New Year’s Resolution #3: Take a r...

Are you a cautious person?

I know I am. Someone I used to work with often teased me for being risk- and change-averse. And it’s true.

In matters of personal style, though, I often think it makes sense to throw caution to the wind. Here’s how I look at it. What if you were to try something different — two colors (or three!) together. Or the addition of a jacket with an outfit you’ve never worn that way. Or, say, a shoe that doesn’t “match” the rest of your outfit but that pleases you nonetheless in that combination.

Really — what’s the worst that could happen? Will people line up in the street to jeer you? Will you lose your job, your dignity ….? Of course not!

So why are we so afraid to take risks? What’s the worst that could happen? We all make mistakes — it’s just that in this arena, our mistakes only last as long as it takes to get back home and change our clothes.

But on the up side — when we take those risks, we sometimes discover things about ourselves we never knew before.

Like, for instance, that we look awesome in that particular shade of green. That our red shoe looks amazing with our purple dress — and everyone seems to agree. Or we look good in that kind of hat, something we’ve never worn. I often hear a complaint from my clients that they have no style — and my standard response is that they simply need to be a little less careful, to add that something extra to their outfit — even if they’re a littl unsure about it.

So next year, let’s all resolve to take a few more risks.

Try a new hairstyle (it will grow back!) or highlights. Go crazy with nail color. Add a layer or an accessory to your outfit before walking out the door. Buy a handbag in a … gasp! … color! And please, let me know how your risk-taking works!

(Note: Images are, from top, from B. Jones Style, Style & Pepper, and Fashion for Nerds — personal style blogs by three fantastically creative women.)

Perfect summer bag — Found!...

A while back, I wrote about what I look for in a summer bag. I thought I’d found it but alas had not. (I didn’t (more…)

Andean Collection: Great jewelry for now...

I had the great pleasure of attending a fun trunk show event at the Anthropologie accessories and shoe store in Chevy Chase, MD. It was a perfect thing for a Sunday early afternoon. The best part was the jewelry in the trunk show, though — by New York-based Andean Collection.

Those who know me know I adore jewelry, and clients know I am always on the lookout for cute jewelry that makes a big impact at a low price point. These pieces fit the bill. I quickly found what I wanted for myself (in Eucalyptus). (Very, very unfortunately, I was unable to find any pictures I could upload here.) Even though I liked it right away, I wasn’t sure it would look great with a lot of stuff I own, but it turns out that because it’s in the right colors (for me), and so are most my clothes, it looks great with a lot. I also splurged on this (in coral). It’s got a great hippie vibe, which I love.

A few other favorites are here and here.

The best part of the jewelry is that it is made in Ecuador by women artisans from renewable resources, namely, tagua and acai nuts. As the company’s owner described it, the tagua nuts are harvested twice a year, shaken down by men who climb the trees for that purpose. Everything about the nuts that aren’t used for jewelry are used for something else, either fertilizer or other things. The jewelry has empowered the women artisans to buy things for their families they wouldn’t have otherwise been able to afford. All this, and the jewelry looks great, too!

What’s your favorite looks-great clothing or accessories that also has a great story behind it?

(Ketura Persellin is a DC-based image consultant and personal stylist. Contact her for a complimentary session designed to identify that strategy that will most easily get you the style you’ve always wanted.)

Shoes deserve your attention, too...

Shoe diversity by KeturaP featuring open toe pumpsS

Some women are more adventurous with their clothes than with their shoes — they realize the don’t want only black dresses, pants and T-shirts, but they don’t quite see that the same principle applies to their shoes, too.

My advice for this type of woman is to start slowly. You don’t want to shock your system. Consider a nude heel, the shoe of the moment. There are variations at all price points and heel heights. They look fresh and modern with almost everything. The other shoes to have are some sort of animal-textured heel or ballet flat. They’ll go with almost everything, too — and add immediate interest to your go-to basics. (Just don’t be afraid to mix them with other prints, too.)

From there, you can just go crazy — a colored ballet flat, metallic sandals, colored strappy heels. Go crazy!

What’s your most adventurous shoe, and how do you wear it? Leave me a comment and let me know — I want to hear about it!

(Need help finding the best shoes? Ketura Persellin is an image consultant and stylist in Washington, DC, and area suburbs.)

What to wear to beat the heat...

Keeping cool in the heat by KeturaP featuring metallic gold shoes

It’s hard to know what to wear when it’s beastly hot outside, but here’s what I came up with — what works for me personally:

First, a bare-up-top top/tunic/mini-dress. This can work on its own or over cropped, breezy pants or some sort of longish shorts. (Many women complain that their upper thighs rub together when it’s hot, which is why the pants or shorts work. Or just put some bicycle shorts on under the minidress.)

Next: flip-flops. My go-to flip-flop of choice is the Birkenstock Gizeh, a fresh pair every summer (because I wear them into the ground). But this pretty gold flip-flop is a nice alternative. Certainly we don’t want to be wearing rubber ones all summer, do we?!

Next, big earrings. Why’s that? Because it gets too hot to wear a lot of other jewelry — bracelets, necklaces, rings — they’ll all make you sweat. It’s often just not worth it. However, unless you are rock climbing or something, it always looks better to wear a cute pair of earrings.

Water — gotta rehydrate!

A big ethnic-inspired bag. I love a good summer bag, one that doubles as a weekend bag or beach bag or whatever.

A great nail polish, in a great color. It’ll act like another piece of jewelry.

Finally, a scarf or shawl for when the sun sets and it gets a little chilly, or when you duck in to a movie theater during the day as a respite from the heat, only to find that you’re suddenly freezing.

Have I left anything out? What are YOUR staples when the mercury soars? (And what will be on your playlist?)