Good Measure: Spectacular Specs

Glasses are a part of my everyday. I'm lucky enough to be able to go frameless when necessary, but when it comes to working in the studio, it would be headache central without them. I'm always on the lookout for a good pair, one that will suit my needs while working and one that works with my wardrobe. This past year I have managed to curate a nice concise collection for myself. Here are my go to glasses from top to bottom: Warby Parker Aldous Sunglasses, See Eyewear, and Warby Parker Japhy.

I know some of you are the tried and true single pair type, while others will have as many specs as pairs of socks. Whatever your pleasure, proper fit is essential to helping you not only look your best, but see better too! Below are my tips for finding the perfect pair.

1. It's all about the numbers. For some of us, fit means the width of the glasses, others the height. When you know which measurements fit your face best, you can narrow down your search and even successfully buy vintage frames online. For me it's all about the width of the frame, so I pay the most attention to the measurements across the top of the glasses. For example, the Japhy measurements are 49-17-145. This means that the part of the glasses that sits in front of each eye is 49mm wide. The bridge is 17mm wide and the length to the temple or the arm of the glasses is 145mm long. The 49mm number is the most important to me, as I look best in a pair that has a larger number here.

2. Near and far. When trying on glasses, look at yourself from near and far. Some frames will kind of blend into your hair or skin color depending upon distance. If that's your jam than fine, but be aware that pink frames on someone with pinkish undertones to their skin might be a bit too much to take.

3. Purpose. As you can see above, I have two pairs of very different glasses. The Japhy specs from Warby Parker are my studio glasses. They fit snug, do not slide down the bridge of my nose, are sturdy, and the price is right so that if I scratch the I am not completely heartbroken. My pair from See Eyewear were significantly more expensive. They are my off duty glasses so to speak. I wear them out to meetings, conferences, speaking engagements. My blue cat eye glasses are more of a fashion accessory and part of my closet. I was initially surprised to find that blue acts a neutral for me, there has never been a time when I thought the blue specs didn't compliment what I was wearing.

4. Try and try again. You may think you know what frames you want, because they look good on your friend, or style icon, but keep an open mind! To truly get the best pair for you means thinking about your individual face and what fit and frame color works best for you. This often means trying on a lot of different pairs and being open to possibilities that based on frame style you might discount. As long as the frame fits within your preferred measurements, try it on, you never know!

As always, please include your questions below. I'd love to hear about how you found your favorite glasses!

xoxo

Lisa

Original photography, art direction + styling for Zelma Rose by Lisa Anderson Shaffer

Style + Shoot: Instagram Class

On April 1, I'm teaming up with photographer Sarah Deragon at the Makeshift Society to teach a class dedicated to getting your business seen on Instagram.

I love Instagram and it is by far my favorite social media. Product styling and photography is one of my passions and I'm so lucky I get to spend a good deal of my time behind the camera at Zelma Rose. I started doing all ZR product photography out of complete necessity. Being on a shoestring budget in the early days meant everything was DIY! While that means wearing many hats, it also allows the opportunity to discover hidden strengths and passions you didn't really now about. Turns out I love shooting and styling product and remain the ZR product photog to this day.

Sarah and I love to work together and teaching this class seemed like a natural fit. Sarah is an iphoneography maven and excels at getting great shots with minimal fuss. She's taught iphoneography classes all over SF and knows the best tricks to nailing the perfect shot. We are all abut sharing our quick tricks and tips to get your Instrgram gallery looking it's best and being a stellar representation of your brand.

Here's a peek at the class agenda:

In this class we will:

Tackle lighting
Talk about composition
Play with creating vignettes
Learn how to effectively tag and interact with fellow business owners and customers
Learn how to create an engaging and eye catching gallery
Have a fun photo challenge & share the final images with one another
Get hands on with four apps – ProCamera, VSCO, AfterLight & Over

I hope you can join us!

For more class information and to snag your spot, visit the Makeshift Society website. And don;t forget to follow along with us on Instagram:

@zelmarose

@sarahderagon

xoxo

Lisa

Good Measure: Classics Endure

I'm dedicating Good Measure this week to a few of my favorite classics. The sure sign of a tried and true classic in my book is if it stands the test of time and can be worn by he + she. 

With this definition in mind there seems to be no truer classic than the "Chuck." Converse All Stars have been a part of my wardrobe since the 6th grade. I remember my first pair, peach high tops. They were rad then and truth be told if my foot hadn't kept growing they would probably still be gracing the floor of my closet. Perfect for he + she and made for the early spring time weather a good pair of Chucks will make any outfit an instant classic. I like to wear mine with a straight leg skinny jean, I'm partial to the Matchstick cut from JCrew, a V-neck t a ZR necklace and lots of gold bracelets. 

A good watch can be the backbone of a look. Funny now that we don't rely on them so much anymore, the watch has really become a statement piece rather than a timepiece. Watches don't get much more classic than the Patek Philippe. I am lucky enough to have my husband's grandfather's Patek. It was given to Harry on October 1, 1961 as a retirement gift from Harrison Walker Refractory. The watch is set in Rose gold and has a stretch gold plate band that I just can't part with. While this style was made for a men's wrist, I have always loved the chunky feel of an oversized watch. 

And then there's the Hummingbird. If you don't play guitar, you really should. What are you waiting for? Gibson is a classic and for the loyal fans, nothing else sounds quite the same. You either love or loathe the sound. I bought my crazy one of a kind Gibson Hummingbird when I first moved to San Francisco a million years ago. It's a 1976 factory second and the entire guitar is stained cherry instead of sunburst because of a dark piece of wood that was placed front center of the body. To say I love this guitar would be an understatement. It is an enduring classic in my life and I plan on passing it down to my daughter someday. 

What are the classics in your wardrobe?

xoxo

Lisa 

Original photography, art direction + styling for Zelma Rose by Lisa Anderson Shaffer

Good Measure : Transitional Denim

I LOVE denim. I am a fan of denim for everything from working in the studio, to meeting with clients, and for a night out on the town. Here in Northern California, our winter is quickly turning to spring and it's time to break out the transitional wardrobe. In early spring our temperatures can range from in the high 40's in the morning to the high 70's in the afternoon, leaving us in transition hour by hour. Making denim a staple of your transitional wardrobe this time of year can work not only in battling the highs and lows of the temperatures, but the weight of denim can help you warm up or cool down your favorite winter and spring garments. Think of denim as a neutral these days. Mix it with pattern, other denim, sweaters, leather, it's your blank canvas. Do yourself a favor and invest in a well fitting denim shirt. Again, proportion is everything. My current favorite, shown here is from Madewell.

I actually own two of these shirts and love the chest pockets, boyfriend fit and long length in the back, which pretty much means it fits me like a shirt should. Denim works tucked, un-tucked, with a tie, scarf, statement necklace, sweater, and over a lightweight blouse. It really is the hardest working garment in my closet. Chances are if you see me off duty, I'm rocking this shirt with jeans or tied on top of a maxi skirt, with a scarf and clogs, running after my daughter. 

What's your go to transitional piece? 

xo

Lisa

Good Measure: Versatility

One of the concepts that I keep in mind from Zelma Rose design to prototype is the idea of versatility.  I want our customers to feel like there are numerous possibilities when it comes to our designs and that however you choose to wear them, they can become a staple in your wardrobe. Our most popular versatile design element is definitely the convertible chain. Did you know that most of our necklaces can be worn 5 different ways?

The convertible chain was born out of my own inability to choose whether I wanted to wear a certain design with a short chain or a long chain. I finally decided, why choose at all, and the Zelma Rose convertible chain was born. I get a lot of requests for tutorials on how to wear our convertible chain, and emails from you about new ways you have discovered to wear it.  I'm excited to say that a video is in the works, but for now, I pulled together some photos of the 5 ways I wear the chain.

36" // 18" Single // 27" // 18" Twist // 18" Double

When your Zelma Rose Cross Stitch Collection necklace arrives, the chain is clasped at 36 inches. For most, this length hits right around the waist and looks great with a dress, a tshirt and jeans, or a flowing silk top. 

The shorter 18 inch length works well with just about any style top, from a tshirt, to button up, this single 18 inch length works well on nearly everyone and really showcases the necklace detail. To go from the 36 inch to 18 inch length, simply unclasp one of the chains and you are all set. 

The 27 inch chain is a great mid length. This works well for women who feel that the 36 inch length is a bit too long and also works on tops and dresses with detailing around the waist or higher up on the chest. As you can see it falls right at the bust line on me. To achieve this look, separate your chains. Keep one through the pendant, and clasp the other to itself. Clasp the closed chain to the end of the chain running through the pendant and then take the clasp of the chain running through the pendant and hook it around the closed chain. Yeah it's a little wordy, but take a close look at the above photo on the left and you will get it.

The 18 inch twist is my favorite way to wear ZR designs. I love the geometric design that it creates on the skin and this style looks amazing with an open cut top. The more skin the better! To get this look, separate the chains and put both through the pendant opening. Clasp one around your next and let the other fall at the pendants sides. Before you clasp the second chain, criss cross it right above the pendant opening and then clasp the back around your neck. 

The double 18 inch chain is probably the most popular among customers. You guys love the way it balances out the size of the pendant and showcases the design detail. To achieve this look, simple separate the chains and run both through the pendant. I like this look with a paired down top and choose it when I really want the necklace to define the outfit. 

So there you have it! Thanks for stopping by Good Measure this week. Comment below on your favorite way to wear our convertible chain. Have you discovered a way all your own to wear it? Share it below and send us a photo!

xo

Lisa

Original photography, art direction + styling for Zelma Rose by Lisa Anderson Shaffer

Good Measure: Proper Proportions

It should come as no surprise that I love me some Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake. Humor + well dressed = yes please in my book. When Jimmy and JT get together it is always the makings of a good time, so how could I not be excited to see Justin's first appearance on The Tonight Show?

While it was a fun time for all, I was a bit concerned when I saw what JT's band was wearing. Justin looked great, as usual, and we will get to that later, but the band, while immensely talented and adorable, had taken a few missteps in the proportions department. This is an easy mistake to make and we are all guilty of this from time to time. Proportions are difficult to get right. I want to say from the onset that proportions are not about the size or shape of your body, but the way clothing and accessories fit, which no matter the shape of your beautiful bod, can be spot on to make you look your best. I have a lot of issues with proportions myself, being nearly 5'11", it is something I have to be constantly mindful of. Ready to wear clothes are often too short, or too wide, and things can become a hot mess for me real quickly. Luckily, with a little attention to detail and some know how, proportion missteps can be easily corrected! I am going to use JT and the band as an instructional of where things can go right and wrong when it comes to proportions. I chose a still from the performance, but if you want to take a closer look at the images, you can head on over to The Tonight Show website to view the full performance.

Okay, let's start with the gentleman to the far left. As you can see he is neatly dressed and has made the decision to leave his shirt un-tucked. Hooray I say, he has a job to do as a musician and if an un-tuck makes it easier, then go for it. My concern is the length of the tie. This is a question I get a lot from my bespoke customers. How long should a tie be? It depends on many factors and future posts will cover these in depth, but for now, I think we can agree that even just a few inches in length would help pull this look together. That might mean just tying the knot differently to leave more length in the front, or if you are tall with a long torso, it may mean having a custom tie created in a longer length. Either way, a few inches can really sure up your proportions and keep you looking sharp. 

Next is the lovely back up singer. For the record, I love this look of the vest, matching pant and white dress shirt with the rolled up sleeves. Understated but on pointe, which exactly fits the job description. Unfortunately the proportions on the vest are a little off and this really effects the clean lines of a vest and matching pant combo. The vest should be a few inches longer to fully cover the top of the pant, especially when not wearing a belt. This would play up the fluidity and elongation of the mathcing vest and pant combo, which is why it is a good choice to begin with. 

Let's leave JT for last, (I only have good things to say) and let's take a look at the back up singer on the right. Again, great choice with the suit and bow tie. Love this look. But, the bow tie is a bit too big for this gentleman's frame. The perfect bow tie is not only about a great knot, but proportions. The bow itself should not over power and be wider than the neck, or be too small. I will devote an entire post to just finding the perfect bow tie fit, as I get asked this question a lot. For now, we can agree that a little tinkering with the length of the bow tie, or perhaps choosing one with smaller overall proportions would take this dapper look to the next level. 

I've got good news for JT, as usual he nailed it in the proportions department. Let's start with his collar. To wear a shirt buttoned up to the top without neckwear means the proportions have to be spot on. You can see here that the collar fits him perfectly. Snug, but not too tight, his neck has room to breath a little and the collar is sitting flat as it should be. My favorite part of his look is that some consideration went into the practicality of it. Knowing he was going to be playing guitar, a decision was made to wear a jacket with real cuff buttons, a lot are faux believe it or not, even on lux brands. Wearing the real deal he was able to roll up his sleeves and get down to business. Another win for JT is the length of his jacket. It's perfect. Sits nicely and gives him enough length to move without it looking too short. Well proportioned all around!

They say football is a game of inches and proportions are no different. Don't be afraid to tinker around. Sometimes finding the perfect look just means tying your tie differently. Please comment below with your thoughts, and feedback. What are your thoughts on proportions? How do you find the perfect fit? And as always, I'm here to help, for good measure.

xoxo

Lisa