fashion funnies: online shopping...

online shopping gone too far...

what kind of shopper art thou?

shopping can be quite an exhilarating sport...it is not for the faint of heart...when it comes to shopping...most women fall into one of two categories...those who love it...and those who find it about as appealing as scrubbing the toilets...i happen to fall under the category of loving it...i mean...i would hope so...as it is a primary part of me assisting my clients...

the thing with both of these categories...is that they can leave a woman with a closet full of clothes that are not worn...let me explain...

the "anti-shopper": making time to shop is not a top priority...nothing wrong with that except that shopping is not thought through completely...and willy nilly pieces are bought that neither excite the wearer nor make her look great...

whether it be a fear of malls...the harsh dressing room lights...the fear of dealing with body-image issues...not knowing what works for you...price tags that are alarming...or just not finding enjoyment in finding that perfect outfit...i say...get thyself a personal shopper...some stores even supply them free of charge...

the shoppers: what i have seen in many pro-shoppers is usually impulse buying...even i have been guilty of this on occasion...impulse buying leads to a dis-jointed wardrobe of throw away pieces that the wearer quickly retires out of boredom...

the thing is...no matter which group you fall under...or perhaps you are somewhere in between...the key is to being more systematic in your approach to shopping...the first thing i always tell my clients...start with your closet...you need to do a true audit of what you have...and what is missing...

the next thing is to list those items that are missing...those items that will complete outfits...and have a clear idea of how much you can spend...focusing on the items that you need (while knowing what flatters your figure) will help you in getting pieces that will enhance your wardrobe...

i believe in investing in quality pieces that will last...when you fill your closet with missing pieces...those that fit & flatter you...your closet will be filled with clothes you actually want to be seen in...

men's corner: gingham...

spring is just around the corner (17 days to be exact...) but there's no time like the present to inject some spark into your wardrobe...and nothing is more fresh than the look of gingham...



gq magazine notes that a gingham shirt works great with navy, gray and khaki (and of course, jeans and a blazer...) for the office, keep the tie basic - the shirt does all the work...

gingham looks great in bright colors as well - pair it with a v-neck pullover and it's a look that works for most men...

sunglass style...

i received an email from a reader asking for tips on selecting the perfect pair of sunglasses...although your first priority in choosing sunglasses should be to protect your eyes...a pair of shades can do so much more...keep in mind...like clothes...just because it looks good on someone else...does not mean it is the right fit for you...for example...i "love" the big sunglasses that i see on a lot of people when i am out and about...but on me...they just don't work...and will never work...i end up looking like fearless fly... =) not the look i'm going for...

how do you find sunglasses to help you look your personal best? match the frame to your particular facial features for the most flattering look...

here are some tips:

- round face: choose frames with straight or angular lines that are slightly wider than your face...

- oval face: choose any frame shape as long as it is in proportion to your face...

- oblong face: choose oval frames with horizontal top lines...

- square face: choose oval or round frames that are at least as wide as your face...

- triangular face: choose frames with straighter top lines and lower side lines...

before buying any sunglasses...check for proper fit by slipping the glasses on...then looking down...they should stay firmly in place...to keep that snug fit over the long term...be sure to remove them with both hands...otherwise you'll risk stretching the temples and hinges...

to care for your sunglasses...clean the lenses with a soft cloth or eyeglass cleaning tissue...store them in a case when not in use to ensure they'll remain scratch-free and wearable for many years to come...these same tips apply to regular eyeglasses as well...so study them before your next visit to the optician...

mixing patterns...

is not for everyone...as i realized one day while shopping with my mom...we had decided to venture out to nordstroms...and i successfully found two lovely pieces...a tweed skirt...that i originally thought to wear with a black turtleneck, tights & my black boots...and a gorgeous blouse...that won me over with its print...

while standing in line...i look down at my two purchases...admiring them lovingly...and thought...these two pieces would look great together...so i shared this thought with my mom...who although thinks i dress rather outrageous at times...is used to me...she smiled...nodded...and i knew...that it was a bit extreme for her tastes...

not letting my exuberance die...we got up to the cashier...a women perhaps in her late 30's...and i thought...surely...she will get it...so i said the same thing to her "wouldn't these two pieces look great together?" her look said it all...she wasn't buying it...

mixing patterns is not for everyone...many don't understand it...but i actually love the look...it is all about personal style...of course...and this is a big piece of mine...

so here are my two purchases...

notice? different patterns...same color family...

orginal thought as to how to wear my new skirt...
my mom would prefer this =)


diane von furstenberg blouse, classiques entier tweed skirt
more my style



close-up of color & pattern

my exuberance continued when i got home...and i thought...there must be more that i can pair with this skirt...and of course...there always is!


karen kane blouse w/tweed skirt


close-up of color & pattern

or...perhaps this...


tesori leopard print jacket


close-up of color & pattern

mixing patterns works with any color...when working with mixing patterns...let one piece have a more dominant pattern than the other...

is this something you would try? or is it too extreme?

guest post: Love to open the mailbox and see "Fashion Issue" on the cover of a magazine!

guest blogger: the fabulous adena ditonno

adena is my fabulous friend and business partner...she currently does not have her own blog...but she should...because she is a fabulous writer...you can click here to follow her as a fan on her facebook business page...adena ditonno designs

i asked if i could post her latest entry from her facebook page...she kindly said yes! here it is...

Those of us whose business is fashion get plenty of fashion magazines. But it's fun to find fashion news in non-fashion magazines, like this month's Departures magazine. The Hermes stiletto spectators on the cover are fabulous (at a not-so-fabulous price of $1275!) The problem is - once you see something like this that is perfect, style-wise, then try to find something similar at a better price point, you're pretty much on a wild goose chase.

Besides these great shoes, there are stories about how the shopping in Dallas has continued unabated (you go girls!)....the Vera Wang rise from an editor at Vogue to a designer of bridal couture to just 'designer' (loved the photo of her black - yes, black! - wedding dress!)...men's custom boxers (I kid you not!)..and lots of other fun-to-read articles.

I'm off on my goose chase for the perfect, affordable spectators - let me know if you find them!

split personalities...

fabric will often reveal the personality of a piece...classic shapes assume completely different characters when they're made from different fabrics...when it's worked in sequins...an unassuming...easy-to-care-for white cotton t-shirt (or grey tank top as in my pics) becomes dazzling...yet fragile...



some would say that sequins are most likely limited to evenings...i think...it is a great way to dress up a pair of jeans...combining the unexpected is what personal style is all about...