Summer Separation Anxiety Solutions

It’s August 26th and there’s been Halloween candy in my drugstore for two weeks.  Fall. Is coming. 

Am I happy about this? No. Sadly, The only thing that saves me from sobbing into my morning latte as I watch the pool guys close the pool mid-September (I’m kidding, I can’t ever watch, do I look like a MAN?) is that I know I’ll get to wear cowboy boots again. True, jumping in fall leaves is fun but not quite as much since the neighbors called the cops. 

I love Paris necklace

 

I don’t want my pool time, beach time, family time, and social life to screech to an end as I get lost in the quagmire of school schedules, more appointments lest it appear I don’t actually work for a living, less sun, and lots of things that bear little or no resemblance to lounging by my pool sipping something with a lime, texting, tweeting, and yapping on my iPhone all the livelong day in between jewelry orders and being an unpaid Taxi driver.  

F-F-F-all. It’s coming. My favorite time of the year is coming to an end.

For a lot of people this also means they have to start making better decisions about what to wear. Flip flops and shorts just are not going to cut it and you need to stop looking like a bum. The phonebook sized fashion magazines arrive at the door, displaying non-stop fabulous item after item. This season also marks the reemergence of Pajama People from their caves or wherever they’ve been hiding out all Summer. 

Here are a few things that may help you get over your fear of  Fall.

Donate the stuff you didn’t wear to charity or sell it on E-bay

 This is really the best time to do it, as it’s still on hangers taunting you. What? You can’t hear what that dress is saying to you? Mine is saying “Hey Sueanne. Yeah, You. You haven’t worn me in 2 years. Please let me go, or I will open an account on Twitter and openly mock you.”

Do a little inventory

Take a quick look at all of your fall and winter clothes. You forgot how many fabulous thing you already own, didn’t you? Do any pants or jackets need tailoring? Does anything need to be dry cleaned. Any new holes in those sweaters? Get them done now so you’ll be ready when that air turns cool. This also prevents you from buying a duplicate item when you’re out shopping. You can’t remember what you have, if you have not seen it for 4 months. 

Get more mileage out of your fall and summer wardrobe by pairing things together from both seasons.

Be creative. Your look needn’t seem like it came straight off a mannequin. Why is that mannequin in your closet by the way? Get rid of her.

Take advantage of pre-season sales.

Yes, it can be weird trying on sweaters in August, but some stores have up to 40% off just to get the new Fall merchandise moving. My favorite jean company, Lucky Jeans, has $30 off most of their jeans for a couple more days, by the way. I’ve cut myself off. 10 pairs is enough. One mustn’t be a denim glutton.

Wear White past Labor Day.

Romancing the Sunstone earrings

 

I don’t care what they say. If you still look good in white, then wear it. Just for a couple of more weeks. The world will not judge you for pretending it’s still summer, and neither will I. 

Invest in Accessories

Pick up a few belts, shoes, and, oh,  I don’t know.. let me think… JEWELRY to update your existing wardrobe. No need to buy yet another clothing item you already have. Accessories change the look quickly and easily. 

How do you ease into Fall? Talk to me. Leave a comment. : )

Boobage Management

This time on my weekly style segment on the Film Ladd radio show, I was asked to talk about two of my previous posts “What about my Boobs” and “It’s None of my Boobness” . The second post was from my other non-style random blog in which I vent, called Yeah, That’s Random. 

Lido Chrysoprase and Hammered Hoop earrings

 

Now, can I just say the idea of talking about breasts for an hour was a little bit frightening at the beginning, but when you get right down to it, it’s a topic that I could probably talk about for three hours. Frankly, I’ve had boobs to manage since 6th grade, for crying out loud, and  I happen to be stacked. This fact was called into question to Ladd in the form of texting and DMing in Twitter during the interview, which, I have to say, was the funniest part of the whole process for me….Defending my Rack. I’m still laughing about that. I’m @sueannesjewelry on Twitter, in case you don’t already know that. 

Here are the video and voice radio show links. I’m in the first hour of this particular show. I call in once a week. I had a little extra time as it’s Spring Break, Ladd is such fun to talk to anyway, and you really can’t cover a huge topic like Boobage Management in 15 minutes, anyhoooo.

What is Boobage Management?

Successful Hooter Management means your boobs look good at all times. Easy. In all types of clothes and underwear. With jewelry. That kind of thing.

Signs you may need Boobage Management

1. Someone ways NICE BRA….and you’re… wearing a shirt.

Om/Lotus double sided necklace.Vintage German beads.

 

People, this bra-strap showing frontal bra showing back-strap bra showing thing has got to stop. We don’t want to see your straps or any other part of your bra, for that matter. It doesn’t matter if it’s a pretty bra. We REALLY don’t want to see what I call Oatmeal Frontage, which is when you wear a lumpy lace bra under your smooth shirt and it looks like you have two lumps of oatmeal for boobs. this is just NOT an attractive look.

2. People look at your boobs instead of your face when they speak to you.

This was gone into at length during the radio show, and Ladd and people in the Ustream chat room were blaming it on pervs, but the fact is, if it happens to you all the time, then it’s probably because you are either wearing a bad bra or showing too much cleavage.

3. You’re over a C cup.

The more you have, the more there is to manage. You can’t ignore that. Anything over a C has to be dealt with

4. You have gained or lost a lot of weight recently. 

Any weight gain or loss of 10-15 lbs or so is going to affect your bra size. You’ll need new bras.

5. People ask HOW MUCH ARE YOU? instead of HOW ARE YOU? 

Honey, if people think you’re a hooker, you are either standing on the wrong corner or you may have to get your boobs under control.

6. Little kids point to your chest and say LOOK AT THAT, MOMMY!

Something’s wrong there, sweetie. You need Hooter Management

7. You are constantly breaking jewelry because of your boobs

Until the Next Teardrop Falls labradorite earrings

 

Your necklaces are getting caught in your cleavage, along with your popcorn, car keys, what have you, and as a jewelry designer, this is quite the travesty. You need Hooter Management. I cover proper chain lengths in this article.

I also gave out the name in the chatroom of my favorite bras and undies, btempted, for those like me who love pretty things for their undergarment wardrobe. This is a gorgeous line by undergarment giant Wacoal. Doesn’t everybody want to be like me? No, they don’t pay me if you click the link. I’m not organized enough to do affiliate marketing yet. So just look at the link. 

Here are the 16, yes 16 different types of bras available to women these days to manage “the girls”. Many of them are dependent on what kind of shape you have. I think I have about 10-12 of the ones listed, and then we start in with different colors. My closet is a brapocolypse, what else can I say?

Everyday, or basic t shirt bra, lace bra, push-up bra, backless bra, black bra, sports bra, seamless bra, convertible bra, long line bra, minimizer bra, strapless bra, wide strap bra, racerback bra, shelf bra, demi-cup bra. plunge bra. Any well stocked bra department has all of these. I explain what half of them are in the radio interview. You really need at least 8 or 10 of these to go with all your clothes. And a couple for when you’re not wearing clothes, wink wink.

Obviously, I say a LOT more about this topic in the radio interview. I talk about tailoring, I talk about double sided tape. I talk about what it would be like if my boobs could vote. So listen and learn.

Thanks for your support. Ha. Ha.

When I snap my fingers…. it will be Spring

 

Vermillion Flurry Blouse

 

Since I woke up to the schools being closed…AGAIN (thanks for the 5 a.m. phone call informing of me this, school district) and God only knows how many feet of snow outside my door, which was completely unexpected (run Sam Champion, RUNNN) I thought it would be an ideal time to remind you of a few things.

1. Spring is coming. It’s coming. The snow will go away. It will. I will make it go away. I can melt snow with a glare. It is my superpower. : ) 

How do I know this? How can I be so sure? I have already started shopping around for a few items to add to the wardrobe. Because I’m a pretty average size (8) things get snapped up fast and I have learned over the years that If I don’t grab it, it will be gone. As a matter of fact the shirt I mentioned in my blog a couple of weeks ago is already on backorder. But it is on sale, so grab it. http://avoo.net/yhcci I consider that type of shirt more of a staple item. Something to just throw on without thinking, by the way, not a big fashion statement. 

Tropicana Earrings

 

2. It’s time to go through your closet and figure out what you didn’t wear this winter, release your emotional attachment. (it used to fit me, my mom gave it to me, blah, blah blah) and get rid of it. Also assess what you already have for Spring so you don’t end up buying two of the same thing.

3. I’ve been making all sorts of Spring jewelry. Truly, so much has yet to be put on my site yet, http://www.sueanneshirzay.etsy.com but I do have a special category for the new Spring stuff AND for you gift givers or MEN (come on, I know you guys are reading this–and you might as well subscribe, by the way ) I have even added gift certificates. By the way, I’m going to have a contest soon, the prize will be a gift certificate, so please do subscribe so the blog will be emailed to you and you won’t miss it. : )

Gift Certificates in $50 and $75

 

4. Start looking around for things that inspire you. Inspiration comes from all kinds of places. This video is a great song, is beautifully art directed/directed and reeks of style, for example. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qn84jwhL3W4

5. Think COLOR. No, not head to toe neon green, darling. Just a pop of red, orange, bright blue. Get yourself in the mood for Spring before it actually arrives. No law against that.

Butterflies for Lupus Necklace

 

6. Do something nice for somebody. While you are still hibernating, take the time to do something that will help somebody else, somebody you don’t even know, and make a difference. To that end I have co-designed the Butterflies for Lupus Necklace. $20 from every purchase of this necklace will go to the Lupus Foundation of PA. As always, click on the pictures to get more information on ony of the items I have mentioned here. 

Now. Pass me the shovel.

Conquering Your Closet

In the beginning, God created closets. Now, for many of us, a closet is a friendly happy place, full of fond retail therapy memories. But, if you have a busy life and are naturally disorganized, like me, sometimes a closet can be a place where you can

The Bella

only find one shoe, when you really need two, and your favorite jeans go missing for an entire week. I overhauled my closet a few years back, and am now at peace with my inner closet. Before we get started talking about which goes jewelry goes with what, you will need to know what you have to work with. Let’s dig in and organize your closet.

There are five things you need to buy, other than my jewelry, www.sueanneshirzay.etsy.com just to make me happy. You DO want me to be happy, DON’T you?

1. Buy wooden hangers. They have them really cheap at Ikea or Target. When you invest a little in a hanger, it’s better for your clothes, looks uniform, easier to see things as they hang. The one exception is that you can hang your sleeveless tops and dresses on those plastic hangers with plastic notches so they don’t fall off the hanger. From the Container Store www.containerstore.com  buy clear plastic shoe boxes for your shoes. Buy a few fabric covered stackable topless boxes for your undies. I think I got mine from Crate and Barrel or Hold Everything. Clear sleeved hanging handbag holders can be found at the Container Store as well.

2. Take every single thing out of the closet and put it on your bed or floor. Or both. No, do not try to get away with leaving the shoes in there. You WILL be getting rid of some. Take them out. NOW, young lady. NOWWW.

3. Look at everything. With the exception of evening dresses, if you have not worn it in a year, if it doesn’t fit you, and can’t be altered or if it’s really hideous and people mock you every time you wear it, give it to a friend or the needy. If it was expensive, sell it on eBay so you can buy more cool stuff. *Waving hands frantically* I will accept any and all Gucci donations, by the way. I’m not proud. I’ll MAKE that size 4 jacket fit me. Eyeroll. 

4. Sort everything. Here are the categories: pants, jeans,  long-sleeved shirts,  short-sleeved shirts, sleeveless shirts, jackets, sweaters, dresses, formal dresses, shoes, boots, bags, regular undies, special undies, (wink wink) workout clothes, things that need to go to the tailor, receipts, pens and makeup that wound up in your closet but don’t really belong there. Put them in a plastic shoe box to deal with later.  Last but not least, Jewelry. (sound of choir singing) I keep sterling in plastic baggies to prevent oxidation, and put them in a clear shoebox. Everything else goes into clear tower drawer thingie I have on a closet shelf.  Container Store again. Your fine jewelry should never be kept in your closet. Lock it up or hide it in the house. Just don’t forget where you put it, for Pete’s sake. Crying and jewelry do not mix. Not at all. Now pay attention. 

5. One by one, place the clothing items on hangers. YES you are hanging everything. NO you will not wear it if it’s folded up. You know you won’t. Stop pretending drawers work for you if they do not. I’m not a drawer person. If you are, then go ahead

Hello Gorgeous Labradorite Earrings

and put things in drawers. I never wear anything that’s in a drawer except bathing suits and socks, because if I can’t SEE it, it’s not THERE. Hang up each group. As you hang them up,  arrange them BY COLOR from light to dark. Now you will see very quickly what you have too much of. You will find several things that you had no idea you still owned. Your WILL find your BFFs shirt that you borrowed six months ago. When I did this overhaul for my mother’s closet, she was shocked to see that she had 18 pairs of black pants. Who knew? 

6. Get one of those hanging handbag holders to save space, they’re awesome. Put those shoes into plastic boxes with the exception of your running shoes, because you know you won’t make it to the gym if those shoes aren’t out and taunting you each and every day. 

7. When you’re done, reward yourself.  You deserve it!  I suggest chocolate, coffee and a manicure, because you just screwed up your nail polish and you’re starving. Congratulations!  : )