After a year of blogging, I decided to elevate the Possess Your STYLE blog’s style with a mini make-over.
Nothing major has changed. It is the same blog — just a new location along with a few new accessories.
If you have been receiving my blog via email, you still will. If you are new to Possess Your STYLE, please click on and bookmark my new blog address: http://www.kalynjohnson.com/blog for my latest posts.
Thank you for your interest, support, and patience.
All the best,
Kalyn
It’s October, Summer really is over despite what the thermometer says. If you haven’t done so already, it’s time to pack up your Summer clothes and pull out your Winter wardrobe. Below are a few of my savvy stylist tips to help you organize your closet this Fall. I promise if you follow these 10 steps, getting dressed this Winter will be easier because your clothes will be in great shape and you’ll actually be able to find them in your closet!
1. Wooden hangers save the shape of clothes and make your closet neater because everything hangs uniformly.
2. Keep your blue jeans blue. Wash your blue jeans inside out and let them air dry. Throw in dryer for 5 min to soften.
3. Back in black. Wash black garments together & use detergent specifically for black clothes. I love Perwoll’s Black Magic Laundry Liquid Soap.
4. Never ever put brassieres in the dryer. Mesh lingerie bags are a great way to prolong the life of your unmentionables.
5. Keep the girls lifted! Rotate brassieres daily to insure that the arms don’t get stretched out.
6. Dry clean your cashmere sweaters, but do so sparingly to preserve the fibers and shape, and invest in a sweater shaver.
7. Keep jewelry neat and easily accessible in a jewelry box or jewelry organizer.
8. Prolong the life of your favorite handbags/totes/clutches by storing them in dustbags. If your purse didn’t come with a dustbag at purchase, wrap it up in an old sweathshirt or t-shirt.
9. Store shoes on shoe racks or in clear plastic shoe boxes so that you can see what you have. I should own stock in The Container Store, since almost all of my shoes are sorted and stored in their boxes!
10. Organize clothes in your closet by garment type. Shirts with shirts, dresses with dresses, suits with suits and so on. Once you get everything organized by garment type, go back and organize each type by color. Trust me, it’s time well-spent.
Happy Organizing!
We all have one. You know, the friend who always looks perfectly put together no matter how little sleep she’s had or how much stress she happens to be under. It’s a hard job, but someone’s gotta do it, right? What’s her secret? Basically, her monthly maintenance routine is paramount to her well-being (like maybe chocolate is for you). The maintenance routine varies from woman to woman, but generally consists of working out, eating properly, going to the hair salon, regular waxings and the like. She may be working a gazillion hours a week, but she gets her eyebrows done like clock-work. Her constitution wouldn’t allow her to behave otherwise. No worries if your inner-peace is not contingent upon having your ’stache (if you have one, you know what I’m referring to) done regularly, but if you want to make sure you put your best foot forward professionally and personally, here are a few tips to help you.
Follow these tips and the next thing you know, you’ll be the friend others use as their standard!
Dabbing at tears and wiping away beads of perspiration are facts of life. How many times have you found yourself in one of these situations and not had something to properly dab or wipe with? If you’re lucky, a loved one, a friend or a perfectly good stranger stepped in and offered you their hankie. Handkerchiefs, paper or cloth, are something one should never leave home without.
Fellas, before you walk out the door you check to make sure you have your essentials – keys, wallet, Blackberry, iPhone – is a handkerchief on your check-list? If not, please add it. If nothing else, having one on your person will win you big points with the ladies (those you want to impress as well as those whose respect you hope to gain).
My grandmother taught me that a lady never leaves the house without her hankie. Most days I live up to her credo – I’m lucky I have her old hankies, which are a lovely way to carry a little bit of her with me every day. Carrying a hankie is also a little Holly Golightlyesque for me – pulling out a beautiful little piece of embroidered fabric to dab a tear or stiffle a cough usually brings a smile to my face.
Now, I’m old school. I believe in cloth hankies – cotton or linen – embroidered with pretty flowers or initials. I started my collection with my grandmother’s, but over the years friends and family members have helped me to amass a nice collection of my own to pass down. But, my mother, like many of my friends who’s grannies drilled the same lesson into them, prefer the paper tissue packets — there’s something about their disposable nature and no need for ironing that makes them so appealing. Kleenex of course, has tissue packets available in spades; guys, these are a great alternative to cotton handkerchiefs. But for you savvy stylistas, Sniff has cornered the market on the die-for tissue packets of the moment. You’ve seen them – zebra print, leopard, denim-like and beautiful florals to boot. Beware though these are a bit pricey. My mom has been known to dole these out judiciously (she needs to know that you really do have a runny nose) as if they were $20 bills not to be parted with lightly. Now, if you’re really special and don’t want the muss and fuss of cloth hankies, but want what you carry to be personal to you, there are all kinds of websites out there ready to personalize your tissue packets for you! Who knew, right? Just Google “personalized tissue packs”.
And you thought Hanky Panky was just a great brand of underwear. (Bet you didnt know that the company got started when one of it’s owners gave the other a beautiful pair of underwear made out of hand embroidered vintange hankies).
White after Labor Day? Why not? I know it used to be taboo, but rules are meant to be broken! Think about how great your white jeans will look with a black turtleneck this Fall when you’re out at your friend’s country house – very Jackie O’esque. Or if your goal is to look like a Michael Kors model, pair those same jeans with a beautiful oatmeal or off white cozy cashmere sweater and a snakeskin bag. Let your imagination run wild …
White Summer clothes were originally the province of the wealthy. The light color combined with the lighter fabrics were the perfect accompaniment to their Summer homes by the sea. The “Season” began after Memorial Day and ended with Labor Day; hence the rule was born.
While the lines have blurred and yester-year’s fashion dictates are no longer the driving force behind today’s trends, there are a few things to think about if you are going to be bold enough to break the rules.
The only steadfast rule about wearing white is that female guests should not wear white at a wedding, lest they look as though they’re competing with the bride. (Neither should they wear black, unless they’re mourning for her.)
So, go ahead, Possess Your STYLE and push the envelope – incorporate white into your wardrobe this Fall!
It’s all about being tech savvy, right? I Twitter, I’m on Facebook (kind of, I check it 1x a quarter) and hey, you’re reading my blog … I am able to do all of these things thanks to my wonderful media guru Nicole. But, I must confess – I am a little technologically challenged. Ok, well probably a lot. But, when I put my mind to it, I can figure out what’s vitally important to me. Not that my business isnt vitally important, but I know Nicole has me covered there. I’m talking about my gadgets – Blackberry, iTouch, iPod, Kindle … My friend Portia made sure I learned how to IM on my Blackberry (yes, something I was loathe to do initially but now I love it and have even figured out how to use the face symbols!). I try to get everyone I know on Blackberry Messenger (you folks with open invitations know who you are).
I was spoiled from working at a law firm and got quite used to having a FAB secretary who answered my phone and screened my calls for me – I didn’t realize how much time she saved me. No one could ever replace Michele, but PhoneTag does a great job of fielding my calls for me. I don’t have to listen to voicemails anymore (even Nicole had to ask me about this one) because they come into my email inbox as transcribed messages.
Now to me, the Kindle is the greatest thing since sliced bread. I read voraciously and I travel a lot. Schlepping books on flights is no longer necessary in my world. I have a cool purple pebble leather case by M-Edge for my Kindle that always garners a “wow, you’re case is so nice, I didn’t know they had any color other than black.” I’ve figured out how to buy books, download samples, archive my collection and search for my place in a book. Next on the horizon for me is adding periodicals to the mix.
So, what does all of this have to do with style? Loads. I hope you’ve chosen a ringtone that makes you smile and makes other people say, “ok, that’s hilarious – perfect for you.” If you haven’t, and you own a Blackberry, check out Crackberry for free ringtones and alert sounds. If not beholden to all things blackberry, just Google “free [NAME OF SONG] ringtone” – tons of sites will pop up. Choose wisely and be sure that you are getting a FREE ringtone and not signing your life away.
Does the skin or cover you’ve chosen for your PDA reflect you? What about your iPod cover? Whether you are blinged out like Kimora or have chosen to adorn your device with something a little more simple, what you chose speaks volumes about your personal style. And yes, if you’ve chosen not to choose something that speaks volumes too. Maybe go for the headphones with a little sparkle or a phone or headphone charm (you didnt even know those existed, right?). Or what about a memory stick that others salivate over?
Go ahead, take a step on the wild side. Get that new Black Eyed Peas ringtone and make sure you are “so 3008″ and not “so 2000 and late!”
In addition to being a much talked about documentary following Vogue’s Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour and the assembly and shaping of the 2007 edition of The September Issue, as it is colloquially referred to by those in the know, is the holy grail of all things fashionable for the upcoming year – the latest trends, colors, textures and hot new designers.
Since everyone from fashionistas to recessionistas are feeling the pinch this Fall, below are a few tips to help make this season’s trends a part of your wardrobe without breaking the bank. Before you hit the stores (online or actual retail shops) remember to shop in your closet – you may rediscover some true gems.
The goal this Fall is to stay hip and relevant by revving up your look with statement pieces that will allow you to re-invent clothes you already own.
Do you have a signature accessory? Is there something that friends and colleagues associate with you and only you? If you’re having a hard time identifying your signature accessory, take a moment out to really give it some thought. Honestly, if you have to think about it, you probably don’t have a signature accessory. If you come up with nothing, fret not, here are a few tips to help you define your style. To be clear, your signature accessory can be anything from a watch to the scent you wear. Whatever it is, it should be something that others associate with you. For example, for my friend Susan, it’s her great short haircuts. As you contemplate what to choose to help further define you, find something you love. Something that makes your heart leap! Think about that well-dressed friend, is there something about her that makes her stand out from the crowd? Is it her beautiful watch, that fact that she always wears danglely earrings, her cool red eye glasses or her funky silver jewelry? Coco Chanel’s was pant suits and bunches of long dramatic pearl necklaces. Stacy London’s defining style is the grey streak in her hair. Niecy Nash wouldn’t be caught dead walking up to the messiest house in the country without her signature flower tucked behind her ear. Anna Wintour’s signature accessories are her bobbed hair and big sunglasses. Cardigans have become synonymous with Michelle Obama. What’s synonymous with you?
The phrase “dog days of Summer” refers to the hottest most sultry days of Summer. I dont know about other parts of the country, but right now it is so hot on the East Coast that stepping outside almost takes your breath away. As the heat index rises, my tootsies have a tendency to swell a bit, so now more than ever comfort is key. My mission for finding good looking, comfortable yet fashionable shoes is an ever-present quest because this is a combo that is truly hard to find!
During my time off I spent A LOT of time in flats and I gotta tell you, I love a FAB heel but there’s nothing like your feet feeling good all day. My brand new all time favorites are FitFlops. I’d never seen them or heard of them until two weeks ago, and now everywhere I look I see people wearing them. (I may just be late to the party, but I’m glad I finally arrived!) The FitFlop tag line is “It’s the flip-flop with the gym built in. Put on a pair and get a workout while you walk.” I can’t vouch for the workout while you walk , but they make me feel as if I’m walking on a bed of marshmallows – and if I’m getting a great workout to boot, who am I to complain?
Now, if truth be told, my feet have never felt anything but good in a pair of Birkenstocks. I know they conjure up crunchy granola, but once you wear them they feel so good that all thoughts of Woodstock will melt away. The thing that makes Birkenstocks special is that the footbed is created to mimic the shape of a healthy human foot, so they’re “anatomically correct” (which is more than I can say for any pair of Manolos I’ve ever owned!). German powerhouse, Heidi Klum, has taken her countrymen’s shoes to a new level, same footbed but designer uppers. My faves are the Gizeh, Sydney and Kairo. Goodbye Woodstock, Hello Hollywood Bowl!
Celebrities these days are swearing by Skechers as a great run-around shoe. They claim to get you in shape without having to set a foot in the gym by promoting weight loss, toning muscles and improving posture. They’re a little clunky for me, but if they do half of what they claim to, I may have to go on and buy a pair. And I know the Millennials swear by Havaianas, which have been around for almost 50 years so there’s definitely some there there. Created in Brazil for those girls from Ipanema, their makers were originally inspired by the Japanese Zori sandal – the slipper of Japan, you know the rice straw soles with fabric straps- which have been around forever. In terms of a basic flip flop, you need look no further. One note of caution, flip flops are great in the right context. I think you all know what I mean. For any who aren’t sure, shoot me an email and we can chat about when and when not to wear flip flops.
Oh, and fellas – the cool thing about each of these brands is that they have shoes for both men and women.
Stay tuned as my quest for comfortable yet fashionable shoes continues!
Possess Your Style is going on a little break for the next few weeks. We’ll return to your inbox on August 17th.
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