A Peek into a Typical Winter Day for Kate Stoltz Posted on 5 Mar 06:00 , 13 comments
A winter snowstorm has once again transformed the outdoors into a glittering, shimmering wonderland. I took a walk this morning before the snow and ice melted from the trees and the outdoors returned to brown and grey again. My dog, Victoria, joined me on the excursion. It was too cold for her to walk on the snow for long, but we both enjoyed the fresh air.

I wore a fuchsia jumper gifted by Femme Luxe with some black jeans and boots. Since I wasn’t planning to stay outside for a long time, the cozy knit sweater was enough to keep me warm. The bright fuchsia is a fun color to wear, especially in the wintertime when the Northeast outdoors gets dreary and cold.
After walking to a waterfall I discovered on a previous run, I headed back indoors to work on a custom gown for me to wear to an upcoming Winter Gala. The Winter Gala is being hosted to help raise funds for the next Developing Faces mission to Guatemala. (Developing Faces is a 501c3 charity that provides high quality surgical care to children and babies with facial abnormalities living in developing countries. I am the CEO and the event coordinator for the non profit organization.)

Today I am working on thread-tracing the seams, which is done along complex seam lines so the sewing is more precise. Thread tracing is especially helpful when making a form fitting garment such as a gown that has been patterned, sampled, adjusted and sampled again to get a perfect fit. While it is rather time consuming, it is worth the extra time when working with expensive textiles and complex patterns, where being off an eighth of an inch means it needs to be recut and sewn again.
After working on the gown for the rest of the day, I close my design studio and try to enjoy the rest of the evening. After cooking, eating and cleaning up after dinner, I always plan out my day for tomorrow and try to prioritize what needs to be done first. Planning out my day the evening before always helps me start my work the next day in a timely manner, and gives me some structure instead of blindly trying to tackle whatever is on front of me.
On a normal weekday, I usually take care of any orders that need to be sent out first. After packaging (or making, in the case of a custom garment) I do any book keeping that needs to be done. Then, if there is time left in my day, I go into my design studio and do what I do what I really enjoy about being a designer: sketch, work on a gown or study the latest collections from my most highly respected brands' international fashion shows.

Finally, I love curling up by the fireplace and reading a couple pages from my current novel to quiet my mind before going to bed. Femme Luxe gifted me another cozy stone bardot cable knit oversized jumper that made my evening even cozier. I've been wearing a lot of sweaters this winter, and find that layering them over a white linen button up with a collar or tie front comfortably dresses them up a little.

What are your favorite ways to dress up a sweater? I'd love to hear! Let me know in the comment section. (Trust me, I always read the comments :) )
Outfit:
Fuchsia Jumper and Stone Bardot Sweater: gifted by Femme Luxe
To read about Kate Stoltz featured in Style Verify Magazine, visit: Kate Stoltz in Style Verify
Comments
billy fahey on
your talents never cease to amaze me….
billy fahey on
your talents never cease to amaze me….
Beth Bowers on
Kate I like to pair s scarf with my sweaters. It gets cold in Idaho and after not wearing sweaters or coats often I had a significsnt weight loss snd am cold all the time now. Scarves warm my neck snd ears and can provide complemening or contrasting intrest to my outfit. May your heart always be warm in chilly weather.
Beth
Barbara Taylor on
So glad to see how successful you’ve become. The others on the show haven’t begun to reach their full potential….so happy for you!
Tracey on
Its so nice to see that you are making a name for yourself. Stay true to yourself and you will go far. It’s a pleasure to watch you
Kathryn jones on
I’ve enjoyed watching you on the show and enjoy your success and fashions ,make sure you stay true to yourself and humble always and things with work out to your benefit, always remember your never to big to fall , just saying be true to yourself ❤️💕
LaVina Weaver on
Beautiful and inspiring! I love your style! I often see the beauty of our common Amish culture seeping into the flowing lines of your garments. I Love the complex simplicity you embody!
Dianne Gasca on
OMG Kate! You are super busy! It’s so cool to hear how passionate you are regarding your chosen career. The clothes you wear are beautiful but your sophistication adds that extra touch. My mom was like you too. She would use our evening newspaper to make her patterns. I would go with her to the fabric store to look at Vogue pattern books and she would make notes. She would look for the best fabrics to make my clothes. Although we couldn’t afford the designer brands my friends wore, I was fortunate to have custom made clothes that always looked beautiful. You’ve made an exciting and amazing life in New York. Are you planning the Gala also? How do we donate to the fundraisee?
Dianne Gasca on
OMG Kate! You are super busy! It’s so cool to hear how passionate you are regarding your chosen career. The clothes you wear are beautiful but your sophistication adds that extra touch. My mom was like you too. She would use our evening newspaper to make her patterns. I would go with her to the fabric store to look at Vogue pattern books and she would make notes. We would look for the best fabrics to make my clothes for you. Although we couldn’t afford the designer brands my friends were, I was fortunate to have custom made clothes that always looked beautiful. You’ve made an exciting and amazing life in New York. Are you planning the Gala also? How do we donate to the fundraisee?
Barbara Meredith on
I’ve watched you since day one on the show! I’m 77 yrs old and still enjoy looking at beautiful , lovely things! I knew you were gifted, smart, dedicated and will be successful. You are! So proud. Keep on going until you reach your full potential, then some.
Sherry Barber on
I am a huge fan of yours 💕💕
Jasmin on
You look beautiful as always Kate, even more importantly you sound happy (just from bits and pieces I have read). I find your life so inspirational. From how you had to take such a huge chance and leave your roots behind, then working incredibly hard to bring your talent to life and now you are so accomplished while still respecting the roots you came from.
I love your designs, your charity work and your super cute little pup.
Sharron on
Congratulations on all your successes. You look very settled into your new lifestyle. I am delighted to see your progress and determination. ☘️☘️☘️