My clever brother tells me spring in the mid-west suffers from bi-polar disorder. One day it's 75 and sunny, the next it's 40 something and rainy. So how in the world are we supposed to know what to wear? That pretty floral print scarf I just bought . . . should I wear it with my winter jacket? That doesn't sound right. Or how about jeans, boots and a turtle-neck sweater in May? That sounds ridiculous, but hey, that's exactly what I had on just a few days ago.  As a seasoned wardrobe advisor, this is what I do and this is my best advice. Keep the calendar in mind, but dress for the weather. …

In my Style Central column last month, I suggested that now would be a great time to clean out our closets and our dresser drawers and I totally stand by that decree. However, when it comes to replenishing our staple pieces, now may or may not be the best time to shop. I know this because I just completed a thorough closet edit with a client and then went on line to help her shop for some winter staples and guess what? Not good. Great prices on quality items? Absolutely. Great selection and a complete stock of sizes? Forget it. Very frustrating, to say the least! But I don't know why I was …

Have you ever received a Christmas gift that left you cold? Literally?  You wanted one of those great ear-flap hats to wear when you attend football games, junior league hockey or shovel snow should we have any this winter. Fur-lined to be exact. Sure they look a little dorky but so what? Who cares? They are warm and cozy and they would protect your precious ears which are highly susceptible to frostbite according to the media. So, when she asked you what you wanted for Christmas, you said an ear-flap hat. Uh huh. What else? Nothing really. Just the hat. The next thing you know, it's …

Snow White was the darling of the media back in 1937 and she remains a favorite today. Here is a portion of our recent interview: N: We have not heard from you in some seventy years, Ms. White. Can you tell us what prompted you to write this book now? SW: Of course. After many years in the spotlight as celebrities, my husband Prince Charming and I settled down and enjoyed a quiet, lovely way of life. However, turns out he was not all that charming. After just a couple years of marriage, he ran off with an old flame he connected with on Facebook. Can you imagine?  N: Will you tell us the name …

Gold toes, towering heels and buckles galore! That’s what’s out there in the stores these days, and trying to take a more moderate middle of the road approach when shopping is definitely not easy! I discovered this while shopping for myself recently, both on-line and in the dizzying vastness of Nordstrom’s shoe department. I needed to replace my beloved but badly bruised and battered black ankle boots. I hated like heck to say goodbye to those boots. They were the perfect combination of comfort and style. They were also devoid of any telltale signs of “trendy” like bows, buttons, buckles, …

I have been a fan of "the scarf look" for as long as I can remember. I wear scarves often and with great enthusiasm. The truth is that a scarf has always been one of the hallmarks of fashion for stylish women. Just travel to Europe sometime and you will see most women there (and men too) wearing scarves everywhere they go and looking ever so stylish! But just recently, I've come across not one, but two fashion articles that raises scarf bashing to new heights! Both articles say scarves are old fashioned and aging. In this stylist's opinion, that's sheer nonsense and we should not believe it. …

Professional businesswomen who have kids at home often tell me they have virtually zero time for themselves. No kidding! Just trying to keep body and soul together is a challenge!   When the children are making endless demands and bosses are doing the same, they tell me their wardrobes take a back seat. Their "look" usually consists of tops and bottoms that are thrown together helter-skelter as they race out the door to drop off the kids at daycare and hope to heaven they at least remembered to wear underwear.  Add the fact that it's currently 95 degrees in the shade and 60 something in the …

Nora Ephron, critically acclaimed humorist, author, screenwriter and film director (Sleepless in Seattle) just recently passed away. When I heard the news, I wept. I cannot imagine a world without her. She was talented, accomplished, down to earth and best of all, she was really funny. Ephron was also notorious for wearing scarves and turtle neck tops. She made no bones about it. She was not going to show her neck in public. Clearly, she did not like her neck. In fact, she even wrote a book about it! One of the funniest books ever, I might add. Oddly enough, it is titled, I Feel Bad About My …

Do you occasionally ponder some of life's more perplexing mysteries? Like what do they do with the fat they remove from no-fat desserts, and just how exactly do they remove it? Or—I love this one from my 4-year-old brother many years ago, "Why does God make weeds?" Why indeed. Currently I'm asking myself, "Why is it so darn hard to find classic clothing in stores these days?" It's ridiculous. No wonder more and more folks are hiring personal shoppers like me. Please don't get me wrong. I appreciate the business, but even I am becoming frustrated lately. Case in point, my client, let's call …

For years I was a faithful fan of the TV show Project Runway. Every episode started with these words of advice to aspiring new designers from the veteran fashion judges:  "Remember... we want to see your unique point of view as a designer in every single piece you create." I would hear their admonition and think, boy oh boy. That's a tough nut to crack. Exactly how does one show their unique point of view in a clothing design?  Then I read a recent article about the famous designer Vera Wang and I got it. She did exactly that. After 17 years as senior fashion editor for Vogue magazine, she …

  You may have seen the ads that Carson Pirie Scott ran on TV recently. They offered discount coupons for every item you bring into the store for donation. I thought what a great idea! What a clever incentive to get rid of items one no longer needs, wants, or finds useful. I decided to take full advantage of the offer. It was time to purchase a few of my can’t-do-without cosmetics, so I proceeded to peruse my closet for items I might donate to Carson's Good Will drive. Please keep in mind that I try to keep my closet in tip-top shape. I purge on a regular basis so that when clients come to my…

  I had the time of my life a couple of weeks ago when I lunched with two of my favorite former students. They’re all grown-up now, but still completely adorable. Curious about my current career, the conversation ultimately turned to fashion, and one of the girls said she was in the market for a new handbag. She saw one she loved at a nearby department store, so after lunch, the three of us sauntered over to take a look.  The bag was gorgeous. It was also very large. When she held it up to her slim little frame, she all but disappeared.  Oh boy. Not good. And then she asked me the $64,000 …

Going to the movies with friends is always fun, but most of us see movies in our living rooms these days. Call me old fashioned, but I still love seeing a good film in a real theater where the screen is huge and the lights are low. I'm not what one would call a movie buff—you could fill a thimble with my knowledge of the industry. However, I am a huge fan of watching the Oscars.  This year Billy Chrystal will be back at the helm, and it's anybody's guess as to which flick will get best pick. Although my favorite, Midnight in Paris, is an unlikely winner, overall it was a wonderful year for …

This month is the perfect time to tackle that closet cleaning project you've been meaning to start. It can be a daunting task, to say the least. Why? Because the truth is, most of us have way too many clothes to deal with. We tend to add new things and not get rid of anything. You'd also agree that organizing and cleaning are not exactly at the top of a list of fun ways to spend our time. So, what happens? We procrastinate and ultimately end up giving in to the clutter—lots and lots of clutter. It's not fun and it's not helping us in our efforts to always look and feel our best. Enough! Turn …

Some women love shoes and many love jewelry. I love coats. I vividly remember the coat my mother made for me when I was just a toddler. It was a soft dove grey, princess cut, double-breasted with shiny silver buttons and a bonnet to match. My mom could make magic with that Singer sewing machine of hers. Decades later, after developing a far more sophisticated approach to fashion, I purchased a stunning cashmere coat by Nina Ricci of Paris. It was dove grey, princess cut, double breasted with shiny silver buttons and a sumptuous Persian lamb collar. Oh yes, and a hat to match. Admittedly, it …

When Nancy Sinatra became popular with her 1966 hit song, These Boots Are Made For Walkin', I wondered, who told her she could sing? Then it dawned on me. Her father, of course! Looking through the old blue eyes of love, no doubt. But, here’s something for which I give Nancy Sinatra all the credit in the world. She single-handedly made boots the fashion statement of the decade. It’s true. When go-go boots hit the style scene, girls of all ages across the globe went wild for them, especially in London, New York and California. As a matter of fact, they even became prolific in my little college…

There’s an old saying that goes something like this: “A man in uniform is simply irresistible.” This sentiment, of course, originated from the military back in the day. A man in uniform was both highly respected and considered quite handsome. As a matter of fact, I remember seeing photos of my Dad taken when he was a Navy pilot in WWII. He was not handsome in the traditional sense, but in those Navy whites, he was a striking figure of a man. Watching a Chicago Bears game recently, I was mystified as to why the Bears were wearing bright orange shirts. I thought the team looked more like an …

Does anyone watch the TV show Harry's Law? Don't worry. I'm not going to point out Kathy Bates as a style maven. Great actress? No doubt. Fashionista? Hardly. But what I did notice was how her nemesis in the show, District Attorney Roseanna Remmick, played by Jean Smart, looked stunning in plain black and white: a beautifully tailored black suit with the new longer slim-cut jacket and a crisp white shirt. She wore no jewelry except earrings, her makeup was natural looking, yet polished and professional. (OK, she has a TV makeup artist do it for her, but that's beside the point.) And her hair …

As a professional stylist, I am often asked about personal style. Is it dependent upon how well you keep up with the latest trends? Or how much money you have or don't have to spend on clothes?  Although these are perfectly legitimate questions, there are probably as many answers out there as there are so-called "fashion experts".   But, I must tell you that I am not a fashion expert. I am a wardrobe and personal style expert. Big difference. Please allow me to explain. First, let's talk about style. As Martha Stewart likes to say, style is a “good thing". Just look around! We can see …

There was a time when I thought I would simply ignore the fact that stylish shoes were an important part of an overall stylish appearance. I would make certain my shoes matched my outfit and move on. Sure, they were clunky, chunky and ugly, but so what? Who cares? They were comfortable.  Very bad idea.  But I couldn't help it! Growing up wearing orthopedic oxfords because I had what was delicately referred to as fallen arches, I hated both my shoes and my big, flat feet (size nine and a half in the eighth grade). And once again, I refused to listen to my mother. Always a big mistake. She …