This week I have my beautiful momma modelling for me!  She always insists she can't pull something off until I make her try it on and help her complete the look.  Then she is pleasantly surprised how "it actually looks good on her" - of course it does!  Love you mom xx

Keep The Rest Simple

Keep things super simple!  When wearing a bold print, make sure the rest of your outfit remains on the more simple or basic side.  Here my mom is wearing a classic pair of skinny black jeans with some nude loafers.  

Pair With Some Key Basics

​Use the bold pattern as your pop of color for your outfit.  If you are going to accessorize make sure you either stay within the same color scheme or be careful to choose something that is not going to clash with your pattern.  I chose this scarf because it has a lot of black to go with the rest of her outfit as well as some soft silver tones to enhance the look instead of compete with the bold print.

Don't Be Afraid To Dress Them Up

I think people get stuck in thinking bold prints are only for eccentric people or for relaxed occasions.  But in reality, bold prints can be used in so many ways, its just knowing how to work with them!  Here I've paired the top with a fitted black blazer, black skinny slacks and a classic pair of black pumps.  This would be a great look for the office or meeting a friend out for dinner. Lilly looks professional, put together, and stylish!

The More Mixed Metals the Merrier

Don't be afraid to mix your metals this holiday season.  I love using metallics to decorate!  They reflect the natural light beautifully during the day as well as the warm glow from your tree during the evenings.  Have some fun mixing elements as well - as you can see here I've put gold and copper trees with a silver snow globe. 

Fresh Flowers Brighten Any Room

You can never have too many fresh flowers in your home!  I love a classic red rose at Christmastime to add some rich color to my mantle.  You can also use the traditional poinsettias (my recent fav in white), holly or mistletoe.  I also love the idea of a Christmas Cactus - it only blooms once a year at Christmas!  How it knows to do this I have no idea, but they are a cute gift idea as well.  

Add Style "Clusters" Around Your Home

Style "clusters" are an easy trick to creating a chic holiday ambience within your home.  All you have to do is choose 3 different types of ornaments and position them together.  An oversized textured ball works great for these, paired with a decorative tree or reindeer or any kind of ornament for that matter.  I also love to mix candles in wherever I can to add a warm glow.  And the scents this time of year are so delicious!  Another easy trick you can see featured here is to take a clear vase and fill it with colorful christmas bulbs.

Mix Up Your Picture Wall with an Empty Frame and a Decorative Ornament

Choose one of your hanging pictures and remove the photo, leaving only the frame.  Inside of that, hang a decorative ornament like the antlers you see pictured here.  Voila!  You have a touch of sparkly holiday cheer amongst your beloved family photos.

Cozy Up a Corner with some Mini LED Lights

Lighting makes such a difference in creating that perfect holiday mood in your home.  You can buy mini LED strings of lights at places like Home Sense, Michaels, and even Walmart.  I added these lights to a small fake white tree and tucked it in a windowsill for that perfect glow.  Pair it with an ornament to make it even more festive!

Use Rich Wrapping Paper Colours to add Warmth Under Your Tree

An easy way to add warmth to a room is to choose rich colours to wrap your presents in.  I like to use deep reds, golds, navy, and plum.  Tie a glittery bow around your gifts for that extra glow beneath your tree!  I also use a tree skirt that has a touch of faux fur detail to finish off the look.

Painted Pine Cones in a Glass Vase

​A quick way to add an element of design to a table centerpiece, top of a piano, or a shelf in a bathroom is to throw some painted pine cones into a glass vase.  Plain pine cones are gorgeous as well, but I prefer these with the white paint.  Choose a vase that has some interest like the one pictured here if you want to spice things up a little!

Have All of Your Clothing Facing the Same Direction

When you have all of your clothes hanging every which direction, it is very difficult to see what is actually in your closet.  By having all of your clothing facing the same direction, you are able to easily see every piece in your wardrobe.  This is very useful when in a hurry to throw an outfit together and also helps to prevent you from forgetting about items! 

Keep Like Colours Together

By keeping all like colours together, not only does your closet become more visually appealing but it makes getting ready that much easier!  Instead of having to go through your entire closet to find that one black sweater you are wanting to wear, you can easily flip through your pile of black sweaters/blouses and pull your outfit together in no time!

Use All of the Same Type of Hangers

By using all of the same types of hangers, you can greatly reduce the amount of "hanger tangle" in your closet.  When you have a mixture of wire, plastic, and wood hangers, they tend to get caught on one another constantly.  I prefer all plastic hangers as they aren't as thick as wood and therefore take up less space.

Day Three.

One of the hardest things to do is to say goodbye...to clothing ha! For some reason it is so easy to get emotionally attached to clothing. Whether it be a fond memory of a special occasion you wore an outfit to or just a favorite old sweater you wore holes in - it can be so hard to part with these items.

I helped a client clean out her closet a few days ago. We got rid of 5 massive garbage bags of clothing. Let me tell you it was no easy task! There were excuses and speeches about why items should belong in her closet forever. But by the end of the day we PURGED!!

By the time we cleared out all of the clothing into the "donate" pile, we had plenty of space to reorganize. Seeing the piles of clothes laying there helped my client see her buying habits and how she didn't necessarily need 15 "lake sweaters" to take to her cabin.

With all of the extra space we were able to sort things by color and have room to see things hanging proplery. When you have so many items squished into one space it is so hard to see everything, items get forgotten. And ultimately you don't end up wearing those pieces at all!

My best friend was at Marks Work Wearhouse today to pick up clothes for a coworker and said to me "I can't believe it, I even found stuff I like in there!  But I'm pretty sure I could find something I like in any store."  

That's the other side of the scale.  

A lot of people complain that they can't find anything to wear and struggle every time they set out into a crowded mall to find a new outfit.  And then there are the people who I like to call "Happy Purchasers" that simply chase the high of purchasing a new item.  Most often it really isn't the perfect item for them but in that moment it is The piece that will define them as an individual from this day forward.  Or, in reality, until they head out shopping the very next day and find another soul defining piece to add to their overflowing closet.  

I would classify myself as a Happy Purchaser if I had to choose one.  I love the thrill of finding a new item to add to my wardrobe, and even better if it is on SALE!!  But as I have learned, and now teach, this is not the best way to go about building ones wardrobe.  You need to find a happy medium.   Most people never take the time to step back and take a look at their shopping behaviours.  In most cases it doesn't take long to notice buying trends.  You may have a keen eye for black sweaters, for example.  But without realizing it, you have somehow managed to collect over 20 black sweaters.  All very similar.  And if you don't take the time to notice these patterns, the next time you go into a store, you will likely head straight over to the first black sweater you see.