As the leaves begin falling and the brilliant palate of fall colors show their glory, what do I think of?? “Oh no, its time to give up wearing my sandals!” As many of you know, I am a warm weather person. My toes get cold if its below 60 degrees. I wish I was kidding!

Go ahead, keep wearing those sandals, but I’ve moved on to “the bootie”!  To add some spice to your fall bootie game, here are a few I can’t resist.

Most of us wear jeans as the main staple piece in our wardrobes come fall. That means we have to find a way to update that look, especially when a change in season is upon us! This is the perfect boot to take your outfit from basic to cool!

This knit bootie is perfection when paired with a dress and tights. It’s also a great swap when you don’t want to wear a pump with pants. Don’t let the pattern in this one stop you. Consider this a solid black when styling.

Ulla Johnson! I love the subtle details. Animal prints are on everything this fall, my advice is to keep it simple

Rain boots have come a long way in the style department. They also keep the chill out, even if it’s not raining.

If you haven’t been to the new SJP Sarah Jessica Parker shoe store at MOA, you must! This camo bootie is from SJP and its so darn cute.

The SJP store is also filled with classy pumps in a rainbow of colors. If you are searching for a unique hue to make a black dress pop or to match colors to a bridesmaid or special dress this is the spot.

Looking for a bit of guidance searching for the right fall footwear? Look no further. Whether its shopping for a bootie or clearing out your sandals, I am here to guide you!

CLICK ON IMAGES FOR LINKS TO PRODUCTS

Link to website: LynneKehne.com

How does one acquire a “style”?

I grew up on shopping. As a young girl, one of my favorite things to do was to shop with my grandmother. She was ahead of her time in so many ways. She golfed and sold real-estate and hosted countless women’s gatherings at her house in Minneapolis. This was the “Dayton’s era”, when we were just two of the many that would travel to downtown Minneapolis to shop. From the Dayton’s bargain basement to Young Quinlan, on Saturdays we would scour shops for something new.

Back then, as it still is today, style is about how things fit your body and how clothing makes you feel. I learned from the best. We bought the finest quality we could afford, and splurged once in a while when the piece was just perfect. Each treasured purchase was scrutinized by my grandmother and I, and sometimes by my mother and sister, if we were able to drag them along. Those two didn’t enjoy the process; they couldn’t comprehend how you could spend an entire day searching for “what”? That was a valid question.

Sometimes it’s hard to describe what the hunt was all about. Looking back on those shopping experiences, I was walking a fine line between fitting in, at my young impressionable age, and gaining confidence in not wanting to wear what everyone else at school was wearing. I guess you could say I was searching for “my style”.

My grandmother had style and she helped me develop mine. Sometimes she would push me out of my comfort zone and encourage me to try something I wasn’t 100% sure of. Usually she was right. The questionable item always made me feel special and ended up being one of the best things in my closet.

My grandmother’s sister, Bernice, would come to town from Michigan City, Indiana every August, at the height of the fall shopping season. I was working for Dayton’s FYI shopping service at the time, so the downtown store was our first stop. Chicago and New York were her usual stomping grounds to shop. But, when she came to Minneapolis and found a Bob Mackie dress in the Oval Room, Minneapolis became a worthy shopping destination!

As each August came and went, and I assisted Aunt Bern with her shopping, I realized that picking just the right things for one’s body type and lifestyle takes a little practice. I was in awe at how Bern, with a discerning eye, could find the most unique and classy pieces that perfectly fit her vogue style. Little did she know she was training me for my future.

In my grandmother’s later years, I became the mentor. When she was in her 90’s and still caring about fashion and how she looked (which was no surprise), we were in a fitting room trying on a blue silk Eileen Fisher dress and jacket. As she peeked at herself in the 3-way mirror, as she always did to get the view from every angle, a darted scowl came across her face as she said, “See that hump on my back? I can’t wear this!” Of course I thought it was beautiful on her, but we were headed back to the sales floor to continue our hunt!

I’m telling you this story because I was reminded of those earlier days this past June, when I was privileged enough to be a part of a fashion show with the residents of Deephaven Woods Senior Living.

The models ranging in age from 70-90 years young, descended on Chico’s of Wayzata to select outfits for their first annual Spring Fashion Show. Each of these ladies had a “style”. They were all fashionable, confident women. It wasn’t difficult assisting the models in selecting the outfits that best featured their personality and made them feel special. This experience confirmed what I have always believed; that we acquire and develop our own sense of style over time, and I realized you can’t put an age on it.

Approximately 80 people from Wayzata, Deephaven, and Minnetonka attended the Fashion show. Attendees embraced the sheer joy of these women in all their glory. A shout-out to my friend Kelly Clarno, the Sales and Outreach Director of Deephaven Woods, for inviting me to be a part of this wonderful lesson on style!

Wardrobe Goals

Is it finally time to shed those layers? Can we really pack-away the parkas? I have to say I’m usually the last one to ditch my turtlenecks this time of year.

Springtime can be iffy in the weather department, so our wardrobes must to be ready for whatever mother nature throws our way. Getting through April looking springy without freezing to death can be tricky. But, with a little planning, you won’t be caught off guard. Just like the weather, spring to summer dressing can be a slow transition. Here are a few simple steps to follow:

1. Make a list of spring/summer events; graduation parties, weddings, showers, weekend getaways

2. Remove heavy sweaters, wool pants and coats from your closet and dry clean them, I highly recommend Mulberry’s Dry Cleaners

3. Move all “spring to summer” and “fall to winter” transitional pieces front and center in your closet and make it a priority to wear them now      

4. Take a bootie, shoe and sandal inventory

5. Keep light colored suede jackets and boots in the rotation for early spring wearing

6. Take out all darker accessories including heavy winter handbags, think lighter and brighter moving forward

Must haves for your Spring wardrobe

Bring on the florals for spring. From active wear to formal wear floral prints continue to be an obsession.

Snakeskin Prints

My personal favorites

This is a gradual tan facial serum that can be used every day to give a little glow to your skin or to keep-up the glow after a beach vacation.

AGOLDE Jeans – frayed hem ankle

This is the perfect time of year to try something new! Instead of making the same old New Year’s resolutions that are oh so tough to keep, how about a new mindset as we start another year.

Here are a few ideas to get you thinking in a new way in 2019.

               Cut the Clutter

Declutter a room, entryway, closet, drawer, or cabinet. Having too much “stuff’ can be stressful. If you never take inventory of what you own, it’s hard to see what really makes you happy. Paring down your belongings, and keeping organized spaces in your house can be one of the biggest time savers. Living in less clutter and having designated spots for things can have a calming effect on your mood.

Vow to take 10-20 items out of your wardrobe that you haven’t worn in 2 years. The goal here is to be mindful of what you own and to try and understand the emotions behind why you hold on to things. It can be a literal tug of war if you happen to be a “clothes horse”, yet so want to be a minimalist. Owning fewer items that you cherish can be accomplished.

Marie Kondo has a new Netflix series (I highly recommend) that mirrors her book about cleaning up and decluttering your living spaces. While working with a family that was overwhelmed with too much “stuff” Marie asked, “are these the items that you want to take into your future?” That is such a great question. Buying new things and not getting rid of anything just adds to the confusion. Take a step back and consider wearing and keeping what you love the most.

My philosophy has always been that your closet is a valuable piece of real estate, so what you put in it must justify the space that it takes up.

                  Something New

Post-holiday is a good time to ponder trying something new.

Try a new beauty product; it’s amazing the variety of cosmetics and body lotions you can find that are natural and sustainable. Check out the environmental working group’s site where the group lists and rates hundreds of skincare & beauty products based on toxicity levels. You can look-up what you are currently using and see how it rates. https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/

I found a body lotion and face cream from “Just the Goods” that are truly natural and very affordable. I highly recommend The vegan lipstick in Sweetheart Rose.

https://justthegoods.net/

https://justthegoods.net/products/vegan-lipstick-by-the-all-natural-face-in-sweetheart

If you love fashion and can’t wait to wear the latest trends (me!!) try Rent the Runway. It isn’t just for special occasion dressing; they offer many work and weekend options too! Explore top designers, newest colors, and hottest styles, your pocketbook and the landfills will thank you.

“Buy less, live more – Inspiration for women ahead of the curve.”

tps://www.renttherunway.com/plans?act_type=top_nav_anon_gated_t3

Proud to be a Pink Partner! This is a cause close to my heart. My mother passed away in 2010 at the age of 70 after a two year battle with Inflammatory Breast Cancer.

 

 

I’m partnering with Park Nicollet Foundation and Park Nicollet Jane Brattain Breast Center to help ensure local women in need access to breast cancer screening. Throughout October, I will donate $25.00 for every “Closet Consultation” appointment booked and the proceeds will benefit the Jane Brattain Breast Center Mammo a-go-go Community Outreach Program. This initiative brings breast health education and no-fee mammogram screening and no-fee diagnostic follow-up into our community.

 

Click here to learn more about the Jane Brattain Breast Center, the Be Pink initiative, or to make a direct contribution: https://www.parknicollet.com/specialtycenters/jane-brattain-breast-center/be-pink

 

Click here to book your closet appointment: LynneKehne.com