The Closet Coach

1. With Fashion week just around the corner, we are all beginning to focus on the upcoming trends for fall. But what about the trends hitting stores now? What are you coveting?

After a bit of a spendy fall, I’ve actually put the brakes on my shopping for the time being. (No spending at all in January, if you can believe that!) So I’ve tried to remain somewhat blissfully ignorant about what’s in the stores at the moment.

But once the groundhog sees his shadow and I catch spring fever again, I think I’ll be working some Tangerine Tango into my wardrobe. It feels fresh and unexpected.

2. How do you incorporate new trends into your wardrobe?

The same way I incorporate any new piece into my wardrobe: I try to look for garments that complement something I already own, replace it or fill a gap.

3. What trend are you seeing and not loving?

There seems to be a lot of heavy use of lace in some of the spring collections, as well as very transparent or sheer tops. I don’t really see myself in either of these trends!

4. Do you feel the pressure to constantly update your closet with the latest trends?

Pressure? No. Temptation? Of course! We all like the shiny new toy, don’t we?

5. Where do you find inspiration that takes the trend and makes it accessible to you and your personal taste?

A little bit of everywhere: fashion magazines, other style bloggers and my own imagination.

When I started this blog, I wasn’t sure if anyone would read it. It was mostly a personal exercise in two things I love, fashion and writing.

Especially at the beginning, post writing often felt like a conversation I’m having with myself, or maybe with my trusty little MacBook Pro.

Then a few people came. And a few more. Then a lot more. (Not famous blogger levels, mind you, but constantly-surprised-by-my-stats levels.)

So here you are. (And you, and you, and you.)

Thank you for being here.

Thank you for being here today, if it’s your first visit, or your 100th.

Thank you for your comments, or for following me on Twitter or Pinterest, or for liking my Facebook page, or any of the other ways you make this fun and make me feel like I’m doing what I set out to do–help other working moms and other busy women look great and feel great.

You made 2011 better than I could have imagined the day it started.

I hope your 2011 had its joys and surprises, too.

Let’s have a 2012 full of beauty and delights of its own. (I have something special in the works I think you’ll really like; I can’t wait ‘til it’s ready to share with you.)

Here’s to the journey, and looking fabulous along the way.

[Photo credit: Flickr user psd] 

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For today’s Fashion Beauty Friend Friday, we’re talking about our holiday wish lists for this year.

In my house, the only wish list that gets made is my daughter’s for Santa. The adults in both my and my husband’s families don’t exchange gifts, preferring to focus on the kids or donate to charity. After all, this time of year it’s more fun to give, especially to those who really need it.

So this wish list is in two parts: the decidedly tongue in cheek fantasy and the actual real world version.

Wish list: Clarisonic Mia.

Celebrities from Gwyneth Paltrow to Mindy Kaling have waxed rhapsodic about the facial brush’s magical skin-clearing properties. Maybe they’re onto something? At $119, it had better be magic!

Real world: Olay Pro X brush.

Fill out a form on the website (yes, they’ll now have your email address) to request a $5 off coupon for Olay’s lower-priced version. I plan to try this first to see how my face likes being electronically scrubbed daily before considering an investment in the Clarisonic. (And possibly haunting eBay in between!)

Wish list: String of pearls.

Every woman’s jewelry wardrobe should have one lovely string of natural pearls. (Note to self: Start dropping hints to husband now for 15th wedding anniversary …)

Real world: Costume pearls.

This reminds me that I should pull out my two quite nice strands of costume pearls and wear them more often, maybe even together since they’re two different lengths.

Wish list: Tom Ford nail polish.

The colors! The names! The sexy packaging! Who didn’t immediately covet some of the new Tom Ford nail lacquers when his beauty line was first announced? At $30 each, they even managed to make Chanel polish seem affordable.

Real world: Um, maybe I should first use up the 6 bottles of OPI (all in various shades of taupe, for some reason) and 4 bottles of Chanel I’ve already splurged on?

Wish list: A ticket to see “Hugh Jackman: Back on Broadway” in New York.

As my good friends know, I have had a thing for Hugh Jackman since the first X-Men movie came out back in 1999. (Wolverine!) Sometimes I even refer to him as my future second husband. And here he is, live and in the flesh, singing and dancing! I die.

Real world: Virtual Hugh Jackman.

In reality, getting up to New York to see this (or any other) show would be a challenge of both ticket availability, babysitting and other logistics. Instead, I’ll pull out my X-Men DVDs and Netflix Instant and have my own Hugh Jackman film festival at home!

[This post is part of Modly Chic’s Fashion Beauty Friend Fridays.]

Your Turn

• What’s on your holiday wish list this year?
• Have you been naughty or nice? :)

For me, “quintessential” fall evokes warmth and comfort, and things organic, made of natural fibers and materials.

Fall is when I break out my wardrobe of sweaters, and what’s more quintessential than a chunky cardigan? Or up the trendiness factor with this season’s everywhere garment, the poncho.

This year I’m liking a boyfriend jean cuffed just a bit–enough to clear the top of leather boots, like desert shoes, or maybe even an oxford style shoe. Of the 4 styles highlighted here (including the shoes on the model), I have the Ecco wedges and I love them. They’re a little bit chunky and a whole lot comfortable.

To carry the leather into the rest of the outfit, belt the cardigan with something equally weighty. Alternately, tuck in your shirt and belt the jeans with the cardigan or poncho over top.

That’s my take on Quintessential Fall–what’s yours?