Do you wake up every morning and get completely distraught over the process of getting dressed? It doesn’t have to be this way! How to move out of that feeling and into having FUN with Fashion and getting dressed in the morning:
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Tags: Fashion, Personal Style, Shop your closet
I love a good deal! I believe in good deals. After years in the Fashion Industry, I know to look for the deals. Sometimes, you can’t get it on sale, but a lot of the times … you definitely can! Some good deals coming up:
REBECCA MINKOFF!
I L-O-V-E her bags. Gorgeous leather, gorgeous colors, gorgeous shapes. L-O-V-E!
Montana Ave. Sidewalk Sale!
Reminds me of the sidewalk sales in my town growing up. There were some good deals to be had! However, Montana Ave. is a bit more stylish than Hinsdale, IL. 
Tags: Blues Jean Bar, Catherine Cassidy, Montana Ave., Personal Style, Rebecca Minkoff, Sample Sales, U*styled
Recently I presented to the First Tuesday USA LA chapter as a part of their Spring into Fashion event. My presentation focused on the Closet Essentials you should have in your wardrobe for a great foundation and touched on adding Wardrobe Updates to create a wardrobe you LOVE.
There was such a response at the event that I had to upload the video (since YouTube didn’t like the length, it’s posted on Facebook) and I wrote my Single Minded Women article for the week on the Top 10 Closet Essentials.
The pic below takes you to the video:
Click here to read the article: Build a Wardrobe you LOVE
Now, if you’re ready to take action, no matter whether or not you’re in LA, I’m offering this special through May 31, 2010.
Closet 911 e-workbook
Take the first steps towards style in the comfort of your own home!
To make STYLE more approachable, affordable and fun I decided to give you an offer you couldn’t resist (at least, you definitely shouldn’t).
If you purchase your copy of my Closet 911 e-workbook throughout May, you will also receive my bonus gift to you … 1 hour of Virtual Styling.
That alone is a $95 value!
Closet 911(TM) walks you through:
- Cleansing and editing your closet: what not to wear!
- The Complete List of Closet Essentials
- Wardrobe Updates and Styling Your Closet
- Color Combinations: The Ultimate in Style
- And much MORE!
Offer good through May 2010
Tags: Catherine Cassidy, Closet 911, Closet Essentials, First Tuesday, Personal Style, wardrobe updates
BY CATHERINE CASSIDY
 With the holidays around the corner and the current state of the economy, I’d say it’s safe to assume that we’d all like to save a little money where we can with our holiday shopping.I use these resources I’m about to share for any day, but now at least you have the opportunity to give while you receive the savings.
What is so great about these resources is that they allow me toshop the designers I love at the price point I want. In your wardrobe I believe in quality over quantity. I would rather have an item last than be proud of myself for spending only $10. Of course, if I can have the best of both worlds, I’m a really happy camper! The following online resources allow me to have the best of both worlds and I love them for it: Gilt Groupe Invite only, and here’s mine to you: Gilt also has Gilt Fuse, which is contemporary Fashion, as well as Jetsetter which offers amazing deals on luxury vacations. What’s not to love?! Hautelook Also invite only, but I’ve got one for you: Rue La La My invite for you: These are all considered online sample sale sites, but with many designers and consumer products brands having overproduced with decreasing consumer demand, the consumers (you) now benefit from significant savings of production quality products. It’s also a great way to see what’s out there, learn about new designers and get inspired! I know that ordering online can feel intimidating, but these sites have great fit guides. So, as long as you know your measurements you can be sure to order the appropriate size. Now, for your further Holiday Shopping enjoyment, these major retailers are offering huge sales. Take advantage! There is some amazing Fashion to be found for a steal! Saks Fifth Avenue - up to 40-50% off and offering free shipping! Neiman Marcus – also offering up to 40-50% off and free shipping! Barney’s Co-op – Sale started yesterday with savings up to 40% in store. Also, great deals online! Check out the Vince and 3.1 Philip Lim. Revolve Clothing – One of my favorite resources has great up-and-coming designers and you can find amazing deals. Something for everyone! And check out Forward for the higher-end lines! Happy Shopping! |
Tags: Fashion, Gift Guide, Holiday Shopping, Los Angeles, personal shopper, Personal Style, personal stylist, Saving Money, shopping, Smart Shopping
So, a client recently asked me this question and while I was pretty surprised, I also completely understood. Surprised because we live in LA, the land of eternal youth. If anything, everyone always wants to look younger! I understood because when you’re younger and working towards professional success, you don’t want people to dismiss you or not take you seriously simply because of your age.
Now, on the flip side, I’ve had clients who were relatively young (early 30’s) who really needed to start dressing their age. They were dressing too young to be taken seriously professionally and/or personally.
So, as with everything, it becomes a delicate balancing act.
The question becomes this: How do you blend your personal style with your career image and aspirations?
A key tenant of mine comes into play: know your audience and your purpose, while staying true to your personality and style.
So, in a professional setting that means still being conservative, respectful and well dressed in great fitting clothes, but you have to be sure to inject a bit of personality to your look. That can come from the color of your suit jacket, a bold accessory, your favorite purse, a pretty scarf, gorgeous earrings, etc.
If you are true to your audience as well as yourself with your style, then you will be sure to have the confidence to go forward professionally with great confidence. Confidence is the key factor for winning anyone’s trust and ultimately business success.
The key takeaway? Your image is your brand. YOUR brand.
Tags: Brand Image, Branding, Business branding, Dressing Older, Fashion, Personal Style, Professional Style, Styling Tips
Even though I’m definitely not the first personal stylist offering her services one on one to women, for most women I meet it’s definitely a new concept. So, the conversation naturally progresses to how I got into personal styling. For me, though, the WHY is so much more important than the HOW. Still, when hiring an expert, you should know why they’re considered an expert.
Now, I also want to share with you a question that you should consider asking when hiring a personal stylist. I know I’m a bit unique in my belief in starting with what you already have in your closet. Many (though, definitely not all!) stylists prefer to just take you shopping to style you in new clothes. I personally LOVE making something old feel all new and shiny again …
Now you should feel equipped with the knowledge to hire a great personal stylist who can get YOUR style.
Are you ready to live your life in STYLE?
Tags: closet makeover, closet therapy, Lifestyle, Personal Shopping, Personal Style, Personal Styling, personal stylist, wardrobe consultant
I know I have no right to complain about the heat since I live in gloriously humidity-free Los Angeles, but it still makes it really hard to get motivated to wear my hair down during the day. Especially a curly mane like mine!
For years (like, 20+) my Aunt has been doing the cutest things with her hair, specifically with variations on the french braid. In the last few years my cousins and I have been taking a cue from her.
Now, it turns out Jessica Simpson knows my Aunt’s secret, too!
I absolutely love this look for an ultra feminine variation on a ponytail that helps you beat the heat … in STYLE!
If you know how to do a simple French braid, you can quickly master this style. You’ll be seeing me around with it!
To YOUR styled life!
Tags: Fashion, hair style, hair tips, Lifestyle, lifestyled, Personal Style, style tips
Ana Caban asked me to cleanse and revamp her closet to be featured on her site www.labuenalife.com.
I thought you, too, would like to get a glimpse into the process and the final results. Ana has a colorful and fun personality, so you can see that we incorporated that into her new outfits. The result? Sophisticated and pulled-together and FUN!
Tags: Brand Image, closet makeover, color consultation, personal branding, personal image, personal stylist, total makeover, wardrobe consultation
To follow up last week’s post on incorporating color into your wardrobe, I thought I’d share a bit more about WHY. Check out this quick summary of the meaning/perception of colors:
Red: Energy, war, danger, strength, power, warmth, determination, attractiveness, beauty, passion, desire, and love.
Pink: Romance, love, compassion, femininity, passiveness and friendship.
Brown suggests stability and denotes masculine qualities.
Orange: Joy, enthusiasm, adventure, happiness, creativity, inspiration, determination, attraction, success, encouragement, and stimulation.
Gold: Illumination, wisdom, wealth and high quality.
Yellow: Cheerfulness, strong communication, joy, purity, happiness, expressiveness, intellect, logic and energy.
NOTE: Be careful with your yellows, though as a dull yellow can be translated as caution, decay, sickness and jealousy.
Green: Growth, harmony, freedom, freshness, fertility, safety, balance, stability, endurance and money.
Turquoise: Transformation, imagination, clarity, rareness, change, newness and victory.
Blue: Tranquility, depth, stability, acceptance, trust, loyalty, wisdom, creativity, confidence, intelligence, faith, truth, and heaven.
Purple: Power, respect, nobility, luxury, ambition, wealth and extravagance, wisdom, dignity, independence, creativity, and mystery.
White: Light, goodness, innocence, purity, and virginity.
Black: Power, elegance, formality, death, evil, and mystery (and fear).
Tags: Brand Image, Branding, Color, Color meaning, Design, Fashion, Personal Brand, Styling, Success
Recently, I donated a package to a benefit for LA’s BEST – a non profit organization that raises money to support after school activities for children in LA. While I may not yet have children of my own, I’m the oldest of many many grandchildren who are still going through the US Public Schools. And we ALL participate(d) in after school activities – as a way to stay active AND social!
I wanted to share wit you a letter to the editor of the NY Times in response to THIS article.
“To the Editor:
True, the nation’s dropout problem is a catastrophe, but charter schools aren’t the only answer.
Research on effective afterschool programs shows that the focus on student engagement, which keeps children coming after school, increases attendance in the regular school day.
Afterschool programs respond to the interests of students with activities they are passionate about, like the arts, sports and science. Unfortunately, the programs are threatened by shrinking budgets, and by policies that seek to divert the focus from youth development to remedial academics that duplicate the regular school day.
Public funds should be invested in afterschool programs that offer experiential learning. For some students, this is the only enticement to stay in school.
Paul Heckman
Carla Sanger
Los Angeles, July 7, 2009
The writers are, respectively, associate dean of the School of Education at the University of California at Davis and president of L.A.’s BEST, an afterschool program.”
You can find this letter, and others, online here.
To help LA’s BEST continue funding after school activities (even more important with recent cuts in CA), click here.
Here’s to our FUTURE!
Tags: After School activities, Arne Duncan, Charity, Education stimulus, LA Public School System, LA's BEST, Non-profit, NY Times, Public School, School reform