Call it a sign of the times, but I’m starting to see more and more convertible clothing. (As in multi-functional, no topless car needed.)  Perhaps it is a combination of the trends of the 80’s meeting head on with the weak economy that continues to plague 2010.  What’s that you say?  You don’t remember convertible dressing of the 80’s?  Well, my friend, let me remind you of one little store: UNITS.  The queen bee store that marked the oh-so-clever belt which was also a mini skirt, that was also a longer skirt, that was also a tube top, that was also a strapless dress.  Ahhhhh, UNITS, modular dressing.  Hit that store, get a perm, tease your bangs and you were like totally bitchin‘.  I found this marketing statement about Units: “modular clothing for the masses expressing individuality through apparent uniformity.”  What????

So, fast forward 25 years and here are two examples of a modern convertible dress. Look around and you will see the trend continue to grow throughout 2010.  You truly do get extra mileage for your money and they are great for packing for a trip.  So, look through these and let us know: would you drop your cash, or credit card, for these convertible goods?

Donna Karen’s Infinity Dress, released this past fall, set the bar for what convertible dressing can do.  Of course, I wish it were half the price, but goodness the options!  Man, this dress, really does pull it’s weight.  With this dress, a pair of leggings, a pair of jeans and a few shoes, you could seriously pack for a week long trip.

Click here to see even more options for this amazing dress.  Neiman Marcus, Saks.  $895.00

Other options of this dress are available at Net-A-Porter.….for just a bit more.

For a less expensive option, but a few less options, see The Convertible Dress by Victoria’s Secret, on sale for just $79:

Look for designers to continue to embrace zippers by incorporating in options for convertible clothing, which will continue to expand in 2010.  Zippers have been on the rise in past years, and are stronger than ever in 2010.  Designers everywhere are stating that their lure for women to buy is the creation of pieces that work in several ways.  Easily convertible OR easily adapting to a multitude of situations, you will be able to find some pieces this season which should be ones that can cover both weekday and weekend and perhaps even some evening wear….all from the the same piece.  And look for reversible belts.

While they may not be convertible, J Crew has just released some exposed zipper black jeans.  You know if J CREW has now embraced the tough exposed zipper look, it’s HERE.   So, be on the look out.  When you see some examples, send us a picture and a price.  You never know when we’ll return to this topic and we might just include your photo!

J Crew's toothpick jean with zippers, $125

Miss a post this week?

• Interview with the fabulous Julia Reed
• Have you been to DIGS?
• Clarisonic Opal- THE hot new beauty gadget for 2010
• A virtual art tour of local galleries
• Our fabulous Consignment Sale is coming up!

P.S:  I’ve never done a P.S. before but I’m feeling the need to break rank with the blog for a minute. This is a style blog….more lifestyle really.  But, I have been overwhelmed by the news from Haiti.  Posting about Convertible Dressing is fun and breezy but sometimes the juxtaposition of life events and a style blog are hard to digest.  A couple weeks after the Tsunami hit Indonesia, I remember standing in line to buy a heavily discounted sale item (remember the Tsumani hit during post Christmas sales as well).  I was in line, and I just started weeping.  Utterly weeping.  I had to leave the store.  Take that moment and know that it has happened time and again to me in the past few days, but this time for Haiti.

So, that being said, if you are feeling the need to lend an extra hand this weekend, we have a great way to do it:  donate any extra warm children’s clothing to the Nashville Rescue Mission and drop them off at Fabu.  Nashville is not Haiti, but on these cold days, the homeless population here in Nashville is desperate for warm clothes and donations are down. While at Fabu mention StyleBlueprint get 30% off on jewelry (excluding consignment jewelry) through the weekend.

Being a stylish person means inner and outer beauty.  Cry at the news.  Be moved.  Help Haiti and if you have extra warm children’s clothes, help our Nashville children as well.  The owner of Fabu will bring the clothing to the Nashville Rescue Mission.

Have a great weekend.  Hug your loved ones.  Linger over a great meal and enjoy this precious life.  Elizabeth and Liza

Remember when shopping meant having fun with your girlfriends and hitting the mall? Add a big Coke, with a lid and a straw, throw in a big pretzel, and life was pretty good.  To think back about that kind of fun shopping trip, I might have to add waiting on the curb for my mom to pick me up.  Seriously.  When did shopping become such a dreadful chore?  (OK, for all of my friends who are screaming BS: I do like to shop.  I just hate crowds, lines and time constraints.  There, is that more fair?)

I think a combination of factors leaves many women looking for deep reserves of stamina and bracing for the worst when they shop for clothes.  I could write a TON on this topic, but that’s not my purpose today.  The purpose of today’s post is to let you in on a great deal, which is a great deal of fun as well.  Kinda like getting your shopping groove back!

Just this past Friday I met up with a group of Kindergarten moms at J. Crew at 9:00 a.m. Yep, you read that right, 9:00 a.m.- a full hour before the store opens.  We were meeting up with a personal stylist to whom we all had emailed our sizes, needs and wants.

A total of 7 of us gathered at the J. Crew at Green Hills Mall and met with Andrea, one of their 5 women’s department personal shoppers (they also have 2 for men). She pulled pants, skirts, cardigans, dresses, tee’s and belts.  The dressing rooms, for which of course we did not need to wait in line, became our little party area.  We swapped clothes around as we found what we liked and didn’t like, and appropriately oohed and aahed over each other, and equally appropriately said “NO WAY” to other things.  We had fun with all the attention given to us and with the clothes we found.  A couple of the women were convinced that J Crew pants didn’t fit their shape and were pleasantly surprised to find some pants that did fit them, and fit them well.  So, if you think J. Crew doesn’t fit you, you might want to try again and see if you, too, are surprised.

AND- we all got 20% off our bill!!  I have your attention now, don’t I?

Let’s recap:

• We got the ENTIRE store to ourselves at 9:00 a.m.  (and we could have gone as early as 8:00 a.m. and who doesn’t feel special when the door is unlocked for you and immediately relocked to bar anyone else entry?)
• We had a personal shopper helping us who already had our information upon arrival
• We all got 20% off our entire purchase!
• And, we had fun.

So, here is the skinny on this deal:

• You grab at least three friends, for a minimum of 4 people. (It’s advisable to keep the group to 4 if you need lots of attention.)
• You each agree to buy at least $125 in clothing
• You get a personal shopper assigned to you and you can meet as early as 8:00 a.m.
• You get 20% off your purchases that day
• You need to call ahead of time so the store can arrange a time for you.
• You can get added to your personal shopper’s email list and she’ll make you aware of sales and promotions.

The rest of the story:

So you don’t want to get a group of friends together but you really would like this personal service?  Well, make that appointment and go in during this pre-business hours time, and have the store all to yourself with 100% attention from your personal shopper.  You will be amazed at how much you accomplish.  Who cares that you won’t get the 20% off that the group gets?  You WILL be getting a ton of value added service for FREE. For goodness sakes, you could leave your purse in the middle of the store as there is no one in the store but YOU!  Who knows, they might make a deal if you spend over $500, which is the total commit $$ for a group of four…..I have no idea.  Probably not.  But it might be worth the ask, right?  Either way, take advantage of this service as shopping may prove fun, once again!

Oh, Wait!  Let’s not forget to use this service for the men in our lives….again, they may not want a group of 4, but wouldn’t we love them to have a little one on one personal shopper assistance?  That suggestion just may get your fingers dialing.

J Crew: (615) 298-5722

Thanks to Britt for setting up our girls morning of shopping fun.  Thanks also to Jeannie, Mary, Ashley, Robyn, and Libby and our personal shopper Andrea for including me!

Have fun!  Shop away at J. Crew and smile brightly when you get to leave the mall at 10:00 a.m. …..just when everyone else is entering in.

Let your friends know about this great deal and about us, Style Blueprint!  Thanks, -Liza

Trace Skin Care, click on image for more details

.

A friend of mine was lamenting the fact that her closet was a wreck, and as a result, she was having a difficult time getting her summer wardrobe together. After leaving her high powered job, she had lots of “work” clothes, but very few hang out with the kids clothes.  She asked, “What do you wear in the summer that’s casual?”  My first response was “NOW THAT’S AN EASY ONE.”   Could it be that we all gravitate to uniforms because they are both familiar and mindless?   Here is my classic summer uniform…most of which is stuff that will be trashed by Summer’s end… it looks like this:

Michael Stars T-shirts. We heavily endorse these tops at StyleBluePrint.

Absolutely, a passel of  Michael Stars T-Shirts. They have free shipping offers about once a month so  JUMP ON IT.  In my closet I have: 2 white, 2 black, a brown, and a charcoal grey.  They look fabulous with skirts, shorts, and even under a business suit with pearls.  One size fits all at $31.00 a tee.

Next, on to Target to get a couple of skirts or even better: skorts (Liza hates skorts, I love skorts.  I don’t get her: how can she not embrace these?).  I found my favorite blue jean skort there a couple of years ago.  I finally tossed it when the zipper broke.  If Target does not fit you or ALL THE SMALL SIZES ARE GONE, head to Old Navy.  They have skirts in various shades of denim and white.  If you hit Old Navy at the right time, it can be a gold mine.  Also, while TJ Maxx fails in the skirt department, they do a great for active wear with plenty of work out pants and tennis skirts.   Did I mention that I absolutely can NOT stand capri pants?  But, I know they are a mainstay for many; the clam-digger length is more my style.

Athleta Sunburst Skirt; $49 www.athleta.com

Next, splurge on a great fitting skirt or skort from Athleta. For those of you that don’t know, the GAP just purchased them.  The BAD NEWS  is we now pay tax on online purchases, the good news is….NOT SURE YET.  Maybe that they stayed in business? Let’s hope the prices go DOWN, with the quality staying fab. I have truly loved most things I’ve ordered from this catalog.

J Crew Stretch summer weight bermuda. On Sale: $39.50

J Crew Tissue Ruffle V-neck; $32.50

Shorts: I like the Bermuda, longer style.  J Crew has a stretch bermuda and I always buy a couple each summer (and they always have some fun tees that you could look through as well). If you want another splurge item, buy a pair from Tory Burch or your favorite higher-end designer.  I know: they are shorts, but the pricier ones WILL look better and will see you through a few casual cocktail parties as well as moments of just needing to look pretty darn cute this summer.  A nice short can pull you through many functions in this modern world and need not be constrained to the poolside.

J-41. STyles range from $89-$99. available from www.athleta.com or J-41 website.

FINALLY, Look on the j-41 website for the cutest casual shoes in the history of America. I have several pairs and continually receive compliments.   Not only are they happening with style, but they are made from 100% recycled and recyclable packing.  I love the soles since they are also from partially recyclable rubber with a cool road map on the inside soles.

Donald J Pliner Glair Sandal. On Sale Zappos. $175-$193

My partner for this site would kill me if I didn’t put down her favorite all around, go with everything, yet pricey shoe for summer: The Donald Pliner flat Glair Sandal. And, it really does carry you from day to evening, casual to dressier.  And, it is comfortable enough to make you doubt your Reefs or Rainbows.  The metallic color goes with everything.  They are last years model, so they are on sale at Zappos for $193.  Other colors are as low as $175.

Now you are outfitted and good to go for Summer.  Don’t forget your sunscreen.  Hmmmm, you still need that coverup though…..more later in another post!