Kimberly's Everyday Fall Fashion: The 5-second Outfit

I often ask clients when we first meet what their 5-second outfit is. This may seem like an odd question but at the heart of Canvas Styling, we are more realists than fashionistas. That sensational dinner party look may be necessary, but likely what you really need are effortless outfitting ideas for every day.

Outfitting On The Fly: Effortless Style

What do you put on when your morning seems to be working against you and you spill that cup of coffee down your blouse? Today I am asking that question and sharing my answer with you. My hope is you will find it helpful in coming up with your own looks that are equally resilient and chic.

Building Bullet Proof Looks

The secret weapon of a capsule wardrobe is universality. If you have to suddenly change your top, bottom, or shoes, having a well-planned capsule wardrobe makes that quick change easy. If you missed our capsule wardrobe series, check out this blog to learn more.

Shoes That Go The Distance

As stylists, we are constantly on our feet running around stores, crawling under racks and up SF hills to find that perfect client piece (never trust a stylist in heels).

Having a good pair of shoes to support you along the way is essential. Having a good pair of shoes that are stylish can be problematic. Which is why we are all capitalizing on the mule and loafer trend this season because they walk this line oh so well.

The pair pictured are from Banana Republic from a few years ago. They go with just about everything, but they have stretched over time. Here are a few a great alternative options (steal and investment).

The Jacket Sweater Hybrid

Move over grandpa and boyfriends, a new sweater cardigan is in town and we are smitten! I picked up this J.Crew Sweater Blazer a few weeks ago after much deliberation (the sizing is generous--but go by what shoulder and sleeve length work best. I am wearing a small). Camel has been a popular jacket essential for the past few years, but many of the coats are better suited for colder climates than SF. I love that this sweater jacket is Merino wool, so it keeps me toasty without the weight or size of a fully lined jacket. I can easily stow it away in a bag for the midday fall sunshine and pull it out when the fog returns.

Outfit Details: J.Crew Sweater Blazer $138, AG Farah High-rise Jeans $178, Black and White Linen Tee (Similar Caslon $25), Older BR Wine Flats (Similar above), Earrings Jessica Thompson Designs Triangle Pear $38

Velvet Crush: Megan Embraces Fall's Kimono Trend

I love the effortless glamour of a kimono. For years I've been wearing a vintage kimono that my Nana purchased in Japan. So this season, I was excited to see kimonos having their moment in the spotlight again.

The Perfect Summer-Fall Transition Piece

We've chatted before on the blog about how to transition your wardrobe from one season to the next. The kimono is a chic and easy way to update your wardrobe for fall. It's a light layering piece, but you can still find styles with enough weight to keep you warm when temperatures drop. My velvet kimono (pictured) is a lot heavier than it appears, which I love since it will take me well into the cooler months.

Ways To Style Your Kimono

Do you love the idea of a kimono but aren't sure if it's really your style? Right now you can find this trend in a range of lengths, colors, and fabrics, so you can really tailor the look to suit your personal style. If you are a jeans and t-shirt gal, try a longer version with high-waisted skinny jeans. If you are more of a classic dresser, opt for a shorter cut that will accentuate your waist when worn with a cinched belt and pencil skirt (a great update on office-chic!).

Outfit details: Goorin Bros. fedora, Anthropologie dandelion velvet kimono, All Saints Vana sweater, DL1961 Emma jeans, Free People metallic mules, vintage jewelry

Our Favorite Fall Kimonos

To help inspire you, we put together some of our favorite kimonos that are in stores and online right now.

Stay Stylish,
M&K

Fall Dressing In SF: Embellishment Trends

All month, we have been sharing some of our favorite Fall style trends. Today, Devon is taking over the blog to share what she's most excited about this season.

Stay Stylish,

M+K+D

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Looking into fall, I am most excited to spice up my basics with more fun embellishments. Maybe it’s the art school kid in me; but I love the adorned look (even if I’m not doing it myself.) Here are some of my favorite ways to incorporate embellishments into your everyday wardrobe this fall.

Patches...

You can thank Gucci for the current obsession with patches. Select a huge one or lots of little ones, grab an iron and you’re all set! Over-the-top embroidery is an easy way to elevate your wardrobe this upcoming season. Your denim jacket has never looked cooler.

Pins, and...

I get a pin or patch every time I travel and have many from friends and family. Enamel pins are a quirky way to personalize your look. Select a few that speak to your current mood and get creative! We love the latest local "Hella Good" SF Pin from Seldom Seen in Hayes Valley. them to almost anything--your go-to jacket, a tote bag, lapels and collars, baseball caps and so much more!

Pearls...Oh My!

Another favorite embellished trend, of course, are pearls. This fall, pearls aren’t just meant to collect dust in your jewelry box. Give these baubles new life by adding them in expected ways. Embellished denim, pearl-adorned footwear, even decorated sweatshirts are just a few ways to bring the pearl into 2017.

Insider tip: For a step-by-step to creating your own embellished jeans, check out my favorite blog post of the summer here.

Fall Dressing In SF: Kicking Up Your Mules

One of the hottest fall trends in footwear this year is the mule. We love that regardless of your style this silhouette is offered in a fresh mix of fabrications, colors and details.

Suede Maddy Mules at Nordstrom (BP section)

Mules: A Horse of Another Color

So what is a mule? Originating in France, this shoe can be considered the more sophisticated cousin of the clog. As you may have noticed, clogs have been creeping into the SF fashion scene for sometime now, so a mule appearance was bound to happen. If you are interested in reading up on the history, the mule has had a somewhat scandalous past in French society, but luckily better days are ahead for this horse hybrid. Here's a link to an interesting article on the history via HouserShoes.

Choose A Mule Style That Suits You

A few weeks ago I spotted this Maddy mule at Nordstrom and they stopped me in my tracks. I have been looking for a new comfortable shoe to wear on client shopping trips. Initially I wanted something a little more high style or metallic but these mule-loafers are practical and cute. It was a tough choice, but I landed on the mustard for a pop of color. This shade integrates with my existing fall wardrobe (I wear a lot of navy so yellow is a natural compliment).

Textured Mules at Ruti on Fillmore Street

Trends Come and Go, But Style is Timeless

As we have written before, just because something is a "trend" it does not mean you need to race out to your nearest store and pick up the "it" pieces. However, don't be afraid to bend a trend so you stay relevant. This fall there are so many different interpretations of mules whether it is a slide, loafer, or convertible style. Try on a few, you may be surprised with what you discover. 

How To Wear Mules and Not Look Like a Jackass

(Sorry Mom, that was just a bad pun). What we love about the new 2017 mule is that it is fairly foolproof. Because these shoes are backless they inherently show a little ankle, which makes them a perfect match for this season's ankle length pants, capris, skirts or dresses. The key is to show off the shoe. If you choose to wear them with flares or something with flowy fabric, add some height to the heel so they don't appear clunky.

Stay Stylish,
K&M

Fall Dressing in SF: Transition Your Wardrobe Like A Pro

Last year Megan and I shared with you how we transitioned our wardrobe by season. This year we are revisiting the topic and adding a few new tips to keep you on point and fashion-ready for fall.

Define Your Season And Dress For Comfort

Every city has its own weather patterns. In San Francisco our Indian Summer is always part of the Fall transition. You feel a crisp in the air, pull out that sweater, and BAM! its 90 degrees. Plan for what you can and be realistic. 

Bring Your Favorite Summer Pieces Into Fall

We wear our favorite denim all year long... yes, even white jeans! To give your lighter denim new life, try pairing it with a jewel-toned sweater.

We also like to keep a few sundresses in our closet that are good in warm or cool temps and infuse a new jacket or cardigan for easy layering.

Add Three New Items You Love

It's easy to jump right into a new season and want to start fresh, but fight the urge! Choose three new Fall pieces and introduce them to your closet. This will not only help stretch the wear of new pieces, it will keep you seasonally relevant. No one wants to show up to work in their wool dress and boots and be boiling by lunch.

Fall Trends To Shop Now

Try pairing your new leather jacket (we love Blank NYC motos for a vegan option) with Spring/Summer's gray denim. Add a Fall velvet pump (check out one of our faves) to a sundress to give it more gravitas. 

Stay Stylish,
M&K

Stepping Into Fall's Trends: Megan's Easy Work Dressing

It may not quite be fall in San Francisco, but we have been talking about Fall Fashion and what to wear to work for the last month at the Canvas office.  I've been excited about this post and have been waiting to share it for a while. Not only because I love Fall dressing, but also because this blue leather moto jacket is currently my favorite wardrobe piece.

Dressing for the Changing Seasons

Early fall is a tricky time to dress in San Francisco. While our East Coast friends are watching the leaves change and the temps drop, things are starting to heat up in San Francisco. This time of year Kimberly and I both love to mix our summer staples with fresh fall pieces. It is an easy way to transition our wardrobes into the new season.

What to Wear to Work This Fall

Since most of us spend more time at work than anywhere else, we want to feel on-trend while still being professional. The key is to mix in your trend-forward pieces with work staples in order to give them some new life. This year, instead of reaching for your typical work blazer, incorporate a cropped jacket with color or texture into your Fall work wardrobe.

Outfit details: Blank NYC leather moto jacket (similar), J.Crew ruffle tee (similar), Lucy Paris black crochet skirt (similar)

Dare to Be Bold

Bright saturated colors (especially red and blue) are very popular right now in leather and suede motorcycle jackets.  To tone down my bright blue moto, I paired it with one of my fave skirts from spring/summer. The edginess of the leather jacket with its metal accents plays well with the soft lace crochet of the skirt. If I get warm (which I do running around all day) I can take off the jacket to reveal a crisp white ruffle t-shirt underneath. Then when it cools down at night the moto can come back on for a bold evening look.

Stay tuned... over the next few weeks we will be taking more of Fall's hottest trends and showing you how to make them your own.

Stay Stylish,
M&K

Photos by Kelsey Johnson

Stylish Tips That Will Transform Your Travel

Labor Day weekend means that the last blissful days of summer are coming to a close. We filled our summer with plenty of travel, including Kimberly's epic trip exploring Amsterdam and the Dutch countryside, Megan's beach vacation and Devon's weekend visits back to NYC.

With so many miles of travel logged at the Canvas office, we've become seasoned pros at not only packing light but figuring out sneaky ways to make sure we have everything we need when traveling. To help you prep for your Labor Day travel (and beyond), we are dishing on our favorite cosmetic bags and beauty hacks that keep us stylish.

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Our Favorite Stylish Toiletry Bags To Stow It All

Megan's Sleek Multi-Tasking Toiletry Bag

I am a bit of an organization freak and need a travel case with lots of compartments. I love this bag from Nordstrom Rack because it has a top zipper section for makeup with special brush storage and a larger bottom section for my face wash, shampoo, etc.

Kimberly's Fit It All Convertible Toiletry Bag

I purchased this Toiletry from Flight001 in Hayes Valley and couldn't be happier. After years of making due with many little bag, this Spacepak holds it all for long journeys. I love that it has a hook to keep you hands free in tiny bathrooms.

Devon's High Style Stow It Toiletry Bag

My everyday cosmetic bag is stuffed to the brim with beauty products I rarely use. I recently made the switch to this more compact bag from Henri Bendel to focus on the products that actually work best for me. I love this pouch for traveling because I only bring exactly what I need, plus it's just super cute!

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Travel Beauty Hacks You Have To Try

From face masks to fragrance, here are our favorite hacks when getting ready to take off.

A quick oil-blotting solution

"Blotting sheets are one of my travel essentials. If I ever run out or don't have any on me, I use a toilet seat cover from the women's restroom. They're made out of the same rice paper as blotters and do the trick in a pinch" - Megan

Be a Masked Maven

"I pack a japanese or hydrating face mask (I like Dr. Jart's or Tatcha) from Japantown or Sephora in my carry-on for long flights. You loose so much water flying that I pop a mask on to keep hydrated while everyone is sleeping (yes it's a fashion statement) but the coolness also helps me sleep." -Kimberly

Put Your Samples to Good Use

"A sneaky travel beauty tip I love is free samples! During my everyday, I am a one fragrance-woman. Sadly, I cant bring my trusty perfume in my carry-on bad, so I love grabbing as many sample scents as I can fit in my toiletry bag. Use the travel restrictions as an opportunity to test on new products!" -Devon

Stay Stylish,

K+M+D

Travel Style Take 2: What to Pack for a 10 day Trip

How Do You Travel With Less AND With Style

I've helped many clients over the years pack the perfect travel wardrobe. It's part science and part art. Many people err on the side of fear and plan for too many unknowns or add a few extra things at the last minute (does that sound familiar?). I have developed the opposite problem--perhaps being too minimal in my travel wardrobe.

Make Your Own Rules

I believe less is more and when you have an action packed schedule, clutter only holds you back. Last summer I blogged about what I discovered traveling with less. While I loved the ease of packing up an going, there were a few times when my uniform felt, well boring. This year I pulled Megan in to help me pack and counter balance my urge to purge. Even as I write this, I already cut three items in the photo above to lighten my load (no workout gear and no floral dress). However, on this trip I will only be gone for 10 days (not 15 like before) covering two countries. I have the space to keep a few extra options.

Skip The Bulky Clothing

The one draw back for me was including a few bulky pieces to pack. The one shoulder crew shirt packs a punch but doesn't save space. To offset this I nixed the floral dress (not versatile enough and too bulky with lining) and made sure the other tops I chose were very compact and light weight. 

Pack Evening Wear

Last year I learned that in warmer climates, a change of clothes in the evening is a lifesaver to keep fresh (I blogged about it here). This trip I packed a few evening pieces--most were worn --but running back to the airbnb nightly rarely happened (there was too much to see). What I loved was wearing my jumpsuit or a dress for the day and packing my espadrilles in a bag to dress up my look at night. 

Pro Tip: When packing and you're tight on space roll your clothing and utilize packing cubes. They'll keep you organized on the go and save space and time by eliminating the daily repack.

The Packing List--My Equation

Shoes (3)

• Lace Up Espadrilles (Great for dress up not for mileage, lesson learned)

• Ked Sneakers (amazing power horse)

• Castel Minorca Sandals (travel day lifesavers)

Dresses (2)

• Sunhee Moon Linen Day Dress

• Uniqlo Striped Day Dress

Jumpsuit (1) 

• Uniqlo Day/Evening (warning do not fly or wine taste in--excellent for all other travel)

Bottoms (4)

• Denim Fray AG Legging Jeans

• Cream AG Stilt Jeans

• BR Navy Shorts (work horse)

• Club Monaco Black Silk Joggers

Layers (5)

• Jigsaw London cream Tie Cardigan 

• Ralph Lauren Polo Pullover Navy Sweater 

• Grey Cashmere Cardigan 

• BR Denim Chambray Shirt

• Zara Red Windbreaker

Tops (5)

• Ann Taylor Loft Blue Stripe Tank (workhorse)

• BCBG Black Silk Cami with Lace

• J.Crew Yellow Striped Off the Shoulder Top

• J.Crew Red Ruffle One Shoulder Top (workhorse)

Accessories (5)

• Blue Cap from Nordstrom Rack
• Mexican Tie Belt (vintage)
• Kate Spade Cross Body (workhorse)
• leSport Sack Day Bag

Other

• Ann Taylor Loft Low Profile Socks

Stay Stylish, 
K&M

Trend Hack: Embellished Jeans

This Friday we are turning over the blog to Devon! She is sharing how she is taking on the beaded denim trend and making it her own. We love the look and are tempted to pass her a few of our faded blues for fall. Read on how you can too!

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Taking a risk on a Trend

I often have this internal struggle between loving a new trend, and not wanting to invest in it. Certain styles come and go, but I still find myself wanting to incorporate them into my wardrobe. This season, in particular, we’ve seen a lot of over-the-top, glitzy add ons. I love a subtle touch of glam, and the embellished denim trend is just right.

 Investing Wisely By DIY

Luckily for me, this trend is the perfect opportunity to stretch those DIY muscles! Why spend almost $200 on something that will probably collect dust after a season or two? Below is my DIY trend hack that’s simpler than you may think!

 The Supply List:

• Old jeans (or hit the thrift store for a cheap pair)
• Pearls, beads, whatever you want!
• Needle
• Thread (white is best)
• Scissors

Plan your pattern:

There are many designs out there, but I liked the idea of a simple ombre pattern. Since I love to wing-it, this technique also allows me to mess up a little. For this effect, I started with more beading along the pocket and used fewer as I went down the leg. If you’re a planner, use chalk beforehand to lay out where your beads and pearls will go.

Tips and Tricks:

• Make sure your thread is long enough to secure Pearls when hand knotting. 
• String glass beads together in a bunch before securing to save time.
• Learn from my mistakes; make sure you move the pocket lining AWAY so you don’t sew it closed!
• Wash with care! The jeans are now a high-risk item in the laundry; spot clean as needed. If you must wash them, turn them inside out and air dry.

 The Final Product:

Honestly, this took way longer than I thought, but with a glass of wine in the evening, it was a nice way to unwind. Regardless, I feel like I have this little fashion secret. I can’t wait for the faces when I say I made them myself! Considering all the coin I saved, I will definitely be doing more DIY projects in the future.

Stay Stylish,
D+M+K

Kimberly's Off The Shoulder Summer Stripes

 

Easy breezy summer dressing in San Francisco can be an exercise in layers, but sometimes packing everything into a cross-body bag is not ideal. So, when I found this striped shirt at J.Crew I knew I had met my SF summer soul mate.

Choose Functional Fabrics That Match The Climate

There is nothing like shopping in San Francisco during the summer to bring on that summertime sadness. Flowy dresses, gauzy blouses and cute shorts line shop windows reminding us that summer is a season happening in cities across the country and outside our zip codes. How do you shop successfully? Start with the fabric weight! Look for items in heavier weights, blended with synthetics or merino wool to keep you comfortable.  This top from J.Crew is a thicker weight cotton (think sweatshirt w/o the softness) that can stand up to wind and fog. 

A Winning Look Transitions

Aside from the fabrication and happy yellow stripes, the silhouette of this shirt makes it easy for summer. The bow cuffs can be pushed up and the off the shoulder neckline can be worn above the shoulders if temperatures dip. I chose to pair the top with a high waisted denim from Madewell that would keep me covered regardless of how I wore the top. Add a pair of espadrilles and you are comfortable for whatever summer weather SF throws your way.

ProTip: Recycle your used jeans at Madewell and receive $20 off a new pair.

Stay Stylish,

K&M

Outfit Details: J.Crew Striped long-sleeve off-the-shoulder top On sale $39.99 (reg.$78), Madewell Denim $129, Lace Up Espadrilles (similar bargain, similar investment), Skagen Watch, Marc by Marc Jacobs Sunglasses (similar)