really good chance on that crappy day, you'll be stopped by some envious onlooker that asks, "Where did you get that amazing bag?!?". And if that's not a day-brightener, I don't know what is. Right now one of the best deals on a bag I've been eyeing for months is at Barneys.com, it's the Miu Miu Nappa Hobo, once $1445.00, now it's only $579.00.
Jennifer Bakken is a San Francisco based wardrobe consultant. For more information: cabinetdenvie.com.
