Closet Karma by Kara Kurcz

DON'T BE GREEN WITH ENVY BE GREEN WITH LOVE!!!

2010-03-17T13:34:41-07:00

OK SO TODAY JUST HAPPENS TO BE MY FAVORITE DAY OF THE YEAR... AND GREEN JUST HAPPENS TO BE MY FAVORITE COLOR... BUT THERE IS REASON FOR THIS. GREEN, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, IS THE COLOR FOR LOVE! AND I NOT ONLY LOVE MY CLOSET... I LOVE CLOTHES.. I LOVE BUYING CLOTHES... I LOVE SHARING CLOTHES.... I LOVE HANDBAGS.... I LOVE EARRINGS... I PRETTY MUCH LOVE FASHION! AND I HAPPEN TO BELIEVE GREEN IS ONE OF THE FEW COLORS THAT LOOKS GOOD ON EVERYONE AND ALMOST EVERY SHADE IS PALATABLE ... (I SAID ALMOST). PLUS DID I MENTION GREEN GOES GREAT WITH JEANS!!! YOU CAN BE CASUAL IN GREEN, DRESSY IN GREEN, SASSY IN GREEN, BE A MOGUL IN GREEN, CLEAN YOUR CAR IN GREEN! THE LIST GOES ON!!!!!! HECK NOW THAT I THINK ABOUT IT GREEN SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE COLOR AT THE OSCARS... WHO DO I CALL FOR 2011????

GREEN HATS ARE AMAZING! I MEAN WOULD A YELLOW

HAT LOOK THIS CUTE?

GREEN ZIPPIES CAN LOOK GOOD EVEN WITH BAD
PLATINUM HAIR AND REALLY BRIGHT PURPLE EYESHADOW

RED HEADS LOOK GOOD IN GREEN AND SO DO BLONDS

AND GREEN BEER IN GREEN SHOT GLASSES ARE RAD!

PEOPLE WHO CHANGE THEIR HAIR TOO MUCH LIKE ME CAN ALWAYS WEAR
GREEN AND MY FRIEND LISA.. AKA HUNGRY GIRL PROVES
BRUNETTES LOOK AMAZING IN GREEN!

LIGHT UP PURSES ARE COOL IN GREEN ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY ARE SOLAS PURSES!

I MEAN THERE ARE SO MANY OPTIONS IN GREEN...THERE IS: EMERALD,LIME,FOREST,NEON,KELLY,CHARTREUSE,PARE,PINE,TEAL,JADE,FERN,ARMY,HUNTER...

THERE ARE TURTLE NECKS,

BLAZERS!

AND DRESSES!

WOW! YOU GET THE POINT! AND I THINK I AM OUT OF BREATH! ANYWAY, WEAR GREEN TODAY! WEAR IT EVER DAY! YOU LOOK GOOD IN GREEN! WE ALL DO!! WEAR A COLOR THAT SAYS ....
"YAY BABY I AM LOVING IN IT!"

HAPPY ST. PATTY'S DAY .......

LIONS, TIGERS and PEARS!? WHAT SIZE AM I?!

2010-03-16T11:56:46-07:00

I am SO glad Kara posted yesterday about understanding your own body shape, because it's something we struggle with our entire lives. We, as women, compare ourselves early on to our sisters, mothers, friends, classmates, and heroes, constantly trying to understand how clothes fit our own hips versus how they fit that other girl's. We watch Oprah, The View, What Not to Wear, read every freaking fashion magazine on the shelves just to once and for all categorize our own body.

And how often do we figure it out? I mean, our body shape changes, we gain weight, lose weight, buy new clothes, find new styles; furthermore, our very basic relationship to even the goshdarn mirror changes! On days when I feel tired and not ready to start my day, I automatically gain five pounds when I look at myself in the mirror. Then! You go shopping, attempt to decipher the labels, and the cycle restarts! What the heck am I? Short? Curvyish? 25-30ish? Slim? Boot-cut?! 61/2-7?!! God, help me, I don't know anymore!

So I took a gander at the ShopYourShape.com guide. I narrowed it down immediately to Spoon, Pear, and Hourglass. I always wear a smaller top than bottom, so I knew I was looking for something for the curvy-bottomed lady. Here's what the Shape Guide said and how I narrowed it down:

HOURGLASS: "Lucky you! Your bust and hips are well balanced and you have a beautifully defined waist. Your have gently rounded shoulders that align nicely with your hips. Your waist is obvious and gracefully curves out to your hips. From top to bottom, you are a picture of harmony and balance."

Hm. Well, I do have a beautifully defined waist, if I do say so myself, and my shoulders are nice and rounded and...um, shoulderly? But I wouldn't describe myself as a picture of harmony and balance, per se...I might describe myself as "quirky, fun-loving and sassy," but that doesn't really help us here. NEXT!

SPOON: "As a Spoon Body type (sometimes called figure 8)...your hips have a “shelf” appearance and you are prone to gaining weight in your tummy and have a tendency towards love-handles. While you may gain weight in your upper thighs and upper arms, you lower legs and arms are shapely and your best assets."

Huh. I've never considered myself shelf-like, although I know what they're going for here. And I wouldn't say my arms are necessarily my BEST assets, although they are very lovely arms. (Go me!) NEXT!

PEAR: "As a Pear Body type (sometimes called triangle), you hips are larger than your bust and you have a nicely defined waist. You have an elegant neck and proportionately slim arms and shoulders

. You first gain weight in your bottom and legs followed by your tummy and upper body. Your waist is your best asset so don’t be afraid to show it off."

Ah. This sounds more like it! And yes, my neck is pretty elegant. Ten points for T-Dawg.

If you click further along this website, it gives you suggestions about what sort of styles to look for that are most complimentary for your shape, which I really love. Fashions come and go, as do the actual sizes you wear, but the construction of a dress might not necessarily change that much. Your feelings when you look in the mirror might, though, as you find well-fitting clothes that excite as much as they flatter you.

The best part about finding out my shape? I think pears are really yummy...

HOW TO JUMP START YOUR DAY WITH DENIM

2010-03-15T13:59:43-07:00

I know shopping for jeans can be terrifying. As I type this, there are dressing rooms across America murmuring words like, "Dear God My butt is HUGE," "I never knew what a muffin top was until now!" and "I am never eating bread again!". Listen, I am a short chick, with long legs, a scrunched waist and big boobs... so if I can find a pair of jeans that makes me look a little taller AND proportional, anyone can.

A GOOD SKINNY JEAN AND A NICE PAIR OF HEELS WORKS BEST FOR MY BODY TYPE

So let's go through this process together. Deep breath.. today I just want you to focus on two things.

1.) IGNORE THE NUMBERS: Do not try to squeeze into a pair of pants because of the size. When looking at jeans, size DOES NOT MATTER. About 3 years ago I was invited to a Sundance gifting lounge for my handbag line solas.

SUNDANCE 2006

My bags were paired right next to Seven Jeans. I became bff with the girls from Seven and the first thing they taught me was depending on the style or cut I could fluctuate three sizes with Seven. Yes, ladies, 3! So don't get hung up on if your a 27 or 30! It doesn't matter.. what matter is .. HOW DOES YOUR ASS LOOK IN THOSE 30s! A good jean should "give" your butt a lift and slenderize your body shape. Which leads us to the second most important thing....

I HAVE TO SHOW OFF "T"s BUTT IN THESE JEANS ONE MORE TIME!

2.) KNOW YOUR BODY SHAPE. There are basically 8 female body shapes and not every girl is meant for a boot cut or a low rise. I love this website shopyourshape.com. They not only explain body types in depth they also have a shape calculator.

Once you know your shape you don't have to fear the muffin top or the tankles ever again! DEEP BREATH! SEE THAT DIDN'T KILL YOU, DID IT?

JEANS MONTH STORE REVIEW: Forever 21!

2010-03-12T13:03:33-08:00

Now, no one have a heart attack or call the press or whatever, but...I just went shopping today. Without anyone forcing me. Now, don’t get all excited or anything!! Let’s all just blog about this calmly...

Yes, I went shopping, specifically for some little things, or shirts, or, like, tops, or whatever, to go with my new jeans. And I went to one of my old favorites, a place I can always count on for cheap and cute and massive quantities and a feeling of being mildly cool. You guessed it! Forever 21!

Photo Courtesy of TokyoFashion.com.

A few things to note before my little slideshow:

- Forever 21 screws with their mirrors, I’m positive of it! You always think you’re skinnier/taller/hipper than you actually are when you walk outside, $100 lighter in the wallet.

- I tried to listen to Kara’s advice. You might remember I’m terrible at doing this.

- Friends should not let friends shop at the big F21 alone. It’s like crack for your closet, but more crowded, and generally more frustrating. But addicting!

I tried this on solely because KK said I look good in salmon. I look like a grapefruit in this! Wait, maybe it was Tangerine?

I thought this was super cute! I love grey and I liked all the beading! But then I thought about KK and as she has pointed out I have about 30 versions of this in my closet..."NO MORE GREY!" Oh poo.

So I tried the aqua one on! It was too big. And the beading was different. Weird-different.

So then, I tried on a dress. Which is not a top. And is black. And at first I heard KK saying "No more black!" , But I said to KK, "Hey! I'm wearing purple boots! She replied, "Bright accessories totally count, good job girl!!" And then the spirit of KK patted me on the head and I stopped talking to myself in the dressing room. Awwwwwkward.

Not to kill the suspense, but I bought none of this stuff. (Thumbs down me.) Instead I bought these:

Shut up, I know it's grey, I KNOW IT'S GREY! And I know I have like 5 of these at home but I think it's adorable, okay?!! And I can wear it to work! And there is a green shirt underneath. Baby steps folks! BUT I also got...

...This bad boy. LOOK ITS BLUE! NOT BLACK AND NOT GREY! I took about a gazillion photos of myself in it, but without the big ol' tricked out Forever 21 mirrors, all the pictures sucked. So...you'll have to imagine it looking hella cute on me. I also made it a little sign. It says, "I love Jeans Month!" True story...

I consider this to be a successful shopping trip! I went out into public, tried some crap on, and bought exactly what I have... I mean, needed. Whatever, what I picked goes great with my jeans! And that is all that counts, after all.

PS Happy Friday, everybody!!

TWO REASONS YOU SHOULD CELEBRATE JEAN MONTH BY WEARING JEANS!

2010-03-11T15:52:19-08:00

So I love leggings. (Shhh! Don't tell the jeans! It being their month and all, they may get jealous...) But I do! I LOVE LEGGINGS! I'm short, I have long legs, a short waist, and let's just say...I am...how to say it? I'm well-endowed. (Hee hee.) So, leggings have always helped me show off my stalks to the boys.

CHEERS TO LEGGINGS!!!!!!

BUT THEN I SAW THESE PUPPIES AND REALIZED I NEED TO GIVE START GIVING MY JEANS MORE PROPS...

I'M NOT NEGATING THE NEON, BUT WOULD THOSE LEGGINGS MAKE ME LOOK FAT, NOT PHAT!? WHAT DO YOU THINK? PS DON'T YOU LOVE THOSE SHOES?!

IS THIS A RERUN OF BLOSSOM???? MAYBE I'M WRONG, AND HORTICULTURE COULD TOTALLY BE IN FOR MARCH 2010...SCRATCH THAT, I THINK I RATHER BE SOOO 2009's AND STICK TO SKINNY JEANS.

Got some killer leggings of your own? Send 'em to us on twitter! Look for @Closet_Karma and we'll look forward to seeing all your sassy legs...

4 R's + 1 T= ONE HAPPY CLOSET FOR ME

2010-03-10T11:41:21-08:00

So, now that I've bought my saucy new jeans, Kara's blog from yesterday made me think about what to wear with them. Can you take a basic wardrobe, and spice it up just with the clothes you've already got? Do I even know what spicy clothes look like? Probably not. But I'm going to work it anyway!

Me and my Solas bags. At least I know these bags are spicy...not pricey!

Basing it off Kara's 4 R's (Check it here in case you haven't read it yet and have no idea what I'm talking about), here's what I've got going for me:

1. REFUEL: I have indeed stocked up my closet with things I like. Check! I like jeans, tshirts, sweaters, and all things in the color of black. Go me! (Ummm...on second thought, something tells me KK is not going to let me get away with the all black Angelina Jolie wardrobe...)

2. RESELL: I looove Goodwill. I love giving away things to Goodwill! I've got a whole PILE to give to Goodwill. (The problem is the pile is just that, a pile... more on this later.)

3. RESUSCITATE: Hm. The ol' closet needs this. Do you ever buy a shirt and know it looks kickass on you, and then you get home and it never quite fits right? What the hell do you do with that freakin' waste of space? My general answer is truck it around with you until you your weight changes dramatically enough that wearing that shirt is no longer an option. (Probably not the greatest choice. But then...my closet karma is shamefully lame.)

4. REORGANIZE: Ugh, I NEED this. I need to reorganize. I always wonder what the best way to hang things is. Generally, I'll put skirts with skirts, pants with pants, "ugly old shirts I keep out of sentimental nostalgia" with "ugly old pants I can't bear to chuck" together...You know. My closet tends to turn into a bad episode of "Hoarders." But I love the idea of organizing it by feelings! How does this make me feel? Great? Hot? Super hot? Frisky?

I think the reason I really love the idea of organizing your closet by feelings is because we should ideally wear clothes & accessories based on our feelings. As in, "I feel like poo today. I'm going to wear the outfit that makes me happiest! Kicky tights, bright colors, and the shirt that makes me look like I have Kim Kardashian's hot mama curves!" And the clothes I ended up buying in the store were the ones that made me immediately have an emotional reaction. As in, "HOT DAMN. I LOOK LIKE A SUPERSTAR!"

Mmm. I'm going to work towards an entire closet of Superstar.

How to Prep Your Closet For Your Jeans: It's About What You Wear WITH Them!

2010-03-09T12:32:02-08:00

Sometimes, it's not just about what jeans you wear...its about what you wear WITH your jeans. And if you're going to take the time and money to find the perfect 'fit' of denim, I suggest making sure your closet is ready for what's coming its way. Here are 4 fabulous, easy steps to prep your closet!

1. REFUEL your closet. Stock your closet with (*gasp!*) things you like to wear.

MY SISTER ASHLEY SPORTS A GREAT SCARF WITH HER FAVORITE PAIR OF JEANS.

I LOVE SCARVES AND BLAZERS AND BRIGHT HANDBAGS (LIKE SOLAS) THEY DRESS ANY PAIR OF JEANS UP. AND CASSIE IS ALWAYS A GREAT ACCESSORY!

I GOT THESE JIMMY CHOO'S ON SALE FOR 100 BUCKS FOR AN END OF SEASON SALE. RED NEVER GOES OUT OF STYLE AND THEY MAKE MY JEANS LOOK DRESSY!

If your budget is already busting, just "phone a friend." Clothing swap parties are a great way to do this! Throw a party with your gal pals, and ask everyone to bring items from their closet. Then...swap! My girlfriend Carol and I swap accessories all the time. Find your doppleganger in fashion and team up to expand your wardrobe.

2. RE-SELL! There are tons of ways to make money off your old clothes, whether it be Ebay or consignment stores in your area.

3. RESUSCITATE! Make time to give your closet CPR!

You need to find ways to recycle and reuse everything you decided to keep. Especially in a recession! Maybe there was a pair of jeans you just couldn't part with? So, find a way to make your denim dazzle. Fashion is cyclical, so it doesn't matter if it's trendy. What really matters is if your wardrobe make you feel fabulous!

BELOW IS A BASIC BLACK TOP WITH THREE DIFFERENT NECKLACES. SEE HOW EASY THE LOOKS ARE CHANGED? WE ALL HAVE ACCESSORIES SUCH AS THESE IN THE BACK OF OUR DRAWERS.

4. REORGANIZE! Treat your closet like a personal store.

Your closet should be a place where you can shop, and all the merchandise makes you feel marvelous! Try sectioning your closet by how you feel, not what color you wear. For example:

-"The I Feel Bloated Section": All of my wraps and shrugs live there so when I have a clothing emergency I know exactly where to go to cheer me up.

-"The Hot Mama Section": This section is for the mornings I wake up, and I think, "Hey Supermodel, you can wear that sleeveless dress."

-And on the days when I don't feel like Gisele, I have a section of clothes that make me feel and look thinner!

Finally, make your accessories accessible! Accessories are the key to feeling fabulous, no matter what your budget. A few tips:

-It's a Jewelry Box not a Litter Box! Don't just throw things in there.

-Don't let your necklace get tangled or things get lost. Believe me, the single earring look is not back in style.

Whether it be a scarf or a fabulous necklace, accessories are the key to Recycling your wardrobe. Good luck!

-KK

DO YOU THINK SOME CELEBS MAY HAVE HAD BETTER LUCK WEARING JEANS TO THE OSCARS?

2010-03-08T16:23:07-08:00

CASSIE, KK AND JESSICA PARTY OSCAR STYLE

Many of us are recovering from an Oscar hang over... The Fashion... The Speeches... The Food...Ok, maybe just my annual Oscar party is all about eating. This year we stuffed our faces in the honor of Julia and Julia.. that is Julia Child style... a lot of cream... a lot of beef... and A LOT OF champagne.

DISHING LOTS OF YUMMY FATTENING FOOD
WAS NOT VERY HOLLYWOOD OF US!

Now I am not a fan of fashion bashing.. I think everyone has a unique way of expressing who they are how they feel. BUT there was one choice that seemed to strike up quite a bit of conversation at my house... ironically it was one of the few starlets who did not succumb to the "hail the pale" theory...

What do YOU think of Miss Zoe Saldana?

One guest thought it was bold and daring... one thought it was a throw back to the "can-can era" and my husband said it reminded him of paper mache.. which got me thinking...

What's In? What's Not? Who the HECK CARES! I mean if it doesn't look good we should have the right to not wear it. I know that "nude" is all the rage in fashion right now.. the runaways are flooded with neutrals... but personal I think this Oscars made everyone look "washed out" which I know is better than "wash uped" but I am already extremely pale and I am not so sure I am ready to wear a color that makes me a walking bill board for "I NEED A TAN!"

Now on the contrary there are several women who look stunning in nudes and neutrals and I say "YOU GO GIRL!" but my theory is God made us all different and I think that ROCKS! So just like I won't force myself to wear "boy jeans" because I am short and they make me look like a took a dump in my pants.. I am going to pass on the pale dresses this season.. BUT I AM NOT negating the neutrals all together... I will most definitely be caught wearing accessories that celebrate this newest trend and I am totally supporting any woman who can rock out the newest hit on the runway! So my babbling point is... It is not about WHAT'S IN or WHAT'S NOT! IT IS WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL AND LOOK HOT!!! THAT IS THE CLOSET KARMA WAY!!!!

Teresa's Daily Lesson: Shopping is Better Than Dental Surgery

2010-03-05T10:21:38-08:00

Ok, so by now the pictures of my butt in Kara's last posts are all over the internet. Weeeell, I hope you all enjoyed it! Because this girl was not having a good time. No! I was not!

I was looking forward to going shopping for jeans like most people feel about their tri-annual trips to the dentist. NOT AT ALL.

I have several good reasons for this.

1. I have not been shopping for pleasure since grade school. I prefer the old tactic of "Oh my %*(@&# God, I have to have a black blazer for my interview in 2 hours, oh my @(*)#$ God where do they keep the black blazers?!!" Not like I've ever bought a black blazer. But you get my drift. I shop out of necessity only.

2. I have not been shopping with another girl since my sister went wedding dress browsing in 2005. No lie. To be fair, I'd just had my wisdom teeth out, and I was pretty hopped up on pain medications. So while the whole experience was mildly enjoyable, and fine, generally loving in a weepy family way, I'll chock it up to sisterly excitement and copioius amounts of dentist-approved drugs. And no, I don't know why I keep making references to dentists. Oh, no wait, scratch that. It's because SHOPPING = PAIN.

3. I'm not good at shopping. Kara gave me one simple task: Find 3 things you want to try on. Three. 1, 2, 3. I could only find 2. And I pretty much owned everything I'd just picked up.

4. Clothing stores confuse me. What size am I? What kind of pant is a 28? Why can you only try on one shoe at Nordstrom Rack?? Why do the dressing room doors not really close?! Ugh, the misery...

KK IS A LITTLE MORE EXCITED THEN ME TO SHOP!

I ended up bringing my two little items (plus the fifteen more Kara picked for me) into the dressing room and trying them all on. Maybe that's really the hardest part. Just picking it up, and putting it on your body. Giving yourself the chance to try something new. Because, really, I'll tell you, she picked some good stuff. Clothes I NEVER would have tried on. Clothes that felt good. Clothes that made me and Kara both ooh and aah.

KK SAYS IF I AM GOING TO CHOOSE NEUTRAL COLORS WHEN

I WEAR MY JEANS I NEED TO ADD A LITTLE COLOR TO MAKE IT POP!

I WOULD HAVE NEVER PICKED THIS TANGERINE, BUT IT'S SO FUN! I LOVE IT!

Oh. Is that why people go shopping? Huh. I gotta tell you, it was way better than having drooly chipmunk cheeks and watching my sister trying on poofy princess dresses while attempting to not pass out. This was definitely better.

ANYONE CAN FIND THEIR PERFECT DENIM I PROMISE... EVEN "T" FOUND HER PERFECT PAIR OF JEANS!!!

2010-03-04T11:37:35-08:00

Okay, people. So we all know February was brutally cold, unfairly frozen, and totally crazy. And these are the type of conditions that tend to help us "insulate" ourselves... (hey, the extra poundage helped keep me warm...right????)

I, for one, am ready for a little spring in my step. And what better way to bridge the winter world with the spring season than DENIM! After I took my favorite little closet-bomb, Teresa, shopping I knew it was my duty to dedicate a whole month to jeans! And, let’s be honest…Teresa needs Jeans Month. She needed Jeans Month last March. Really, she needed it in March 2004. Well, better late than never, right?

This month I will answer questions that have been perplexing the universe of jeans for a century:

How to wear them? How to not? How to buy them? When to stop?! And, most importantly, which pair of jeans should we leave in our closet to stay .....and which pair do we need to say, "JUST GO AWAY!"

Ah, I could talk about jeans for a year. (I’ll spare y’all my overly-enthusiastic fervor for denim and stick with a month.) A good pair of jeans can turn even the suckiest day into rainbows and sunshine, so let’s kick out the winter blahs and take a look at some ass-kicking jeans!

Remember Yesterday? Just in case I will remind you!

TAKE A LOOK AT THE HOT PAIR TERESA FINALLY TOOK HOME FOR $79.00 by J Brand WHAT A DIFFERENCE A PAIR OF JEANS MAKES!!

I APPROVE! NICE BOOTY "T"!

TERESA LEARNED TWO VERY IMPORTANT THINGS ON THIS JEAN TRIP:

1.) DON'T OVER SPEND. BUT DO NOT BE AFRAID TO SPEND WHEN THE SPENDING WILL DO YOUR BUM GOOD! BETTER TO PAY 80.00 FOR A PAIR OF JEANS YOU WILL LOVE WEARING THAN 30.00 FOR A PAIR THAT MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE YOUR BUTT MIRRORS YOUR 90 YEAR OLD AUNT MABEL.

2.) TAKING PICS OF YOUR BOOTY CAN HELP YOU DECIDE IF YOUR DENIM IS FLY! BECAUSE THE CAMERA, MY FRIENDS, NEVER LIES!!!!

HAPPY TERESA FROLICKING ALL THE WAY HOME!