Suzanne Carillo

Choose Your Style Statement How To Define Your Personal Style

January 18, 2016 by suzanne carillo

Patti was writing recently about her style goals for 2016. Do you create style goals?

I’ll be honest. I don’t.

But there is something I strive for pretty much every time I get dressed.

I have a style statement that helps me decide what to wear and keeps me focused on how I want to be perceived by the world around me.

It’s what I want my clothes to communicate without me having to say a word.

My style statement is “Artistic, unique, relevant, fun and strong.”

Five little words that keep me on track.

When you choose your style statement it will evolve as you evolve.

The definition that I give to “fun” today will probably be different to me in five years.

I aspire to be worthy of these descriptions I have chosen for myself.

I may not feel strong every day but I most certainly want to come across as confident and strong.

If you’re having an issue defining your personal style why not start by choosing a style statement?

Choose Your Style Statement

I’ve created a free little worksheet to help you choose your style statement. It’s only five questions which will help you better define yourself and how you want to be perceived.

A style statement is an opportunity to “dress for the job you don’t have” or dress for the person you want to be. Clothes communicate volumes about ourselves and influence the way we see ourselves. Attitude and mindset follow the lead of the clothes you are wearing. Actors will “get into character” through their wardrobe. Our clothing can shift the perception of ourselves. Our chosen second skin is an opportunity to make positive changes. Giving yourself permission to dress as the person you aspire to be is the beginning of the change you want to see in yourself.

Style isn’t about wanting to be someone else, or following rules, it is about knowing yourself, believing in yourself and working with what you have to create a visual representation of your soul on the outside for all the world to see.

Of course there is nothing that says that next year I might change my style statement entirely. I don’t believe in rules or formulas. My body, heart and mind are evolving every day and I want to ensure that I keep myself open to graciously accept the changes.

Do you have a style statement? What is it?

Linking up with Visible Monday, I Will Wear What I Like

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Keep Thigh High Boots From Falling Down

January 15, 2016 by suzanne carillo

This skirt is too short. I’m wearing it with tights and thigh high boots.

I took this skirt to the consignment store but they weren’t able to sell it and now it is back home.

I keep trying to convince myself to donate it but it is a very high quality, well made piece.

It frustrates me when I take brilliant pieces into the consignment store and they don’t sell. Don’t people recognize quality anymore?

I will freely admit, I have a hard time giving up any Anthropologie or higher end pieces.

I keep toying with the idea of taking down the hem to make it a bit longer but it seems quite complicated (ribbon hem edge) and I’m worried that the fabric will show where the hem was previously.

Instead my solution was to wear it with very opaque tights and thigh highs which is basically the same as wearing it with super skinny pants…right?

Ha!

Let me live in my delusion.

Do you ever have this problem?

When you wear a skirt or dress with OTK or thigh high boots and the boots keep slipping down, resulting in “ancient elephant knee”? I already have wrinkled knees when I’m not wearing boots so when I’m wearing OTK or thigh high boots I expect my legs to look like ballet dancer legs, flawless. This wrinkled suede look was no bueno.

I came up with a DIY solution how to keep thigh high boots from falling down when wearing a dress or skirt (that isn’t as short as the one above).

If I had room I would have added ” WHILE YOU’RE WEARING A DRESS OR SKIRT” to the title.

DIY: Keep Thigh High Boots From Falling Down

You need 4″ x 2 of ribbon that matches your boots, some scissors, a sewing machine and an old fashioned garter belt similar to this one used to hold up stockings.

This method will work well for faux suede boots like mine or thin leather boots.

I sewed a small loop with the ribbon into the top of each boot at the front and the back.

If you’re stitching on leather make sure you have a strong enough needle in your sewing machine.

Clip the ribbons to the garter belt just like you would stockings to keep them from falling.

The solution worked well but the double looped ribbons were a bit too thick for my garter belt. I’ve cut the loops now and only clip a single ribbon to the garter at the front and back.

When I’m not using the garter I just tuck the ribbons inside the boots.

Melanie had another suggestion which was to use very small, strong magnets which could be placed between your jeans and your boots to keep them up.

Do you know of any other solutions to keep thigh high boots from falling down?