Monthly Archive for September, 2009

Looking Good 24/7

Published on September 27, 2009 in Fashion Tips. 2 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , .

We all have one.  You know, the friend who always looks perfectly put together no matter how little sleep she’s had or how much stress she happens to be under.  It’s a hard job, but someone’s gotta do it, right?  What’s her secret?  Basically, her monthly maintenance routine is paramount to her well-being (like maybe chocolate is for you).  The maintenance routine varies from woman to woman, but generally consists of working out, eating properly, going to the hair salon, regular waxings and the like.  She may be working a gazillion hours a week, but she gets her eyebrows done like clock-work.  Her constitution wouldn’t allow her to behave otherwise.  No worries if your inner-peace is not contingent upon having your ‘stache (if you have one, you know what I’m referring to) done regularly, but if you want to make sure you put your best foot forward professionally and personally, here are a few tips to help you.

  • Maincures&Pedicures – If you have time for nothing else, maintain your nails.  Unkempt nails and chipped polish are no-nos.  No time to go to the salon?  Try Sally Hansen’s Insta-Dri Nail polish, $5.
  • Signature Scent – If you don’t already have one, take the time to select one.  Here are a few tips to aid in the search for your signature scent:  ➊ Don’t wear cologne when you go to shop for a new fragrance; ❷ Narrow your choices to 3, spray them in different places on your arms and wrists; ➌ Get samples of the 3 and use each at home to figure out which works best with your body chemistry; and ➍ Over the course of time, build a “Fragrance Wardrobe”: day, evening & special occasions.
  • Looking a little too dewy in the middle of the day?  Blotting tissues are a great way to control oil production, you’ll never be too shiny or too matte.
  • Standing Appointments – Treat yourself to a day of beauty.  Make yourself feel special and insure you dont have to worry about remembering to make an appointment by making standing appointments with your hair dresser, your esthetician,  your colorist, your bikini waxer and your eyebrow gal.  TIP:  Make sure you have a contingency plan for when these folks go out of town.
  • Beat the Face – This is what the professionals call it.  Learn to put your perfect face on in 10 minutes so that you always walk out the door looking polished and put together.
  • Desk S.O.S. Kit – Keep a stash of your beauty essentials at work.  Just dupe everything in your cosmetics bag.  That way, if you leave it at home,  you are good to go.  Include deoderant, stain remover wipes or stick, perfume, blotting tissues and a curling iron or flat iron.

Follow these tips and the next thing you know, you’ll be the friend others use as their standard!

Hankie Pankie

Published on September 20, 2009 in Fashion Tips. 2 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Dabbing at tears and wiping away beads of perspiration are facts of life.  How many times have you found yourself in one of these situations and not had something to properly dab or wipe with?  If you’re lucky, a loved one, a friend or a perfectly good stranger stepped in and offered you their hankie. Handkerchiefs, paper or cloth, are something one should never leave home without.

Fellas, before you walk out the door you check to make sure you have your essentials – keys, wallet, Blackberry, iPhone – is a handkerchief on your check-list?  If not, please add it.  If nothing else, having one on your person will win you big points with the ladies (those you want to impress as well as those whose respect you hope to gain).

My grandmother taught me that a lady never leaves the house without her hankie. Most days I live up to her credo – I’m lucky I have her old hankies, which are a lovely way to carry a little bit of her with me every day.  Carrying a hankie is also a little Holly Golightlyesque for me – pulling out a beautiful little piece of embroidered fabric to dab a tear or stiffle a cough usually brings a smile to my face.

Now, I’m old school.  I believe in cloth hankies – cotton or linen – embroidered with pretty flowers or initials.  I started my collection with my grandmother’s, but over the years friends and family members have helped me to amass a nice collection of my own to pass down.  But, my mother, like many of my friends who’s grannies drilled the same lesson into them, prefer the paper tissue packets — there’s something about their disposable nature and no need for ironing that makes them so appealing.  Kleenex of course, has tissue packets available in spades; guys, these are a great alternative to cotton handkerchiefs. But for you savvy stylistas, Sniff has cornered the market on the die-for tissue packets of the moment.  You’ve seen them – zebra print, leopard, denim-like and beautiful florals to boot.  Beware though these are a bit pricey. My mom has been known to dole these out judiciously (she needs to know that you really do have a runny nose) as if they were $20 bills not to be parted with lightly. Now, if you’re really special and don’t want the muss and fuss of cloth hankies, but want what you carry to be personal to you, there are all kinds of websites out there ready to personalize your tissue packets for you! Who knew, right?  Just Google “personalized tissue packs”.

And you thought Hanky Panky was just a great brand of underwear. (Bet you didnt know that the company got started when one of it’s owners gave the other a beautiful pair of underwear made out of hand embroidered vintange hankies).

White After Labor Day

Published on September 13, 2009 in Fashion Tips. 4 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , .

White after Labor Day?  Why not?  I know it used to be taboo, but rules are meant to be broken!  Think about how great your white jeans will look with a black turtleneck this Fall when you’re out at your friend’s country house – very Jackie O’esque.  Or if your goal is to look like a Michael Kors model, pair those same jeans with a beautiful oatmeal or off white cozy cashmere sweater and a snakeskin bag. Let your imagination run wild …

White Summer clothes were originally the province of the wealthy.  The light color combined with the lighter fabrics were the perfect accompaniment to their Summer homes by the sea.  The “Season” began after Memorial Day and ended with Labor Day; hence the rule was born.

While the lines have blurred and yester-year’s fashion dictates are no longer the driving force behind today’s trends, there are a few things to think about if you are going to be bold enough to break the rules.

  • If you choose to wear white after Labor Day, stay away from linen and other light fabrics that are strictly Summer materials.  Just as you wouldn’t wear a black linen dress in November, nor should you wear a white linen one.
  • Winter white is a great way to add an unexpected pop to your Winter wardrobe.  A beautiful winter white wool or cashmere coat over a black, charcoal grey or camel dress is stunning.  The same holds true for a sleek winter white suit under an amazing black coat.
  • If you wear white in the winter time, make sure that you have the appropriate undergarments. (This holds true for the Summer too!)
  • If you live in a warm weather climate, there really are no rules with respect to white.  Just trust your gut.

The only steadfast rule about wearing white is that female guests should not wear white at a wedding, lest they look as though they’re competing with the bride. (Neither should they wear black, unless they’re mourning for her.)

So, go ahead, Possess Your STYLE and push the envelope – incorporate white into your wardrobe this Fall!

TechStylish

Published on September 8, 2009 in Fashion Tips. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

It’s all about being tech savvy, right?  I Twitter, I’m on Facebook (kind of, I check it 1x a quarter) and hey, you’re reading my blog … I am able to do all of these things thanks to my wonderful media guru Nicole.  But, I must confess – I am a little technologically challenged.  Ok, well probably a lot.  But, when I put my mind to it, I can figure out what’s vitally important to me.  Not that my business isnt vitally important, but I know Nicole has me covered there.  I’m talking about my gadgets – Blackberry, iTouch, iPod, Kindle … My friend Portia made sure I learned how to IM on my Blackberry (yes, something I was loathe to do initially but now I love it and have even figured out how to use the face symbols!).  I try to get everyone I know on Blackberry Messenger (you folks with open invitations know who you are).

I was spoiled from working at a law firm and got quite used to having a FAB secretary who answered my phone and screened my calls for me – I didn’t realize how much time she saved me.  No one could ever replace Michele, but PhoneTag does a great job of fielding my calls for me. I don’t have to listen to voicemails anymore (even Nicole had to ask me about this one) because they come into my email inbox as transcribed messages.

Now to me, the Kindle is the greatest thing since sliced bread.  I read voraciously and I travel a lot.  Schlepping books on flights is no longer necessary in my world. I have a cool purple pebble leather case by M-Edge for my Kindle that always garners a “wow, you’re case is so nice, I didn’t know they had any color other than black.”  I’ve figured out how to buy books, download samples, archive my collection and search for my place in a book.  Next on the horizon for me is adding periodicals to the mix.

So, what does all of this have to do with style?  Loads.  I hope you’ve chosen a ringtone that makes you smile and makes other people say, “ok, that’s hilarious – perfect for you.”  If you haven’t, and you own a Blackberry, check out Crackberry for free ringtones and alert sounds.  If not beholden to all things blackberry,  just Google “free [NAME OF SONG] ringtone” – tons of sites will pop up.  Choose wisely and be sure that you are getting a FREE ringtone and not signing your life away.

Does the skin or cover you’ve chosen for your PDA reflect you?  What about your iPod cover? Whether you are blinged out like Kimora or have chosen to adorn your device with something a little more simple, what you chose speaks volumes about your personal style.  And yes, if you’ve chosen not to choose something that speaks volumes too.  Maybe go for the headphones with a little sparkle or a phone or headphone charm (you didnt even know those existed, right?).  Or what about a memory stick that others salivate over?

Go ahead, take a step on the wild side.  Get that new Black Eyed Peas ringtone and make sure you are “so 3008″ and not “so 2000 and late!”