A Wardrobe Extending Trick to Try!

As a fashion stylist, I recommend always wearing a "completer" piece. What's a completer piece, you ask? A completer piece can be a variety of items from your closet. From a classic blazer, a denim jacket, to a vest--or anything else that adds an extra "pop" to what you're wearing-even a bold accessory will do. 

It's the "completer piece" that takes a basic top and bottom and makes it into an "outfit".

Yet, there is another way to e-x-t-e-n-d your core wardrobe. Wear two dresses at the same time. This clever wardrobe-extending idea works quite well when one a sweater dress and the other is a shirt-dress. 

Below, is an example of what I'm talking about...wearing your clothes in different ways to extend your wardrobe. You'll add more style while NOT needing to buy more clothes! There you have it, bam. Style crisis solved without any outlay of cash.

Small Changes, Better Style

Wow Leslie!

I can't believe the difference in the clothes from my own closet since receiving my personal profile newsletters.

It has been so amazing to go to my own closet and find "new" clothes. I've altered the way that I put outfits together and what a difference it has made!

Twice this week I was asked if I had lost weight and that I looked nice!
I was wearing the same clothes that have been hanging in my closet but instead of trying to hide behind them I gave Missus Smarty Pants a try and followed her advice (I'm a B). 

I even feel like I've lost 10 pounds just by making these simple changes. Thank you, thank you for this "aha" moment and showing me how. I look forward to many more profile newsletters full of tips and guidance!
Fondly, Angela

Now Posted! Grab N' Go Outfits

Want to have a few stylish outfits set aside on hangers...ready to go?

Over the years as a fashion stylist, I've found what women really want is to feel comfortable in their clothes while having a stylish edge. Yet when they are dressed casually, they often feel sloppy, not stylish at all. Being in a hurry in the mornings only adds to this vicious cycle of feeling un-styled.

This week, your wardrobe basics get ready for any occasion. From dressed down, casual chic to dressed up...you get complete outfit suggestions!

Create of few of these outfits for yourself and hang them up in your closet for next week!

10 Ways to Get Your Style Fired Up Again

10 ways to get your style fired up again:

1. Catch a flick. Movies are very influential on the fashion world. Costumes are used to set the mood, personalities, and time period. Take a moment and think of movies past and present. For example, ‘Flash Dance’ suddenly every teen girl wore tunics and leg warmers; ‘Annie Hall’ started the trend of dressing like Diane Keaton. Or ‘Legally Blonde’, a Tiffany heart necklace became the norm for every girl’s wish list.

2. Lace up your sneeks. Go to your mall and lock your wallet in the trunk!  Go window shopping (not spending) and check out the storefronts. Observe the latest styles and trends and make note of the ones you love.

3. Become a couch potato. Watch TV just to see what the characters are wearing. Check out what “older” women wear…like the women on CSI, Oprah, The View, and Kelly Ripa. Find same-shaped celebs and copy their style!

4. People who need people. People watch. Admittedly, this is one of my favorite things to do! Go to the mall, a park or cafe and watch people--and more importantly what they are wearing. Critique what they are wearing and if you think it’s working…let them inspire you.

5. Sign on the dotted line...online. Sign up for emails from your favorite stores. Even if you can’t afford to always buy from them…let them inspire you with new styles each season.

 Want a quick way to becoming more stylish? 

Invest more in wardrobe essentials that you can wear a variety of ways....

6. Go ask Alice. Or, any other trusted friend, sister or those whose style you admire. There is nothing like getting inspiration for your style from a real person.

7. Gloss over the mags. Take a look at the magazines. I’m not talking teen magazines. It can be any magazine from Redbook to Woman’s Wear Daily. A variety of magazines will show women of all ages. Look at what they are wearing.

8. Talk with your teen. No, don’t have THE talk!  Ask them for fashion ideas, silly! They may not quite get where you are coming from—heck we don’t get where they are coming from either! It’s worth a try--they are walking billboards for all the latest styles and trends!

9. Stamp your passport. Travel! Different cultures can inspire your style. See what is popular in another country. I remember going to Paris, France as a teen. The classy styles the women were wearing became “fashionable” years later here in the States!

 10. Don’t be a victim. Know when to pass on a style or trend. It is more important to dress age appropriate…don’t dress like your daughter or grandmother either! You need to be comfortable in your own skin.

Go to MissusSmartyPants.com! For the ultimate fashion tips and style help. Join MSP for weekly style advice and follow the fit guidelines and you will learn to dress for your body type like never before!

One Striped Tee...Equals Many Outfits

I guess you could say I wear my 3/4 sleeved striped tee quite a bit. It's one of those pieces that seems to work with so much of what's in my closet.

The best part is I purchased this Express brand jersey-knit tee at a thrift store for under $2! Can you say "Cost Per Wear" is next to Zilch (I love that word... the way it sounds when you say it and its definition too!)

What one item in your closet do you wear a lot? Perhaps too much??? Your turn.

Wardrobe Stretching Ideas

I thought I'd share with you some of the ways I've taken my wardrobe basics and "stretched" them into more outfits.

Instead of wearing the same clothes the same way all the time, try wearing them differently. You will save lots of $$$ and feel more stylish for it too!

Below, I'm wearing my classic LBD in jersey knit. It's an easy wash n' wear dress and packs great for a trip too. It's the perfect blank canvas for a dressy occasion. Simply decide what color accessories and shoes you want to wear and you're all set!

I also love my LBD for business meetings and such. Simply add any blazer from my closet, a snazzy necklace and pumps...and I'm out the door in no-time flat!

However, my LBD can work well for a casual day of running errands too! Below, I've matched my LBD up with black leggings, added a silky scarf and gold flats and grabbed my purple tote. Belting my waist makes me feel more put together, but you don't have to.

A classic sheath dress can be worn so many ways too:

By adding a sweater over the top, a dress looks more like a skirt which makes a classic dress even more versatile!



Take a look at your dresses and see what you can layer with them with to create "new" outfits. Add layers either OVER or UNDER your dresses and see what looks you get.

When you "stretch" your wardrobe like this, you'll save money while you are having fun being more stylish!

Love, Leslie aka MissusSmartyPants