former nyc resident

A few other KEY tips:
1. If you have nice shoes and a nice purse, you can get away with the rest of it.
2. Be sure to get your hair cut and colored before you go. Visit a department store and have them do a free makeover and then buy either that make up or cheapier drugstore imitations. Consider eyebrow waxing if you have the thick kind that need lots of plucking.
3. Get your nails manicured, short, light-natural gloss.
4. Don't wear some old watch with a ratty band, or any gold plated jewelry that is chipping off.
5. Buy yourself some new underwear, that will give you a lift.
WELL GROOMED! THAT IS WHAT IS ATTRACTIVE!

Donatella

Message to Coco:
Just wanted to say that I agree with you about tall women who wear little girl styles. Tall women can carry so many wonderful and sophisticated looks and they look elegant and classy when they do so. I'm 5'5 so I can't relate, but I do admire. Now that I know Stephanie is tall, I'm all the more glad for suggesting to her that she leave her loafers and pea coat at home.

xxx

Stephanie, I agree with the jewelry. If you have anything fussy, leave it at home. Can't stand to see someone with a couple of rings on each hand. Good for you for getting the boots. Black is a great color to stick with and you really can't tell the age of something with black if it is well taken care of. If you can, invest in a good pair of boots, a good handbag and thirdly, a good black cashmere sweater.

Monica

Stephanie:

Aerosoles makes great "pant boots" and they're comfortable enough to wear all day too. If you're not used to wearing any kind of a heel, this will be important.

nadine

Since you're a stay at home mom you probably don't want to invest in the things people have been suggesting, nor would I blame you. What you might want to do is some outlet shopping if that's available where you are. I myself shop in Loehmann's, where you can find designer clothes at greatly reduced prices. It's a great solution for looking good w/out spending much money. They also carry coats, shoes, bags, jewelry and scarves to complete your ensemble.

stephanie

OK, I'm back from first trip to the mall. I found a pair of Unisa boots but they're low boots - pant boots I guess. Don't know what I'm going to pair them up with but they're really nice- black leather, square toe, 1" heel, stylish. They feel great. If I can find a neat pair of black flares I think they;ll look good. Now I probably need another pair of higher boots for the long skirt but I couldn't pass these up. I'll head to another mall tomorrow. Thank you so much . Doesn't seem to be anything to bring woman together like shopping!

xxx

Stephanie, I believe Ann Taylor cuts pants on the long side as does Ralph Lauren. Glad you found cool boots! Nothing like a pair of new shoes to make you feel like a million bucks!

Sara

I have absolutely nothing to add to this but I have so much enjoyed reading it - gotten lots of chuckles and actually learned a bit. I am also very thankful that I live on the West Coast! I don't really like black (looking like everyone else) I love vibrant colours and much more casual!

Have a great time - do stand tall; my best friend is 5'11 and I have always been proud she doesn't slouch! I agree with new underwear - makes such a difference. Smile, you'll be beautiful!

xxx

Nadine, I don't understand why you think Stephanie wouldn't want to invest in a few things because she is a stay at home mom? Please explain???

J Correa

Sara - I'm with you - glad to be living on the west coast. No need to worry about dressing to impress. Everything is so much more casual here than elsewhere. I grew up in Santa Cruz where putting on long pants and regular shoes is considered dressing up, and jeans are the norm in all but the fanciest restaurants.

I like this thread though.

metoo

This is fun-Stephanie, we're rooting for you! Actually this post brought
up quesiton I'd like to know about.
someone said you could wear bootcut boots with a long skirt-i've always shied away from that cause I thought
it would look weird. Anyone expand on that?

Still

Don't you know, SAHM's should be sentenced to khaki's, jeans, sturdy flat shoes and parka's! Whatever would WE need to look nice for?

I'm obviously being incredibly sarcastic. I'm a SAHM and a very sharp dresser, who likes to shop, look nice and will put my wardrobe up against any working woman's.

Nadine didn't mean to say that, did you Nadine?

Cheryl

Metoo: Regarding your question on wearing bootcut boots with a long skirt, I've seen this done well and I've seen it done poorly ...much depends on the particular "look" of the person trying to carry this off. Not everyone can do, especially if you're short because if there is a break between top of boots and skirt it can look odd. It seems to best work with a very funky, modern young look (which can be difficult for a 40 year old to pull off and not look silly), or if the top of the boots fits close to your legs and hits just at the bottom of the skirt (so there is no gap).

Stephanie - Don't be afraid to invest in some classic, updated and modern clothes because you are a stay-at-home mom and may not wear them frequently. Just try to keep the styles classic, in neutral colors (you can't go wrong with black) with quality fabric.

nadine

I didn't mean to stir up any controversy here. My point was that Stephanie may not want to invest in these things since she either may not have the opportunity or the desire (or the money) to wear them in her daily life. I did not say that all stay at home mom's are not stylish dressers, however I imagine they don't have the same pressure to dress in a certain fashion as working women do. Therefore I was giving her an alternative on how to dress a certain way without "investing" in these things.

ncgrrl

I have 'office politics' concerns. Yes you want to look nice on the trip, but you are not to outshine the boss and his wife. One question -- have you even met these people before?

I hope this weekend is not a case of you getting to accompany the boss's wife while she splurges on fab stuff that is way out of your price range. And I hope she doesn't have the attitude that she can buy all the wonderful stuff because her husband is the boss while your husband is just a lowly employee.

I am not a fashion diva like some of the people here -- however -- if you do wear boots with a skirt please have the skirt hem cover the top of the boots. Even at 5'11" (boy am I envious) you don't want a break in your vertical line.

ddd

Nadine,

If you're stylish, you're stylish. Becoming a stay at home mom would not make a stylish woman less so, and would not make an unstylish woman more so. Your comment insinuates that SAHM's, on average, don't care much about being stylish and/or don't have very much money. That's what I read, anyway...

fashion

another fashion question since it was
brought up here-(i'm learning so much!). i never though to wear a scarf
with a turtleneck sweater-how do you do that - do you tie it, let it
hang down?? i can't get a mental image
of a scarf around a turtleneck?

Cindy

Pack black, simple clothes. Absolutely no sneakers.

stella

Just a piece of advice-I would not, I repeat NOT wear a new pair of boots, shoes for your shopping day! Wear them in an evening whatever but
wear a pair of comfy shoes you already
own (I agree no sneakers) even if its the loafers. Last thing you want is
to be in mega pain walking the city!

nina

You can tie it, or let it hang down. I generally let the sides hang down.

Last winter we were eating dinner out when in walked Patti Hanson, a former model and wife of Keith Richards. She was wearing black leather pants, a black turtleneck and a very large scarf (almost a pashmina), wrapped around and around, sort of like a cowl neck. She looked very cool, but then again it could've just been walking in with a Rolling Stone that did it!