Part two of the reader Q&A continues today as I answer your questions. Today's topics: How do I maintain poise during a disagreement, especially with a family member? Do you have to be a size 6 to look good in the ten-item wardrobe? (I think you already know the answer to that question is NO.) Where can I get a good bra fitting?

All of these topics are discussed in today's video plus much more.

News

Here is a snippet of one of the pages from the new Lessons from Madame Chic comic book from Harper Collins, Japan. So much fun!

I can't tell you how cool it is to be a character in my own comic book. Japanese readers, I hope you'll check out the two volume comic book set from @harpercollinsjp #lessonsfrommadamechic #MADAMECHIC

A post shared by Jennifer L. Scott (@dailyconnoisseur) on Apr 25, 2017 at 8:18am PDT

Here are some more pictures of the books from around the world. First stop, China!

A post shared by Wᴬᴺ Sᴹᴬᴸᴸ (@wansmallll) on Apr 23, 2017 at 8:13am PDT

... and the Slovak Republic

#easter morning at home with #madamechic

A post shared by Alica Sakmarová (@annotated.alice) on Apr 17, 2017 at 2:20am PDT

... and America!

I did something to my neck yesterday (#imgettingold) and literally spent the entire day in bed pretty much unable to move. My family alternated between making fun of me and taking really good care of me. I was so glad when I remembered I had checked these cute books out from the library. Adorable covers make books better. #madamechic #lessonsfrommadamechic #nowiwanttogotoparis

A post shared by PaperDoll Designs (@paperdolldesignsshop) on Apr 9, 2017 at 5:49pm PDT

Comment of the Week
Kamloops writes: I am a fan of my aprons. I love my nice outfits and for cooking or cleaning an apron is ideal. For decades I also clean my bathroom as I step out of the shower. By the time I am dressed that room is done.

Hi Kamloops, I love your tip for cleaning the bathroom as you use it. When the kids were younger (but old enough to sit up in the bath without me being right there) I would clean the bathroom while supervising them. I know many other people do this too! Thanks for your tip.


Today I would love to hear your thoughts on the subjects discussed in the video. Have you ever lost your poise during an argument? How did you learn from it? Plus size ladies, do you have any words of wisdom to share with our readers regarding dressing well? Do you have any recommendations for where to get a good bra fitting? Let me know and your comment could be chosen as comment of the week on the blog!



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Reader Q&As are finally back! Your questions have been piling up and in the next three videos I answer them. Today, I'm answering a question about cleaning in your nice clothes. What should you do if you get really hot while cleaning the house? Also, what about people who live in a place with the same climate year-round? Should you have a year-round ten-item wardrobe instead of a seasonal one? How do I prepare my nightly and weekly reflections?

I hope you enjoy my answers in today's video. Be sure to come back and watch the next two installments as there is so much more to discuss!

News
I will be doing a book club this summer on The Daily Connoisseur! We will be reading the Mapp & Lucia books by E.F. Benson, starting with the first two books, Queen Lucia & Miss Map. I am choosing these books because they are perfect summertime reads and are so apt for The Daily Connoisseurs. Also, if you have a kindle or other eReader, these books are free! They are also available in paperback or to listen to on Audible. I have not formally announced this yet, but wanted to give you a head start in reading so you can join in on the book club.



Comment of the Week

AnnMarie writes: I've been working on a capsule wardrobe for about 4 months now, not on a regular basis. I go through my clothing when the kids are in bed and I can make stacks of clothing without them dismantling. It's a process but once you get going it's easy! When I say it's a process I mean you start weeding through your clothing and discover you don't have a personal style. To help discover my personal style I utilized Pinterest. Base on my Pinterest research I discovered my style, romantic modern chic, or something like that 😁.

Hi AnnMarie, Looking on Pinterest is a great way to discover what styles you like. You could also look at magazines or observe people you admire (who dress well) and figure out what your style is. I love romantic modern chic. It sounds fabulous!

Today, I would love to know your thoughts on today's discussion. What do you wear when you clean the house? How do you avoid wearing exercise clothes all day, everyday (or not?)? Do you live in a place with a year-round climate? Have you cut distractions in your home? What do you think about modern TV shows with all of their violence? Let me know and your comment could be chosen as comment of the week on the blog!

Stop by on Thursday to see part two in the Reader Q&A series, when we will discuss poise in arguments, plus size advice and bra fittings among other topics. See you then!

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Good morning, everyone! This has been such an exciting week with my ten-item wardrobe posts going up. Thank you for all of your comments and encouraging input. Today, I have a very fun and different bonus blog for you. I've partnered with Halsbrook.com, a sophisticated online shopping site, to show you different ways you can style a neutral dress.

I've had many requests over the years to show how I would style the same dress in different ways. This is a crucial skill to learn if you are going to take on the ten-item wardrobe. Knowing how to style your clothes creates different looks and gets rid of the need to have so many outfits in the first place.

Before I show you the styles I have collaged for you, I want to introduce you to Halsbrook. When doing research on them, I was immediately impressed. What sets Halsbrook apart is their thoughtfully selected designs. I honestly love the "eye" of their buyers. Their collection truly does have a sophisticated ease. Their curated collection lines up with the classy, lady-like style that defines The Daily Connoisseur.

More on Halsbrook and their story in a minute, but first let's look at the 7 different looks I have collaged. This will hopefully give you ideas on how you can style your own neutral dresses at home. All of these collages feature the Les Copains beige ponte jersey knit dress, but they would work with any neutral look. After the collages, I feature other neutral dresses that Halsbrook carry.



Beachside Dinner This is an elegant, yet casual look for a supper by the sea. The turquoise in the necklace offsets the neutrality of the other pieces, making a subtle statement. Featured in this look is the Les Copains Beige Ponte Jersey Knit Dress, Meg Carter Designs Westminster triple strand necklace and the Kayu New Jen Natural Straw Clutch. I've paired it with this Women's Bp. 'Luminate' Open Toe Dress Sandal.


Animal print Animal prints pair really well with neutrals. Some people think animal prints are neutrals unto themselves as they go with so many different looks. I love the look of leopard with a pop of red! This is a fun, sophisticated look. Featured here is the Les Copains Beige Ponte Jersey Knit Dress, W Kleinberg Leopard Belt and the Meli Melo Tan Halo Bag. I've paired it with the Women's Bp. Lula Block Heel Slingback Sandal Red.


Polished Professional Ladylike and sophisticated, with Chanel-inspired tweed and pearls, this demure look is elegant for the office. Featured in this look is the Les Copains Beige Ponte Jersey Knit Dress, Belford sky blue tweed cardigan, Diana Broussard Margarite Pearl Necklace. I've paired it with the Women's Naturalizer Whitney Pump in blue.


Artsy and Bright When wearing neutrals, it's a great idea to pair a brightly colored scarf close to the face to prevent you from looking washed out. I love this colorful scarf and neutral tote. Featured in this look is the Les Copains Beige Ponte Jersey Knit Dress, Taisir Gibreel Moody Loch Blossom Silk Scarf and the Alice D. Featherweight Tan Leather Perforated Tote. To add some more fun color, I've paired this look with the Halogen Freda Slide Sandal in Red Suede.



Soft & Whimsical This would be a beautiful outfit to wear to a wedding or another elegant daytime affair. I love the whimsy of the "bug" wrap. The delicate earrings and blush shoes give the look a beautiful quality. Featured here is the Les Copains Beige Ponte Jersey Knit Dress, Janavi ivory embellished bug merino wool shawl, Atelier Mon Cherry Quartz and Pave Drop Earrings. I've paired this with the Women's Sam Edelman Susie D'Orsay Ankle Strap Sandal, Pink.


Black & Neutral Black always pairs nicely with neutral colors and this is a sophisticated, yet edgy look, perfect for an evening at the theatre or a nice restaurant. Featured here is the Les Copains Beige Ponte Jersey Knit Dress, Ellsworth and Ivey Black Tweed Jacket, Oscar de la Renta Polka Dot Bead Clip Earrings and Serpui Nina Loom Black Box Clutch. I've paired this with the Women's Louise Et Cie Karisa Ankle Cuff Sandal, Black.


Beach Day And for our last look, a lovely ensemble for the beach or poolside. The sunhat, straw bag and espadrilles turn our neutral dress into a casual, yet polished outfit. Featured in this look is the Les Copains Beige Ponte Jersey Knit Dress, Hat Attack Fine Braided Continental Hat and the Kayu Sail Tote. The espadrilles are the Women's Soludos Lace-Up Espadrille Sandal, Beige

As you can see, the options of styling a neutral dress are limitless. This proves that a ten-item wardrobe is far from boring, with one simple dress, think of the possibilities.

I hope you enjoyed my 7 collages!

The collages showcased some beautiful accessories, but Halsbrook has a stunning collection of garments as well. Here are some more neutral dresses they carry, that would all work well in each of these style collages...


The Sonia Stone Viscose Crepe Dress


The Sail to Sable cream tweed dress


The Antonelli Nantes stone and taupe dress


Layfayette 148 Kosmo beige tweed dress

THE HALSBROOK STORY

Halsey Schroeder has her mother to thank for many things, not the least of which is the inspiration for Halsbrook. Halsey grew up watching her mother carefully build her wardrobe - choosing beautiful pieces that would stand the test of time. Having acquired the same sense of style, Halsey soon discovered how underserved this market was. “Everything was too flashy and trendy.” And just like that, Halsbrook was born.

Our styling point of view is one of sophisticated sensibility with an emphasis on ease for the woman with a hundred to-dos to check off before her day is done. Every piece in our assortment is on-trend, not trendy, and has been carefully vetted for quality and fit. We style in head-to-toe looks, not just one-off pieces, and offer complete outfit ideas with a focus on versatility. We believe wardrobing should enhance our lives, not be hard work. So, the Halsbrook shopping experience is capped off with first-class service – as personal as shopping in a boutique store, with the ease of shopping online whether you’re at home or on the go.

I hope you enjoyed this post and that you got some great inspiration from it when accessorizing your own wardrobe. Thank you to Halsbrook for partnering with me on this article. I'm truly grateful I found you!

Today I would love to know... what is your favorite look?

See you on Monday for a long-overdue Reader Questions Answered. Have a great weekend!

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FTC: This post was sponsored by Halsbrook.com. As you know, I am very selective in who I partner with and I am thoroughly impressed with this company. All opinions remain my own. Links may be affiliate.

It's time for the ten-item wardrobe talk-through! Thank you so much to everyone for your encouraging comments on Monday's video, especially regarding my children. We had so much fun filming and they got a kick out of hearing your comments. They truly say, "thank you" for all of your kind compliments!

In today's video, I discuss the new items in my wardrobe, the budget aspect of this year's choices and answer your questions.

Mentioned in today's video:
The Jessica Simpson nursing camisole is what I currently wear under my blouses. I love this camisole because it has a built-in bra and is so comfortable.



Many people asked about the Barbara Barbieri wedge shoes I picked up from TJ Maxx. These shoes are very comfortable. I've worn them on several occasions now.


Women's Sam Edelman 'Gigi' Sandal in Beige This sandal is honestly my favorite go-to sandal in the spring/summer season. It is very comfortable to walk in. I wore mine so much that my pair recently broke!



...and the white leggings, which I have paired with the Rebecca Taylor dress to make up for its short side slit. These leggings are one size fits all. They are very soft and I think they are great quality, especially for the price at $10!


Check out the original ten-item wardrobe post here to see more on each item.

News
The Lessons from Madame Chic comic book is now available in Japan from Harper Collins. Here is another beautiful display showing some of the artwork from Junko Murata.


Here are one of the fun shots of the Japanese books on Instagram...

A post shared by Yuki✴︎ (@yuruyuru_diet) on Apr 15, 2017 at 11:21pm PDT

Westbywonderful shares a fun photo of Lessons from Madame Chic

A post shared by Mandi Jayne-66/200 📚 (@westbywonderful) on Apr 18, 2017 at 9:28am PDT

Comment of the Week

On Facebook, Lindsay writes: Oh my goodness, LOVE your wardrobe! I'm wearing a similar chambray dress today...as I was getting dressed in the locker room at my gym five middle aged women stopped mid-conversation with one another and thanked me for taking pride in my attire. I explained how you've guided me to do this and they were thrilled and amazed that I looked so nice to "just run errands!" One lady actually clapped her hands with joy! Happy Monday to you and your beautiful family!

Dear Lindsay, I loved your story. It's becoming so unusual to look presentable in today's society that those ladies really took note and applauded you. I applaud you too!


I hope you enjoy today's talk-through! Be sure to stop by the blog tomorrow for a very special bonus post. I'll be partnering with Halsbrook.com to share 6 ways to style a neutral dress. It is a very fun post, you don't want to miss it!

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It feels great to be back on the blog. I hope you had a wonderful week! We went to Lake Arrowhead and had such a relaxing and peaceful time. Capped off by Easter, it was truly a great week. And now onto the business of the day...

Welcome to my ten-item wardrobe post for spring/ summer 2017! Since I have taken you along with me during this process, you are already familiar with almost all of these pieces. I wanted to put my usual fashion show- style video together for you to show you how it all comes together.

The main message I want to convey with this video is that the ten-item wardrobe should be FUN! It's not a prison sentence for your wardrobe :) It's liberating and light and fun and will honestly change your life.

My children wanted to be in this video, so they make an appearance at the end. They certainly had fun filming with me!

Let's take a look at the core items:



Yes, this year I have 11 core items. That's OK! The ten-item wardrobe is flexible. Some seasons I have more than ten, some seasons I have less (for fall/ winter I had eight). It's important to not get bogged down in semantics. Aim for ten and see what happens! If I go through the season and I find I'm not wearing something, I will take it out.

In order from top to bottom: Boden leaf dress, Boden white and green dress, A.P.C. shirt dress, Garnet Hill black ballet dress, Rebecca Taylor dress, Garnet Hill polka dot ballet dress, Coral TJ Maxx blouse, Red floral TJ Maxx blouse, AG high waisted skinny jeans, Talbots khaki skirt and the L.L. Bean denim skirt.

The new addition, L.L. Bean skirt fits into my budget wardrobe concept this year as I purchased it on sale for only $16.99 (original price $49).

Please note: Apart from the L.L. Bean skirt, I do not have links for many of the clothing items as most of them are between two and five years old.

Extras are what bring the core items together and make your ten-item wardrobe wearable. My extras include tee shirts and sweaters. I really only have a handful of each. Not all of my extras are shown in this video. This is to give you an idea of the main items I will be using.



Tee shirts: The blue striped tee is from Boden, the white v-neck tee is from B.P. at Nordstrom, the red striped tee is from Boden, the lace tee shirt is from Loft. These are all from prior seasons so I do not have links to share for them.

Sweaters: the cropped white sweater is from Boden, the tan cardigan is from Ann Taylor and the navy cardigan is from Talbots. (Please note: I have more sweaters in my extras that I can pull from if the weather changes, such as the aqua Equipment sweater, etc. I am showing you a representation of sweaters in this post.)

The white leggings as seen with the Rebecca Taylor dress (which I LOVE) are from Amazon.

If you are new to my work and want to learn more about the ten-item wardrobe, watch my TEDx talk to get the whole story, or read my Madame Chic books.

News

Lessons from Madame Chic has been released as a comic book in two volumes from Harper Collins Japan. The books are illustrated by the very talented Junko Murata.

A post shared by ハーパーコリンズ・ジャパン／HarperCollins JP (@harpercollinsjp) on Apr 4, 2017 at 5:32pm PDT

Illustrator, Junko Murata, shared these pictures on her blog.



Thank you, once again, to the Japanese readers for embracing the Madame Chic books!

Stay tuned for the next video where I do a ten-item wardrobe talk-through with you and share my thoughts on how it is working so far. Thank you so much for your support! I hope that you will share this video and spread the word about how amazing the ten-item wardrobe truly is. If you are a blogger and you write about The Daily Connoisseur and the ten-item wardrobe, let me know and I will mention you on the blog.

Today I would love to know... what do you think of my ten-item wardrobe this year? Are you having fun building your own ten-item wardrobe? What is going right and what is going wrong? Remember even your mistakes are valuable because you learn from them! If you have any questions you'd like me to address in Thursday's talk-through video, please submit a comment by the end of today (Monday, April 17th).

See you soon...


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Continuing the beauty theme this week, I have a "day in the life of a new mascara" video for you. When I went to purchase my favorite YSL faux cils burgundy mascara at Nordstrom, they were out, but they did have this new one called The Shock !



I try out the mascara in the morning and come back in the evening to let you know how it did. Plus, what is going on with my hair?! I hope you enjoy this fun video.

Yes, I loved The Shock, even more so than the original mascara. It is tricky when applying to your lower lashes, but other than that, I give it 5 stars!

If you have tried The Shock, let me know what you think. Or, if you know of any other mascara brands that have a burgundy shade, please let me know and I will try it out.

I will be going on spring break from the blog next week, so there will be no posts, but look for me back on Monday, April 17th for the long-awaited ten-item wardrobe video for spring/summer 2017!

News

Lucia from Cleaning in the Cold has written about The Daily Connoisseur in her new post, Get Cleaned Up Before You Clean. Thank you, Lucia!

@Jenneliserose shares a beautiful picture of the Madame Chic books and roses... She has such a beautiful Instagram account, you should check out her amazing pictures!

A post shared by Jennelise Rose (@jenneliserose) on Jan 14, 2017 at 11:20am PST

Question of the Week

Ann Martin writes: Watermelon is such a pretty shade on you! I haven't tried Benecos lipstick... have you found it to be long-wearing?

Thank you, Ann! I do find the Benecos lipstick to be long-wearing. I really love that color. It's become a favorite of mine. I'm wearing it again in today's video.

Today, I would love to know what mascara you currently love. Do you have another burgundy mascara recommendation for me? I will see you back on April 17th for the ten-item wardrobe video. Have a wonderful week!


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In today's le no makeup look post, I'm thinking pink! This is a rosy-hued, natural makeup look that is great for spring.

As I always mention, you do not have to use the exact makeup I use in the video to achieve this look. Look for similar colors and shades that you already have in your makeup bag. For those who are curious as to what makeup I use in the video, I have listed it below.



Benecos Creamy Matte Foundation in Honey also available from True Natural

Benefit Fake Up Under eye concealer in medium

Shiseido Translucent Loose Powder

Eye brow powder: MAC eyeshadow (I apologize I do not know the shade.)

Urban Decay primer potion

Laura Mercier Eye Art Artist's Palette (shades Primrose and Fresco). I apply Primrose over the lid into the crease. I apply Fresco just in the crease.

CHANEL kohl eyeliner in ambre

Maybelline Great Lash mascara (disclaimer- this is not my favorite mascara, I find that it flakes as the day goes on so I can't fully recommend it, but here is the link if you are still interested.)

MAC bronzing powder (this was limited edition and is no longer available). Any bronzing powder will do for this look.

MAC Mineralize Blush - Warm Soul

Benecos lipstick in watermelon

I hope you enjoy today's video!


News
I'm continuing to share my favorite Instagram photos of my books. Here are two from the archives. If you would like to share a photo of your books, use the hashtags #MADAMECHIC or #jenniferlscott

@Bookscupsandcandles shares a beautiful photo of the Madame Chic books...

Having a quiet day at home, rereading these gorgeous Madame Chic books by @dailyconnoisseur and dreaming of Paris...💖sigh

A post shared by Sally 👩🏼📚☕️🕯🕯🕯 (@bookscupsandcandles) on Jul 5, 2016 at 10:52am PDT

... and a beautiful shot of Polish Your Poise with Madame Chic in Poland

Czytając tą książkę, miałam wrażenie, że rozmawiam z dobrą koleżanką... I powiem Wam, że jest dla mnie nadzieja. Damą może nie będę, ale warto spróbować 😊 #SzkołaWdziękuMadameChic #książka #book #MadameChic #JenniferLScott @wyd_literackie

A post shared by Asia Kornak (@whatkaa) on Oct 29, 2016 at 7:34am PDT

Comment of the Week
Carolyn writes: I loved seeing the Blue Willow plate. I recently acquired a vintage set of Blue Willow dishes, I enjoy using my different sets of old dishes to make a simple meal more special. Add a pretty place mat and napkin and you have added a little extra touch to an ordinary day. Thank you for your positive and encouraging message.

Thank you, Carolyn! The blue willow plates were gifts from my mother-in-law. They are my favorite plates! I have always loved the blue and white theme and think they make any meal look gorgeous, even a simple one like Creamed Salmon over Noodles! Thank you for your encouraging comment.

This week I would love to know... how did you like le no makeup look? What is your makeup routine for spring? Do you have any makeup recommendations to share with us? Let me know and your comment could be chosen as comment of the week on the blog.

See you on Thursday!




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