Happy Holidays!!

I hope everyone has a very joyful and blessed holiday season filled with happiness!!!

Best wishes for the New Year!! I will get back to the fashion blog in 2010!!

Home for the Holidays

Is it November already??? Why does the end of the year always feel like it arrives with warp speed? I love the holidays, but not necessarily the tasks and duties that come with them (i.e. food making, gift buying, and crowd handling).

So, as a means of entering slowly into this holiday year, I like to do something that makes me feel ready to begin the madness, and that prepares me for a season of fun, frivolity, and PARTIES!! The weather is now officially cold, so it's time to revive the winter wardrobe. UGH!! I can hear you groaning and moaning. I know, I know, it doesn't seem like a fun exercise at all, but if you incorporate a little music and a lot of wine (hehe), you will get through it!!

If done well, you will have a workable winter closet that makes getting dressed quite enjoyable. The first step is to take all of your summer clothes out of the drawers and put them into piles: summer, seasonal, and c'est la vie. The summer pile goes up in the attic for another year. These are clothes that are too thin or skin-bearing for the cold, winter days.

The seasonal clothes are layering pieces that you will be able to wear under cardigans, jackets, or even over turtlenecks and long-sleeved shirts. This is where you can really get creative. If you're unsure if something will work, try it on and see!

The c'est la vie pile are the clothes that you didn't wear at all this summer. You probably didn't wear them the summer before either, but decided to hang on to them, just in case. Two years and no wear? Say goodbye. If you have a bag or box at the ready, it is much easier to just throw the clothes in the box as if you are simply organizing everything. Once the c'est la vie pile is in the box, you will most likely have forgotten what is in there and it will be easy to throw it in the car and head to your local Goodwill (or save the clothes in good condition for next summer's consignment delivery).

Once this part of the process is complete, you can get out your winter wardrobe and begin to organize your closet and drawers with those pieces. Think about a system that works best for you. Would you prefer everything to be color coordinated or organized by style? Do you wear pants more often than skirts? If that is the case, you might want to hang them where you can get to them most easily. These might seem like minute details, but they will really help to get you out the door in a pinch.

You can even organize your sweater drawer. Think about putting the ones you wear on a regular basis in one drawer near the top, and the heavy, blistering cold weather sweaters in a bottom drawer (or top if you live in, say, Colorado or Alaska). Pants and jeans can go in another drawer, or be hung in your closet.

Feel free to send me your organization tips for the winter season!!

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!!

Great fall blazers

Need an easy way to transition your summer wardrobe into fall? Use a blazer! This season brings some great styles that are extremely versatile, taking you from the office to evening drinks.

Use a funky printed jacket to liven up your outfit, or select a simple but structured black jacket to take you anywhere at any time. A biker-style jacket will add some edge, and the one from Juicy pictured below has the edge with the comfort of cotton.

These jackets can be worn with skirts, jeans, suits, and dresses. A great piece to get you through the season in style!!

Need inspiration??

I don't know about you, but this muggy beginning to fall is leaving me short of fashion inspiration. Times like these require you to dig deep and stay focused. Don't become a victim of the end of season rut!!

I know you have been wearing the same clothes for 6 or 7 months now, but there is still an opportunity to keep them fresh-looking. It is for that reason that I am going to give you a taste of spring 2010, straight from the runways of New York!

Get ahead of the trends during the last few weeks of summer. Maybe you can incorporate some of these fashion forward ideas into your wardrobe. Good luck and let me know if you do!!

The only rule is don’t be boring and dress cute wherever you go. Life is too short to blend in. - Paris Hilton

Ah, Paris. In her own Barbie-like way, she has summed it up perfectly. Life is too short! If we have to get up each morning and head to our little cube and stare at a computer screen each and every day, we may as well look FANTASTIC while doing it! And make it fun. I would bet that if you make an effort to dress creatively each day, you will reap the benefits: people will notice, they will throw compliments your way, and you will have more fun and confidence. Try it for a week and see what happens.

Start with a frilly blouse under layers that are already in your closet, or a colored shoe with that gray dress you never wear (because you think gray is so boring). Check out the Jil Sander cream dress with orange shoes at the left for a great example of this look. These items don’t have to be one hit wonders. You should look for pieces that will take you to work, but that could be paired with jeans or cardigans for the weekend.

To aid you in this effort, I have found a few inspiration pieces that can punch up a simple black suit or typical work outfit. These items will work with dressy as well as casual outfits, as long as you mix them correctly. The striped blouse with the ruffle down the front would look great with jeans tucked into tall boots. Throw on a long cardigan sweater and you are looking tall, classy, and cool. If you are into a more feminine print, check out the black and white floral print top from Velvet by Graham & Spencer. You can find this blouse on piperlime.com for $141. It may sound like a splurge, but this top will be a staple in your outfit lineup, and will take you from day to night with ease. Don’t forget your red shoes!!

An unexpected pop of color will always make an outfit more interesting. Try this pink skirt from J Crew (on sale!) with a gray or camel colored top for an elegant look. J Crew also has a cashmere shell in gray that would work perfectly. And every girl should own at least one piece of cashmere. It is cool enough to start wearing in early fall and feels fabulously luxurious.

On the days where you just don’t have the fashion inspiration to come up with that perfect outfit, become armed with a one-piece wonder. A simple jacket can put the finishing touch on your look and create instant chic. Take a look at the bright blue trench coat from The Limited. This color looks great on all skin tones and will work over most outfits.

Use accent pieces as fillers for all of the gray, black, and brown that is already in your closet. You will punch up your wardrobe and give it some new life with just a couple of pieces. Much less pain to the wallet than buying a new fall wardrobe! Let me know if you have great pieces like this that you’d like to share.