Saturday, July 7, 2012
How many times will we do the same thing over and over again expecting a different outcome? Too many to count, I'm loathe to admit.
Nora Ephron, critically acclaimed humorist, author, screenwriter and film director (Sleepless in Seattle) just recently passed away. When I heard the news, I wept. I cannot imagine a world without her. She was talented, accomplished, down to earth and best of all, she was really funny. Ephron was also notorious for wearing scarves and turtle neck tops. She made no bones about it. She was not going to show her neck in public. Clearly, she did not like her neck. In fact, she even wrote a book about it! One of the funniest books ever, I might add. Oddly enough, it is titled, I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts On Being a Woman. I would probably have to say the same about my neck, except for the fact that I don’t ever look at my neck…
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Why shopping is not for the faint of heart, weary or time-constrained among us.
Read on for a practical approach to this and other profound questions of life.
Do you occasionally ponder some of life's more perplexing mysteries? Like what do they do with the fat they remove from no-fat desserts, and just how exactly do they remove it? Or—I love this one from my 4-year-old brother many years ago, "Why does God make weeds?" Why indeed. Currently I'm asking myself, "Why is it so darn hard to find classic clothing in stores these days?" It's ridiculous. No wonder more and more folks are hiring personal shoppers like me. Please don't get me wrong. I appreciate the business, but even I am becoming frustrated lately. Case in point, my client, let's call him John, needed a new trench coat. First, I perused the various store websites. It's always a good idea to see what they are currently offering in …
Saturday, May 5, 2012
When it comes to bridal gown fashion and style, Vera Wang continues to lead the way.
For years I was a faithful fan of the TV show Project Runway. Every episode started with these words of advice to aspiring new designers from the veteran fashion judges: "Remember... we want to see your unique point of view as a designer in every single piece you create." I would hear their admonition and think, boy oh boy. That's a tough nut to crack. Exactly how does one show their unique point of view in a clothing design? Then I read a recent article about the famous designer Vera Wang and I got it. She did exactly that. After 17 years as senior fashion editor for Vogue magazine, she began her design career and opened her first bridal boutique showroom in 1990. It was located at the Carlyle Hotel in New York City. The store had …
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Isn’t spring always the best time to clean anything and everything? Here are 5 tips to keep in mind when your closet has reached critical mass status.
You may have seen the ads that Carson Pirie Scott ran on TV recently. They offered discount coupons for every item you bring into the store for donation. I thought what a great idea! What a clever incentive to get rid of items one no longer needs, wants, or finds useful. I decided to take full advantage of the offer. It was time to purchase a few of my can’t-do-without cosmetics, so I proceeded to peruse my closet for items I might donate to Carson's Good Will drive. Please keep in mind that I try to keep my closet in tip-top shape. I purge on a regular basis so that when clients come to my studio for style workshops, they can see how an organized closet should look and function. Obviously, as a professional wardrobe advisor, I need to …
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Some red carpet moments are just too good to be true, while others make us cringe. What will it be like this year?
Going to the movies with friends is always fun, but most of us see movies in our living rooms these days. Call me old fashioned, but I still love seeing a good film in a real theater where the screen is huge and the lights are low. I'm not what one would call a movie buff—you could fill a thimble with my knowledge of the industry. However, I am a huge fan of watching the Oscars. This year Billy Chrystal will be back at the helm, and it's anybody's guess as to which flick will get best pick. Although my favorite, Midnight in Paris, is an unlikely winner, overall it was a wonderful year for movies. There was literally something for everybody. And it should be a very good year for fashion as well. If the Golden Globes were any indication, …
Sunday, January 8, 2012
You can rid yourself of closet clutter now and forever by following these simple steps .
This month is the perfect time to tackle that closet cleaning project you've been meaning to start. It can be a daunting task, to say the least. Why? Because the truth is, most of us have way too many clothes to deal with. We tend to add new things and not get rid of anything. You'd also agree that organizing and cleaning are not exactly at the top of a list of fun ways to spend our time. So, what happens? We procrastinate and ultimately end up giving in to the clutter—lots and lots of clutter. It's not fun and it's not helping us in our efforts to always look and feel our best. Enough! Turn up the volume on some favorite tunes (preferably music that makes you want to dance), turn on all the lights, throw open the curtains and just do it…
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Will one-hit wonders never cease? Probably not, but boots will always endure.
When Nancy Sinatra became popular with her 1966 hit song, These Boots Are Made For Walkin', I wondered, who told her she could sing? Then it dawned on me. Her father, of course! Looking through the old blue eyes of love, no doubt. But, here’s something for which I give Nancy Sinatra all the credit in the world. She single-handedly made boots the fashion statement of the decade. It’s true. When go-go boots hit the style scene, girls of all ages across the globe went wild for them, especially in London, New York and California. As a matter of fact, they even became prolific in my little college town of Winona, MN for heaven sakes. We all bought them and we all wore them every chance we got. Who knew? The extraordinary thing about the '60s …
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Shopping for jeans or pants these days is much like searching for the Holy Grail. Find out how to shop less and still come up with a perfect fit.
I wish I had a nickel for every time I see someone trying on one pair of pants after another, repeatedly rejecting a close, but not perfect fit! I want to scream STOP! But, I simply smile and say, "An easy fix would be to have a tailor take in the waist just a bit, don't you think?" Truth be told, odds are about a million to one that you will find a pair of pants or jeans that fit you perfectly right off the rack. Your chances of winning the lottery are probably better! Along with good teachers and nurses, good tailors are among heaven’s greatest gifts. And, if you need a local referral, just ask around town. Like cream, the good ones always rise to the top and are well known throughout the area. So, why not try this approach next time …
Nancy Pipal
1:16 pm on Saturday, July 14, 2012
Oh Cindy . . . Thank you so much for the correction on the title of Nora's book. I sincerely apologize for the error and feel really bad about THAT. As far as flip-flops go, my favorite ones are by AK Anne Klein. Super cute and very comfortable. Got them at Macy's last season. If you email me, I will send you a photo. more ›