Though we always enjoy a great dress, there's nothing wrong with dressing in separates. Play with the color on the bottom with a great skirt or pencil pant like our Red Audrey Pants in a terrific stretch cotton. We've paired these bottoms with our sheer black Juanita top. It shows just the right amount of skin and the look is subtly sexy.

If you are looking to wear a dress for the occasion, go for one with a unique or fun print.  Our Stacia Knit Wrap Dress in Abstract is a bamboo and nylon blend so it is incredibly soft and comfortable. The cap sleeve will keep you covered, but you could throw a cardigan or jacket on top. We have this dress available in store and coming online soon! 

Another one of our favorites dresses is our Stevie silk faux wrap dress.  The three quarter dolman sleeves will keep you covered up while still looking chic and elegant.  The hues and tints of red in this piece are just perfect for a Valentine's Day dinner.

If you want to wear a dress but don't want to invest in a new one, you can always reach for that perfect LBD in your closet and add a pop of crimson with a scarf like our Marquet Weave scarf in red or with our beautiful red gemstone necklace, pictured here in green. For great little black dresses, try our Josie, Dominique or Stevie dress. Nothing completes a look like a great shoe so if you are keeping it simple, top off the look with a fabulous pump in a great color like red, burgundy or fuschia.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Please refer to http://www.tiffany.com/csr/ to learn more about Tiffany & Co.'s commitment to sustainability and don't forget to get your tickets now for the event and have this amazing opportunity to learn about the brand's social mission, and see over a dozen Tiffany & Co. pieces up close! Tickets are limited to get them now!!!

Well we have done it again! This time with the banners from the Roberto Capucci exhibit at The Philadelphia Museum of Art that was on display this past Spring. We retrieved the banners from the museum over the Summer and just couldn't wait to develop and release the jacket in time for Spring 2012.

The jacket is a modern silhouette complete with three quarter sleeves, asymmetrical closure and single pocket. It is fully lined and complete with a black microfiber on the exterior of the jacket making it completely waterproof!

The jacket is sized XS-XXL and retails for $249. We know this piece won't last long, so stop in or call us at 215.587.0004 to order yours and get this incredible piece of wearable art!

Enjoy a sneak peak of our Spring 2012 Collection with Philadelphia's most discerning women during a sit down tea at Chez Colette.  Hosted by style expert, Liliana Vazquez of Cheap Chicas and the Nate Berkus Show and sponsored by Tiffany & Co.

Get a rare opportunity to hear founder and designer Sarah Van Aken share the story of SA VA and speak about social consciousness in the apparel industry while 15 looks from the fall collection are formally modeled along with Tiffany & Co jewelry. "This isn't just another fashion show.  Most people don't realize the impact of the apparel industry on the environment, on people working around the world or on our local economy" say Van Aken " Support of this event will help us launch our fashion line at wholesale market to sell SA VA through other stores, through the expansion of SA VA we hope to be an example that there is another way."

The event will also include an overview of trend and insight in to our Fall 2012/ Winter 2013 collection, AND a raffle to win one of two signature pieces from the Spring 2012 collections.  All Spring items will be available for pre-order at the event.

TICKET PRICE INCLUDES:

- Seat with Tea Service, Finger Sandwiches and Pastry

- Tiffany & Co. Signature Cocktail

- Goody Bag

- 1 Raffle Entry for a chance to win a signature SA VA item

- Opportunity to meet Lilliana Vazquez and Philadelphia's most discerning women

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 want to donate to organizations like The Career Wardrobe or Dress for Success.  They are in good condition but are out-dated and do not fit you properly.  A good rule of thumb here is if you haven't worn it in 8 to 12 months, you are never going to.  Let someone else enjoy it and feel great in it as you once did.

C.  Items that you want to keep, but do not fit properly or need some alteration.  This is where a professional or honest friend come in handy. Try the item on, see what can be done. Does the pant hem need to come down?  Can it be let out in the waist for more comfort?  Could you remove the shoulder pad on a jacket to modernize it?  These items should be brought to a tailor/seamstress that you trust to be reworked.

D.  Items that you love and wear regularly.

2. Once those 4 piles are determined you are in a great spot to reorganize your closet for optimum functionality.

3.  Every professional and/or individual will have a different take on how to organize your clothing.  My best suggestion is to make it work for you.  How is your closet set up? How do you get dressed in the morning?  Do you choose pants/skirt first and then move on to a top?  If so then start hanging pants/skirts first and move on from there.
A.  I would make is to have the current "season" be front and center.  Then rotate when the season changes.
B.  Hang clothing based on category.  Shirts go with shirts, dresses go with dresses and so on and so on.
C.  Investing in nice hangers (not dry cleaner hangers). The thin wire hangers can damage/pull the shoulder area of your shirts and sweaters.  It is worth investing in a decent hanger to save the life of your clothing.
D.  Hang all of your clothing facing in the same direction.

If you ever feel like you need professional assistance, I am happy to help.  Contact me via email at carly@thirtysomethingfashion.com. Good luck with your closet makeover!

Watch Carly at work in our video tutorial for cleaning out your closet. We hope you will enjoy it and it inspires you to clean out your own closet and donate some of your gently used items to The Career Wardrobe!

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 mean that you should stick to the same old styles you have been wearing forever.  You can mix and match suit separates - take your closet basics and pair them with specialty pieces from more contemporary brands.  Or our new fav - a conservative, professional woven dress in lieu of a suit. It is totally ok to look feminine and professional as long as you look like you take yourself seriously. The key is that you need to feel comfortable in your work wear so that you are wearing the clothes and the clothes aren't wearing you.  Here are some examples of alternative professional looks.

• If you work in public relations, advertising, or a creative type of firm you may still need to be professional but it is likely that an ultra conservative suit is not going to win over your clients, boss or peers.  In this case,  get a little creative. Stick to high quality fabrics, get a lot of basics and a select group of specialty tops or jackets to mix and match.  Essentially you are sticking to fresh classic pieces. Making them unique by how you pair them. The other key is that you can always set the look with cool textured tights and the right shoe.

• Business Casual is a Tricky Thing.   You definitely don't want to over dress or look too serious that it makes others uncomfortable, but you don' t want it to look like you are running errands on a Saturday afternoon either.  Classic separates, like wrap skirts, woven tops, casual slacks and cute tops could be just the right fit.

The Right Fit.

• Alterations: Face it, it needs to be done and it is worth the investment.   Boxy and ill fitting is equally as bad as too small and revealing.  Getting clothes that fit, or altering clothes you have is critical.

• Know your body type:  Know the styles that compliment your body type.  If you are self conscious, it is a good indicator that it may be too revealing or tight in a certain area.

• Secret in the Stretch: dresses, pants and suits with stretch are critical. They have revolutionized how things fit women.  Look for things with stretch if you are worried about curves.

What our video tutorial and experiment with new looks while dressing for work, no matter what kind of work environment you're in!

Is it just me? Every year I lament over what to wear on New Years Eve. It may have to do something with the exhaustion I usually feel as I rush to the finish line of a year, surviving the holiday rush in the fashion world - well I suppose it true in  all of our worlds.  It is  often frigid on New Year's Eve, so the itty bitty sparkling number I would fancy will just leave me shivering and cranky.  And let's face it - I am out for a more intimate experience to ring in the new year with these days, so crowded bars and restaurants aren't my thing.

Ok, now that I am done whining, the truth is that though it doesn't happen every year, when you get NYE right, it can be magical.  My recommendations are this: Keep it simple and definitely a little sexy even if trying to be as covered as possible to keep warm.  When in doubt, a little black dress is the answer, some things always remain true.

Dress for the occasion: If you are going to a club, an Irish Pub or casual party, you may be just as well dressed in your favorite going out jeans and a great silk top, something special with some great jewelry.

josie dress $189

Here is what I am likely to be wearing this NYE.  Its stretch knit, black, sexy and it has sleeves.  It's our Josie dress.  It's quite possibly the best dress we have ever made - I love it.

Some other good ideas may be: something with a pop of color like our purple Maria dress. The front ruching is super flattering and covers you up in all of the right places. A  silk top with some visual interest like our hand dyed Vera top is great if you want to wear separates for the evening. The rich red hue is perfect for this time of year. Pair it with a skirt, a skinny black pant of even a jean. If you are feeling like wearing something a little more unique, try our Madison brown dress. The draped front pocket and asymmetrical hemline looks great paired with a patterned tight or a legging. Add some shoe boots or a heel and you are good to ring in the New Year!

Whatever the case - the best advice I can give you is to let go of your expectations of how NYE is supposed to be, be comfortable and enjoy the evening!

maria dress $199

madison dress in brown $159

vera top $99

The Philadelphia Fashion Incubator is the first of its kind in Philadelphia. The city is fortunate to be home to nationally recognized fashion design schools in the country including Moore College of Art, Drexel University and Philadelphia University. With the incredible talent coming out of these schools, the city realized there were few resources that supported local fashion designers who wanted to launch their businesses in Philadelphia.

The purpose of PFI is to support and promote emerging fashion designers from these design schools and the fashion community of Philadelphia.

Launching in March 2012, PFI is a one year program and will feature 4 annually-selected Designers-in-Residence, who will have access to office and design/work space, a showroom, curriculum, mentoring, and other important resources all within Macy's Center City in an effort to help them launch and further grow their companies in the City of Philadelphia. PFI will support talent that understands the program is a business proposition, not merely a creative opportunity.

Each of the three design schools will have one alumnae participate as a Designer-in-Residence. The fourth spot for a Designer-in-Residence is an open call to any apparel designer living in the Philadelphia Region. To apply to become one of the lucky designers chosen to be part of the 2012 Philadelphia Fashion Incubator, click here to apply now! Applications are due by 1/20/2012.

PFI is currently seeking sponsors to fund the incubator. If interested in becoming a sponsor, contact Elissa Bloom, Executive Director at 917.449.1773 or elissa@philadelphiafashionincubator.com.