Look #1:
Shirt – Benson, cotton, short sleeve 1 pocket button-up in blue checkers $115
Shorts – Gant, cotton/linen blend, solid short in navy $125
Shoes – Vans, brushed twill in green $60

In this look, I’m wearing a breathable shirt and short. The colors match my hair and skin tone as well as the spring season. The fit of the shirt and shorts are appropriated to my frame without coming across as a “skinny fit.” The leather laces on the Vans dress up the informal sneaker.

Look #2:
Shirt – Gitman Brothers, cotton, light blue with vertical stripes. $165
Shorts – SLVDR, cotton/linen blend, grey/blue stripes. $78
Shoes – Vans, copper/blue. $78

Again, here I mostly stick with the colors that work best for me: grey and blue. The light blue shirt is appropriate for spring. The fit is sharp yet the short sleeves keep it casual. The horizontal stripes on the dark shorts are risky (because of the vertical stripes on the shirt) but the stripes on both pieces are subtle enough to not clash. The colors on the shoes are the loudest statement in this look yet they don’t distract from the overall togetherness of the outfit.

Look #3
Shirt – Gitman, mini clover print in navy. $165
Shorts – Gant, cotton/linen blend, khaki. $125
Shoes – Vans, michoacan, dark navy. $55

The deep and dark navy shirt in the spring and summer months are a popular look in the high fashion world at the moment. Yet, I haven’t known a time when navy hasn’t worked. The dark tint of the khaki short gives the khaki look a much needed update. The Vans shoes are hot-weather approved without looking dainty.

Look #4
Shirt – Gitman, solid woven cotton in white, made in the U.S.A.. $155
Shorts - Gant, cotton/linen blend, khaki. $125
Shoes - Vans, michoacan, dark navy. $55

Dark shades with a crisp white shirt will always be a classic combination. These shades by Super have bold upper corners without looking too feminine. The white oxford is so classic that it could be worn in a variety of situations.

As the sun nears closer and closer to Texas, prepare for the onslaught of heat by getting a new pair of shades. Here are a couple of new pairs that just arrived at Service Menswear.

Super, dark floral. $218

Super, tortoise shell. $205

As Donna helps you update your wardrobe for the spring and summer months, she will consider color, fit, seasonal trends, patterns and many other elements of style that will help you look your best. The good news is that you don’t have to think of all the fine tunings involved in dressing for the hot months of the year. Leave that up to Donna. That’s what she does best.

-Winston

A couple of months ago, I found several great dresses during the Margarita Sale at Julian Gold. Each was stylish and would easily work with a large baby belly. I was ecstatic at the idea of finding the key pieces I would need for my pregnancy. Having no idea what my body would do next, I waited.

The surprising part was that my body wasn’t really changing all that quickly, and yet, each week my selection of clothes that fit grew smaller. My baby bump had yet to surface, so the dresses that would look best with a large belly stayed unworn. I had a new problem – literally nothing to wear. It was finally time to find clothes that would bridge the gap.

I took to the web to see what trendy sites had to offer maternity-wise. What I found was over-priced items with little description of how the garment would actually fit. I would have to measure my new body and hope selections worked out. This was clearly out of the question (what a nightmare that would be).

Instead, I found my way to Target and forced myself to try on a few pairs of shorts, dresses and tops in the depressingly small maternity section. To my surprise, a couple of the pieces were actually cute, comfortable and well-priced. Maternity wear had finally hit my wardrobe.

Here’s what I bought:

The shorts were great – the ideal length with a belly band that was comfortable.

Next I tried to find dresses at Nordstrom Rack. I’d gone there a few weeks ago while in Phoenix and found an amazing Max Studio dress. It was comfortable and made me look like myself – just pregnant version of myself.

As I hoped, Nordstrom Rack in Austin had an even better selection of Max Studio dresses. I found several that had what I needed – stretch jersey, no seams at the waist and pleating in the right places. Fantastically, they ranged from $39-49 each! I went a size up to ensure they’d last at least until my 8th month (I’ll address that time when it arrives!).

Sadly, I can’t find the exact dresses I purchased anywhere online. Not being a fan of selfies, I can only share images of similar dresses that would work just as well.

I plan to have the maxi dresses shortened for the summer. At that price, paying or the perfect length is worth it.

Undoubtedly, I’ll need to keep adding to my burgeoning maternity wardrobe. I’ll keep y’all up to date on my finds! I’ve got my eye on some shorts on Gap.com…

We worked with More Space Place on the cabinetry, added piece of granite for the island and had the floor redone to match the rest of the home. The pièce de résistance clearly being a gorgeous pendant we added above the island. Lighting is key.

You might recall this closet from one of my earlier posts. I first organized the space in December of 2011.

Here’s a quick preview of the before shots (more photos in the previous post):

Gorgeous sparkly new closet: 

I’m happy to report that the client’s absolutely love their new closet! Success!

Photos by Meg Mulloy, http://megmulloy.com/

Trends for this spring/summer are full of color, pattern and new silhouettes.

For tops, flowy blouses are all over the stores. My favorite include Joie racerback tops and tunics from Anthropologie. Fit on these types of tops is key. The fabric should be tapered in at the sides to show off your figure and avoid the “tent” look. Try different sizes to see which offers the best fit.

(Click on the image to see designers, etc.)

I’m loving this floral top from Rebecca Taylor. Pair with gray skinnies and sandals for day, or leather shorts and heels for night, and you’ve got a chic summer look. (I’d actually mix and match each piece for day and night.)

*A quick note on shoes. Please shelve your stacked platform heels. Shoes we’re loving this season are minimal yet sophisticated and sexy.

Next up: Black and White

Following the minimalism trend, black and white looks are the epitome of chic this season. As a lover of all things dresses, I chose a few to illustrate my case. Opt for nude shoes to keep your legs looking long and lean for days. Finish off the look with minimal jewelry in silver or gold (whichever looks best on your skin).  Tired of dresses? Pair a black blouse with white jeans and add nude flats – voila!

Finale: Gorgeous Digitized Prints

It’s no secret that I’m a fan of art and fashion. Historically, they’ve had a very cozy relationship. Luckily for us, artistic influences are popping up everywhere in fashion. Prints have gained popularity over the past few seasons with stripes, floral and animal ruling the pack. This season digital prints are where it’s at.

Mary Katrantzou’s prints are simply the best. This award winning designer has steadily grown her line from just dresses to denim, blouses, jackets, accessories and more. As an avid fan, I’d gladly add a piece of hers to my wardrobe, probably starting with this gorgeous tunic. It works equally well when worn casually with shorts or white denim, or dressed up with cigarette pants and a blazer for the office.

As with all intense prints, balance is key. Pair them with neutral coordinating colors and minimal accessories. Have fun!

Check out his post on spring suiting for men. Doesn’t he look stylish and warm-weather appropriate?!?

- Donna

A linen blazer with raw denim jean make a combination fit for a casual Friday at the office or a Sunday brunch at Lamberts. The khaki linen blazer (Billy Reid, $675) and the cotton button-up (Billy Reid, $185) both say professional while retaining that laid-back-Austin-style. The raw denim jean from Naked and Famous (Service Menswear, $155) technically makes the outfit casual but the dark color keeps it classy. Billy Reid houses their collection in a spacious and well-lit store on W. 6th. The knowledgable and friendly staff employed at the store make for a relaxing shopping experience.

This next outfit was arranged at Service Menswear, the leader in men’s fashion in Austin for 20 years. The Shades of Grey herringbone blazer (Service, $245), cotton Penguin button-up (Service, $89) and herringbone Plectrum pant (Service, $140) is an elegant outfit that really breathes.

Depending on your budget and exactly what your needs are, we can help you revamp your wardrobe for the upcoming warmer months or bring your look up-to-date.We may not be able to do anything about the heat of Summer, but we can at least make sure you’re comfortable and dressed your best while beating the heat. Donna will find the pieces that are right for you. Contact her to set-up an appointment.

- Winston

Luckily for us Austinites, local label Lilly Lorraine was invited to show at NYFW! Not only is it an honor, it helps show Austin as a legitimate fashion city. I hope to see more Austin designers find this level of success.

I’ve visited the label’s showroom and design shop a couple of times since it opened and was impressed with the innovative clothes and their lovely designer. The genius behind Lilly Lorraine, Christi du Mesnil Craven, grew up around fashion, watching her grandmother dress the most gorgeous women as a private stylist. She launched Lilly Lorraine in March of 2012, naming the brand after the woman who shaped her fashion eye: her grandmother.

As you can see, the space is beautiful and filled with creative touches. Christi prefers to design from the comfort of her chic rug. Fab. I loved her inspiration board.


Central to the label is a gorgeous knitwear of merino wool and bamboo handcrafted by Christi. The fabric begs to be touched. It’s woven into a gorgeous sensual pattern that is both chic and flatters the body.

Also not to be missed are Christi’s amazing evening gowns and embroidered pieces (see the amazing tunic below). I fell for a floor-length wool dress with a gorgeous lace detail down the back. It’s feminine, warm and chic. What’s not to love?!?

Check out other photos from Lilly Lorraine’s show at NYFW:

Congrats again to Christi and her amazing team!

You may have noticed a slight downturn in posts over the past few months. Turns out the first trimester is quite a bear!

Now that me and baby are more in agreement with what I can and cannot do, i.e. sleep or eat, the blog is back!

I’m going to share my experiences with finding stylish outfits for this new body and soon-to-be sweltering summer heat (yay 110′).

Thanks for reading.

Here are some key pieces that are good to have for any winter season!

You can also stock up on blazers during this time of year. The spring colors will still be regular price, but you should be able to find the gray and black blazers marked down easily. Blazers are also such a smart article to have in your wardrobe as they can be worn almost all year. Pair with a cute top and dark skinny jeans with a bootie and you are ready for dinner in almost any season.

A leather jacket is HEAVENLY, but equally pricey. As winter wraps up, this is the smartest purchase you can make. A high-quality leather jacket is such a nice piece to add to your wardrobe and this is the smartest way to do it! Vests are another item that tend to get overlooked during the year for the Texas-natives. AND they are one of my favorite items in a look! A nice dark long-sleeved top paired with a warmer vest is perfect for our weather.

If you’ve always wanted a pea coat in a fun color, now is the time too look for one on sale. A reduced price will make a big difference in the heavier coats. A lot of department stores will have jackets at half the original retail price! I am obsessed with the army green jackets that exploded this winter season. The color is so chic while being simultaneously effortless.

Places that we recommend visiting for you marked down jackets: Your favorite department stores – especially Nordstrom & Neiman Marcus for leather jackets and vests and J.Crew for pea-coats and blazers!! Good Luck!

*Don’t miss the Margarita Sale this week at Julian Gold. It’s their biggest markdown event of the year – up to 75% off (and includes margaritas of course)! The sale starts Tuesday, February 5th and goes thru the 9th. Call me if you want to check it out!

A few of my clients have asked “What does “Festive” attire mean?”. Festive attire is close to cocktail in theme, but offers an opportunity to add some fun or edge. It’s a chance to wear those sparkly shoes you bought earlier this season, or to dress with a Great Gatsby sense in mind. If you would normally wear your favorite LBD to a cocktail themed event, you could add some printed or colored tights, bright jewelry and shoes for your “festive” party.

Above all, dress with your host/hostess in mind. Are they very fancy? If so, choose your best shoes and accessories. (Yesterday I actually said to a client, “You’re going to the Dell’s? Wear the Chanels.” Yes, I know, it’s cheesy.) Do they prefer an artistic style of dress? Opt for your hand-printed silk dress with tights and booties.

As you know, but your husband/boyfriend might joke, “Festive” is not an opportunity to wear a silly holiday sweater or hat. Save those for your next themed party. (And send me photos!)

Here are some looks that I find festive and coordinating appropriate events:

Friend/Neighbor Party

Don’t let the floral printed leather dress intimidate you. It can be worn in several ways depending on your mood. Feeling sparkly? Opt for the gold or red shoes. Want to show your neighbor you’ve got guts and beauty? Try the Mary Jane Louboutin’s. Heading to an event with a trendy locale? Choose the woven Booties. Each pair perfectly with a glittery bag and pretty jewelry. Add a red lip and easy hairstyle and you’re done!

Co-worker’s/Family/Benefit

Let the shoes shine with this look. Brightly colored dresses don’t have to pair with a neutral black or nude shoe. Go bold with a printed shoe and matching accessories. Keep the rest of your look flirty with light makeup and a style your hair with loose waves.

Art Opening/Musical Performance/Theater Production

Here’s where we can finally let our inner fashion editor shine. Pull out that bold dress you bought on a whim and have fun. Pair it with equally fashion forward, but coordinating pieces. If you look into the mirror and think, “That’s a lot of look!” you may have gone too far. In that case, switch out your bold tights for a opaque black or gray and opt for more subdued jewelry.