Jackets Required

This season is ALL about the jacket. Not only is a jacket a necessity with our unpredictable climate changes, it is an accessory for your fall and winder wardrobe. Jackets are the perfect answer for easy layering and there are just soooooooo many to choose from. The military look is hot right now and how cute to pair up with jeans and boots, or for a dressier look a cute skirt with tights.

The colder the weather gets, the warmer your jacket should get. Add a pretty scarf and some great little gloves, and you are warm and well dressed for whatever your day holds for you.

I do have one simple tip to keep in mind. If you end up with a jacket that is too swingy or boxy and you where that over a skirt or pants that are wider in the hip and leg, you're going to look BIG. Avoid this illusion of extra poundage by wearing a voluminous coat over leggings or skinny pants.....Just saying.... So run out there ladies and load up on JACKETS!! check out Zappos.com and Bluefly.com for some great jackets at great prices..

SPRING FORWARD!!

Spring is right around the corner if you can believe it, and it's time to start thinking about cleaning out your closet again, re-organizing, re-grouping and filling in any gaps you may have in your wardrobe. As the warm weather approaches, you can ditch the heavy winter coat, but before going totally "coatless" you need an in between. My favorite buy of the season is the TRENCH COAT. How amazingly versatile and stylish the trench is. It can be worn as a dress all buttoned up, tied at the waist with tights and boots, or as a jacket of course paired with anything from jeans to capris. Go for one in vibrant color like fucshia, cobalt blue, or lipstick red!!. The trench is the perfect jacket to go from day to night, it can look either casual or dressy and for the messy New England springs we tend to get, it's also useful! There are lots of great bargains out there right now, and one can be purchased without breaking the bank Target has some right now for $39.99. for now, wear the trench with jeans and boots and as the temperature rises, so should the hem of your pants!, Switch out the jeans for capris, slip a fitted tee or tank on under the trench add a wedge sandal or flip flop and you're good to go. Don't forget when you start baring you're toes, you're going to need to paint those piggies and moisturize them well after the long, dry winter. (for added bling, get a toe ring!) I like color on the toes and neutrals on the hands this season. Unless you're diligent about keeping up with chips and dings, colored nails can be a bummer, nothing looks trashier than chipped polish on an other-wise polished girl.. Enjoy the weather ladies!!!

Vacation? Style From Your Suitcase!

Winter...yuck...I am NOT a cold weather person at all. So far no vacation plans for me, but lots of my friends are going places, so this one is for them. The prospect of going away on vacation is a true mixed bag of several emotions. First of course you're excited and full of anticipation. The weather will be beautiful, you're leaving all your cares behind, it's a great feeling. A great feeling that for many lasts only a few fleeting moments when we drag the dusty suitcase out of the attic and realize we have to put everything we want to wear for ONE WHOLE WEEK in that little tiny bag!!, (Even if it's the largest of the 3 in the set..let's face it, it's still not big enough). It's hard enough some mornings just picking out what you're going to wear for the DAY, let alone a whole week.

The first suggestion I have is to first check the long-term weather forecast for the area you're traveling too. You want to make sure you have at least the proper inclement essentials, umbrella, closed toed shoes, snow boots..yuck again, but for those traveling to a ski resort. Next jot down a list of activities you're most likely going to be participating in. Do you run or work out on vacation? Don't forget the proper footwear, layered workout wear and extra underwear for each day you plan on getting some exercise in. Are you going to be doing a lot of sightseeing, walking, will you be in air conditioning? Once you have that down, you can begin by laying out each days worth of clothing, giving you're self some mix and match options. It's a great idea to also plan what you're going to wear while traveling, you certainly want to be comfy in the plane (or if you're me...in the car).

I like an outfit that can go from day to night (unless you're on the beach all day and can't wear a swim suit to dinner) you can sight see in a pretty sundress and flip flops or wedgies (which may prove to be the more comfortable option) and dress it up for dinner adding some special accessories, changing your big straw bag for a small evening one. Cold weather? How jeans and turtle neck during the day (with a colorful scarf of course) switch out the pants for a skirt and tights.

They key here is to get the most wardrobe options while taking the least amount of clothes. It is best however to pack one or two extra tops just in case of any mishaps during the day.

Most importantly leave enough room in your suit case to BRING home more STUFF!!!!

"Hair's a Thought..."

"I Hate my hair!" How many times friends do hear this or say this in the course of a day? Better yet, how many times do you see someone in the street or even (shhhhh) someone you know and think, "She really needs to do something with that hair of hers." So..."HAIRS" the thing..... In my opinion if you're pushing past 35 you should NOT have hair longer than the tips of you shoulders, and unless you're working out or your 12, your regular everyday hair-do should NOT be a ponytail.

"Hair" are my reasons...(I promise i'll stop with the pun thing after this..)

First of all, as you get older, in case you haven't noticed, stuff starts to droop and hang. Gravity is rapidly drawing us down and it's happening everywhere on us including our faces. When that starts to happen, hair that is too long and hanging down ACCENTUATES this long-faced, drawn out, yes...older looking face!. I hate to say it girls. I know many of you want to hang on to your hair clutching it like a security blanket, but if your past 35 you really need to hack some of that off. Now I'm not saying you need to run out and get a "Sharon Stone" but if you fit into the category where you're reaching that age group and you can actually BRAID your hair, you really ought and need to consider a new, shorter, up to date style. I think shoulder length hair is more than plenty long if you're that attached to it but it still needs to be chipped or layered slightly around your face to give it some movement and to help "lift" your face naturally. I swear it can take years of your life. Click here to take a look at this little slide show if you have a minute. Notice not all of these women took a lot of length of but just enough to soften and shorten the look of their faces. (ok I know the make up and happy faces help too.) See what I mean? Nothing drastic was done, no shaving of the head was involved, just an update and a few measly inches here and there. If you're really brave, for my friends that live out here in Central Mass, take yourself over to Salon Sogno and see Jack or David or any of the great stylists there, and tell them I sent you for a makeover. For my peeps on the South Shore, check out Charles David Salon. Both are FABULOUS!

Oh What Will I Wear For the Holidays?

With the upcoming Holidays fast approaching, I've been asked by some fashion conscious friends of mine.."What should I wear to a semi-casual gathering?" O.k well maybe not in those EXACT words, but you get the picture. For a dinner out at a restaurant, I am a fan of the dress or a the skirt with a great pair of boots. The look is still dressy, but not over the top and it's not going to leave you feeling "over dressed". Pants work nicely here too with some great shoes and perhaps a satin blouse or something even with a little sparkle. Definitely accessorize and it's a MUST that you switch out the big everyday hobo bag you lug around to a clutch or small handbag.

Here's a few great looks from Ann Taylor . Save the look on the far right for the dressy-dressy holiday bashes, or tone it down with a boyfriend blazer. P.S. right now they have some great sweaters for $49.50!!, buy one for a gift, or create an outfit for yourself by matching one with a sexy cami and great pair of velvet pants! Don't forget you can make any of these looks more glam with some flashy (but over the top) jewelry. Enjoy the season!!! (we'll talk after the 1st on maybe how to hide those few holiday pounds...)

Open Toes and Panty Hose?? NO!!!!!!!

I get this question a lot. "is it ok to wear pantyhose with an open toe shoe?" Here's the answer. Listen people, we are all individuals with our own sense of style, we like what we like and some of us don't really care who agrees with our fashion choices, but my opinion on the subject? I would rather have my toes fall off than to have them seen in an open toe shoe with nylon wrapped around them. It's just wrong.....there are only 2 reasons why one would choose this option... it's a horrible mistake, or there is clearly a medical reason (like a vein problem) See this picture? Seriously who among you out there find this look appealing? Especially with the reinforced toe thing going on.. I just threw up in my mouth a little... I will say however that a month or so ago I did see a picture of a girl in a magazine with a really cute pencil skirt, a very textured colored tight and a chunky not too strappy, platform shoe that was passable. There are some strict rules here women before you adopt this look, so listen up. It is WISE to match the shoe to the tight, it CANNOT have a reinforced toe and the shoe MUST be of winter weather color and material. Do NOT attempt this look in a summer sandal with a kitten heel and a nude hose, you will look ridiculous and will only succeed in drawing negative attention. If you have ANY questions, please feel free to contact me directly, this is a case of fashion emergency!!

Add Some Color!

I was playing around with the layout of the blog today and thought I'd "style" it a little bit by changing up the color palette. This is a good idea and the best time to change YOUR color palette!. If you're always one to go towards a dark "safe" color, be bold and try something new!. Some really great colors for this winter season that I'm loving lately are the rich, deep jewel tones. You know the plums, the teals, the orange-y reds. Add one or two pieces to your wardrobe and look out!. They are bright but still warm and they'll take the place of your fading summer tan in the way of color. Can't afford a that new blouse or sweater? Add the colors in the way of an accessory. A bright scarf tied at your neck or worn as a belt, or even tied around your purse punches up anything from jeans to a pants-suit. Still too much? try a great colored over sized bangle or a jewel encrusted pair of earrings and you're on your way!