Panel of Experts: Giulia

I consider Stitch Fix as my fashion education. I pay for someone to teach me what to wear, and they choose my clothes and send me updates on what's in style and how to wear it. It's a good system so far. There's homework too, keeping my Pinterest style board up to date (though I realize this wouldn't feel like homework to most people).
I'm learning a lot.

Then there are people study Fashion Design in college. This is an actual fashion education, though I assume most people who enter the Fashion Design program already know how to dress themselves.

Such is the case for my friend, Giulia (pronounced "geeeyuuulwieeeaaa..." Just kidding. It's like "Julia" in English). Giulia is my Visiting Teacher, which means she visits with me every month as part of a program through our church to share a message about the Gospel and to just visit and help me out. It's seriously one of my favorite parts of church, this network of women that we create.

In the course of our visiting, I found out that she's finishing up college in the Fashion Design program. She's working on her final project, creating a bunch of outfits and having them made and then shown at a fashion show at the end of the year.

How did people so much younger become so much cooler than me?

I was able to catch her during her mid-year break, and she answered some interview questions for my blog! 

• Where do you get your fashion inspiration?

Most of the time I try to know what celebrity I most identify with and watch what they are wearing or have worn. But I only use what really pleases me and is good for my body.

• If you have a nice event to go to (date, brunch, night out, etc.) when do you start thinking of what you’ll wear? How do you plan an outfit?

Well, it depends on when I find out about the event, but usually that day I start to think about what I going to wear, even before I'm sure if I'll go (laughs). Planning clothes depends on where the event will be held, the hour, the weather and the people who will be present. I always try to learn some of these details before to prepare myself, but if it is a date for example, and the person does not say where you're going, or you are embarrassed to ask, I suggest versatile clothes that are tidy but not too much or too little. For example, a dress and heels are perfect for going to a movie or to a fancy restaurant.

• What is your current favorite thing to wear?

Big Earrings and Fluffy Sweaters

And let me just interrupt to clarify for a moment. I grew up in the nineties, so when I read "fluffy sweaters," my brain came up with this:



Turns out, the new millennium comes with its own updated sweaters. This is the one Giulia has in mind:

 Carry on.

• Top 10 items to have in your wardrobe:

1. Fluffy Sweater (see above)

2. Nice Accessories

3. Pumps

4. Boots

5. Day dress

6. Night dress

7. Nice Jeans

8. Blazer

9. A basic shirt

10. Sandals

• Shopping: What is your plan of attack when you go clothes shopping? Do you have a plan of attack?

Actually, I do not have a plan of attack. When I go shopping I'll first go to stores that I like and try something that pleases me and makes me fall in love with it, which is not too hard (laughs).

But one tip I give is to look calmly and be patient. The faster you go through racks, the less chance you will have to find cool stuff and like it.

• What are some of your favorite stores (in person, online)? What do you usually buy there?

Some of my favorite stores are: Renner, C&A, Zara and Forever 21. They are in person, because I like to try things on and see the quality before buying. 

I confess that I usually buy more shoes than anything (laughs), because you can change a whole look only with a pair of shoes, nice makeup and some accessories.

Um... I didn't realize Forever 21 was an international brand. Turns out, it is! Who knew?!

• What advice would you give me or people like me for whom dressing well is challenging and out of their comfort zones?

Be yourself. You do not need be fashionable to dress well, or even be a trendsetter. Dressing well means feeling good about yourself, and being comfortable-- yes, comfortable! There is nothing worse than when you go out in a beautiful outfit, but it itches, hurts you, or makes you feel uncomfortable in any other way. As much as you think you look wonderful, you actually look uncomfortable rather than confident, and people can see it. But also being comfortable does not mean being sloppy. There are many beautiful clothes that are comfortable and tidy, but you just need to use patience while you shop.

Another tip is to ask someone you trust to evaluate if your clothes are good or not, and even help you to choose.


Aaaaand, it sounds like Giulia will be coming shopping with me later this month for Visiting Teaching! 

Panel of Experts: Sarah

When you sign up to teach English in the Middle-of-Nowhere, China, it's going to be a life-changing adventure. In my case, I came home with adventure stories, a love of everything Chinese, as well as some great, lifelong friends-- and I'm not just talking intestinal parasites!
 
I'd like to introduce one of my good friends from that semester in Urumqi, Sarah. 

Everyone: "Hello, Sarah!"

In addition to her amazing contralto singing voice and passion for... well... everything, Sarah also has immaculate taste. She blogs over at Bombshell Bling, and so while it has been almost seven years since I've talked to her in person, I get to hear her voice as she writes about crafts, fantastic parties, and an unnatural obsession with s'mores. She has taste in decorating, cooking, and celebrating holidays, but today I've interviewed her about her fashion sense.

• Where do you get your fashion inspiration?

I tend to look at what friends, celebrities, and my favorite TV character are wearing and then go with my gut. Despite what Chelsea seems to think, I’m not a fashionista by any means, so I don’t tend to jump in with both feet at the first celebrity sighting of a new trend. I tend to wait it out a bit and see if I really like it and how it is going to last before I spend money and time implementing a new trend.

I have a lot of lovely, fashionable friends, and I definitely notice what they are wearing and think about how I would like to adapt it to my own style. A couple of people that I watch the most are my friend Jessica, who has a super flashy, colorful style that is a mix of cutting edge fashion and retro style, all mixed in with huge jewelry, and my sister Laura, who has a very Anthropologie-esque style that usually leans toward more muted colors and flowy fits. I tend to fall somewhere in the middle of the two, but definitely with bright colors and big jewelry.

I do watch what celebrities are wearing, and also what tv characters are wearing, interestingly. In college I adored what Monica and Rachel were wearing on Friends. I love what Zoe Deschanel wears, both on and off screen. Her colorful vintage vibe is right up my alley! Mindy Kaling’s character, Mindy Lahiri, on The Mindy Project has a wardrobe that I would LOVE to raid. It’s so dang colorful, AND it’s flattering for a non-size 2!

Mindy Lahiri? You know, I'm just not seeing it.
*wink*

If I could step into the wardrobe of one person for the rest of my life it would absolutely be Kate Middleton. Except that I have nowhere to wear fancy suits and dresses. But they’re perfection.

Most of all, I look for things that are flattering on my figure. My figure has changed dramatically since having babies, so I have had to relearn what works on me and I tend to stick with certain fabrics and cuts when possible.

• If you have a nice event to go to (brunch, night out, etc.) when do you start thinking of what you’ll wear? How do you plan an outfit?

I have certain things that I wear a lot. My sisters call them my “uniforms.” I know they look good on me and I know that I am comfortable and confident in them. I feel that spending more money on “staple” items that can be dressed up or down is a great investment. 
One thing I love is a great maxi dress. I have lots of solid colored dresses and tops that I dress up or down with bling. I am all about jewelry and bold lipstick. They both totally change the feel of an outfit! Sometimes I plan ahead, but more often than not I just walk in my closet and see what I feel like wearing that day and then mess around with makeup and jewelry to change the look a bit.

• What is your current favorite thing to wear?

Honestly? Yoga pants and Target t-shirts. That’s my ultimate “uniform.” Seriously. ;)
When I have a reason to look nice I’m all about maxi skirts with basic t-shirt tops and big necklaces. During the winter I live in skinny jeans, a basic top, long cardigan, fun infinity scarf, and boots. Boots and jeans are another great place to invest more money. If you’re like me you wear jeans almost everyday. For goodness sake, invest in a pair that FITS WELL and is comfortable! And make them dark wash! So much more flattering. I wear my boots into the ground, and they totally make or break an outfit.

• Top 10 items to have in your wardrobe:

(In no particular order.)

1. Great skinny jeans. I wear American Eagle High Waisted Jeggings in the darkest color. (They do bleed at first so wash them inside out in cold water only with other darks for the first few washes.) They are SO FREAKING COMFORTABLE!! American Eagle jeggings — not just for teenagers — who knew?! I wear jeans sized in the double digits, so you can trust me that they aren’t just for pre-baby bodies!)

2. Maxi Skirts

3. Infinity Scarves (World Market is my fav place to find them.)

4. Great boots

5. A fantastic pair of black heels — mine are peep toe and I adore them.

6. Target T-Shirts

7. Maxi Dresses that you can dress up or down

8. Long cardigans in both plain colors and bold patterns that I can throw over basic tops

9. Flowy tops that can be worn alone or with big bling

10. BLING! Lots of bling. And, as a friend once said to me, “The bigger the woman, the bigger the bling should be.” Big necklaces fill up space, ladies. It’s true. Although I wore them even when I was skinny . . . so I guess I just love big bling! :)

• Shopping: What is your plan of attack when you go clothes shopping? Do you have a plan of attack?

No plan unless I have something very specific that I need. I usually just go to my favorite places and look around. You can get great deals at places like TJ Maxx and Ross, but I don’t have patience for that. I will pay more in order to be able to walk in, scan the room, and know what is there. I don’t have time to dig. 

Overall, I look for colors and patterns that jump out at me. I also look for things to fill “holes” in my wardrobe, whether that’s a certain color or a certain style that I don’t have much of. Above all, it must be a fit and fabric that I know looks good on me. If it isn’t then I don’t bother trying it on, regardless of how cute it looks on a hanger.

• What are some of your favorite stores (in person, online)? What do you usually buy there?

For dressy stuff and jewelry I love Anthropologie and Nordstrom. Obviously, I shop the sales there. Online I’ve gotten some great retro-style dresses at Shabby Apple, and I recently discovered a site called Kiyonna that sells plus sized clothing. I got a formal dress there for a performance and I love it! 

More often, I shop at Target, H&M, Old Navy, GAP, and Nordstrom Rack. Nordstrom Rack has fantastic jewelry. World Market is a great place for scarves and jewelry at bargain prices.

• What advice would you give me or people like me for whom dressing well is challenging and out of their comfort zones?

Just keep trying new things and BE BRAVE. It took me years to put on skinny jeans because I thought I’d look fat in them. Well, maybe I do, but they are fashionable and cute, and they allow me to wear boots all winter in Colorado! I love them! I shouldn’t have waited so long! 

Over time you will figure out what fabrics and cuts are best on you, and you will figure out your personal style. I wear bigger jewelry, brighter colors, and more sequins than most of my friends. But that’s me! Just own your personal style. Fun makeup and a cut haircut are a great way to shake things up. 

And one tip that I feel is valuable for every woman: A GREAT BRA AND SPANX! The Target Assets brand knockoff Spanx are affordable and will smooth you right out, whether you are already thin or not! I don’t wear them daily, but you’d better believe I wear them when I’m dressed up! And a great bra is an everyday essential. I go to the Nordstrom semi-annual sales and get fitted with the workers (yes, it’s embarrassing) and suddenly I look ten pounds lighter with those things hiked up. Great bras aren’t just for busty gals like myself. Sometimes I look at my super thin, flat chested friends and think, “Girl - hike those things up! You will love the fit of that dress so much more if you do!” Great undergarments make everything you wear look better. Best fashion investment of all!

Believe it or not, I know people who dress well

In 2011, we were posted to Shenyang, China, and Kevin was invited to an event at a 5-star hotel in town. It was on the night of our anniversary, and with our second baby almost three months old, we needed a night out!

I've never been someone who looks forward to an event like this and thinks, "Wow, what a fun occasion to get all dolled up!" In fact, I have never used the phrase, "get all dolled up," in real life. Instead, this is an event that causes panic and a feeling of being under-prepared, under-dressed, and outclassed. I rummaged and rummaged through my closet and found myself asking, "Well, what T-shirt would look nice with this?" And the brick wall I kept hitting kept telling me, "None of them!"

We lived upstairs from a huge shopping mall, which included H&M and Zara, as well as hundreds of Chinese stores for Chinese-sized women. I ran downstairs (well, I walked to the elevator) and found a black, lacy dress suitable for the occasion. It took me another long while to find some shoes. When you wear a size 8.5 in the USA, China thinks you're a Sasquatch.

I eventually found some size 8's that I could squeeze into, so I minced off to the ball like Cinderella's (dolled up) stepsister.

Lace dress and black leggings.
Just pretend I'm still wearing my shoes.

It was a step in the right direction, but after I saw the pictures we took, I realized that the outfit had looked a lot more glamorous in my head. Something was missing, or maybe a lot of somethings, and I had no idea what do about it-- even living upstairs from H&M! It seems like some people can just walk into a store and find some fantastic combinations and make some great outfits. But I had no idea where to start. Was there a class, or some kind of nerd-extracting therapy I could take?

So in a desperate plea for help, I emailed a couple friends who are fantastically talented at dressing well and getting dolled up-- and somehow still friends with me. I asked them what I should buy, how I should shop, and what they would do in my situation.

And being not only beautiful and glamorous, but also incredibly kind, they both gave me some really good advice.

"Look, tell her destiny has brought you together.
Tell her that she's the most beautiful girl you have ever seen.
Girls like that stuff. What, what are you doing, George?"
"I'm writing this down. This is good stuff."

I took some notes and made a shopping list and a plan, then headed down to H&M. This is one of the outfits I bought and wore on Christmas:

Sparkly sweater, pencil skirt, a purple halter top, matching earrings

It's not going to win any fashion awards, but I was really happy to have chosen something out of my usual comfort zone.

And I am very happy to STILL have these chique friends. In some upcoming posts, and hopefully on a regular basis in the future, I'll be interviewing some of my chique friends and sharing their wisdom on this blog. I have learned so much from them, and I'm sure I'm not the only one who could benefit from their perspectives!

For my first installment, coming later this week, I'll be interviewing my friend, Sarah. She is one of the original girls I emailed for help back in 2011, and I'm excited to have her as my very first guest-poster on my blog!

Stay tuned!