From the front lines of fashion
Lauren Buehner has worked in the fashion industry for 23 years and I decided to ask her opinion on the current state of fashion. She began her career as a holiday seasonal employee at Macy's in 2004. Her career evolved and she became an expert on premium denim and luxury brands, eventually becoming a department manager. After discovering her love of wardrobe styling, Lauren left Macy’s to pursue her passion for helping women find their style. Lauren currently manages Velvet at University Village in Seattle.
How has your wardrobe/style evolved since working at Velvet? What has changed, if anything?
My style has gotten more simplistic over the past 3 years. I prefer easy lines and flattering silhouettes for my inverted body shape, which includes strong shoulders and long arms/legs. I’m short-waisted, and cropped styles are flattering—especially when paired with a straight, bootcut, or wide-leg style to balance my physique.
Where are the families traveling to these days?
The number one travel destination this year is Japan, followed by Italy. We’ve also assisted with Hawaii and Southern California destinations for U.S. travel. I always find it interesting to see the travel trends from customers at Velvet.
Do women like the barrel leg pant style? I’m not a huge fan.
The barrel leg pant style is tracking well for us. However, I would say the version we have is more of a straight leg with a relaxed knee—it’s not a super exaggerated barrel. The ideal height to pull off the style is around 5'5" to 5'10" for the inseam we carry in-store. They did create a version with a 27.5" inseam for shorter ladies.
What's your advice to create a capsule wardrobe?
My advice for creating a capsule wardrobe is to focus on pieces that can be worn interchangeably to create multiple looks. For example, a linen shirt dress can be worn as a dress, styled open with a tank, or paired with linen pants or shorts. The point of a capsule wardrobe is to have fewer items that can be worn in many different ways.
How do you suggest a woman finds out what her best colors are?
With experience in both cosmetics and fashion retail, I’ve learned we have to consider two things when it comes to colors for women: the undertones of their veins (warm, cool, neutral) and how their hair color affects what works. For example, if you're blonde with green veins, yellows, oranges, and certain greens look amazing. But if you change your hair to gray, those same colors can make you look sallow. In that case, we move toward pseudo-neutrals like cranberry, olive green, tones of blue, and variations of gray to work into a capsule wardrobe.
What's the biggest fashion faux pas/mistake you see?
The biggest mistake I see is simply ill-fitting clothing—or wearing too many accessories that compete with each other. I also notice a lot of sloppiness, and I think some people (Gen Z and Gen Alpha) do it on purpose to shock and awe the older generations.
What key items do you recommend for a warm-weather travel vacation?
One great, easy-to-travel shirt dress, black or navy linen pants, tees and tanks, an open-knit cardi for evenings, and—last but not least—a great hat and bag that will carry you through the whole vacation.
Is linen hard to take care of? How has your opinion of linen evolved since working at Velvet?
Linen is super easy to care for. Wash cold and air dry... then steam out the crinkles. I think older generations expect crisp linen, but that’s not how it wears over time. I wasn’t introduced to linen until working at Velvet—I always thought it was for a much older generation. But I’ve realized how easy and comfortable it is to wear when it's super hot. I can’t get enough of a good button-down worn open with a tank and shorts.
Is it more challenging for the petite woman to find clothes or the tall woman?
I think both petite and tall women have their own challenges. Shorter ladies have the option of alterations to remove length, but tall women usually have to special order to get the length they need in bottoms. I often order my denim online once I know the waist size. The average inseam for bottoms is 32", but my inseam is 34" for flats and 36" for anything with a heel. For tops—especially long sleeves—I’ll size up to get the length I need in the arms, or I’ll style the sleeve as a ¾ length. (I know you know I have challenges with my long arms!)
Why do you think t-shirts get holes at the bottom? Is it worth it to pay $80 for a t-shirt?
It doesn’t matter the cost of t-shirt—the friction from seat belts, buttons on denim, and crossbody handbags will inevitably create that dreaded hole in the front. Whether it’s worth paying $80 for a tee depends entirely on someone’s budget and where they find value. Velvet tees use cotton sourced from Japan, which is known for growing the highest quality cotton—and it’s velvety soft (pun intended). I can feel the difference between brands and fabrics. There are also promotions throughout the year to stock up and save some $$—including our upcoming Friends & Family event, April 9–14!
Do you hand wash cashmere? How do you care for it to prevent pills, etc.?
I hand wash all my sweaters and use a sweater shaver to maintain friction spots—like under the arms. I also use the dry board method for drying my sweaters after laundering.
What's the one item a woman should splurge on?
I do not skimp on footwear. Quality support for your feet is key. That doesn’t mean the shoes need to be ugly! My personal favorites include Steve Madden, Sam Edelman, Franco Sarto, Birkenstock, New Balance, Adidas, and Nike.
How do you manage a wardrobe when our sizes fluctuate?
For classic styles, I keep them and store them in a bin to revisit—especially during seasonal transitions from fall/winter to spring/summer, since I tend to fluctuate during those times of year. For fashion pieces, I’ll “bless and release” them to consignment or do a little “destash shop my closet” sale for anyone interested.
Any last bit of advice?
Your style is yours alone. Find the pieces that make you feel absolutely wonderful—because when you feel good, you do good.