Drew Gets It Right!

Actress Drew Barrymore looked positively chic Tuesday night at the premiere of her new movie, “Whip It” in Los Angeles. Dressed in a lacquered tweed sheath from the always glamorous L’Wren Scott, she accessorized with dangling Neil Lane earrings and red satin peep-toe pumps from Casadei.

Ms. Barrymore, who can often come across a bit disheveled, hit the nail on its very glamorous head with her choice of the body-skimming sheath in a luxurious fabric and the trend-worthy red satin pumps. Nice work Drew! We’d like to see more like this.

©Liz Dennery Sanders 2009

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My Accessories Opium for Fall ‘09

One of my favorite items  for the Fall 2009 season is the YSL easy handbag in a printed lizard gray suede. This bag is soft, subtle (read: no screaming logos) and goes with almost everything in my closet. It also has just enough strap to be worn on the shoulder when necessary. I found mine at Elyse Walker in the Pacific Palisades. Elyse also has the teal suede and black patent versions of this classic wardrobe enhancer, but she and I agreed that the gray suede was just my speed.

©Liz Dennery Sanders 2009

Just a few weeks after I purchased it,  I happened to be perusing a few images from the YSL collection and came across my easy bag in the most brilliant shade of red patent leather. And they had to call it Opium! A stunning, knock-em-dead red called Opium.  Oh mon dieu, I’m hooked.

I’m definitely one who believes in moderation, but I have been known to purchase multiples of things that I love – especially if there is a chance I won’t be able to get them again next season. And it is the most remarkable shade of brilliant red. I can think of a million and one ways to wear it; but for now I will continue to admire it from afar. Christmas is just around the corner, after all.

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10 Wardrobe Essentials Every Woman Must Have

Being chic isn’t about having the most expensive handbag or wearing the latest trend. It’s about being true to who you really are and feeling comfortable in your own skin. Real style comes from within. It is having the confidence to get organized, being a ruthless editor and trusting your own creativity. If you feel great, then you’ll look great – whether your outfit cost $100 or $1000.

Ultimately, be true to yourself.

With that said, there are ten items that I believe every stylish woman worth her fashion salt should own. These are the items that will carry you through season after season and never let you down. They are the classic must-haves that will serve as the backbone of your wardrobe. Trends will come and go, but these are the items that will loyally serve you year after year.

1. The Little Black Dress – Channel your inner Audrey. This timeless piece can take you from the office to an evening on the town with the switch of a few chosen accessories. A simple, yet sophisticated black dress will also serve as the perfect backdrop to a killer pair of colorful stilettos or a statement piece of jewelry.
2. Classic White Shirt – This perennial favorite will never go out of style. Paired with denim or a slim pencil skirt, the button-down white shirt exudes elegance.
3. Denim – There is a very good reason that Yves Saint Laurent once mused that he wished he had invented the blue jean. A well-fitting pair of jeans (preferably dark denim and boot cut) flatters most body shapes and can easily be dressed up or down depending on one’s mood. A great pair of jeans can be accessorized a million and one ways with what you already have in your closet.
4. Cashmere Cardigan or Crewneck – A basic necessity for chilly restaurants and in-flight cabins.
5. Ballet Flats – I love a 4″ stiletto just as much as the next Louboutin-loving girl, but it’s my ballet flats that I turn to time and time again for ease, comfort and weekend casual. There’s a certain insouciance to the ballet flat that says, “clearly I know my way around the fashion block, but I just don’t have to try so hard to look fabulous.”
6. High Heel Pumps – Whether peep-toe or classic, stiletto or chunky heel, a high heel pump in a neutral color (black, brown, navy or gray) will work well with all of your other wardrobe essentials.
7. Pencil Skirt – Much like the LBD, this item will take you from the boardroom to cocktails in style. Easily paired with a classic white shirt or cashmere crewneck.
8. Black Pants – Look for a slim fit and make sure the hem falls just an inch or so above the floor. You don’t want your pants dragging along the floor as you walk. And unless you are 6′ and very thin, avoid too many pleats or pockets, as these tend to add bulk where we really don’t need it.
9. Blazer – Find one with a proper, fitted shape. Your jacket should follow the silhouette of your body and accent the hourglass curve at your waist. It is also a perfect piece to pair with the pencil skirt, black pants and white shirt. Or make it casual with a pair of jeans.
10. Trench Coat – This is one of the classic pieces that also seems to always be on trend. While Burberry is probably best-known for their trench, there are many other brands such as Theory, Kenneth Cole, Tahari, DVF and Tory Burch who have created their own version of this timeless staple. The trench coat has come to the rescue of many a “bad wardrobe” day.

Great style is having the discipline to invest in just a couple of beautiful statement pieces each season and then mix these in with your ten wardrobe essentials. As Coco Chanel so eloquently said, “Elegance is refusal.” It’s not about constant acquisition; it’s about working with what you have in a confident and creative way.

Only keep those pieces that make you feel really good. Play to your strengths: If you have great legs, wear skirts. If you have an hourglass figure, cinch your waist with fabulous belts. If you have beautiful skin and piercing blue eyes, wear accessories that draw attention to your face.

Now that’s great style.

©Liz Dennery Sanders 2009

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Organize Your Closet To Build A Wardrobe With Style

Do you find yourself wearing the same items in your closet over and over again? Do you have a handful of pieces that you love, but you’re not exactly sure what’s hanging at the back of your closet? You’re not alone – we’re all guilty of this crime of fashion. It’s the old 80/20 rule: we tend to neglect 80% of what’s in our closet and only wear the other 20%.

If you want to build a wardrobe that you love, that truly represents the brand YOU, it’s imperative that you become a ruthless editor – weeding out the items that no longer speak to you, or even fit you for that matter. Diana Vreeland said it best, “Elegance is refusal.” It’s the ability to know what works for you, and then just say no to the rest.

Real style starts with purging. You must get rid of what no longer works (or never did) to allow your closet to breathe and make room for those special pieces that make you shine.

To start the process, create four boxes and label each accordingly: Donate, Gift, Alterations, Save. The Donate box will be for what you no longer wear or want. These pieces will either be donated to charity or taken to a consignment store. The Gift box is for those items that you would like to give to specific people, and the Alterations box is for those items that need a little tweak in order to wear them. The Save box is for those pieces that you just can’t bring yourself to get rid of, even if you haven’t worn them in years.

As you go through your closet and try on each item, ask yourself three questions:

- Do I absolutely love this?
- Does this communicate my personal brand message?
- Would I want to be seen wearing this for a date/interview/important meeting etc.?

If you can’t answer YES to at least two of these three questions, then the item should be tossed into one of your four boxes. Ideally, you want to be able to answer each question with a resounding YES.

Once you have gone through your entire wardrobe and purged items into the Donate, Gift, Alterations and Save boxes, you should now be left with only those pieces that you love. Now here’s where it really starts to get good: go through the entire closet again and arrange all like items together. So, all pants should hang together as should short-sleeve shirts, long-sleeve shirts, skirts, dresses etc.

Then do another pass-through and make sure that within each category, items are organized by color. In other words, all of your black skirts should hang next to each other, gray skirts, denim skirts, and so on. As you look at the remaining items in your closet, ask yourself, “Does this feel like me? When I wear these items, will I be projecting my ideal image to the world?”

You may be wondering what the Save box is for. Tape up the box and don’t touch it for 60 days. If you don’t need any of the items during this time or even forget what you have put inside, it’s definitely time to donate this box to charity, bring certain items to a consignment store or sell them on e-Bay.

You may find that you can now realistically assess what new items you may need to slowly add to your wardrobe to complete your ideal look. Would a slim black pencil skirt of cropped leather jacket add just the right touch? Do you have a penchant for colorful silk scarves and pearls, or are stilettos and chains more your speed? Stylish women are confident, intriguing and intelligent. They take the time to organize, assess and adjust accordingly when it comes to developing their personal style.

©Liz Dennery Sanders 2009

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If Loving Fashion Is A Crime…

Guilty as charged.

©Liz Dennery Sanders 2009

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The Statement Bracelet

I am absolutely OBSESSED with the gorgeous Duchess stone bracelet from J. Crew for Fall. Available in two colors – Soft Pumpkin and Dusty Blossom – the chunky hand-cut square glass stones are hand set in a four prong setting. Beautiful when worn alone, but even better when worn together. Big, chunky and stacked – the perfect accessory statement for a glamorous Fall wardrobe.

We’re going to be seeing lots of statement necklaces and bracelets this season, so don’t miss out on this gorgeous find. And the price is right – at only $75 each, they look much more expensive than their retail price tag. Now that’s glamorous.

©Liz Dennery Sanders 2009

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