Shopping in Your Girlfriends Closet

Shopping in Your Girlfriends Closet

May 25, 2013

A few years back when I was still living in NYC my friends and I would go out constantly and were always photographing our events. The downside to going out 3-4 times a week was that we didn't want to be photographed wearing the same outfits within a month of eachother. Life in NYC is pricey and fashion isn't cheap so my friend Maria, the founder of The Closet Fashionista, started to invite a bunch of ladies over for clothing swaps.

We picked a Sunday everyone 2-3 seasons and got together at her place with wine, light food and bags of clothes. It was the definition of girlfriends. It was not limited to just the ones in NYC or even by specific sizes. We had a girl that came from Philly with her almost 6 ft model type body. Me, who stood at 5'4 (okay 5'3!) that was super curvy and had a pinup type rack, others that were barely 5 foot and teeny....different bodies, different styles, yet we always came and left with bags full of 'new to us clothes'.

Since a new season is approaching and we're very into the idea of shopping without spending we think all groups of women should have a clothing swap at least once a year. They are always fun ways to get together with a group of friends that you maybe don't get to see all the time because of the circles you run in all the while going home with a couple of new items to wear to work or at an event.

Here is best formula for any hostess of a swap. This always seemed to work for us:

1. Send out feeler dates and have everyone vote on the date that works best. Sundays work great because they are usually lazy days for everyone.

2. Set a menu. Of course as the hostess you should always plan a few dishes but always encourage others to bring/make a dish and of course their favorite bottle (or two) of wine.

Finger foods and wine are a must for any Sunday event. Superbowl excluded ;-)

3. Create the space. If you have coffee tables in the way just make sure to set every aside because when the swap begins everything gets dumped into a pile and the grabbing begins.

4. Always have extra bags in case someone gets lucky enough to go home with more than they brought.

5. Do it again in a few seasons!

If you want to host a clothing swap in NYC or LA and want some tips and/or personalized attention feel free to contact us at diane@theclosetfashionista.com (LA) or maria@theclosetfashionista.com (NYC) and we can help you host a swap that ladies will be dying to attend season after season.

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A Hairy Situation

A Hairy Situation

May 16, 2013

I have hair issues. My hair is frizzy and thick yet fine. It grows super fast but when I don't use the straightener and let it dry naturally it losses about 8 inches. It's just as fickle and indecisive as I am. I've cut my hair three times throughout the past 10 years and it always grows back super slow until I start threatening it with another haircut. I've been leaning towards a bob cut in the past few weeks and made my appointment for this coming Saturday. I'm going to spend 3 hours getting a keratin treatment then will lose about 6 inches of hair. It's scary but I'm excited.

To prepare for this I figured I'd straighten it myself one last time and really think about it. Do I really want short hair? I never really cut it unless I trying to start over and kill off all the dead ends and lose bad hair habits so lately I've been second guessing myself but I'm sticking to the plan and giving it the chop.

Being that I am frugal and always on the hunt for inexpensive yet wonderful things I discovered the wonders of VO5 products. I've always seen them at the drugstore but my hair always needed special treatment so I always opted for more specialized products. Clarifying shampoo was always scary because I didn't want anything to strip away the bit of moisture that my hair had but it works wonders for makeup brushes which is why I snatched up a bottle of it a few months ago. For $.99 I couldn't go wrong.

My reason for owning the conditioner is because I was low on cash and wanted something moisturizing. The scent was also intriguing. I adore the scent of true vanilla and shea makes me melt. Together which the promise of being moisturizing and a good price I gave it a shot.

Blow drying my hair always leaves me with a puffy mess. I do more harm than good and then straightening it is a mission. I finally developed  method that works well for me and helps cut down on the pointless blow drying that happens when I don't have a keratin treatment.

First I wash it with my VO5 Tea Therapy Clarifying Shampoo and Silky Experiences Moisturizing Conditioner. Leaving the conditioner on for about 10 minutes and sometimes stepping out of the shower and applying heat so that it could sink in a bit more.

Last night I used Garnier's Moroccan Sleek Oil Treatment for the first time. This worked wonders and I really like how it soaked into my hair without leaving it greasy. I first learned about Moroccan oil when I was desperately needing a hair stylist in Manchester after a heatwave in mainland Europe and the wonderful people at Reuben Wood used it on me.

after that I pull my hair back into a loose bun and blow dry it on medium heat. I call it advanced air drying. I don't want the heat to kill whatever moisture I've got in there. This can easily take 30 minutes so i just sit and watch Hulu.

With my hair totally dry I then begin the straightening process. That can easily take an hour but because my hair was able to 'air dry' it's a bit less puffy, curlier and easier to separate in order to straighten.

 Below is some of the result from last night. I did a collage to show my friends the result of the Moroccan oil. I was surprised at the length even though there's about half an inch that would need to get cut regardless. My hair, when heat is applied a specific way, is always super silky and people are always surprised at the before and after, especially when it's a new person doing my hair. It really is like magic.

What a difference straightening makes!

I think I'm going to miss my hair. I spent so many years wishing for it to just get past my shoulders and when I washed it last night I felt a thick lump on my shoulder and it was my hair begging me to let it stay. Sadly, it won't. I'm starting my second year in LA in a few days and I want to start it fresh.

Besides, it's only hair. It always grows back.

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How to Stay in Touch When You Travel Abroad

How to Stay in Touch When You Travel Abroad

May 13, 2013

                               

 As some who enjoys international travel more than anything I am always on the hunt for ways to make communicating with people back home and in visiting countries easy and affordable. Over the years I've found simple and affordable solutions to this problem and thanks to things like iMessages, GoogleVoice and other methods there is no reason to have anyone worry about your whereabouts if you're traveling to a major international city.


1. Wi-Fi. Gotta love wifi. When I went to Paris in 2010 I was going to get an Orange sim card like I had in 2004 but my brother gave me the best words of advice I ever received while traveling: Find a McDonald's. Lucky for me the apt I rented was three blocks away from one that offered free wifi and I was able to let everyone know that I had made it before even dropping off my bags. I did have wifi at the apt I rented but it was nice to walk around the city, stop and upload photos every time I was near a McDonald's or Starbucks as well as keep in contact with my travel companion that was due to arrive a few days later.

 2. Lebara Mobile. In London, as soon as I get off the train on St. Pancras I get myself a Lebara sim card. These allow me to have internet access while on the go while also allowing me to keep in constant contact with my friends while in the UK. Their little kiosk is my saving grace and I get 10mb of free data daily whenever I top up my card with 10£ or more. Not bad for basic usage but I wouldn't recommend constantly checking in on Facebook or Foursquare with such limited data that could best be used for maps or looking up train/bus schedules. Now they offer separate data charges but you don't travel to be glued to social media so I recommend what comes standard with any top up. Also included: Free incoming calls. If someone has a free VOIP like Talkatone then the call will be free for both parties. Not a bad deal.

 3. Google Voice/Talkatone- Best combination for travelers that don't want to buy a sim card and only want to touch base with people back home. Getting a google voice number is free and along with the other perks that it comes with (texts get sent to email, voicemail transcriptions) it works swimmingly combined with Talkatone. Talkatone is a free app that allows you to makes calls via wifi unlike the standalone google voice app that requires data. I tested this method and haven't had a problem with it. The calls are clear, they don't drop (so long as there's a decent signal) and it gets the job done. Google voice does work well with text messages as well as Talktatone but I prefer to stick with Google's native app for that. Texting on Talktatone is a bit slow for me.

 4. T-mobile. T-mobile now allows you to make calls using wifi. How awesome is that? I would have listed this as #1 but I realize that not everyone has T-mobile although a lot of people seem to be making the switch now that they finally got the iPhone! Not much to say about this other than it's pretty cool. About 10 years ago I had to practically beg them to let me use a different sim card when I was traveling to France. Oh how times change!

 5. iMessages. If you have an iPhone then you can communicate with other iPhone users without needing to start a thread with a new number. This also works with data/wifi so it makes keeping in touch easy.

There you have it. Ideally an iPhone with T-mobile pretty much wins in that respect as long as you have wifi but I haven't come across it in the cities that I've frequented in Europe. The other options are great if you have an iPhone with another carrier or a different smart phone all together. I'd recommend setting everything up prior to leaving so that all you have to do when you arrive is buy a sim card and pop it in.

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The Great Lace Debate-Spring/Summer 2013

The Great Lace Debate-Spring/Summer 2013

May 8, 2013

Summer 2013 by theclosetfashionista-nyc 

Lace shorts was a hot topic between some ladies and I in a group that we have where we discuss everything under the sun. I have to accept that not everyone is fashion forward so when the topic of lace shorts was brought up with a bit of nonacceptance I was a bit shocked. It's spring and 'tis the season for white hot lace short. Now when I talk about lace shorts I mean ones that have a lining, not just straight up crochet because that's only appropriate for the beach or a boardwalk as a cover up. White lace, as a main attraction or accent, adds a bit of delicacy to any look. Paired with this seasons hot colors, white or nude shoes and minimum accessories it's one of the easiest trends to wear year after year without looking dated.

I can't wait to put some extra bronzer on my legs, throw on some espadrilles and rock my lace shorts for a brunch date or a beach party down on Playa Del Ray or Santa Monica. Here's an outfit that I put together on one of my favorite sites, Polyvore, to showcase just not stylish white lace shorts can look when not thought of as lingerie.

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5 Things Every Young Adult Should Do Before They're 30

5 Things Every Young Adult Should Do Before They're 30

May 3, 2013

photo by Lynda Sanchez

There are a lot of misconceptions as to when, as young adults, we should be doing certain things. Is 25 too young to own property? Is 35 too old to be single? As someone with friends that range from mid twenties to late 30's I've been able to figure out what the best words of advice are based on their stories of accomplishments, fears and regrets. With two cousins aged 19 and 21 I'm afraid that they'll fall into the whole YOLO trap. I really hope that they live by this list. I don't want them to end up doing things they don't want to because they'll feel they're regret it later. The only thing any of us should regret is not doing things our way no matter how old (or young) we are.

So here are the 5 things that every young adult should do before turning 30. I'm glad I always kind of lived by it.


1. Be responsible, think about tomorrow and don't do anything because you think you need to. Do them because you want to.

2. Be responsible, think about tomorrow and don't do anything because you think you need to. Do them because you want to.

3. Be responsible, think about tomorrow and don't do anything because you think you need to. Do them because you want to.

4. Be responsible, think about tomorrow and don't do anything because you think you need to. Do them because you want to.

5. Be responsible, think about tomorrow and don't do anything because you think you need to. Do them because you want to.

Thoughts?

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Moisturizer Du Jour

Moisturizer Du Jour

May 2, 2013

photo by Sephora.com

Every year Sephora comes out with a summer sun kit that's filled with bronzers, self tanners and most importantly: products with sun block. The price is usually in the area of $30 and comes FILLED with items. Filled to the point that it's now almost a year later and I am still using some of the items.

To date my favorite has been Supergoop! Everyday Face & Body Lotion. I like that it's really lightweight and has a nice refreshing scent. I only used this on my face because I had a 1oz tube but I just ordered the monster 18oz one because I'm really bad at applying separate sunblock on top of my bronzer or moisturizers in the summer.

At $48 the price may seem a bit steep but it's a great product to have in the house for a face and body moisturizer and sun protector.

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