5 Benefits of Tailoring Your Clothes

by Serena Duffin | Mar 25, 2023 | Fashion

Are you constantly dealing with a waistline that doesn’t quite feel comfortable in off-the-rack garments? If so, it might be time for you to invest in the luxurious benefits of having a tailor! Having regular personal fittings is an ideal way to ensure your clothing fits perfectly and looks modern-day. Additionally, by investing in quality tailoring services, you could benefit from the timeless craftsmanship of custom designs. From finding and altering hidden treasures or creating original pieces – tailor services are all about making your fashion dreams a reality! Read on as we discuss why crafted fashion is essential for anyone over 30.

How a tailor can save you time and money by customizing your wardrobe

A tailor can be a great way to save money in the long run. By opting for alterations rather than purchasing entirely new items, you can take that ill-fitting dress or jumpsuit and have it altered to fit your body perfectly. In many cases, tailoring is cheaper than buying something new, and you get the added benefit of having exactly what you want. Additionally, with proper care and maintenance, tailored clothing can last longer and hold up better than off-the-rack pieces – ultimately saving you money down the line. Here’s an example of a blouse that I loved last year (on the right) that I found to be a tad outdated this year. I took it to the tailor that I have been working with since moving to Dallas and had him crop it to make it fresh for spring

The impact a tailored look can have on your confidence

Tailoring is essential to achieving a polished, stylish look. With the help of a tailor, you can take any garment and make it fit your body perfectly. Additionally, you can customize details like lapel width and hemlines for a truly personalized fit. Not only does tailoring improve the comfort and fit of clothing but also adds sophistication to any outfit. This small investment can go a long way towards making you look sharp and put together – no matter if it’s for professional or casual occasions.

Tips for finding the right tailor for you

When choosing a tailor, it’s important to consider the quality of their work. Make sure they have experience with the fabric and style you’re looking for, as well as experience in tailoring different types of garments. Take a look at some of their previous work to get an idea of their craftsmanship. Additionally, find out what type of alterations they offer, what fabrics they specialize in, and if they offer any guarantees on their services. Doing your research beforehand will help ensure that you choose an experienced and reliable tailor who can do the job to your expectations.

The importance of proper measurements for a perfect fit 

So many people misjudge their size. When it comes to tailoring, the most important thing is getting the correct measurements. If you go in for a fitting and your clothes don’t fit properly, there’s no amount of tailoring that can fix that problem. As such, make sure that whoever takes your measurements does so carefully and accurately.

Here is a helpful guide to use when getting your measurements taken. Keep in mind that these numbers are all subject to change so it is always best to be sure that you have updated measurements before starting any major custom-made project.

Professional tips for how to care for tailoring services 

If you’re going to invest in tailoring services, it is important to know how to care for your items properly. The last thing you want is a suit that looks worn out after just a few weeks of wear. Here are some professional tips on caring for your custom-made garments:

1) Always check the care tag on the garment

2) Take care when removing and putting on

3) Handle with care

4) Avoid washing and drying at high temperatures

5) When in doubt hand wash it out!

Tailored pieces look more polished and sophisticated than anything off-the-shelf, so investing in tailoring can help you stand out for all the right reasons. Having a perfect fit for your clothing is essential for looking and feeling your best. An accurately sized and tailored look can take an outfit from drab to fab in an instant. I also use a tailor to duplicate a dress pattern that really suits my figure. A case in point is a simple but beautifully designed dress from Zara that I wanted to replicate in a more luxurious fabric. My tailor was able to copy the dress pattern and make it in a gorgeous silk chiffon. I then had him adjust the fit to suit my figure, which made all the difference. For this more information on how I spring clean and refresh my closet check out this post.

A tailor can help you stand out for all the right reasons. Having a perfect fit for your clothing is essential for looking and feeling your best. An accurate size and tailored look can take an outfit from drab to fab in an instant.

Clever Ways to Cover Your Arms This Spring 

by Serena Duffin | Mar 16, 2023 | Fashion

As the weather warms up, it’s time to break out our favorite Spring wardrobe. But, if you’re like many women, you may be feeling a little less than confident about baring your arms. Don’t worry! We’ve got you covered with some clever ways to cover your arms this Spring. From sheer sleeves and cold shoulder blouses to DIY Sleeves, we’ve got everything you need to know about how to keep your arms covered and still look fabulous this season. Let’s dive in! 

Protection & Modesty 

First things first — why should you cover your arms? Not only is protecting yourself from the sun’s harmful UV rays important for skin health, but many women simply prefer the modesty of wearing something that offers coverage. For me, it’s just not warm enough to be fully embracing sleeveless styles and I like a little something to offer me some more protection that’s not a coat or jacket. If that’s the case for you, never fear — there are plenty of stylish ways to do just that. 

Sheer Sleeves  & Lace Sleeved Blouses 

One of our favorite go-to solutions for covering up your arms this Spring is sheer sleeves. These delicate pieces offer a sheer layer of protection from the sun while still allowing your skin to peek through. They come in a variety of styles and fabrics from lightweight chiffon to lace and can be found on blouses, dresses, and even sweaters! Plus, they add an extra layer of texture and dimension that instantly elevates any outfit. 

1. The Bennet Buttondown Shirt: Sheer Edition
2. Mynah’s Reynu Taandon Sheer Bow Blouse
3. Women’s Stephanie Floral Off-The-Shoulder Blouse 

Cold Shoulder Blouses

If you’re looking for something with a bit more coverage than sheer sleeves, try opting for cold shoulder blouses. This style offers an elegant touch of detail while still providing some arm coverage without sacrificing style or comfort. These looks can easily transition from day to night without missing a beat! I also think that the collarbone and shoulders are always beautiful features for a woman to show off!

1. Ramy Brook Women’s Lois Cold-Shoulder Blouse
2. Women’s Wool Off-The-Shoulder Peplum Sweater
3. SIMKHAI Cambria Marble Off Shoulder Pullover

Detachable Sleeves & DIY Options 

The beauty of detachable sleeves is that they allow you to have complete control over when and where you want arm coverage — plus they look great too! You can easily add detachable sleeves to any sleeveless dress or blouse and go from day to night in an instant! And if detachable sleeves aren’t quite what you’re looking for, don’t worry — there are plenty of DIY sleeve hacks out there as well! Style Icon Colleen Heidemann took to Instagram last week to discuss this very topic! She’s fond of using the sleeves from old sweaters to create her signature always-covered arm. Such an easy and very edgy way to get this look for less! The Mindy Blouse that I have is really well done, there’s a tiny button under the sleeve that fastens it to the cami which is another easy solution.

1. Style Icon Colleen Heidemann
2. Mindy Blouse in Petal Pink
3. My Little Secret, Detachable Sleeves

The Right to Bare NO Arms!

No matter what look you choose this season, remember that it doesn’t have to be all about showing off bare arms — opt for one of our clever sleeve solutions instead! From sheer sleeves to detachable sleeves and DIY hacks galore, there are plenty of clever ways to cover your arms this Spring while still looking fabulously fashionable at the same time! So go ahead — give one (or more!) of these looks a try today and rock those fabulous fashion finds with confidence!

For more of our favorite Spring fashion favorites, check out our blog post here!

The Power of Small Changes in Your Life

by Sonia Lovett | Mar 9, 2023 | Fashion

We often think of big changes when it comes to improving our lives, but small changes can be just as powerful. Whether you’re feeling stuck or just want to take your life up a notch, small tweaks can make a world of difference. Let’s look at the power of small changes in your life and how you can start making those changes today.

Start with the Small Stuff

Personally, if I don’t start with a clean slate, I can’t move forward. With Spring now on its way it’s time to get out of under our inevitable winter clutter and into a breath of fresh air! Before anything else, I like to create a list of all the little things. Tasks that seem insignificant but still linger at the back of your mind. For me, this starts in my closet.

I can’t update my wardrobe without a clean slate. Every year I thoroughly edit my winter wardrobe, which for me is the hardest part as I am always trying to keep something that might come in handy later. Does that happen to you?

Then I go through and hand wash all my cashmere and silk before I put it away. It would be easier to send it to the cleaners but that is not as good for your delicates and honestly, it just feels good to do!

Here are some of the items that help me do that:

• Woolite
• A drying rack
• A good steamer
• Storage boxes

Make Room for the Good Stuff

As you might know by now there is a new member on our team which I have been calling our #ResidentStylist. The first time she came into my closet was decades ago, and she gave me some direct, but sage advice.

She said, “Mother if you don’t want to look like sh*t, don’t put your sloppy clothes at the front of your closet.” With that said, she took my daily cotton tanks and sweats and moved them out of my direct reach.

Instead every day I’d see my silky camis and comfortable but stylish pants front and center. She was the first to introduce me to the leather bomber jacket combined with dressier clothes. That was a long time ago and is worn by many today.

Keep Your Closet Organized

Some of the items that come in handy to “Style your Closet” you might already have. I am in a smaller place now and these are some of the things that are coming in handy.

Slimline hangers are a must for my closet, they’re perfectly slender yet they’re also strong and durable. But best of all they allow you to hang your clothes together as close as possible, which frees up more space. Another one of my favorite closet space savers is pant hangers with hooks. Pants can be quite bulky, so this storage solution is particularly helpful.

I’ve also been using clear acrylic drawers that are stackable. They’re relatively inexpensive and the see-through acrylic is a big time saver and keeps everything looking uniform.

For scarves and belts storage I have been using acrylic filing boxes. Not only are they functional but they also keep items, that might otherwise look cluttered, organized, and easily accessible.

Bags, clutches, and wallets can be difficult to keep organized, but I have found that using filing separators is quite practical. It’s a great way to display the bags while also keeping them neat and organized and not falling over when you pull one out for the night.

I have found that it is important to keep my jewelry organized because otherwise it’s easy to lose or it ends up in an unsolvable tangled mess. I love using the velvet neck busts for my necklaces but some other helpful organizers I have been using are acrylic drawers and trays for all my odds and ends.

Small changes like these can set you up to be more organized and lead to making more intentional decisions. Plus, when you explore the power of small changes in your life, you have time for more important things like spending time with family and friends.

To save even more time, we’ve added all of my favorite organization tools to the Style Beyond Age Amazon Marketplace.

Look for Inspiration Online

If you’re looking for styling ideas, then you’ll find plenty of inspiration on Instagram, regardless of your age. My goal there is to show you how to bring a contemporary edge to your style without looking out of place for our age. You can follow me here!

If you find that you’re often caught wondering what to wear, snap a pic of an outfit that inspires you. Or take a picture of an outfit that you’re wearing to keep in mind for next time. There’s no shame in exploring your style through the examples of others.

Make Room for New Habits

It doesn’t matter how big or small these habits are—what matters is that they help bring joy into your life and add value.

Maybe you want to read for 30 minutes every day or start taking an online yoga class twice a week. Maybe you want to go on a retreat but are too reserved to put yourself first. This is an ingrained habit we should break from time to time. Empower yourself. It will give you the energy you need to help others.

Be Open to Change

One of the most important things about making small changes is being open and flexible. Don’t be afraid to try something new! If something doesn’t work out, don’t give up—just adjust accordingly and keep going forward until you’ve found what works best for you. After all, we’re all unique creatures with different needs and desires; why not embrace that?

In the end, the power of making small changes in your life is exhilarating! By taking care of those nagging little tasks first, then focusing on healthier habits and trying new things, who knows what amazing opportunities could come knocking at your door? For me, it was an entirely new life in fashion after 65!

Don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone and let yourself explore new possibilities; after all, sometimes the smallest change makes all the difference in the world!