A Diva State of Mind

Yodit of Favored by Yodit contacted me and Shakirah of Style Atelier on Twitter yesterday inquiring about cost saving ideas to update one’s closet for spring. I thought to myself “this would be a great blog post!”

Many are on a tight budget, but that doesn’t’ mean you have to forfeit your style and /or the opportunity to update your wardrobe.  You can do both on a budget!  If you’ve been wondering “what can I do to spruce up my wardrobe without spending a lot of money” check out these tips below:

Source: www.sheknows.com

1. Change the way items are worn - Do you always wear your favorite coral top with tan pants? If so, switch things up!!! If you wear the same shirts and pants together, break up the combination. Pair that coral top with the navy skirt in your closet and animal print pumps. Pair those tan pants with the printed top you’ve been scared to wear because you weren’t sure if it was “too much.” Step outside your comfort zone! Changing how items are worn will make you feel like you have a lot more options.

2. Pair blazers with shorts and linen pants - Shakirah provided this great tip on Twitter. Blazers can be worn all season long. I paired my bright orange one with navy blue shorts last summer just to try something different. It became one of my favorite outfits! Have fun with your blazers. By the way, if you don’t have a blazer, it’s a Diva Must Have. Get one ASAP!

3. Cut old jeans to create shorts  – If you don’t have old jeans to cut up, you can purchase jeans at a thrift store (they cost no more than $5 per pair) and cut them to create shorts.  Cut-off shorts and destroyed denim have become a summer staple. Instead of paying $30+ for a pair at stores like Urban Outfitters or American Eagle, create your own for less than $10?! I plan on taking a trip to the thrift store this summer. For instructions on how to create shorts like the ones pictured below, click HERE.

Source: www.edgemagazinesite.com

4. Change the hemline & details on dresses - Changing the hemline on dresses will change the way a dress looks. If you have dresses that you are tired of wearing but don’t have the means to purchase new ones, shorten the hemline and change the day dress to one you’d wear at night.  If you’ve worn the same black belt with a dress, change the belt for a different color or pattern. If the dress has buttons, change them! Small changes can make a huge difference.

5. Change buttons on jackets and cardigans - That jacket you’ve had in your closet for YEARS can probably use an upgrade. Have fun with details like buttons. Ask a seamstress to change the button or you can do it yourself; head to your local fabric store like Michaels and search for buttons that represent your style. Same goes for cardigans.

6. Shoes polished & heel taps changed - Do your pumps look run down? They probably don’t need to be replaced just yet.  Instead, they can be polished and shine like new. Also, change the heel taps if the metal of the heel is sticking out (this is one of my pet peeves). A little shoe maintenance will keep your favorite heels in great condition for years to come.

Source: www.living.msn.com

7. Shop trend accessories - Instead of purchasing new clothing, purchase fun statement jewelry. Wear a bold necklace with your favorite sheath dress. Brighten up an outfit with a bold color shoe. Use accessories to take an outfit to the next level.

8. Shop Consignment Shops and Thrift Stores - There’s nothing wrong with shopping while on a budget. You can use coupons, shop sales and also check out consignment shops and thrift stores for some serious savings.

What are some other ways fashionistas can update their wardrobe for less?

The spring season is upon us (although the winter weather is trying to stick around)! A change in season warrants a closet clean-out. It’s a great time to evaluate your current wardrobe: are there pieces that no longer fit? Are there items that are outdated? Do you feel like you’re missing some key wardrobe pieces? Have you lost weight and now need new clothes?

While most people can clean out there closet on their own, others prefer some guidance. If you need help getting your wardrobe in order, contact me! I met with a new client last month and we went through her closet to create a shopping list of items she needed.  I’m meeting with a new client this weekend to do a closet clean-out and create a new shopping list. She recently lost weight, so over the next few weeks we’ll use the list to go shopping for a new wardrobe.

If your wardrobe is full of clothes, but you need new ideas on how to put looks together, closet shopping appointments are also available. No time like the present to get your wardrobe in order!

For more information about personal styling services and rates, please contact me at keri@adivastateofmind.com or 301-836-1451. If you have any style questions, send me an email!!

If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen some behind the scene photos from a Façon Magazine photo shoot. Façon Magazine is the voice of emerging fashion.  For the cover, the editor wanted to highlight a vintage boutique, so she tasked me with styling a photo spread featuring pieces from Zoubeck boutique in Old Town Alexandria. Talk about pressure!

The photo shoot was on Sunday, March 17th bright and early at 7am.  We wanted to capture the great offerings at Zoubeck against the beautiful backdrop of Old Town.  Shoutout to the model Jessica! I think the high that day was 42 degrees; she was cold but she rocked it!  The fabulous ladies of Flawless U were responsible for hair and makeup.

Below are photos from the shoot. Some are featured in the magazine and others are some of my favorites that aren’t included in the publication:

Please check out the Spring 2013 issue of Façon Magazine available online at www.faconmagazine.com to see the full photo spread and other great features! For more information about Zoubeck visit www.zoubeck.com. They have some really nice pieces. Every time I’ve stepped foot in that store, I have walked away with something

Last Friday, my line sister called me and asked me to style her for an interview with a Turkish American news station. She could’ve used what she had in her closet but she preferred shopping for a new dress.  We met Monday evening at Columbia Mall in Maryland to search for the perfect dress and accessories.

Ebony-Nicole was told by the show’s producer that she couldn’t wear black, red, green or patterns. Talk about restrictions!

Our first stop was The Limited. They have some really nice pieces for spring, however they just didn’t work so we made our way to JC Penny. I had shopped at JC Penny last year for a client and had much success so I was hoping I could find a dress this time around.  By the way, the JC Penny of the past is now gone. Please believe I’ll be stopping back in the store to do a little shopping for myself!  But I digress….

We checked out the dress section (dresses were less than $50, most ranging between $25 & $30) and I pulled at least 10 dresses for Ebony-Nicole. After trying them on and narrowing down the options, we decided on a coral peplum dress with cap sleeves.  This dress was great for her body type. The cap sleeves help balance out her bottom half (since she’s bigger on bottom)  and adding a belt really helps define her waist, creating the desired hourglass shape.

The dress came with a black belt but we wanted to create a look that was polished but spoke to her fun, bubbly personality so we used a leopard print belt she had in her closet. With 15 minutes to spare, we headed back to The Limited to purchase a necklace, gold earrings and ring.  Shout out to The Limited for having a “get up to 3 items for 50% off” sale! The dress + jewelry = less than $60!!

Ebony-Nicole looked great on Wednesday and her interview went very well. She owned her look! I look forward to working with her again.

For information about personal styling services, visit the Personal Styling page and contact me at keri@adivastateofmind.com or 301-836-1451. 

I’m in the running to become the next Simon Style Setter for the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City. Please vote for me!! Voting is open until Friday, March 29th HERE. You can vote as often as you like!

Presented by the Corcoran’s 1869 Society, ARTINI is a vibrant evening of art, cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, entertainment, and dancing. The gala is the culmination of a month-long celebration in which eight mixologists from the District’s most prominent restaurants and bars compete to see who can create the most artistic martini. The city’s favorite artini, as chosen via online vote, will be revealed at the gala.

RaShonda contacted me earlier this week and asked if I could write a post on what to wear to this popular DC event. The event attire is cocktail chic, so I knew immediately that I wanted the outfit suggestions to stray away from a black dress. When people think of cocktail attire, a black dress is the first thing that comes to mind because it’s easy.  But let’s have a little fun!

As I mentioned in the Party Dress Alternative post a few months ago, jumpsuits are a great alternative to dresses. With heels and the right accessories, a jumpsuit is just as sophisticated as a dress.  Pair a black jumpsuit, which can be purchased at a variety of retailers including Macys, ASOS and Nordstrom, with ankle strap sandals, edgy gold accessories like the Tatty Devine Pegasus Earrings from ASOS and a bold red lip. If you have long hair, this outfit will look great with a sleek top knot and the right touch of mascara.

If you are more conservative, opt for a knee length cap-sleeve dress in a bright color and feminine detail like lace. This red dress is from Dorothy Perkins and is a great option to show off one’s curves in a classy way.  Let the dress be the focal point by pairing it with nude pumps like the ones below from Jessica Simpson or slingbacks from Christian Louboutin. A subtle way to introduce more than one color in your outfit is through accessories. You can add purple earrings and a patterned clutch for visual interest to the red and gold combination.

If you don’t want to wear a bright color like red, don’t default to black. Try navy. It is a neutral and a nice alternative. This One Shoulder Shimmer Dress is from John Lewis. This dress is great because the tiers in the dress create a slim waistline while accentuating your curves. Navy can be paired with gold or silver; in this case pair the dress with silver sandals or peep toe heels from GUESS. When dressing up for special events, multiple accessories aren’t always necessary.  For this look,  I decided not to add a bracelet; the statement earrings and ring are just enough. Complete the look with a smokey eye and nude lip.

If you are attending ARTINI and need assistance putting together an outfit, please contact me! Styling services may include shopping for a new outfit or creating a new look from your current wardrobe!

What do you think of these looks?

Socialite and party promoter Yodit Gebreyes is expanding her business.  She has started an event planning company called Favored by Yodit. The website is scheduled to be released next month so to prepare for the site launch, she had a photo shoot last week to take pictures of herself and various table settings she designed for special occasions.

Yodit contacted me to assist her with styling her looks for the shoot.  She selected the apparel, but needed me to help with accessories. Unfortunately, I couldn’t stay for the entire shoot so I styled her first look and I also finalized the looks of three models.  I used my jewerly and jewerly from personal stylist Lauren Matthews. Here are a few pictures the shoot:

If you’re in need of a stylist, don’t hesitate to contact me at keri@adivastateofmind.com or 301-836-1451!

Tiffany asked:

I have a few dip hem shirts (button downs, a t-shirt, etc) and don’t think they look right untucked when the front is so much shorter than the back. What is your opinion and how should you wear them?

The best way to wear dip hem shirts is untucked since the front is shorter than the back.  Since the shirt is designed to be high in the front and low in the back, it may look like you accidently tucked in the back if you do so.  Tucking in the back may also cause  the back of the top to look bulky.

Similar to wearing a tunic, dip hem shirts look best with slimmer pieces on the bottom.  You can wear them with a pair of skinny jeans, faux leather pants or leggings. If the dip hem shirts is a neutral color, have fun pairing them with color skinny jeans like Toya Wright did for the Grey Goose Cherry Noir event in May.

Photo: G.Paras Photography

Get her look for less here:

More Brian Atwood…

During the warmer months, dip hem t-shirts look great with a pair of denim shorts. You can complete the look with wedges to dress up a casual outfit or flats for guaranteed comfort.

ASOS Dipped Hem T-shirt

If you have style questions, please submit them to keri@adivastateofmind.com For more information about personal styling services, visit the Personal Styling page.

Fall 2010: My friend Lisa read an article about Style for Hire. Co-founded by Stacy London from TLC’s “What Not To Wear,” Style for Hire is the natural outgrowth of the work Stacy London does on the show. The goal was to create a network that made personal stylists accessible to everyone.

That article also mentioned that Style for Hire hosts a workshop in early 2011 for those stylist interested in joining the network.  To be considered for the network, attending the two day workshop was mandatory. At the conclusion of the two day training, Stacy London would sit down with her team to select those that would be a part of the network.

After reading this article about Style for Hire, Lisa told me “you need to attend this workshop!”

When I was working in retail, I had entertained the idea of being a personal stylist. I enjoyed working at smaller retail stores that gave me the opportunity to work one on one with those customers that need help finding specific items. I also had fun helping my friends pick out outfits for various occasions, but did that really mean I was meant to be a stylist??

So I went back and forth with the decision “should I register for the workshop?? What if I’m not selected to join the network?” I talked about it with my parents; I’m sure I annoyed my friends with my indecisiveness. And after much deliberation, I decided “why not!” The worst that could happen is that I wasn’t selected.

March 2011, I traveled to NYC and embarked on a two day training taught by Stacy London. I’ll admit, because she is a celebrity, I didn’t think she’d actually teach the workshop. I thought she’s show face and sit back, but no, Stacy London was hands on the entire two days. I think there were close to 100 people at the training; many of whom were personal stylists full-time. Between professional stylists and Stacy London, I’ll admit I was intimidated and a little overwhelmed!

Once training ended, I was selected to be an apprentice in the network. An apprentice is someone who needs more training before they can become a stylist in the network.  Apprentices participate in various tasks that will help them graduate to stylist.  I shadowed other stylists and worked at the Westfield Style Tours & Style Lounges (I was working for Style for Hire when I tweeted about coming to the mall for free consultations this summer). As an apprentice I was also given the opportunity to work with a few clients. 

Through hard work and persistence, I graduated to stylist in the network at the end of 2012. It looks like Lisa was right; I did need to attend the training. By doing so, it helped spark my passion to want to help women look and feel their best self.  Being a member also gave me the opportunity to meet other amazing stylists and various opportunities to continue to grow as a personal stylist!!

Below is a video from the Style for Hire workshop I attended in 2011 (I can’t believe it’s been two years). At the 1:29 mark you’ll see me next to Stacy London (shameless plug I know)!

If you’re a stylist interested in joining the network or you would like to book an appointment with a stylist, visit www.styleforhire.com

Most styling appointments I have had thus far have been to help clients clean out their closets, shop to fill in wardrobe gaps or create work and casual looks with pieces they already in their wardrobe. But for the next two months, many people will be invited to attend numerous holiday parties, charity events and inauguration galas.  With so many events going on, trying to find the “perfect look” can become overwhelming.

Whether you need help shopping for a new outfit or need help putting together a look with your current wardrobe, I’m here to help YOU! Yes you! The one reading this thinking “What am I going to wear to the holiday party next weekend?”

If you need help finding the perfect outfit(s), here are two ways I can assist you:

1. I’ll go to the mall before your scheduled appointment pulling pieces for you to try on.  You’ll meet me at the mall and we’ll go to each store to try on the items that were pulled until we find pieces that work best for you.  Depending on how much you need (just a dress vs. a dress, shoes & accessories) the shopping trip may need to be split into more than one appointment.  Believe it or not, after 2-3 hours of shopping with a stylist, you will probably want to take a break.

2.If you’re like a lot of women, you already have plenty of options hanging in your closet; you’re just unsure which of those options you should wear to a specific event. I’ll come over and help select outfits that are appropriate for the event you are attending.  This type of appointment will also make us aware of any key pieces that may be missing in your wardrobe.

If you think you need help this holiday or inaugural season, please contact me! For those planning on attending inauguration galas, now is great time to start looking for a gown. If you are thinking, “I don’t need a stylist, but I have a friend that does” please pass along my information.  My goal is to help you (and your friends) look and feel your best for every occasion!

Special offer – Mention this post and receive 15% off services. 

Click HERE to view my portfolio. Contact me via email at keri@adivastateofmind.com  or phone (301) 836-1451.

Photo: Examiner