Shopping My Closet – Cheap & Chic

A week or so ago, this girlaboutOtown finally got together with some of you – my lovely, loyal readers. We went out for an evening of casual fun and fashion at Bridgehead, one of Ottawa’s favourite coffeehouses, and we got to hang out with personal style coach Wendy Woods of THE REFINERY.  It was a blast!  Thanks so much to all of you for coming, and for those of you who couldn’t make it, we’ll definitely have to do it again soon. Hopefully, you can join us next time.

Wendy was a marvel!  We all sought her wise counsel, and she offered all kinds of amazing insight and interesting options to help each of us dress our best.  I’m still hearing how she managed to enlighten many of you, and how easy she was to work with, so a big thank you goes to Wendy too. 

Anyway, the next afternoon Wendy also came over to my house to provide a bit more of her most welcome advice.  Together, we “Shopped my Closet”, and assembled all sorts of new outfits from stuff I was already storing in my wardrobe.  With skill and sensitivity, Wendy pulled out pieces I would never have put together, and then suggested I try them on for size.  Sure enough, these clever combinations were definitely successful, and all of sudden I was seeing possibilities I had previously missed.  Talk about cheap and chic!

Wendy’s highly strategic system builds from the bottom up and incorporates the separates you already own to suit a variety of professional or social settings.  By mixing in layers and adding shoes and accessories, the ensembles she created will carry me stress free for way more than 30 days!  I confess too, that we only touched on a small corner of my closet, focusing most on spring and summer wear.  There is still plenty of room to explore.  Best of all, Wendy trained my eye to see my most flattering shapes, recommended a few alterations, and left behind a set of  ‘style instructions’  so I can be super-smart the next time I go shopping.

Speaking of which…

It seems that my current selection of outfits – enhanced of course by the additional options suggested by Wendy- is sufficient.  So, if I were to need an excuse to go searching through the stores, there are apparently a few gaps in my wardrobe that could use filling.  Specifically, I’m suffering from a shortage of boring.  Who knew? Basics like loose and less casual layering pieces or solid colour shoes are absent from the assortment of clothes I’ve accumulated, so if I should find myself at the mall, I’m to focus on a few bits and pieces like these… 

TOPS: Silk-satin blouse by Fendi via The Outnet.com, Jersey Cowl Neck via Old Navy, Grecian Jersey Top via Old Navy, Ruffle Blouse by Anna Molinari via The Outnet.com.

SHOES:  Navy Patent Spectator Pumps by Kate Spade via Zappos Couture, Nude leather pumps by Christian Louboutin via Net-a-Porter, Faux Snakeskin by Calvin Klein via Gravity Pope, Nude Mary Jane Pumps by Kenneth Cole via Gravity Pope.