Personalized Shopping On-line

As more and more women live busy lives, shopping on-line has been a convenient way find the perfect wardrobe additions. For 20 years I have been selling Carlisle through trunk shows in the Pasadena area. Unfortunately not everyone could come in person during the specific dates of the showing, or because they lived too far away, or they were simply too busy at the time of the show. Now any woman in the USA at any time of the day or week can shop with Carlisle and Per Se via the on-line site. I still offer personalized advise as needed via email or phone. If the client is someone I do not know, I have them fill out a profile with information about their life style needs, figure type, coloring, and preferences. They can even send me a head shot and full length photo of themselves to help me visually.

www.carlisleboutique.com/bwxcxn

Spring Fashion Trends

This lightweight jacket called Spotlight is one of my favorites in the Carlisle Spring Collection 2011 for several reasons. First of all, it reflects two important trends: the trench coat and polka dots. This is a purely fashionista trench: it wraps with a sash belt, has a shirred collar for drama, and has 3/4 length sleeves. The large polka dots make a statement, yet the neutral colors of black and taupe keep it subtle. Secondly, Spotlight is reversible: black with taupe dots or taupe with black dots. This makes it so versatile! Wear the black side with a black pencil skirt and heels and it's very dressy. Then wear the taupe side it with black legging or slim ankle pants and ballet slippers and it's very casual chic. It is priced at $595 and is available in sizes 0-18.

Fall Fashion Trends

The Carlisle and Per Se Fall Collections are now being shown across the nation through private trunk shows. My show in La Canada, California began July 30 and goes through August 18. Then in October I will show again and add the winter collections. It is always exciting to see what our designers have created for the new season. Again they have again taken the current trends from the runways and created wearable yet remarkable garments.

So here are some of the trends. Plaids have an updated look. The plaid jacket here also shows the continued interest in sleeve details. Another trend is long sweaters that work like jackets and are so comfortable. Leathers are very unique like their black leather jacket with a large fringed collar. Skinny pants and leggings are still going forward, but all widths are fashionable. Pick the width that works for your figure type. Most amazing in the Carlisle Collection are the details and hours of hand work needed to create pieces that are works of art. One suede skirt has punch holes through which leather strips are woven to create a plaid pattern. It takes 10 hours to lace one skirt!

go to my website http://www.wardrobeperfect.com/ to learn more about trunk shows and to link to the Carlisle and Per Se Collections web pages. What you can not appreciate from the photos is the feel of their designer fabrics.

Fashion Show at Sheraton Universal

May 10 I helped put on a fashion show for St. Joseph's Medical Center Benefit. The theme was Kentucky Derby Day, so lots of the women wore hats including me. The fashion producer, Lucienda Meidema, did a great job with the CARLISLE fashions. The opening scene was done to the music of "Ascot Opening Day" from "My Fair Lady" with the models in five CARLISLE black and white outfits and hats striking poses to the music.

The hats in the fashion show were from Lynn Frances Millinery. She can customize a hat to go with any special occasion outfit. So if you have an outdoor wedding, afternoon tea, or trip to the Ascot races, she is your resource. www.lynfrances.com or phone 866-lynfrances.

Are Your Clothes Tight?

Well, like most of you it's post Holiday diet and exercise time. Those who know me personally are always surprised that I diet. Of course I diet! How else do I stay slim and continue to fit into my wardrobe of beautiful Carlisle and Per Se investment pieces. My rule is once I reach or exceed my personal maximum weight, it's diet time. Actually I hate the word diet. It's really back to eating like I should all the time---Healthy.

So here is my favorite diet which has been around for sometime. The Fat Flush Diet by nutritionist Ann Louise Gittleman. The first two weeks is a detox diet with no caffeine or alcohol (the hard part for me), no dairy, no carbohydrates except those in vegetables and fruit. You have warm lemon juice in the morning followed by pure cranberry juice with water an phylum (ground corn husk) in the morning and evening to cleanse your system. I get these at Trader Joes. The meals and snacks always keep hunger at bay. It simply means planning ahead to have the right ingredients in the house and even on the road if need be. You can buy the book, "The Fat Flush Plan" and extra supplements on the web at http://www.unikeyhealth.com/ . I also saw lots of used books on Amazon.

I always drop about 5 pounds in 2 weeks, and I feel great. Then I ease into phase two which lets you reintroduce food categories one at a time and watch if it affects your weight. I discovered dairy slows down my weight loss. For others it could be wheat or corn, etc.

Of course I am pretty regimented about exercise. I alternate walking , biking, and following DVD's of exercises. It has to be part of your routine. Mine is breakfast, exercise, shower and dress for the day. Check our http://www.collagevideo.com/ for all types of DVD exercises. I find driving to an exercise class just adds more time to the process of getting in a half or whole hour of exercise daily. Others need group motivation.

What works for you?

What to wear to Business Holiday Parties

At this time of the year your company, your vendors, or your clients often have parties that you are invited to. It is a great time to form closer relationships with these groups, plus have some fun. Be careful not to get to carried away with the alcohol and embarrass your self though. This is a business event.

Since this is still business not a date night or evening with your husband, refrain from anything too sexy like plugging necklines. Can you hear the buzz from all the men if you do! This is not how you want them to remember you when you next meet for business.

There are lots of beautiful dresses that are appropriate. Picture here is a Carlisle Collection shiny charmeuse silk blouse with satin bow paired with a flowing pleated chiffon skirt. Elegant, appropriate and also versatile. You can pair the skirt with an existing jacket for an updated look or wear the blouse with slim evening pants.

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

Carlisle's Susan G. Komen Scarf

The Carlisle Collection has donated almost 2 million dollars over the last years to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Pictured here is the newest scarf designed by Carlisle 's designer. The colors compliment every woman's coloring. The scarf makes a beautiful gift to those fighting cancer or celebrating surviving cancer. A $125 donation is written to the foundation and sent in through your Carlisle agent. Then Carlisle sends you the scarf as a thank you. Your entire $125 donation goes to the foundation, as Carlisle donates the scarf.

Fall Fashion Trends

Sleeves are a design focus this season with bell shapes and poufs. The third outfit in this sketch is called Spectator. It has 3/4 length sleeves that are puffed plus another trend: dramatic and interesting collars. You view this better at www.carlislecollection.com

Zippers are exposed and used not only for function, but as an embellishment. My favorite zipper treatment is the Glimmer jacket in the Fall Per Se Collection. It is long charcoal and black tweed jacket trimmed with zipper teeth around the collar, edges and pocket flaps. Check it out at www.persecollection.com

The consultants who represent the Carlisle and Per Se Collections across the nation will begin selling through their trunk show July 16. This is a very personalized way to build a wardrobe that reflects your unique style and needs. I will have the collection July 16-28 in Pasadena. Email me if you wish to view the collections at marylin@wardrobeperfect.com or call 626 432 1765.