a good tote

IMG_4107Super quick post: it’s Monday and we’re prepping for Spring Trunk Show opening this Friday.

When you’re on the go a good tote is a great thing. Even better when there’s a story behind it and a saying stamped on there to remind you of things you’ve gotta do.

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Let’s hear it for ‘The most effective way to do it, is to do it’. Amelia Earhart (1897 – 1939), aviation pioneer and author.

Love that thought. One of the amazing thing’s about ‘is to do it’ is what can come of it. Sure it involves risk, and uncertainty, but how about the other stuff?

By doing this job here of mine, the recruiting piece, simply called up this super-succesful and highly influential woman, Gail Riggs, on the phone one afternoon. She designs handbags, and now accessories, to honor iconic women in history. Her company, Abigail Riggs, headquartered in Rochester NY, has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for charities including the Susan B. Anthony Museum.

We talked, and talked again, and now I have a friend and colleague in Rochester NY. She is passionate about empowering women with messages of strength, love, and encouragement. Check her inspiration out at Abigail Riggs.

So, back to work, and thank you Gail. You have connected me to a little piece of history with a good tote, one that reminds me that ‘the most effective way to do it, is to do it’. 

Earhart Tote (reversible to black) | Abigail Riggs

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for your weekend

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Perhaps you’ll be doing a little mall walking, not really our thing yet when the temp is 1° and feels like -18° with the wind chill factored in, sometimes you’ve just gotta go with it.

Picked these few things up recently while in FL, cold there as well. Heck, when the worlds most beautiful women wear this stuff, we should too. It’s all less than $100, and each piece alone half that, so pretty easy lift.

Bought the one piece one size up, didn’t want a tight fit, kind of loose might be good since we’ve done this too:

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For your weekend, every day dress, hope it’s a great one.

lingerie | Victoria’s Secret

sneakers | Converse

cookies | Nestlé’s Tollhouse

most days…

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Was gifted this small tray and hold the saying dear. Even better is to go with most days you just have to create your own sunshine.

Back in BUF in the home office and prepping heavy for upcoming Spring Trunk Show, kicking off February 27th. 3° and with the windchill feels like -18°. Since we’re not really going anywhere and the outfit of the day has been more of the same, denim and black, putting up pics of indoor Spring: florists we’re not but it’s easy to group together single colors and single blooms. Even carnations look good now. 🙂 All flowers picked up at the grocery during the milk run.

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Every day dress, most days…

Stay warm everyone. xo

no black pants

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For a quick holiday weekend getaway south, intentionally packed no black pants. White, grey, light blue denim, yes, several black tops and all black workout wear. Black yoga pants do not count as black pants, and black yoga pants should probably only be worn when doing such yoga, or while sipping coffee with those you have breakfast with.

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It’s about -6 degrees back home, schools are closed. Scooted out-of-town, threw some stuff in a carry-on; black dress, white dress, white bikini (fingers crossed), white jeans, grey jeans, wore blue jeans and black boots on the plane, black puffer, it’s cold even down here, two cashmere sweaters, two cotton blouses, a couple of tanks, a pair of sneakers, some stacked heel white sandals. That’s it, getting the color from the bag, Chartreuse, and the fancy from the small shoulder bag, Prada, and a couple different bracelets.

Saw another woman at the airport loaded down with three suitcases on rollers, wow, why? It’s good to discipline yourself when packing and only bring the things you really wear, and really love. Makes it easier for yourself and everyone around you.

Every day dress, no black pants, this time. 🙂 Stay warm everyone, -8 degrees back in BUF. 

ski wear in the city

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Snowing again, style be damned. Third daughter got out of the car this morning and said she couldn’t take one more day of wearing boots. Well, let’s dig down and dig deep. An eight minute commute now takes sixty – so ski wear it is, especially for the feet.

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So glad this cashmere sweater is on deck, not sure what the daily outfit would look like these past few months without it.

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Saw this license plate after the school pick-up yesterday, thought it was funny and on point.

Every day dress, ski wear in the city.

dinner in

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For dinner in at dear friend’s home Saturday night wore sleeveless blue velvet. Sometimes it’s fun to do the unexpected and get kind of overdressed.  Three bangles on the left arm dressed it down. A little exposed shoulder this time of year is easy to pull off, Donna Karan tells us in this month’s Porter magazine ‘Women have all different kinds of body issues, as do I, but the one asset for every woman is her shoulders; they never gain weight, and never get wrinkles, guaranteed.’ Donna, you are a true fashion heroine.

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Barbara and Bill, so much fun to break bread with you and friends. Thank you for keeping that good tradition alive, dinner in, complete delight. xo

black black black


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As it’s white white white all around without a let-up in sight, decided to dig into the archives.

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For travel, and really every day, picking a neutral and building your wardrobe around it is a good thing. We like to move quick and light, so black here it is.

A great black dress, black tank, black jeans, black shoes, and a black leather jacket will take you miles, and span seasons. Yeah, we list this site as fashion and should probably write and wear with more color, it’s just that there’s so much going on around all the time that sometimes the simpler the better.

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We follow some really great fashion blogs. There are days though that instead of inspiring it’s a visual economic energy overload. Many women love new things, and we love new things too. Better than a constant replenishing though is having things you can count on, that work hard to get you out the door, where you’re going, all while looking good and appropriate.

So, for you it might be blue blue blue, or pattern pattern pattern, or even a mix-up. Love getting clients in things that they reach for over and over. Maybe you pay a little more up front yet each time you outfit repeat that cost per wear goes down down down. Colleague likes to say the most expensive piece of clothing in your wardrobe is the one you never wear.

Writing this wearing what else, black black and denim while working on Spring Trunk Show invites with snow all around.

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Good news too, we’re investing in much more than the clothes we wear: hired a fashion minded young women to come in two or three times a week. She’s a full-time student, works two other jobs, and jumps in while we both learn while we go. Working, learning, and moving forward with other women is a good place to be. Note her work on the side bar, Instagram is updated, archives are organized, top posts are there, clients can actually book an appointment, and Twitter we so need to work on, she says I’ve just gotta do it. Thanks, Alexa.

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Oldest daughter working from home today, looks like we have a staff!

TGIF everyone. Hope you all have a few great things in that closet of yours that you wear over and over. Makes the day so much easier.

Every day dress, black black black.

a scarf now

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Not a new idea in any way, yet now a scarf just feels so right. The silk twill kind of thing that might make you think of a man’s tie.

For an 8:30 am board meeting, some work at home, and then some work out in the field, wore what I really feel most comfortable in: grey jeans (yes, even to a board meeting), black turtleneck, black jacket, and a silk square at the neck tied on any which way. Ten years ago, maybe even five, would have never worn jeans to a board meeting – it’s good to feel good in your skin.

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While out in the field at a colleague’s Spring Trunk Show, had to try this great raincoat and matching hat: downright adorable, Nancy, this has your name all over it.

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And while the skinny jean can get you up and out, feeling a little over skinny: these pants here are definitely on the Spring Wish List.

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One blog that has it going on and is a daily read: Preston Davis and Keep it Chic. Yesterday she was all about a navy bag, this one here is looking pretty chic, tried that on at colleague’s Trunk Show as well.

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Every day dress, a scarf now.

all clothes and accessories (except for the jeans) | Worth New York

spring trunk shows happening now

bookend(s)

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A little spirited relief from shoveling snow this Tuesday: we like to bookend our days with coffee first and wine last. Don’t let these photos fool you, it’s winter and when it’s dark it’s a nice glass of red, simply creating some visual interest. Just can’t seem to get away from it, and really, why?

So to break it up, lots of water in between. In fact, trainer has recommended going one to one: every coffee or diet coke or wine gets matched with a big glass of H2O. Cutting up a big pile of lemons for the water break is good, too.

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Lunch-time post, check, really trying to get better here. Every day dress, bookend(s).

 

no turnaround

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For client and colleague meetings, doing inventory and shipping out samples wore the same outfit two days in a row, kid you not, a week or two ago. White blouse, leather pant, flat shoes. Gave it a little personality with Chien cuff and fourth daughter’s old JCrew socks. Casual, yet still dressed, had to move a lot.

Love this shirt as there’s no (dry cleaning) turnaround, machine wash on cold, hang to dry, perhaps lightly steam. Added it to the wardrobe in black too, we all know how useful a great black shirt is.

Now that I’ve figured out we’re all about great clothes and good food, here’s some pics from last night’s dinner:

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Back to work now, prepping for Spring 2015 Trunk Shows and searching for a new stylist in upstate New York, with good focus on Saratoga Springs. Beef Stew on deck for after hours tonight, cold, snowy, and winter storm advisory here in Buffalo.

Have a great Monday. Every day dress, no turnaround.

Optic White Sueded Triacetate Pocket Shirt | Worth New York Spring 2015