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.

Summer Wrap Up

No matter how much I protest, summer is coming to an end. Normally by this time I am so ready for my kids to go back to school, craving our routine, and excited to have time to myself to work uninterrupted. But not this year. The difference is that I decided back in June to put my family first for the summer. Ambition was set aside and I had to say no to a lot. It made every moment with my boys that much sweeter, that much more enjoyable, and that much more meaningful. Here are some of my favorite moments:

When they go back to school and my house is quiet, I will choose to focus on my business and my work and my clients. And that will be sweeter too. I truly hope you enjoyed your summer. That you lived in the moment. That you took it all in. That you took deep breaths and really savored your time. That you chose to be present. Now bring on the rest of 2016.

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. 

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Grown ups only in Austin, TX

What do you do when your entire family moves to Texas? Seize the opportunity to explore a part of the country you’ve never seen before of course! In February we visited family just outside of Dallas. It’s a beautiful community and we had a blast watching our boys enjoy time with their cousins. The plan was to spend a few days there and then visit Austin as a family for a few days, but the boys had other ideas. They were having too much fun. So they stayed with Grandma and Pop while we drove to Austin for a kid-free weekend. Sounds terrible, right?

Austin was awesome. The weather was sunny and warm, and the streets were immaculate. There was great food, music and art. We ran along the Lady Bird Lake Hike and Bike Trail and then ate brunch at an outdoor cafe in the 2nd Street District. We stayed at the beautiful Driskill Hotel, a landmark of legendary Texas hospitality. It’s located in the heart of downtown Austin, and featured a super fun bar with live music and great drinks. And Austin's 6th Street music scene was just outside the doors, so at night we strolled the street listening to music and partaking in the best people watching. Did you know that Austin is known as the "Live Music Capital of the World®”? When in Texas you have to get Tex-Mex food, right? The mole sauce was fantastic. Of course I can’t go to a new city without checking out the shopping scene. I follow Once Bitten on Instagram so I had to stop in to meet owner, Joanna, in person. I left with two great dresses, including the black cocktail dress I wore to the Boeheim Ball in April.

Have you been to Austin and if so, what was your favorite thing to do there? What are some other great cities and sights we should visit next time we are in Texas? I’d love to hear from you. Comment below or send me an email at thesmalltownstylist@gmail.com.

Busy with the blog

Did you know I started The Small Town Stylist to be a blog? Just a simple little weekly fashion advice blog. I’m happy and proud to say it has become so much more than that. Maybe you’ve noticed that I’ve been posting once a week on my website. To be there for my family this summer I had to scale back my work schedule, so posting regularly on my blog is my way of consistently connecting with you. This week I’m sharing two blogs that I love to follow which also happen to feature ME. I lovingly refer to Method 360 as my “gym” and my “tribe”. Guest blogging for them was fun for two reasons. First, I get to talk about my fitness routine which is what keeps me sane and healthy. Second, Jen Liddy, friend and partner at M360, edited my work, which is a luxury I do not have when writing my own blog posts, and she makes me sound GOOD.

Read it here. Then add two things to your To Do List for fall: register online for my favorite M360 Upper Body Class on Monday’s and join the Whole Running  Group as we explore amazing trails together in CNY.

I am many things, and one happens to be the mom to two boys. So in my business I love working with other mom’s, whether they are going back to work after staying home with their children for a few years, going out on a date for the first time since their baby was born, or just needs help getting back to looking and feeling her best after putting their family first for a few years. When Cheryl Meany reached out to me to consult on a post she was writing on capsule wardrobes for Syracuse Moms Blog I was excited to be a part of it. Be sure to check out her post here and then follow the blog on Facebook for more informative posts.

What are some of your favorite blogs to read? What would you like to see more of on this blog? I’d love to hear from you. Comment below or send me an email at thesmalltownstylist@gmail.com.

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