‘Tis the Season for Day to Night Looks

How many of you have found yourself with the oh-so-daunting task of figuring out what you can wear to work that will also “work” for that holiday party/happy hour/client dinner/husbands work-thing, that you’re attending right after your long day is finished?  I’m guessing that many of you have had to solve for this as I get the question of “what would you wear…” quite often from friends and clients at this time of year. Luckily, this particular season I am feeling like there are more possibilities than ever to solve for this dilemma, and strangely I think we can thank the downturn of the economy for this somewhat happy turn of events within the choices of apparel.

What you’ll see in the stores this holiday is an awareness by designers that women are making very careful and calculated choices about what to spend their money on. Dispensable income for most of us is not as plentiful as it may have been years prior, so when we’re buying clothing we’re buying pieces that are more classic and much more versatile to truly getting the most for our spend. The other trend that I’m seeing this season is a huge selection of very luxe, high-end-designer-looking items, for less.  Many of my favorite retailers as well as some new, or re-discovered ones, are offering value-conscious, yet still really fabulous choices for those of us that want to look like a billion bucks, but just not spend anywhere close to that to get the look.

I’ve chosen 3 retailers that we all trust and I’ve pulled together some investment-worthy outfits that you can wear to work and then to your night out with only a simple adjustment or two. I hope they’ll inspire you!

First, Ideas from Ann Taylor, (www.anntaylor.com)

1. Compact Knit Triacetate Jacket and Compact Knit Triacetate Skirt; $230 and $110, but 30% off if you purchase the two together.
2. Silk Crepe Confection Top; $95
3. Pavé Mirror Ball Drop Earrings; $35
4. Perfect Platform Pump; $175
5. Modern Control Top Tights; $20
6. Pearl and Pavé Cluster Bracelet; $60

How would I wear? I would wear all of these pieces to the office except for the cluster bracelet. Before leaving the office I would probably take off the tights to add a little sexiness (don’t forget the self-tanner!), and put on the bracelet with the intention of taking the blazer off upon the arrival to the function.

Second, Ideas from Net-A-Porter, (www.netaporter.com):

1. DVF, Stretch Jersey Shift Dress; $300
2. Vince, Belted Cashmere Cardigan; $335
3. Christian Louboutin, Babel 100 Boots; $1465
4. Ringseclectic, Oversized Crystal-Embellished Ring; $130
5. Giles & Brother, Rhinestone Hoop Earrings; $160
6. Tibi, Sequined Silk Blazer; $600
7. Kenneth Jay Lane, Crystal-Embellished Cocktail Ring; $100

How would I wear? I would wear all day the DVF dress with boots and sweater, plus the earrings and over-sized embellished ring. Then before heading to the event I’d replace the sweater with the very cool sequined blazer (scrunching up the sleeves and popping the collar), switch the oversized ring with the crystal-embellished stunner, and off I go!

Third, Ideas from Banana Republic, (www.bananarepublic.com)

1. Silk Ruffle Printed Shell; $70
2. Crewneck Cardigan; $69
3. BR Monogram Striped Suit Pant; $132
4. ‘Gaby’ Suede Round-Toe Pump; $120
5. Double Hoop Earring; $34
6. Plated Scales Bracelet; $36
7. Velvet Blazer; $152
8. Drama Chandelier Earring; $40

How would I wear? I would wear the blouse, pants, pumps and bracelet all day and into the night. The only additions to this look would be for day I’d layer on the cardigan and wear the hoop earrings, and then for an evening look I’d slip on the blazer and replace the hoops with the elegant chandelier earrings.

Martin Patrick 3

During a recent trip to Minneapolis, I checked out a new (to me) men’s accessories store in the downtown warehouse district called Martin Patrick 3. I went based on a strong recommendation from my friend, Jennifer Knoch from Radar (radar-msp.com) and had no expectations, since I’ve never heard of the store before. But I definitely didn’t expect to walk out knowing I found one of my favorite new stores – which is exactly what happened.

From the moment I walked in I felt like a kid in a candy store. The store was completely full of every kind of accessory you could imagine. Items like: hats and gloves, bar accessories, vintage cuff links, weekend bags and briefcases, pens, vintage lighters, reading glasses, and on and on. Each item was completely hand picked by the owner, Greg Walsh. The best part is, the prices found in the store varied so greatly, I think it would be impossible not to find the perfect item for any guy no matter what price-range you have.

I found myself wandering the store for over an hour simply because every time I turned around there was something new to see and lust over. That said, one of my favorite aspects to the store is the new venture into footwear. They offered a perfect assortment of Grenson shoes/boots as well as Swims galoshes (two brands that I completely adore.)

If you find yourself in Minneapolis I highly recommend checking them out! And if you’re not in the Minneapolis area and are looking for that perfect something, give them a call – their staff is completely knowledgeable and helpful, I’m sure they’d help you find the perfect item.

Quick, Easy and Sexy Hair for the Holidays

Creating “hot hair” that looks like you’ve gone somewhere to have it done can actually be achieved very easily and very cheaply – here are my tips on how-to.

The 5 tools needed, (get ready – this entire list will cost you about $15 and can be found at any drug store):

1. bobby pins (black or blonde, based on your hair color)
2. hairspray (my favorite as well as the favorite of many hair stylists I work with is TRESemmé, Tres Two, Extra Hold)
3. styling wax or pomade (I am currently using a Pantene, Texturize! Sculpting Wax, but I have used several kinds and they all work)
4. rubber bands (I use a black band, based on your hair color white or brown may be a better choice)
5. a comb or pick

To get started I recommend planning on using next-day hair, or end-of-day-hair. Freshly washed or styled hair is often too clean or slippery to best achieve these looks. I encourage you to create these dos with hair that is a little “dirty” as it will have more texture to it; you’ll get much better volume and control.

For a sexy high ponytail look you can choose to sweep all of your hair back for a very sleek and modern look (like Rose Byrne), or for something a little softer, leave a chunk of bangs loose in the front, (like Jen and Eva M.). Either way start this process with as voluminous hair if possible, if needed do a little back combing and add a little hairspray to give texture, especially at the crown.

First, put a little pomade in your hand (about the size of a dime) and work it evenly between both of your hands so that it’s soft and warm.  Sweep the pomade lightly and briskly through all the hair that will be pulled back into the pony, including the back of your hair at the neckline, (don’t touch the bangs if you plan to leave them loose in the front). Pull your hair together as tightly as possible at the highest point of your crown and secure it with a rubber band, again looping the band as many times necessary to achieve a really tight hold.

Next, take a look at how the hair within the pony is falling, most likely it will need to be smoothed and possibly back-combed to achieve more volume at the crown, then lightly set that shape with hairspray. If there is not enough natural wave happening you may also want to use a large barrel curling iron to add a little more volume. To do this separate the pony into 3 sections and create a few large curls, then shake out the curls to work them into one wavy curl throughout your pony, then again set the shape with hairspray.

Lastly the final touches to create a finished look are to take a small chunk of hair underneath your pony and wrap it around the rubber band twice, then secure it with a bobby just under the binder as well as with a light spritz of hairspray. The other thing I like to do if I’ve got a sleek entirely pulled back look like Rose’s, is to add some ridges on the top and sides of my head to make it look like I have more texture in my hair than I really do, (Jen’s photo is a good example of this). To do this I lightly apply hairspray on the sides and top of my hair and then immediately run my fingers through those areas in about ½ inch sections giving the taught hair little ridges that create the illusion of thickness and texture.

And if you’ve left the bangs loose at the front, at this point I recommend doing a little back combing to give them more volume, and then either do a front part and have them loosely hang on either side with a little curl (like Jen has done); or do a side sweep of the bang like Eva Mendes, sculpting them to the shape you want with your hand, and then lightly fixing with hairspray. Another little tip, if these side-swept bangs are long enough lightly sweep the end of the bangs behind your ear after applying the hairspray. By doing this you create a sophisticated look as well as you will get a nice natural curve at the end of the bangs that sets after about 10 minutes, so you may choose un-tuck the hair to let it hang loose and pretty at that point.

To create a second look party look with a loose and fun low chignon like Eva Longoria’s, follow all of the same steps above for the look of the hair on the top and sides of your face. Again it’s your choice on sleek and tight, or loose and romantic like Eva’s, both are appropriate for this hairstyle as well.  The ponytail is obviously now gathered at the nape of your neck to create the low chignon. I like the style of chignon that Eva L. is wearing here because it’s the easiest for a “non-professional” to do. To achieve this look first backcomb the pony to get as much texture and volume as possible. Then separate the pony into several sections, I recommend more sections than less as it’s easier to achieve a full-not-to-done and fuller look with a little more twisting and back-pinning of the hair. With every section (I recommend 3-4), first back-comb, then twist it into a little imperfect circle, back-pinning with bobbys near the end of the twist, (leaving a couple inches at the very end to flow freely), and also to secure the center of the twist. Continue to do this with all of the sections, placing them alongside and slightly on top of each other to eventually create the illusion of a single, playful, design at the back of your neck.

A rule of thumb is to try not to over-think or over-work this process. The more random-looking the better, the shape will end up more interesting and look even more professionally done. To finish, one final look at how it all came together with a hand mirror will allow you to add any additional bobby pins to secure the shape, and then just a light application of hairspray to fix, and you’re good to go!

 

 

Starting Over

As Josh and I are finishing up work with our latest client she’s been on my mind daily and has turned out to be my inspiration for this latest article. This particular client has a very interesting story as she came to us looking for someone to help her re-build a wardrobe that she’d spent 30 years carefully compiling, only to have it lost in a fire a couple months ago. She’s been amazing to work with and it’s brought me personally so much joy to witness us being able to help her feel optimistic about a very sad and frustrating situation.

I got to thinking about what if that had happened to me? Where would I even start? That’s when I thought this may be a very interesting exploration as it seemed it would be a way for me to communicate to my readers what I think are the must-have foundation pieces for a woman’s wardrobe this fall. I’m not going to lie, this article took me a solid day to pull together as I only let myself choose 20 items, and of course I wanted to find the “best” available. I’m putting best in quotes because what I think is the best is not going to be universal among all of my readers. As you’ll see I’ve “chosen my battles” a technique I’ve written about in other articles. I chose to spend more money where I think it’s important to do so, less in categories where I know you can still achieve the same classic and high-quality look while spending less.  A couple more things: 1. I did not give myself a budget to work within, I simply chose what I think is the best available online today for the 20 different key pieces, and 2. I did not cover things like undergarments, athletic attire, etc. I just stuck to work and casual wear essentials.

After all of that, what did I choose?*

1. Black pants (works with blazer to make a suit)
2. Trench coat
3. Pearls
4. Tank top
5. Pencil skirt (works with blazer as well)
6. Long, refined cardigan
7. Black pumps
8. Black blazer
9. Dark blue denim
10. Statement belt
11. Printed blouse
12. T-shirt
13. Tall boots
14. White button-down
15. Handbag
16. Casual cardigan
17. Dress
18. Hoop earrings
19. Black denim (that I would hem to the ankle)
20. Flats

(*For product details and links to purchase items featured, please email me and I’ll send you the list of the specific items.)

How much would this all cost to buy? My choices ended up tallying at about $8500.00, which may sound crazy but when you’re starting with nothing and you are in a financial position to make some educated decisions about where to spend your money, this is what I would recommend this season. I would love to read what some of your lists/choices would be if you are up for the challenge! Please send them to me at info@cabinetdenvie.com and if I get enough responses I’ll report back in an upcoming article.

You can also read this article among others by Jen Bakken at www.suzysaid.com

The Sartorialist – Book Signing In SF

I’m sure most of you know of Scott Schuman (better known as “The Sartorialist”) by now, but for those of you who haven’t yet, prepare to jump on the bandwagon.

After working in the fashion industry for years, Scott began taking pictures of what real people were really wearing in their everyday life in New York. He then shared those pictures on his blog. Little did he know, the following he’d receive would quickly and continually grow. Now, he’s being sent around the world to continue his work, has retailers developing window displays based on his photographs, and is one of the most influential individuals in the fashion industry. I’ve been following Scott for years and cannot be happier for the enormity of his success.

 

Scott has recently released his first book that showcases some of his favorite images from over the years. The book highlights some of fashion’s most famous figures as well as the random people he’s seen on the streets from around the world.

 

If you’re going to be in San Francisco Wednesday, October 21st, Scott will be doing two book signings. He’ll be at Barney’s from 5:00-7:00 and then at the Paul Smith store from 7:30-8:30.

See his blog at:

http://thesartorialist.blogspot.com/

You can purchase the book in various book stores across the country as well as online. Or, you can purchase now here:

http://www.barneys.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-BNY-Site/default/Search-Show?q=the+sartorialist&x=0&y=0

10 Observations Made During NYC Fashion Week 9.’09

1. Pulling together a show is a CRAZY amount of work. This could possibly be the understatement of the year, but for those of you that have never been to fashion week, but watch shows like “Project Runway” the final episodes when they’re at the tent only begins to tell a fraction of the story. A show in the tent at Bryant Park (and beyond) is as involved as a Broadway production but unlike Broadway the “show” really only lasts for about 15mn, (not counting the hour you wait for the show to begin at least as they never start on time). Here’s a little video of Zac’s show that does a pretty good job of showing some of the prep: http://videos.nymag.com/video/Zac-Posen-Spring-2010-Collectio#c=YR6LF31TF3L9YWT2&t=Model%20Diaries:%20Sean%20O’Pry
2. You get what you pay for. It was clear to me, (and now to my husband after me pointing it out), between the 3 shows that I saw this season and shows I’ve seen in the past you get what you pay for when it comes to talent, (i.e. the models). Because unfortunately the performance on the runway by those models does influence how your audience will interpret your work. We were at one show that clearly had a small budget so the designer was forced to use models that were probably good at commercial/catalogue work, but were not trained for the runway and many of them just looked nervous and anything but graceful on the stage. Runway models are meant to be essentially clothes hangers for the designers, so their lines need to be sleek and their movement needs to be steady, smooth and extremely confident. Mr. Posen on the other hand used amazing girls for his show, many of which I recognized from other runway shows by top designers and a couple I recognized from Vogue spreads, (you too possibly if you watched the video). If it were me and I was casting for my big opportunity at the park, I would take a less is more approach and invest in a few killer girls because they do make the clothes look that much better, which could mean millions to a fashion designer.
3. I’m loving the trends that I saw happening for spring. I must admit that I’m a fall/winter fashion lover at heart, but what I saw at two of the shows in particular really made me excited for what’s to come in a couple seasons. At the Academy of Art show I really loved the student’s use of fabrics and knits in a beautiful array of muted peaches, yellows, blues, purples and pinks. Everything that I saw coming down the runway felt really pretty and happy. Modern geometric shapes influenced the designs as well as bold patterns, while traditional madras plaid inspired some of my favorite looks.
    
   At Zac Posen’s show he too applied similar trends in his use of bold patterns and geometrics, but his palette overall was in much bolder hues. Zac gave a very noticeable nod to the 40’s in a lot of his work and I love his playful introduction of colorful fur for spring – very San Francisco appropriate! The gowns of course were out of this world with sequin detail to die for, and the sculpted silk pant that he designed (featured below) was not only fabulous, but it looked wearable – as did 99% of the clothes I saw go down his runway btw. I want to note again how prevalent fine-gauge knits are going to be for spring and I couldn’t be happier. Although we’re all going to assume that these knit pieces are going to look perfect on the models, I am confident that this style (ala Missoni) is one that really will work on everyone. It moves with your body, flows over your curves and wears much better than others.

    

4. Chanel is still the “it” bag. Now this may seem like common sense to some of you, but to me it was a bit of a surprise. Sure, it’s Chanel, so of course anything by the label will be 1. Extremely high in quality and 2. Timeless/ageless in style, but I guess I don’t think of it as a bag that I would carry to a show as a statement piece or the must-have accessory to pair with my look. Seems I was sadly mistaken because at least at NYC fashion week, Chanel was the bag to carry.
5. Anna Wintour and Rachel Zoe look exactly the same in person. I had to put this in here because these are the two that I saw at Zac Posen’s show that I got the most questions about. What were they wearing, how did they look, etc…? The one bit of dirt that I will share is that I was about 12 inches away from Donna Karen in a restaurant; she did not look the same as she has looked in mags, TV… And let’s just say, to be kind, the woman could use a very long nap and possibly a little tutorial while in the hair and make-up chair.
6. Choose your battles. It became clear to me pretty early on that although all of us attending the shows would love to be in couture from head to toe, in this economy it’s just not the possible for the majority of us. Women are now “choosing their battles” in that they’re making choices about what key pieces they’re investing in, and they’re mixing those pieces in with affordable yet fashionable items. For example, at The Academy of Art show in the tents that we attended on Saturday I sat next to a fabulous woman that was wearing a ring that was easily $20,000, yet her outfit was quite plain, black layers, no labels to speak of. At the Zac Posen show I noticed some of the same, I saw a woman that was dressed in Zac but sporting a very affordable, but very chic, Alexander Wang bag. And at both shows I noticed several girls confidently wearing denim paired with a form-fitting blazer, but their bags were clearly where their money had gone, as they were some of the best of this season. I too practiced this philosophy, (see pics below); I went to 3 shows and at each wore a mix of high and low. On the far left I’m wearing a Trina Turk fur bomber, over an Ann Taylor satin sheath dress, a wide faux diamond necklace from Neiman’s, (the designer’s name escapes me…), Prada pumps and Prada bag. In the middle shot I’m wearing a Zara denim biker jacket, over a Rachel Roy dress – (her exclusive line for Macy’s is fab – check it out!), bag and accessories from a no-name favorite shop in Chicago, and grey Louboutin pumps. Last but not least, on the far right I’m wearing an M by Missoni dress, Marc by Marc jewelry, paired with Prada boots and bag.

     

7. Act like you know what you’re doing and people will think you KNOW what you’re doing. That was the vibe we gave off when we were at the shows and because of that we were offered better seats, invites to next year’s events, as well as interest from designers. Confidence is everything, especially in NY and especially while navigating fashion week.
8. Watching a show at Bryant Park is something that anyone that loves fashion should do.  Seeing the excitement and anticipation on my husband’s face as we were waiting to get into the Academy Show was really amazing. I had been to shows there before so I think I forgot what it felt like to go for the first time, the rush you get from the eye candy of a tent full of people dressed incredibly, (most of them anyway), that are there because they have a shared passion for the industry or the scene itself, is pretty invigorating. And the show itself, especially the first time, always exceeds your expectations. The experience, (albeit extremely quick), is also truly inspiring as you see such incredible craftsmanship parade in front of you and you think of the months of work that went into every stitch.
9. NYC (more specifically Manhattan) is the only part of this country that truly lives and breathes fashion, period. I have traveled to, lived in, and almost lived in, the most cosmopolitan cities our country has to offer and every time I go back to NYC, (and not just during this particular week), I am always in awe of the appreciation that both men and women have of fashion and the time they take to actually “dress”. And by “dress” I mean taking the time to pull together a look for whatever they’re doing; going to work, going out to eat, going to the gym – it doesn’t matter, New Yorkers are doing it in style.
10. A girl (i.e. this girl) can only be glamorous so many days in a row. Before I left SF I told my Mom over the phone that I was going to NYC to “play dress-up” for a few days, and that’s what I did and it was great, but by day 3 of heels and make-up and “dressing” – I’ve got to tell you I was ready to come back to CA to scale it back a bit. In California it seems just about anything goes, (this is both good and BAD), but I have to tell you it’s pretty nice to have the option to wear just about anything at just about any time of the day; and stepping out of the airport to the smell of redwoods in the air, well that didn’t hurt my feeling about being back home either.

Fall Boots for the “Rugged” Man

The rugged work boot trend has carried over from last season and is still alive and well. I absolutely love the look, but it’s difficult for some people to pull off. For example, it’s almost not right for me to wear a pair of Red Wing work boots to the office. It’s just not fair to the boots themselves. It would be like buying a Ford Super Duty truck to commute to an office job in the city. The good news is, there are some incredible boots that will allow you to achieve the “rugged” without looking like you’re going to chop some firewood right after your 3pm conference call.

 

Maybe it’s my Wisconsin roots showing once again. Or, maybe after three years in San Francisco, I’m truly turning into a hippie more and more every day. Either way, over the last couple of years I’ve fallen in love with two shoe companies, Quoddy and Yuketen. Quoddy has been making hand-sewn boots and shoes in Maine since 1909. They make many varieties of shoes/boots, but my favorite is the Grizzly Boot.

http://www.quoddy.com/styles.html

 

Yuketen on the other hand began in 1989 and is based in California. They too have many styles of shoes/boots, but the Hunt Boot is perfect for my taste.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.yuketen.com/06HuntBoots.html

 

If either of these boots are still too “rugged” for your taste, I’d instantly go to the new John Varvatos deck boot. It’s the first boot he’s made under his USA line (which just means, it’s really quite affordable at $265.) The boot comes in multiple colors, but I love the blue or the weathered brown seen in the picture. They’re great boots that you can wear with just about anything, including your heavy flannel shirts or thick, cable-knit sweaters.

http://www.johnvarvatos.com

J.Crew +

Collaborations between different companies and designers have been hugely popular for the last couple of years. Some companies have used these types of collaborations as one-off offerings and others have used them to continually add to their full-line collections. In my opinion, J. Crew has done an unbelievable job using strategic collaborations to broaden their already stellar collection.

J. Crew has always offered beautifully made, classic pieces while always staying on-trend. That’s one of the reasons it’s the perfect place for almost anyone to shop. But, they’ve now partnered with some of the top brands in their respected crafts in order to make key pieces that will stand the test of time. Each piece is the perfect balance between each classic brand, while still fitting in with the overall J. Crew collection.

You can see all of their designer collaborations on J. Crew website, but following are five of my current personal favorites. Each of them can also be found at jcrew.com.

 

Timex

J. Crew has teamed up with Timex to make an incredible military-inspired watch from the 40’s. Its face is distressed just enough to give it a great vintage look and the nylon strap makes it even that much more authentic. The best part is, since it’s made by Timex, you know it will last for years. I instantly fell in love with this watch the moment it came out and has definitely become one of my favorite new accessories.

Timex Military Watch: $150

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sperry

It seems that you see Sperry Top-Siders everywhere you go nowadays. And for good reason, their classic style and comfort make them a true original. J. Crew worked with them to come up with a few different versions. But, my two favorites are the “Broken-in Original” and the “Original Nubuck Chukka”. The Broken-In Original is perfectly distressed to look like you’ve been wearing them for years. And the Nubuck Chukka is a great alternative to the classic slip-on.

Broken-in Original: $98

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Original Nubuck Chukka: $125

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Mackintosh

Charles Macintosh (yes, his name was spelled without the ‘k’) was a true innovator in creating water-resistant fabrics over 200 years ago. And, they’ve been making incredible rain coats ever since. Mackintosh coats are absolute classics. Their long lasting heritage along with their incredible quality, make them the perfect partner with j crew. The price may seem a little steep at first, but I guarantee, this coat could last you a lifetime.

Mackintosh Coat: $800

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baracuta

I’ve been a fan of Baracuta jackets for many years. This classic jacket was worn (and made famous) by one of my favorite style icons, Steve McQueen. But, it goes far beyond him. It’s been worn by some of the most stylish gentlemen in history, from Elvis and Sinatra all the way up to Mr. James Bond himself, Daniel Craig. I was thrilled to see J. Crew partnered with them to offer this incredible piece. You’ll see me sporting this jacket throughout this summer in navy.

Baracuta Jacket: $275

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thomas Mason

Any man who thinks “a dress shirt is just a dress shirt” hasn’t worn a quality dress shirt. The fabric quality and cut mean absolutely everything. And, when you find a quality dress shirt, it will last for years. Thomas Mason has been making that quality of shirting since 1796. They’ve partnered with J. Crew to make an entire line of shirting. They’re all incredible, but I’m partial to the classic white dress shirt (a staple in every man’s wardrobe.) The tailored fit with mother-of-pearl buttons makes this classic stand out.

Thomas Mason point-collar dress shirt: $135

Self Tanner: A Tutorial

If I were to list one of my absolute “must-have” accessories for every season, I would have to say it would be my self tanner. I chose to write about using self tanner this week because it’s a “how to” question I answer for my friends a lot, especially this time of year. I’m half Norwegian and half German; so let’s just say that I’ve been “pigment-challenged” all my life. And now in my later years I’ve even actually acquired an allergy to too much sun – is the universe trying to tell me something or what?  Could be, but I will still continue to “worship” the sun, only now a “sun in a bottle” because nothing makes you feel better or look better than “a little color”, am I right? 

I have to start off by saying I consider myself somewhat of an expert on self tanners as I’ve tried nearly every brand in the book over the past 10 years of dedicated application. And over those 10 years I have self-educated myself on how to apply it properly and evenly, how to keep it off my clothes, and how to keep the shade of darkness in check – even on the really dry spots. With the rest of the article I will share my knowledge of how to make the most out of this genius product because although self tanner will never replace the sun, it IS the smartest thing to do for your skin and your health this summer.

 

Let’s start with what you will need to purchase:

1.  Buy self-tanner as well as a basic lotion to mix with it. The self tanner I highly recommend and use myself every day is: Dove Energy Glow*, for medium to dark skin for $10.49 available at drugstore.com or if you’re lucky you’ll find it at your local Target or Walgreens. The basic lotion I recommend is Lubriderm Daily Moisture with SPF 15 for $8.29 at drugstore.com.                                                                        

 

[I can very genuinely write that I’ve tried many tanners, cost not necessarily being a factor,
and this extremely affordable Dove brand is simply the best.]

 

 

2.  Buy a loose robe/sundress/t-shirt to toss on after you’ve applied the lotions. Make it cheap and make it anything but white as it will discolor even if you wash it regularly after many mornings of use while you’re skin is still drying. I wear a cheap and short strappy cotton sundress I got from Gap Body and it does the job perfectly.

3.  Buy a loofah or use your current loofah at least once/mo.

 

Now a list of “how tos”:

1.  Take a shower and scrub off as much really dry skin as possible. And by “really dry”, I mean don’t obsess about normal dry-ish skin, but do concentrate on exfoliating dry knees, elbows and feet; and ankles are a must.

2.  After your shower apply tanner in combination with lotion. First dab a little of the basic non-tanning lotion to the “dry” spots, (all of your joints and your feet – tops/sides/back as feet seem to suck this stuff up fast). Next apply the combination of lotions and the ratio’s like this: if you want to look like you’re tan, use 3/4 tanner and 1/4 lotion; if you want to look like you have a light sun-kissed tone to your skin, use 1/2 and 1/2. Squeeze both of these lotions in your hand and mix, then apply as evenly as possible to your body. I would recommend starting with your legs, work on rubbing in the lotion until it feels like it’s 99% soaked in. Then wash your hands. Reload your hands with the combo and tackle your torso, arms, tops of hands, and I always dab a little on my cheeks, tip of nose and forehead followed up then by my normal moisturizer over my entire face. Wash your hands thoroughly again – always with soap because self-tanner can stain.

3.  Put on your cover-up and continue on with your morning and/or getting ready. Ideally you will be able to give your body a chance to soak in the lotion as to avoid any streaking or residue on your clothing, but honestly at times I barely give that process 10mn and the result seems to be the same.

 

Finally a few more tips about tanner:

1.  Be careful when you’re wearing white or a light color over your “tanned” body not to itch yourself hard enough where the fabric rubs your skin roughly as the fabric will most likely pick up some tanner. It will show up as a little spot that you can get out in the wash only.

2.  Be prepared for light colored clothing to stain over time upon consecutive tanner use. Frankly, it doesn’t bother me enough to stop using the stuff, nobody else can see it but you as it typically just effects the inner lining of pants, or maybe a collar of a shirt or jacket on a really hot day or over numerous wearings.

3.  Self-tanner is not sunscreen and it is not permanent. I love to prep before the beach by getting a nice glow, but I know that I still need to apply more of my Lubriderm as sunscreen over it, (yes, the Lubriderm lotion is the best sunscreen in the world because it works, 100% the same as “suntan lotion” and it doesn’t smell!). And the no-so-permanent aspect of it?  Let’s just say it does eventually sweat or wash off, so you will need to reapply after a day at the beach to get that glow again.

4.  Self-tanner does help “extend” your tan. You would not belive how many times my husband has said post-mini vaca that my tan has lasted so much longer than his has. We both have the same white skin, but I’m using tanner every day – so you do the math. 

5.  Self-Tanner is more effective with daily or multiple-day usage. The more days you use it in a row, the deeper the shade of “tan” you’ll see. So if you’re prepping for an occasion, start early, I would suggest at least a week prior to the day.

 

This article and many others written by me are on suzysaid.com, under the “by Jennifer Bakken” link.

Father’s Day Gift Guide

 

We all know how much our dads mean to us. They take out the trash, help fix things around the house, walk the dog (especially when it rains), and most importantly, they love us unconditionally. This Father’s Day, show him how much he means to you with something in which he may not invest the time or effort, his summer wardrobe. Instead of overwhelming him with any big changes to his summer collection, I recommend starting with a few key accessories that will improve any of his summer outfits (even though he would never admit he wears “outfits”.)

 

Sunglasses

Every guy needs a great pair of sunglasses. And, I’m not talking about sunglasses he wears when running, biking, working-out or glasses with massive (and very gaudy) logos on the sides. I think guys are much better off going with timeless pieces like metal or plastic aviators that never go out of style. There are many to choose from (Randolph, Selima, Oliver Peoples, etc.) but my personal favorites are Ray-Ban Aviators in silver/grey and Persol in Tortoise. Either pair will bring any outfit to a new level and will look completely effortless. And, let’s be honest ladies, either pair will bring out your man’s inner Redford or McQueen (and how can you not love that?!)

Ray-Ban Aviators; $129

Persol: $360

Both available at sunglasshut.com

 

    

    

 

Weekend bag

There’s nothing better than a long weekend summer getaway. And, whether you’re going to the beach, lake, or resort, you’re guy needs the perfect “weekender”. It’s time to leave the gym bag at home and get him a great fabric duffle. Get the right bag and it will last him a lifetime. There are a lot of options from which to choose, but you don’t have to break the bank for an incredible bag. My personal favorite is the Filson medium cotton duffle with bridle leather straps.

Filson duffle bag: $280.  Available at filson.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Swim Suit

Beaches, pools, water parks, or even the occasional run down the Slip-n-Slide when the kids aren’t watching, he’s going to be getting wet this summer. And, he needs a great swim suit. It’s time to finally retire those (way too long) board shorts for good. It’s alright to show a little bit of leg and, I have to tell you, the shorter swim trunks are actually much more comfortable when you’re in the water. (And, ladies, don’t tell me you don’t love seeing those short bathing suits worn by Jude Law and Matt Damon in The Talented Mr. Ripley.) I’ve been known to sport the “short suits”, but you don’t have to go to extremes. Two incredible options are from Sundek and Original Penguin.

Sundek Rainbow: $125 (3” inseam). Available at saksfifthavenue.com

Original Penguin “Boxed in the Line”: $59. Available at: originalpenguin.com

  

         

 

    

 

 

Hat

As much as we love being in the sun, we still need to be protected from it. A great hat can not only protect his head and face from a wicked sunburn, it can also be a perfect accessory. Unless he’s on the golf course, take away his standard baseball hat with his favorite golf brand on it and get him a light-weight driving cap or straw fedora. As far as the driving cap goes, look to get him one in a material the breaths extremely well like linen. We want to be sure he stays cool and comfortable while being protected from the sun.

Ivy Linen Driver Cap: $35. Available at jjhatcenter.com

Goorin Brothers Straw Fedora: $45. Available at nordstrom.com

 

    

 

 

 

 

Summer Shoes

Running shoes are an absolute must have…to run in. That does not mean dad should be wearing them with jeans, shorts, and chinos throughout the summer. Consider getting him a pair of casual sneakers or a classic driving moccasin. The right casual sneaker or driving moc can look incredible with everything from shorts to dress pants. Personally, I love to wear my casual sneakers with light-weight dress pants to give a more relaxed look to outfits, and the driving moc with shorts to bring a little more sophistication to the outfit.

I’m obsessed with the adidas Rod Laver sneakers because the mesh breaths incredibly well for the summer months. They are still, in my opinion, the best summer sneaker on the market. Regarding the driving moc, there are a million different options out there. I love the classic version by Tods, but you can easily go with a more moderately priced version. A great option would be the Allen Edmonds Brooker. Or, if you’d like to add a little color to the mix, look at the Carson Driving Moccasin from To Boot New York in Arancio (orange).

adidas Rod Lavers: $60. Available at shopadidas.com

Allen Edmonds Brooker: $195. Available at allenedmonds.com

To Boot New York Carson Driving Moc: $245. Available at endless.com

 

     

 

 

 

 

Josh