Get a jump on Fall

It's hotter and more humid than ever right now.
Summer has finally arrived in full force up North and Floridians were flooded in
and rained out beyond belief, but Fall clothes have arrived- in the magazines and
in the stores ( did you get to Nordstrom's Anniversary sale?Always a great place
to start your Fall shopping). Some of the collections and trends are so great this year
that you"ll want to start thinking about your Fall wardrobe. Doesn't everyone love the
change in the clothes ( even when you don't have a change in weather :) and
the urge for some "back to school shopping"?

Here's some of the all trends you can start wearing now to get a jump on everyone else!

Fringe

Yep, fringe is still a big look for the Fall. You'll see it on skirts,

jackets, tops and sweaters and on shoes, boots and bags.

You can embrace it now with fringed scarves, on sandals,

a small bag or a cotton cashmere sweater in the evening for your travels.

                   

                                   

Pretty Pastels for Fall

We usually think deeper colors for Fall - browns, rusts,etc. This year mixes it up introducing pastels as a new trend. it's a great way to segue from summer into Fall..

 

More Animal Print

Every year I think it's over and every year animal print comes back!

You will see it in dresses, skirts, jackets and accessories- which are easy to incorporate into your wardrobe now.







Flared Legs Have Returned

Don't pack up your skinny jeans and leggings for Fall yet.
They will still work well with the chunky knits and longer tops.
However, flares are having a moment due to the Bohemian and
'70's influence ( fringe, high waists,etc)

                                               

Shades of Red Will Be Big
Marsala is the pantone color for Fall- seen in clothing and
decorating trends, but you will see all shades of wines and
 spices, too-
claret, burgundy, chili, paprika and more.

More Fall trends you can start embracing are-
higher waists and shorter skirts,
 chunky heels ( hurray for comfort!)
bucket bags are still strong, graphic prints for dresses and tops
There's more trends to try but they are more geared to a change in the weather so I'll get to them later. In the meantime, check out something new form these suggestions and don't forget when you bring something new home to your closet, to discard a piece or two that "no longer brings you joy" or makes you feel good.

Summer is a good time
to catch up on some of the Spring cleaning you may have missed.
Some of us have gone through our clothes when we changed our closet
for the warmer seasons.Hopefully you have purged the pieces that no
longer "bring you joy" when you wear them :) But what about your makeup?
Not only do you want to lighten your look for summer, but you probably need
to purge some of the beauty essentials you've had around for a little too long.
Old make up can attract bacteria which you don't want anywhere near your face!
Expired products may cause skin irritations and eye infections.
I recently found this chart that is helpful in determining how long to hang on to
your cosmetics or alternately, when to toss them. Don't be sad, it gives you a a good
reason to try something new. Might not be a bad idea to take a Sharpie and write
the purchase date on an item before you throw it in the drawer or case ( like you
do with your spices,right?)

Mascara	1 year
Foundation	1 year
Concealer	12-18 months
Powder	18 months
Blush/bronzer	18 months
Cream blush	12-18 months
Eye shadow	18 months
Eyeliner	18 months
Liquid eyeliner	6 months
Eyeliner	18 months
Liquid eyeliner	6 months
Lipstick/lip gloss	18 months
Lip liner	1 year
Nail polish	1 year
Makeup sponges	Wash after each use, then throw away after a month

   

And now that we are purging our old cosmetics, here's another guilty beauty
 habit to address-I know I am guilty of this and think many of you may
be too- NOT CLEANING YOUR BRUSHES REGULARLY.
Dirty brushes can make you break out, cause eye issues and affect
your makeup application.

Summer makeup and beauty tips

If you want to fake a sun-kissed look without hours in the sun
( so much healthier, too), don't use bronzer all over your face.
Use self-tanner instead- your pale neck will give you away.
But use a  slightly shimmery bronzer across your cheekbones
 bridge of your nose, chin and forehead for the look of a real tan.
Some to try are-
Neutrogena Healthy Skin Blends Natural Radiance Bronzer ($10)
It is the highest rated drugstore bronzer on the Internet. It has a "sun-kissed"
and natural finish. It's actually good for your skin,too. Experts claim it is
flattering for every skin tone and texture. If you prefer a liquid or gel bronzer,
Estee Lauder's Bronze Godess Luminous bronzer is oil-free, great for all skin
tones and smoothes on sheer for a " J.Lo glow" I have used Guerlin Terracotta
Bronzing Power for years and love how natural it looks for me. It is long-lasting,
moisturizing, for a powder, and comes in different shades for different complexions.

Feel confident in your swimsuit by minimizing stretch marks.
Using self-tanner to give yourself an allover golden tan will distract
from an uneven skin tone and strategically using a Q-tip to apply a
more cosmetic self-tanner ( like Sally Hansen's Airbrush Legs $14)
to the lighter stretch marks will help camouflage them.

You can be comfortable in shorts by diminishing the appearance of
spider and varicose veins by using a yellow or orange waterproof
concealer. Maybelline Coverstick Corrector ( a steal at $5 at the drugstore)
can do the trick with the addition of a body foundation ( MAC, Makeup 
Forever and Dermablend are good choices) over it to cover the 
problem  areas. If your veins are bad, it helps to wear support stockings
on the plane on long flights en route to vacation or special occasion.

Some nail polishes can make you look tanner. Any shade lighter than your skin 
tone will make your complexion look bolder by comparison. Certain colors will 
enhance the warm tones in your skin. Good choices are corals, golds,  interesting
pastels, red or orange based hues and any neon.    
          
               Nars Ogasm                   Essie Cilantro                
                                                                                                                
                                                       
                                                    Zoya Demetria          Deborah Lippman Boom Pow

Try a new trick or two, change up your colors and make the most 
                                              of your summer!

Summer Travel and Looking Good

We just returned from a long weekend get-away to Santa Fe, which was delightful.
However, I was amazed at the choices people make for the clothes  they travel and
sight-see in. I don't know why one would wear shorts on an airplane. First of all, it's
 usually cool on the plane and secondly, how do you know who sat there before you
 and what they may have dropped/spilled on the seat? It's bad enough you put your
head against a seat back where a stranger's probably dirty hair was just moments
 before. I'm nor saying we have to dress up to fly, like when we were kids, but there
 are ways to be comfortable on a flight without wearing your pajamas ( which we've
 all seen!) I know work-out wear is now wildly accepted as normal dress even when
you are not going to or coming from a work-out. Sure it's comfortable and even forgiving,
(though not so much on the bodies that need the forgiving most) but I just want to ask
"No time to change and shower between yoga and your flight?" Or " Rushing to pilates
when we touch down?" I recently saw a group of young women touring a church and
chapel in tanks and work-out capris - not very respectful.Touring a city in workout wear
looks a little lazy,thoughtless and far from sophisticated and is just unnecessary.

There are options out there to be comfortable and still look put together.
 The thought of wearing skinny jeans on anything longer than an two hour flight
may be scary, but it beats full-on yoga pants when you're not practicing.Warm- up
suits scream" tourist". Several jeans are stretchy enough to be comfy to fly in, yet
 stylish enough to go to lunch or dinner when you land. The secret is in finding a
 pair that has polyester in them besides cotton and spandex
or lycra.

Spanx's Signature Straight in dark wash is a great choice- feels nothing like
wearing Spanx's undergarments.
  http://www.spanx.com/shop/spanx/apparel/the-signature-straight-in-dark-dipped
or try AG's "Prima" which comes in different styles and washes uses polyurethane
for a soft and stretchy fit.  http://www.agjeans.com/
A cotton knit maxi dress or long skirt are also comfy choices that still look smart.

A soft short or long sleeve classic tee won't wrinkle like a blouse and will feel good and
keep you comfortable whether it's a short or long flight.I like black, white or striped.
Pair it with a navy or black blazer for a more upscale look, a cashmere or cotton
 cardigan depending on the climate or your favorite jean jacket- on trend right now.
Throw a complimentary scarf around your neck and you have a finished look as well
as a little extra to wrap up in if the flight is cold and a little
extra something to put between you and the head rest.





When it comes to shoes, unless you are TSA pre-checked or have your Global Entry,
easy on easy off is important.Sandals are fine for short summer flights but for longer
trips comfortable flats or some of the new cool sneakers make more sense. On a
lengthy international flight, bring socks to keep your feet warm and remove your shoes

Bon Voyage, Happy Travels and Safe Vacationing!