Fast forward through high school and here we are. Several of my friends are expecting babies this summer! Most of them, their first child. Which circles back to our childhood discussion—is it really that unmanageable? Can you find clothes that are flattering and make you feel good in the heat?

I’ll admit that I feel a bit terrible for not having a mental checklist of ‘go-to’ maternity shops. I’m not sure what’s the reason for this. I’m not pregnant, but I’m also not tall, petite or plus size and yet I can dress all three of those body types. What I’ve discovered, and it only happened this past winter when my closest friend became pregnant and I wanted to help her find amazing maternity clothes, is that the retail world is not so kind to dressing pregnant women. What I mean by this is, your options kind of suck.

Even when I asked stylish mommies for their recommendations on where to find the best maternity clothes, they each threw out the big box stores (Gap/Old Navy, LOFT) and then sort of just shrugged and told me it’s pretty much hell and you just try to get by for the 9 + months.

The majority expressed that they didn’t want to spend a lot on maternity clothes (and that the specialty shops ARE expensive.) I completely understand this; most people want to splurge when they are feeling their best and/or at their ideal shape and size. (I hear this all the time when working with custom clothes.)

Like I said, I felt pretty bad for not being able to round up a bunch of outfits that my friend would love. Until I stumbled upon a little delight. While sitting poolside, at seriously the most relaxing hotel, I found a book that not only made me laugh out loud (every chapter) but helped me to realize that damn near every woman has had some type of struggle with clothes during her pregnancy. (I’m not speaking to you—ladies that wear your same clothes, but just go up a size. Apparently, your fellow soon-to-be mommies have slight anger towards you! Ha.)

Anyway, here’s an excerpt where Jenny McCarthy talks about not wanting to buy more clothes for just a few more weeks of wear, and instead begs her husband to go to Sears and stock up on muumuus. #Classic!

Photo by Lena Porter, poolside in Palm Springs.

If you feel like wearing a muumuu is throwing in the towel (style-wise) or if you want more variety, here are a couple suggestions.

* My criteria: must carry a design you would actually think of wearing if you were not pregnant and not be ridiculously over priced.

Asos: They carry 8 brands of maternity wear!

Zara: As of April ’13 they have added a maternity line to their online inventory. Prices range from $8-$80. Yahoo!

Hatch: Their mantra is that you can wear the line before, during and after pregnancy. Pricier than the above brands. Their Hatch-to-Hospital Box is a cute (and luxurious) self-given gift.

Pret-a-Pregnant: A blog curated for the stylish mommy and soon to be. I particularly like her category ‘The Diaper Bag of…’ in which a celebrity or fashionable female is highlighted.

Bella Belli: My Metro Detroit favorite. On trend maternity clothes and items for the baby. (Spoiler! Any showers I’m attending will likely include a gift from here. )

And lastly, just for fun. I love (and can relate to) this write up from Daily Candy entitled “I Love That Nail Polish.” Pregnancy makes friend dates a bit boring (no sushi, no wine, no unpasteurized cheese, no freaking deli meat). Which is why RGB’s natural, nontoxic nail polish should be celebrated with weekly manicure dates.

Photo: Daily Candy.com

For when you need to dress up. Sequined Peter Pan collar highlights the face.
Photo: Asos.com

For a meeting or everyday work clothes (in the corporate world).
Photo: Asos.com

For when you want to bring ‘sexy back.’ An all over pattern is flattering and keeps the eye moving.
Photo: Asos.com

Thank you to Adrianne, Heather, Kara & Jessica for contributing—cheers to stylish moms!

Yesterday, when creating outfits for a client, she looked in the mirror and said, ‘Oooh, this looks really good together; I wouldn’t have thought of this.’ To which I responded, ‘Yes (!) this scarf with that bag just makes you looks more interesting…like you know what you are doing.’ At some point, we’ve all had a moment where we wanted to look interesting—set apart (in a good way).

For women, there are a million + ways to accomplish this. For men, not as many…but I’ve been discovering accessories that are giving guys more ways to add interest, for when they walk into a room. Below are a few examples—a mixture for many different tastes!

Denim ties: Take a look at the raw edges.

Urbane Apparel raw denim ties (colors: ink & black)

Urban Apparel denim bow tie with red piping

Urbane Apparel heathered & tweed bow ties (magnetic closure)

[Real] feather pocket squares. Notice how the feathers compliment the clothes—i.e. peacock feathers for a tuxedo.

Streamside peacock feather pocket square

Upcycled fabrics are used to create ties with quarky animal shapes.

Coat Check Girl upcycled ties

Coat Check Girl pig shaped tie

Coat Check Girl rabbit shaped tie

Leather pin pocket: it highlights your pocket square.

Urbane Apparel Pin Pocket

Lanvin Faux Pearl and Sterling Silver Tie Pin

P.S. Here’s a special offer from J.Hilburn—a quality gift for Dad!

But lately, Japanese raw denim styles for women have been so in-my-face that I needed to do some investigating. It started with the white denim ankle pant by Chimala that Madewell is carrying.

Chimala denim for Madewell

The very deceiving thing about this photo, is that it’s taken from the side, so you really can’t tell what the fit is like; I’m imagining it’s a looser/boyfriend fit. The very disappointing thing about these jeans is that they are not available in stores. I understand from a business standpoint not wanting to stock a ton of white Japanese denim—in an effort to avoid over forecasting and being stuck with extra product. But from a buyer’s perspective, how can you possibly expect anyone to pay $386 for a pair of jeans that they can’t try on first? Especially denim for women (we always need to try on).

So, there will be no trying before buying. Must move on.

Next, I head to Nordstrom. As you know, they will bend over backwards to get whatever size and style in which you show an interest. After an unexpected dressing room conversation with an employee about how she eats when bored, she suggested I head to the men’s section to try on their styles as they have more options. Have you ever thought about wearing a man’s pant? I have never. Shirts, sure. But pants just seemed way too big, boxy, for boys only.

Meet (another) Mike. This guy is so into raw denim! I was impressed by how much he knew, not just about what they carried, but about the ‘culture’ in general. Currently in his early 20s, he’s been breaking in his pairs since age 14—really beating them up and earning every mark, fad and rip through aggressive inline [skating].

I tell him about how I have a feeling raw denim isn’t for women, given the heavy nature of the pant (12-17oz!) and its sturdy appearance. (Do you know any woman that wants to be called sturdy?)

* Quick note: those who love raw denim do so because you personalize the pairs your own. You buy them raw, and the pair conforms to your shape and movement, hence the no washing. Some people put an item in their back pocket, for example, so that over time, the imprint embeds itself into the denim, becoming part of the jean’s design. Others take to methods like beach washing!

He tells me about Nudie Jeans—the the Swedish brand that is unisex. He asks for my size and then replies that he is the same. I laugh, “No way. There is no freakin’ way that these are going to fit me then! I have hips, mister!” “I’m so much skinnier than you!” he responds. It was such an odd thing to say to a woman (that you are selling to), yet he said it in the happiest of tones, that I couldn’t be mad. ha. (And it was true.)

This also is a good example of how size doesn’t matter, shape does. I’m wearing the same brand as Mike. His are broken in; I can’t even button mine! Nice.

They are so stiff and I’m feeling overheated in them. I can’t imagine wearing these in the spring/summer.

Mike at Nordstrom orders in a couple other brands and sizes. I return the next week to try those. Still a no go. At this point, I’m thinking:

1. The beauty of raw jeans is that you break them in. I don’t want breaking in. I need fabric with stretch.

2. Button fly fronts remind me of my Bongo jean shorts when I was 10 years old.

3. Pockets that pass your butt look better on guys.

4. If I’m going to wear a pair of slouchy jeans, then they’ll be my super comfortable COH boyfriend jeans, not literally my boyfriend’s jeans (now husband).

button fly front raw denim A.P.C

My last effort was to check out Naked & Famous.

NakedandFamousDenim.com

They have 5 different fits and most have elastane—which is what I was searching for as it gives stretch and movement when wearing. But then it became, if they aren’t ‘stiff’ how can I mold them and make them my own like my new skater friend?

Caruso Caruso Birmingham, Michigan

The answer I realized, as I ran my hands over a pair of Mother jeans…is that I don’t want a tough wearing pair of jeans that I have to freeze and work at creating. I like a super soft feel that I can dress up, dress down and sit Indian style in. If you do too, I highly recommend Mother. The material reminds me of a soft pillow case—heavenly! And…the exact opposite of raw denim.

Sorry Mikes—you two keep molding your pairs. I look forward to your photos (as the months and years (!) go by.)

P.S. For ladies wanting to break in a pair of raw denim, definitely check out Naked & Famous. They have lots to choose from and are much more comfortable than other brands.

You now see players being photographed during that ‘short catwalk’ from the locker room to the bus. And although most of these particular stars claim they don’t put much thought into it, their outfits suggest otherwise.

Photo: gq.com

It all makes sense though. A piece of clothing, pair of shoes or an accessory, always sells more if the potential customer can see it on an actual person. This is why you have product placement, on celebrities for example. The NBA seems to be getting the most fashion attention predominately due to the nature of the sport. In basketball, you can see each player throughout the entire game. You can see his every move, his emotions…and his shoes! There aren’t any helmets, so you get a better connection.

Men are visual; they need to see the look all put together. When I’m having custom clothes created for a client, I often here, ‘I like that material, but what will it look like as a full suit?’ or ‘That’s a very cool jacket, what kinds of shirts can I wear with it?’

We now have gorgeous look books that give guys ideas on how to wear the clothing. But before we had these, I used to carry around an orange binder with magazine tears. I did this so each client could see how: a trimmer fit actually makes you look more defined (both for skinny and not-so-skinny men), if you treat checks like solids, it’s easier to pick ties that work with it and so on. Now, we have lots of pro athlete pictures to choose from, and their images resonate more than that of a male model.

While I’m always into people discovering their style and expanding their business opportunities, I cringed a little when reading that Kobe Bryant now calls himself the ‘Valentino of the NBA.’ (just like in high school, no one likes a self-given nickname) And it feels a bit odd to hear a man say that he’s never worn a look more than once. Seems like I have to get over these things though; no doubt there will be more ballers sitting front row at Lanvin.

Photo: esquire.com

From these magazines, Elle, InStyle and the United Hemispheres, there are images of Turkish landmarks—Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia and so on. The designers explain how these cultural highlights brought inspiration to their collections.

Photo: Hemispheres September 2012 issue

Photo: Elle magazine

Photo: InStyle November 2012 issue

Photo: Elle

I’ve finally gotten around to downloading my pictures—here are some highlights. I found the tourists in Turkey to be quite stylish. And I understand why this city is getting so much buzz, it really is inspiring—lots of colors…and apple tea!

Hey there! Look at that hat & shirt combo. Not your stereotypical tourist.

Snow leopard belt-what a fun accessory!

Throughout Greece & Turkey, I saw so many amazingly designed doors…and then had to take a picture next to all of them.

inside the Grand Bazaar

Turkish Delight!

Turkish serving trayLook-it all fits!

architecture of the Grand Bazaar Istanbul, Turkey

apple tea time! (and price negotiating)

Looks like bad place for a child to run around!

ridiculous…and angry looking adult mannequins

and creepy child mannequins

Turks are serious about their rug making tradition. It took this merchant a year to make this stool!

The most fashionable tourists of all! (hiking the Samaria Gorge on the island of Crete, Greece)

Bacia’s (our family’s Polish slang for grandmother) house is stocked full of fabric—though she only sews for 3 customers now (me, my little sister and my mom). There’s chiffon and wool and lace and every color zipper and shape of button you can imagine.

When I was younger, we’d disagree on the length of my skirts and dresses; we’re on the same page with that now. (Not sure if I’m getting more grandma-like—or as she calls it “elegant” or if Bacia’s getting edgier- ha.) But for the past few years, instead of disagree, she would simply “misplace” the material and drawings I would create if she didn’t like them. She would then show me something random like a hunter green wool and say, “This is good quality! How about we make something with this?” I would then annoyingly reply, “Um, what about the red material I picked out last time?” Ironically, she never lost the material of the designs she liked. Sometimes we agreed on the creations, those were the clothes that got made.

As the years go by, I’ve started to take pictures of the custom clothing we make. (Of course, no sewing is done by me—-as I have no patience for that Singer!)

Today’s feature is a camel wool coat. It was finished yesterday. My grandma believes she started this almost 10 years ago; something always seemed to take priority instead—or the season’s changed too quickly.

Here’s a sneak peek on the process of real custom clothing, from my dressmaker.

Depending on what you’re having made, custom clothes require at least 3 fittings. We did multiple panels on the back side, for a slimming effect.

Determine the width of the collar, fit sleeves to body.

Notice the details: an extra seam on the shoulder adds interest to a solid colored coat.

Next fitting, finalize collar…

Designate button locations

That’s a pocket. No lining on the coat yet.

In a well-made coat, the lining isn’t completely sewn down at the bottom. It allows it to lay nicely. (This isn’t needed in a jacket/blazer, however.)

Ta-da! Gorgeous & warm lining!

And there you have it! The finished product! I should note that I actually wear the collar with one lapel tucked in–and there are no buttons on this coat, only inside hooks–that keeps it real clean looking. I should have probably taken a photo of that. Hmm…

It seems, with any decision, the more options you have, the tougher it is to choose. I just got off the phone with a family member that is debating on where to go for med school. She is going nuts with having to make the right decision. “Yesterday someone said to me, ‘Well, at least you have options—that’s good.’ F options! They stress me out even more!” Haven’t we all felt like this before? Of course we have, isn’t that where the term, ignorance is bliss stems from? At least that’s how I’ve always interpreted it.

When you don’t know what’s out there, when you don’t have options, it all seems easier. True, life isn’t as interesting that way…but when you are told you are to do something, even if you don’t like it, you just deal with it. When you are told the world is your oyster and you can be/have/do whatever you put your mind to, an environment of anxiety can take over. (Even though, the thought is to encourage a person.)

With so much information quickly available to us, it’s easy to get stressed out about making “the right” decision. You see this happen in fashion too. Last night was the Trend Report at our Fashion Group International meeting. Have you ever bought something solely because you knew it was a trend? (and might have been unsure if you really liked it/looked good in it) You were inundated with images of that pant style, or that color of the season, through magazines and online. The next thing you know, you’ve bought that “must have” and it’s sitting in a bag on your bedroom floor. The world is your oyster phrase and fashion websites have something in common—both are meant to inspire, not intimidate—but can leave a person feeling overwhelmed.

Just like this happy old lady in the picture, be faithful to your own tastes. If you are on the fence about a piece of clothing, leave it. If you are still thinking about it later (the next day?), go for it. Years ago, I read that Gwyneth Paltrow determines what she’s going to wear at the beginning of each season and doesn’t stray from the look. (the combo of ankle boots, slim cut pants and cardigans, for example) I remember her saying that it cut down the options and made dressing easier, especially since she then had small children (and didn’t have as much time to ponder outfits). Be faithful to what you really want and the rest will seem like clutter.

Photo: Real Simple magazine August 2011

When a person decides to work with a stylist, there’s usually a change approaching, or some big push to (finally) put himself/herself first. It could be a new job or a promotion—you want to look and be perceived a certain way. Or maybe, like the woman mentioned above, you’ve been waiting to treat yourself. (For some, that’s a pedicure, others a new wardrobe or trip; life’s all about perspective, right?)

As we chatted, I was entertained by her story and very bluntly said that what she wanted to accomplish with a tummy tuck, we definitely could achieve through clothes. Really! (Husband, don’t worry, I’ve got this!)

Instead of yo-yoing around with your weight or bouncing from procedure to procedure, know that what you put on (clothes & makeup) can do all kinds of wonders for making…your midsection smaller, your nose narrower and so on.

Here’s a peek inside one of our dressing rooms.

Tips: The paneling on this shirt masks the tummy while bringing attention to her whole self (not just one area). The material is light and the length—an inch or so past her hip—is juuust right! The flower print is soft and not overbearing, which allows us to pair it with a bold/decoratively designed cardigan. Leave the cardigan open. The necklace is her own; remember we’re trying things on here. But it works. With so much pattern, you want everything else to be subdued. Add dark slim cut denim and the proportions work out well.

Tips: Yes, peplum is/was a trend, but the shape is actually quite classic. The stripes are narrow (read: slimming) and the diagonal cut is exactly where we want it. The jacket is shorter which allows her to show off her legs! To avoid major cleavage, always pair a v-neck with a scoop neck. This pretty lady is 5’2. When she wants to appear a bit taller, push up those sleeves, or wear 3/4″ length tops. This also lets her show off meaningful bracelets. By the way, she’s doing the ‘red carpet pose.’ This was once taught to me by a photographer; it’s what celebrities learn to appear their slimmest—paparazzi!

But what about the online shopping experience? What do we expect? Or better yet, what do we really like? Like so much that we end up buying something we would have otherwise passed by.

Think about buying online. Remember in the beginning, all you got was a one angle shot of that top and it had the ‘zoom’ feature. Next, came the incorporation of models. So you could see what it looked like on a human. Now, the online apparel experience has stepped it to even include how to wear that top based on your style (‘classic,’ ‘modern,’ ‘runway’) AND they show it to you via video.

Here are 3 well done examples of making online shopping easier & more fun.

1. Inspire dressing ideas

Possible 1st thoughts: I need a new pair of ankle pants. Oooh, I like the front slits! That pattern is fun. Wait, is she wearing two tops? Is that t-shirt twisted in the back? If yes, that’s terrible! Hmm, maybe I could layer two tops. (read product description) Ohh, that’s part of the pants. Interesting….I want it.

piximarket.com

2. Cross branding 

Possible 1st thoughts: Yuk. This is pinky and flowery and kind of boxy…(click on product to see alternate images) How fun with that skirt! Ohhh and there’s some cut out detail too—I don’t mind showing some skin. (click to zoom) What is this gold glitter clutch all about? (click bag designer listed) So cute! So different! (click back) Are those clear heels?…with floating sequins? Do I hate this? (click shoe designer listed)…next thing you know, you’ve bought a pair of sequin sprayed PVC heels with a patent leather bow. ha. (That did not happen to me, by the way.)

netaporter.com

3. Show & tell

Mary Kate & Ashley Olsen are part of StyleMint. Not only do they provide Editor’s Notes for each piece, sometimes you can see how the whole ensemble works through video. Watch it here.

stylemint.com

If you ask a guy why he doesn’t enjoy shopping, it usually relates to fighting through crowds of people or the overwhelming (at times, nauseating) feeling of being inside a multilevel mall. But what about boutique shopping?

In Detroit and in its suburbs, stores specifically for men did not exist…until recently. In 2012 a handful of quality independent shops have opened. Stores that could easily be plopped down on Abbot Kinney or Younge Street and fit right in. To out-of-staters reading this, you may be wondering ‘what’s the big deal,’ but to locals, you understand how cool is the introduction of these storefronts.

There are two shops in particular that I want to highlight:

1. Hugh. Their business card says it all.

Hugh Detroit business card

Wait—their website name better reflects the vibe: LOVEHUGHLONGTIME.com I liken it to an upscale Urban Outfitters’ home selection. It’s curated for the sophisticated man that is fun, not stuffy.

These wallets are part silk tie, part leather. Interesante, yes?

http://instagram.com/p/StKYEZtoAR/

2. The Detroit Mercantile Co. I think you have to be a man with scruff to enjoy the items inside. As soon as you walk in, you are greeted by raw denim (jeans) from the Detroit Denim Co. and a variety of rugged casual goods by Carhartt. All items are made in the U.S.A. (horray!) There’s also this gorgeous black and rose gold bike to look forward to, by the Detroit Bicycle Company.

This leads to my last point. With so many entrepreneurs and creative minds opening up businesses in the D, it seems like a fantastic time to scoop up that ‘Detroit X’ name. ‘X’ being whatever industry you’re into—Detroit Sofa, Detroit Fitness, Detroit Cookie Inc.—you get the point.

Photo: detroitdenim.us

So…no crowds, no escalators, just good merch to choose from. Check it out.