Seasons Change

This is my favorite time of year! I’m sick of my summer wardrobe and I’m ready for some changes! I love getting out my cozy sweaters, jeans and boots and adding a few new pieces. The winter is LONG in my northeastern small town so my cold weather wardrobe will be continuing to evolve over the next six months.

With the cooler temps on the way, I have to make other changes besides just adding layers- my beauty routine needs adjusting too. My skin tends to get very dry so I add an extra thick moisturizer for my face and definitely around my eyes. I like Bobbi Brown Hydrating eye cream- I’ve tried many different kinds and this is my favorite by far.

When I find a product I like, I am VERY loyal. It’s the same with my hairdresser- Cheryl Dement, owner of Encore Salon and Day Spa, has been my stylist for 15 years and I don’t trust anyone else with my hair. I usually like to change up my hairstyle often but I’d been growing it long for the past year. After wearing it in a ponytail all summer I realized it was time for a change so Cheryl chopped off several inches last week. I love it!

What are some changes you are going to make this fall? Do you have any favorite products you love and are loyal to? I’d love to hear from you. Comment below, on my Facebook page, on Twitter, or by email at thesmalltownstylist@gmail.com.

The Special Season: Fall

Fall is my favorite time of year. Some people think of New Years as a time of renewal, but for me it’s always been September. I get more organized and more inspired. Some of my best times were back to school shopping with my mom and my childhood bestie, Christine, (AKA NYCPretty.com). I love pumpkins, mums and apple picking. The crispness of the air, the falling leaves and the warm colors of the season make me happy. So expect my posts in September and October to be all about how I’m getting organized, inspired and motivated. Updating my wardrobe with fall’s latest trends.

Cleaning out the tired, dated and old to make room for the new, including seasonal updates I regularly make to my closet- and you should too.

Making big changes to my look.

Getting back on track to feeling and looking my best with a renewed commitment to my fitness routine.

Tackling projects I’ve had on my To Do list for a while.

Sharing a behind the scenes look at Syracuse Fashion week, reminiscing about my days crashing New York Fashion Week shows, and the latest trends from NY Fashion week 2015 #NYFW.

Breaking down the trends in the big September fashion issues of the top magazines.

And much more.

What would you like to see? How are you going to get inspired this fall? What are the trends you are gravitating to this season? I’d love to hear from you. Comment below, on my Facebook page, on Twitter, or by email at thesmalltownstylist@gmail.com.

Glossies of the Future

Sadly glossy fashion magazines are going by the wayside. Tablets, smartphones, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, apps- there are hundreds of new ways to get your fashion fix at your fingertips! I’ve put together a list of my recent favorite blogs and Instagram accounts that I follow. Bloggers I Love

nycpretty.com Christine Bibbo Herr is a stylist, spokesperson, and self proclaimed “fitness fanatic” in New York City. Besides her long list of fashion credentials, she also happens to be my elementary school BFF and a great source of inspiration and encouragement for The Small Town Stylist. Even back then our tastes were unique. I’m more classic and preppy while Christine is eclectic and girly! I love her use of bold colors, sparkle and prints, and she’s alway mixing in a bit of 80’s nostalgia in a cool and modern way. Whether she’s doing yoga, surfing the waves, or hosting an event in NYC, she is always uniquely styled and inspiring to me!

maskcara.com I first started following makeup artist, Cara, on Pinterest. I don’t think I wear a lot of makeup, but I still am a bit of a makeup junkie (especially anything from Bobbi Brown). Cara does some amazing things with makeup and shading- she’s a true artist. I love her Makeover Mondays. And she gives links to the items she uses so I get introduced to new products I might not find locally. Follow her on Pinterest too.

Un_fancy.com I’m a big fan of Caroline. She’s been mentioned on this blog before. Every three months she created a capsule wardrobe — a mini wardrobe of 37 (her magic number) versatile pieces that she loves. Then she blogs about the outfits — real, everyday, unfancy outfits — using only clothes from her current capsule wardrobe. And along the way she shares how she makes minimalism work for her closet. She just moved and is taking a break from blogging. In the meantime, I’m catching up on her old posts and trying to get closer to her minimalistic approach. But what I like best about the blog is it’s what works best for her- she’s not trying to convert anyone. Come back soon, Caroline.

whowhatwear.com Street style, fashion trends, celebrities. Just a generally good place to get some fashion inspiration and stay on top of the trends and industry news. The site is neat- not cluttered by tons of ads and pop ups-and I really like the Facebook page too.

stylecaster.com Another great site to get fashion news snippets, see some pics to get outfit ideas, and some celebrity and entertainment news too. You can shop what you see too, which can be fun- and dangerous! Also good to follow on Facebook.

Instagrammers I Love

@mrsbymrs Years ago I had the pleasure of working with Molly on a shoot for Bloomingdales. She was fun to work with then, and fun to follow on Instagram now. Besides her beautiful work as a makeup artist, back then she was creating unique handmade t-shirts and tops- now she’s got her own lifestyle website, mrsbymrs.com, where she sells her apparel and offers beauty advice. She’s even got celebrity clients like Reese Witherspoon. Seeing how’s she’s built her brand over the years, all while raising a family, is inspiring to me.

@annietaylordesigns Go to Annie’s Instagram account and look at all her images as a grid. It’s like a work of art in itself. The colors, the fonts- all  meticulously chosen by Annie. Talented graphic designer and a friend, she creates beautiful and unique stationary and invitations. But you can see from her Instagram that it’s not just her invitations that are so lovely- she loves to surround herself with beauty, from her home to her children to her wardrobe. I can’t wait to see what fun projects this mom and business woman takes on next!

@nycpretty My favorite posts are on Workout Wednesdays- talk about inspiration!

@eatdrinkmalt I get hungrier with every new post!

@sky_armory Makes me want to throw a big themed party every weekend!

@garbage I like to cyber stalk and see what Shirley Manson is up to.

Who are your favorite bloggers and Instagrammers? Share by commenting below or sending me an email at thesmalltownstylist.com.

My Magic Pill

In fashion there are many theories out there about the best formula for being stylish. It’s similar to the diet world- everyone wants to find that “magic pill” to make them skinny- or in this case, chic. My theory is “everything in moderation” and I try to incorporate that into everything in my life, including fashion. I love that these theories are out there to assist and inspire women, but not if they make us feel inadequate because we can’t live up to them or follow them perfectly. So I read them, I enjoy them and I take what I want from them- only what is useful and beneficial to my life. Like dieting and parenting and so many things in life, what works for me may not work for you- and that’s ok. Let’s inspire each other, support each other and encourage each other to be the best version of ourselves. That’s what fashion is all about- putting forth an image that represents your true self and that brings you confidence. And having fun with it, of course!

You remember Tim Gunn, from Project Runway fame? I love that guy and his book Tim Gunn’s Guide to Quality, Taste and Style. His 10 Essential Elements is a great guide to the basics every girl should have in her closet.

I recently saw a post on a fashion site I follow, whowhatwear.com, titled How to Create a 5-Piece French Wardrobe and Change Your Life. Let’s face it, the word "Parisian" is synonymous with chic, especially when it comes to fashion. But reading through the “Basics List” cracked me up. Leather pants and stillettos? Not in my small town and not for my lifestyle right now. So like I said, everything in moderation, and there are some great ideas here to incorporate into my wardrobe.

If you’ve read any of my posts you know a lot comes back to organization. I admit to being a type-A personality and that includes my closet. I’m working on letting go a bit. But if you are looking for a guide on how to organize your wardrobe, you should read I Have Nothing to Wear by Jill Martin and Dana Ravich. I’ve got a dog-earred and worn copy in my bookcase and it’s a great reference.

I’m loving Un-fancy.com and it’s been all over the fashion sites the past few weeks as the trendy way to get dressed. The theory is to create a Capsule Wardrobe of 37 pieces. But what I love about blogger Caroline is that she talks about what works for her and says there are no steadfast rules, just what feels right for you. On her blog she writes, “And honestly? It’s not about a number. The point is to try something new if you’re unhappy with your current closet situation. If 37 isn’t your thing, find a number that’s right for you.” She gets it.

There’s a lot of great information and inspiration out there, but it can get overwhelming. My goal on this blog is to share what works for me, and hopefully it resonates with you. And if not, that’s ok, because everyone is different. Take what you read, use what works and discard what doesn’t. Everything in moderation, even advice from The Small Town Stylist, right?

Share what works for you with me by leaving a comment below, sending me an email or posting a message on Facebook.

I am a Work In Progress

Know the proverb about the shoemaker’s children going barefoot? That’s me. So despite my insights on this blog and advice on Bridge  Street, I’m still feeling pretty unorganized in the wardrobe department.  It’s not just the seasons that are transitioning, but my life is too. In a few weeks I go from being a professional with regular office hours to working from home and hanging with my kids for the summer. My wardrobe needs to adjust, and I’m not feeling inspired about it. I’m at the point that I talked about on Bridge Street where I go to my closet and feel like I have nothing to wear, so I grab my old standard jeans and tee and feel so-so about it. I know better. I KNOW THAT’S NOT HOW IT SHOULD BE! But just like everyone else, I got so busy with life and stuff that I let it go and now it will take a bit of effort to get organized. So I’m challenging myself to walk the walk- not just talk the talk. Over the next few weeks I’m going to go through my Wardrobe 101 steps and document everything. And if I can do it, so can you. Do you feel like I do? Have you been thinking about doing this but have been putting it off? There is no better time than now! Follow along the next few weeks and let’s do this together.

This week I’ve be purging my closet of items that don’t fit properly, are damaged beyond repair, or are out of season or out of style. Since I haven’t had a large chunk of time to do this, I’ve been doing it little by little, like when I put the clean laundry away or when I’m getting dressed in the morning and put on something I hate-I just made a donate and a toss pile in my closet. At the end of the week, I brought a big bag to the Rescue Mission. (I even inspired my husband to do the same thing with his closet!) I have very little time lately to flip through my fashion magazines, so when I see something I like online I pin it on Pinterest- takes a few seconds and in a few weeks when I get more time to look back at what I’ve pinned  I will be able to figure out what my personal style will be for the season. If you don’t already, start a Pinterest account for yourself and make a Spring/Summer 2015 board, just like mine.

I’m not going to beat myself up about it- this happens to everyone. That’s what The Small Town Stylist is all about- helping women (myself included) to be the best version of themselves and have their wardrobe and image express who they truly are to the world.  So let’s get started!

Be sure to keep me updated on your progress by commenting below, sending me a message on Facebook or posting pictures on Instagram with the hashtag #thesmalltownstylist.

The Small Town Stylist in the Big Apple

I may reside in a small town now, but my heart will always belong to a big city girl! So spending a long, sunny weekend in NYC is pretty much my ideal getaway. I walked, window shopped and people watched- the best way to spend time in the city, if you ask me. I always leave my visits in NYC feeling revitalized, inspired and energized!

Worth every penny, The Soho Grand gives all their guests the celebrity treatment. From my view of the Empire State Building, the eclectic mini-bar selection, 24 hour room service, and state of the art security, I didn't want to leave. They even accommodated our large party of friends in The Club Room at the last minute, providing excellent service in a chic but relaxed atmosphere.

I like to treat myself to something special when I go on a trip, but I was on a mission to find a great pair of trouser jeans, having been unable to find them in my small town. At the Seven for All Mankind shop on Bleeker Street, my timing was right beause they just got new stock in. As usual, they are about a foot too long, but I can hem them easily. They've got that 70s vibe that's very in right now, perfect for transitioning my wardrobe into summer.

My most prized possession is my classic Burberry trench, and it was the perfect temperature all weekend for it. It's great to dress up jeans and sneakers for daytime window shopping, and for an evening out in the Meatpacking district for a nice dinner out and people watching at a speakeasy.

I couldn't have enjoyed a weekend in NYC more! What's your favorite big city and why? Let me know in the comments below.