Look Good Lounging

Oh, I remember the days of waking up 20 minutes before class, pulling on my CSU sweatpants and a t-shirt, throwing my hair in a ponytail and running off to class (usually a little late...).

I was one of probably a hundred other girls dressed just like me - and frankly, it didn't really matter because after that class, I was either going to the gym, going back home (to study or sleep), or going to another class...

But those days are long gone. Yes, I still have my CSU sweats and I will rock them from time to time, but for the most part, they are kept more for sentimental value than for clothing purposes.

Here's the deal. I'm married, many days I work from home, and I could get away with wearing my baggy sweats and hair pulled back and NO ONE would know... no one except my husband and myself.

I usually don't dress to impress other people - I dress to feel good about the way I look. I feel better about situations and about life in general when I feel good about the way I look. So why should it be any different at home?

No, I don't need to go all out - makeup, accessories, the works... but there is a way to be comfy AND stylish... and it can make all the difference in the world.

I always encourage my clients to toss their baggy sweats (keep a sweatshirt for sentimental reasons if they must), but otherwise, why wear homey-looking clothes when you could look cute in something just as comfortable?

As I always say, "Look good NOW, feel good NOW."

I know my husband appreciates it and it doesn't take anymore time than throwing on sweats. Plus, I feel good enough about how I look that I don't mind running errands if need be and I feel fine if someone wants to stop by for a visit. (Tell me you are okay with that when you are slobbed out in your baggy sweats)!

So how can you do it comfortably?

- Yoga pants are a great option. I know many people don't like them because they are afraid they will be too tight. I say TRY THEM. There are so many different styles out there that there is bound to be a pair that will look good on you.
- Fitted tees - not TIGHT - but fitted. Something that will show that there is a female figure under those clothes!
- Leggings and a cotton tunic. Super comfy and very cute.
- Zip-up hoodies made for women (not college kids).
- Structured tanks (these serve so many purposes that I encourage you to have one in almost every color)!
- Tennis skirts (you don't actually have to know how to play tennis to look cute in the tennis clothing).

There are some great stores for women that have an abundance of options to choose from. Check them out and give it a try.

Next time you are cozying up to watch a movie or sitting down to respond to emails, put on some cute lounge clothes instead of your baggy sweats and see how it makes you feel!

Here are some places that I recommend shopping at:

- Lululemon - www.lululemon.com for locations or to shop online

- Lucy - www.lucy.com for locations or to shop online

- Title Nine - www.titlenine.com for locations or to shop online

- Outdoor Divas - www.outdoordivas.com for locations or to shop online

- Victorias Secret Online (not the PINK collection) - www.victoriassecret.com

So there you have it - SO many easy ways to look cute, even if you are just lounging at home. Try it - consider it a dare. I guarantee it will make you feel better about yourself, your boyfriend/husband/girlfriend won't be able to keep their hands off of you, and it's JUST AS EASY as putting on those old sweats!

Here's to relaxing and looking good while doing it! Happy lounging!

Xo, Kristin @ Kristin Golden Image Consulting

www.kristingolden.com

Color your way into 2012

I know it's January but admit it, you're already thinking about spring vacations, summer days, and summer fashion... I know I am!

And what's HOT this year in spring fashion (and you can go ahead and start wearing it right now)... COLOR!

We are seeing color everywhere this season. From full-on neon runways to "pops" of color with otherwise monotone outfits.

There is a way for everyone to do color this season - and hey, with the January weather and spring still a few months away, you can't tell me you couldn't use a little bit a "brightness" in your life!

Fresh out of the Nordstrom Spring 2012 Catalog... here is my FAVORITE spring outfit:

It's a little unconventional for me - a pleated skirt - but I just love the way this look goes together. It's very classy, yet it has a fun element to it!

Skirt - Collective Concepts

Cardigan - Spledid

Blouse - Gibson

All can be found at Nordstrom in the TBD department

Here are some other examples of the color trend that is taking over this season:

 Whether you are comfortable wearing color or not, there is a way for you to work it into your wardrobe this season! Colorful bags are a great way to start, as are colorful shoes!

At least we have something happy to wear to get us through the next few months of drab weather!

Happy shopping!

Xo, Kristin @ Kristin Golden Image Consulting

Closet full of clothes, Nothing to wear

After-Christmas sales, Clearance sales, Forever 21, Target, even Nordstrom Rack... I like them too... sometimes you get find a great gem (or two) at these places... but you can also run the risk of FALLING IN LOVE WITH THE PRICE, RATHER THAN FALLING IN LOVE WITH THE ITEM.

Do you ever stand in front of your closet - jam-packed with clothes- and say to yourself (or your spouse) "I have NOTHING to wear!"?

You're not alone. I've heard this statistic over and over that something like 80% of women wear 20% of their clothing 80% of the time. That sounds about right.

I'm guilty of it. I will walk by an item, pick it up, think "meh, it's pretty cute," check out the price, $19.99!!??, and buy it right then and there!

Did I love it? No. I loved the price. How many pieces in your closet do you have just because you loved the price?

When I take clients shopping, I don't even let them look at the prices before they try things on because cost can be such a great persuader. Once you get an item home and it's ready to be worn, you won't care what it cost anymore. So when it comes time to pick out an outfit for the day/date/important event... you will put that item on and every time, you will take it off and out of frustration, exclaim "I have NOTHING to wear!"

So, how do you avoid this dilemma?

First of all, you have GOT to purge your closet of all of those "bargain" pieces. I know that may mean getting rid of HUNDREDS of $$ worth of clothes (sometimes it DOESN'T pay to bargain shop).

But, psychologically, it is hard on us when we see a large number of garments hanging in our closet, yet we constantly wear only a set few.

So, let's get rid of the bad, the too-small, the too-big, the unflattering, and the just plain ugly. Donate it, turn it into cleaning rags, whatever... just GET IT OUT OF YOUR CLOSET!

Second, we need to make a list of what's missing from your closet. Sure you had a closet full of clothes (but you said so yourself, you had "nothing to wear"). What's missing? Are you missing jeans? Layering pieces? Jackets? Color? Shoes?

Make a list.

Now with the clothes that you do have in your closet - ORGANIZE, ORGANIZE, ORGANIZE! It's a new year, it's a great time to get that closet in shape!

Here's how I like to do it:

Start with the sleeveless, then the short-sleeve, then long-sleeve, then jackets, then dresses, then pants.
Now, color code each section starting from light to dark. I know - it sounds neurotic, but it helps, trust me, and it really doesn't take that much extra time!

The point is to make all of your clothing as visible as possible. Fold your exercise clothes, your random tee-shirts, your jeans if you have to - but try and leave as much hanging as you can.

Now you are ready to shop. You have your list, you know what's missing from your wardrobe... ready, set, go!

Just remember - if you don't LOVE IT, don't buy it! You don't want to have to do this all over again in a year do you? Trust me when I tell you that it will SAVE YOU $$ to SLOWLY rebuild you closet buying things you love, rather than buying things you "kind of" love just because they are on sale.

When you purchase a new piece, add it to your newly organize closet. Play around with how it will fit in with your other clothes. Make outfits with the pieces you have.

See how many outfits you can make with the pieces you have. Be creative. I bet you can make more outfits than you think!

It can be a tiring process - but it's worth it. Seeing clothes every morning JUST HANGING THERE that you can't/won't wear is frustrating (especially when you're not quite sure WHY you don't like them)... so cleansing your closet is a great start to cleansing all of the old from the past and being open to all of the good to come in this new year!

Check out these pictures of a recent wardrobe edit I did with a client. We had purchased a few pieces - a couple of sweaters, some patterned tops, some scarves, and some layering pieces. See the difference for yourself.

THE BEFORE

THE BEFORE

SOME OUTFITS MADE ALONG THE WAY

WE GOT RID OF 6 LARGE TRASH BAGS OF CLOTHES!

THE FINISHED PRODUCT - AN ORGANIZED CLOSET WITH CLOTHES SHE CAN WEAR!!!!!!!! SO MUCH BETTER!

Happy 2012 and happy closet cleansing!

Xo, Kristin @ Kristin Golden Image Consulting