Ask An Expert: Fashion Forward Thinking For The Season In Sacramento
Krazy Mary's
3230 Folsom Blvd.
Sacramento, California
(916) 442-6279
facebook.com/krazymarysboutique
Krazy Mary's has been the perfect place for Emily to hone her skills because Mary does an amazing job of buying merchandise that is diverse, trending, and fun to wear. The company is very active in the community, so she has had exciting opportunities to connect with lovely locals and share her style knowledge. She says that connecting with customers on the floor every day is the most fun part of her job. Sacramento is full of inspiring and cool women, and she loves that they know to make shopping at Krazy Mary's a "style priority." She says it feels amazing to watch a woman immediately feel confident and beautiful in a look that Emily picked for her. Every member of the staff works for that but, as a stylist, it has an extra special meaning for Emily.
No two women are alike, and that's a GOOD thing. So, there's no sense in fussing over a trend or piece of clothing that doesn't flatter your gorgeous figure. Highlight and accentuate the parts of you that you LOVE. Curvy hour glass shape? Go for pieces that accentuate your waist. Think wrap dresses, high waisted jeans, and accessories like wrap belts, which are a big trend for spring. Legs for days? Show them off! Spring is the perfect season for you to break out those cute spring dresses and rompers. If you've been doing your squats, show off the results in fitted bottom pieces like a pencil skirt or skinny jeans. The point is, clothes aren't for you to hide in, they're for you to celebrate yourself in. Dressing for the things you love about your body is the biggest and best confidence booster - and a fabulous way to start your day!
Cleaning out your closet every season is the best way to keep your wardrobe up to date and your closet clean and organized. It's best to start with the season one year previous to the current one. Since spring is upon us, pull out all your spring items from last year (or years). Start four piles: Keep, Swap, Sell and Donate. Now, this is where you have to be honest with yourself. If you're a clothes horse like me, it can be difficult to part with a piece that you so loved when you first bought it. But ask yourself: Does it still fit? How often did I wear it? Does it still match where my style is now? If the answers are 'No' and 'Not A Lot', it's time to get rid of it. There are so many fun options when it comes to parting from your old pieces. If they're still in really good condition consider swapping them. Clothing swap parties are totally a thing and they are so much fun! Organize one with a few girlfriends or look up a local clothing swap here in town. You also have the option to sell them to a recycled clothing store like Freestyle Clothing or Crossroads. That extra money in your pocket gives you the chance to pick up some fresh, pretty pieces at Krazy Mary's or Sugar Shack! In addition, of course, always consider donating to your local thrift shop or Goodwill. Donating to help those less fortunate never goes out of style.
Remember when I told you that clothes were for celebrating? Part of that celebration is feeling confident enough to take a style risk. There isn't a better season for that than spring. All the colors and prints should make it easy to try something new. If you tend to wear all black, try incorporating a pop of color into your look. A bold top with a pair of classic black skinny jeans is the fool-proof way to ease some pretty spring color into your outfit. Try out a fun, frilly dress if you normally wear the pants, or a loose bohemian maxi dress if you typically keep things pretty buttoned up. Two of the greatest things about fashion trends is that they aren't forever and they're supposed to be fun. At Krazy Mary's we like to 'play dress up' and I like to encourage people to look at getting dressed every morning the same way. You might be surprised by what you like!
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Ok, so maybe this should have been included in the previous point, but I'm on a mission to share the joy of print mixing. It is definitely a style risk, and spring is such a great season to do it because the effect is vibrant and fun, which is exactly how one should feel this time of year. So many women are a little timid when it comes to trying it out because it doesn't take much to go from cool and edgy, to a headache. So, here are a few ground rules to get you started. Vary the size of the prints. If your look is comprised of only small, intricate prints, someone is going to get dizzy. If the look is only big, splashy prints, you are are going to look larger than you are. One of the easiest ways to do this is with a skirt with a larger floral print, and a striped or polka dot top. The larger floral print will balance the smaller striped or dots, creating a lovely harmony to your look. It's also important to find at least one common color in the two prints you choose. This will keep your pieces cohesive and not clashing. And if you're not ready to go for the gusto just yet, you can always break up your prints with a solid piece. Try a printed bottom, a solid t-shirt, and a printed sweater or open button down. This will break the prints up and keep you from looking too busy. Also consider graphic t-shirts a neutral. They pair well with any print to give your look a cool edge.
I don't know too many people who look good in everything right off the rack. Actually, I don't know anybody who looks
good in everything right off the rack. As I said in the first point, no two women are alike so it stands to reason that clothes aren't going to fit everyone perfectly. So, don't get discouraged - get a tailor! They're often more affordable than you think, and they'll take a piece from 'Just Ok' to 'Wowza!' with just a few stitches. If a pair of jeans fits your perfectly but they're long, get them hemmed. This is the season of dresses and light overcoats, and they often need to have the waist brought in or taken out a bit. Dresses can also have the bust brought in so as to better accentuate your figure! So, don't settle. Make sure all your pieces fit you perfectly so all your looks can have the most impact.
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