With it being Memorial Day and the start of Summer and all, my friend Brooke Goldstein, stylist and creative professional extraordinaire, has the perfect guest blog for those of us who struggle with wanting to wear cute outfits, but who, at the same time, are pretty prone to stains. 

Summer is here and the BBQ, garden party and picnic invitations are filling up our calendars. Yay!!! However, if you are anything like me that means all sorts of staining is about to come your wardrobe's way. So instead of sacrificing the fun for fashion, I’ve found affordable ways to look your best and brightest without avoiding this season's spills and thrills. 

There are 2 rules when it comes to camouflaging a clothing stain - machine washable fabrics and detailed patterns. Buying machine washable fabrics seems like a no brainer, but I recommend checking the care labels before trying on. That way you don’t fall in love with a high maintenance garment you don’t have the time or money to constantly send to the dry cleaners. To expand your options, you can make a hand wash garment machine wash friendly by getting a few wash bags ($4 at Target) and using the cold temp on the delicate setting (along with a free and clear detergent).  Also, be that girl with a stain stick in your purse. I love the Tide To Go pens ($7 for a pack of 3 at Target). They work great and don’t take up any extra room in my already overstuffed bag. 

Now for the fun part… Detailed Patterns!!! 

As a former apparel textiles designer I love, Love, LOVE a good pattern. So I ventured out on a beautiful sunny day to Garden City Shopping Center in Cranston to get some great patterned outfits that will hide the inevitable food, grass, and dirt stains on the horizon.  

First Stop Francesca’s

Store Profile: The style is geared towards a 20’s and 30’s age range. Pre sale price range for most of their clothing is around $18-$50 per piece. They always have tons of bright colors and patterns to choose from as well as great accessories to match.

Current Sale or Promotion: Take an additional 40% off already reduced merchandise.  

My Findings: 

Bolsana Printed Tank $28 (top left) good for straight and inverted triangle body types and masks dirt, ketchup and mustard stains. Dakota Printed Dress $44 (top right) good for hourglass, straight, and pear body types and camouflages ketchup, dirt, jam, and bbq sauce stains. Keya Printed Maxi Dress $48 (bottom left) good for straight and inverted triangle body types and covers up grass, dirt and fruit stains. Agree Printed Shorts $34 (bottom right) good for inverted triangle, straight and hourglass body types and hides grass, dirt, wine, and bbq sauces stains.  

Second on my list LOFT

Store Profile: The style is geared towards a 30’s, 40’s and 50’s age range. Pre sale price range for most of their clothing is around $35-$110 per piece. They have great day to night looks that can take you right from work to a night out as well as classic jewelry for dressing an outfit up or down.

Current Sale or Promotion: 60% off all sale; Ends Tuesday, May 26th.

My Findings:

Full Bloom Riviera Shorts $49.50 on sale for $35 (top left) good for body types straight, hourglass, and inverted triangle covers up catsup, mustard, and grass stains. Spotted Blouson Tee Dress $69.50 (top right) good for body types inverted triangle, and straight masks jam, fruit, bbq sauce, and dirt stains. Paradise Pencil Skirt $69.50 on sale for $59.99 (bottom left) good for body types straight, inverted triangle and hourglass hides catsup, mustard, dirt, and grass stains.  Tropic Rivera Shorts $49.50 on sale for $35 (bottom right) good for body types straight, inverted triangle and hourglass camouflages dirt and grass stains.  

Lastly I stopped at Anthropologie

Store Profile: The style is geared towards a 20’s, 30’s and 40’s age range. Pre sale price range for most of their clothing is around $50-$200 per piece. They use a lot of natural fibers rather than synthetics which makes most of their clothing very comfortable and breathable. The patterns are rich and have a worldly look with many accessory options to compliment them.

Current Sale or Promotion: Take an additional 20% off sale for the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

My Findings:

Baori Maxi Skirt $128 (left) good for all body types if you are tall covers up catsup, mustard, wine, jam, dirt and grass stains. Fairchild Flared Dress $148 on sale for $89.95 (top center) good for body types hour glass, straight and pear shaped and masks wine, bbq sauce, dirt, grass, catsup, and mustard. Evaline Dress $138 (top right) good for body types pear and straight camouflages fruit, catsup, mustard, and grass stains. Ranunculus Bloom Shorts $78 (bottom right) good for body types straight, inverted triangle and hourglass and hides grass, dirt, fruit, and lemonade stains.  

I hope this keeps your summer more stress free and styles all your stains away.  

From: Providence, RI

Site: stateofmindstyling.com  (While Brooke's site is being updated and redesigned, be sure to check out her FB page by clicking here.)

Likes: Ice Cream, Anything Colorful, Animals, Accessorizing and Bargain Hunting

Dislikes: Waiting in Line, Walking in the Rain and Constant Complainers

Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius

Brooke Erin Goldstein is a Creative Professional living and working in Providence RI.  She has a BFA from the RISD, majoring in textiles. Brooke worked in the fashion industry for 5 years before starting her own businesses. Since then she has been working for herself providing personal and creative services for over 10 years.