See change
New season, new attitude, new look. These (real) women have it. So can you.
Anticipating a fashionably fresh start every fall, glossy publications present willowy models decked out in the season’s flashiest looks and tick off a list of trends that generally require a meaty trust fund to obtain. But harem pants and shark skin jackets with hulking shoulder pads don’t solve the dilemmas that real women face as they stand in front of the closet and figure out what to wear. With this in mind, we present a different kind of fall fashion spread. We found five Boston-area women who have recently experienced changes in their lives - from new jobs to newly adopted children. They were looking for some words of advice on how to look their best. So we dressed them in chic ensembles that suit their new situations, and asked style experts for tips on looking good at any age.
Transition: Finding time for fashion
She’s a filmmaker, child welfare lawyer, and mother of a young daughter, but Lorna Lowe also loves fashion. She subscribes to Vogue, and at one time was designing clothes for herself and a small group of private clients. She no longer has time to make clothes, let alone shop. With a schedule that doesn’t stop, she wants to stay current, but doesn’t have as much time as she would like.
“More than once I have had a day full from sun up to sundown,’’ she says. “Getting my daughter to school, going to court, shooting a scene for the film in the afternoon, and attending an industry party at night. So looking in my closet in the morning on a day like that can get confusing.’’
What the experts say:
“They can choose clothes based on her tastes, leave it for the tailor to be tailored, and often they’ll even messenger it right to her,’’ Megaro says.
Stylist Nicole Chavez says she can relate to Lowe’s crazy schedule and finds that the safest way to transition through a busy day is by layering her clothing. That way she can shed or add layers based on the situation.
As for hair, Nicholas Penna Jr. says a bob is a stylish and easy-to-maintain hairstyle for Lowe’s situation.
“If you’re fashionable and on the younger side of Momville and can pull it off, I think it’s very chic,’’ Penna says of the bob. “It looks great and it’s easy to do.’’
What she’s wearing: Chanel sweater turtleneck dress, $2,490; Chanel full-length sweater, $4,790; Russian nesting doll necklace, $3,700, available at the Chanel Boutique. Boots by Stewart Weitzman, $595, available at Bloomingdale’s.
Transition: Turning 50 when you still feel 30
Cheryl Richards will soon be turning 50, but the busy photographer and mom still feels 30. In her hometown of Newport, R.I., she favors Lilly Pulitzer, and she has an Armani suit that she wears when photographing weddings. Given her youthful attitude, Richards wants to have fun with her look, but not dress too young.
Many women face the same dilemma: They feel - and look - younger than their age, and want to look stylish, but not like they’re chasing trends.
What the experts say: “When we think of what a 50-year-old woman dresses like, we tend to think matronly and dowdy, which shouldn’t be the case at all,’’ says Anamaria Wilson. “She needs to find a way to make it playful that’s appropriate for her. It could mean wearing a choker or a colorful shoe. As long as she’s avoiding trends like ripped jeans and too-tight clothes, she’s doing fine.’’
Richards should think about taking her look in a vintage direction, adding cardigans, cinched waist skirts, and, to save her feet, a comfortable pair of flats, says Nicole Chavez.
“I would say pick one of the trends for fall and find a piece that you feel comfortable in,’’ says Kaufman. “Pair a trendy accessory with a classic accessory. Keep it age appropriate.’’
Nicholas Penna Jr. says Richards should try a sophisticated sweeping bang off the face - which is being touted as a modern alternative to Botox.
P.S. Our experts had almost universal advice for Barbara this fall: Big, bold jewelry.
“The one important accessory this season is the big bib necklace,’’ says Cynthia Rowley. “And it’s a fantastic look that works on any age.’’
What they’re wearing: On Barbara: Coat by Giorgio Armani, $4,150, dress by Elie Tahari, $398, sunglasses by David Yurman, $325, pearls by Majorica, $395 per strand, boots by Chloe, $1,175. On Cheryl: Rivamonti skirt, $281, and sweater, $670, top by Escada, $570, brooch by Prada, $340, boots by Jimmy Choo, $1,050.
Transition: A daytime executive makes the leap to primetime restaurant diva
Three months ago, Marie-Claude Mendy opened the West African restaurant Teranga, but she still works her day job in finance. She now finds herself making dramatic day/night transitions on an almost daily basis. Her day look is straight-forward: She sticks to suits and subtle makeup. But come evening, she needs to transition to a fun, flirty, but still professional look. It’s an issue many women face - finding looks that work both for day and night.
“It’s very challenging,’’ Mendy says. “It’s my business, so I can’t wear anything too sexy or revealing. But I also need to look fun.’’
What the experts say: Mendy can easily take a few steps to punch up her daytime look to transition to evening. Anamaria Wilson says getting rid of the suit jacket and wearing a beaded tank or a halter top underneath will add punch. Even changing a belt from simple to embellished can help change the tone of an ensemble. People’s Susan Kaufman says a big trend for this fall is a bold lip color, which is also an easy way to go from the office to the evening. She suggests a vibrant red, which will instantly say evening, but still be professional.
“Experiment with a few bright lipsticks because it’s important to find a shade that works with your skin tone,’’ she says.
She also advises women to keep a clutch at the office, because the worst thing you can do is carry around your bulky day bag all evening. Robert Verdi suggests either a leather jacket or a women’s tuxedo jacket that can work during the day with a dress or pencil skirt, but can be worn during the evening with jeans.
“If you find the right jacket, make it an investment piece. It can sit in your wardrobe for a long time,’’ Verdi says.
Celebrity stylist Nicole Chavez agrees with the leather jacket suggestion - which is big for fall 2009 - and also says Mendy could easily play with interesting silhouettes, such as a wide shoulder, given her willingness to experiment with interesting shapes.
What she’s wearing: Dress by Diane von Furstenberg, $385, leggings by Diane von Furstenberg, $115, Black sandal by Michael Kors, $258, metallic necklace, $75, all available at Bloomingdale’s.
Transition: Time to graduate to grown-up style
Tripp recently graduated from Boston University with a degree in Art History and started working at the Institute of Contemporary Art, but she feels like her style has yet to grow up.
“My life is headed in the right direction: I’m getting married in January and the future hubby and I just bought a condo in the South End,’’ she says. “But while I’m interested in fashion, I’ve never been able to get it right. I’d love to define my style . . . or at least get started defining my style.’’
What the experts say: Susan Kaufman, of People, says it may be difficult for Tripp to determine what her style is quickly, given that it generally develops over time.
“That involves finding out what works best for your lifestyle and your body,’’ Kaufman says. “There aren’t quick tricks. But even so, this is such a great time for young women and fashion, because there is so much that is affordable, which means lots of options. A sheath dress is huge for fall, and it’s the easiest way to look grown-up and pulled together without a ton of effort.’’
In fact, several of our style experts recommended that Tripp look to dresses as a way to convey a more mature style.
“Look at what other people around you are wearing, says Colin Megaro. “Buy classic pieces, such as a notch collar, a shawl collar, something very simple that’s going to last you a couple of years. Maybe you’re not in a position to buy a lot, so you want to buy pieces you can mix and match, that are really going to work for your work wardrobe.’’
Anamaria Wilson of Harper’s Bazaar says many times young women make the mistake of buying clothes they think are workplace appropriate, but in the process ignore clothes that appeal to them. Women should think about ways to meld work style and personal style, she said.
Nicholas Penna Jr. of SalonCapri says by their early 20s, women should be thinking about cutting their hair above the shoulders so it falls straight. Nicole Chavez says Tripp should use Kristin Davis’s Charlotte character from “Sex and the City’’ as her guide, while designer Cynthia Rowley stresses that Tripp should ditch her flats in favor of heels.
“Heels always make you look more mature,’’ she says. “Anything flat will probably make you look younger, even if it’s a ballet flat.’’
What she’s wearing: Top by Coven, $365; gray pant by Rachel Comey, $335, Whitney shoe by LD Tuttle, $695, all available at Stel’s.
Photos by Essdras M Suarez
Styled by Christopher Muther
Hair by Charles Maksou, style director of Mizu
Makeup by Tavi de la Rosa, Shu Uemura
The experts:
Colin Megaro, celebrity stylist
Robert Verdi, stylist and judge on “She’s Got the Look’’
Anamaria Wilson, Harper’s Bazaar fashion news/features director
Cynthia Rowley, fashion designer
Nicole Chavez, celebrity stylist
Susan Kaufman, editor, People StyleWatch
Nicholas Penna Jr., co-owner of SalonCapri in Newton Highlands
