An Elegant Black Friday

The few times that I have gotten to go inside a truly beautiful store, I savor the experience. Being from the Midwest, in a smallish city mostly populated with big-box general merchandisers, the experience of being in a real department store is one that I savor. It feels like something out of a movie. I tend to go around with my mouth agape at all the pretty things!

My in-laws live in Kansas City, and we decided to forgo the early Black Friday crowds and instead go downtown to the beautiful Country Club Plaza and Crown Center. My MIL recently retired from management in Hallmark, and she has been dying to take me to Halls. The fabulous things she wears almost always come from there, and she and my sister-in-law love to hit their sale racks. Apparently the sales at Halls are famous. I was about to see why!

While the price-tags on most of the merchandise were WAY out of my price range, I enjoyed seeing how the other half lives. Women were picking up $2500 sweaters and draping them over their arms like I do at a thrift store. Since I have caviar taste on a ramen noodle budget,  I hit the clearance racks! With 66% off most of the fall merchandise, we were able to make out pretty well for not much money. We scored great deals from brands like Rag & Bone, Vince Camuto, and Free People. In fact, Halls boasts an impressive array of designers. 

I coveted this Rachel Zoe vest, but decided at the last minute it wasn't in my budget.

But the best part was the atmosphere. Beautiful decorations, lights everywhere, and the LIVE Christmas music being played while we shopped was amazing. The store wasn't crowded, and the salespeople were very friendly and helpful with outfit pairings and service. While I've been to New York and Vegas, I usually avoid the high end stores, and just window shop. I know I will be disappointed by the price tags, plus I have visions of the scene from "Pretty Woman" where Julia Roberts is snubbed by the salesgirls. I usually covet the Versace and Dior from the safety of my living room sofa, and try to duplicate what I see with bargains from TJ Maxx, Target, and local vintage stores. 

I felt very comfortable at Halls, and I would very much recommend a visit when you go to KC. If you want that big-city department store experience, Halls delivers with Midwestern friendliness and charm.

I can't wait to go back! It was a wonderful afternoon of shopping and female bonding with my family.

All photos courtesy of  blog.halls.com  

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Alive...with Color!

Color can become a fashion pitfall. Go to your closet, look in. What do you see? If your closet is anything like most women, you'll see a plethora of black, with maybe a few of your favorite colors thrown in. Especially for curvy girls, we feel safe in black. True, it can be very chic, slimming, and elegant. But, it can also be boring, and if you are fair-skinned, it can drain your complexion if you wear it alone. Black has its place in every woman's closet. But, consider some color and pattern as well.

It can be very confusing to walk into a store full of clothing, with  bombardment to the senses occurring at every turn of an aisle.  "Will this match anything I already have at home? Does this pattern clash with that one?"  I have been in those frustrating shoes. Then, I started taking some chances.

As hairstylists, we help people determine the best hair color for their features and coloring. We learn to use the color wheel to determine complementary color and tertiary colors. These same rules apply to all areas of design - whether you're choosing a new paint palette for your loft, or the layout for your website.  We see it in nature all the time - just look at the earth-tones in a cheetah's pelt, or the fan of a peacock's tail.  You should use the same logic when choosing your clothing.

Some designers which are inspirational for color and pattern are:

Missoni: This Italian family has been in the fashion industry since the late 1940s. They are unparelleled in their use of pattern and color.  The unique chevron pattern, which is their trademark, is instantly recognizable.  The interplay of colors in their knitwear is a good way to discover new, unthought of combinations.

Pucci: Emilio Pucci was the seminal designer for the jet-set 60s. His brilliant, opulent designs caressed the forms of movie stars and housewives alike. A Pucci print dress or scarf could carry you through many seasons - and this great design house is still turning out brilliant works of wearable art. 

Lilly Pulitzer: This Palm Beach fashion maven designed patterns and color combinations that influenced the golf course, the carpool, and the debutante scene of the South. These colors POP. My vintage Lilly dress is my favorite wardrobe item, hands down. People stop me on the street when I wear it. I got it from Decades, naturally!  If you want to be happy, choose a palette based on Pulitzer prints. It'll be summer wherever you go!

Vera Neumann:  In the 1960s-70s an artist named Vera created functional works of art for the home, scarves, and apparel for chic women everywhere.  Jina at Decades and I are crazy for her.  Her trademark watercolor and screen-printed scarves are great color informers.  I found a Vera scarf at a flea market two days ago for $1.95!  Always be on the lookout for unique accessories. They can take that black t-shirt in your closet to "WOW" in an instant. 

Another fun option for planning a wardrobe palette is very simple: go to your local home-improvement store, grab a palette booklet that has complimentary colors grouped together, and take it shopping with you.  Adding color to your wardrobe doesn't have to be complicated, and you might be surprised by what you come up with! 

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