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4 Simple Tips to Dress Up Your Holiday Look

November 30, 2009 By Leave a Comment

BlackVest

The Holiday Season is a very short season and unless your budget allows, it is foolish to spend a sizable portion of your wardrobe allowance on something that you are only going to wear once or twice.

I was ‘browsing’ Target, I found these great add on pieces for stellar Holiday Dressing.  When dressing up your outfits for the holidays just remember that sometimes it is the smallest addition that makes the biggest impact.

Always take into account, color, style and fit but don’t forget to allow room for a little daring personality especially during the Holidays!  You’ll feel stylish and I found these great items recently at Target.  All are wearable trends for every budget and style and won’t break the bank!

Try these 4 Dress Up Tips and you are sure to “look good, feel great and have FUN at that party!”

  • Add a little sparkle to your sweater.  Look for special touches. Are the buttons made out of glass or even a rhinestone center?  A little (not a lot) of sparkle goes bracelet1a long way!
  • Check out the jewelry counter for costume jewelry.   Worn with a black cashmere turtleneck and a pair of dark denim jeans is so chic!
  • Buffalo Plaid is all the rage.  Add a cute black and red check scarf to a crisp white shirt, black slack  or a leather skirt, pumps and you’re good to go!
  • Add a simple long lightweight vest to any outfit wrap it with a belt, throw on a bracelet or cuff and there you have it.

4 Simple, easy ways to dress up your holiday look this season .  Remember:  “Look Good, Feel Great, and Have FUN Doing It!”

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4 Tips to Wearing & Accessorizing with a Statement Handbag

November 25, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Large oversized “statement” bags are all the rage this season.  I see the trend continuing into spring as well.  You see them on models and on the runway, but how do you carry it off on the streets?  Better yet, how do you coordinate it with your other accessories?

Check this great Jimmy Choo handbag from Nordstrom out.  It has interpretations of all the latest trends.

Follow these simple rules when wearing/carrying that BIG bag and you’ll be on trend and in style every day.

  1. Rule #1 you can only have 1 statement!  Don’t go statement bag AND statement earrings.
  2. Watch the hardware on your handbag, it sets the tone for your jewelry-gold to gold, silver to silver.  Although you don’t watch to “look” all matchy-matchy with your jewelry, you do want to accessorize correctly since this is a BIG statement.
  3. Keep the color bold and simple-DON’T opt for a multi-colored print “Statement Bag”–so old-school
  4. Opt for interesting “on-trend” details.  This season chains, quilting and fringe are all on trend.  Choosing a bag with trend touches makes them look more “luxe”.
Filed Under: Accessories, Handbags Tagged With: , , , , , ,

5 Things to Know When You Need to Accessorize

November 23, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Accessories, specifically jewelry should have a connection-be in harmony, to your outfit.  Always take scale and balance into consideration when choosing your accessories and keep these 5 tips in mind and you’ll finish your look with style and pizazz.

  1. Cuffs and Bracelets: Stacking bracelets these days is so chic.  Don’t shy away from mixing different sizes together to add interest.  If you are bold enough, you can even stack on a cuff or 2!
  2. Rings: According to Tim Gunn, Host of Project Runway, a woman should have 3  rings – engagement, wedding and fashion.  The first two are a matter of taste and budget says Gunn.  The third should be about FUN (you know I’m all about FUN).  The real trick is to keep that fashion ring FUN.  Don’t try to make it look real-today it’s really all about the costume jewelry.  Flaunt that fake!
  3. Necklaces: Many fashion mistakes are made here.  Necklaces should be chosen based on your neckline.
    • Crew or Turtleneck – choose an opera length (26-36″ length)
    • V-or Plunging – choose 17-19″ (princess length)
    • Strapless – choose a choker, bib, or princess length
    • Halter or 1 shoulder- choose NOTHING- leave it alone and wear “killer” earring
  4. Watches: Personal preference leads decisions about size and scale of watches, but  you’ll want to keep it simple and elegant if you are wearing cocktail attire.  A large chunky watch with cocktail attire just won’t do.
  5. Earrings: Everyone should own at least 1 good pair of stud earrings.  Be careful though that the studs aren’t larger than about 1/4 in circumference, says Gunn.  It’s not the same as wearing that “fashion ring”.  If you can only own one pair of good studs, go for a good pair of quality pearls.  They are always tasteful, classic and stylish.

There you have it, 5 great accessory pieces that you can wear know you look great!  Next up is how to handle that Statement Bag! Follow our blog(s) weekly and you’ll have everything you need to:

“Look Good, Feel Great and Have Fun Doing It!”

Filed Under: Accessories, How To, Trends Tagged With: , , , , ,

Tying on a Scarf

November 20, 2009 By Leave a Comment

I love scarves, all kinds of scarves.  Oblong, square, oversized, neck squares, but most I love oblong.  They are so easy to use and wear.  Just throw them on and go.  I receive alot of questions on how to tie scarves.

Today, I ran across an article on tying Hermes’ scarves.  Check out the 16 different ways to wear Hermes scarves.

I find that over-sized squares sometimes the most challenging.  Don’t “think too hard” about tying or using accessories.  Keep it simple, not contrived and you’ll feel confident wearing a scarf.  Try these ways with a large square:

  • Around your wrist
  • Around your waist
  • Through your belt loops
  • Weave through a chain belt
  • Like an ascot
  • Wrapped like a “cowboy scarf”
  • Rolled on the diagonal and thrown across your shoulders
  • Around a lapel of your jacket
  • Drape around your handbag
  • Around a ponytail
  • Around your head a.k.a. “hippy-style”
  • Pulled through a belt loop and knotted once
  • Around your back like a cape (you’ll have to have some verve for this!)

Just have some fun with it.  If you are fortunate enough to own a Hermes Scarf show it off, wear it, have fun with it,  be proud to own one!  And remember:

“Look Good, Feel Great and Have FUN Doing It!”

Filed Under: Accessories, Scarf Tagged With: , , ,

Change Your Shoes – Change Your Look!

November 18, 2009 By 1 Comment

Just in case you haven’t noticed, there is some serious “style” going on right now with shoes.  I wonder if the importance shoes are playing is because of the economy??

Perhaps it’s easier to buy shoes than it is to buy clothes.  I  adore shoes.  Shoes can change your look, change your attitude and add so much style to an otherwise common outfit.

So why not take a chance and embrace this fabulous trend for the upcoming  Christmas Season.  Instead of buying a totally new outfit this year, try something different.  Shop for shoes and change your look!

If you can’t be bothered with heels, try some embellished flats.  There is something for everyone out there this season and you don’t have to spend a lot to make it work!

Think about it, we all have at least one pair of black pants, right?  Even jeans.  Slip into any one of my favorite shoes and you will be right on trend and remember if they don’t fit, flatter and feel good on, let someone else have them!

Check out some of my favorites this season.  Each one of the shoes displayed here are “on trend” whether it is glitter, bows, flowers, purple or geometric influences.  So if you are having a dilemma about what to wear to that party coming up, just say “shoes”.  It’s fun and certainly less stressful than finding the “perfect outfit”.  You’ve just made one!

Click on the picture or go to Nordstrom and you’re on your way to have style this Christmas Season!

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Mom Jeans on Dads???

November 16, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Did you know there was such a thing as dads wearing “mom” jeans? Well, first let me tell you what that is..A “mom jean” is high waist-ed, baggy at the thighs and totally unflattering jean that men wear-Circa 1980′s ladies!  Most men who wear them don’t really care about what their jeans look like, they are going for comfort.

I’m glad that the guys are now getting some heat from wearing “bad” jeans.  Might take some of the pressure off us women (not!)  Seriously though, everyone could use a little education on how to find a good looking pair of jeans.  Even our President has been caught wearing them.

Honestly, though the great thing about guys is that when they know they are doing something that isn’t quite right, they want to know how to fix it and how much it costs.  There’s no drama around it.  In defense of women though, men do not have the bodies that women have and to fit a women is a bit more challenging.

I found this great blog called DigitalDads!  They actually are dads who have some suggestions for men wearing “mom jeans”.

So rather than steel the thunder from DigitalDads

Check out their blog on “Mom Jeans” .  From my perspective, they’ve done a pretty good job at getting the job done guys!

Filed Under: Jeans, Style Tips Tagged With: , , , , ,

What’s an “Original” Hem?

November 12, 2009 By 2 Comments

Original HemLast week after buying a pair of jeans I decided that puddling on the floor just wouldn’t cut it.  I took the jeans to the dry cleaners to get a hem put in.  The gentleman asked me if I wanted the “original hem” put back in.  Of course I said “yes”.

An original hem is the same look that is on the denim as when you purchased it.  Of course I wanted “original hem”.  I picked them up 4 days later happy to wear my now hemmed jeans just skimming the floor.

While wearing them the next day, I crossed my legs only to find out their definition of “original hem” did NOT mean taking the old thread out but taking a “tuck” in the hem.  I paid $15 dollars for someone to put a “tuck” in my jeans???  I don’t think so.

Needless to say, I went back to the dry cleaners to ask for my money back.

He began to argue with me that this is what the “industry” calls an original hem.  Let me tell you, that may be what the dry cleaning industry calls an original hem, but true alterations experts DO NOT consider a fold and a tuck original hem.

Lesson learned, even hemming (which you would think would be a simple request) needs to be done by a qualified alterations person.

“Look Good, Feel Great and Have FUN Doing IT!”

Filed Under: Alterations, How To, Jeans Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Should They Stay or Should They Go?

November 10, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Tiger ShoesO.k., so here’s the deal.  I have been searching for shoes this season that are not 6″ stilletos and still have some style.  So, last week I was feeling “stylish” in my flared jeans and went to the shoe store to find some new pumps.

Not much there, but then I found these cool “tiger” pumps.  There’s some serious style going on with jeans.  So, I bought them planning on wearing them with my dark brown suede skirt today.  For some reason they just didn’t work on me with that skirt.

I think it is the rounded toe and the higher vamp on the shoe that really “hurts” the look with a skirt.  I’ll take another picture and show the outfit, but what do you think?

Should they stay or should they go?  Or should I just have them for my pants???

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One Too Many Jackets?

November 5, 2009 By 3 Comments

Can one have too many jackets? Honestly, I say no, not if they follow the 3 F’s (fit, flatter and feel good). Yesterday I received an email from a client asking the following question:

“Would I be better off having a purple corduroy jacket or a purple veleteen jacket? I’ve got both but think one is plenty for my closet. Can you wear velveteen items after Christmas?”

(Answer) I love novelty jackets of all kinds because I think that they can extend your wardrobe in so many ways.  Any jacket that has extra embellishments, specialty  fabric (corduroy, etc.),  detail (fringe) or extras that make it stand out would qualify as a novelty jacket. 
So to answer your question, assuming that it does indeed adhere to the 3F’s for you, yes you can get both jackets.  YES, you CAN wear velveteen after the Christmas season is over, but more than likely you will not.  You might pull it out for “date night” but for everyday you will resort to the corduroy jacket.  Thus, the velveteen will be a classic jacket to wear again next year.

One thing about velveteen, it is a classic fabric but some seasons it is worn with more intensity than others.  Just make sure that the detail on the jacket that you get is not too telling or too dating unless you are willing to acknowledge that it is simply for the season and you are good to “let it go” when you are finished with it.

Filed Under: How To, Style Tips, Wardrobe Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Look Sharp in a Pencil Skirt

November 1, 2009 By Leave a Comment

I love a pencil skirt.  It’s chic, it’s smart and versatile and so on trend right now.  Not all pencil skirts like me though.  I have a triangular body shape so try as I might, not all of them fit me in just the right places.  What’s a woman to do?  Any  body can wear a pencil, you just need to know what to look for.  In all cases you must follow  (not hug) the shap and contour of your body, and don’t forget you can always tweak the shape with alterations.  Below are tips to beware of when shopping for your body shape.

Hourglass Figure: Go for a skirt that sits just below your belly button.  A hig waist will accentuate your bust and make you appear to have a short body.  Wear it with a top that fits close to your body and a jacket with shaping at the waist to make sure you show off your beautiful waist.

Triangular or Curvy Figure: Your hips and thighs are fullest so be sure to watch the shape of the skirt.  Don’t go for a shape that is too straight or it will cup your thighs.  Look for a skirt that tapers slightly below the thighs.  NO bulky, thick or heavy fabrics for you though.  Wear it with blouse or shirt tucked in (not too fitted) and a cardigan for a clean updated look.

Rectangular Figure: Your hips are most likely your smallest part of your body so go for a slim cut, fitted pencil.  You can have some fun with this shape with bulk, fabric, belts and embellishments.  Wear it with a body hugging turtleneck to give the illusion of an hourglass or even a jacket with some flare at the bottom.

Oval/Circle/Diamond Figure: You have a tummy and are rounded in the front so make sure that you steer clear of anything that would add to your tummy.  A skirt with a wide waistband or a yoke will trim the tummy down.  Choose fabrics that have a bit of stretch and are flat with minimal texture.  Try to find a skirt that has a zipper on the side or back to minimize bulk and make sure that there is no detail (belt loops, pockets, etc) in the front.  Pair it with a shaped top that sits outside the skirt right at your high hip (start of your hip bone).  Add a fitted jacket and you are good to go.

There you have it, your perfect pencil.  Yes, you can wear it.  Know your shape and fit the largest part of your body first then alter to fit.  Happy styling.

Filed Under: How To, Skirt Tagged With: , , , , ,