Sympvertising Alert: Jones NY Promotes Closet Surfing for Style.

After surviving several days worth of the What Not To Wear Marathon , I was particularly psyched to hear about the launch of a new video series from fashion retailer Jones New York called JNY Style Miles. In a unique and timely display of sympvertising, Jones New York is actually encouraging women to shop in their own closets this season — in search of forgotten fashion treasures, style revivals and skirts and shirts with possible second lives.

Come Self-Improvement month (January), they’ll launch a 12-part online video series on jny.com, which aims to aid style-seeking ladies in the daunting task of looking chic on a budget. Hosted by style guru Lloyd Boston (seen on estro-shows such as The View and The Today Show), the webisodes will focus on women and their current wardrobes. Helping shoppers reevaluate the clothing they already own, Boston will teach viewers how to give new life to old pieces, with just a few key supplements from Jones New York. Shoulder pads anyone?

Guru’s Note: Bay area fashionistas can do more than merely surf for style– they can call on the local Style gurus at Urban Darling who love nothing more than roto-routering through your closet and unearthing your buried gems. Chic-Chief Corinne is near legendary in her ability to help up-the-image for that job interview or big date.

The New Potluck Economy: What Will You Bring to the Table?

The old-fashioned, Leave It To Beaver, church-basement concept of the Potluck Supper is back in style.

For those of you who missed this very 50’s ‘harvest gold, Kraft Recipe way of life: a Potluck supper is one in which everybody brings a ‘covered dish’ to the table. Usually this is a family favorite, a specialty of each particular cook. One woman may bring her Sunday best chicken casserole; another brings his homemade wheatberry muffins; yet another bakes up a sumptuous Red Devil’s food cake. And so on and so forth, until the table is rich with the imaginative recipes of each of the chefs.

A potluck gives everyone a chance to shine in their own special way. No one dish is the star; no one cook dons the apron. Which is why, even if you haven’t potlucked in eons, you ought to think about the enduring idea behind it.

In life, we all bring something to the table. Some of us are talented artists, others excel at sports, others are savvy in business. No one quality is necessarily greater than another– no one talent whups another. Sometimes we meet someone and say ‘Wow, look at the way she aced that serve. I can’t do that!’ Or ‘gee, he’s really great at closing a deal. Sure wish I was that good.’ We tunk ourselves because we feel we don’t stack up. Sometimes we let this stop us from trying, from going further, from expressing our own abilities — whatever they are, wherever they may be on the path to excellence.

That’s when we need to remember the concept of Potluck. Each of us, every single human being, brings something unique to the table. Each of us brings something worth sharing. Whether it’s boundless ideas and energy (Adryenn), an eye for making everyone look their photographic best (Monica), the gift of loving support (Allie), creative business savvy (Claire) or style to die for (Corinne) . . . all are making an important contribution. It takes everyone, every flavor, every taste and texture, every dish to make a Potluck.

Today, more and more people are RSVP-ing a resounding YES to the new Potluck Economy. We’re bartering, trading, link-exchanging, Freecycling, donating, giving of ourselves and our stuff in a myriad of imaginative ways. New technology is letting us collaborate, communicate, co-work and co-create. We’re couch surfing, ooffoo-ing and crowdsourcing.  We’re innovating breakthrough ways of working, living and being. It’s definitely not business as usual. Thank God.

This then, is the new Potluck Economy. Welcome to the table. What will you bring?

Guru’s Note:  This is an excerpt from my upcoming book:  Rock Your Future. The New Trends, Tips & Tricks.

Guru’s Update: Here’s a good article on bartering from the Monterey Herald.