We are really excited to have just received our first order from Marquet. They specialize in fair-trade cottage industry products that help build communities. These organic cotton Free Weave Scarves are incredible!! We have them in a ton of colors! It will add a pop to the doldrums of winter wardrobe and they are the perfect weight to keep you warm without overheating! Because let's face it, we don't know if its going to be 14 degrees or 45 degrees on any given day lately. We also just love their story and knowing who makes these beautiful scarves.

If you haven't heard already, we are hosting a clothing drive for one of our partner organizations, The Career Wardrobe, from January 17th-30th, 2012. We will be collecting everything from matching business suits to separates including: blouses, skirts, pants and blazers. You can also donate "casual Friday" outfits and service industry items to our retail location at 1700 Sansom Street. Just for making a donation, you will receive 25% off of one regular priced item from SA VA! One of our dear friends, Carly Walko, stylist, personal shopper and founder of fashion blog, ThirtySomethingFashion lent her styling expertise and made over the closet of one of our great customers, Vicky Lupica.

 
Here are Carly's expert tips to use when delving into organize your closet:
 
Cleaning out your closet is essential to keeping your wardrobe looking it's absolute best.  If you can hire a professional to help you, great! If not, don't be intimidated.  You can clean your closet on your own or with an honest friend following these simple steps.
 
1.  Organize your clothing into 4 separate piles.
A.  Items that need to be donated to goodwill or thrown away.  They are too worn, damaged beyond repair or stained beyond cleaning.
B.  Items that you [...]

The workplace has evolved since the Banana Republic Revolution.   The shift from uniformity to uniqueness happened and it is more challenging than ever to dress for work as a professional woman.
Are suits required to hold your ground in a business environment?  Exactly what does Business Casual mean for the woman who takes her career seriously? What if you work for a tech company or design firm - how do you look professional but not square?   On top of that, sophistication, practicality, quality and affordability in one look isn't so easy to find today.   The quality at affordable mass retailers, specifically the fabric quality, giving the right dress, suit or skirt a professional appeal has gone by the wayside.  The standard work uniform and misfit ready-to-wear suit just won't cut it and "please, let it be comfortable because I will be spending 12-14 hours in it!"
Here are some thoughts on dressing for work:

Walk the walk:  Evaluate your work environment.

If you are working for a financial firm, a law firm or similar industry, you will likely need to dress more conservative in neutral tones.  That does not [...]