Design Within Reach

I’d met Aimee at a media event a while back and we’d exchanged cards, so I already had her info. I emailed her about trying to glean some of her secrets, and we arranged to meet at Mocca on Maiden Lane. She arrived wearing a silver, off-shoulder sweater, faux leather leggings, motorcycle booties, and the perfect touches of gold jewelry with large, colorful stones: a picture of effortless chic.  

The more we talked, the more Aimee confirmed that achieving her signature style really is a piece of cake. Her first bit of advice: know what you like. This reminded me of my first attempts at business attire. As a staff reporter at a technology news website, I filled my closet with work-appropriate suits and sensible shoes. But since I'm a bit of a rebel at heart, this made getting ready for work downright depressing. I eventually realized that statement jewelry, platform shoes, or fun shirts underneath jackets made me feel like myself but still professional.   

Next, know specifically what you want before you walk into a store. Don't be a deer in headlights faced with too many choices – that's the surest route to buyer's remorse. If, say, you need something for an event, examine what you have in your closet, then decide what you most want to add and determine your budget. Most important: know what you love to wear and let that help you formulate a shopping plan.   

Then pick a neighborhood. Decide on three or four stores max. To narrow down your destinations, check out the stores' websites or call ahead to see if they carry what you're looking for. When you head out the door, bring along your will of steel to prevent distractions from your plan.  

By the time Aimee and I finished our lattes, I felt like I’d gotten some new fashion and shopping insights. I decided to test out her guidelines on Valencia Street. My goal was to find a party-ready outfit that was inexpensive, unfussy, and suited my style. I wear a lot of black, so I really needed to find accoutrements to jazz up a dark outfit, whether it’s skinny jeans and a blouse, or a simple black dress. And finally, I wanted to accomplish all this in one hour or less.

As I continued down Valencia, I approached Therapy – a possible destination for the perfect over-the-knee boots. That particular style has been a big trend this winter, but I hadn't yet found a pair that I loved and could afford.  

Unlike the sea of shoes you find at department stores, Therapy carries a nicely edited collection of trendy but wearable styles. I bee-lined to the back of the shop for the footwear (cute dresses, skirts, and tops tempted me on the way, but I remained strong), and found three pairs of over-the-knee boots. Two were flat and one had a three-inch heel. I am not a flats girl, so I asked Shannon Lindquist, one of the helpful sales clerks, for my size in the latter. It was available only in a half-size smaller than I usually wear, but I tried it on anyway and it fit perfectly. The best part was the price: $82.  

Shannon said she owns a pair of the same boots. "Are they leather?" I asked. She said they weren't, but that they didn't make her feet sweat, quelling my major concern. Ten minutes later, I was the proud owner of a pair of super hot "vegan" boots.  

For my next stop, I wanted some bling. I craved a statement necklace as the finishing touch on my all-black-with-embellishments outfit. I also wanted to buy from a local designer. I was willing to pay a little more for the perfect design, but my limit was $200.

I remembered seeing a variety of locally designed baubles at Candystore Collective, located just a block away from Therapy (remembering that completing an outfit in one neighborhood is key), and headed over there. Its jewelry case was on prominent display, and I steeled myself for the indecision and desire that I knew would ensue – I love jewelry.  

The first piece to catch my eye was a giant cast brass owl claw hanging from a long gold chain. It was from San Francisco artist Nico Lopez's 1228 line. It cost $195, and was the perfect blend of shiny and tough.  

I wasted about 20 minutes asking the amazingly patient sales manager Michelle Barnett to show me nearly everything else in the case (secretly hoping I would love something less expensive). I decided to splurge on the claw necklace, realizing that it’s generally safe to go with your gut choice when shopping.   

In the end, I’d put an hour's worth of quarters in the meter, and it was an amazing feeling to return to the car with the perfect outfit and no parking ticket. I wasn’t stressing out that I had purchased extra items that might induce remorse. I’d made a plan and stuck to it.  

I was elated and ready for my next party – and I might even be ready to head out the door before my husband this time.