Fabulous . . . Fashionable . . . Fifty

On last Saturday I had the pleasure of helping my client celebrate her milestone birthday "fashion" style. I came up with the theme "Fabulous, Fashionable, Fifty," and she carried this theme through to perfection! From the invitations, to the gift bags, to the outstanding raffle prizes (guests received raffle tickets for each item they brought to be donated to Dress for Success), to the requirement that everyone come dressed "Summer Chic,"this party was nothing short of being "fashion fierce."

I had the honor of doing my "Recessionista Chic" presentation (concepts taught via a scavenger hunt and a word matching game), and was pleased with the overwhelming response I received when I opened the floor for questions. I thought some of my answers might be helpful to others so I've taken the liberty to post them here.

What do you think about stockings?
I never wear them. If you must wear them, never EVER where them with open toe shoes. (Peep toes are OK - again, if you absolutely must.)

Can plus size women wear prints?
Yes, but stay away from horizontal stripes and large prints that overpower you and the garment.

What type of maxi dresses are appropriate for plus-size women?
I love maxi dresses, and I think they are appropriate for just about any body type. I would suggest that if you are plus-size, stay away from dresses that have layered ruffles the entire length of the garment. Also, wear heels to avoid looking frumpy. (That goes for all of you shorties like me as well.)

How can young people use what's currently in their wardrobes to double as business attire?
This can be challenging, but not impossible, particularly if some of their wardrobe falls into the "business casual" category. If they currently have dress pants, pairing them with a jacket or cardigan and top is a good start. And they can wear their halter tops or tanks/camis underneath their jackets or cardigans as long as 1) they keep the jackets or cardigans on, and 2) the necklines are not too low and plungy.

How should you organize your closet?
By article of clothing and color. (E.g. all pants should be grouped together and arranged from lightest (white, cream, camel) to darkest (navy, black).) And get rid of ALL wire hangers! I prefer wooden, but these can be pricey so heavy duty plastic ones are okay as well. (Actually, almost anything is better than wire!)

When building a professional wardrobe, how many pieces of each item should you start with?
I suggest starting with pant suits so that you have the most options for mixing and matching. Start with 4 -- 1 in each of your basic colors (tan, brown, navy, black). If the suit comes with the option of buying the skirt as well, buy it! Purchase 3-4 tops to go with each suit, and if you can, select tops that can be worn with more than one suit. Add cardigans (2-3) in tan, red, or grey. Now you can mix and match jackets or cardigans with your pants or skirts. Your wardrobe options have instantly become endless.

What is the best way to maximize my wardrobe?
Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize. This season it's all about bold chunky jewelry, and it can turn a simple white tee from boring to glamorous. You should also resist the urge to wear the same combinations over and over again. Choose a different top the next time you wear your favorite black pants. Also remember, many things in your closet can be worn with jeans even if you didn't buy them to do so.