7 Ways To Repeat An Outfit Without It Being Noticeable

Image by Shirley B. Eniang

We have all repeated outfits, maybe we didn't have time to do laundry or maybe we just really love an outfit right? Well, with a few of these style tips you can easily and successfully repeat outfits without anyone noticing. It just takes a few tricks and a little preparation. 

1. Pair it differently. Play around with scarves, hats, necklaces, and belts.  These are great ways to get more mileage out of that little black dress hanging in your wardrobe. Try changing up your makeup or hair. Swap out those heels and add athletic shoes to your dress for a more casual and playful look. 

2. Add a third piece. Add a blazer, jean jacket, trench, or moto jacket to change up the look and to elevate and pull together your look. In most cases if you're wearing pants or a skirt and top, outerwear is a "third"piece. The third piece is your secret weapon when it comes to style. It instantly elevates your look and makes it look effortless and elevated. 

3. Invest in the essentials items such as black leggings, blazer, white blouse etc.  These are the items that form the foundation of creating fresh and new ouftits and with these you can create endless combinations. 

4. Consider creating a capsule wardrobe. Less is more and if you have the right pieces in your wardrobe it will make creating outfits so much easier to do. To do this consider your lifestyle and what your typical "uniform" is most days. If you wear jeans and silk blouses then get a variety of these so can you can continuously interchange these pieces and have lots of versatility every single day! 

5. Experiment with different color combinations. If you normally wear a lot of neutral clothing, switch things up by adding in a new color.  You could try a gorgeous  coat in this seasons' hot color -periwinkle. If you love wearing color, try new color combinations like green and blush or navy and light pink. 

6. Know your audience and give it time.  If you're around completely different people it's definitely ok to repeat that skirt.  Also, if you space out the outfit and give it some time people may forget and you will also feel like you're wearing the outfit for the first time. 

7. Switch the vibe of an outfit.  A romantic dress can look rock-chic with the addition of a leather jacket.  If you're wearing jeans and a top, you can mix up your look by adding a jean jacket and sneakers to run errands. Or you can style the look with a  long cardigan and tall boots for a cozy look perfect for Sunday brunch with your girlfriends 

Lastly if you're going to repeat have fun and do it with confidence! 

On Air: How To Create Your Ideal Wardrobe in 2019

Today I was over at Good Day DC on Fox5DC sharing some style tips on how to curate your ideal wardrobe in 2019. Afterall, it is January-the perfect time to think about deluttering and organizing your wardrobe for the New Year. And let's be honest, it's impossible to hop on any social media outlet without seeing folks tidying up and decluttering The Marie Kondo way! So, on today's segment I am showing you the top wardrobe essentials that should be in every woman's wardrobes. It doesn't matter if you work at home or in an office setting or if you are a stay at home mom, these are the foundational items that will having you looking great and feeling confident. 

Thanks for Bloomingdales Chevy Chase for providing all the clothing and accessories for today's style segment. And thanks to Glamsquad DC for hair and makeup. 

The Perfect Everyday Tote

(Image source)

If you're looking for a reasonably priced and good quality all day tote then this Day Market Tote from Everlane is for you. This structured tote comes in a variety of colors, is made of premium Italian leather, and is super stylish. But if you want one hurry because they are in high demand and there is already a waitlist for some of the colors! 

Lately I have been carrying my Mansur Gavriel tote for work and to and from barre classes and it's very similar to the size and shape of this Everlane bag. The only issue with my current tote is that it a bit more delicate and has a ton of scratches. 

Shop some of my favorite everyday totes 

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7 Tips for Buying A Luxury Handbag

It's no secret I have a huge love for luxury designer handbags and I have done several posts, articles, and TV segments on this topic. (here, here, and here ) I definitely gravitate towards bags that are classic and timeless and I am in the process right now of adding a new bag to my collection. In the past I have bought bags without really doing the proper research and I have made some mistakes along the way. So now I try and take more time before making such a huge purchase and I try and follow these 7 tips when buying a luxury handbag. 

Also several people recently have asked me which bag I would recommend right now. I think this is always such a tough and personal question because it depends on what type of bag you want, your budget, what bags you already have in your closet.  I went ahead and included some of my favorite designer bags and you can shop them below. 

 

7 Tips For Buying A Luxury Handbag 

1. Do your research.  Start your search for a luxury handbag with some online research.  I like to hop on You Tube and watch reviews of the bags I am looking at. I also like to go on Instagram and do a hash tag search to see how other people are wearing and styling bags. Lastly, blogs like The Purse Blog and Purse Forum are super helpful for reviews on designer handbags. 

2. Color match with your wardrobe. Choose a color that works with your current wardrobe. I like to visualize a few outfits and make sure the bag matches with items in my wardrobe.  I recommend not spending a lot of money on designer bags that not neutral or colors you don't wear a lot. You will just end up getting tired of that color or you will find it isn't versatile enough for you and it will end up just sitting on your shelf. 

3. Evaluate your current bag collection and lifestyle. Luxury bags are expensive and you don't want to buy a new bag that is too similar in style or color to a bag already in your collection. Also it's good to take inventory of the bags you have and assess what type of bag is missing and where are the gaps are. For example you may want to ask yourself Do I need a cross body or a mini bag? Do I need a large tote to carry items from day to night? Evaluating your lifestyle and how you will use the bag is really important in determining the best type of bag to purchase. 

4. Price research. Shop around and look at pre owned market. I find that most of the time you don't save a lot and it's best to just get it from the store. But sometimes you get lucky and the bag you are looking for is available pre-owned and it's a great price. 

5. Try it on. This one is so important. If you are able to I recommend going to the store and trying on the bag. Be sure to check out the length of the straps and see how you like the size of the bag. Also make sure you can easily take things in and out of the bag and that all your necessary items fit in the bag. Take your time and really make sure you love the bag. 

6. Wait. Don't impulse buy but instead take a little time to think it over and make sure it's something you really want to add. I usually go home and think it over for a couple of days.  I have made a couple of impulse purchases in the past and have regretted those purchases. Now I take my time and make 100% sure the bag is the right one for me. 

7. Buy the bag and enjoy!  Buying the bag is the fun part. But remember to inspect the item for quality with stitching, handles, hardware etc. Make sure you're happy with the bag before you purchase it. Once you purchase your bag enjoy it and use it. I can't tell you how many of my clients don't use their bags. Handbags are meant to be used as much as possible. To help retain the shape stuff your handbags with tissue, dust bags, or old clothes. Lastly display your bags on open shelves if you can. If you see your bags you are more likely to use them daily. 

(Photos by Bonnie Sen Photography) 

Shop some of my favorite luxury designer handbags below 

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Bethesda Magazine: How To Shop For An Investment Handbag

In this month's issue of Bethesda Magazine I am sharing some style tips on how to choose an investment handbag. Here are a few quick tips. Check out the article here for more details. 

1. Invest wisely

2. Evaluate your lifestyle

3. Find your color

4. Consider the materials

5. Try it on

6. Take care of it. 

photo c/o Prada 

Shop some of my favorite designer handbags

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