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Writer's picture: kathrinkimkathrinkim

I could ask several women what they needed in a Winter boot and I could get different answers from each. We require details that reflect the needs of our lifestyles. Sometimes, one boot can not meet all the needs but, it's really great when one boot can be worn in a multitude of different scenarios. In Minnesota, I want my boots to have good tread for slippery walkways, warmth and waterproofing for walking in the snow, and I want my boots to have personality and style. Here are some great finds for each category.


Snow Boots: a warm waterproof boot worn in the snow. (google definition)

Warm Winter Boots:  Shoes designed to keep feet warm and dry in cold weather, and provide traction on slippery surfaces. (google definition)

Walking Boots:  A type of boot that covers the foot and ankle, used for long walks in the countryside. (Cambridge dictionary)  



Cream winter boot with faux fur trim and pink accents on a white background. Features quilted pattern and brown sole. "Columbia" logo visible.


$130.00

  • thermal-reflective breathable lining

  • sheds water and releases excess heat

  • hike-specific tread pattern


These would be great for trudging through snow, winter walking the dog, and going to the bus stop.


I personally, don't like lacing up my boots; been there, done that.

So, here is another option.



Cream winter boots with fur trim and brown soles on black leggings. White background. Columbia logo visible. Cozy and stylish mood.
Sporty Style, sturdy tread, zipper for easy use


$120.00

  • sheds water and releases excess heat

  • thermal-reflective breathable lining retains warmth

  • hike-specific tread pattern


I like these boots. Easy and quick to put on with tread to tromps around the park or wear to work, changing into office shoes when I arrive.




Red high-top sneaker boot with thick white sole, black stripe detail, and text saying "FASHION." Pull tab and labels visible.

Groovywish Women's Orthopedic Boots


$72.75


  • instant foot pain relief

  • wide toe-box

  • High-arch support


I love the look of these with the rubber bumper look of a Converse tennis shoe. Fun!




Black and brown quilted boot with a thick white sole and turquoise details, set against a plain white background.

found at Nordstrom


$112.00 on sale


  • Temperature rated to -11°F/-24°C

  • Synthetic and leather upper/textile lining/rubber sole

  • Selling out!


Stylish and Practical






Black winter boot with logo patch on the side, featuring a drawstring top. On a plain gray background.

by Canada Goose


$650.00


  • Nylon upper with quilted padding effect for lightweight warmth 

  • Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) outsole for lightweight grip, siped tread adds traction






Black boot with white sole and wavy pattern, black and white mixed sole design, and visible shearling lining. Brand name on heel.

by Sorel

found at Macy's


$140.00


  • Functional inside zipper closure

  • weather-ready waterproofing with plush faux fur









Brown leather boot with buckle detail and gray sole, set against a plain light background. Boot stands upright, showcasing its side profile.

from Eddie Bauer


$80.00 on sale


  • waterproof

  • breathable

  • arch support


Not to be mistaken for a fashion boot but, a great boot for a more polished look for Winter weather.

Brown hiking boot sole with black and red tread pattern, featuring the "Eddie Bauer" logo. Background is plain white.

There is such a wide array of options out there. If you see a favorite here, and aren't in a rush, I'd watch these items to see their prices come down in February and March. But, make sure they don't sell out of your size before you nab them!

Me
Me







Happy Wardrobing!!


Twin Cities Wardrobe Consultant and Personal Stylist Kathy Banta



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Writer's picture: kathrinkimkathrinkim

Updated: Nov 9, 2024



When was the last time you had a bra-fitting?

When was the last time you had a bra fitting? Seriously, this is a real question.


When I was in fourth grade and the girls and boys went into separate classrooms to begin talking about our differences of development, it was at this point that my awareness of the need for a bra perked up.


Are You there God? It's me, Margaret. by Judy Blume

After reading "Are you there God, It's me Margaret" by Judy Blume in fifth grade, I got excited to go and try on these mysterious undergarments for myself. I remember my mom bringing home training bras that were more like a cropped t-shirt. (The title alone is depressing, "training bra"? ) They were uncomfortable and felt so unnatural. I'd seen the industrial level undergarments my mother and aunt wore and I often wondered how they could breath. My mother brought home bra options for me until I was in my mid-teens and then, I assessed the fit and purchased these items for myself from that time on. I didn't experience a true bra-fitting until about ten years ago when I was in my forties. I know! It's crazy. But truthfully, I'd done a fine job of knowing what fit worked for me.


Some ten years ago, I decided I should have a real bra-fitting to be knowledgeable on the experience and the process my clients go through. So, I made an appointment at a big department store and went in ready to learn. In my disappointment, the fitter was a very young woman in her early twenties who was too embarrassed for me to be measured in my skivvies. This appointment went nowhere and I made another appointment at the other big department store down the hall. "Surely, this would be successful. This store was known for it's quality and its higher price point. They'd have experts, right?", I thought to myself. When I got there, the woman did measure me in my minimals and sized me up. But, I didn't want to be pushed up, padded out or synched in. Her listening skills were lacking and she told me the store didn't have the type of product I wanted. I left without a new option, and continued being my own fitter from then on.


Best to find a bra-fitting expert but, if you don't, this is how you start to find your size.

About five years ago, I went to a women's intimates store in the Galleria. I'd been referred by a friend who swore it was a wonderful experience. I went in for the fitting, got fitted, spent $100 on a bra and left. For the next couple weeks, when I wore this beautiful bra I would have chaffing under my arms and the boning in the bra was leaving marks that if I continued to wear it, I was going to have bruising. I couldn't believe I'd spent a $100 for discomfort. I took it back, got another fitter, who told me it was the wrong fit and size and traded it out for a different option. I was not pleased with this experience and the price point was too high for the product.


THIS IS THE EXPERIENCE I'VE HAD. What have your experiences been like? I hear women's negative stories and it's not a wonder that this is often the last item we want to spend money on yet, it's an important item.


Early this Fall, I had a client schedule shopping with me with the request that I'd help her update her bras. It had been seven years since she'd updated her bras and they were beginning to fall apart. I kind of had a panic. This was an area I was not happy with the options. But, it's my job to be able to give the answers. I was going to need to do my homework.


Anna at the Mall of America Lane Bryant

This is where I meet Anna in my story. While shopping for another client, I went into Lane Bryant and suddenly it dawned on me that one fourth of the Lane Bryant store was designated for women's bras, panties and shapewear. I thought, "Why not ask the staff about fittings?" Anna was working that day and the more we spoke, I found that Lane Bryant's bra sizes begin at a size 34 band going to a 54 and a cup size from B to K. That is a vast range in sizes! I asked if I could have a fitting right then. I wanted them to prove that they knew what they were doing.

After getting into a fitting room, Anna asked me several personal preference questions, measured me around my ribs and within minutes she started bringing me options. I could not believe how quickly she found me bra options that fit me well and to my liking. Not only did they fit but, they were pretty and feminine and the price point was half of what I'd paid at that Galleria store! I hadn't gone into Lane Bryant to buy bras that day. Anna confirmed that I was wearing the right size but, she introduced me to new options with different cuts for different necklines. I left with three new bras.


After a couple weeks had passed I went back to meet with Anna and ask her about her journey of learning about giving bra fittings. She told me her journey had started in retail with the product "Third Love" and then onto swimwear at "Everything But Water", eventually finding her way to Lane Bryant. She'd had some wonderful mentors along the way who taught her how to work with women in an often emotional experience; taking a little from each work experience. But, she said, "it's really about listening to the client's needs."


what complaints do you hear the most from women when they come for a bra fitting?


"It's always about fit; their band is too loose, straps are slipping, or they have a double boob effect happening." When a proper fit is found, these issues go away. She added, that it's amazing how a good fitting bra changes the way a woman stands; their posture. And, it can give the appearance of weight loss.


What are the top selling bra styles right now?


"Wire free and lightly lined options have become popular of late."


What should women know about shape wear?


"Shape wear should hit high enough to go under a bra" to help keep it in place. When it's too short in body length, it just creeps down.


What are some tips for caring for bras?


Bras should rest (not be worn) "for a minimum of 2 days" before wearing them again. But, ideally, "a bra should be worn once every two weeks". This resting rotation keeps the fabric and elasticity of the bra in its best shape and lasting longer.


Let's think about that. That means in a perfect intimate wear dresser drawer we should have 14 bras in rotation. (I didn't know this.)


Wash your bras on a gentle cycle, preferably in a mesh bag and COLD water. Let them air dry. Washing your bras too often can break down the fabric and they will lose their shape more quickly.
When storing bras place them in your drawer like you see them displayed in retail stores; stacked together to keep their shape. If storing padded bras, do not fold cups into each other.

When it came time for me to shop with my client to update her bras, she needed a smaller band than Lane Bryant offered. So with Anna's referral, we went to Soma at the Mall of America and met with Jazmine. She was fabulous, too! My client left with several new bras and the information to come back to replenish when she needed.


I've found that not just anyone can give a proper bra fitting. It's a specialty. So, I'm here to tell you, if you are in need of a bra fitting, Go to the Mall of America Lane Bryant and ask for a fitting with Anna! OR...Jazmine at Soma. They know their product and they listen!"


Twin Cities Wardrobe Consultant Kathy Banta









Happy Wardrobing!


Minneapolis Wardrobe Consultant Kathy Banta










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Writer's picture: kathrinkimkathrinkim

Updated: Oct 2, 2024

This has been a really weird beginning to Fall. I started putting my Summer clothing away, only to pull it out again. It's been beautiful weather! It was 85 degrees out for the past week! I shouldn't complain. But, one of my favorite things about Minnesota is the "Four" seasons. I like putting my shorts away and grabbing a sweatshirt or sweater. I like wearing layers. Well, as my mother always said, "this too shall pass". And, it will. All of the sudden this will be over and we'll be freezing! So, love where you're standing and when the winds shift, we'll be ready.


As far as Fall fashions go, there is nothing new under the sun. But, there are definitely items and styles that float to the top of popularity for a time and a season and these become our trends. Here are five items that you may already have in your wardrobe that are on-trend for Fall 2024.


  1. Leopard or Cheetah print skirt. If you look, you will find a cheetah print option in almost every retail clothing store; from Evereve to Chico's and Dillard's to Maurices. It truly is the Hot Item this Fall. You'll see Cat prints in sweaters, dresses, shoes, and everything else but, I'm seeing quite a few pleated cheetah skirts at midi length. But, no matter the cut, it's the print that is the trend.



Evereve - Pleated Midi Skirt by Sanctuary - $99 - the print is called "chocolatespots"


Dillard's - Vince Camuto Leopard Print Pull-On Midi Pencil Skirt - $69


Anthropologie - The Tilda Slip Skirt - $98

2. A Faux Leather Dress. We saw a soft push of this last Fall but, the options are out there in full this Fall. Yes, I'm seeing classic black faux leather options but, there's faux leather dresses in hunter green, deep burgundy and beautiful browns. You'll see a variety of styles with details.


Ann Taylor - Faux Leather Pleated Midi Dress - $179


Anthropologie - Tommie Cap-Sleeve Smocked Front-Zip Shirt Dress: Faux-Leather Edition - $168



Evereve - Danna Faux Leather Dress - $128


Nordstrom - Faux Leather Dress by Luxely - $220





















3. Denim on Denim. I know! I know! I have a hard time with this one, too. But, it is a real thing this Fall and it's growing on me. I think growing up with the "Canadian Tuxedo" jokes has made this one a hard trend for me to embrace. And, up until now, if you wore a denim jacket with jeans, you made sure they were completely different colors of denim (one dark denim and the other faded.) But, that rule has been shattered by this trend.













  1. Barrel Jeans.

This is another trend that I knew I wouldn't like BUT....the more I see it, the more I like it. IT IS very trendy and I'm sure it won't stick around as long as others. But, I could be wrong! A true "barrel Jean" bows out around the knees, giving the denim a silhouette of a barrel. It kinda makes a person look bow-legged.


The Kenna Mid-Rise Heritage Barrel Jeans by Pilcro at Anthropologie - $148


Good Luck Mid-Rise Cord Barrel Jeans at Free People - $128

Horseshoe Superhigh Waist Raw Hem Crop Barrel Jeans by Citizens of Humanity at Nordstrom - $298


Judy Mid Rise Barrel Jeans - $43
  1. Plaid Blazers/Jackets.

    Nothing ground breaking about this trend. Plaid blazers are classics that never go out of style but, this season, they are on the "It" list. Bring them out and wear them casually or preppy.


Leighton blazer-jacket in plaid double-faced wool blend at JCrew - $368


Marylebone Wool-Blend Blazer by Boden - $270

These are MY top 5 trends for Fall 2024 that you may already have in your wardrobe. Most are classics that are being worn in new ways and paired differently. If you don't have these in your wardrobe, these items will be easy to find from high-end retail to a Target store.

As I wait for Fall to arrive, I'm beginning to pull my Fall/Winter wardrobe out, trading my Summer tanks and shorts for sweaters and blazers. Summer can't last forever in Minnesota and when the winds change, we'll be ready.


Happy Wardrobing!



Wardrobe Consultant Kathy Banta















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Contact Kathy, Wardrobe Consultant

Minneapolis/St Paul
Kathy@KathyBanta.com

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