MOB Dress

I have two questions regarding
my MOB dress.

The wrap is going to be very long on me and will have to be shortened. Someone in the shop suggested having the fabric from the wrap made into a short jacket instead. I'm torn on this. The bodice detail will be covered by a jacket, but would a jacket look better? Or, if I leave the wrap alone and just shorten it, where should the ends hit on my body?

Question two is about shoes. I was all set to wear an evening sandal, but am now second-guessing this. I will be walking up 4-5 steps to light a candle on the altar before the ceremony. I keep thinking that it might not look so good when I'm going down the steps to have my bare toes pointed at the congregation! The dress is celadon green, but shimmers a pinky-gold when I move. There are very small sequins along the V of the bodice that are iridescent/pink. Any suggestions for styles/colors would be appreciated!

Your Mother of the Bride dress is gorgeous.
I would not consider adding the jacket. The dress has terrific detail as is, and the unbroken straight lines of the wrap are a dramatic foil. About the length, you would have to try and see. Although you could copy the length shown on the model, for your height, it may not be the most flattering one for you. Try the wrap on, and have it pinned back at the best length for you. A good way to do this is to start with a length that is obviously too long (and note this length) then shorten to a length that is obviously too short (and note this.) Then try one in the middle and move up or down until you reach the length that works best.

I do like the evening sandals, but I understand your wanting more coverage, since your toes will be on display. Look for a D'orsay (split) pump or closed high heel pump in a matte satin. You may have some white shoes dyed, but not to match. Try a darker green, perhaps olive, or a deep forest green (hold the swatches near the dress) or, if you are more adventurous, a deep rose, or other muted shade of pink. You can't go wrong, with this beautiful gown.

Congratulations on your happy event, and on the smashing dress.

Daytime Clutch

Tory Clutch

Dear Pres,
I've been seeing many daytime clutches lately in fashion magazines. I love this look and was wondering what the best way is to translate this trend into real-life situations. Is it too dressed up to wear with jeans and a top? Sundresses? The bag I'm currently ogling is the Tory Burch oversized Suzi straw clutch. I'm 5'8", so the oversized thing should work on me, correct? What would you pair with this clutch? Can I wear my Tory Burch flats with it too, or is that too much logo? Please help me, Pres!
Cupcake

You are right on target with your clutch. The woven material, and the bright color, make it a perfect accessory for casual wear; even jeans and a (nice!) tee. The size is great for you, too.

A terrific look would be a sleeveless cowl neck shirt over crops; and high heeled sandals, skimmers, or leather wedges. Layering a squarish short jacket over this (black polka dots?) is excellent, too. And, besides the sundress and sandals, consider a white, gray or navy cotton wrap or shirt dress with a flare or straight skirt, and round toe pumps.

Don't wear the Tory logo flats (or any additional logo) with this bag.
Great Clutch!

Hey Pres,
I am looking for a new spring handbag. But, what is the really new style and color for spring? I am thinking yellow to go with my wardrobe of browns, blues, greens, but am wondering if this is too much for everyday. Maybe peanut?
Thanks!

This is an issue in wardrobe management, and so I have some suggestions.
I usually have one winter bag (for most days) and one summer bag, and both of them are high end (the best that I can afford), very beautiful, and in a very basic neutral. Black for the winter; with some glowing neutral trim, and a summery Black/multi that goes with most of my clothes (especially since I never match the bag to shoes or belt.) Then, if I want to take a flyer on a trendy, non-basic color or cute shape, I add those in a much less expensive type of bag. If the color goes out, or if it just works with a few things, nothing great has been lost. I wouldn't invest in a yellow bag; I'd buy a really cute one in an inexpensive material (like straw) and I'd wear it out, if I could. Peanut counts as a summer neutral, and will support most outfits, for a long time. Yellow is trickier, and will add more punch.

Cranberry Coat

Hi Pres,
I have quite a few pieces in cranberry red, a color I love, but it is a strong color so I am wondering what advice you would have on wearing certain pieces together. Do you think a cranberry coat and jeans would look good together or is that too much red? Is there a good color or pattern to tie them together? The coat is knee length empire, the jeans are bootleg.
Thanks,
Beth

I agree that the coat and jeans in the same non-neutral color are too much. The empire coat and the bootleg jeans (perfect length, of course) are terrific silhouettes to combine. Cranberry is good with gray, a hot color just now. I could see your coat over gray tweedy slacks, worn with a pink shirt. The cranberry/pink combo is tricky, but pink is an element in the cranberry tone, and it should work. You can also drop cranberry over a gray/black ensemble, and maybe over all black, if there's some glow in the black (or the cranberry.) Black patent shoes or bag would look great with this. Over all brown, it's a very conservative look.

I have a dark cranberry suede 3/4 coat that I wear over a tricky ensemble of Black patent boots, a B&W houndstooth pencil skirt (hem is visible to about 1 inch), a white shirt, and a black crewneck sweater over. I'm using the Cranberry as I would red, for the color punch.

To sum up your question, Cranberry is a red, and one red item per outfit is the usual limit.

Matching

Should your shoes and belt match? If not, is there any guidelines to pairing vibrant colors?
Sally

They should not match. They should coordinate. This is much more difficult to achieve (which is why it's so much nicer.) One of the best ways to be sure about pairing vibrant colors is to name the colors of your outfit, and see what you have to work with. If the two colors of your outfit are neutrals, you might add one vibrant accent color. A brown/black outfit could support brown boots; and since those are both neutrals, a red bag, or a red belt (Not both! Don't match!) would work as a vibrant accent. If your outfit is yellow/navy, then you need another neutral (the navy is a neutral, the yellow is not) so gray, or tan (peanut), is an option. To help coordinate the accessories, you can choose an accent color that contains one of your outfit's bright colors, too. (Tan, and peanut, have yellow in them.)

If this is all too difficult, choose a pattern (like python) for one of the leather accessories, and use the colors in the pattern (grey and black, for example; or, some python contains cream and black) for the other pieces. This works really well with animal prints that are made of neutrals. You may add one bright color that isn't a neutral per outfit; some summer outfits are made up of bright colors, and I would add neutral accessories (like white, navy, cream or black) to that type of look.

Whew. Did that help any?

New Glasses

I need to buy new glasses It appears that the old style I had is no longer in. I really don't like the new style of heavy tortoise shell frames. They just seem to stand out so much. All I see is the glasses!
Thanks! Maria

When choosing glasses, trying them on is most important. The frames should add emphasis to your eyes, just like perfectly groomed eyebrows do. If you think the shell frames are too heavy for your face, consider metal frames. Aviators are a classic style that have returned recently. They come in many sizes.

Here are some frames to give you an idea; they can be reproduced at many price points.
My favorites are the Aero.

Lost Weight

I need help bad! I need to find the right fitting shirt and jacket. I am 42 years old 5'5 and weigh 195. I have lost about 60lbs so I still have the dreaded stomach that won't go away. I feel uncomfortable wearing anything tight for fear every roll is showing. I have heard a wrap shirt is great for me. I also have problems with jeans. They usually fit to low so therefore I have the roll that comes over the top. I do wear I a garment to suck the stomach in, but sometimes it pushes in other directions. I want to look good but I am very self conscious. I have an event to go to in April and I want to look great. I am still working on my weight loss. Please help if you can. I just need some direction on where to shop. I live in a small town, but not far away from a mall. Thank you,
Deb

Hello Deb,
Congratulations on your weight loss.
For your height and weight now, you will look best if your top creates the illusion of a torso that is narrower below your bust, and then fans out at the hips. Here's a casual top with a shape that works for you:
Faux sweater.

Notice how the Vee neck and the tie create the illusion of a narrow point?

I like a jacket for you for the event; you can wear it wear it over a black shell, and black pants. Be sure that the jacket has a visible waist structure.

Add some great heels (leopard print?) and a structured clutch in a hot color, like red, if you choose a neutral jacket, like olive green. Careful make-up and freshly styled hair. You will look great!

About the jeans: Look for trouser jeans in a dark wash denim. Check the jeans to be sure that the leg is the same width all the way down (fold the hem up to the hip, to be sure) and learn to tell the difference between 5 pocket jeans (they have a strip of cloth in the back, just below the waistline, and, well, 5 pockets) and trouser jeans (the leg starts just below the waistband, and there may be two side slit pockets.) Trousers are your best look just now, although store personnel often can't tell which they are.

Remember to look for fabrics with a little crispness, to keep from clinging. You want clothes to skim your body (not too tight) and create the perfect illusion.
Good Luck!
Pres

Predictions

Hi Pres,

There's lots of coverage in the news of the runway fashions. What's your opinion on what will make the cut and appear in our "real life" stores for next year? And, more importantly, how can these sometimes outrageous looks work in real life?
gelinda

I'm not great at predicting what's coming up for the next season. And, this is good for me, because I advise buying clothes when they are already in season and wearing them right away. They're usually on sale then, too. Things just don't look right to me until I can see them in the proper light, and I make mistakes when I plan too far ahead. Will it be a warm Spring or a rainy one? Who can say?

About adapting outrageous looks for real life, I do have some tips. Pick the style that suits you best, and honor it. Skip anything, far out, or near in, if it doesn't sing on you. Sometimes, you have to sit out a season by sticking with classics, but that's rare, because the variety out there is plentiful. I have a few go-to designers (like Ralph and Carolina) that I can count on to show something fresh but wearable. I usually take note of a color that's "in" (for this Spring, there are super saturated light colors, like orange sorbet) and I find an accessory in that color, like a clutch or a scarf, to throw into the mix.

The most important part about watching the runway is never shutting out new ideas, and then finding them when they are adapted for ready-to-wear.

Peanut Shoes

Please give some info about "peanut"colored shoes. Do they go with every color? Could they be worn with a black skirt? Does the "peanut"color have to be repeated anywhere else in the outfit? Nude fishnets would be the proper leg covering, correct? Anything else? Thanks, Sab

Peanut is really a dark tan, and it's a great neutral, with a little snap added. Nude fishnets sound like the perfect stockings to support the shoes. I could see peanut shoes with the nude fishnets and a black skirt, as part of a sophisticated tan/black/brown outfit.
Peanut Heels
It's not necessary to match the peanut shoes to any other color in the ensemble.
With the black skirt and peanut shoes, you could wear a cream shirt with black stripes, or just about any creamy brown based color.

Peanut, which elongates your legs, as a bonus, also supports red well. A red top, beige skirt and peanut shoes sounds great.

Too Perfect

My winter wardrobe is looking a bit blah. I have perfectly coordinated outfits; what's wrong? Thanks, Linda

You may have overdone the perfect outfit thing. Try adding an unexpected color to your coordinated ensembles. If you are wearing a brown outfit, look at red shoes; for navy, add a taxi cab yellow sweater, and for gray, add chocolate boots. It's easy to drop a knit tee, or a cardi, in an unexpected color over a neutral blouse and a black skirt, to shake things up a bit.

Remember that you can also bring in a bag in a bright green, or purple. And don't forget bright beads in an uncoordinated color. Too much matching (especially of a jacket and skirt or pants) in a non-formal work environment or social setting, is dated.
I have a B&W large houndstooth pencil that I wear with black patent boots and a white shirt (what else?) but in February, I added a very bright red silk knit short sleeve tee over, not a black one.