To create a dressing space that facilitates dressing, it works best if wardrobe items and dressing tools are organized, accessible and well lit.

Define Your Dressing Area.

• If you have a walk in closet, use that as your dressing space.
• If you have a wall closet, define an area near the closet for dressing. Move bureaus, dressing tables, etc close to the closet so all your items are handy.
• If you have an extra room, create a dressing room
• Move anything that isn’t wardrobe related out of the dressing area.

Accessibility, You Wear What You Can Reach.

• Getting dressed is more frustrating when items are difficult to find or hard to reach. Move all wardrobe items off high shelves and out of back corners of the closet.
• Move everything that is dressing related from other parts of the home into the dressing area.
• Place things you use often within easy reach and things you use occasionally on upper/lower areas of the closet, but still within reach. You’ll use upper shelves later in step 4.

If you like to mix and match, group all your tops together, regardless of color, style or formality.

Personal Organization

• Organize your wardrobe based on how YOU think.
• Consider how you get dressed. Group items by color, outfit, occasion, or type of clothing. Whatever way works for you.
• Choose the right hangers for your clothes – velvet hangers keep clothes from slipping, coat hangers with give jacket shoulders extra support, special hangers like the Quirky Contour hold special pieces with unusual necklines or straps.

Dressing Tools

Tools - Put these tools in/near the closet

• Stool/ottoman for putting on shoes or reaching upper shelves,
• Full length mirror,
• Hampers/containers for sorting laundry as you undress. Get a hamper for each kind of laundry you do – whites, lights, darks, delicates, dry-cleaning. You’ll save time if place each item in the corresponding hamper to make laundering more
• Lint rollers, lingerie tape, garment guards if you’re sweaty, safety pins, etc. Keep a travel-size stash of these items in your purse or car for last-minute adjustments on the go.
• Put a valet hook over the door so you can hang clothes on it to create outfits without trying everything on.

• A box for tags, receipts and spare buttons. Keep tags and
  

  Valet Hook - experiment with different outfit combinations without trying everything on.

  receipts for 3-6 months after purchase in case you want to return an item because it doesn’t work or doesn’t hold up to normal wear and laundering.

• Ironing board, iron, starch, spray bottle of distilled water.

Lighting

• Install lighting so you can see in the closet.
• Change out light fixtures or add clamp-on or small table lamps to add more light in darker corners.
• Battery operated button-lights and strings of white Christmas lights are quick, easy and inexpensive options.

This post - Closet Makeover: Frantic to Functional (Part 2) - first appeared onSarah Shah's Blog, a site dedicated to supporting you as you create a professional image that works for you,

Getting dressed can be hard. Dressing is so much simpler when you do it in an organized, beautiful space that is easy to manage and supports your creativity. Leadership and Performance Specialist Mattison Grey calls this “creating a supportive environment.”

How do you organize a closet so it works? Here’s an example of my recent closet makeover. It took about 6 hours (2 hours on 3 evenings). I used items from around the house and spent less than $50 in supplies. The makeover is divided into multiple posts – Part 1 Before Pics, Part 2 Frantic to Functional, Part 3 Concealed to Convenient, Part 4 Unsightly to Unbelievable, Part 5 After Pics.

Here is the closet before the makeover….

Before - The closet was a mess, partly organized and held lots of things that weren't wardrobe-related.

Before - Shelves were disorganized, held non wardrobe-related items, and under-utilized.

Before - Jewelry was hidden in drawers and boxes.

Before - The lighting was worse than a department store dressing room!

Before - Even more stuff stuffed into the dark, back corners. The junk caught on my clothes and tripped me in the dark.

As the closet makeover series unfolds, you’ll see the step-by-step transformation from uninspired closet to a fully functional dynamic space!  What makes your closet work for you? Please post your pics in the comments…I’d love to see what you did!!

This post - Closet Makeover: Frantic To Functional, Unsightly To Unbelievable (Part 1) - first appeared onSarah Shah's Blog, a site dedicated to supporting you as you create a professional image that works for you,

Settling for black, because it’s slimming or just easier to wear? Wondering which colors enhance you? Which ones drain you? Sentenced to a “season” and forbidden from wearing your favorite shades? Confused about the rules for mixing or matching?

If you’re limiting or avoiding colors in your wardrobe, you’re missing out on a significant image tool. Color is powerful, personal, and influential. It effects emotions, visibility and results. When worn “right,” color supports success. When worn “wrong,” it undermines communication and blocks personal connections.

In this 3-hour workshop, you’ll learn how to wear the shades you love and tap into the invisible power of color. You’ll discover:
• The right colors for you
• Strategies for wearing whatever colors you want
• Rules for coordinating hues to create a perfectly polished look
• The deeper power of color: how to choose the right colors to help yourself — and others — gain confidence, navigate sticky situations, enjoy experiences more fully or inspire action.

This workshop is for women and men.

Registration

To register, call (713) 686-8587 or click on the green button below.

May 26, 2012 1-4 PM
Location: Houston Galleria Area (location details will be provided upon registration)
Fee: $149 for pre-registration, $175 after May 21, 2012

This post - Workshop – The Invisible Power of Color - first appeared onSarah Shah's Blog, a site dedicated to supporting you as you create a professional image that works for you,

After four episodes of Fashion Star (ABC’s new reality show where designers compete to have their designs sold at H&M, Macy’s and Saks Fifth Avenue) two designers consistently rise to the top, episode after episode.

Every single one of Sarah Parrott’s creations have been purchased by H&M. Her aesthetic is a modern take on classic style with clean lines, simple shapes, bright colors and unexpected details. Sarah may be self-taught and brand new to the fashion scene…but her designs are right on target with what the buyers and viewers want. How do we know? Her pieces sell out within hours week after week!

Kara Laricks got off to a rocky start in week 1, but she came back swinging and has landed sales with Saks Fifth Avenue ever since. Her designs are androgynous – women’s wear that is inspired by deconstructed men’s wear. Her pieces are a crazy combination of feminine power and masculine strength in lux fabrics that hang beautifully. These versatile pieces can be dressed up with colorful heels or other fem accessories or dressed down with converse sneakers or other masculine accessories.

Other designers that have sold pieces to H&M, Macy’s and Saks include Barbara Bates, Ross Bennett, Lisa Vian Hunter, Nzimiro Oputa, Lizzie Parker, Nikki Poulous, Luciana Scarabello and Orly Shani.

The winner will get a $6 million contract to create lines for all three stores. Who do you want to win?

Want more about Fashion Star?  - Fashion Star: Runway To Retail

This post - Rising Fashion Stars - first appeared onSarah Shah's Blog, a site dedicated to supporting you as you create a professional image that works for you,

When we talk about sexual harassment, we usually look at the issue from the female perspective. The male point of view isn’t usually considered. Men are under tremendous pressure at work to be on guard against any action that could be perceived as sexual harassment. I don’t think most women are aware of that intense pressure and how their clothing impacts that.

It is very difficult to be in a business setting with people (women or men) who wear tight or revealing clothing. Body conscious clothing poses a huge risk to coworkers because they have to be so vigilant about accidental stray glances and physical responses. I’m talking about professional, respectful people not leering letches.

Coworkers and supervisors (and clients) aren’t going to risk their job. If your clothing makes them uncomfortable, they may avoid you as a matter of self-preservation. How can your great work be noticed or acknowledged if people aren’t around to see it?

Here are some issues for both women and men to consider when dressing for a professional setting:

• Fit – How formfitting are your clothes? Do they reveal your entire figure/physique? Do seams or buttons pull? Pay particular attention to fit in the chest, arm and booty areas.

• Skin – How much skin is revealed? Consider necklines, hemlines, pant length and sleeve length.

• Cleavage – Are any of the three cleavages visible? Chest cleavage, butt cleavage and toe cleavage…they are all sexy.

• Underwear –Does underwear provide enough support and coverage? Watch for panty lines, bra straps, exposed underwear, visible nipples, camel toes, and moose knuckles.

No, you aren’t “asking for it” if you wear revealing clothing, but it’s completely unrealistic to believe it has no impact on the people around you.

This post - Do Your Clothes Harass Your Coworkers? - first appeared onSarah Shah's Blog, a site dedicated to supporting you as you create a professional image that works for you,

Thank you Kara, Christina, and Penny for donating your “bad” clothes and modeling the befores and afters! Special thanks to Nick Lopez Tailoring and Tailor Rolando Santiago for transforming the bad to fab!

Tailoring doesn’t have to be expensive to make a big impact on the way you look. Small fixes can make a big difference!

Here are some examples of quick, inexpensive tailoring fixes…

Kara’s Black Pants – Before, the waistband was too big and the rise was too long, so the pants looked sloppy and added bulk to her figure. Rolando took in the waist band and shortened the rise, so now the pants have a sliming, custom fit.  Cost of tailoring: $17.

Kara’s White Shirt – Before, the buttons gapped at the bustline, exposing her bra and making her look to big for her clothes. We added a snap between the buttons, so now there are no underwear distractions. Cost of tailoring: $5.

Christina’s Black and White Dress – Before, the armholes were too big, so her chest looked wider and her bra was visible. Rolando added two darts to the arm holes, so now the top of the dress fits smoothly and conceals her underwear. Cost of tailoring: $17.

Penny’s Denim Jacket – Before the jacket was too big – the waist was too big, the sleeves were too long, and the whole jacket was too long, making her look juvenile and sloppy.  Rolando took in the waist, shortened the sleeves by moving cuffs, and shortened the jacket length, so now the jacket fits her perfectly and makes her look professional. Cost of tailoring: $45.

Kara’s Black Strapless Dress – Before, the top of the dress was too big, so it slipped down and exposed her bra. Rolando took in the top of the dress and the lining, so now it fits and the dress stays in place. Cost of tailoring: $35.

Penny’s Camouflage Tunic – Before the tunic was too long, making her legs look short. Rolando shortened the length of the tunic, so now Penny’s legs look longer and her proportions are balanced. Cost of tailoring: $17.

Christina’s Jeans – Before the jeans were too long, making her legs look short. Rolando shortened the jeans (but kept all the original stitching), so now Christina’s legs look longer. Cost of tailoring: $15.

“Know Before You Go” tailoring tips:

This post - Tailoring: Minor Changes Make Major Improvements - first appeared onSarah Shah's Blog, a site dedicated to supporting you as you create a professional image that works for you,

Back By Popular Demand! Workshop will be held again on 4/15/12.  Registration info below.

Confused about your personal style? Tired of other people talking you into outfits you don’t like? Style? What Style? Wish you had a style? Want to know how to wear the clothes you love?

You DO have a personal style, you just need the key to unlock it!

Stop Settling and Start Sizzling!

Everyone has a unique personal style that’s deeper and richer than the typical classifications: classic, romantic, trendy, sporty, dramatic, glamorous. A person’s individual dressing rules are written in their “DNA.” When people dress according to their personal recipe, they unlock their authentic selves and an even richer life emerges. For some, the changes are subtle. For others, they are profound.

This 3-hour workshop is a fun and insightful journey of self-discovery. You’ll:
· Decode your personal style,
· Discover your unique dressing principles.
· Create a dressing strategy that empowers and energizes you.
· Learn to combine the elements into outfits for any and every occasion!

To register, call (713) 686-8587 or click the green button below.

April 15, 2012 1-4 PM
Location: Houston Galleria Area (exact location will be provided upon registration)
Workshop is for women and men.
Fee: $149, register by April 10 to save $20

Feedback – What attendees say about the workshop 

This post - Workshop – Discover Your Personal Style: Decode Your Fashion DNA! - first appeared onSarah Shah's Blog, a site dedicated to supporting you as you create a professional image that works for you,

So far, the show has pretty low ratings, but sales of the items are strong, with most selling out in just a couple days.

In Episode 2, (airing Tuesday 3/20). H&M bought tuxedo-stripe trousers by Sarah Parrott. Macy’s bought a dress by Lisa Vian Hunter and a shirt by Nzimiro Oputa. Saks bought a shift dress by Kara Laricks.

All the designs were available online right after the show aired. I went to Macy’s and Saks on Wednesday to see the items in person. (H&M doesn’t have stores in Houston). Here’s what I found…

Saks Fifth Avenue

Saks has a Fashion Star kiosk prominently displayed on the first floor of the store, in front of the contemporary section. The display has a large graphic of the show logo with details about the program, a TV looping though clips from the show, a mannequin wearing the Episode 2 item and a rack with all the Fashion Star items carried by Saks. The store only gets one piece in each size, so you’ve got to move fast if you want it.

I was able to try on the Kara Laricks shift dress. The construction was flawless and the fabric had a nice weight, felt great and hung beautifully. The dress is versatile – tie it different ways for different looks. I wasn’t a fan of the gray plaid print for summer in Houston, preferring the red fabric shown on the runway. But it was probably perfect for New York. The dress is quite voluminous, so try it at least one size, if not two, smaller than you normally wear.

Saks made it easy to find the Fashion Star items, the sales associates I encountered knew all about the show, it’s premis, which items from the show were carried by Saks, where to find the garments in the store, and were thrilled to answer questions help me try them on. If I had liked the color of the dress, I probably would have bought it (and taken it to my tailor to change the neckline).

Macy’s

Macy’s has small signs on entry doors announcing the show and a Fashion Star shopping spree sweepstakes. Inside, there is no sign of Macy’s collaboration with the show. The sales associates I spoke with had heard about the show and knew that Macy’s carried items from the show, but they didn’t know the premise of the show, which items Macy’s carried, or how to find or purchase the items. After several calls to management, one sales associated discovered that the items weren’t available at all in Houston stores. They weren’t sold out, the items just were not coming to Houston at all.

Macy’s made it impossible for me to find the dress I was looking for and the sales associates were annoyed with my attempts to find and try on the dress. Bummer. Lisa Vian Hunter’s pink dress was my favorite from the episode. I liked everything about it probably would have bought it if I could have tried it on.

I’m old fashioned in that I want to feel and try on clothes before I buy them to see if they fit, flatter and feel good. I don’t like buying online, so it made a huge difference that I could see, feel and try on the dress at Saks. I noticed that I stayed longer in Saks because the shopping experience was so easy.

Did you try or buy any of the Fashion Star items? What did you like? What didn’t you like? I’d love to hear about your experiences!

Want more Fashion Star? – Rising Fashion Stars

This post - Fashion Star: Runway To Retail - first appeared onSarah Shah's Blog, a site dedicated to supporting you as you create a professional image that works for you,

Kristina may be an expert in real life, but she doesn’t come across that way in this TV segment. Where does she go wrong? Let me count the ways…

1. Experts show their expertise by actually giving useful tips and information. Kristina doesn’t give any information that is useful to the viewer. Instead she talks about herself, drops her company name and talks about her services.
2. Experts usually go on TV to get more customers. Kristina ignores the Host by talking to the audience instead of the Host, ignores the Host’s questions, interrupts the Host and dominates the conversation. That behavior does not attract potential customers, it repels them. Who wants to work with someone who is rude and dismissive?
3. She compliments herself and her food instead of soliciting/acknowledging feedback from the Host and Mr. Bacon.
4. She doesn’t describe the dishes, give any recipes or demonstrate how to prepare the food. Viewers will expect this same behavior in a working relationship as they see on TV. Who wants to pay to listen to someone talk about themselves instead of providing useful information?
5. Her display is sparse and dull. Do you notice the camera keeps giving close ups of the same dish over and over? That’s because her words don’t relate to her props and her props aren’t interesting to look at. The camera operator has no choice but to keep looking at that one dish….what is it anyway? Tabbouleh? She never says. TV is a visual medium…if the visuals don’t command attention, viewers will tune out.
6. And finally her hair….her hair blocks her face, looks like it’s going into the food and is completely distracting. Her hair is so distracting that viewers can’t even concentrate on what she is saying. In this case, that’s probably a good thing. If you actually have something useful to say, distractions or grooming that grosses-out viewers work against you.

This post - TV Lesson: It’s Not About You - first appeared onSarah Shah's Blog, a site dedicated to supporting you as you create a professional image that works for you,

Thank you Paige, Christina and Kara for donating your “bad” clothes and modeling the befores and afters! Special thanks to  Nick Lopez Tailoring and Tailor Rolando Santiago for transforming the bad to fab!

Many of us think tailoring is just an added expense. However, when a few tweaks can totally transform an outfit, it’s suddenly worth the money!

Here’s what we did…

Paige’s silver shirt – Before the shirt revealed her bra and was too voluminous for her frame. We changed the sloppy neckline to a high halter and added a band at the hem for a slimmer look. Cost of tailoring $46.

Kara’s cream bridesmaid’s dress – Before the dress was ill-fitting and impractical. We improved the fit of the top and added a colorful waistband and skirt. Now the useless dress is unique and totally wearable party dress. Cost of tailoring was a whopping $175 … worth it to Kara because now she has a dress that she loves and will wear to weddings, parties and on dates with her man.

Paige’s orange skirt – Before the skirt was boring and impractical. We shortened the hem and added a fun pleated flounce to the back. Now the skirt is unique, fun and so much more wearable. Cost of tailoring $60

Christina’s sack dress – Before the dress was shapeless and added 10 pounds to her figure. We changed the neckline and took in the waist. Now the dress is flattering and Christina feels more confident when she wears it. Cost of tailoring $45.

Paige’s red leather skirt – Before the skirt was WAY too big and stuck in the 1990s. We shortened it and tapered it info a pencil skirt. Now it’s timeless, sexy and flatters her figure. She can wear it to work or on a date with her Honey. Cost of tailoring $60.

Tailoring is really about turning clothes you like into clothes you absolutely love.
When deciding whether to tailor, look at the cost of the tailoring, the cost of the original garment and add that together. Then, determine if the new garment is going to be worth that to you and if you’re going to wear it a lot.

Tailoring Tips:

• Most people think off-the-rack clothing should fit them. But it’s made from a generic pattern and doesn’t fit anyone perfectly. Almost everyone has a body part that doesn’t fit the generic mold –  shoulders that are broader or narrower, a waist that is bigger or smaller, a booty that is fuller or flatter, legs that are longer or shorter. You know your part. It’s the one that is hard to fit and frustrates you. The trick is to find a garment that fits that part and then alter the rest.
• Well tailored clothing lifts your bottom, smooth your bulges and shrinks your waist.
• Most clothing can be made smaller or shorter. Some items can be made longer or bigger.
• Inexpensive fixes — size of waistband, length of sleeves/pants/skirts, etc.
• Expensive fixes  jacket shoulders, bias cut dresses and blouses, items with intricate beadwork, embroidery, or stitching.
• Before you go wash/dry new items.
• Before buying a garment that is too tight or short, check to see if there’s room in the seams to let it out/down.
• Keep the tags so you can return new items if they can’t be altered.

How much should you spend on tailoring? Experts recommend reserving about 20% of your wardrobe budget for tailoring. It’s OK to pay more for tailoring than you paid for the original garment, if you are happy with the total price of final garment.

For more about tailoring…

Minor Fixes – Minor Changes Make Major Improvements

More transformations – Bad Clothes Made Good

More tailoring tips – How to find and work with a tailor

This post - Tailoring Transformations - first appeared onSarah Shah's Blog, a site dedicated to supporting you as you create a professional image that works for you,