Looking HOT when it's COLD outside!

Just because it’s getting colder out doesn’t mean you need to resort to oversized “college” sweatshirts and sweatpants! Here are some easy tips on how to look fabulous while staying warm this winter. Tips on Dressing for Cold Weather

Wear layers! Many buildings try to overcompensate for cold weather outside by cranking up the heat inside. If you’re not wearing layers, you can end up sweating and being miserable. Layering is easy: begin with a tank or t-shirt (for colder days choose UnderArmour or Cuddle Duds), add a cardigan or sweater, and top it off with another jacket, scarf, and/or hat. You’ll still look cute and will be comfortable no matter where you go.

Pants are not the only option. Dresses and skirts can still be options when the weather is colder. As long as you pair them with tights (wool or sweater tights are particularly warm) you can still show your personal style without freezing. If you wear pants, keep the tights on and throw jeggings or jeans over them for additional warmth.

Make use of scarves, hats and mittens! I think scarves are a necessary part of any girl’s wardrobe. They come in a variety of colors and patterns, and instantly add flair and warmth to any outfit. Hats are another great option to keep your ears warm and are a great cover up for any bad hair day. A cute pair of mittens or gloves keep your fingers toasty and can add a touch of style.

Boots are fabulous and everywhere this season! Boots are especially important when winter bears down on us with lots of snow and ice. A great pair of boots will keep your feet warm and match with a lot of different outfits you already have. Make sure you buy fleece-lined boots for extra warmth. Whether you like heels or flats, ankle length or knee-high boots, find a pair you love and wear them with everything.

Check out stores like LLBean, Land’s End, Scheels and other places that sell clothing for outdoor people. You can look hot this winter even when it’s freezing outside.

Halloween Do's and Don'ts

As Halloween is right around the corner, be sure to keep in mind although Halloween is a time for fun and imagination and creativity and a time to play dress up like when you were a little kid, remember there is a thing called too much or too far.

Some simple Halloween do's to keep you from look too overdone or just plain bad are :

1. Be creative

2. Find a buddy and do matching costumes

3. Keep it Simple and don't be afraid to

4. Have your fairy tale ending (or at least evening)

5. Make up your eyes to be bold

6. If you cannot find anything, just be Madonna

7. Be like Lady Gaga

8. Do find a couples costume that will not freak out your partner (a cowboy and Indian girl for example)

9. Go as a childhood nursery rhyme or fairytale character

10. Use the occasion to bust out an evening gown.



Some simple Halloween Don'ts would be:

1. To use your whole body as a canvas

2. Be skimpy and trashy

3. Dress up as your boss or frenemy

4. Over sizing your costume

5. Wear bloody make up, it is just creepy


Hope everyone's Halloween is Spooke-tacular!

Fashion Myths Busted! (Part 2)

To continue on with fashion myths:

#5 Do not wear white after Labor Day

*The truth is white is classy no matter what time of year. When picking out an outfit you do not go to the calendar and make sure it is ok to wear white because it is not past Labor Day. The trick to this myth is to make it seasonally appropriate. If you are considering wearing a white dress in winter for example, making sure it is long sleeved and where closed toed shoes. Just like Diane Kruger did in the middle of winter to the Boren awards.


#6 Never wear denim with denim

*Putting denim with another pair of denim is tricky because putting the wrong two together you could end up looking cheesy. When putting two denims together remember to pair two different shades of denim. A good look for this would either be wearing skinny white jeans with a light-wash belted jacket like Rihanna or simply wearing a faded collared top tucked into high-waisted jeans and some peep-toed wedges will also do the trick.



#7 Save the sequins for dark

*If you love sequins or shiny fabrics, go ahead and wear them during the day too instead of having to wait until nightfall. The sun will catch the shimmer and catch peoples eye. Remember when wearing shiny fabrics to keep it simple. For example try a sparkling mini with an oxford shirt.

#8 Avoid clashing colors

*Sometimes if a good color combination that clashes, it can make a huge statement. A good example would be Reese Witherspoon when she wore a hot pink and red with matching red sandals.

Fashion Myths Busted! (Part 1)

In the world of Fashion and Designing, one can make up anything and people usually believe it because people are always looking for way to look and feel good about themselves.  So many people listen to fashion myths they hear, no matter what it is.  Most of the myths though are not true.

#1 Never mix black with blue

    *Black and blue is said to clash because the contrast in the colors are very similar.  That maybe true, but it does not mean they always clash and you can not wear them together.  When wearing a blue tone with black, try to wear a bolder color such as sky blue.  If you are wanting to stick with the navy blue, try a white shirt under a navy blue blazer with black slacks or skirt.  Also, like any outfit there is a need to accessorize.  For example, if the outfit consists of dark denim jeggings with a black sweater and a white, semi-loose, long sleeve polo under the sweater.  To accessorize the look, add red heels and lipstick to add some bold.

#2 Horizontal stripes make you look heavy

    *People think that horizontal strips make you look heavier because they accent the waist more and the vertical stripes draw a persons eye up and down to make a person appear thinner.  It is true that the way the strips face, are the way the eyes go, but that does not mean it makes a person look heavy.  Try a long, solid colored scarf with the outfit.  If you are not still comfortable with with that, then I would suggest you try blazer or a cardigan over the stripped top.

# 3  Tall Women Shouldn't Wear High Heels

   *First problem with this myth is models wear heels most of the time and their average height is five feet nine inches.  Secondly, High heels are not just for adding height, they are also for making your legs look great and add a little strut to your walk.  High heels are becoming on anyone, besides the people who slouch or trip/ stomp with them on.  If you wear heals remember the heal to toe trick, pick up your feet, and stand up straight to look more graceful.  If you are confident about yourself and not have a problem with the height, then no one else will too.

# 4 Always Match Your Shoes With Your Belt, or Your Purse

    *Many people do not listen to this myth anymore, but some do.  Those that do, need to stop.  No one really matches their shoes with a belt or purse anymore.  My personal reason is not because I don't want to do the extra scavenger hunt in the morning, it is simply because I have too many cute shoes that don't match my belts, but my outfits.  When you go shopping, you don't want to miss out on a cute pair of shoes just because you can't find a belt to match.  Yes, accessorizes can make a statement, but don't be so strict about this rule; have a little wiggle room.  For example,  if you have a magenta-colored purse and a print dress with a tiny bit of red or pink in it, red shoes that have a touch of pink in them it would be perfect. 

Equestrian Look Has a New Twist

New style for fall is the Equestrian look.  This is one of my all time favorite looks.  The Equestrian look has been around for many years, but has not been incorporated into fashion until just recently.  The Equestrian look with the fashion twist is very clean and classy.  My favorite outfit would be a cute blouse, with the military and equestrian jacket style, a pair of dark skinnys or jeggings with knee high boots. 

Even though it is just a simple style and not much to say and mix up besides the colors and patterns, it is still a favorite.  Some place to look for this style would be American Eagle, JcPennys, Kohls, and Younkers.  A few particular designers to keep an eye out for this look would be Michael Stars, Magaschoni, and even Gucci for those super cute boots. 

Boyfit 101

Many teenagers have the boyish figure to them. When some become adults, they do not grow out of their teenage figure. To help many adults feel better about themselves and rather than just an adult trapped in a teenage shape body, some tips might help with the self-esteem.

Tops are an essential part to the outfit because most people look at your tops first compared to the rest of your outfit. High neck tops are great because they give the appearance of a fuller bust. Sleeveless tops or halter cuts are a great wear too because it shows off those great shoulders. Also wear straight-cut tops, choose longer tops that reach the hips to make it look wider to create hips Banded tops with a wide hem that end at the hips, and add extra width along the hips as well. A ruffled shirt nipped at the waist creates wider hips and a fuller bust. Avoid tops such as Sweet heart necklines because they will do nothing for you in the bust area so it’s best to avoid them along with baggy tops and tunics.

When shopping for jackets, it is basically the same rules as the tops. A tailored, curvy jacket or smallish cardigans will give you that desired feminine shape. A coat that flares from the hips down gives the illusion of wider hips. Avoid the slouchy and boy cut jackets because they don't give any curve. They would just justify your pencil shape even more.

Dresses for the boyfit shape are perfect. Luckily for you most clothing especially dresses actually hangs better on women with smaller busts! When looking for dresses, look for a dress with a lot of shape however avoid cutesy looks such as puffed sleeves as you will just end up looking little girlish. Be sure to find the right length though just like you would with any other outfit. Maxi dresses are right on trend this season and would look great on your tall slim frame. There are so many accessories that you can use to emphasize your body and gain terrific curves.

Lastly come the bottoms for the boyfit shape. With your slim hips, any kind of jeans look good on you. Low rise jeans with wide waistbands that fall on the fullest part of your hips will add a few centimeters. Detailing on the hips and bum will also help to broaden those slender hips of yours. Skinnys, leggings, and defiantly jeggings are super jeans to wear. These types enhance your hips show and off your long slim legs. Bleaching or fading effects on the thighs and bum can add contour and help create the illusion of curves. Luckily for you, with a slender frame and can get away with wearing any color of jeans teamed up with just about anything. Beware of jeans that sit on your waist they just show off the fact that there is not much of a waist there. In this case, just add a belt to add more bulk to your waist for hips.

Peal a Pear

Pear figures are one of the most unforgiving shapes. Many women just hate their bodies that have a pear shape because they have bigger hips and thighs. Do not be discouraged because some of the most beautiful stars have pear shaped bodies such as Tyra Banks, Beyonce, and Hayden Panettiere. The main goal for a pear shape body is to be balanced.

Focusing on the tops in one of the more important details because having the wrong kind of top will not be flattering. The tops that are not for giving on a pear shaped body are tops that have narrow v-necks, dolman sleeves, raglan sleeves and heavily gathered necklines. These types of tops can reduce the width of your shoulders creating an unbalance. Tops that one might want to consider are

Puffed sleeves on tops, Gathered/ruched sleeves on tops, Fluted/flared sleeves that end just below your bust, wide necklines, When looking for types of fabrics, look for ones that drape softly over your curves without clinging, but aren't too light of fabrics otherwise it will show every lump and bumb in your body. You want fabrics with at least a little weight. To make an outfit interesting and trendy, choose a bold, bright color such as red or pink on top with a dark skirt in black or navy. Shoulder pads with blazers are also a good fit because balancing the shoulders with shoulder pads help. When dealing with blazers or even jackets in general, be sure to only buy ones that end right above the waist so it does not draw attention to your hips. Do not be afraid to accessorize with your outfits either. Use a lot of belts for example. Pear shapes tend to have a smaller waist so having belts to accent the small waist looks good. Some other good accessorizes would be scarves and necklaces. Funky earrings can also make any outfit stand out and as well as many bracelets, such as chunky ones or bangles. Like most, don't overdo it otherwise you just look ridicules and too busy.

As for bottoms, the best way is to fit your booty and thighs, rather than your waist; it's a simple alteration to take in the waist band. Look for a darker color in pants and invest in a fabric that has some weight, but not thin or floppy. The best styles for bottoms would be flare or boot cut and be sure to buy them mid-rise or high rise, but not over your waist. A few other not to do's for a pear shape is don't wear loud prints or light colors on bottom, don't wear short skirts that fit tightly around your lower half, and don't wear pants that narrow at the bottom.

Footwear can make a difference for pear shapes. Heels and knee-high boots help balance out the curves of your body by creating an elongated silhouette. Comfort should always be a consideration, so unless this is comfortable for you, do not wear them everyday. Instead try wearing flats or shoes with extra detailing, especially at the toes.

For the summer time, just like the apple shaped ladies, tankinis are the way to go. Tankinis offer the coverage of a one-piece suit with the advantage of purchasing two pieces in different sizes to accommodate your body shape. Pear shapes need to look more for a bold color on top and a darker color on the bottom. This will create attention upward and away from your hips.

For those special occasions where one wants to wear a dress, try a wrap dress. It drapes over the body in a way that the lower portion is hidden, allowing the best curves to show. Avoid busy patterns for the dress. Instead go for a solid-colored dress, and let your accessories be the accent. While darker colors usually look best to de-emphasize the lower half of a pear shaped body, you can go lighter with a wrap dress because of its A-line design. Another good dress style would be halter top dresses because it nips in at the waist, and flares out into a wider skirt. A wide, flowing skirt hides the hips and thighs. Also try a sleeveless dress if you’re feeling bold and daring. This shows off the pear shaped woman’s attractive shoulders and bust. Choose a sleeveless that is form fitting at the top, with a wider, flared skirt that hides the lower body.