Mellow Yellow

Yellow is a dangerous color. It takes a lot of confidence to pull it off; bold and bright, yellow can enhance your style or become a train wreck.

The key to wearing yellow lies in being subtle. Don't go head-to-toe because a little goes a long way. Choose yellow accessories such as a scarf, hat, purse, shoes or jewelry. Or try bits of yellow in patterned tops, skirt, dresses or jackets.

I found a cute pair of bright yellow sunflower earrings, and believe it or not, they go with everything.

InVESTed

Vests are the way to go if you want to create funky layers and add some pizazz to  your summer wardrobe. Choose light weight fabrics like cotton or linen and wear over button down blouses, t-shirts, or even dresses.

Beautiful jewelry completes the look. Maybe a necklace, choker or gemstone pendant. Your summer style is up to you. Have fun!

The Wedding of the Year

The wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton on April 29, 2011, marks one of the most remarkable weddings in history. The first royal wedding to be facebooked, tweeted and blogged, the blessed event was watched by millions of people around the world.

Designed by Sarah Burton, Kate's beautiful gown was understated, yet modern with long lacy sleeves, a dramatic v-neck and elegant train.

Kate and William are a handsome couple and we wish them all the best.

Prints Charming

Prints can make or break an outfit. There's a lot to consider. For example, make sure your print is age-appropriate. Don't wear "Hello Kitty" prints if you're over 30, unless you're working at a children's camp. Also keep in mind that if your body shape is an "apple," tone down the top, and if you're a "pear," tone down the bottom. It's all about proportion.

Regardless of the limitations, prints are fun and fabulous. Especially if they're mixed with solids and styled with the right shoes and accessories.

A dark blazer with a print top matched with jeans or slacks is a classic look that never goes out of style. You can also match a print dress with a casual jean jacket or thin cardigan.

Personalize your wardrobe with prints (skirts, tops, scarves, dresses) in a variety of colors and textures. Be creative, be daring, but most of all, have fun!

Nailing It

So what's the best nail color for Spring? Answer? Any color you like! Choose among pastels (pinks, peaches, roses and mauves) bolds (yellow, red, blue, orange, green) or anything in between (sienna, silver, black and white).

If you don't want to paint your own nails, try nail kits with pre-painted designs (polka dots, paisley swirls, flower petals -- even skulls and crossbones).

And don't forget the toes! Strappy sandals and peep-toe heels display your toe art at its best.

So get your favorite colors and start painting!

Valentine's Day

Instead of candy or flowers, how about a gift of jewelry for your beloved? Dragon Tales Jewelry features a variety of hand-crafted gemstone necklaces and earrings created by Carlina Johnson.

This beautiful Brown Tiger's Eye necklace is a dramatic piece that any woman would be proud to own. Rich colors and striking patterns mark this unique gemstone design.

Birthstones and Flowers

As you may know, each month has its own birthstone and flower:

JANUARY: Garnet and Carnation
FEBRUARY: Amethyst and Violet
MARCH: Aquamarine and Jonquil
APRIL: Diamond and Sweet Pea
MAY: Emerald and Lily of the Valley
JUNE: Pearl and Rose
JULY: Ruby and Larkspur
AUGUST: Peridot and Gladiolus
SEPTEMBER: Sapphire and Aster
OCTOBER: Opal and Marigold
NOVEMBER: Topaz and Chrysanthemum
DECEMBER: Turquoise and Narcissus

Years ago, a cherished gift idea was  to create a birthstone ring, necklace or bracelet for Mother (or Grandmother) with the children's birthstones. You don't see too many of these nowadays, but it's something to think about if you want to give a treasured heirloom gift of jewelry.

As for flowers, who wouldn't like lovely fresh flowers, especially in these cold winter months when spring is so far away. If you can't afford flowers, how about emailing virtual flowers to your loved one? They may not smell as nice but the gesture would be appreciated. Say it with "flowers" or possibly "flours" if the object of your affection is a baker.    

That's a Wrap!

If you're looking for a dress that looks good on any figure, the wrap dress is the answer. It emphasizes the waist and creates a beautiful neckline while the skirt has just the right fullness. The dress looks great in patterns, solids or a combination. Dress it up with heels, go casual with flats or grunge it out with bulky boots.



For people that don't typically wear dresses, the wrap dress is a good place to start...not too frilly but not as "masculine" as a shirt dress. If you want to add color to your wardrobe, get a colorful wrap dress and wear it with a neutral sweater. Now you're ready for the office or the weekend.

A "Grace"-ful New Year

If you're going to a party to ring in the New Year, you'll need the perfect cocktail dress. I'm into retro styles and one of my favorite looks is Grace Kelly's "21" dress in "Rear Window." If you're familiar with the movie, Jimmy Stewart has broken his leg and is recuperating in his apartment that overlooks a courtyard where he can see inside the windows of his neighbors' homes. Grace (his girlfriend) brings him dinner at "21." Her gown is stunning. They just don't make clothes like that anymore.

"Reddy" or Not

The Christmas season has arrived and it's time to go "red"! Even if red isn't your color, it's perfectly okay to wear it in December. In fact, it's expected. Everyone from beagle to barista can be seen with a bit of red in their wardrobe.

Scarves jazz up an outfit and go with just about anything. You can be subtle with red bracelets or earrings, or go bold with head-to-toe red. It's up to you just how red you want to be.

Red is the perfect color for a cocktail dress if you're going to a holiday party. And if you're celebrating at home, wear red slippers as you lounge around in your jammies, watching Christmas movies and sipping hot cocoa.

I have a pair of red patent leather ballet flats that I wear all year round. They always make me smile. But be careful. Someone is bound to make a joke about clicking your heels together and saying, "There's no place like home."

So get "reddy" for the holidays.

Stripe Club

So what do zebras, candy canes and barber shop poles have in common? That's right. Stripes!

Everyone can wear stripes. Depending on your body shape, you can choose horizontal or vertical, thick or thin, pastel or bold. Striped boat neck shirts look fabulous with a blazer and jeans. Striped dresses and skirts can be paired with a sweater or jacket. For a funky look, wear striped socks, gloves, hats or scarves.

Famous stripers: gondola boatmen, candy stripers and mimes!

Fits Like a Glove

It's time to get your gloves and mittens out of storage. I like to wear both, depending on my mood. Cute fuzzy gloves you find for five dollars at discount stores come in assorted colors like red, orange, blue, green and purple. Or you can raise the stakes and purchase elegant leather gloves in black, brown, camel or burgundy.

As for mittens, there are two types:

Fashionable - knitted mittens in pretty colors that you can mix and match.

Functional - heavy-duty water-resistant for harsh winter weather. If you've ever tried to build a snowman with knit mittens, you know what I mean.

I suggest having all styles of gloves and mittens on hand (pun intended). Be prepared for anything and keep a pair in your pocket, purse or the glove compartment in your car. Wonder why it's not called a mitten compartment...

Color Me Orange

Not many people look good in orange. Well, maybe a baby in a pumpkin jumpsuit celebrating her first Halloween. Speaking of pumpkin, the color orange has many names and shades: tangerine, coral, poppy, persimmon,  chutney, apricot, carrot. (Hmm...this is starting to look like a fruit salad.)

Nevertheless, if you want to add color to your ensemble, orange accesories just might be the ticket: earrings, necklaces, bracelets, scarves, shoes, gloves, socks, purses, etc.

Just remember, wall-to-wall orange is not the way to go. Less is more.

Booting Up

It's time for boot shopping. For years I've had this cute pair of black, calf-high boots with a block heel that I wear in the fall and winter. They look cute with long skirts or knee length skirts, but now I'm ready to go up to the knee. And I'm definitely sticking with black because it goes with absolutely everything.

Depending on your personal style, you can choose shooties (combination shoe and boot), boots with stilletto heels, boots with buckles or trimmed with fur, boots with leather laces, slouch boots, cowboy boots or even Uggs. The possibilites are endless.

Gunn Laws

On Tim Gunn's page (Gunn Laws) of the September 2010 issue of Marie Claire, Tim talks about comfort. As always, he gets right to the point with no apologies. Something to think about. Here's the excerpt:

Some people think of dressing up or being polite as a burden. They think having to wear a tie or use the right fork or send a thank-you card is a kind of shackle. To these people I say: Getting out of bed is a shackle. If you feel that way, stay in it! Invest in a hospital gurney and wheel yourself around on it when you to go out. I get very impatient with this whole "comfort issue" with clothing. Yes, you don't feel as comfortable in clothes that fit as you do in your pajamas. That's a GOOD thing. You're navigating in a world where you need to have your wits about you. If you're in a lackadaisical comfort haze, you can't be engaged in the world the way you need to be.

To Sheath or Not to Sheath...

... That is the question.

So what exactly is a sheath dress? Well, it's typically a dress that is fitted and worn close to the body, although some versions are more voluminous. It can be belted or unbelted, and dressed up or dressed down.

The August 2010 issue of Real Simple features some tips in choosing the right sheath dress to fit your shape:

If you have a TUMMY: avoid lightweight of slinky fabrics; choose dresses with ruching (gathered fabric) that visually flattens the stomach.

If you have an HOURGLASS FIGURE: avoid stiff or heavy fabrics like tweed; wear form-fitting dresses with waist-enhancing seams.

If you have FULL HIPS & THIGHS: avoid wrist-length sleeves; choose dresses with volume.

If you have a STRAIGHT FIGURE: avoid thin waistbands; choose dresses with a fitted bodice and darts in the seaming.

So what are you waiting for? It's time to rock the Sheath dress.

Hollywood Fashion

I don't know about you, but I get a lot of my style ideas from movies. Over the years I've been inspired by Diane Keaton's vests  in "Annie Hall"; Meg Ryan's turtlenecks in "You've Got Mail"; Jennifer Aniston's scarves in "Love Happens"; and Tina Fey's shirt dress in "Baby Mama." 

Marie Claire online features amazing photos of iconic film fashion, from classic stars of the silver screen such as Vivien Leigh, Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn to modern stars like Molly Ringwald, Winona Ryder and Uma Thurmond. Check it out:

http://www.marieclaire.com/fashion/trends/articles/iconic-movie-fashion

Hold Tight!

Tights and leggings seem to never go out of style. And the weird thing is that EVERYBODY wears them! Babies, little girls, teens, career women, moms, even grandmothers! Oh, and let's not forget dancers (male and female).

I like to wear them with long skirts and boots for extra warmth in cold climates, but they're also nice with over-sized sweaters and shirts. Think "Flashdance." When you're wearing tights, it's all about the shoes and the colors in your outfit.

And unless you're Lady GaGa, you probably won't need a pair in Pepto Bismol pink.

Party Dress?

This week on "Project Runway," the designers had to create a look with items found at a party store. The winner? Andy! He created a dress out of ribbon. That's it! Just ribbon! Unbelievable! If he can do this with a pile of ribbon, what can he do with real fabric!!!

Big White Shirt

So when is the best time to wear a big white button up shirt? Summer, of course!

No, I'm not talking about Jerry Seinfeld's frilly pirate shirt. We want classic. We want chic. We want BIG!

A big white shirt can be a stylish cover up at the beach over a swimsuit. Or wear it with blue jeans for a casual weekend barbeque. You can even dress it up with a skirt, heels, a funky belt and jewelry for a night on the town. If you can't find a big white shirt in the ladies department, there's nothing wrong with venturing into men's wear. Just don't let the sales clerk talk you into a sock garter.