All that Glitters

December 3, 2014 Benjamin's Boutique Blog Alterations in Pompano Beach, bling, fashion tips, gaudiness, glitter, meeting the parents, new years eve, seamstress in pompano beach, self edit, sheen, sparkle, style, tailor in pompano beach, what to wear

All that glitters is not golden…
I’m all for a little well-placed dazzle but there are times that you need to step away from the sparkle, dangle and shine. Believe me – I get the saying, she who leaves a trail of glitter is never forgotten. But there are times you need to dull your light – figuratively of course – never spiritually!

1) On the job – save those stunning, flashy heels for another time of day. The office environment – regardless of the casual, funky nature is really not the venue for shimmer – save it.

2) First dates – okay – this one is dicey – he asked you out because he likes who you are…but head to toe sparkle is a little much. You can throw in a piece here and there – maybe pair the sequin skirt with a more casual top or dial in the flashy heels – but keep your ensemble neutral and muted.

3) Meeting the in-laws….you may think – hey, they should get to know the real me – why try to hide my light….well, I get the thought process – but consider things from their perspective and tone it down.

4) A funeral – leave the dangly earrings at home – this is a somber occasion and not the time to insist on drawing attention to yourself. Unless you are celebrating the zeitgeist and style of the deceased because they believed that there can never be enough glitz and glamour….just don’t.

I know, I know – every girl was born with glitter in her veins and we should never, ever let anyone dull our sparkle.

Do Knot be afraid of the Skinny Tie…

September 12, 2014 Benjamin's Boutique Blog Alterations in Pompano Beach, fall fashion, fashion, fashion staple, Gentleman, hipsters, how to tie, knots, Mad Men, Men's style, not just for hipsters, skinny tie, style, trends

Don’t fool yourself – the skinny tie is not a furnishing reserved for hipsters. Nope – the skinny tie has been around – it has stood the test of ins and outs – spanned Connery to Mad Men to Timberlake. The skinny tie should be in the lineup in every man’s closet. Initially you may think of the skinny tie as the formal go to player but you can call this one up off the bench for informal occasions as well. The secret is in the knot. You can go one of four ways with the skinny tie knot.

1) Casual – aim to keep the knot loose and asymmetric for a laid-back look.

2) The four-in-hand knot – this is a standard, simple knot that works well with skinny ties.

3) The half-windsor – this is a smaller and less bulky knot than the traditional Windsor yet still stylish.

4) Last but not least – if you really want to shake things up try an exotic knot – the Eldredge – this knot works best with solids or patterns – as far as venues go save this knot for celebratory – it’s complex and better served in that setting.

So if you’ve been rocking this look for a while – try a new way of tying it…and if you’ve reserved judgment – take the leap and buy your first one – you’re sure to get plenty of compliments!

Stripes and Dots after Labor Day…We Can Do It!

While we typically think of polka dots in candy color spring and summer pastels and stripes can harken to the days of Audrey in her summer boat neck sweater – these two prints are easily translated to fall fashions. It may seem obvious but truly the trick is to move into the next season gracefully – taking color and pattern into account. This fall, fashion goes for stripes, dots and stunning graphic prints – they are everywhere from ready-to-wear to accessories.
1) News flash – what’s black and white and red all over…stripes! Break the story in big, thick magic marker prints.
2) Stroke of genius – horizontal and vertical are certainly still on trend but a stripe can take the form of chevron or zebra – rock this out in unexpected color combinations – just by removing white as the base color you transpose the look for fall.
3) Dot, dot, dot – don’t think Julia at the polo match in the ubiquitous brown and white dress – switch up the polka dot in contrasting hues – here again when white is extracted from the palette in polka dots you’ve opened the door to this pattern’s wear-ability in the cooler seasons.
4) Spot on – polka dots do not have to be an all-over pattern – try a solid sweater with a smattering of dots – groupings of three will make your point.
5) Circle up – try the polka dot trend in an outerwear piece – what better to brighten a gray day than a swing trench featuring droplets of color.
There you have it – stripes and polka dots aren’t going anywhere because they are classic – so just like you no longer pack away your white jeans when the clock strikes midnight on labor day – with the right cut, color and pattern configuration you can wear these timeless prints year-round.