the classic pump...

i am all for buying those outrageous...impractical...bold shoes...believe me...my closet is proof of that...and most of the time...what i hear is..."i don't know how you can walk in those"...but...despite my love for the outragous...the impractical (in other's eyes) and the bold...i believe that every woman should own at least one black pair of a classic high heel pump...

i know some will look at the picture i've attached and focus on the heel height...it is not the heel height i am talking about..it could be 1", 2" or 4"...whatever your comfort level is...mine just happens to be "higher"...

while my outrageous shoes do get a lot of attention...i don't need much more additions to my wardrobe...for example...a bright red 4" heel shouldn't be competing with an outfit that has a lot going on...sometimes...all you need is a classic black pump...which will let the other pieces of your outfit speak...which sometimes...is just what you need from a shoe...

nothing to wear...

have you ever stood in front of a full closet and...without hesitation...thought..."i have nothing to wear!"? how is it that so many women can look so well put together every time you see them? and yet...there you stand...perplexed...in front of that "full" closet...

there truly are simple and practical strategies...tips and tricks...the key to dressing well and developing a personal style is surprisingly uncomplicated...

figure out what works best for you...and stick with it...having that confidence in your style feels great...believe me! and the pay-off is...when your clothes work...life's a lot simpler...

so how do you stock your closet with beautiful...flattering pieces you can just pull out...put on and go?

it begins with the basics...choosing cuts that flatter your figure...finding the right fit for all your clothes...and focusing your choices...allowing you to end up with a wardrobe that coordinates...flatters and fits...

and then...

adding creativity...allowing your clothes and accessories to express your personal style...no matter what the trends of that season are telling you to wear...

the result? a flattering look that's all your own...

need some help? ask a stylish friend that you admire...or find a wardrobe consultant in your area...

photo source

put together: sexy 60's inspired suits...

you would think after all my years in corporate america...where i literally wore a suit every single week day...i would be prone not to be all mesmerised by suits...but...truth be told...i think a suit is one of the sexiest outfits a woman can wear...and these that were featured in the november issue of harpers bazaar do not disappoint...

my mom has always told me that i was born in the wrong era...because this is truly what i gravitate towards...the styles of the 50's & 60's...so sexy...so chic...so lady like...

absolutely j'adore this sexy number...
suit by nina ricci, shoes by giambattista valli & hermes bag

so playful...
suit by marni, sweater by eileen fisher, shoes by giambattista valli & bag by roger vivier

photos: scanned by moi...

fashion funnies: point & pay...the universal language...

"hagar the horrible" comic strip from a few weeks back...made me smile...after all...isn't that the universal language when it comes to shopping?

woman: why can't i go with you when you raid paris?

man: this is a business trip! you'd be on your own during the day...

woman: so what? i'm a grown woman!

man: but paris is a huge city...and you can't speak the language...

woman: i only know what i have to know! you point at what you want...and give the clerk your money!

hmmm...sounds about right to me! enjoy your weekend...

i confess: i am a shoe addict...

and i do not discriminate...i love the heels as much as i love all the ballet flats i've accumulated...but the thing is...i wear all my shoes...not at the same time of course...but throughout the years...all my shoes are worn...over and over...

i've often wondered when my obsession for shoes started...since i was a tomboy for most of my childhood...but one distinct memory i have of buying shoes was in high school...i worked as a sales girl in a surplus store...we sold camping equipment...those famous painters pants...converse tennis shoes...just a mish mash of stuff that had nothing to do with each other...and believe me...there was nothing "girlie" about the place...

one day though...the owner of the store blocked off a corner section and started bringing in designer shoes...we had shoes like impo & sbicca...(wow...i'm really dating myself now)...and the shoes ran about $50 to $75 a pair...which back then (haha)...it was a lot of money to spend on shoes...especially for a girl in high school...but the owner made a deal with us employees (2 other girls and myself)...for every 10 pairs of shoes we sold...we would get a pair of shoes for free...

well...you don't have to ask me twice...i'm sure my mom & dad thought i was doing something illegal on the side...because i was bringing home like 2 to 3 pairs of shoes each week...yes...i was on a roll...

this was where my love of sales started...(well selling something you are passionate about...makes all the difference) and my realization that one pair of shoes wouldn't do...although i really had more then one pair of shoes...

i always say...shoes can make or break an outfit...this is one area...one should never skimp on quality...why would you do that to the part of your body that carries you?

shoes are a lot like potato chips… you can never have just one...
~ stuart weitzman

i have to agree...

men's corner: dry cleaning the suits...

in speaking with one of my clients the other day...we got on the subject of dry cleaning...and the dollars that add up in that lovely exercise...he then told me that he takes his suits in (all of them) about every week in a half...no wonder he is feeling the pain of the dry cleaner bill...

the fact is that constant dry cleaning does wear on the fabrications of the suit...and decreases its lifespan...for that reason alone...i would say invest in a good steam cleaner...and get to steaming...maybe not the ideal answer...but works wonders on your investment...in both keeping the quality of your suit up to par...as well as some extra $$ in your bank account...

a fabric steamer does not replace your regular dry cleaning...but those in between times...it is the perfect solution for lingering smells (smoke etc)...wrinkles...but...if your suit is soiled...from profusely sweating...or you got some of the hamburger grease from lunch on it...then by all means...make a trip to the dry cleaner...a clothes brush is also a great tool to have at home...this helps in brushing away the light dirt and dust that may have planted itself on your suit...

and one last tip...when taking your suits to the dry cleaners...always take both the jacket and pants in...this will maintain the continuity of the dye in both pieces...the last thing you want is a mismatched suit...

in summary...get your suit cleaned only when it’s dirty...get your suit steamed when it’s wrinkled...

photo source

the balancing act...

the length of your legs in relation to your torso, the width of your shoulders in relation to your hips...these things matter to your overall appearance...and...just like everything else...they can be manipulated...

are you short waisted (short torso, longer legs) or long-waisted (long torso, shorter legs)? to find out...measure the distance between your bottom rib and the top of your hipbone...if it's just a few inches...you are short-waisted...four or more inches...and you are long-waisted...

once you know...you want to wear a waistband that balances you out...if you are short-waisted...look for a lower waistline...and if you are long-waisted...look for a higher one...

voila...balancing act complete...