Taking A Time-Out

I was given a gift this past weekend that was so amazing and incredible I almost can't believe it -- the gift of reconnecting with my self.

For Mother's Day, my husband and kids sent me to one of my favorite places in the world -- Paris.  And they sent me by myself.  This may seem ironic to some, but for me it was the perfect gift.

The food, the atmosphere, the art -- just walking!  All for me to enjoy without having to worry about any schedule, agenda or need that is not my own.

Taking time to restore your self is an incredibly difficult thing to do.  Yet, it is vitally important.

Recently, I was faced with a family crisis.  Usually, I consider myself someone who rises to the occasion and is able to turn immediately to action, putting my own issues aside.  In this case, however?  Not so much.

All I could think about was how it impacted me.  Instead of responding with grace -- I burst into tears.  I fumed.  I did the best I could at the time, but I'm not proud of how I handled myself at all.

I canceled my work trip.  I re-arranged my schedule.  My clients were gracious, my friends and family at home understanding and awesomely supportive.  My husband felt terrible; he was going away and I was going to have to handle the situation on my own.  My new friends here in the Netherlands were gorgeous.

The truth is I had run my battery down so far I had no reserves when I needed them.  And this needs to change.  I am blessed with an incredible support network, but I need to create buffers so I can recharge myself and rely on my own resilience.  Next week, I'll actually be working with the brilliant Stefanie Hooglund to create this space for myself. 

Thankfully, the crisis has been averted.  I am optimistic and actually deeply grateful for the early intervention.

Life will return to "normal" at some point and I've readjusted my goals so I can be okay with not knowing exactly when.

And, of course, I'll always have Paris! 
 

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Do you need inspiration?  Take a look at my Paris Inspiration Weekend Board.   

Sometimes, just taking a moment to look at it will be enough.  At other times, I will need to be more bold and schedule a day off here to do the things I love to do in Paris.  After all, cafes, art museums and people-watching exist in the Netherlands, too!

Make a board of your own and share it!  Who knows what might happen?

Mother's Day Gift Ideas

What do you love about your Mom?

LOVE HER STYLE: 

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LOVE HER ENERGY: 

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LOVE HER NEST: 

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Celebrate the best about your Mom.  Love her for what makes her truly beautiful.

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Give her the gift of style!  Special for Mother's Day, book the Style-A-Look Snapshot for $250 (30% off!).  Enter MOTHERSDAY in Notes.

Sustainable? Yes!

Sustainability can be a heavy concept, but when you begin to put it into practice, it allows you to clearly articulate what is important -- both personally and professionally.

At DailyOutfit, sustainability is woven inextricably into each step of the process:

D&G Spring 2012

Define.  Personal style is less about what's trendy and more about what works for you.

We are celebrating you -- in this moment and every moment.  

This approach eschews fast fashion, fad diets and self-abnegation.

Instead, we honor your unique gifts -- inside and out -- and support a healthy, holistic approach that is sustainable over your lifetime.

Source: itworksforbobbi.com

Translate.  Crafting a wardrobe that reflects the best of who you are necessarily takes into consideration what you already have, your work environment and your activities.

The result?  A sustainable wardrobe that holds only the pieces you love and the pieces you need.  

Photo by Hein van den Heuvel

Inhabit.  Style can feel like a chore that takes you away from the people or pursuits you were put on this Earth to nurture.

Together, we can create a sustainable system that works with the structure of your life.
 

DailyOutfit is also accessible -- I work within your budget using online tools that reach you when and how your schedule allows.

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Schedule your free 20-minute session to discuss how we can make your style more sustainable!

Goodbye Winter! (and good riddance!)

Dwarf tulips at Keukenhof

Spring has finally sprung!  Here in the Netherlands, the crocuses and daffodils are in full bloom, nodding their heads in the breeze.

Spring Transition.  You might have taken advantage of my Top 5 5 Transition Tips for Spring last month.  If not, don't worry -- you can still get it done and get out this weekend to enjoy the beautiful weather!

It is time to put away those Wintery things and make sure you have everything you need to enjoy Spring!





TREAT, PROTECT and STORE: 

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Winter Clothing Storage Tips: 

• Treat.  Use a sweater stone ($10) to get rid of pills and extra fuzz on your knits.  It's a messy job, so do it all at once.  You'll need to vacuum when you're done!   
• Protect.  Add lavender sachets ($9) or hanging sachets ($15) to your stored clothing to keep the moths away.
• Store. Fold any items with weight and store in a container ($15).  This prevents gravity from changing the shape of your clothing during storage.
• Outerwear or Special Occasion Wear.  Coats are too bulky to fold and dresses can be damaged by folding.  Use a heavy-duty wooden hanger ($19) that fills out the shoulders and hang your pieces in a soft storage bag ($15).

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Keeping Corporate Current

Business and corporate are almost synonymous with boring.  After all, "the suits" mean the stick-in-the-mud number crunchers who can be counted on to say "no" to anything interesting.

And yet, The Guardian reports, "According to IBM's most recent global CEO study, the majority of CEOs believe the key to navigating today's volatile, uncertain and increasingly complex business environment is creativity."

So how do you keep your corporate look current?  Signal your creativity.


First, think about how you nurture your creativity in your own life.  Is it through the arts or play?  Do you love to make up recipes or do you take trips on a whim?

Once you have figured out how you are creative, you can weave that aspect into your look.

Cut:  Embracing trends shows a willingness to experiment.  Think Katherine Hepburn and her fabulous trousers -- they are part of what made her famous!

Color:  The colors of creativity are green for growth, purple for sensitivity/spirituality, white for modernity and red for energy.  Which of these calls to you? 

Texture and Pattern:  Employ a conservative cut and use texture or pattern to make it more interesting -- like Chanel tweed or a floral shift.  Or try a more daring cut like an asymmetrical jacket in a smooth, calm fabric like wool, suede or leather.

The key will all of this is to keep your look balanced.

Use one detail as a conversation starter and the rest of the pieces to support your look.

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Want to push refresh on your wardrobe?  Discover your personal style, find out exactly what you need and purchase only the pieces that flatter you most with the Passport to Style Package.

DailyOutfit's April Look

Oh, I am ready for Spring!  If the flowers or bright colors won't come, I'll just wear them!

The Outfit:  For Spring, I need a dressy look for speaking engagements and a family wedding.    

Shop In Your Closet.  For the dress in this look, I found a lovely green & white dress in my own closet.  It works with the trends this season -- it's green and a floral, so it feels up-to-date.

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PETITE and MISSES:        

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Complete the Look:

• Shoes:  To keep the look polished, I will probably wear my nude patent pumps.

• Accessories.  I'll use the necklace I bought with the dress.  It's a beautiful statement piece that looks vintage, but is clearly modern in its use of materials.

Change It Up.  I've styled this look differently for the Petite and Plus outfits above so you can see how the shoe & accessory change the entire feel of the outfit.


 Use the Trends. 

• Green:  To play off my theme of reinvention, I'm going with this year's color:  green.

• Moto Jacket:  I bought my dress for summer and it's very chilly in the Netherlands, so I need a layer.  Luckily for me, one of the big trends this season is for moto jackets.  It also mixes in a sense of fun and irreverence, which is a feeling I want to underscore.

• Pattern Mixing:  Playing with trends underlines my willingness to experiment and desire to stay modern.  I tried this with a cream canvas jacket with floral arms, but it was too much pattern.  I opted for a more conservative Chanel-y tweed boucle instead.

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Purchase the Look!   Each month, DailyOutfit will present a head-to-toe look so you can experience what it's like to have a stylist working directly for you!  Each piece is tagged by body type so you can choose the items that work expressly for you.

How Do I Choose the Pieces?  DailyOutfit works only with trusted retailers like Bloomingdale's and receives a small commission from the sale of each piece.  My choices are driven solely by what the look requires.  The price point is $500 head-to-toe.