Key and Classic Items for Winter Weather

Four basic pieces to spruce up any outfit.

After December’s typical cash outflow, most of us try to tighten the purse strings in January.  But at the same time, you may stare into your closet and feel like you need a fashion boost. In this article, we provide some direction about how to give the items you already have in your closet a fresh new feel. And if you don’t own them, consider purchasing when the winter months drag on and you’re ready to buy something new that will last. We’ve whittled our list down to four items to make it simple and protect the bank account. Must-have items for the cold, dark and (not so) snowy days of winter: Crisp white shirt. Most of us have a white shirt in our closets, but it may not be considered “crisp.” In this case, a trip to the dry cleaner is …

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Fashion Finds and Fixes

Festive Attire for New Year’s Eve

New Year's Eve attire for wherever you may go.

We realize that some of you may prefer comfortable pajamas in front of a fire on New Year’s, but for those who enjoy celebrating with family and friends, we have some ideas that will take the stress out of what to wear. When thinking about “holiday fashion,” most of us have an image of sequins and bright colors. While some shimmer can look terrific, an overdose can look gaudy.  When it comes to any festive event, we suggest pre-selecting your “look” so that when the time comes to get dressed, you don’t end up with clothes strewn about your room. Following are “looks” we believe work for all parties and styles. LBD – the Little Black Dress is always a safe bet and a great look. If you want to spruce it up for winter, consider a velvet dress…

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Fashion Finds and Fixes

Fashion: It's In The Bag

A break down of the hottest handbags and how to wear them

We ladies carry one every day. It holds our necessities. It comes in a variety of shapes and styles – long, short, big, small, black, colorful, fabric, leather. Yes, we’re talking about handbags, arguably the most noticeable and important accessory. So it's important to ask: What bag is the right bag for you? There is such variety in the market that it’s hard to decipher it all. If you’re considering a new handbag or wondering which old one to pull out of your closet (or which one to suggest for a gift!), the following tips should make the decision easier.  One of the nice things about handbags is that you can go in either direction when it comes to pricing. If it’s an item you DO want to splurge on -- there are many ways to play it safe …

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Fashion Finds and Fixes

Winter Accessories Ward Off Winter Doldrums

Some easy-fix tips to brighten your outfit ... and maybe even your day.

We suspect a lot of our readers are feeling the same way we are after this past weekend’s weather and subsequent black outs – a little frustrated and a little cold. More than anything else, it makes all of us worry a bit more about what this winter has in store! We hope we can help you get through the upcoming season with some accessory tips, which of course include scarves, gloves and hats.  While both of us were trying to get dressed for the day in our cold, dark houses Tuesday morning, the goal was straightforward: Get dressed quickly. No one wants to stand around trying on clothes when your main focus is keeping warm.  So keep it simple by going with layered solids, and then accessorize with a bright scarf or wrap. Katherine has a good…

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Fashion Finds and Fixes

Menswear: Workday to Weekend

Some tips to simplify your wardrobe and shopping.

There’s good and bad news for men when it comes to dressing for work: The bad news is that you have to spend some money to look sharp; the good news is that you can invest in suits, ties and shoes and have them last for years. Purchasing suits for men is like purchasing designer jeans for women: Find your brand and stick with it. Nordstrom is a great spot for seeing what works best -- conveniently located and with good sales help, you can check out suits by Varvatos, Abboud, BOSS, Hickey Freeman (if you’re really wanting to pay up), and Nordstrom's own line. Brooks Brothers also has come out with more Italian-cut suits that look nice and are long-lasting. Both stores offer in-store tailoring. If you prefer the custom tailored approach, J …

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Fashion Finds and Fixes

Just What ARE the Fashion Basics?

Clothes that will last season after season.

In our last article, we shared with you the amazing items and savings you can find by shopping consignment, specifically at Lemon Tree Goods in Natick. We also mentioned that it is worthwhile to splurge on a few key pieces that will be long-lasting even through fashion trends. We don’t just mean two seasons – we’re talking about key staples that you can wear for years and that always look classic. (If you’ve ever noticed how beautifully French women dress, you’ll get where we’re coming from. Generally, they invest in a few beautiful items and then work scarves and accessories like magic). Below are the key pieces that we think are worth the cost. Cashmere: It has increased in price, but good cashmere will last years and can be worn year …

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Fashion Finds and Fixes

Dress for Less: An Interview with a Consignment Guru

Look great, feel great and spend less

The ongoing state of our economy has everyone more conscientious about spending money – particularly on luxury or frivolous items.  When it comes to clothing, less really can be more. We’re fans of owning quality, classic pieces which will have staying power in the ever-changing fashion scene and that can be spruced up with less-expensive accessories. As you know, one of our favorite spots is Lemon Tree Goods, located at 325 Main Street in Natick. Lemon Tree is a “consignment store with a twist” carrying quality name-brand items in addition to fun accessories and crafts made by local artisans. You’ll find the classic staple pieces at great prices – cashmere cardigans, wool slacks, name-brand jeans –  as well as unique accessories and shoes…

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Fashion Finds and Fixes

'Falling' into Fashion

Make the most of your wardrobe into fall.

It’s hard to believe that fall is here ... yet the season already feels like it’s in high gear with work, school, sports, a variety of extracurricular activities and, of course, the inevitable trips to stores for school supplies and school clothes. Given how busy September is, it feels difficult to find the right time to organize yourself and your wardrobe.  What follows is our advice for minimizing and simplifying your approach to dressing for the season.  Living in New England makes dressing for fall a bit difficult. (You know the saying: “If you don’t like the weather in New England, wait a minute”). With big temperature fluctuations from morning to night and from day to day, layering is essential. Right about now, you’re probably ready…

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Fashion Finds and Fixes

Look Good, Feel Good, Do Good

Treat yourself and those in need. Did we mention you'll be fashionable in the process?

We are fortunate to live in a wonderful town like Wayland, and sometimes it’s hard to imagine how difficult it is for others across our world. In trying times like the ones we find ourselves in now, it’s nice to know that certain companies are not only providing us with wonderful, durable clothing and shoes, but also giving back to those in need. When we support these companies, we’re giving back also.  Below are examples of some of our favorite companies that are practicing the “one for one” motto. TOMS - The originator of the "one for one" model hit its 1 millionth pair sold earlier this year. For those of you unfamiliar with TOMS’ product, TOMS is a shoe line that donates a pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair sold. These …

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Summer Sales Mean Boutique Finds at Bargain Prices

While summer heats up, find cool discounts at many nearby stores.

Mid-May through early June tend to be big summer shopping weeks – we stock up on clothes for ourselves and our children before vacations, camps, etc. Then most of us get into a routine and wear the same 12 items through July and August.   This article is about breaking that trend and saving money. Ideally, we should keep our early summer shopping to a bare minimum, then hit stores in mid- to late-July when terrific items are still in stock at up to 50 percent off. And, if you avoid trendy items (which this year might include skinny cargo pants, maxi sundresses and Grecian sandals), you’ll undoubtedly be able to carry the on-sale items you bought in July through next summer as well.   Below are highlights about our favorite stores and their…

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