A Post-Quarantine Wardrobe??

Lockdown, ughhhhh! It’s been 2+ months. And, if you’re like me,  you’ve been wearing a variation of pajamas and sweats on constant rotation. Even if working from home, a comfier version of regular clothes seemed to be the norm. Now, some states are starting to loosen restrictions and open up, but what does that mean? In other words, what does post quarantine life look like? And what’s needed in a post-quarantine wardrobe?

I can’t really answer what post-quarantine life will look like, I’m still trying to figure out what that means myself. However, I can offer advice about what’s needed wardrobe wise. Since I’ve been helping clients (virtually) prepare for re-entry, I’ve noticed a few themes emerge…

Comfort, now more than ever. But to feel more put together than quarantine house clothes.
Washability – with germs, germs everywhere, once home, it all needs to be washed. Think lice (ugh, itch) but times like a zillion and harmful.
Color, color, and more color. Maybe it’s all the seeing ourselves washed out on zoom and facetime. Or that we need something cheery. But even my color shy clients are asking for reds and pinks and blues!

And then there’s the aftermath of being at home for months…

A Perfect White Tee, Basic, But Hard to Find.

It’s funny that something as seemingly basic as a perfect white tee could be that hard to find. But it is!! Of the thousands of women I’ve styled over the past 15 years, it’s always on their list and always elusive. It’s a holy grail of the closet kind of item.

Keep the White Tee’s White

The good and the bad of white tee’s is that they need to be replaced fairly often. The simplicity and crispness of white is why it’s such a wardrobe staple. But when your white tee becomes stained or yellow, it’s gotta go.  I recommend replacing them every few years depending on how often they’re worn. And how sloppy an eater you are (spills down the front are totally my nemesis) or how much you sweat (yellow pit stains, anyone?). My hypothesis is that the need to replace them is part of what feeds the perpetual hunt.

What Makes a Perfect White Tee?

And btw, what makes a white tee PERFECT changes and evolves over time…

Dress-Up Your Deck (or Patio) with Outdoor Decor and Flowers

The weather is finally getting nicer, thank G-d! And while this time of year always has me thinking about spring trends and fashion for the closet… It also has me thinking of ways to spruce up the outdoor space, aka dress your deck. And at this particular moment in time, I think the whole subject of outdoor space deserves some extra attention.

Why? Because with this pain in the a** virus, we’re spending so much more time at home. Having an outdoor space to “escape to” helps make the shelter at home thing more bearable. And, when the time finally comes that we can entertain, it’s easier to have some socially distanced human interaction outdoors – so if we are going to see family or friends, it’s most likely going to be in our outdoor spaces.

Outdoor Decor

When I think of my outdoor space, I like to approach it as an extension of the other rooms in my home. Literally, like another living room, that we only use in the warmer months, but a room, not just the backyard. Putting a little effort into the outdoor decor and flowers can have a big payoff in terms of the look and feel of the space.

There are a few key tips I’ve learned that help make my outdoor space feel “homey” and a place the whole family wants to spend time…

Mother’s Day Gifts

Ladies can be super hard to buy gifts for. And mom’s in particular. Yes, we say we are happy with a handmade card or breakfast in bed. And we are. But, trust me, the effort of actually getting a gift for mom, especially at this time in history, when we are all cooped up, can make all the difference.

And if there are any guys reading this, ORDER SOMETHING NOW! The gifts your kids usually make in school and bring home are not happening this year – just FYI.

As women, we put our families first. And right now there is either a lot of cooking and cleaning happening (omg, in my house there is SO MUCH LAUNDRY!!). Or things are sort of lonely when you can’t see your loved ones because of quarantine. Neither is ideal, but it’s our collective reality.

Any way you slice it, we ladies need props. This is the time to cheer up the lady or ladies in your life. Mother’s Day, birthdays, just because I love you days. With health worries, and family worries, and money and job worries – you can spend a little or a lot and she’ll love it either way. Here are some gift ideas at all different price points I’m confident she’s gonna love.

Face Masks as Part of the New Normal

According to many experts, wearing a facemask will be part of our new normal for quite a while, thanks to Covid-19. This pandemic is not only changing how we behave (social distancing and sheltering in place) but what we wear (sweats all day and now facemasks) and even how we think.

So Many Questions About Masks

If masks are going to be part of our lives for a while (some say it could be for up to a year) there are a lot of questions about them. Not just from a health and safety perspective, but from a HOW DO I WEAR ONE AND STILL FEEL LIKE MYSELF, perspective.

Here are just a few of the questions I’ve received from both clients and readers..

Inez Shoes

I was a bit hesitant to post my Inez shoe review this week because of Corona and quarantine and basically the state of the world right now.

It’s really challenging to know what to write about every week… I don’t want anyone to feel like I’m “selling” something. But at the same time, this community was built on sharing fab finds and tips and how to’s.  If you’re on a spending freeze right now (I know I certainly am) then please don’t buy any shoes. Maybe remember this brand for the future. Or look at the photos, get ideas for outfits you can create from your own closet and feel inspired for a time we will get dressed and go out of the house again. I believe it WILL happen…

The Most Comfortable Heels I Own

There were two things convinced me I should still run this post… first, that I’m an authentically huge fan of the brand. My Inez shoes honestly are the most comfortable heels I have ever worn. And I am not saying this lightly. I’ve tortured myself (more times than I’d like to admit) in the name of a fabulous looking but agonizing heel. I can honestly attest to their comfort. And on top of that,  they’re cute, like gorgeous looking. Not orthopedic or grandma -ish at all. They’re just stunning heels that don’t make me want to die when I wear them for extended periods of time.

You guys voted – and Reader Round-Up It Is!!

I’m not sure I can properly describe how thankful I am for the Instagram/Facebook/Blog community we’ve created together. Last week I put a call out for your suggestions as to what you’re making, reading and watching while we are all on lockdown and boy did we generate a kick a** reader round-up list!

And, not to be picky or anything but, the cleaning gadgets suggestions were a little lame, just sayin’…  it’s possible that I’m the only one looking for cleaning shortcuts right now. I keep feeling like Cinderella, from the beginning of the fairytale, and I’m searching desperately for those magic mice to help out! 

The Reader Round-Up, What to Cook!

Can Shelter in Place be a Happy Time?

Happy Shelter in Place week 3… That’s how an email exchange from one of my clients started. And I’ve been thinking about it. It’s not that I’m unhappy, per se, but rather that I’m uncertain. And that uncertainty is leaving me VERY unmotivated and uninspired creatively.

For instance, I have NO IDEA what to write about this week. All of the content I had lined up for you seems irrelevant and unimportant in light of the pandemic and subsequent isolation we are all facing. And so as I’m procrastinating writing (hello, I mean I have nothing else to do except clean toilets) I’m thinking about what I’d want to see if I were you reading this…And the answer is I JUST DON’T KNOW.

Even though stores are having CRAZY sales right now (like Nordstrom 40% off,  JCrew 40 % off, Madwell 30% off, Saks 25% off) it personally feels weird to shop for clothes right now considering there’s nowhere to go. 

Making the Most of It…

As I mentioned last week, these are unprecedented times…The Covid19 pandemic has changed EVERYTHING. Staying the f*ck home,  Flattening the curve. Whatever you call it, things are different right now. And while work continues, albeit differently, we need to adapt. Meetings are not happening in person, it’s all on video and high def video at that…

I’ve been virtually styling my work from home clients that are finding themselves in a new upside-down universe. Literally the polar opposite from the rest of us living the #quaratninelife. While we are in pj’s or sweats all day long, they’re on video call after video call. And not just with their officemates  – but with clients and bosses and board members, it’s like having a huge presentation every day, but on video.

Video Meetings vs. Real Life Meetings

And the rules about what to wear to a virtual meeting are different than for an in-real-life meeting, at least in some ways. I mean, some of the rules are the same, like dressing for the audience you’ll be speaking with. It would be weird if you were holding a yoga class and were dressed in a suit. And equally weird if you were meeting with a potential investor but dressed in a ripped sweatshirt. The same rules apply in the virtual meeting world.

But then there are other rules that many of us have never even considered, until now…

The Outfit Rules for Video Meetings…

For Now, It’s Quarantine Life

Cute comfy clothes and a pandemic quarantine is not what I was planning to write about this week. And I am sure being housebound is not how you were planning to spend your week (or weeks) either. But this is our reality right now and there are a few things that are helping me make the best of a rather yucky situation

Yes, I’m kind of freaking out, but I’m also trying to practice self-care and not put my current anxiety on my kids. Btw, pretty sure I’m failing on the latter, but I am trying…

Comfy Clothes

I’m 100% that person that changes into their comfy clothes the minute I get home. And for that matter take my bra off, as long as my kids don’t have friends over. And I’ve written about comfy clothes both HERE and HERE in the past. However, I think this whole quarantine thing gives comfy clothes a chance to be in the spotlight again… And many of you asked for it… So here ya go…