In the Red
Today I picked up a copy of InStyle magazine and what should my wandering eyes spy? A fashionably forward page "Add a pop of garnet"
I have always had a love affair for ruby red slippers and this season, so will you. Do you love the look of a red shoe that pops, but aren't brave enough to buy them? It takes a confident person to put that fashionable foot forward. Everyone knows me for my red hunter boots, my red fringe bag, my red driving mocs, my red glasses, but most of all my red lips, right? Why can't that be confident you? Why even question it, because it can be you? Two days ago I hit a sale at Jcrew and picked up red leather pointy toe ballet flats. I got an amazing deal on them. I showed up in an early fall catalog. Well I am glad I waited, because they were 25% off and by giving them my email address, they gave me an additional 10%!!!!! I walked out leaving Jcrew and myself (depending how you look at it), "In the red."
Jamie Gottschall
IndomitableStyle
BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY BLOG
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| Transition with ease this fall in a lightweight patterned peasant blouse. |
"Glam it up" by adding a little bling. Bracelets by Lucky Brand Jeans
I shopped early for floaty or traditional blouses with a touch of flair that I could pair with sandals and jeans. I swore that this season and seasons going forward that I would curb my wardrobe. I decided to turn back to the classics and I did.
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| Add a classic wardrobe staple to your fall collection its crisp, timeless, and effortless. Pair this with stone washed jeans and don't forget the trend of the moment and cuff them up. Blouse by Old Navy |
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| Denim pumps by Nanolo Blahnik, Trousers by Ann Taylor Loft, and cathair and goat skin handbag by DKNY |
Why? Classics never fail. You can never look at a photo and say, "why did I wear that?" And secondly, if you work with classic pieces, they are less noticeable if you "switch it up a bit," not to mention a much less crammed closet, where I can actually see what I own without feeling overwhelmed. The best part of it all, affordability.
Classics never go out of style and there is nothing more comforting than a high quality blazer that is tapered for your body. blazer by Ralph Lauren. Brazilian equestrian boots by Matisse, army green blouse by Old Navy, suede laced up Denim Jeans by Mudd and African spring bok fur bag by Diane Gail (a staple in my wardrobe for years)
Classics don't necessarily mean spending less on pieces, but you will likely need much less to achieve stylish looks. How? By rotating jewelry, switching blouses under sweaters and classic jeans or trousers are timeless.
Unconventional style is not a new style but the oldest of styles. The most fashion forward icons of the past had an artistic vision for what they wore. Above you'll find unconventional style that still has a classic feel that gives this ensemble its edgy look. Here I mixed prints from cheetah to two different plaid patterns and once again layered my look with a denim blouse and a gold beaded neckless. Yet unconventional once again, leave your shirt tails hanging out of your blouse. Shoes from DSW, vintage bag, large denim boy's blouse by Chats, jeans by
Koral, royal blue stone rings by Old Navy.
You need less shoes too (said no woman ever!) lol. When did I have this epiphany? When we put our home on the market and I was told I needed to purge my closets. My realtor said my hangers should be at least an inch apart! I nearly fell over. Once I accepted what I needed to do, I was like a whirlwind and there was no turning back. I embarrassingly bagged about 30 bags of clothes and accessories. Truthfully, I have never felt more free. To walk in my closet and actually see each item is a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. In fact, I did this with my entire house. As beautiful as it "was," I am at peace with all of it. Nevertheless, this is about fashion, so let's stick to it! This fall, my wardrobe consists of several navy blue sweaters, classic blouses such as white, pinstripes, and dark gingham. I also purchased several black items, dug up two pairs of classic jeans in my collection and tossed all of my trendy pieces including; shoes, hats, fun jewelry, varieties of scarves (from silk to wool) and purses. I must have parted with at least 7 pairs of sneakers. My absolute favorites in each category were kept and like I said, I feel so incredibly free. I did pick up some patterned pieces though shopping for my reinvented self, but kept them classic like I said. What am I getting at here? Classic meets elegant trendy touches makes for the perfect ensemble, season after season and time after time.
Turn a classic preppy t-shirt into the look of the moment. Take this simple Merona boating shirt and give it some stem by placing it on top of a denim chambray blouse. in order to transform simple into chic roll your denim top over the striped shirt and add a coordinating brooch. Expect the unexpected when you throw in a pair of denim jeans with leopard valet flats and a plaid clutch. choose chandelier earrings OR an arm full of gold bracelets. When it comes to Jewelry, less is always more. Boy's denim blouse by Chaps, pegged leg jeans by Koral, shoes by name unknown but any leopard shoe will do.
Between seasons, keep your wardrobe purged and full of staple pieces. As for the temperature trivia, don't rush the season. Plan your ensemble accordingly, as I did this season.
Jamie Gottschall
IndomitableStyle
Lehigh Valley STYLE, "Women of STYLE" feature of Jamie Gottschall, August 2015:
Thank you to the hard working women at Lehigh Valley STYLE magazine for featuring me as their centerfold in Lehigh Valley STYLE Magazine, August 2015 and to photographer Elaine Zelker for capturing a very stylish moment!!
The Photo Shoot in Action:
It is truly amazing how life works, we put our home on the market, discover our dream house is at our fingertips, our 11 year old son is performing with the American Boychoir at the Tanglewood Festival on August 8, accompanying the Boston Symphony Orchestra and now I am exiting the valley in STYLE. When you want something badly enough, you believe in your dreams, remain true to yourself and your convictions. Living well is not a job, but a true labor of love. There will always be the doubters, the ones who choose to follow and then there will be you, the doer and the one who leads. Sometimes it's marching to the beat of your own drum and because of that, you too will accomplish so much more than the others. Keep dreaming, believing and empowering!!
With Style~
Jamie
Below please find the link to the Lehigh Valley STYLE feature...
Jamie Gottschall
IndomitableStyle
STYLE LOOK of the WEEK!
"Bohemian Military"
Ad courtesy of VOGUE magazine
Below: My closet finds (the complete look)...
When I saw this Gucci look in Vogue, I immediately honed in on my current closet classics. I knew I had a cropped green army jacket that was not the same as the Gucci, but was a similar idea, I bought it at a vintage junk shop.
Below: Magazine Shot (military jacket & plunging neckline)
I did not have a top with a plunging neckline for beneath the jacket like the ad shows (which by the way is the hottest trend going in case you haven't noticed, from the last few red carpets), so again I improvised and created my own. I went through all the blouses in my closet and came across an old Ralph Lauren paisley blouse, similar to the colors within the models blouse and neckerchief.
Below: My look (plunging blouse neckline & military jacket)
I placed it on a hanger and hung the jacket on top and opened the buttons on the blouse down to where my cleavage line begins.
Below: Magazine look (purse & boots)
I happen to have a brown suede fringe bag a pair of faded jeans and with a lot of luck, a pair of python boots I bought in a high end consignment shop in New York's East Village.
Below: My look (boots and bag)
On that note, my look was complete. So when you see a look you love, tear it out and bring it to your closet to see if you can get close to the look.
Good Luck!
Jamie Gottschall
IndomitableStyle
Stylish Gift Ideas for Father's Day
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| Click HERE to view my column in The Express Times & LehighValleyLive.com |
Easter Ensemble; Dress for the Occasion
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| Click HERE to see how |
Fashion is so difficult to write about because I have too much to say. As a former Bergdorf Goodman Personal Shopper and Stylist, I have certainly earned my stripes, as well as my opinion. On that note, I need a seat on E's Fashion Police not only to vent, but simply to police the police. How in the world did the tackiest, most ostentatious celebrities become the fashion police? They should all be arrested and held on charges of fashion injustice 911...read more
A Royal Fascination
It's a new era for the British Royal Family and I found no better time than today to shop for hats for my friend Jess' bridal shower, as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge welcome the soon-to-be third heir to the throne. Jess' shower will be an elegant event for sure. It is being held this weekend, where else but in my home, and is being photographed for a wedding magazine. I don't want to give away all the details but the image of Audrey Hepburn and her attire on the invitation suggest fabulous hats, little black dresses, and lots of diamonds and pearls...read more
Show Your True Fashion Colors
What would the world look like without color? How do your photos look when you wear all black? Not as fabulous as the ones you took when you had on splashes of color, right?Black and deep colors limit the amount of detail you can actually see in a photograph. In person, it no longer says, "NY chic, " but I've got something to hide. I'm talking about confidence here, not about weight. I'm not saying to never wear black, I love it on occasion myself, but just live a little. A lot of people avoid color because they don't feel they have the fashion sense to coordinate and pull it off...read more
What's a Girl to Wear?
So what's a girl to wear to a Breakfast at Tiffany's bridal shower? Hopefully, the hostess and bridal party can come to a mutual decision when a shower is based on a theme, because a theme affair calls for theme attire. It's imperative to state it CLEARLY on the invitation. Below is how our invitation... read more
Must-Haves of the Week
A Damsel in Distress
It was Valentine's Day in the Big Apple and I was working as a
Personal Shopper/Stylist at New York's crème de la crème shopping haunt,
Bergdorf Goodman. From my private office window overlooking 59th Street
and the Plaza Hotel, the city was bustling and the Plaza doorman, Stanly, was
ushering in lovers a dime a dozen. I spied romantics boarding horse and
carriage rides as I peered north. On every corner, north to south and east to
west, dozens of roses and bundles of mixed arrangements were being unloaded
from trucks to vendors and into the hands of cupids all across New York City.
I
was waiting eagerly to meet up with my Prince as the clock ticked away. I
rushed through my sales log and at 4:58 pm on the nose, I reached my
stocking-less legs beneath my desk, as I fished with my toes for my favorite
black Manolo Blahnik stilettos. I was ready to go, giving myself a
onceover twirl in my dressing room mirrors and a quick Chanel red lip touch up.
I was wearing a form fitted red dress with a matching overcoat, a Hermes
silk scarf and layered black onyx beads draping from my neck... read more
Baby Bangs
When I think of a baby doll haircut or baby bangs, I think of fearless fashion rebels- those who reflect and epitomize style and good taste. My favorites; CoCo Chanel, Audrey Hepburn, Anna Wintour and Twiggy. A baby doll haircut frames ones face, elongates its features, especially the nose and chin, accentuates the eyes and brows, enhances the true contour of the lips and raises the cheekbones. It's a daring move. Women in general seem to hide beneath their tresses. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but hair is "cropping up" slowly but surely. I recently cut baby bangs and although chic and über-dramatic, it was fun for about two hours...read more
A Royal Fascination
When I think of a baby doll haircut or baby bangs, I think of fearless fashion rebels- those who reflect and epitomize style and good taste. My favorites; CoCo Chanel, Audrey Hepburn, Anna Wintour and Twiggy. A baby doll haircut frames ones face, elongates its features, especially the nose and chin, accentuates the eyes and brows, enhances the true contour of the lips and raises the cheekbones. It's a daring move. Women in general seem to hide beneath their tresses. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but hair is "cropping up" slowly but surely. I recently cut baby bangs and although chic and über-dramatic, it was fun for about two hours...read more
A Royal Fascination
It's a new era for the British Royal Family and I found no
better time than today to shop for hats for my friend Jess' bridal shower, as
the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge welcome the soon-to-be third heir to the
throne. Jess' shower will be an elegant event for sure. It is being held this
weekend, where else but in my home, and is being photographed for a wedding
magazine. I don't want to give away all the details but the image of Audrey
Hepburn and her attire on the invitation suggest fabulous hats, little black
dresses, and lots of diamonds and pearls.
We strolled through the King of Prussia Mall court,
"chitty chatting" (as Jess calls it), we both gasped simultaneously
as we stumbled upon a Parisian window pane filled with the most glamorous hats
and delicious accessories. It's no surprise that what started as a quick
trip turned into an adventure...read more
Well, I sure hope Linda Carter aka, “WONDER WOMAN,” never sold
the family jewels. Remember the bullet repelling, golden cuffs the zaftig
Grecian beauty donned around her wrists? As a child, I remember longing for
a set so desperately that I would wrap tin foil around my wrists before each
show began, just in case she missed a cap. And yes, in my mind, for a
time I WAS Wonder Woman. What can I say, “A true testament for my love of
fashion combined with athleticism,” ha!... read more
An Age-Old "GILT" Trip
I can remember the 70s as if it were yesterday. My
mother with her array of DVF wrap dresses and platform wedges and my father
spinning me around the living room parquet floors as he taught me to
“hustle.” Donna Summer was the Queen of disco and if you didn’t own
a pair of roller skates and a pair of golden Gloria Vanderbilt jeans, you were
just not groovy.
It was fifth grade and Debra, my friend and neighbor, was
always dressed to the hilt. I can remember her outfits as if it were yesterday.
Her mother, a native New Yorker, supplied Debra with the most outrageously
enviable fashions. My wardrobe followed suit, as my mother was a VOGUE junkie
and followed the latest trends.
Drooling over Deb’s outfits rather
than the open face turkey sandwich was a favorite lunchroom past time for
me. But I will NEVER forget the day Debra, with her golden blonde
Charlie’s Angels flip cut, strutted into the lunchroom debuting those gold
Gloria Vanderbilt jeans. Debra, so chic and confident with her
hourglass figure and painted on gilded jeans, became the “butt” of all the
lunchroom jokes. I was melting in my plastic cafeteria seat by the
second, as jealous and insecure jokes fired up the grille. Debra was
the subject of fashion discrimination by a cafeteria full of uncultured
swine... read more
Shoes only a Spectator would "FALL" for
It would
be a lie if I told you I didn’t quite know where it comes from outside of
watching my mother unpack her over-stuffed Lehmann’s and Bamberger’s shopping
bags as a child. I can remember sitting on her thickly piled French
blue-carpeted bedroom floor in the dressing room area right outside of her
large walk-in closet. This was the very spot that within the first week of
the rug being laid, my mother dropped the iron and left a deep permanent melted
iron mark in rug.
Mom was
on it though, another inherited trait, like me, she was a multitasker. I
remember in the blink of an eye my mother sprinting to the garage for a rug
remnant, a pair of scissors and a sharpie. She had to hide that iron
mark from my father as quickly as she had to hide her new bags of
shoes. With some quick and concise instructions from mom, I took the
shag square and placed the cool iron on the back. With the magic
marker I traced the shape of the iron, cut it out and dropped it right into
place as making it appear as if it never happened. Mom continued to
feverishly unpack, her always fabulous and always fashionable new
shoes. I can recall mom’s fascination with how elegant spectators
were and she had at least a pair for each season. I wonder if mom
held onto any of her spectators after all these years? I think a
closet raid is in order. I vividly recall the red leather pair she
had with black patent leather trim. In fact, I gave my mother a
practically brand new pair that I wore once two years ago, they were ox blood
with black hounds tooth wool and croc trim with black laces. Well,
my mother timed it perfectly when she handed them back to me two weeks ago and
exclaimed, “These are like brand new!” ... read more
Spring/Summer MUST HAVES 2012
My favorite fashion “MUST HAVE” this season is a real “gem.” Commanding attention, in every fashion magazine that I spy, are emerald green handbags. When I made my seasonal accessory pilgrimage to New York City’s wholesale market this past week for my latest collection, it was everywhere I turned. From jewelry to purses and polishes, the regal jewel tone has swept me off my feet. So, if you want to be the 1st on your block to have one, turn on your fashion radar and start your emerald excavation…your friends will be green with envy...read more
My favorite fashion “MUST HAVE” this season is a real “gem.” Commanding attention, in every fashion magazine that I spy, are emerald green handbags. When I made my seasonal accessory pilgrimage to New York City’s wholesale market this past week for my latest collection, it was everywhere I turned. From jewelry to purses and polishes, the regal jewel tone has swept me off my feet. So, if you want to be the 1st on your block to have one, turn on your fashion radar and start your emerald excavation…your friends will be green with envy...read more
In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb
White is the New Black
Everywhere I turn, someone is asking me if it’s ok to wear “white,” even though it’s not quite Memorial Day and far off from Labor Day. My response, “white is the new Black”.
Fashion has come a long way baby and wearing white each and every season “appropriately” is and has been trending since the late 90’s. Tom Ford introduced the “Winter Whites” when he joined my ol’ employee and conglomerate of LVMH’s, GUCCI...read more
Making a Splash, High is the New Buy
After
months of sheer determination due to a complete lifestyle change, including a 6
day per week workout routine, 3 mile daily runs and a complete change in
dietary choices it was not long before bikini season would be in full effect,
and I wanted nothing more than to partake in the “2 piece” festivities.
I spent
months researching the up and coming “swim suit trends” and purchased the most
unusual ones I could find. What I came up with were retro high-waisted bikinis.
Though extremely difficult to locate due to the fact the trend was so “hot off
the press,” I managed to find some basic retro suits in the JCREW catalog and
ordered the same one in multiple colors. When I finally made my make-over
“arrival” at the club pool, my retro suits were very well received but the “new
me” was likely out-gossiping the suits... read more
Stop,
Crop, and Roll!
Now
don’t panic ladies, but there is a flood coming our way. The latest fashion
trend for your trousers, that is. From the runway to fashion catalogs, you will
find trousers are being rolled up and folded up and in my opinion, this makes
for easy shoe selection! Anything seems to go with a cropped or folded up leg,
from heels and flip flops to ballerinas. So the next shopping spree you decide
to take, don’t forget to Stop, Crop & Roll.
A
Shopping Mission: Complete
Yesterday,
I made my seasonal pilgrimage to New York City’s wholesale market to not only
educate myself on the latest jewelry trends, but to stock up as well. This
“pilgrimage” is unlike any other. It’s not the kind of outing where you shop,
sit down for a meal in a fancy restaurant, and meet up with an old friend. No,
with me it’s strictly business. When inviting along a friend on one of my
excursions or in yesterday’s case, my Personal Assistant, I prepare them well
in advance to get down and dirty, that the pace is at an über-rate and we will
likely have Gyros for lunch. Sound exhausting? Not for me. For me it’s a total
adrenaline rush, it’s the excitement of the unknown and the pure bliss of
visual stimulation, and with yesterday’s “trip” it was the most intense
“shopping high” to date!
I would call yesterday’s high a serendipitous “sugar
rush.” The stores displays were choc-full of candy colored bracelets and rings,
from enamel, Lucite, plastic and wood. The once natural bamboo and wood trends
have turned a corner and are now vividly hand painted, dipped or plated in
jeweled tones such as gold, silver, platinum and rose colored gold... read more
Fashionably
Challenged, No More
Last
Spring I attended a ball and auction for my son’s school fundraiser. Like
most woman I was on a mission! But if you break the mission down,
it’s not just about finding a dress or, for that matter, “any old dress”.
No woman desires to have on a dress that someone else has worn and take
the risk of being “upstaged!” That would be a fashion crime at
best. What do I desire? Originality and fresh fashion forward
styles and colors. That means being ahead of the game.
For the
“fashionably challenged,” I know first-hand this is tough. As a Former
Personal Shopper/Stylist at Bergdorf Goodman in New York City I witnessed the
struggle daily. With rigorous training from the world’s elite couture
designers, I have been trained to do it blind folded.
For
some, it just comes naturally; for others, it’s a trained eye.
Trained-eye you say? Yes, and you can have one too. Yes, you can,
but you have to want it badly enough. Like any skill, it takes time,
patience and repetition. It’s not something you develop
overnight. Okay, some might say I was “born to shop” but the truth
is, I was trained to shop by my fashionable parents, my own ambition and by
fashion professionals. There was a time I was embarrassed of such a skill
but today, I’m confident. I earned it, I own it, and I’m no longer afraid to
say it. For me, I consider the challenge an art form. Working in
the fashion industry in New York City is a “dog-eat-dog world,” big time.
It’s “do or die!” I worked my way up 5th Avenue to Bergdorf Goodman, the
crème de la crème of all shopping experiences. Believe me, it wasn’t
easy.
What’s
my secret to style success? First, I have a tendency as a
perfectionist to hyper focus on the task at hand. So how did I perfect it?
I honed in on what everyone was wearing on the streets, and how they were
wearing it piece by piece and layer upon layer.... read more
Less IS More
Now that
the Academy Awards are over and the Oscars are beginning to collect their dust,
let us reminisce on the best & worst dressed and what elements earned
them their reputations.
There
was a common theme for the evening, primarily in groups. There was the
RED group, the PURPLE group and the ever so popular BLUSH group.
After
all the criticism from press and style experts alike, due to previous years of
distasteful and non Oscar-like attire, the majority of the RED CARPET walkers
played it “safe” this year with the look of “simplistic elegance."
Viewers for the most part, witnessed classic gowns with simple lines,
neatly drawn up-do’s, and minimal jewelry, Hence the old adage “less is
more." In my opinion, these classic beauties were the evening’s true
winners and most glamorous movie stars!
Bracelets
Although I have been doing this for
more than a decade now (and anyone who knows me can attest to it, if you don't
believe me just look at my photo in Lehigh Valley Style Magazine Dec 2009...but
don’t look at my waistline), layering bracelets and watches is my fashion
forte'. Well guess what, the latest Spring/Summer runway jewelry trend is doing
just that...go figure? The more the merrier!! "Loading up the arm" is
a staple for the up and coming seasons. Your clothes...the accessory.
E=mc...What? Yes, SQUARE! Square bracelets. I was in Philly over the summer
shopping of course, scouring the stores for the most unique items I could find.
It was there I purchased 3 oversized wood bracelets, 2 square, and one
triangle. The friend I was shopping with laughed and said, "Just don't
wear those when you go out with me!" I replied, "You just don't get
it!” Happy Shopping!
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