Yoga pants that will make you WANT to work out.

Submitted by on February 14, 2012 - 4:57 pm

It’s true.

I was desperately in need of a new pair of workout leggings since the ones I’d had since HS (again, it’s true!) had lived a good life. I’d just not had the chance to get to Lululemon and get some. Thank goodness for the Daily Candy Deal that popped up in my inbox that led me to my amazing new Tanya B leggings from ‘Yoga Clothing’

I’m in love. I can’t wait for my next Piloxing class! They suck me in at all the right place (ahem, inner thighs!) and seemingly lift my bum! What girl doesn’t want a perkier bum? Maybe it’s my imagination, but they’re basically workout Spanx. Done deal!

I love my Lulus, but I’m also loving this website. So many cute tops and bottoms, so you can have style even when you work out. Yes, I do coordinate my outfit to go to the gym and I always have. What can I say? I was born this way! ;)

I encourage you to, as well. No matter what you’re doing, when you look good, you feel good. And you will feel even better after a great workout!

I think either or both would make great Valentine’s day gifts to yourself, don’t you. ;)

Wishing you a beautiful day filled with the ones you love.

 

Inspired Style: Nancy Shevell’s Wedding Dress

Submitted by on October 14, 2011 - 7:16 pm

Some things just never go out of style. Some things should never come BACK into style.

Style itself, however, is a bit tricky to define. What makes something stylish?

Is style INNATE? An ESSENCE? Or LEARNED?

Ultimately, it’s all of that and more. it’s not the dress, but the woman in the dress. Not what you wear, but how YOU wear it.

THAT is why the simple beauty of Nancy Shevell’s wedding dress, designed by her now stepdaughter, Stella McCartney, is so perfect.

Clean lines, elegant details and a beautiful silhouette highlight her natural beauty and radiance. There are no bells and whistles; no statements. Simply style.

Fitting that the dress was inspired by none other than Style Icon Wallis Simpson’s wedding dress when she became the Duchess of Windsor:

And now I’ve got a treat for you! I met a brilliant designer here in LA whose Maria dress gives you the clean lines, elegant details and beautiful silhouette that allowed Nancy and Wallis to shine. Even better, it comes in colors other than white. And while Nancy’s choice of a shorter hemline was appropriate for a second marriage, this would be great for a rehearsal dinner or bridal shower or even simply every day as well. I can’t get over how beautiful the fabric itself is (I’m one of those people who walks through stores touching everything for the hand feel of the fabric)!

For more info on Garbe Luxe and to order, visit their website and check out their lookbook. I’m obsessed with their silk shirts!

http://www.garbeluxe.com/

To YOUR Inspired Style!

Style Essentials for Being in the Spotlight

Submitted by on July 1, 2011 - 10:28 pm

If you’ve been following U*styled’s tips you may have gathered by now that I like to be prepared well in advance for any situation. I rarely shop last minute for an event and have planned out an outfit well in advance. Even if I haven’t settled on an outfit, I know what works with what in my wardrobe and can quickly throw together something appropriate and stunning. Last minute shopping is the biggest culprit for a closet full of clothes that you never wear. This is why I am so adamant about BUILDING a wardrobe that works for you, which is exactly what I do for my clients and WHY I teach them how to build outfits from what they already own before we even go shopping.

Whether it’s getting ready for your own photoshoot, a conference or workshop your hosting, a networking event or a special occasion, with these Style Essentials you will have exactly what you need. So, it all becomes easy and effortless!

Style Essentials for Being in the Spotlight

Take a quick inventory of your wardrobe. Does it pass the test of including these essentials for wardrobe that really works FOR you? If not, take note and start of list of items that would be great additions for your life and style.

1) Color
Black, brown, navy, cream and khaki are great for building a base for your outfits. However, these are colors that are appropriate for your Closet Essentials, not your statement pieces. If you lack color in your wardrobe, take some time to consider what colors you are always drawn to and why. Color has meaning and it will influence your mood and how others perceive you. Plus, it makes you stand out. Every outfit should have at least one pop of color; even if it’s a simple accessory or even your shoes or handbag. If your outfit lacks color, it lacks personality.

2) Quality
If you’ve got a closet full of clothes and are only wearing 20% of it, you’re wasting a LOT of money AND time! No wonder you don’t know where to start when it comes to getting ready for an event. No wonder you always revert back to the same old outfit. Now, I’m all for a uniform STYLE, but not wearing the same thing simply because you know it’s appropriate and you just want to get out the door.

One step further, in terms of quality, is the literal quality of your clothes. Better quality fabrics and designs will look better on you. They drape better, fit better and FEEL better. Comfort and fit are both key when you’re in the spotlight and quality clothes will give you both.

3) Your Foundation
These are your closet staples. Having a great foundation – your basic suiting pieces, great dresses, perfect pumps, a few great accessories, etc. – ensures that you can always pull together an outfit at the last minute. All you need to do is add a pop of color and you’re done!

Even more, if you have a great foundation, then every piece you buy is a Wardrobe Update. A Wardrobe Update is a piece that adds even more versatility to your wardrobe. Often, it’s in color and a more unique item, but always it’s something you buy because you LOVE it and not because you’re trying to fill a void. You can already imagine the places you’ll wear it to and some of the pieces in your wardrobe that you want to try it with.

If you are aware of these three aspects to Building a Wardrobe you Love™, then you are well on your way to shining in the spotlight.

If you feel like you could use some more guidance to figuring this out on your own, then I’d encourage you to check out my new and improved day packages. I am so excited about how these are restructured as they are essentially customized to your needs. I’ve been paying attention to what you’ve been asking for and this gives it to you … and more!

Now, get out there and let that light of your shine!

Lucky Shops LA

Submitted by on April 5, 2011 - 8:40 pm

I rarely pay full price. After having worked in the industry on the corporate merchandising side and understanding how production and buying work … I know if I’m smart and hold out I can find exactly what I want … ON SALE! What beats that!

Now, I don’t believe in buying something simply because it’s on sale. So, how do you meet in the middle? How do you avoid making impulse purchases when something seems too good to pass up? How do you know when to spend versus when to save? If these are questions you have and would like to know the answers to, I invite you to join me at Lucky Shops LA.

Lucky Shops LA is a great opportunity to check out fantastic designers and save some money. At 70% off, you’ll essentially be getting wholesale prices. That’s freakin’ fanstastic!!!

So, I wanted to give you an opportunity to shop with an expert, learn more about your personal style and what works for your body type ALL while saving massively on great designer clothes thanks to this unique shopping experience.

More details …

What is LUCKY SHOPS?
LUCKY SHOPS is a shopping event hosted by Lucky Magazine. This past November, Lucky hosted the seventh annual event in New York City. In April 2011, Lucky Shops is coming to LA for the first time!

Where is it?
Siren Studios
6063 W. Sunset Blvd.
Hollywood, CA

When is it?
First Dibs Friday: Friday, April 8, 12PM- 6PM
Saturday Shop-a-thon: Saturday, April 9, 10AM – 5PM

To be sure I give everyone great attention, I can only take up to 5 people each day. So, if you think this is something you want to try, then act now! Trust me, what you will save by NOT buying those ‘iffy’ pieces will more than cover the investment. Not to mention what you will learn about yourself and your style. Once you register, you’ll immediately get U*styled’s welcome packet in your email inbox so I can get a bit of direction around your style, your wants and your needs including where you are now and where you want to be with your style!

How fun is that???

Ticket to Lucky Shops LA is included in the price. :)

Click here to SIGN UP for Friday, April 8, 2011 from 12-4 pm (event is open until 6 pm) for $105.

Note: Ticket price for first day entry is more

Click here to SIGN UP for Saturday, April 9, 2011 from 10 am – 2 pm (event is open until 5) for $95.

U*styled Guide: Where to Donate.

Submitted by on January 3, 2011 - 1:08 pm

Most people default to Goodwill for their donations, which is a great cause to donate to, but since a friend shared with me her tactic of literally going to the streets to give away her old clothing, sheets, towels, etc. a lightbulb went off.

When I give to Goodwill, my giveaways don’t necessarily go straight to those who need it most. It goes into the store for sale, which is a great way for the organization to raise money for their programs (which are amazing) … but still, it doesn’t go directly to those who need it most.

So, a few organizations here in LA to donate:

Food on Foot

Gives homeless men and women the opportunity to work their way back to being able to sustain themselves while also serving out meals each week to hundreds of homeless and low-income households around LA. Donate every Sunday between 10:30 am – 2:30 pm at 1625 N. Schrader Blvd. Hollywood, CA 90068               Learn more about Food on Foot

Chrysalis

An amazing organization that gives men and women the opportunity for self-sufficiency with resources to find and retain employment. Learn more about Chrysalis

Alexandria House

A transitional residence for women and children coming from emergency shelters. Offers it’s residents programming and enrichment classes. Learn more about Alexandria House

Battered Women’s Shelters

For a listing of shelters in LA

Of course, these are in LA. If you’re not in LA, it’s simple to do a google search to find what you’re looking for. Trust me, they want to make it easy for you to donate … whether money or goods. Or, simply start asking your friends if they have any organizations they support. That’s actually how I found out about the places on this list: Good ol’ word of mouth!

Happy Giving!


Do you LOVE your Wardrobe?

Submitted by on December 8, 2010 - 12:25 pm

BY CATHERINE CASSIDY

If you experience frustration getting ready for work, play or a very important event from time to time- that’s normal. Even I have my moments!

If it happens at least once a week and/or more than that, you have a wardrobe challenge. I want to let you know that it doesn’t have to be that way! You CAN love your wardrobe too!!!

Seriously, I LOVE my wardrobe. I know I have the advantage of what I do for my day job, but it really wasn’t always this way.

Fairly consistently I would have piles of clothes on my bed and finally just opt for the usual. I would get stuck on how something looked on my butt or my hips or my stomach or even my arms.

It wasn’t until I set the intention to LOVE my wardrobe, playing with clothes and learned how to mix and match … not to mention be honest with myself about what works for my body type … that I really did start to love my wardrobe.

Three Steps to LOVING your Wardrobe:

1) Cleanse

Trust me, it feels REALLY good to get rid of the pieces that you don’t LOVE. Start with the pieces you know you never wear to make it easier. A lot you can edit out by simply looking at it – is it worn, faded or the quality not what you want in your life and wardrobe? Toss it!! Someone else will give it a loving home!

2) Focus on FIT

If you’re wearing something too BIG or too small, it makes you look bigger than you are. Wearing something baggy doesn’t hide your body, it distorts it. Show off your figure! Accentuate your waist! Own the fact that you have a cute butt!!

3) COLOR

Wearing drab neutrals doesn’t really sound pretty, does it? So why are you wearing black, brown, beige, etc. all the time? BORING! Please, even if it’s a bit of color through your accessories … add color! It brightens YOUR mood AND effects how people perceive you. Scan your wardrobe. How much color do you see? What are the colors that stand out to you and excite you? Focus on adding more of those to your wardrobe.

Of course, there is a bit more that goes into it, but these few steps can really help you get excited about your wardrobe.

I challenge you to try at least ONE of these steps and see how you feel. I bet you’ll move on to the next! Let me know how it goes.

#1 Fashion Dilemma: Solved!

Submitted by on September 14, 2010 - 1:00 pm

I might be a personal stylist, but I’m a woman, too! Before stepping out as a stylist, I’d spent years working through my own wardrobe demons: Body Image, Budgeting, Lifestyle changes, etc. However, my #1 demon was always the same: “I havenothing to wear!!!!”

It was working through my own demons that led me to this purpose and path – empowering women to live a life in Style and Balance.

I wonder, does this scenario sound familiar to you?

Getting ready for the day and everything is running smoothly. You’re on schedule and you’ve had your coffee and a healthy breakfast. Then the morning throws its curveball (though you should have seen it coming – it always does!). What to wear?! Now, your bed has a pile of clothes you don’t have time to put away because you’ve spent 25 minutes pulling clothes on and off and now you’re late. You finally settle on your slacks and a sweater because it’s good enough and now you just have to get out the door. Accessories? If you’re lucky!

Yes, that used to be me, too. Until I put my own personal process in place and started helping women with theirs.

U*styled’s 5 step Guide to Always Having Something to Wear:

  1. Cleanse and Edit your Wardrobe: You shouldn’t waste energy in your closet with clothes that you don’t wear because they’re not quite right. If you put it on and you’re not comfortable with the fit or color, then it’s not for you. Something you’re not sure how to wear might be a different story and this is where an expert can help you see the possibilities.
  2. Make sure you’ve got the Closet Staples: When I work with a client we go through everything to make sure she’s got the perfect assortment to ensure easy mixing and matching. Closet Staples are those pieces that create a foundation for your outfit. They’re not the stand out pieces, but they make it easy for you to pull together a look. They really mix and match with everything – think basic pants, great blouse and that perfect blazer. U*styled’s Q&A call this week will talk to this more in depth.
  3. Keep it Organized: The system varies person by person and depending on your closet space, but it’s imperative to keep your closet organized so you can see all the beautiful things you HAVE TO WEAR! Otherwise, you’ll find yourself stumbling upon a long forgotten amazing piece that would have been perfect for that client dinner and you’d completely forgotten you owned it. For beginners, I like to keep it simple: Categorize it (tee shirts, blouses, dresses, skirts, pants, etc.) and then sort by color. Most important, you need to be able to see what you have. This is especially true with accessories.
  4. Take a Deep Breath: Overwhelm is the surest way to give up. Before you go to your closet to pick out your outfit, take a deep breath to calm yourself. Remember, this is supposed to be FUN and EMPOWERING. Your wardrobe shouldn’t get the best of you – especially since this is only the beginning of your day!
  5. Scan and Choose: If you’ve organized your closet, then you should be able to see everything that you have. And even if your system doesn’t have everything in eyesight, you know exactly where to look for it. When you scan your closet, you have the intention of picking out ONE piece you ABSOLUTELY want to wear. Whether it’s your favorite jeans, your new heels or that perfect blouse … your objective now is to build an outfit around that. And if you have the Closet Staples as outlined in Step 2, you should have NO problem!

BONUS: When you hone in on that ONE piece you definitely want to wear, you guarantee you’re going to feel FAB all day long because you love what you’re wearing!

Upcoming Sample Sales!

Submitted by on May 13, 2010 - 9:03 am

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. ;)

Closet Essentials: Build a wardrobe you L-O-V-E

Submitted by on May 12, 2010 - 10:43 am

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

Ready to take the reigns and build a wardrobe you love? U*styled’s Closet 911 will walk you through it … literally step by step!

One is Silver & the Other Gold

Submitted by on February 7, 2010 - 9:19 pm

SATCshopping

Building a Wardrobe You Love

BY CATHERINE CASSIDY

1) Asses the Situation
Go into your closet and think about what you love about it and what you never really feel comfortable in. Are there colors that you gravitate towards? Designers? Items you wear ALL the time? Others you NEVER wear?

Start mixing and matching and trying to put things together in fresh and new ways. No, I mean really new. Don’t be afraid to create new color combos, mix prints or fabrics, or play with shapes.

Are there any trends that you’ve been seeing in the magazines? Try to look at your pieces in new ways. Could you possibly create the boyfriend blazer look with an age-appropriate black cardigan? Alter an old blouse that’s now too big to create something more tailored?

While assessing your situation, consider your job and lifestyle as well as the image you want to project.

Now that you know what you have, consider what you really want from your wardrobe …

2) Look for Inspiration
Look back to old movies and movies stars for style guidance and inspiration for looks that last. Remember, fashion is cyclical. This is not the first time we’ve seen skinny jeans and mini-skirts!

Again, what works for you? How can you interpret for yourself? What is the image you want to project?

Also, look to current public figures for style guidance for what’s more current.

Start to look through fashion magazines with the intention of defining your style. You’d be surprised at how certain looks and colors speak to you. Start tearing these out to refer back to. And why not create a vision board? Or, add a style section to your current board. Style is as much a part of yourself and your vision for yourself as is your career aspirations. In fact, they tend to go hand in hand.


3) Invest in Classics
There are certain wardrobe basics that simply won’t go out of style and are worth investing in. If you can find these on sale (it does happen!), even better.

For instance, that LBD (or it could be your signature color version of an LBD) that looks amazing on you will always be appropriate. Or a great black suit. Definitely those perfect black slacks and a crisp white blouse. Oh, and amazing costume jewelry. If it’s inherited from a stylish relative, even better!

Once more, consider your lifestyle and needs. What are your Classics?

4) Update, but know when to Spend
Again, keeping it appropriate to your lifestyle but I’ve found that buying a few new pieces a season gets you reinvigorated to play with your style. Especially if you can find 5 new ways to wear it!

Also, there are some things that never go on sale and some that will always. It helps to have the help of an expert (whether a stylist or a salesperson) who can guide you.

My rule of thumb is that most contemporary (like BCBG, Nanette Lepore, Trina Turk, etc.) or chain brand items (Banana, Gap, J Crew) will go on sale, while higher end designers (price point of $600 and above) won’t. This is basically due to units produced. Higher end designers usually have much more limited production runs and their items tend to be more unique, so there isn’t a need for them to go on sale. It’s luck of the draw for these items to go on sale, but it does happen … you just have to be savvy!


5) Forget about SIZE
Seriously. It pretty much means nothing. If you buy designer you’re probably going to go up at least a size, if not two. If you buy American or Chain, you’ll probably go down a size. It’s all a mental play and I don’t want you to buy into it.

What you DO need to buy into is what looks AMAZING on you.

Seriously, I was just helping someone who was wearing a size 12, yet everyone who saw her trying on the dress was just taken aback by how stunning she looked.

Why?

Because she was rocking the body she had in a size that fit her well.
Enough said.


6) PLAY with Clothes!
Again, just make it fun. Fashion shouldn’t be so serious.

The only thing serious about it is the power that great style has to transform our inner confidence.

So, don’t be afraid to try new things. Take risks! Some may work, some might not. Either way, you’re getting closer to your TRUE style and having fun.

And please be sure to inject color. It’s such an easy mood enhancer. If you’re feeling down or tired in the morning, you need a bit of green, purple, red, or pink in your life for the day. Please! Add color! Have fun! Play!


To your STYLEd life!
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