Vintage: YES you can pull it off!

  “I don’t want to wear clothes that were worn by other people.” “I can’t pull off a vintage look.” “Why would I wear a vintage pieces when I can get the same look with something from the mall.” 

I’ve heard it all from clients and friends and I want to debunk any preconceived notions about buying and wearing vintage. On today’s Bridge Street I talked vintage shopping with co-hosts Sistina Giordano and Tenesha Murphy and how to mix vintage pieces into your existing wardrobe. I hear often from clients and friends that they are worried they will will come off too “costumey” so I wanted to show you how to do it so you look and feel great about it. There are many “retro” and “vintage-look” pieces but I prefer the real deal.

What is “vintage”? Vintage items are originals from the past, from a specific time period. The term “vintage” denotes that the piece is special, and not just any piece you may find at a thrift store.

Where can you find vintage? A curated boutique (like Vintage Love), thrift shops, estate sales, and online sites (like nastygal.com)

Why buy vintage? QUALITY - more details, more handwork, better quality stitching and materials UNIQUENESS - you’re outfit will be special and you won’t see yourself coming and going ECO-FRIENDLY - you are reusing something instead of putting it in a landfill BARGAINS - this isn’t always the case but often you can find some great deals

What is the benefit of going to a vintage boutique instead of finding pieces on your own?  Shauna, the owner of Maeflowers Vintage, a boutique located on Warren Street in Downtown Syracuse, has done all the research and legwork for her customer. It takes her many hours and connections to find pieces such as the ones I showed on today’s show. Shauna has them cleaned and pressed, she sizes them, and she presents them in her beautifully curated shop so you feel good when you go there. You can see them in person vs. purchases online where you have to trust the seller. Every piece has a history and often Shauna has heard the unique story from the original owner.  For me my number one reason is time: I used to love to shop thrift stores but with two kids and a business I don't have the time.

Here is a great article by Shauna on how to pull off vintage fashion on SyracuseWomenMag.com.  Find some more tips on how to buy vintage from StyleCaster.com.

Thanks to Maeflowers Vintage at Vintage Love Boutique for all the great styles featured on today’s show. Stop in today and have Shauna style you in a cool vintage look. Missed the segment? Click here to watch the show and then shop the styles featured. Do you love vintage? What is your all time favorite piece that you own? Want to try vintage but somethings is holding you back? I want to hear from you. Let’s shop together at Maeflowers Vintage. Email me at thesmalltownstylist@gmail.com and let’s talk more about it or book your appointment online here.

Did you like today’s show? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below. Share a picture of your favorite vintage look with me on Instagram by tagging me in your photo and using the hashtag #thesmalltownstylist.

Personal Style In Your Closet & Home

In fashion we talk about seasons- this season's hottest trends, colors and styles- and fall happens to be my favorite. But did you ever notice how your personal style often translates into the decor you choose for your home? Today on Bridge Street, Amber Balistreri of Amber B Design Studio and I showed Sistina & Tenesha in back-to-back segments how to take some of the best fall trends and incorporate them into your home through interior design. Missed the show? Click here to watch and then get all the details here. The styles featured on todays' show are from my friends at Lord & Taylor at Destiny USA. MIXING TEXTURES On the show, I mixed a cool wine leather-like bomber jacket with a lightwieight paisley print dress. I'd wear this look with knee high boots and tights. Can you tell I loved this jacket? I took blue version and put it over a fun floral swingy-dress in one of the hot colors of the season: mustard yellow. Color not for you? Lord & Taylor carries it in a light gray too. I might have to go back and pick that up!

MIXING WARM AND COOL COLORS I love nautical and stripes for my own wardrobe, so of course for the show I grabbed this navy and cream striped shirt with yellow faux-suede detail at shoulders and paired it with plaid pants in a neutral color (these happen to be from my own closet). I'd add that wine jacket on top to complete the look.

MIXING PATTERNS Not ready to mix stripes with plaid on top and bottom? No problem. You can mix up your accessories to get the affect.  Today I showed how I'd mix a red plaid scarf with leopard print gloves and that ribbed cap with the cute fur ball on top. So chic.

BLACK AND WHITE I couldn't help but take that cute black and white polkadot dress with tie neck detail (HOT) and top it with a pop of color with that hot pink blazer. But if you want to keep it casual take the buffalo check shirt from the show with that blazer over the top with jeans and it will take you far.

KEEP YOUR OVERALL LOOK NEUTRAL & SIMPLE  If you aren’t comfortable wearing prints or colors head to toe then keep the outfit neutral (tan, black, gray) and add layered pieces or accessories with color. Have fun with your accessories, like shoes in one of the season's hot colors.

YOU CAN KEEP YOUR PIECES FUNCTIONAL YET STYLISH Everything you wear can serve a purpose and still look chic.  Take the navy blue sweatshirt jacket from today's show. It is comfy but the details and cut of the lapel add interest.  What did you think of the military inspired fatigue jacket I wore today? I loved it, espcially with the tailored trouser jeans and plaid shirt. It's a great top layer for fall or spring’s in between weather.

HOT COLORS Hunter green, wine, navy, cream and of course golden yellow!

Want to see how Amber of Amber B Designs incorporates these trends into her clients' homes? Click here to watch her segment and then visit her website for all the details. It was so fun collaborating with Amber.

If you missed some of these details, click here to watch today's show. Did you see a trend you love? Were you inspired to add something new to your home for the season? I want to hear about it. Leave me a comment below or post on my Facebook page. Thanks to Lord & Taylor for all these great styles featured today. Giving back to our community is important to Lord & Taylor and they have several philanthropic events scheduled for the next few weeks including the Shop Smart Do Good event on October 29th.  Click here to visit their website for more information or visit lordandtaylor.com.

Trending For Fall

Fall is my favorite season- especially when it comes to fashion. I love a cozy sweater, a classic trench coat and a chic moto boot. Today on Bridge Street, I shared some of my favorite new trends for fall with Sistina Giordano and Tenesha Murphy. You don’t have to do a head-to-toe look of a trend and you don’t have to go out and replace all your clothes with these trends either. The best way to update your existing wardrobe is to add a few trendy items each season to update your style. MIX FALL FLORALS WITH CARGO JACKETS Take the floral sun dresses you loved all summer and pair them with a cargo jacket or military inspired blazer, opaque tights and boots.

ADD DUSTY ROSE/PINK & YELLOW This color combination was all over the runways. Worn together or separate, try adding a few pieces in these hot colors to your wardrobe. The dusty pink jacket I wore on today’s show is a great statement jacket.

VELVET is a great cool weather fabric that adds texture to any outfit. The trick is to mix it with other fabrics, something lighter like silk or maybe a  nubby cable sweater.

FABULOUS FUR stoles and statement fur (faux and real) were really hot on the runways. Coined “Granny Chic”, this trend isn’t for everyone. If you aren’t sure about fur, try mixing it in with accessories like the cute cap with fur pom-pom and gloves from Jet Black featured on today’s show.

SHEARLING is a trend that’s back from last year- try it with a moto jacket this year.

CHOKERS harken back to the 90s, my favorite fashion decade, but modernize it like these cute wraps from JoJo Rings. 

Thanks to Jet Black & Bounce Boutique for all the great styles featured on today’s show. Missed the segment? Click here to watch the show and then shop the styles featured.

What trends will you be trying this fall? What trends are you going to skip? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below. Or share a picture of your favorite trends with my on Instagram by tagging me in your photo and using the hashtag #thesmalltownstylist.

Picture Perfect

Whether you have hired a professional photographer or you are going to a portrait center, you want to get the perfect family photo to hang on your wall for years to come, but so much goes into getting that great picture. Choosing the right outfits can be one of the most overwhelming parts of taking family portraits, but it doesn’t need to be. Today on Bridge Street I shared myprofessional tips with Sistina Giordano and Tenesha Murphy for styling family photos that you’ll cherish forever.Throughout the segment we featured photos from photographer Ana Gil-Taylor, of Ana Gil-Taylor Photography. I often work with Ana and we collaborate on how to make the client’s photos beautiful and visually express what the family is like and who they are.

When consulting with a client before the shoot, Ana asks them three questions:

What is your favorite season?

Where are you displaying your photos?

What are your favorite colors?

Once she has that information, she makes her recommendation for location and color palette. The client can then use that information to pick out outfits for the family, or you can hire a professional stylist, like me, to do it for you. I work directly with the client and Ana to create a “look” that works with all the elements of the photoshoot. It takes the pressure off the client as it can often be overwhelming to coordinate for yourself, your spouse and your children. A professional stylist can also be on location with you and coordinate wardrobe changes, fixing everything in between shots to make sure things are buttoned, socks aren’t falling down, necklaces aren’t backwards, etc.

Here are some tips from Ana and me on how YOU can style a beautiful photo:

1. Coordinate but not matchy-matchy
2. Choose layers for kids and moms
3. Change out accessories and use props
4. Start with the mom’s outfit, then the kids, then the husband
5. Choose comfort
6. Make kids part of choosing theoutfit
7. Bring a change of clothes, or a few
8. Be yourself & have fun

Grandparents want that traditional “perfect portrait” but Ana says most of clients end up choosing the fun images she gets of the family in between shots, the candids. So have fun with it!

All photos are courtesy of Ana Gil-Taylor Photography. Follow her on Facebook and Instagram. Book your family portrait session today at anagiltaylor.com and tell her The Small Town Stylist sent you. The holidays are only a few short months away and you want that perfect photo for your cards. Missed the show? Just click here to watch it.

Who is your favorite family photographer? I’d love to hear from you. Comment below or send me an email at thesmalltownstylist@gmail.com.

Catch all the details from the show by clicking HERE. 

Don't miss any of my fashion tips, shows or events. Join my community by subscribing to my weekly newsletter. 

Boardroom to Beach

Summer can be a tough time to dress when you are going from the sweltering heat into an air conditioned freezing office. Not to mention that strappy-sundresses and thong sandals may not fit with your office’s dress code. Today on Bridge Street, I talked to co-hosts Tenesha Murphy and Sistina Giordano about it and shared my tips on how to go from work to the weekend without investing in two different wardrobes. The key is to find the balance between professional and fun. Thank you to my friends at Jet Black and Bounce in Armory Square for all the great styles featured on today’s show. Both boutiques have a Buy 1, Get 1 sale going on right now so it's a great time to add a few of these pieces to give new life to your summer wardrobe without spending a ton of money. They are moving out summer items to make room for new fall inventory so it's the perfect time to go in.

Here are a few of the looks from today's segment.

Work: Wear a short sleeve textured sweater coat over a simple white knee length sleeveless dress with stacked heel pumps and simple silver jewelry. Weekend:  Wear the dress on it's own with gold dangling earrings and flat metallic gladiator sandals. Finish your look with bronze makeup for a sunkissed looked.

Work: A denim button up shirt over a white tank top and flowy paisley print pants in white, blue and pink. I'd wear this with simple gold jewelry and really high wedge sandals. Weekend: Lose the long sleeve top and half tuck the tank in at the waist. Switch out your accessories for a long chunky  silver necklace, chandelier earrings and flat thong sandals in a neutral color.

Work: I didn't get to this look on the show but it's pretty special. It's a white textured Diane Von Furstenberg suit with a pale pink sleeveless button up shell underneath. For work I'd wear it with neutral pumps and simple jewelry. Weekend: So many options, but definitely consider these pieces as separates you can wear together too. I'd wear the pant with a pair of great gold heels, gold jewelry, and a black tank top. Or I'd wear the jacket over a sexy lingerie inspired dress with gold flat sandals. I'd add these two verstatile pieces to your summer wardrobe ASAP from Jet Black.

More tips:

• Add color for summer.
• White shorts or pants for summer.
• Easiest way to change a look is with accessories: shoes, jewelry, scarves, bags.
• Think layers & separates.
• Mix fun summer prints with classic pieces.
• Short suit: easily transitions to weekend.
• Cotton sweaters/cardigans: mix lengths. Examples: a long cardigan layered over a above the knee skirt OR a cropped sweater over a maxi dress.
• Lighten up your makeup for summer. Nudes and bronzer.

If you missed the segment, then click here to watch it. Then head to Armory Square to shop the looks at Jet Black and Bounce. Let them know The Small Town Stylist sent you.

And let me know what trends you are trying out this summer by commenting below or posting on my Facebook page.

Here are a few more sources of inspiration:

J.Crew Work to Weekend: Summer Edition

Stitchfix Work to Weekend: Summer Fridays Style

Trendy Tootsies

Marilyn Monroe said, “Give a girl the right shoes and she can conquer the world.” I don’t know about you but when the weather warms up here in Central New York I cannot wait to trade in my boots for super fun summertime shoe styles. Today on Bridge Street I talked with co-hosts Sistina Giordano and Tenesha Murphy about the top shoe trends for 2016 that you need to add to your closet. Click here to watch the segment.  All the styles featured are available at Paul Karaz Shoes in Fayetteville.

Platforms

Let’s start with my favorite. Everyone knows I love 90s style so I wish I had kept all my shoes from that era which are probably now considered to be vintage. Flatforms are just platforms without a heel, which give you the height of a heel with the comfort of a flat.

Gladiator sandals

These have been seen for a few seasons now but they are still hot. Maybe update them with a modern rope tie. The ones I featured today are from Ancient Greek Sandals and are actually made in Greece. And the ones with the rope ties shown today actually have a zipper so you don't have to fuss with the laces every time you put them on.

White shoes

Now you can wear white any time of the year but in CNY summertime really seems like the only good time to wear them so enjoy this trend while you can.

Oxford Flats

I think these are super cute with cropped pants or skirts. I like mixing the masculine feel of these with a feminine skirt or flowery dress. On today’s show I featured loafers by Pomme D’or which actually incorporate two trends: loafers and pointy toes.

Fashion sneakers

Another trend that’s been hanging in for several seasons and isn’t going anywhere is athletic shoes. Choose your style purely on looks and not on functionality.

Loafer slides/slippers/mules

Slip on shoes are very in (and again, very 90s-I owned a few pairs) and easy to wear, especially for mom’s with young children who want to look trendy but don’t have time to deal with straps and buckles.

Thanks you my friends at Paul Karaz shoes in Fayetteville for all these great styles. Did you know the flatforms featured on today's segment (and that I'm wearing in the picture above) were featured in the March issue of Harper's Bazaar magazine along with Paul Karaz Shoes? They have many styles on sale right now and lots of different versions of these trends. Let them know The Small Town Stylist sent you. (You might even see me in there picking up a pair or two!)

And let me know what trends you are trying out this summer by commenting below or position on my Facebook page. Missed today's episode? Watch it online here.