Do you stare into the abyss of your closet and think you have nothing to wear? See things that you never wear? Do you find yourself wearing the same thing over and over? If you answered yes to any of these questions, I can relate.

A few months ago, I was extremely frustrated with my wardrobe and more importantly, my closet. It’s one of those things that can never be big enough. I invited my friend Kristen (a fashionista and a Bucklette BFF) to be an objective voice as I “cleaned house” and decided what to keep and what to toss. For five hours, we went through my closet piece by piece. There were items I had never worn and items that were on life support. It was a totally liberating experience – one I don’t think I could have pulled off without the help of someone who had no personal attachment to the threads, kicks and baubles that I had purchased and accumulated over the years. It also helped that I decided beforehand to trust her opinion and toss if she said toss.

I ended up donating almost half my wardrobe to the Salvation Army that day. What was left was a lot of space (yikes) and an opportunity to rebuild my wardrobe and create a new personal style for myself.

The first step? Evaluate my lifestyle and define my new personal style mantra. For the most part, my lifestyle tends to be on the casual side. I work out of a home studio so there are no office rules I have to follow. But I do venture out of the house once in a while and I love to dress up and be girly when the occasion arises. So my mantra? As Rachel Zoe would say, “luxe but casual”. I want laid-back comfort and high style.

With my friend Kristen’s objective opinion and a little help from Vogue, InStyle and Lucky, I set out to create a list of things I need — essentials to replace some of the pieces we laid to rest and a few items I don’t have. Armed with my style mantra and shopping list, I’m now in the process of rebuilding my wardrobe. With a style guideline and my list, I’m finding it’s a lot easier to build on what’s already hanging in my closet (now that I can see everything) and avoid impulse buys that I’ll regret later. Here are a few things on my list:

a. Leggings. Alice + Olivia Tubular Knit Leggings available at shopbop.com.

b. Tall black boots. Walk for miles in these perfect city boots. A decent heel and comfy too. Faryl Robin “Dahling” boots. Available at shoes.com.

c. A versatile dress. Simple and flattering, this dress works well for a meeting or a dinner date. Diane von Furstenberg ‘Julian’ Dress. Available at Nordstrom.

d.  A colorful scarf. An easy way to brighten up any outfit, this Italian linen scarf comes in 23 different colors. Available at tobi.com.

e. A great jacket. The lightweight Sheri Bodell leather jacket shown above was my first purchase. I got it on sale at Nordstrom and get lots of compliments on it!

If you find yourself ready to clean out your closet, may I suggest enlisting the help of a trusted friend. It’s also possible to hire a stylist for a day. The tips, tricks and newfound appreciation for some of the things you may have overlooked in your closet will be worth it. On top of it, what a great way to start off the new year!

I have to admit, I rely way too much on basic black. It’s easy, slimming and it always makes things look more expensive. One of my resolutions this year is to branch out with more color and more texture. Here’s an idea with a little sparkle too: the Bucklette Buckle and belt paired with a French Connection skirt, a Michael Stars tee, and a beautiful Magaschoni cashmere wrap. I’d wear this for a nice dinner out.

French Connection skirt, Michael Stars tee, Magaschoni cashmere wrap + the Bucklette Buckle

Stay tuned for more of our Lookbook Series where we’ll suggest ways to wear both the Bucklette Buckle and the Bucklette Clip-On. And if you’re rocking a Bucklette and would like to share, email a photo to info@bucklette.com. Way may include it in our Lookbook.

If you happen to be in New York between now and March 1, I highly recommend this exhibition. I saw it at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and it was incredible!

Calder Jewelry
December 9, 2008–March 1, 2009
The Helen and Milton A. Kimmelman Gallery, Lila Acheson Wallace Wing, Modern Art, 1st floor

American-born artist Alexander Calder (1898–1976) is celebrated for his mobiles, stabiles, paintings, and objets d’art. This landmark exhibition will be the first museum presentation dedicated solely to his extensive output of inventive jewelry. During his lifetime Calder produced approximately 1,800 pieces of brass, silver, and gold body ornaments, often embellished with found objects such as beach glass, ceramic shards, and wood. Calder Jewelry will feature approximately 90 works—bracelets, necklaces, earrings, brooches, and tiaras—many of which were made as personal gifts for the artist’s family and friends. While Calder’s more diminutive avant-garde creations converged closely with the aesthetics of the modern age, they always remained personal and unmistakably Calder.

For more info, visit The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s web site.

Hate always carrying a handbag? Try Bucklette.

Let me just start off by saying that I hate carrying a purse around with me all the time. Sure, I think they are stylish and fashionable, but if I am going to be out drinking or dancing, the chances of me spilling something on it or forgetting to bring it home with me are pretty high. Once, I accidentally left my purse filled with my wallet and other valuables at a Cold Stone Creamery in Ardmore and didn’t realize it until I was almost back at my apartment in Philadelphia. I made my boyfriend drive all the way back.

Thankfully someone turned it in and nothing was stolen. Recently, I’ve gotten into the habit of just shoving my keys, ID, credit card and lip gloss into my pockets just to avoid carrying a bag– but that solution is neither comfortable or safe.

So when I saw the adorable design and practical  approach of Bucklette, I knew I had to have more information. Bucklette is a compact carrying case that clips on to a waistline or is available in the form of a belt and buckle. What makes this different than other hands free items (think fanny packs) is that it is actually incredibly stylish.

This chic, hands-free accessory was invented and designed by fellow Philadelphian, Sandy Alexander, a graduate of Moore College of Art & Design and the former Creative Director for Comcast. Of course, as soon as I found out this ingenious product was made by a local girl, I reached out to see if she could give me some more information on Bucklette. Here is what she had to say:

phillyBurbs: Bucklette is such a different idea when it comes to women’s accessories. What inspired you to create this product? How did you go about designing it?

Sandy Alexander: They say necessity is the mother of invention. In my case that’s very true. I love to dance, go out to dinner, concerts and sporting events. But sometimes a handbag is just inconvenient. I was always bumping into people or wondering where to put it when I needed my hands free. I stashed my essentials in odd places (lipstick in the cleavage, money in the shoe) trying to avoid carrying a purse. What I needed was something unobtrusive, stylish and secure that I didn’t have to worry about.

One night, I was at a restaurant and my friend’s purse was stolen. At that moment I knew there had to be a hands-free, worry-free alternative. But I couldn’t find one that I liked, so I started brainstorming and the idea for the Bucklette was born.

I found a Philly silversmith named Jen Roder to create my initial prototypes (Jen has her own unique line of jewelry made out of sterling silver and recycled bottle caps). I provided drawings with measurements and specific functionality details and security issues that we needed to consider. From there, she created the very first models using copper. They were pretty simplistic, but we were able to figure out most of the engineering tweaks needed to create a model that would become the basis for the Bucklette.

pB: What is the product made from and how is it created?

SA: It’s made from a recyclable, lead-free metal here in the US. Each Bucklette is cast individually from a mold, but the assembly and finish are done by hand. I’m on the Upper Merion Environmental Advisory Council so making a green product as close to home as possible was very important to me.

pB: What can women expect to carry in the Bucklette? Why do you think it is a good alternative to a purse or bag?

SA: The Bucklette was designed with interior “nooks” to accommodate the essentials: ID, credit card, house key and lipstick. Plus a few folded bills stashed under the key. Some of our customers tell us that they don’t wear lipstick, so they use that nook for cash or maximize the nooks for other items.

I think it’s a good alternative to a purse or bag for many reasons.

Most women will admit their handbag is full of stuff they don’t need to carry around with them all the time. And it can be heavy! The Bucklette frees you from that and paring down to the bare minimum can be liberating!

It’s also great because it’s completely hands-free. You’re free to dance, free to socialize, free to enjoy yourself without dealing with a handbag. It safely stows your items and is secured with high-powered magnets and interior clips to hold everything in place. Plus there’s never a fear that your purse will be stolen.

pB: What made you decide to include the bird and branch on the current design?

SA: I’m completely intrigued by Greek art, architecture and mythology. My overall concept is based loosely on Greek goddesses and the design of the current Bucklette is inspired by Chloris, the goddess of flowers and the personification of spring. The flowers are my favorite– peonies. I also wanted to create a feminine design since the material and finish I’m using is so industrial. I love the mix of girly but edgy at the same time.

pB: Are you working on more designs? What can women expect to see in the future?

SA: Absolutely! More designs, different colors and I’m getting a lot of requests for a male version - something more masculine. I’m also going to be introducing a removable attachment to the belt for a cell phone. Think Bond girl!

pB: Where can women find this product? Is it available in stores?

SA: Both versions of the Bucklette are available at www.bucklette.com. In addition, the Bucklette is available at Honey B’s Boutiquein Norristown, JKarma Boutique in Old City Philadelphia, and The Art Shop at Moore in Center City Philadelphia. I’m also in the process of adding additional stores around the Main Line area. Eventually, nation-wide.

For more information on Bucklette, visit www.bucklette.com.

The Bucklette Clip-On with jeans - our favorite way to wear it. Just attach to the waistband of your jeans, pants or skirt. It’s made with a tight, sturdy clip, so no worries about the Bucklette falling off.

Stay tuned for more of our Lookbook Series where we’ll suggest ways to wear both the Bucklette Buckle and the Bucklette Clip-On. And if you’re rockin a Bucklette and would like to share, email a photo to info@bucklette.com. We may include it in our Lookbook.

The Bucklette Clip-On - no belt needed

It’s resolution time. What’s on your list? Going to the gym? Eating healthier? Becoming more charitable? Here at Bucklette headquarters, we think a lot about the environment. We compost, are mindful of our energy consumption and we reduce, reuse and recycle whenever possible. In case you’re adding “becoming eco-friendly” to your list of resolutions (and we hope you are) we thought we’d put together a few simple ideas for you.

We know your clothes are precious, but so is our water supply. Use an environmentally-friendly laundry detergent like Planet Ultra Liquid Laundry Detergent (Certified biodegradable, no added dyes or fragrances, not tested on animals, 100 percent phosphate free, hypoallergenic) or Seventh Generation Delicate Care Laundry Detergent (No optical brighteners, no dyes or fragrance, no phosphates; safe for septic and gray-water systems; no animal derived ingredients; all ingredients disclosed).

Two of our favorites

You may carry your own reusable bag to the supermarket but why not carry one to the mall? Shopping bags generally end up in the trash and may not even be recyclable (especially if printed with metallic ink). Pick up one of these reusable shopping bags available in every color imaginable by Baggu ($8) and show you care.

Reusable + colorful bags by Baggu

We all have at least one pair of shoes in our closet that have seen better days. Don’t toss them, find a cobbler. They can be cleaned up, re-soled, re-heeled or shortened - among other things. And the gym sneakers? Nike’s Reuse-A-Shoe program “takes your worn-out kicks and turns them into Nike Grind, a material used in sports surfaces such as playgrounds”.

Get the most out of your lipstick. Based on our estimation (and depending on what brand you buy), there’s anywhere between $1 and $12 worth of perfectly usable product left in that tube. Invest in a lip brush ($12 Sephora.com) and dig out the lipstick. When you’ve gotten every last drop, save the tube. Some brands like MAC will give you a free lipstick if you give them 6 empty containers.

Here are a few additional tips:

• Our dry cleaner loves it when we return hangers. We even got extra lint brushes as a thank you!
• Your favorite cashmere sweater has a stain or hole that can’t be repaired. If you can salvage enough material, make a sleep mask or a small pillow.
• Purchase from companies that use eco-friendly practices. Knowledge is power and buying power is everything.
• Instead of buying new clothes, buy accessories. There’s no better way to spruce up what’s already hanging in your closet than accessories. Scarves, hats, belts and jewelry tend to be less expensive than clothing and help make it easier to keep up with the trends without purchasing a new wardrobe every season. If you do find yourself cleaning out the closet, donate unwanted clothes to women’s shelters or charities.

Where Magazine writes about the Bucklette Clip-On. Read the full publication at wheretraveler.com.

Philadelphia: Where: 2009 January