How to look amazing in 15 minutes (possibly 10)

So~ if you are like me, you probably went to bed with grand ideas of getting up early to stretch, maybe do some writing or meditate a bit to prepare yourself for the day.   You maybe even thought you were going to clean a bit because you read in real simple once that if you wipe down your bathroom every day it never needs a deep clean.  Fast-forward 7 hours later and that super annoying beeping sound goes off in your kitchen (where you put it to force yourself to actually have to get out of bed to turn off so you don't press snooze a gazillion times).  If you are STILL like me your body feels like someone has injected you with a horse tranquilizer and you can barely move.

 After the alarm goes off  sometimes, I somehow end up back in bed not meditating, not writing, not stretching, and definitely not cleaning. On these days I know what needs to be done in order to maintain a stylish look and still get to work on time.  The answer is black + accessories.  When your morning has not gone the way you were hoping and you are in a bit of a rush, the answer to looking like you spent 40 minutes getting ready when really you only spent 15 is the following:


5 minutes putting on your make-up (this step can be eliminated at home if you have a second set at work which I do)

5 minutes putting on your all black ensemble (a black dress in summer takes about one minute but keep in mind the extra 2 minutes it will require with tights in the winter).  Invest in black jeans or perhaps the black corduroy leggings we have if you don't already have them.  They will change your life. Throw on a black textured sweater or some sort of black top that has something interesting about it whether it's leather accents or a sheen.  Look for these when you shop.  Remember, black but with something interesting.

4 minutes layering on the necklaces, earrings, bracelets and stylish scarf

1 minute picking out your comfortable yet cool shoes that may or may not be black. I love the color of the season, burgundy, with an all black ensemble but currently have been throwing on my grey platform boots from Kork-ease quite often, because they look edgy, break up the black, and are super comfortable so I can book it to the bus and still arrive at work in style!  Do not be afraid of a brown shoe this is a very european chic look.  If you go with a brown shoe make it a lighter whiskey brown and tie it in with a scarf that has some brown/tan/beige tones in it.

My last advice on this matter is make the jewelry statement pieces or things that will stand up to an all black look.  This will make it look more "on purpose."  Just have these pieces on stand bye.  A big watch, a bright necklace or several.  If the pieces are smaller make sure they have a bit of sparkle (black onyx is killer on black clothing because it shines without being over the top).  Come in to Williams Shoes to find your amazingly stylish and comfortable shoes and stop by Next Door to find your easy yet interesting black pieces for those days when things just didn't go as planned!