Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Fall Fashion for Less

As we head toward Thanksgiving, I know you
must be wishing for a drop in the temperature.
Me, too. I am ready  to wear Fall clothes. I've got 
a few suggestions to update your wardrobe now,
 because if you wait for the weather to turn before 
you shop, you'll be looking at Resort and Spring
clothes in the stores!

Shades of red and wine are big this Fall. This fun, angled front pull-over
 in a new chunky knit from Banana Republic is a great addition.$79.50
but you know they are always having a 30-40% off sale.
Cutout-Front Crew PulloverA cashmere V-neck is a Fall-Winter staple.
                                                Wear it with jeans or try the new look of tucking it
                                               in to a full skirt. Wear it alone, with a cami peeking
                                              out or over a button down for a classic look. Uniglo
                                              has one that is inexpensive and doesn't pill easily.
                                              They are medium weight, great for Floridians. $79
WOMEN CASHMERE V NECK SWEATER                                       









Over the knee boots popped up last Fall with the higher end designers.
This year they are more affordable and available. They'll keep your skinny 
jeans relevant this season. (Tucked in to the boots) Michael Kors, "Joanie" $199.90
MICHAEL Michael Kors 'Joanie' Boot (Women)                                                                           




Capes and ponchos are making a comeback this season. I particularly like the idea
 of this one because it is lightweight for Florida winters and features fringe,
 another big trend. It's also reversible! The price is right at $78. Nordstrom brand
                                                             
Nordstrom Reversible Cape with Fringe        Astor Saddle Bag
                                                A saddle bag is a new look for a Fall handbag.
                                             This structured "astor"  from Rebecca Minkoff comes in
                                             several great colors. On sale now for $162.



1969 resolution skinny flare jeans Still haven't decided to buy a pair of higher waist
                                                  flares? Here's your chance with the Gap's Resolution
                                                  Skinny flares. Flattering and leg-lengthening in cotton,
                                                  poly and spandex for a comfy fit. $69.95, but watch for
                                                  a 30 or 40% off  sale day. I may try these.

This is the year to add a fun suede or leather piece to your wardrobe. There's lot of
 skirts, vests, pants and dresses try. You already know a suede or leather jacket is
 a" must have". Faux leather, now known as "vegan" leather is popular, very available
 and more reasonable. Here's 2 pairs of pants I like because they look great and fit and feel good.

Both are Blank Denim
                                     One is a pull on Vegan legging and the other is a jean style
                                     Polyurethane and viscose give a stretchy fit and the seaming
                                                  really  flatters the leg. Both are $98.
                                                 Available from Amazon and Shopbop

Monday, October 26, 2015

Shop for the Cure



It's October and you'd have to be living under a rock
( where did that expression ever come from?)
not to know that it's Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Although, I'm late this year in sharing the information, I'd like to offer some suggestions,
as I have the past couple of years,to support some of the organizations, that work to
fight this terrible disease through research, medical care and education, while treating
yourself.  Most these products will be available for the next few weeks, but I'd act
fast, if there's something you like or want to support.

The solid perfume compact shown above from Estee Lauder is created every year
with a new design.100% of the price goes to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation
 founded by Evelyn Lauder.
The scent this year is "Pleasures".              $49.50 esteelauder.com

                           This cute pink pouch is perfect for
                                                              your purse or gym bag. Almost 100% of the
                                                            proceeds go to Avon Breast Cancer Crusade
                                                           supporting research, prevention and treatment.
                                                            $5  shop.avon.com
                                                                   

       The Genie Bra promises both lift and comfort and smooths annoying back bulges.
      It's perfect for my fiends who don't like wires. 20% of every sale of this special
      edition bra goes to My Hope Chest, a non-profit that provides reconstructive
      surgery to uninsured and under-insured women who have had mastectomies.  
                       $10 unitycart.com                                        


       This Stella and Dot Wanderlust Triple-Wrap bracelet is very Chan Luu,
without the price.They have a number of pieces that benefit Breast Cancer,
 but this one is really fun. A percentage of sales from this collection supports the
 Noreen Fraser Foundation, which researches treatments that are kinder to the quality
 of patients' lives.                                 $59 stelladot.com
                                                    
This sweet pink tote from Lipault Luggage may be your new weekend or gym bag.
It's both lightweight and durable with outside pockets to stay organized and made of
nylon twill. 10% of the price is donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
 $125  lipault-us.com

This "Sophia" moisture wicking nightshirt from
                                             Cool-Jams will help ease the night sweats or just keep
                                       you cool while you sleep. Use code PINK to get 10% off
                                   and to get 10% donated to Susan G Komen Foundation
                                                   $59 cool-jams.com
                                             

                                             DONNA KARAN TOP, $35. One hundred percent of the proceeds from this top designed by Donna Karan (who lost her mentor Anne Klein to breast cancer) benefits Key to the Cure. Available at Saks Fifth Avenue.
                      100% of the proceeds from this T-shirt designed by Donna Karan
                       ( who lost her mentor, Anne Klein, to breast cancer) benefits
                        Key to the Cure.           $35 saksfifthavenue.com

AVEDA HAND RELIEF, $20. A rich hand creme that helps soften and smooth hands while diminishing the visible signs of aging, Hand Relief has remained an Aveda top seller since its launch in 1998. $4 from each sale benefits the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Available at aveda.com.
BORBA LIP TINT, $14. Borba Lip Tints make you feel good on the inside and out. This soft pink balm is infused with soothing cashmere fibers, shea butter, and Borba's clarifying and anti-aging nutraceutical technology, leaving lips soft and smooth. 10% of proceeds benefits the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Available at borba.com.
PEDEGG, $10. Pink PedEgg™ is engineered with over 100 precision stainless-steel micro-files that gently remove calluses and dead skin to give your feet the incredible baby soft look and feel that everybody loves. $50,000 of the proceeds benefits the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Available at pinkpedegg.com.
A percentage of proceeds from all three products above that are good for you will
go the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Aveda Hand Relief softens hands while
diminishing the signs of aging. $4 fromm each tube goes to BCRF. $20 aveda.com
Borba's Lip Tint is infused with cashmere fibers, shea butter and anti-aging technology.
10% to BCRF. $14 borba.com  Pink PedEgg gently removes calluses and dead skin
to give you baby soft feet. $50,00 of the proceeds from all Pink PedEgg sales will go
 to BCRF. $10 pinkpedegg.com

                                                                                 
     Sales of Marc Jacobs' " Honey" fragrance in limited edition bottles
supports breast cancer awareness by donating $3 a bottle to the
National Breast Cancer Foundation     $76  macys.com     BMW WEEKENDER CARRY-ON, $60. Fly through long baggage-claim lines and make weekend getaways a breeze with this roomy carry-on from BMW. 80% of the proceeds benefits Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Available at bmw-online.com.
                                            BMW 's Weekender Carry- on was designed to support
                                             the cause.80% of the proceeds benefit Susan G Komen
                                              for the Cure.  $60  bmw-online.com

There's many more great things out there to shop for to show your support for
 breast cancer research and treatment. The Breast Cancer Research Foundation-
BCRF, Susan G Komen  and The Breast Cancer Site all have have shopping
sections with merchandise that supports their efforts year round, as well as
valuable and interesting information that you need to know. Breast cancer
has touched us all and we all can do even a little something to fight back.














Saturday, October 24, 2015

It's That Time Again


Halloween is almost here.
The days are getting shorter. It's getting dark earlier.
Though the temperatures may not reflect it yet,
Fall is here. It's time to go through your wardrobe
and edit out Spring and Summer pieces and add back,
 replace and update for the new season.

If you are lucky enough to have a spare closet, use it to switch seasonal clothes. If not,
try moving the past season's clothes to the back of the closet or using under the bed
 storage or on shelves higher up in the closet. As you start moving your lighter weight
 clothes aside, take a good look at your pieces. Are you hanging onto things you never
 wore all summer? Does it still really fit and does it flatter your figure?
 Is it age appropriate? Do you "love it" ? Be honest.
 Purging now will give you space for more new things next season! Make your piles-
store it for next Spring either to wear or consign ( most consignment shops are only
 taking Fall pieces now) or donate it .Check the things you are hanging onto- do they
 need to be cleaned or repaired or altered before you put them away?

Learn how to choose the best closet organization + storage products - Photo / Container Store

As you move over your Fall/Winter clothes, do the same thing.
Do your pieces "bring you joy"?  (from The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up :
the Japanese Art of Decluttering by Marie Kondo) Do you feel great in it?
If the answer is "yes", then is it in good repair? Does it need to be cleaned or
altered before you put it in your closet? Are your Fall shoes and boots shined
and ready to wear? Or do you need to visit the shoe repair?
 ( in Tampa, I highly recommend Lee's Shoe Repair 4329 W Kennedy)

I like to organize closets by keeping types of clothing grouped together.
This may seem obvious, but you'd be surprised at how many people mix
skirts and dresses and pants and tops all in together.Tops should be grouped
sleeveless to long- sleeved to jackets ( ideally you have another place for
outerwear) and light to dark, on a top rod. Skirts and pants/jeans ( folded
over if you don't have enough long hang space) can hang below. Dresses
need more length, but group them the same- sleeveless to long sleeved,
light to dark and shortest to longest. It's always nice to have a space for
dressier or special occasion clothes in another closet, but if space isn't
available, place them in the back of your closet together.

I recommend displaying your shoes on shelves or shoe racks, if you have the
space. If you like to keep your shoes in boxes, I'd get a marker and write
a brief description in large letters on the end so you can more easily find
what you are looking for in a hurry, ie." Michael Kors Nude Pumps".Scarves
can be folded in drawers or may be more accessible quartered and hung over
hangers in multiples.
Chrome Classico Scarf Organizer              Natural 10-Scarf Hardwood Hanger  here's a couple of cool solutions
                                                                       from The Container Store for scarves

My last tips for now are 1) to replace your hangers with the "huggable" or
 no slip, velvet hangers if you haven't already. They are better for your clothes and
 give you more room in your closet. 2) Don't store leather or suede in plastic bags.
 These fabrics need to breathe.
3) Fold your knits -even longer sweaters, tunics, skirts and dresses (pay attention
St John lovers) and layer with tissue in a drawer or on a shelf. Otherwise, they may
grow if hung and not fit well.

I am available to help you edit or give you the "tough love" to get this job done.
 There are so many great new Fall looks out there to try, so get get styling!

Saturday, September 12, 2015

Aging Gracefully




Beauty Bytes

Besides the middle-age or menopausal  middle, ( see Barbie above)
our necks can give away our age.
Before you opt for a face-lift, consider one of these highly-rated neck
 creams ( and use on your decollete,also)
Freeze 24/7 Arcticlift Firming Neck Cream, 1.7 Ounce
I love Tarte's Maracuja Oil Face Lotion. It's great if you are really dry for hydration
and it gives a nice glow, so their neck cream would definitely be worth a try. $49
Freeze 24/7 promises to lift and firm with visible results almost immediately. $29




                  

It's nice to see a drugstore brand make the list. L'Oreal's Revitalift for both
face and neck.It uses pro-retinol A to improve elasticity on the neck and jaw. $10
Perricone products are both popular and highly rated. This cream sculpts the
 sagging  skin on the neck and chin.$85

The #1 ranked neck cream is Stri-Vectin-TL.
I actually picked it up at Nordstrom Rack at a nicely discounted price.
I am pretty impressed with the results so far and recommend it.
$89 or $49 at the Rack
                                                                 
There's a Right Way to Wash Your Face

Do you wash your hands before you wash your face?  That's the first step to
healthy, beautiful skin.You must wash every night whether you wear make up
or not for your beauty products to hydrate effectively.I think it goes without
saying, removing your make up is a must before bed  .Oil based removers work
best with your long wearing mascara and foundation and soap free formulas are best
for all skin types.Use a circular motion with your cleansing product and cool
or lukewarm water. After a workout, a splash of cold water will reduce redness.

A powered cleansing tool, like a Clarisonic, can do a better job of cleaning your
face than your hands or a washcloth. It helps tighten pores and cell turnover. However,
you need to make sure to keep it clean and dry and not use it more than 2-3 times
a week or it can be irritating. Finally, pat dry your skin, don't rub it dry, with a clean
towel. Then MOISTURIZE!

Friday, August 28, 2015

Transitioning



I know Fall feels like a long way away, it's still so darn hot,
Rhea Small Zip Backpack, Merlot
 but the kids are back in school, Labor Day is coming and the clothes are in the stores. I have some suggestions on what you 
can buy and use now to transition from Summer to Fall trends.

A New Bag

Popular new shapes are the saddle bag and
lady-like bags with top handles.
 The bucket bag is still strong  and totes and hobos will always be carried
( because they are practical and comfortable).Backpacks are having a moment
again also. Everything from our youth is new again :)                  
NMF16_V2MTL    

NMF16_V2LTS

               NMF16_V2CUL

from top, left to right-Michael Kors' Rhea backpack in merlot, Rebecca Minkoff's
Astor Saddlebag, Tory Birch's Robinson, Michael Kors' Lexi, Chloe's
 Drew Saddlebag and Marc by Marc Jacobs Luna Bucket
 most from Neiman Marcus

Jumpsuits

Still going strong into Fall and one of the many "throw-back" trends, jumpsuits
can be both flattering to most figures and versatile. Styles range from casual to
formal. Wear alone now and layer a long sleeve tee or blouse under or  wear a cardigan
 or blazer later.

Eva Batik-Print Sleeveless JumpsuitNMF16_TA2ZW

NMF16_TAB8R
top right and clockwise- Diane VonFurstenberg, Nicole Miller, Soft Joie, Haute Hippie


Chunky Heels

I'm not saying stilettos are out, I'm saying hurray for a comfortable and stylish option.
When you see some of the options out there, you'll see chunky can be sexy,too. These
are some options to kick it up a notch right now.


    Splendid Official Store, Jayla Sandal, black, Womens : Shoe Shop, SAL10090                 NMF16_X2SAW                                                                    Splendid                                                 Vince  
Gayle ShootieVia Spiga Amya High Heels 
     Banana Republic                        Via Spiga

I recently picked up some tips to make your shoes more comfortable, because no
matter how comfortable they are, no heels are really comfortable after 8 hours.
If you love a shoe and have to choose between a bit tight and a bit loose, go for
1/2 size up.Counting on them stretching can lead to disappointment and you can always
pad them up to take up some room. Rotating shoe styles is easier on your feet. Pointy
toes  look amazing but are tough on your toes. Mix in some round and open toes shoes
and vary the heights often. Kitten heels- back in style- can be very sexy and easier on
your feet,too. Stylist Marissa Webb recommends using cotton balls to stuff the toes of
shoes that don't fit quite right until you get your foot comfortable in the shoe. They even
keep the back of the foot from slipping.


My earlier suggestions to try something with animal print,
 fringe flared jeans and shades of red all can be part of incorporating Fall's trends into your Indian Summer
 wardrobe now.
High-Rise Bell Canyon Jeans









Friday, August 7, 2015




Trina Turk has nailed some of Fall's new trends
with styles that work for everyone.

Fall Florals will freshen up your wardrobe
Dane Dress
Pretty Plaids
Jael SkirtLeann Dress
Abstract Animal Prints

Greta Woven TopBurke Woven Top