The office let you know that returning to work is inevitable. Postponed events are suddenly rescheduled to happen right and left. You haven’t seen a lot of your friends, family and coworkers in some time and you want to make a great impression upon the big “return to normal life”.
You look in your closet to plan out your outfits, and the realization hits you – you have nothing to wear. 

You think to yourself, maybe it’s time for a fashion refresh. I can get a few new pieces to revamp my style. In reality, the answer to your problems is probably a little more than just a “fashion refresh” – and there’s a big reason for that.
There’s been an entire cultural shift in fashion since the pandemic. 

The pre-pandemic clothes style of well tailored suiting, pumps and skinny jeans are officially out. 
Meg Gallagher offers personal shopper services to handle this exact sort of situation, but it’s important to understand why we’re seeing these dramatic changes in fashion, and how you can personally meet the wardrobe demands of a post-pandemic lifestyle. 

The American Psychological Association reports that weight gain and disordered eating spiked during the stress of the pandemic, resulting in a massive collective experience of unexpected bodily change.
To account for the many days at home – looser, flowing and forgiving clothing styles were favored for comfort across the country. After two years of wearing sweatpants and house shoes, the idea of wearing pumps and well tailored suiting again has completely lost relevance. 

What are We Seeing in Fashion Today?

The world has changed, and a lot of us are getting pulled back out there. How do we navigate these extreme cultural shifts in our return to work, events and social outings?

First, you’re going to identify ALL of your daily needs, work needs and expected future events – Yes, BEYOND just day-to-day and work! You may not be going to the office much yet, but you also might not fully realize the big picture of postponed up-and-coming events that will suddenly reschedule as the world reopens. Think about what you achieve in a day. Do you need fitness clothes? Do you need great tops for your zoom meetings that can carry you into your back to work wardrobe?
Pull out your calendar and identify everything that’s happening this year, including what you hope and want to happen too. Dinners, functions, weddings, events, travel, fun and everything in-between! You’ll want to build a well-rounded and thoughtful wardrobe that can handle the occasional surprise. Don’t wait for life to get too busy!!!

Once you know what kind of outfits you will need, it’s time to identify what you have in your closet.
In Meg’s process – when it comes to wardrobe reflection – she always tasks herself with a closet edit to get rid of pieces that no longer serve a purpose. 

HOW TO EDIT YOUR CLOSET: THE BASICS

-Get rid of pieces that don’t fit your body or don’t fit comfortably.
For two reasons:
1. Keeping pieces that don’t fit your body inevitably make you feel bad. Getting rid of lingering “guilt pieces” and filling your wardrobe with clothes that flatter your current frame supports positive self esteem and body confidence!
2. Keeping clothes that are uncomfortable is a waste of closet space! We all know you’ll never want to wear it if it doesn’t feel good! If you like how a piece looks, it’s worth replacing with a similar piece that is less itchy, less heavy, fits better, etc.

-Identify changes and get rid of pieces that are no longer relevant in your lifestyle. 
Changed your workout routine? Have a new job with a different work culture? Do outdated trend pieces fill up your wardrobe? Old event dresses that you don’t see yourself wearing again? Did you move to another state with different weather patterns? Did you go through a major life or identity change such as motherhood, marriage or divorce?
What ever the change may be, it is worth being supported and reflected through your wardrobe.

-Get rid of or store away stuffy pre-pandemic office clothes.
 Swap low waisted, tailored pencil pants for high waisted, flowy trousers. If your office is more casual, swap skinny jeans for straight leg jeans. Change your tailored blazers to oversized blazers. Trade out pumps for kitten heels and low heeled mules.

Want an in-depth step by step guide on closet edits? Click here. 

Now that your clothes are edited down, you’ll need to make a 2022 shopping list. Review Our Summer Checklist to get yourself started.

If you are ready to make a change and bring a bit more comfort and style into your business attire, consider Meg Gallagher’s Return to Office Package for purchase. Further, view my personal styling services to work with me one-on-one (or as a couple) so that you can fall back in love with a closet that fully reflects your present day career and lifestyle.

The post Signs That It’s Time to Refresh and Update Your Style  appeared first on Madison to Melrose.

TOP 6 POPULAR STRAIGHT LEG JEANS

These jeans are famous for their great fit, and are the perfect pairs to update your 2022 wardrobe! Shop the crowd favorites below.

Your Guide on How to Wear Straight Leg Jeans

We’ve all heard it by now… Skinny jeans date you. And their replacement on the market is a familiar 90’s silhouette: the Straight Leg! In previous posts, we’ve introduced the growing popularity of easygoing silhouettes such as the wide leg, Levi’s signature wedgie straight, and Flare Jeans.
We’re going to teach you the basics of how to wear and style straight leg jeans in 2022. This includes what tops to wear, cropped vs. uncropped, shoes to wear and how to style straight leg denim for the office!

Some quick notes about straight leg denim before we begin: 

-This silhouette is neither too wide nor too skinny. Therefore, it’s ALL about breaking up the proportion and adding shape to your silhouette to achieve balance.
-This denim is going to typically be non-stretch. If you’re used to stretch-friendly skinny jean sizing, you might need to size up!
-Pay attention to the rise! High rise and mid rise are most popular, but low rise is becoming more available.

WHAT TOP TO WEAR WITH STRAIGHT LEG JEANS

The average compliment for skinny jeans was a billowing blouse, tunic and all sorts of bigger-on-top pieces that bring balance to the thinner leg silhouette. With straight leg jeans, the balance is nuanced. You run the risk of looking sloppy or wide by pairing volume with the roominess of a straight leg.

The key is breaking up your silhouette. Tucking a blouse, tee or sweater will help add definition to your outfit. Need a guide on how to tuck your shirt? Check out this shirt and sweater tuck tutorial here.
Body suits and tank tops are also a great way to break up the shape of your silhouette!

IMAGE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: How to wear a body suit paired with jeans, a tank top tucked into jeans, a sweater tucked into jeans, and a blouse tucked into jeans.

CROPPED VS. REGULAR FIT STRAIGHT LEG JEANS
(And what shoes to wear with them)

HOW TO WEAR CROPPED STRAIGHT LEG DENIM

An excerpt from Straight A Style:

• DO buy your cropped jeans where they hit a couple inches above your ankle. You want them in the area where your legs start to narrow from the calf or a little below.
• DO NOT buy your cropped jeans were they are touching your ankle bone.
• DO NOT buy your cropped jeans were they hit it the widest part of your calf. That is too high on your leg. You DO NOT want a capri.

If the shoe is right, cropped denim can actually lengthen your leg! Pair your cropped denim with heels, mules, slim ankle or sock boots that start where your cropped jean ends (to avoid an unintentional strip of skin showing). For the lengthening effect to be successful, avoid chunkiness around the ANKLE (chunkiness in the sole of your shoe is fine) – This keeps your leg looking thin and long rather than wide and short. 
We love this Crop Guide Called “The BEST Jeans, According To Your Calf Shape” by Refinery29.

IMAGE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: How to wear cropped straight leg jeans with sneakers, sandals, ankle boots, heeled mules and flats.

HOW TO WEAR REGULAR STRAIGHT LEG DENIM

With this easygoing loose style of jeans, just about any combination of shoes work as long as the ankle remains slim. Be aware that bulkier soles are a harder wear with the extra fabric hiding the thinness of your ankle!!! Make your look especially sharp by wearing a shoe with a pointed or slim toe.

IMAGE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: How to wear straight leg jeans with ankle boots, heels, sneakers, boots and mules.

HOW TO WEAR STRAIGHT LEG DENIM JEANS IN THE OFFICE

The Post-Pandemic office culture has created more opportunities to introduce casual pieces into our office wardrobe! 
If you want to wear denim to the office, stick to non-ripped mid to dark blue, black or white (We have a guide on how to style white jeans here)! Save acid wash colors and ripped jeans for evenings out and weekends. Surround the denim by elevated pieces such as a tucked in blouse, double breasted blazer, heels and jewelry. 

Want to modernize your wardrobe with a professional stylist?
Personal Stylist Meg Gallagher can help you build your 2022 style.
Check out her services here.

The post Your Guide on How to Wear Straight Leg Jeans appeared first on Madison to Melrose.

Every year, we look forward to the fashion shows of New York, London, Milan and Paris to inspire and guide our personal style. We’re identifying the micro trends of the Fall 2022 shows for fashion inspiration that we can embrace even now in spring! Check out our recap analysis and 2022 style guide below!

New York, Peter Do

Founded on fine tailoring, functionality, and wearability, Peter Do proposes an elegant uniform for the modern woman. Inspired by classic menswear suiting with a focus on clean lines and strong silhouettes boast a confident blend of sophistication, whimsy, and inherent wearability. – as described by SSENSE

The trends: Experimental layering, Razor-sharp Pleating, Utilitarian Details (pockets and self-tie straps), Oversized Puddle-Trousers, Strong Shouldered Blazers

Shop the 2022 Style:

London, Nensi Dojaka

Nensi Dojaka creates a balance of fragile and powerful with tiny straps, angular cutouts and contrasting mesh.

The trends: Shape-defining straps, Sexy cutouts and Tights.

Shop the 2022 Style:

Milan, Versace

The saturated Y2K-reminiscent colors that have captivated Gen Z this year define Versace’s collection. Electric blue, bubblegum pink, chartreuse, bright purple and hot red are complimented by pinstripe and houndstooth pattern.

The Trends: Corset tops are the new crop top/tank, Platform heels are the shoe of 2022, Y2K Colors for tops, bags shoes and accent pieces, Houndstooth and Pinstripe paired with bright colors.

Shop the 2022 Style:

Paris, Valentino

Valentino’s show was a saturated display of head-to-toe fuchsia! Hopeful, bright and an easy wear amongst a multitude of skin tones, we’re all in on the tonal dressing.

The Trends: Tonal dressing, Shine and texture defining your outfit, Fuchsia is the new pink.

Shop the 2022 Style:

Balenciaga’s Tribute to Ukraine

Balenciaga made headlines as creative director Demna used his platform to pay tribute to Ukraine in Paris. A note from Demna was given to guests to the Fall 2022 show stating “The war in Ukraine has triggered the pain of a past trauma I have carried in me since 1993, when the same thing happened to my home country and I became a forever refugee.” Models trudged through an artificial snowstorm as a message of resilience. Balenciaga’s show can be viewed here:

Three Ways to Donate to Ukraine:

The post Define Your 2022 Style! A Fall ’22 Fashion Show Recap appeared first on Madison to Melrose.