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What to Wear This Spring-Are You Ready-Get “DRESSED”

February 26, 2010 By 1 Comment

Up to now I’ve talked a lot about things that may be expired or pieces that are exhausted in your closet.

We’ve looked at the “cracks” in your closet.

All of this is in great anticipation for cleaning out your closet and getting ready for SPRING.  Are You Ready to get DRESSED???

If you haven’t been shopping in a while the biggest trend that you will notice on the clothing racks is the quantity of dresses.

Retailers have loaded up on dresses in everything from

  • pretty prints, butterfly motifs, breezy, billowy sheer & netting to
  • tribal, color blocked, geometric psychedelic patterns & cutouts.

Where once were rows and rows of pants, suit jackets and jeans you’ll find dresses.  There are a few skirts right now but dresses are the trend.

If ever you wondered how the tides of fashion changes, you had only to reflect on the last year and you could see.  It’s rather like Malcom Gladwell’s book The Tipping Point.  It started with a little ripple last year.  I wrote about it last spring in a blog called “Obsess the Dress”. This trend will continue for the foreseeable  future.

So, if you are dress-adverse, don’t fight it anymore, there is one out there for you!  This season ya, “gotta getta dress” and:

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

Filed Under: Dresses, Style Tips, Trends Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Cracks in the Closet

February 22, 2010 By Leave a Comment

I love to walk and listen to my iPod while walking.  Sometimes I am inspired and motivated to write when I listen.  If you haven’t heard the singer Adele, the YouTube link here is what inspired my latest post!  It’s called Hometown Glory.

Although I am certain she in NOT talking about fashion, I couldn’t help making the correlation to “doing the same thing”.

We get complacent and do the same thing in the same way ALL THE TIME!  If you have been doing the same thing in the same way for the last few years, you are probably missing the cracks in your closet!

Instead of replacing the same pieces with the same things this season, focus on finding the cracks in your closet.  Be wardrobe specific, only buy what is missing, cracked or broken!

Where are the cracks in your closet that you need to fix?

  1. Lingerie Closet
  2. Shoe Closet
  3. Pants & Jeans Closet
  4. Jacket or Outwear Closet
  5. Dress Closet
  6. Handbag Closet
  7. Jewelry Closet
  8. Top or T-shirt Closet
  9. Blouse or shirt Closet
  10. Belt Closet

When you look at each specific area, you will begin to think and be more cognitively aware of the cracks in your closet and be more focused on buying just the right piece that will fill in that space.  Don’t forget StyleCAMP if you need more help with getting it right this season!

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

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Finding the Friends in Your Closet!

February 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

DSCN2176I’ve been in a lot of closets over the past few weeks and I wanted to share with you some of my observations.

Whatever stage of life you are in-whether you are:  at home with your children, in the midst of your career or retired, everyone is in search of great looks every day.

You see your clothes every day, you may get tired of them; but, you are missing a great opportunity. Your clothes need to be be friends with each other!

I was in the closet of a lovely retired lady last week. She had quite a few clothes in her closet but they weren’t DSCN2212communicating!  Above is a first look at what I saw.  Lots of variety!

Clothes just like friends must compliment each other or else they will not be happy!  Someone (something) has to take charge to create a healthy balance.  What do you have that is a strong personality in your closet?  Maybe a jacket or a great pair of shoes?  Pick something and go with it.

Make friends with the neutrals in your closet.  Make those your core pieces. Then invite some color into the relationship to give it some spice and life.  Finally, create interesting conversation with your relationship by adding accessories.  It will give you and everyone else something to talk about and remember:

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

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5 Ways to Know If Your Style “Expired”?

February 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Everything in life has a  shelf life-the time when it no longer tastes good, looks good or works for you.  Credit cards “expire” so why don’t we think that our clothes expire?

When was the last time that you took a good hard look at your hair style or  the clothes in your closet?

I wish that manufacturers would put an expiration date on our clothes!  I understand when your clothes are “well-loved”, worn to just to the right softness and the feel really good against your body.  But, honestly, how do we know if our clothes have ‘expired’?

To see if your clothes  may have passed their prime, check in with these tips:

  1. Just because the 80′s look is back doesn’t mean that “old” jacket you had still works.
  2. Is the fabric shiny from dry cleaning?  Fabric does expire (wear out)
  3. Check the heel and toe of your shoes.  Out-dated shoes will date your outfit.
  4. Are you still wearing a “Farrah Fawcett” hairstyle (shag)? News flash it has expired.
  5. Be careful when you are matching denim, it is coming back but it can look very dated on a mature woman.

The 80′s fashion is having a revival of sorts and if you have already been in that decade, I caution you to proceed with a great deal TLC.  Once your clothes are past their prime and you are over the age of 30 you stand the real risk of looking OL (old lady).

If you are one of those who like to keep clothes forever because it will come back in style you  need to be especially cautious!  When styles come back, they NEVER come back exactly in the same way.  If you keep a piece make sure it is a classic piece from that decade NOT a trendy piece from that decade.

Now that we are ending a season, it is the perfect time to assess what worked and what didn’t.  If they didn’t work, move them out of your closet and out of your sight.  Click here for closet cleaning tips to help you get going.  Hope springs eternal with less duds in your closet and remember……

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

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The Ultimate Accessory-Get Minxed?

February 12, 2010 By 1 Comment

Accessories are said to be the “icing on the cake” . They finish your look.  They can change your style and make an otherwise boring, simple outfit chic and trendy.

So, what’s the latest accessory trend?  We’ve seen cage shoes, chunky jewelry, big bold belts, even skinny belts.  The latest trend in accessories in NAILS!  Yes, that’s right, all the stars are getting “minxed”!   Extend “fashion to your fingertips!”  You heard it here first…

A few years ago artificial nails became passe.  Everyone who was stylish and on trend began to adhere to a more “natural” clean look to their nails.  I wondered at the time how long it would last simply because a true natural nail takes so much more upkeep.  Well, it didn’t take long.  Introducing Minx nails.

So what exactly is “Minx”?  Minx is a solid film with an adhesive back that is heat activated. The heat gives Minx the ability to confom to fit over the compound curves of nails and seals it onto the nail bed.  Think of it as “shrink wrap” for your nails!  It is created in San Diego, California and there is a patent pending on the product.  It can be easily removed with heat by you or your manicurist.

Check out the video on YouTube to see how it is applied.  It’s the latest in nail fashion and I suspect will be sweeping the country this spring.  Match your nails to your new dress and you’ll

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

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

Look Dynamic in a Dress

February 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Dresses continue to be all the rage in trends right now and with spring coming, why not work on the prefect dress for you!  Feminine dressing is chic and dresses can hide a multitude of sins.  Finding a flattering dress really isn’t that hard.

Remember the perfect shape is considered an hour glass figure.  Your goal in dressing is to create the illusion of an hour-glass!  Follow these general guidelines and you’ll look stellar this spring.

  • A-line dresses are universally flattering to any figure.
  • V-and Scoop necklines create a visual balance and highlights your décolletage

Triangle Shape Body (wide or curvy hips)- Draw attention up to your face with a high waist, 2 color dress.  This Rebecca Taylor dress draws attention to the face with the light color and de-emphasizes the hips,  creating an hour-glass look by having dark on the bottom.

Full-Bust-Opt for a scoop neckline and empire waist that will discreetly emphasize without being too revealing.  This dress from Nordstrom creates emphasis with the  scooped neckline and gentle draping of fabric.  The floral print is so chic this spring.

Petite-To create a longer look, opt for a wrap dress that hugs and flares the body.  A shorter length and deep v-neck will show some skin and call attention to your legs and upper body making you appear taller.  This dress from BananaRepublic has all the right moves for spring.  It’s pink, it has soft ruffles and it creates a great long look for the petite woman.

Step out this spring and try on something new!  You’ll be glad you did and you will:

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

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

Style Interrupted

February 5, 2010 By 2 Comments

Have you ever felt “frumpy”, “OL” (old lady)?  Well, I’ve been feeling a bit like that lately and have been wondering why.  I’m supposed to have all the answers, right?  I’m supposed to look like I have it all going on all the time!  Be assured that all of us have these moments where we feel we are in a state of “disrepair”.  DSCN2136

Do you know what “interrupts” your style?  Is it weight gain, a birthday,  personal transition, old hairstyle,  or could it be a simple as being tired of the season?

We are almost 6 weeks into the new year.  This just about the time when New Year’s resolutions begin to wax and wane.  Perhaps there is a correlation?

For me, there seems to be a pattern in each season (twice a year) where I begin to get slack with my wardrobe.  It is near the end of the season and I am anxious for the transition. I’m not especially fond of these late winter months.  They leave me feeling like I’m in limbo land and I get quite bored with the mix and match opportunities my closet presents.

So, what’s a person to do to keep it going waiting for the next season?

Retail therapy can help a little, but I caution you about spending too much time in the sale racks loading (cheap is expensive) your wardrobe up.  Yes, there are great buys out there right now, but be serious about what you are adding to your winter wardrobe.  Your full rewards will not be realized again until next season.

I did find a great new shirt yesterday when I was looking to see spring trends yesterday. There will be lot’s of options with this that will be fun to wear.  It’s blue (a good color for me) and  tangerine-fun for spring.  I’ll wear this with a denim jacket (hot for spring) and then with my navy blue blazer….add some fun accent jewelry and maybe even capris… Are you getting the picture??

Check in with yourself when you are looking at sale pieces and you will had smooth sailing into the next season:

  1. Follow the 3 F’s (fit, flatter, feel good)
  2. Don’t buy it just because it is on sale
  3. The piece should go with 3-5 other pieces in your wardrobe or it stands the chance of becoming an orphan
  4. Stay in your core style for major pieces
  5. Add accent style for supporting pieces

Now is a good time to begin assessing what worked this season and what didn’t.  Remember: plan, focus, attack and you will

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

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Part 3 Trend Trouble – Danger Zones in Your Closet

February 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment

This is the final installment in the Danger Zones in Your Closet 3 Parts to  Wardrobe Malfunction. Up to this point we have been talking about:

Today, we are uncovering the trouble with trends. Everyone wants to be stylish, trendy perhaps.  But, there is a key difference in the 2.

  • To be Stylish you must know what your unique personal style characteristics are and adapt the trends that work with your personality.
  • To say that you are Trendy doesn’t necessarily mean that you are “stylish”. You can be trendy and stylish at the same time BUT you must know WHAT your style is.

Who you are and expressing that in your style is considered “stylish”. Adapting the trends appropriately to your style and you become “trendy”.  Am I making sense here?

We’ve all seen middle-aged women who adopt a trend in an attempt at being “current” and trendy.  It comes off looking all wrong and mismatched.  A poor attempt at both to say the least.  Take a look around you when you are just out and about.  How many women do you see trying desperately to wear the all new “skinny” jean look and getting it all wrong?

Take it from me, a “middle-aged” woman.  When you embrace a new trend, no matter what your age, be sure to look at how the trend is “staged” both in the magazines and in the market.  What tops are paired with the look?  What shoes?  Are there specific embellishments to the look that make it look unique?  Then ask yourself the other questions:

  • Does it fit my style?
  • Will it flatter my body?
  • Will if feel good on me?

Ultimately, that’s the bottom line…..Fit… Flatter…Feel Good...You’ve heard it from me before!

There’s nothing worse that a women who remembers wearing something earlier in her life and tries to bring it back again the same way.  On the other hand, there is nothing more beautiful than a middle-aged woman that knows and embraces her style.  She’s always dress appropriately for any occasion and looks like it was effortless!  Now that’s what I call “STYLE!”

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

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