It’s easy to get sucked in to end of summer blowout sales, but what’s a girl to do with a massive collection of lightweight dresses once it starts getting chilly outside? We remembered a July “Good Morning America” episode featuring Lucky Magazine special projects director Allyson Waterman previewing four hot looks for autumn, built on what was already in your closet. Thankfully, the folks at abc.com archived Waterman’s sage advice online.

Find fab excerpts below or read the full article HERE

Balance a bright, flowy top with a fitted bottom.

Bright colors are a big part of the trends this fall. Paired with more neutral tones, they add the perfect punch to a buttoned-up work look. You can pair your flowy summer top with a sleek and simple pencil skirt and a classic cardigan. The sexy secretary look is hot again.

Cropped pants are ideal for tucking into boots — even more so than full-length pants.

Cropped khakis are preppy and classic, but still casual and comfortable. You can really style any cropped or capri pants right into fall with a great pair of boots. Add a full-volume blouse and a sweater jacket to finish the look. This regal, uber-preppy style is a big hit for fall – American classics are making a big comeback.

Tone down colored denim by pairing it with neutrals for fall.

Colored denim was red hot this summer, with everything from orange and yellow to turquoise and purple. Purples and jewel tones are great transition colors. They were fun and bright for summer, but still exude a warmth for fall.

You can take a casual look and dress it up a bit with a structured, crisp white button-down fitted blazer and sleek patent pumps. You can also add a Lucky favorite — a scarf. The pattern in a scarf can soften the brightness of the pants and add sophistication to the complete look.

Use lightweight summer dresses as the base for fall layers.

The dress was the must-have item all summer – whether in bright floral patterns, more subdued softer colors, silky or structured, we saw anything and everything. Dresses are not only meant for summer and hot
weather. With the right layers, you can carry dresses straight into the cooler temperatures.

For fall, add a long, thick sweater — this creates the illusion of a skirt and a top. You can cinch it with a belt to accent your shape. Finally, add a pair of darker shoes.

What is the summer item you’ll be wearing for fall, and how will you warm it up?

^{STEVE RINGMAN / THE SEATTLE TIMES
by Amy Martinez – Seattle Times business reporter}

If you didn’t see the front cover of today’s Seattle Times, let me show you. The headline was, “Uneasy time for retailers as holidays near.”

I had no idea when I was having coffee with Amy Martinez at my second living room, Muse Coffee Co, that it would result into front-page news. We were dishing on retailers in Seattle and what was going to happen in our local community with all this doom-and-gloom talk of the economy. I told her about the bold move Jill Andersen took right before the holidays to move her store, Horseshoe, to a different neighborhood and take on a much larger space. She asked permission to call Jill, and look what happened! Thank you Amy for addressing this subject in such a front cover way, and featuring a much-deserved small business right before the make-it-or-break-it season.

Read more about Seattle boot trends on our CRAVEcrush blog.

Our upcoming workSHOP will be held at Horseshoe on Monday October 27th. Click here for more details.

We recently sat down for lunch with Nicole Donnelly of BabyLegs fame, to pick her brain for answers to the burning questions posted in Twyla Tharp: The Creative Habit.

What is the first creative moment you remember?
When I was a kid, I made licorice-dispensing machines out of strawberry baskets and cellophane, and put them in my neighbors’ mailboxes anonymously.

Was anyone there to witness or appreciate it?
Nobody knew. I just told my parents this year!

What is the best idea you have ever had?
BabyLegs

What made it great in your mind?
That I’ve been able to make so many people happy and bring joy to parents with something that looks cute on their children.

What is the dumbest idea you’ve had?
In fifth grade, my new best friend talked me into putting milk in a kid’s locker as a prank. The plan backfired when the whole locker room smelled like sour milk!

What made it stupid?
That I listened to my friend and not my gut.

Want to hear more from Nicole? She is a guest speaker at our upcoming workSHOP on October 27th.

How would you answer Twyla’s questions?

I had the best time last Thursday night at Kathy Casey’s Food Studios in Ballard for the release of an amazing, new cookbook, “Cooking with Les Dames D’Escoffier: At Home With the Women Who Shape the Way We Eat and Drink” edited by Marcella Rosene (founder of Pasta & Co) and Pat Mozersky (founder of Ma Maison Cooking School).

A few of the contributors are Seattle dames themselves: Gina Batali (of Salumi fame), Leslie Mackie (Macrina Bakery) and Fran Bigelow (Fran’s Chocolates) are just a few of the many, many woman food professionals (nearly 200 authors) who have contributed to this compilation of appetizers, first courses, soups, main courses, side dishes, baked goods, and desserts. Bon appetit!

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to hear my current fav guru, Twyla Tharp, speak in Seattle about her inspired, active lifestyle. Tharp is an accomplished dancer and choreographer who has received 2 Emmy Awards, 17 honorary doctorates, the Vietnam Veterans of America President’s Award, the 2004 National Medal of the Arts, and numerous grants.

Tharp’s book “The Creative Habit: Learn it and Use it for Life” is my current pick of the year. It is a few years old, but I just discovered it from my friends Carrie and Danielle.

I’d like to share some of the books insights that really hit home for me:

Scratching: Tharp recommends getting out of your normal environment and routine to ‘scratch’ around for ideas. I love going to Amsterdam for this!

Box: Tharp files her projects in a box – an easy, go-to place for current projects. If she needs something from a past project it is simple to find. My whole filing system is based on the bin system, throw paper and whatever else into a bin with the subject posted on the outside.

Ritual: Tharp makes a point to exercise everyday for two hours and, read books for two hours every night. This is too intense for me, but inspires me nonetheless to at least start a breathing ritual.

Your Creative DNA: Tharp challenges her readers to answer a slew of probing, thought-provoking questions. Below are a sampling of her questions, and my responses.

What is the first creative moment you remember?
- Selling lemonade to the strawberry pickers on my parents farm

Was anyone there to witness or appreciate it?
- My parents

What is the best idea you have ever had?
- CRAVE!

What made it great in your mind?
- It combined several of my passions

What is the dumbest idea you’ve had?
- Peter Gabriel tour selling shortcake across the country to make a buck

What made it stupid?
- I didn’t think it through in advance, and lost money instead of desperately needing to make it

Your turn! Answer Tharp’s questions!

The seasoned Seattleite knows exactly how dress for our unpredictable fall weather: waterproof handbags, lots of layers, and always, always proper footwear! We love summer’s peep toes and wedges, but have a soft spot in our hearts for boots — trendy, embellished, flat, high-heeled or low, we love them all!

We were walking through Fremont last week, and were blown away by how many amazing boots we saw in the shops! Walk off in one of the season’s hottest styles from any of these Fremont gems.

Lambs Ear
3516 Fremont Pl N, 206.632-2626
Smoking-hot brands: LD Tuttle, Marcello Toshi, and Zeha
Most-asked-for styles: Knee-high, heeled, and riding boots

Burnt Sugar
601 N 35th St, 206.545.0699
Smoking-hot brands: Camper, Biviel, Coclico, Faryl Robin, One of 2, Giraudon, and Cordani
Most-asked-for styles: Northwest (flats and low heels), platform, and higher-heeled boots

Impulse
3516 Fremont Pl N, 206.545.4854
Smoking-hot brands: Golden Goose, A.P.C., Rrachel Comey
Most-asked-for styles: Flat and heeled boots

Private Screening
3504 Fremont Pl N, 206.548.0751
Most-asked-for styles: Vintage cowboy boots

Show Pony
3526 Fremont Pl N, Suite D (entrance on N 36th), 206.706.4188
Smoking-hot brands: Eric Michael
Most-asked-for styles: Over-the-knee, knee-high, and embellished ankle boots

What is your favorite pair of boots that you could not live without?

Ever wanted to scale your business to fit your goals? Create systems that are seamless and easily duplicated? Assemble a dynamic and motivated team? Utilize talent available in the outside community help you on your way to success?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, or are simply craving a comprehensive business networking opportunity, our upcoming workSHOP session benefit you immensely.

On Monday October 27th from 6:30-9:30pm at Horseshoe Boutique in Seattle, learn the business savvy you need with women who have been there and done it… successfully! Our interview-style approach to delivering this critical information will provide you with the fundamentals of business and offer you key insights by interacting with experts in their fields.

Here are the pertinent details:

When: Monday, October 27th, 6:30-9:30pm
Topic: Can Entreprenesses Soar While Wall Street Falls?
Where: Horseshoe Boutique, Seattle
Cost: $49 per person (click here for more information)

We caught up with Darcey Howard, foundress and Chief Style Officer of LifeStyled, to bring you this informative Q&A session on personal branding through appearance.

The theme of Lifestyled is “Personal Branding Through Appearance™.” Just how much does one’s appearance impact others?
Darcey Howard: Let me put it this way; if you are your brand, then your wardrobe is your logo. You may think of Nike as a tennis shoe company but when I say “swoosh” to you, what do you think of? A company that produces products that make “Just do it!” a reality for millions.

You wouldn’t apply the attitude of “This will do” to how you work, your relationships, or your life, so why walk out of the house each day saying “This will do” about what your are wearing? That attitude is what people will see and connect with. Be more intentional with what makes you amazing and dress so not only will others identify with what’s amazing about you but so that you will feel what’s amazing about you.

What do you mean by, “Are you wearing your clothes? Or are they wearing you?”
DH: Without clarity of what your personal brand is, and how you want it to be presented visually, it’s impossible to be strategic when you shop or get dressed. This results in purchasing and wearing clothes that don’t really fit, feel right, or go together. It looks like your outfit just happened to you instead of it being an intentional representation of how you want your clothes to support your lifestyle and personality.

Does being “lifestyled” mean I have to invest in expensive couture clothing and accessories?
DH: Absolutely not! Anything but that, actually. I won’t even take a client shopping until we’ve worked with their existing wardrobe to make better use of what they already own. Most people have a closet full of clothes that were purchased without a plan. Instead of seeing a closet full of clothes and nothing to wear, I see a closet full of opportunity just waiting to be unleashed. Most people are drawn to the purchases they make for a reason, but they get home with out a plan. Then their clothing just sits there, or gets worn with the same thing over and over. We give people the tools, framework and parameters to make better decisions and feel more “put-together” quickly.

Tired of toiling for the man? Ready to be your own boss or beef up your existing freelance business?

Join Michelle Goodman, author of My So-Called Freelance Life: How to Survive and Thrive as a Creative Professional for Hire (sequel to her 2007 title, The Anti 9-to-5 Guide) for answers to all your burning freelance questions at two book-reading, book-signing soirees!

There will be schmoozing! Book signing! Prizes! Snacks and drinks! And of course, meeting of like-minded freelance minds! Free and open to the public. Kids welcome.

When: Thursday, October 16, 6-10pm – book reading and Q&A at 7pm
Where: Office Nomads, a fabulous coworking space at 1617 Boylston Ave, Second Floor, Seattle, WA 98122 [map]
Contact: 206.323.6500 or michelleanngoodman@gmail.com
More info: anti9to5guide.com/events or officenomads.com

As a bonus, October 16 happens to be National Boss Day. Rather than suck up to your manager with a sappy card or box of chocolates this year, how about learning how to be your own boss? Co-sponsored by Office Nomads and University Book Store.

Can’t make it this Thursday? Catch Michelle again the following weekend:

When: Saturday, October 25, 2pm
Where: Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, Seattle, WA 98104 [map]
Contact: 206.624.6600 or michelleanngoodman@gmail.com
More info: anti9to5guide.com/events or elliottbaybook.com

Round up your girls and spend one of our last sunny days indulging, shopping, and noshing in vibrant, booming Ballard. The once sleepy Scandinavian influenced neighborhood has become a bastion of funky locally owned boutique shops, pubs, restaurants and parks. Ballard is the perfect place to reconnect with friends while enjoying the best of Northwest culture.

1. Escape the ordinary, relax your body, and awaken your senses at Habitude (2801 NW Market St, 206.782.2898) a cozy, inviting salon and spa. Habitude offers a unique seasonal menu, currently featuring exotic, Indian-inspired services like the Chakra Centering Massage, Shanti Refining Facial, and the Prana Balancing Pedicure. Each Indian service includes an offering of chai tea, organic curry coconut chocolate, fruit and nuts, a hot rock sauna, and an aromatic shower.

2. Continue indulging at Cupcake Royale (2052 NW Market St, 206.782.9557) a bakery committed to taking our favorite dessert to new levels of sophistication. Try the lavender cupcake — they stir actual lavender buds into their vanilla butter cream frosting, and swirl it onto their chocolate cake deluxe. Delicious!

3. No outing would be complete without some retail therapy. Mosey into Horseshoe (5344 Ballard Ave NW, 206.547.9639) to find delightful fashions in an inviting down-home atmosphere. Pick up vintage cowboy boots, supple knits, and gorgeous, rustic jewelry made by shop owner and metal-smith, Jill Renae.

4. Envelop yourself in the warmth and charm of Tuscany by ending your day with dinner at Volterra (5411 Ballard Ave NW, 206.789.5100). Volterra’s intimate, sexy dining room, outstanding wine list, and innovate menu never disappoint. Their wild mushroom polenta immediately transport you to the Italian countryside. Ah, la dolce vita.

What’s your favorite Ballard spot?