Articles by Susan Wagner

I am a little bit in love with Katie Holmes these days. She is single-handedly bring old school Hollywood glamour back into style with her sharp bob and smoky eyes and sleek black wardrobe. At the same time, though, her look is entirely modern and fashion-forward, with just enough edge to make us sit up and pay attention. And she always — ALWAYS — looks fantastic.

What I love the most about Holmes, though, is not her couture wardrobe, but the way that she incorporates her fashion magazine look into her everyday life as a wife and mother. And yes, it probably is easier to do this when your husband is Tom Cruise, but the idea that becoming a mom isn’t the end of being an It Girl is incredibly appealing.

Too often, women give birth and give up. We give ourselves over entirely to our children and their needs, and we forget to take care of ourselves. And then one day we look in the closet and realize that all we own are sweat pants and tee shirts with stains on them. To see Holmes toting her daughter while wearing an impeccably fitted little black dress is inspiring. If she can do it, why can’t we all?

While I realize that most of us can’t pull off Holmes’ look every day, I do think that she is fascinating because she exemplifies what we all hope is true: having a baby is not the end of being stylish. It is entirely possible to be a soccer mom AND be an It Girl. Every time I see Holmes in the news, I feel inspired to put on some eye liner and a great pair of sunglasses and feel a little less like the mommy and a little more like a style icon.

And that is why I love her.

Photo via InStyle.com.

Once upon a time, people used to arrange their days around meals, which were less about eating than they were about being social. I find that in my day, I still look forward to similar social rituals: morning coffee (which I drink alone), afternoon tea (shared with my children), and an evening cocktail (with my husband). And while I don’t usually change out of my Mom Uniform for any of these little moments of civility, I like the idea that there are actual clothes — the cocktail dress, for example — designed around these rituals.

However, I draw the line at merging the Mom Uniform and the Cocktail Dress, particularly since the merger has lead to (I shudder to type it) Cocktail Shorts.

Yes, really.

Cocktail shorts offend every fiber of my being. Shorts are not cocktail attire; shorts are what you wear to a barbecue, for example, or to any event that will involve being outdoors or tossing a football or chasing small children. Cocktails call for grown-up clothes, pieces that do not permit running or climbing. To attempt to recreate shorts as cocktail attire is an insult to the Little Black Dress and all it stands for.

Cocktail shorts are also an insult to shorts, which are, after all, the perfect casual wear. It really IS possible to dress your shorts up by pairing them with a lovely blouse and some pretty shoes, but shorts are still casual wear, and casual wear — pieces that are specifically for lounging on weekends — is an important part of any wardrobe. To merge the two, to say that making shorts out of silk or satin and pairing them with stiletto heels makes them suddenly dressy, takes all the fun out of wearing shorts.

The whole idea of cocktail shorts as a viable trend is enough to make me start dressing for dinner.  Honestly.

Photo courtesy of Instyle.com.

How many of you are sporting the Mom Uniform of jeans and a tee, or one of its many variants (capris and a tee, skirt and a tee, cords and … a tee). T-shirts are such a Mom Staple; they’re easy to wear and easy to care for and easy on the budget.

But they can also be boring. How about spicing up your tees with a cute jacket? So easy, and yet such a huge difference.

I love this jacket, from Francesca’s, for several reasons. It’s a cotton/spandex blend, which means that it is both versatile and washable, which makes it a nice addition to any basics wardrobe. The slim silhouette and single button keep it simple while the puffed sleeves and elaborate Elizabethan-inspired collar make it more than just your jean jacket.

Wear over a tee (long OR short sleeved) or tank, or with a beautiful blouse. Pair with jeans and chinos and an A-line skirt. Dress it up or dress it down. This jacket takes the everyday to a new level, and gives your Mom Uniform a little lift.

Tres Jolie jacket, Francesca’s, $52.00.

Fashion week is in full swing, and the Fall 2008 collections are all about sleek elegance. The shift dress — that simplest of simple wardrobing pieces — is poised to make a comeback for day and evening.

The shift is perhaps the most classic dress shape imaginable; a shift can be tailored to flatter any figure and can be rendered in fabrics that are perfect for work or weekend. The classic shift line is sleeveless and falls to just below the knee, but there are other options as well, including the cap sleeve dress shown here. Add a belt or a cardigan or a bold necklace to change the look; wear with flats or heels or peep toes.

A neutral sheath, in black or brown or navy, is versatile, but don’t sell color short. This spring is all about the return of feminine dressing, and a dress in a beautiful color can still function as a building block in your wardrobe. Choose a shade that looks great with your hair and skin, and that works with other pieces in your closet. Pinks are flattering on nearly everyone, although steer clear of very pale pink and opt instead for a sherbet or watermelon shade, for more sophistication.

Nanette Lepore La Dolce Vita eyelet dress, available at Nordstrom for $360.00.

What’s new and fashionable on the Internet this week? Well …

StyleBakery introduces us to the Winkee — for cleavage coverage without a tank or cami. I can see how this would be useful, but I’m not sure I could actually wear it.

Manolo the Shoeblogger takes issue with Project Runway’s use of “iconic.”

But, whatever. The Manolo quibbles, as the obvious intention was to produce the piece that could be creditably sold by the Levis Company, something much more achievable than “iconic”.

No one recaps Project Runway like the Manolo — if you’re not already reading him, start today.

Carly Cais, at FashionTribes, dishes about celebrity style on a real person budget. On her must-have list: red dress with black belt, footless tights, thigh-high boots, and animal print ballet flats, all at prices you can totally afford.

Finally, the girls at Omiru: Style for All answer the age-old question “What do I wear on a date?” Useful whether you are 22 and single or 40 and married, really.

Banana Republic Monogram silk geo-print kimono-style dress, $148.00.

One way to simplify your morning is to rely on basics. The simplest basics are jeans and a tee; toss on a jacket and some great shoes and you’re ready to go!

Until the day you realize that you’ve worn the same outfit for weeks on end. Then you’re just in a rut.

This winter, break out of the rut with one simple piece: add a dramatic necklace to your jeans-and-tee uniform. Choose a fantastic bib shape, like the one pictured here, or opt for a simple strand of big beads. Go for color and texture; you want your jewelry to pop.

Consider your neckline; if you wear primarily crew-neck tees, look for longer necklaces. A choker length is good with button-up shirts and scoop necks, while a bib necklace works with everything. But feel free to break the rules — I am partial to a choker with a crew neck tee, because I like the way the layered necklines work together.

A dramatic necklace can take you from day to night; pair with your jeans and tee for lunch with friends or with your LBD for cocktails and dinner. For day or evening, keep the rest of your outfit simple — let the necklace be your statement.

J. Crew bubble necklace, $150.00. Available in three colors.

Last week, I recommended that you all get a copy of Tim Gunn’s A Guide to Quality, Taste, and Style; among the recommendations that Gunn makes is that we all find an alternative to the velour track suit. While I agree with the premise that we should all stop dressing like residents of a Boca Raton retirement home, I disagree with some of the suggestions he makes for the sweatsuit alternative. For some of us, a cute dress or skirt just doesn’t cut it for errand running and dog walking and kid wrangling.

Instead, I would suggest a long, slim cardigan, one that you can pair with jeans or leggings or tights. Look for a belted cardigan, for some shape; look also for an interesting neckline, something that will frame your face. Keep your overall line clean and simple — layer over a tank or tee or turtleneck and slim pants.

And please, save the sweatsuit for yoga class. I’m begging you.

Cashmere belted sweater coat by Magaschoni, available at Bluefly for $195.20.

Having a great wardrobe involves more than just whipping out a credit card and bringing home more clothes; you need to be a smart shopper, one who only buys clothes that are right for your figure and your life. But how do you KNOW what’s right?

You can ask the experts! Or at least read their books. Here are my three favorite style books, the ones I turn to when I am getting dressed and when I am advising others about what to wear.

Tim Gunn’s A Guide To Quality, Taste, and Style is a book that is both a valuable resource AND just plain good reading. Gunn is witty and erudite and just plain right about so many things. He offers sensible guidance about how to shop, what to shop for, and when to stop shopping.

Clinton Kelly and Stacy London, Dress Your Best: The Complete Guide to Finding the Style that’s Right for Your Body. I know there is a wee part of you that wishes someone would nominate you for What Not to Wear, just so you could shop with Clinton and Stacy. Instead, you can tote this book with you and use it to make good choices about what will flatter your figure.

The Lucky Shopping Manual: Building and Improving Your Wardrobe Piece by Piece, by Andrea Linett and Kim France. The brilliant minds behind Lucky Magazine have assembled a comprehensive guide to building a wardrobe that will work for you. Chock full of great advice about proportion and fit, this book is one you will want to toss in your bag when you head for the mall.

It’s New Year’s Eve, which means a planned night of staying up late, followed by a long day of lounging on the sofa recovering from the staying up late. I’m willing to bet that you will spend a lot of time and effort on your going out clothes, only to come home and pull on some sad old yoga pants for New Year’s Day. Am I right?

This year, resolve to spiff up your lounge wear. Choose pajamas that mimic day wear, like this set from Blue Lemon, which consists of a cardigan and pants and a tank in supersoft cotton knit. Choose pants and tees that are fitted but not tight; top with a slim cardigan or hoodie for warmth and coverage. Pair with some fuzzy slippers or embellished flip flops. Look for sleep wear that you can spend the day in, drinking coffee with house guests or playing board games with the kids. But don’t leave the house in this –they’re pajamas, after all. Just enjoy being at home.

Blue Lemon ribbed cardigan, tank, and pants available at Neiman Marcus. Long-sleeved tee also available.

I recently treated myself to a beautiful pair of chocolate-brown leather boots, because my usual ballet flats just aren’t going to cut it this winter. I wear a lot of skirts and dresses, and the boots give me the option to keep wearing them into the winter. So how do I keep my legs warm on truly frosty days?

Merino wool tights, of course!

Merino wool is light-weight but warm; it is also soft and not itchy, which is important for tights. Look for wool/cotton blends, with a little bit of spandex for stretch. I like Falke’s Soft Merino Wool tights, because they are lined with cotton, which means that your legs are pampered AND warm.

Match your tights to your boots or to your skirt or dress for a long, slim look, or choose bright colored tights for a pop of color. Hand wash merino wool tights inside out in cold water and hang to dry. Wear them with your knee-high boots and your ballet flats and your Wellies — anything to break out of the cold-weather sweater-and-jeans rut.

Falke Soft Merino Wool Tights, My Tights, $65.00; available in five neutral shades.

Short days, long to-do lists, and cold, snowy weather can make the holidays more of a slog than a celebration. Often all of the planning and shopping and doing for others can leave a girl desperate for a long nap. This holiday season, pamper yourself with a little bit of practical luxury. Wrap up in a cozy cashmere shawl; it’s the next best thing to spending all day in bed.

A cashmere wrap is incredibly versatile; wear it over your LBD for cocktails and dinner, or with jeans and a turtleneck for Saturday errands. Cashmere is soft and warm and light-weight; it is easy to pack in your carry-on bag for that last-minute flight home or to toss in your work tote for long days at the office. Choose a wrap in a neutral color if your wardrobe tends to be bright; opt for a beautiful pattern if you wear mostly solids. A brightly colored wrap will pop against your simple black dress or over a basic white shirt.

Look for streamlined styles without any details, or for beautiful embellished wraps with cables or fringe or beading. But limit yourself to ONE embellishment, and remember that fringe and beads are more appropriate for evening than for day. The most versatile option is a wrap like the one pictured here; the beautiful color and simple line make this a timeless and versatile choice.

Care for your cashmere or pashimina wrap in the same way you care for your cashmere sweaters: hand wash in cold water and baby shampoo, roll in a towel to absorb excess water, and dry flat.

Cashmere sweater-knit wrap, Nordstrom, $148.00; available in five colors.

Embellished flats are huge for spring, but there’s no reason to wait for warmer weather to work this trend. The holidays are the perfect time to bring a little glitter to your wardrobe.

Flats come in a variety of shapes; look for pointy toes or flat-toed ballet styles, or the traditional ballet flat. Look also for peep toes, like the Christian Laboutin’s pictured here; wear with black tights for colder nights and with bare toes when it warms up. Go with tights, though, not pantyhose — you want the look to be funky and intentional.

Embellishment can be anything from a wee bow to a gigantic fur pom pom. Larger embellishments work best with skirts, while more minimal embellishment is a nice touch for jeans or tailored trousers.

Don’t confine your glittery flats to the holidays; wear them any time you need a little sparkle. Embellished shoes are a simple way to spiff up your everyday wardrobe. Pair embellished ballet flats with knee-length skirts, or peep toes with wide-leg trousers. And remember that EVERYTHING goes with your jeans.

Christian Laboutin glitter ballet flat, currently $399.00 at Neiman Marcus.

For most women, getting ready in the morning is often primarily about finding something clean and comfy to wear, no matter where we are going for the day. Hopefully, you are challenging yourself to reach beyond the yoga pants and tee, but I know that some days, it’s hard.

On the days when you have gotten past your pajamas and into something a little spiffier (jeans, a white shirt, cute shoes), go one step further and add a smart piece of jewelry, a little bling to brighten up your day. A distinctive cocktail ring can be just the ticket, not only because it is easy to wear but because you can see it all day and be reminded how simple it is to look stylish.

Cocktail rings are characterized by their large size and dramatic designs. Choose a bright gemstone or a simple dome or a whimsical shape; go with amethysts or synthetic sapphires or a sleek onyx. Choose from vintage rings or designer imitations; price points can range from thousands of dollars to under $20.00. Look for a ring that works with your wardrobe, both in terms of color and metals.

Wear your cocktail ring on your dominant hand, the hand you eat and drink and gesture with, for the biggest impact; put it on either your index or second finger for balance. Keep nails short and manicured, because a ring this big draws attention to your hands. Wear your cocktail ring alone, both because it will compete with other jewelry and because the whole idea is to simplify your routine.

And then take the time, during your busy day, to stop and admire your ring, and remember how wonderful it feels to know you look good.

Leslie Danzis cocktail ring, Neiman Marcus, $95.00