B00AFU6252 EBOK (23 page)

• Use anything you like.
  As for what goes on your board, everything is fair game: runway looks, red carpet shots, street style photos, fashion editorials, movie stills, fabric swatches, album covers, ad campaigns, personal mementos, product shots from your favorite stores—the list is endless.
  
• Add with abandon.
  You don’t need to understand why you’re picking things, just go with your gut instincts. If you like it, pin it.
  
• Embrace randomness.
  Your board is all about tapping into your inner desires. It doesn’t need to go together or have a theme—in fact, it shouldn’t! Don’t second-guess yourself; you can always edit it later.
  

So what does it all mean? Sometimes it’s easy to see patterns: If you’re pulling lots of fringed suede boots, embellished tunics and caftans, and old photos of Janis Joplin and Anita Pallenberg, you’re clearly drawn to a bohemian look. Is your board full of crisp button-up blouses, vintage photos of Lauren Hutton, and lots of chic suits? You like all-American classics. Most people are more of a mishmash, though—and that’s wonderful, too. Don’t be afraid to mix together the things you love. For example, you might be drawn to the ladylike look of the 1950s and also adore Kate Moss’ dangerously cool style. Though very different on the surface, all it means is that you like to give your girly silhouettes a little edge and should style your full-skirted dresses with some model-off-duty staples, like a cropped leather jacket and super pointy stilettos.

2. FIND YOUR BODY DOUBLE

Not every trend is ideal for every body type—it’s sad, but true. That said, if you love a particular look, there’s usually a way to adapt it so that it’s flattering for your figure. Our suggestion: Make someone else do the work for you by finding your body double. Look for someone—a celeb, fashion blogger, or stylish friend—who shares your basic body type and take note of her most flattering outfits. If you’re top heavy and looking for new jeans, see how like-bodied ladies wear them when they’re out running errands. (Hint: Go for lower or mid-rise jeans. High-waisted jeans will shorten your torso and make you look squat.) Or maybe you want to buy an of-the-moment dress, but aren’t sure if a particular silhouette would work on your petite frame. Simply check out your body double and see what looks she’s worn lately.

3. CHOOSE YOUR GO-TO PIECES

Once you’ve identified your general style and shape, it’s time to shop! Our advice is to invest in timeless everyday basics that really fit and flatter, then add personal flair by mixing in a few inexpensive, on-trend pieces. Think about your lifestyle: If you’re a busy mom, focus on finding the perfect pair of blue jeans and a trench coat (timeless), then add of-the-moment personality with a print scarf (thrifty thrill). Are you always in the office? You need some gorgeous black pumps and a flawless blazer (timeless), plus a fun bag or clutch in the season’s key color (thrifty thrill).

Personal style = fashion inspiration + timeless everday basics + thrifty thrills

I
NVESTING IN HIGH-QUALITY,
timeless basics gives you a solid foundation on which to build your Honest Style—think of these as your blank canvas, and now you’re free to run wild. (Just remember: Yoga pants are for yoga!) You’ll also save money in the long run because with a good core wardrobe, you don’t need to constantly top up with cheaply made “disposable fashion” that doesn’t last (and isn’t very sustainable)—not that I’m against an occasional fun splurge!

Blazers are a quick and easy way to look chic. Pair one with an A-line dress, maxi skirt, and tank or T-shirt and jeans. It’s really one of the most versatile staples in your closet. Whether it’s a cropped boxy blazer or fitted boyfriend blazer, make sure the silhouette complements your look. With one in navy or black, you’ve always got an insta-outfit, something professional for work, drinks, or what have you. At the high end, I love Céline, Narciso Rodriguez, and Givenchy; for more budget-minded options, check out J.Crew, Topshop, H&M, and the boys’ section at Brooks Brothers.

Every girl needs a good go-to for a night out with friends or a romantic date. Azzedine Alaïa or Dolce & Gabbana if you’re going there (Tory Burch and Diane von Furstenberg also have beautiful options); J.Crew, Theory, or Target if you’re not.

I say
your
perfect jeans, because you’re going to have to kiss a lot of toads to find the brand that cuts just right for your body. Right now I’m loving slim boyfriend jeans because you can wear them out at night with heels (so chic!) and they’re comfy for day. Avoid crazy stitching and bedazzling on the back pockets; a little stretch is nice because it hugs your curves. Skip the low-cut that shows off your undies—that’s one reason high-waisted can look so cute. You can’t go wrong with Levi’s if you don’t want to drop a lot of cash; the Gap is great, too. For premium denim, I love Sevens, J Brand, Earnest Sewn . . . the list goes on.

Some years it’s out, but it always comes back. I like it pretty shrunken and fitted to wear over flowy dresses and skirts (my fave is by Elizabeth and James). You can also never go wrong with a black leather moto jacket—Ralph Lauren and Simone make great ones—timelessly chic!

So worth the investment—if you live in a cold climate, your outerwear is all people see half the year! Look for quality stitching, heavy buttons, nice linings—these are signs that your coat will last for decades. This is also a place to go vintage (you might need to have a new lining sewn in—any tailor can do this) because then you know it already has lasted for decades. Plus retro coats are just adorable.

Figure out a neckline and sleeve length that works with your body and cleavage-showing preferences. Then buy tons in white, gray, and black, to layer. I love C&C California, LNA, and Cheap Monday—and Target’s long and lean tanks hold their shape surprisingly well for under 10 bucks a pop.

Y
OU CAN HAVE
all of the Honest Style in the world—but if your closet is a hot mess, there’s no helping you. When we moved into our current house, I was determined to finally have my dream closet—and actually, I’m lucky enough to now have two: one for every day, where I keep all my jeans and work clothes, and one for the stuff I wear to events . . . plus my collection of shoes and boots and a separate area for my purses.

But trust me: You do not need a fancy walk-in closet to stay styled. The key organizing principles of my closet would apply to any space, whether you’re working with a standard-size closet, a rolling garment rack and a dresser, or an armoire. I don’t think organization should be rocket science. Most of this is good old-fashioned common sense—the way your grandma, or mine, would have kept her closets tidy (if she’d had a label maker!).

The label maker is probably our household’s most prized possession. Everything in my closet is labeled. This makes putting away laundry fast (and foolproof when it’s your husband’s turn . . .) and finding what you need even faster. For items that need to be stored in boxes, like purses, I take Polaroids and attach the pics to the outside of the container. No more wondering where you stashed last summer’s beaded clutch.

This is also
essential
when it comes to your kids’ closets, by the way. Plus if you use pictures (and then upgrade to simple words when the kids are a bit older), you can get your little ones to help put things away themselves—and isn’t that the dream?

Does this ever happen? You want to wear a skirt—but as you’re digging for skirt options, you get distracted by those black pants or boyfriend jeans you keep meaning to wear. When I want a skirt, I just head directly to the skirt end of my closet. I don’t let myself get sidetracked by poking around in jeans or dresses. This is a huge time-saver when you’re trying to lay out outfits in a hurry or if you’re overagonizing about what to wear for a certain event. (There is definitely such a thing as too much choice!) Within each category, I hang garments by style and color. So yes, all my skinny jeans are stored together—and all my colored skinny jeans are grouped separately from the regular blue jeans.

Give clothes room to breathe—if they’re too jammed, it’s time to edit!