Dresses, Part 2

More dresses!! I just couldn't help myself. There are some great dress looks out there, and with weddings, luncheons, baby showers, and cocktail parties filling your social calendar this summer (right?!), you need a few go to pieces. Not a dress person? Use these looks for inspiration: wear the color of the dress on top with the accessories and throw on some capris or shorts!

Anthropologie has easy to wear dresses that work on many different figures. Saving for that summer vacation in Cabo? Try Forever 21 or TJ Maxx for budget friendly options. Banana Republic will have a number of pretty floral dresses on their racks soon. Now go get dressed!!

Halloween costumes that are stylish and won't break the bank!

BOO!! It's almost time for costumes and candy. If you don't yet have a costume idea, or don't yet plan on dressing up for Halloween (WHAT?!?), check out these ideas. The 80s are making a comeback in the fashion world, and I have taken inspiration from the decade to give you some ideas that could come right out of your closet!! Some of these have been done before, yes, but take it to the next level and you'll give these costumes new life!

Charlie's Angels - If you ask me, this trio never gets old. Create the big hair, find some 70s garb using pieces from your own closet (or a gold lame jumpsuit!!!) and get glam. Easy costume for those less than inclined to dress up.

Madonna - Always a hit! Find a great bustier, layer on the bangles and throw on a lace glove if you can find one. This will be a bit more challenging, but great fun if you're up for hunting through the local Goodwill or thrift store for some of the pieces.

Addicted to Love girls - Another easy one. All you need are black clothes, something everyone has in their closet. You could also carry a guitar. A guaranteed party starter!! Check out the close up so you can get the make up just right. Red lips are a must!

Hair band member - I think this would be hilarious. Either dress as a hair band groupie, or be BonJovi himself!! You will need A LOT of hair spray for big hair, some kind of vest (maybe with "chest hair" glued to a tank top to wear underneath), and boots. Not a comfortable look...as TIGHT jeans are required.

Facts of Life - Easily recognizable if you were an 80s baby. Would work great with a group and Mrs. Garrett included.

Let's Get Physical! - Gotta love Olivia Newton-John, and leg warmers have been seen on the runways lately, so you'll be totally in fashion! Don't fear the spandex, just go for it!!

Flashdance - Feeling the need to be a little sexy this Halloween? (I hear ya, I feel the same way after posing as "Little Miss Sunshine" last year. Cute, but not sexy) Give your old sweatshirt the cut and create this little dress. Pop on some colorful heels and you're good to go!

I hope this gives you some inspiration for a great Halloween costume this year. For those of you not into dressing up--give it a try! Let me know what your ideas are as well!!

Boots made for walking, or working, or dancing!

Now that the weather is getting chilllly (w0w!!), you might be in the market for a new pair of boots. A must-have for the cold weather seasons, boots are a great go-to item to have in your closet. And these days, there are an infinite number of styles, finishes, and functionality from which to choose.

I have selected a few pairs that might wet your whistle and pictured them down the left. These are very reasonably priced, and most are from comfort labels (because I am all about comfort while looking good!)

A flat boot looks great with skirts or tucked jeans. Throw on a fancy dress and jean jacket with heeled boots for a more casual look. This is a great way to get more wear out of your cocktail items. This does not mean; however, that your lace- or sequined-covered, brightly colored dress would be appropriate for this look. Save it for your more classic, muted colored dresses. Check out examples of these looks on the left from LuckyMag.com.

Try your boots on with different outfits to find out what works. Experiment and you will get twice the wear out of them! Now cowboy up, and get dressed!!

Mad about plaid!

Sorry for the cheesy headline, but this year the beginning of fall means the beginning of wearing plaid! I am really into plaids this season, and I've found a few easy pieces that will make even those who fear this fabric to see it in a new light. You might even decide to incorporate it into your wardrobe.

Plaid doesn't have to mean huge prints and bright colors. My favorite plaids include subtle shades and smaller-sized prints. Let's take a plaid button-down to start. Make sure the fabric is not too heavy, or you'll end up more of a lumpy lumberjack. Choose a color and print you like, then pair it with a wide, brown belt and dark, boot-leg jeans. Voila! C'est chic lumberjack!

Incorporate plaid into your work wardrobe, without looking like you're headed back to middle school, by wearing plaid in shades of brown, black and grey, or other muted colors. Use a plaid blouse to give a black suit some excitement, or if you're feeling fiesty, find a plaid blazer to wear with a neutral-colored ensemble. Make sure you keep a good balance between the plaid print and the rest of your outfit. Safest bet? Wear completely solid neutrals (gray, black, white brown, blue, etc.) when the plaid covers at least half of your body (which, as a rule, is probably all it should cover.)

Here are a few tops that might ease you into the world of plaid. Need more of a baby step? How about a plaid scarf or handbag? These accents can add a bit of pizazz to jeans and a t-shirt or a little black dress. Let me know if you find any terrific pieces of plaid!!

I almost resent the whole fashion thing. Never wearing the same thing twice and all of those things. It’s a pain in the ass. --Jennifer Aniston

Ha! I had to laugh when I read this quote from Jennifer Aniston. There are many days when I want to walk out of the house in my workout shorts and flip flops, and there are some days that I do walk out of the house in workout shorts and flip flops (and sunglasses and a big hat). Looking put together every day is not nearly effortless. It takes planning, organization and creativity. There are some days (especially lately) when style is not necessarily a top priority. These days, we are more concerned with getting to work early enough and staying late enough so that we can keep our jobs. How sad!! 

However, if you are willing to set aside a few hours to go through your closet and reconfigure how your clothes are organized, I guarantee you will breathe new life into your wardrobe. You will also make it easier to put outfits together each day, getting you to work even earlier (Yaaay...)  Take a baby step: hang all of your pants next to each other in the closet; then hang your skirts side-by-side; are you getting the picture? Once you have organized things in this way, you can take a blouse off the rack and hold it over your pants and skirts until you get a match that you like. 

Too easy? Ok, smarty. Take out a skirt, a pair of pants and a few different tops. Try to make a week’s worth of outfits with those pieces. You can use any accessories and shoes that you like to change things up each day. How did you do? Give me some comments about your experience!

I'm working on the 10 items you need in your closet and will post it soon, I promise!!