Tights and Black Sheer Hosiery

Often women over 50 will tell me that a certain skirt in the Collection is too short for them. Yet my opinion is that with tights or dark hosiery you can wear a shorter skirt if you have good legs. Look at the short black skirt at the left. In this photo the model almost looks like she is wearing pants because the skirt, tights and shoes create one long look. Hot this season are tights with boots also. The model on the right is wearing a chiffon flowing skirt with sheer black hose. The hosiery definitely is the finishing touch to this elegant lady look. Bare legs just will not do here.

Cypress Jacket $545 Angelic Satin Blouse $295

Intrigue Skirt $235 Caviar Chiffon Skirt $255

See www.wardrobeperfect.com for more about the Carlisle and Per Se Collections.

Feathery Fashions

Are you looking for something to really spice up your Fall - Holiday wardrobe? Think feathery adornments. The sketch at the right shows a skirt with rows of golden pheasant feathers from the Per Se Collection priced at $795. Another skirt in the Collection is black with a plume of ostrich feathers at the bottom, priced at $425. A black skirt called Jazz from the Carlisle Collection has a feather-like look with dangling eyelash yarn woven through out the fabric and is priced at $295. Most impressive is the Vermillion deep red cocktail dress with the bottom adorned with 210 ostrich feathers, 250 beads and 200 handmade fabric leaves. It takes 9 days to complete the dress which is well worth the $645 tag.

To see more from these Collections go to http://www.carlislecollection.com/ and http://www.persecollection.com/ I will be showing the Collections Sept. 24- Oct. 6 in Pasadena, CA by appointment. If you need a consultant in another part of the US, I can direct you to one.

marylin@wardrobeperfect.com

Clothing Fit and Alterations

Can you buy your clothes off the rack and have them fit perfectly? Then you are the exception. You just happen to be the same size as that designer's fit model. A size eight dress can fit a variety of figure types who are basically a size 8 with tweaking. With a jacket or dress first fit your shoulders then the widest area of your upper torso. Is it your bust or hips? You want the garment to glide over these areas. Now if there is excess in the other areas, have it taken in. Check your sleeve length also. Is the jacket too long for your proportions? Even this can usually be altered an inch or two.

What I often notice from the rear is that a jacket is just tight enough over the hips that it is not falling straight down, but causes horizontal fold in the back around the waist area. From the front it makes you look thick in the middle. The jacket seams need to be let out over the hips. Sometimes I have recommended venting a jacket. That is removing the bottom stitching of the seam and creating a "V" vent.

Proper fit can make a less expensive purchase look more expensive. Conversely, an ill-fitted garment will look less than impressive if it has not been altered to fit your unique body type.

www.wardrobeperfect.com

Professional Women and Hosiery

To wear or not to wear? I am often asked this question at my corporate trainings. The answer depends on your business culture and clientele. In some conservative cultures like the financial fields older executives, managers, and clients would expect hosiery to be part of the traditional attire package. Women wear hosiery and men wear socks with their suits.

This said, hosiery sales are down as the younger generation is going without hosiery. Personally I tend to go without hosiery in the summer especially, though never professionally. Once my legs loose their tan I still like how hosiery hides alot of the blemishes on my legs. Plus with certain outfits I need the body sculpting pant hose provide.

I like to stock up and often order on line. Here are a few sites:

http://www.barenecessities.com/

http://www.onehanesplace.com/

The Advantage of a Clothing Steamer

I have own a clothing steamer since I first began selling Carlisle 18 years ago. The shipments come in boxes from New York, and my steamer sits right next to my clothing delivery rack. It makes all the wrinkles disappear so quickly that I only occasionally use an iron for linens. Naturally I use it for my own personal clothes and my husband's. It's great after a trip to de-wrinkle our garments. I also use it to spruce up my evening gowns that have bows or ruffles that get crushed in my closet. This really saves dry cleaning costs and time. In addition steaming is gentle on your clothes and extends their life. Steam relaxes the fibers while ironing crushes the fibers.

I still have my original Jiffy Steamer, but they now have a better model, J-2000 which is $189. You can order one by calling 800-52Jiffy (525-4339) or on line at http://www.jiffysteamer.com/ Go to personal steamers on the site. When you order enter "image004" in the promo box and you'll get free shipping.