Author: Lani Grass

Understanding Fragrance 101

Posted on by Lani Grass

Perfume… is an unseen, unforgettable, ultimate fashion accessory. It heralds your arrival and prolongs your departure.– Coco Chanel

Who else can describe the essence of what fragrance is better than Coco Chanel herself?  Up until I worked in the industry, I knew so little about the centuries old allure of these mysterious essences.

Today, fragrance is the pièce de résistance to completing your look. It can be your invisible signature and if chosen correctly, can make you appear much more polished.

Perfume or Parfum. This is the ultimate luxury. It is the highest concentration and offers strength, hold and persistence.  It is made of up to 40% perfume oil and although the most pricey of the choices here, it makes up for it in pureness of scent and staying power.  Longevity on skin:  5-6 hours.

Eau De Parfum. This is an intermediate concentration. It still has a high perfume concentration, but is available in a convenient spray. EDP is made of up to 30% perfume concentration and while is more expensive than Eau De Toilette, is far less than perfume.  Longevity on skin: 3-4 hours.

Eau De Toilette. This is the lightest concentration. It is made up of 10-18% perfume oil and is the most affordable of the three choices.  Longevity on skin: 2 hours.

Fragrances are traditionally classified into four main olfactory categories: 

Citrus: These have fresh, sparkling, and energizing notes. They are a great choice for casual daytime wear. Choices include Bvlgari White Tea, Cartier Eau De Cartier and Guerlain Pamplelune. Â

Florals: Like wearing a bouquet of flowers. These come in light or more sensual notes and are commonly structured around roses, jasmine, iris, tuberose and ylang-ylang. Some choices are Yves Saint Laurent Paris, Estee Lauder Beautiful, Ralph Lauren Romance and my personal signature scent, Marc Jacobs.

Chypre: Based on Bergamot and crisp top notes combined with a flowery heart note such as rose and jasmine, Chypre scents evoke a warm and woody scent. A few choices here are Dior Miss Dior, Knowing by Estee Lauder, Mitsouko by Guerlain and Aromatics Elixir by Clinique.

Oriental: Dominated by a blend of sandalwood and vanilla with soft, warm notes such as bitter almond mingled with woody, spicy or floral accent, some choices are Givenchy Hot Couture, Dior Midnight Poison, Obsession by Calvin Klein and Guerlain L’ Here Bleu.

Tips for wearing fragrance and making it last longer:

  • For longest results, layer your fragrance all over your body with matching fragrance products such as a shower gel, soap, or bath oil, then a matching lotion or body cream.  (If you have dry skin, use a lotion or body cream. If you have oily skin, apply talc.) Follow with matching perfume at the pulse points, or an all-over spritz of eau de parfum.
  • Spray fragrance straight up into the air and let it settle on you like a fragrant cloak.
  • Lift up your hair and spray directly into it. The scent will remain in your hair much longer than it will on your skin.
  • Use perfume or eau de parfum for staying power.
  • If you have dry skin, you will need to wear more perfume, and re-apply your fragrance more often than someone with oilier skin.
  • Wear stronger fragrances in cold weather. Cold reduces a scent’s intensity.
  • Spray the inside of your elbow and behind your knee, for a longer lasting fragrance. The fragrance stays a little moist & scent works best just a little bit humid.
  • It’s always good to rotate your fragrance choices because you will get desensitized to the aroma and you can inadvertently start applying too much and you won’t even know it.

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Now that the holidays are upon us, it’s the perfect time to ask for your favorite scent or maybe even purchase one for yourself as there are many promotions that go along with them this time of year.

Fragrance can be an affordable luxury; by choosing the right bouquet you too can make a statement both of refinement and grace.

The choice is always yours, make it a good one!

~ Lani

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Holiday Parties: Cheer or Fear?

Posted on by Lani Grass

Look at this picture of a party. What goes through your mind when you look at this?

For some people, the thought of going to holiday parties is something they really look forward to; they mark their calendars as soon as they hear of the date of the event.  In their mind, they think about getting dressed up, meeting new people, seeing friends and co-workers in a different than usual office setting. They think about noshing on delicious treats, laughing and imbibing in the festivities.

For others, there is a different picture running through their mind. For introverts, the thought of going to a party can bring about feelings of anxiety and dread. When these people hear the date of the party, they write it on their calendar and try to think of a legitimate way they can get out of going to the event. They could be remembering the times they wore dressier clothes they felt funny in, standing “alone†in a crowd, not being able to make conversation or fearing the moment someone makes a comment or joke about them because they know they won’t be able to come up with any clever banter.

Over the years, I’ve noticed that there are many individuals who identify with the second scenario. I used to be one of them; click on the “About†tab on my site to get to know me a little better. Today I work with people who want to change their mindset about their confidence and I teach them one step at a time.

How does this relate to style? Simply because we feel the way we look.

Changing your mindset: First, you need to realize that your mind and body strive to be in accord with each other. If your mind is saying, “I’m shy,†then your body language will instinctively move in accordance. You may slump, look towards the ground, avoid eye contact and maybe even stutter. Conversely, if you want to have more confident body language, then you must first adopt a positive demeanor.Â

Here are some practical things you can do before and during a party:

  • Do some pre-party warming up!  Put some loud party music on. Now, jump up and down, lay on the bed, kicking your feet up in the air, sing loudly, and grin from ear to ear in front of a mirror. Basically, act like a crazy person! Sound silly? Try it and see.
  • Get dressed up. Put in some real effort this time so you know you look your best, but be careful to wear something that you feel good in so you don’t worry about your appearance. When in doubt, dress up, not down for the occasion.
  • At the party, make larger, fluid body movements. Confident people take up more space in a room.
  • Be conscious of your body language. Stand tall and keep your chin up. Don’t fidget and keep your hands away from your face.
  • Don’t stand in the corner by the snacks. Walk directly to the center of the room; that’s where people will gather.
  • Make eye contact and smile, but make sure it’s a warm and sincere smile from your heart. There is a difference.
  • To start conversations, introduce yourself and ask open-ended questions to the person you are talking to and listen intently. People love to talk about themselves!

By planning ahead and practicing, you can train yourself to act confidently and it will eventually become second nature to you. You will start to genuinely look forward to holiday gatherings and change the pictures in your mind.  Make a commitment to yourself now to take steps to a more confident you!

The choice is always yours, make it a good one!

~ Lani

P.S. If you like this blog, please forward it to your friends so they can sign up and start enjoying it too! And here’s to us, and being our personal best!

Let the Holidays Begin!

Posted on by Lani Grass

I love the holidays, I always have. Maybe it’s the weather change, the smell of cinnamon candles, the anticipation of gathering with family and friends or sipping hot cocoa in front of a warm fire?  But it also can be a stressful time of year with all the planning and events on the horizon.  In all the fuss and commotion, many of us think of ourselves last. But this season, it can be a different story…

For any holiday event, dressing for a party is like a balancing act. You want to look special with pretty make-up, sexy hair, and sparkly jewelry, but you still don’t want to look over-the-top, like you’re trying too hard, right?

Below are two perfect holiday make-up looks that I teach my clients. The key is balance and it’s all in the details, so pay close attention! Both looks start with a fresh, clean face, perfectly-matched foundation and finished eyebrows.Â

  1. Lip focus: Use soft, natural colors on the eyes. Be sure to wear brown or black eyeliner on the top lash line and use mascara to finish upper and lower eyelashes. Use a natural color on the cheeks as well. Apply a red or berry color on your lips with a brush and then line your lips with a matching pencil and finish with a beautiful, clear gloss. Note, the color palette on the cheeks and lips need to match.Â
  2. Eye focus:  Brush on neutral colors all over your eyelids. Then apply a charcoal color on the lower part of your eyelids and blend to the outer edges. Use a more dramatic eyeliner on the top lid and on the lower lid as well if you’re comfortable. Lightly dampen a sponge eyeshadow applicator and layer the charcoal shadow on top of the eyeliner to blend it in. You can also use other dark colors instead of charcoal if you feel so inclined! Apply a heavier hand with mascara on upper and lower eyelashes. Blend a soft color on the cheeks using a light touch. For lips, brush on a much more natural shade, outline with a matching lipliner and finish with a pretty gloss.

 

For Holiday Hair, the trick to looking special for a party is not wearing the exact same hairstyle you normally wear. If you usually wear it down, pull it back with a thin, sparkly headband or put it up in a soft bun or dressy ponytail. If you normally wear it pulled back, try curling it or straightening it and wearing it down. Apply a very light coat of hair oil to the ends to make hair glossy and add the illusion of thickness.

What about holiday bling? Now is the time to get out of your comfort zone and buy those gorgeous chandelier earrings or any other sparkly bauble you’ve been craving. Remember not to wear large, focal pieces too close together; ie, no chandelier earrings next to a show-stopping necklace.

Practice these looks at home before you actually have a party to get ready for and you’ll be excited and prepared for the upcoming holidays. The surprising outcome of taking care of yourself is that you’ll have more emotional energy to take care of others. So, decide now to make this your most beautiful season ever!

The choice is always yours, make it a good one!

~ Lani

P.S. If you like this style blog, please forward it to your friends so they can sign up and start enjoying it too! And here’s to us, and being our personal best!

Image and the Self-Fulfilling Prophecy!

Posted on by Lani Grass

If you’re like most people, you get up in the morning and go to your closet and say to yourself, “Let’s see how I feel today; what should I wear?â€

But do you really want that to be the way you feel all day??

If you’re feeling cold, sleepy and not wanting to get out of bed to go work, you would likely pick out an outfit that is warm, with dull colors- something that feels safe, yet is likely pretty boring. The problem is that people judge you by how you show up in the world.

So, then you go on your way to work and have the day that you were expecting to have. Ever heard of self-fulfilling prophecies? This is how our thoughts subconsciously work on our brain when we have a mindset about ourselves and then we inadvertently make it come true!

The solution? Instead of choosing that dull outfit that you would normally wear, pick something completely unexpected.  How about selecting something colorful with great accessories? What if you spent an extra 10 minutes on your make-up and hair today?  Showing up every day looking your best says to the world, “I feel great and I value myself!â€Â Â

Five small changes that make a big difference:

1. Wear that dressy top that you save for “special occasions†and wear it with a nice skirt you wear to work.
2. Instead of slicking your hair quickly into a ponytail, make the time to straighten or curl it for a change.
3. Paint your fingernails, even if you only use a clear top coat.
4. For men, how about buying a dress shirt in a more fun, unexpected color instead of your predictable palette?
5. Wear some great shoes that you normally wouldn’t wear to work. If you have to, put your “commuting†shoes on and bring along your fabulous ones to change into later.

If you are conscious about how your attitude and the way you dress are inter-related, you will be motivated to make the changes that turn into habits.   I guarantee you’ll be surprised at the confidence this will bring to your day!

The choice is always yours, make it a good one!

~ Lani                                                                                                                                                                               

P.S. If you enjoy this style blog, please forward it to your friends so they can sign up and start enjoying it too! And here’s to us being our personal best!

Upgrading the Look of your Wardrobe!

Posted on by Lani Grass

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One of the most important lessons I’ve learned in life is how to get the most value out of something I want. I’m one of those careful people who thinks before I leap.

Not being a notorious risk- taker, I’ve actually been told I should have gone into Risk Management as a career! This line of reasoning also pertains to my views on fashion and what I spend my hard-earned money on.  Here are three building blocks to upgrading the look of your wardrobe.  I’ve also added a new resource I’d like to introduce to you.

CPW: Being a well-known connoisseur of classics, I educate my clients on CPW (cost per wear). You can calculate this out when you take the amount you paid for an item and divide it by how many times you have or will wear the item. This is a good way to see if you’re making a wise purchase or not. Ask yourself how many times you’ve bought something only to have worn it once or twice because the style doesn’t transcend into the next seasons?  Without a doubt, buying something of quality for a great price is the ideal fashion purchase.

Key Items: Weaving in quality key items into your closet will also make your whole wardrobe look more upscale. You don’t have to spend a lot of money on the majority of your wardrobe, just select some fabulous finds and strategically buy them to mix and match with what you already have.

Add some refinement to your wardrobe: I believe that fashion trends are moving into a more sophisticated era… Thank you Kate Middleton!  You will see more and more elegant, yet sexy styles hit the runway and magazines. You can still rock casual while being fashionably chic. Think jeans with a flattering T-shirt and a great jacket.  When you combine something that is well-made with updated accessories and neatly applied, yet not-overdone make-up, it’s the perfect combination of looking effortlessly elegant.

I’d like to introduce you to Etcetera: While personal shopping with many clients, we often frequent their favorite clothing stores on a mission to find items on their customized shopping list.  This is a great way to begin shopping in a familiar environment.  The frustration enters when we can’t find key items we came looking for.  For this reason, I recently began partnering Etcetera, a New York fashion design house.

Etcetera: It is an exclusive yet affordable line. It is not sold in stores and is presented by private appointment only with consultants throughout the country. The clothes are simple, wearable, fabulous and very sophisticated. Etcetera debuts their seasonal lines 4 times a year and they are available for a limited time period.  Etcetera designs their collection around real feedback from real customers.  In other words, they listen to what women want! Every piece is sold as separates and is designed to combine and re-combine with other pieces in upcoming collections.  The clothes are a great value in “Cost per Wear” because they are designer quality at department store pricing (such as Nordstrom).  We all love gorgeous clothes at great prices.

Enter each season with thoughtful selection in cost (CPW), adding a couple key items, and refining your look with a new accessory, you’ll find yourself stepping up the look of your wardrobe.

This is your Season to Shine!

~ Lani

A SPECIAL OFFER:

For my Portland, Oregon clients, I am debuting Etcetera on November 23rd through December 6th!

Clients will receive a 1-hour customized fashion consultation as a gift ( $50.00 value) just for scheduling an appointment to shop the private showing.

To receive a personal invitation, or if you have questions, please email: [email protected] and visit: www.etcetera.com to view the full collection.

How to Have a Fabulous Wardrobe on a Flimsy Budget!

Posted on by Lani Grass


Recently I got a great comment from one of my readers; she said, “Fashion can be fun, but lately it is a chore…sometimes I find shopping for my family has become more like survival mode.â€Â  This is so true, when you have a tight budget you think there is no way you can afford to look like the models in the magazines. 

Everyone knows I love a bargain.  It’s not that I’m cheap, it’s more that I want to see value in what I’m buying, or I just won’t buy it! I show my clients how to accomplish this as well. I love finding something beautifully made, and paying a lot less for it!

 Here are a few tips that might help you feel good about shopping again, and not feel like you too are in survival mode:

  1. Know your budget: Write it down somewhere and use cash if at all possible. I make it a game.  If I save money on something, I literally put that money in a pocket of my purse to save for clothes…. Shhh! Don’t tell my husband!
  2. Get organized and shop your own closet first: I teach my clients to do this. Make a list of what items you are actually in need of or really want, and make mental note of what you have too many of.  You should clean out your closet twice yearly. A great tip is to hang your clothes that you don’t wear very often with the hanger turned backward. When you wear it, turn it around the correct way and in 6 months or a year, you’ll see visually what you don’t wear. Now you should donate those items or put them in consignment.
  3. Shop out of season: It’s nothing new, but we forget that at the end of each season is the best time to purchase for the next year.
  4. Buy classics: I have sweater cardigans in almost every color, slacks in every neutral shade imaginable and some great tailored jackets.  I have a rainbow assortment of knit camisoles and dressy T-shirts as well.  You should continually add to your classic collection over the years.  Classics don’t go out of style. They are the cornerstone of every wardrobe.
  5. Update with accessories: It’s much more inexpensive to update with fun jewelry and accessories. If you have a lot of classics, you can buy the hot shoes or boots of the season to update your look. You can also buy fun scarves and the up-to-the-minute jewelry trends. Buy a great, fun purse as well. Invest in patterned and colored tights.  Updated accessories will give you the edgy look that you want at a fraction of the cost of buying all the new and exciting clothes of the season.

 Remember that you are always in control of what you buy. Don’t let a salesperson make you feel obligated or a great sale tempt you to buy something you don’t need. This is where a personal style consultant really pays off; they look out for your best interests, not the stores’.  If you are unsure of something, have the salesclerk hold it for you for an hour and go have a coffee and really think about it. If you still really want it, then go back, but I bet half the time you won’t. If you make a plan and stick to it, you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment and be genuinely happy with your purchases, not guilty about them!

The choice is always yours, make it a good one!

Lani

P.S. If you like this style blog, please forward it to your friends so they can sign up and start enjoying it too! And here’s to you, and being your personal best!

 

How To Rock That LBD (Little Black Dress)!

Posted on by Lani Grass


“Dress shabbily and they remember the dress; dress impeccably and they remember the woman.”
— Coco Chanel

Ah yes, the little black dress has been a fashion code for so many years that you might not think about it as a fashion “must have†any more. Well, think again! This is your basic evening classic- an elegant blank canvas that you can accessorize up or down to suit your every occasion. Women have always loved the LBD because it’s black, which can visually take pounds off our frames and most importantly, it makes us feel sexy!

 Be sure to purchase one that makes you feel great in it. Buy it in a fabric you can wear year round. It will be the perfect background for all those fabulous and bold accessories that you can’t get away wearing with anything else. This is the item in your closet that you can wear to show off those drop-dead jeweled sandals and glitzy jewelry.

You should expect to pay more for an item like this because it is a fashion investment. Buy a well-made dress that you will have for years.  

Accessories; the sky’s the limit! Now that you have your LBD, it’s time to start thinking about what jewelry to wear it with. The idea isn’t to grab every nice piece of jewelry in your collection and put it on at once, but to strategically plan your ensemble out. Know that jewelry can date you. When you walk into someone’s home and look at their jewelry, you can tell if they’re 80 or 30 years old. If your jewelry is outdated, put it away for now. Most likely it will come back into style again. Wear the jewelry for the moment.

If your dress has a low neckline, wear a necklace that makes a statement. Much better to wear a bold, fabulous fake than a tiny diamond solitaire that gets lost in that dress. You can read the fashion magazines for ideas of what’s in for the season.

Follow the LBD bling rules! If you want to wear a bold necklace, don’t wear bold matching earrings next to it. Wear smaller earrings and maybe a big cocktail ring.

If you are wearing a jeweled cuff bracelet, you can rock the big earrings, but don’t wear the cocktail ring.

Location matters where this is concerned. You don’t want two bold pieces in close proximity to each other.  The goal is to look effortlessly elegant. Now, go out and have fun glamming it up!

If you enjoy this style blog, please forward it to your friends so they can sign up and start enjoying it too! And here’s to us, being our personal best!

The choice is always yours, make it a good one!

~ Lani

"I love that look, but I could never wear that!"

Posted on by Lani Grass


Do you ever say that to yourself? I hear so many of my clients say this! I’ve also had quite a few web-surfers comment that they like when I give practical advice on incorporating what’s new and hot with what you got!

FYI

Hot fall/winter color story: Neutrals, midnight blue, mustard, grape, stone, shiny colors, chocolate and winter white (think renter’s white walls).

Hot textiles: Leather, snakeskin and anything faux fur.

My advice is to do something different; something you normally wouldn’t do. Look at the list of the hot fall/winter color story and pick something you normally wouldn’t buy and wear it mixed in with your existing wardrobe. In example, if you love the color mustard, go out and buy that mustard-colored jacket! Pair it with your tried and true chocolate slacks and a white blouse. The look you get is comfortable and cool at the same time. And you didn’t even think you could wear that color! Don’t forget to accessorize- maybe a great cuff bracelet and bold hoops?

Now that you’ve got your confidence up, instead of buying yet another black pant or skirt, buy it in winter white instead! This wardrobe basic looks especially chic in the cooler months when it’s more unexpected. Pair it with a stone-colored sweater or blouse accessorized with bold metal jewelry and heads will turn. It’s so different than the normal dark color palette that seems standard as the weather gets colder.

What about the hot textiles? I love the understated look of doing something bold on a small scale. Buy some awesome snakeskin pumps in a neutral color that will punch up your pants, skirts and even jeans! Can you imagine how great snakeskin pumps would look with jeans, a grape-colored jacket with a silver top underneath? It’s a little bold, a little sophisticated and a lot of sexy!

So this season, shake it up a little and keep them guessing. Fashion can be so much fun and you know how much better your day goes when you know you look great!

 The choice is always yours, make it a good one!

~ Lani

Dress For Your Next Career Step!

Posted on by Lani Grass


There is a well-known saying, “Dress for success”; this is an important fact in the professional world. Whether you are looking to be promoted, or just looking to get hired, you should always be dressed as if you are already in the position that you want. It is going to be a lot easier for management to picture you in your ideal position if you already look the part. And if you look the part, you will start to feel the part as well. This also shows that you take initiative and value taking good care of yourself.

People are generally pretty simple. They make a lot decisions based on first impressions. This may be an asset or a detriment for you depending on what first impression you give. It isn’t fair, but it’s very true.  Especially if you are self-employed, you should be very polished-looking.  You are the face of your business and people are going to make assumptions about your business based on what you look like. Take the time to plan what you are going to wear and how it is going to look for the occasion.  Don’t waste an opportunity to make a deal by not looking your best.   

Details, details, details! This is the difference between someone who just threw on a nice outfit and someone who is a polished professional. If you’re a man, does your suit fit you correctly? Does your shirt sleeve show just ½ of an inch beyond your jacket sleeve? Did you know to cut off the little pieces of thread that hold the pockets and slit in the back of your jacket together? (I’ve seen this a lot and it’s not good) Do you have a good haircut? Are your nails trimmed? This may seem like minutia, but it really does make a difference and believe me, people will notice!

If you’re a woman, do you have a make-up line from your foundation being a darker color? Are your fingernails chipped or the outdated dragon lady style? Are you wearing nylons with reinforced toes with sandals? Are your shoes in good repair? Is your hair clean with a nice hairstyle? When we don’t pay attention to our personal details, it can be assumed that we don’t pay attention to details from our profession either.

I always tell my clients to do themselves a favor, put in the extra effort. I promise it will pay off. Remember that saying, “You look the way you feel?†Well, the truth is “You feel the way you look!â€

 

The choice is always yours, make it a good one!

~ Lani

BKS (Best Kept Secret)- How to treat and camouflage a blemish!

Posted on by Lani Grass


We all have had them, many of them. A lot of articles you read will tell you to leave them alone, do nothing…. but how many of us actually take that advice? Obviously, we are going to cover them up!

The best thing you can do is treat the blemish at home.  Wash your make-up off as soon as possible. Put some drying treatment on the area and sleep with it in place.

In the morning, it should be a lot more dried up.  Re-treat the blemish and then you can apply your face make-up as normal, trying to avoid the area as much as possible. You then apply a dry concealer, like a stick concealer on the spot and gently pat on a light coat.  Then pat on another very light layer of powder and repeat the concealer/powder routine once again. If it’s stubborn and doesn’t appear to be healing as fast as you would like, you can re-treat and re-apply the make-up during the day. Just clean the area with a cleanser and a Q-tip and repeat the concealer/powder routine again.

An excellent blemish treatment product is Clean and Clear’s PersaGel 10. It works!

Make sure to minimize break-outs by completely washing off your make-up every single night and cleansing your face in the morning before you apply make-up. Be sure your foundation is not too oily for your skin type.

For men, just treat the area with the treatment product several times a day and sleep with it on at night.  Make sure to cleanse your face thoroughly at night and in the morning before re-applying the treatment.

Tip: Be sure to avoid wearing red or pink clothing as this will actually accentuate the color of your blemish!

The choice is always yours, make it a good one!

Lani