Makeup errors…try not to make these

The other day I was browsing my latest email from www.totalbeauty.com and I saw a great list that I wanted to share with you.  The lovely folks over at Total Beauty created a list of the Top 10 Makeup Felonies using pictures of celebrities that have made these mistakes.  As we go from the warm, summer months to the cool, fall months, makeup will get a little darker and a bit more dramatic.  Make sure you pay close attention to the pictures in this list.  Do your best to not make these makeup mistakes.

http://www.totalbeauty.com/

How do I wear that trend…big jewelry

As we enter gracefully (yeah right…dog days of summer…it’s freakin hot and rainy!) into the fall, demure jewelry is starting to become popular, however big, bright accessories are still in vogue.  Although I’m not a big fan of wearing really large jewelry, I’ve seen it worn really well.

The main thing to do is try it on in the store.  Don’t walk out of the store with that awesome, big blue necklace without at least holding it up to yourself in front of a mirror.  Make sure that large accessory compliments you. For example, if you are a small person, you may want to delve lightly into the world of large accessories.  Stick with large earrings or a large ring and ease slowly into the large necklaces.  However on the flip side, if you are a woman that possess larger assets, you may want to be careful with large accessories as well.  A big, huge necklace resting on top of big, huge breasts can be distracting and not look very cute.  This goes for really big earrings as well.  Unless you are a drag queen, let’s try hard to leave the overly flashy, drag queen look to those fellas (ladies) that know how to work it so well.

So with the big jewelry trend, take your time.  Make sure that large, fabulous accessory compliments you and brings out the best in you and your outfit.  Don’t ever be dwarfed by your jewelry.

How do I wear that trend…florals

Earlier this year as I watched the trend reports, I noticed something.  Florals were making a resurgence.  Now, florals have actually never really gone anywhere but they have been most likely reserved for the prim and proper types who wear pearls and knee length skirts.  However this summer, florals were showing up on dresses, shoes, purses and accessories.  I have never been a big fan of florals (I’m not that much of a girly girl…I own one strand of pearls and I’ve worn it as a belt before) but I do think it’s a pretty trend that can go well into the fall.  If you aren’t a big flower person like me, there are some ways you can work the florals into your wardrobe.  If you are a girly girl who loves floral patterns, then you should definitely dive head first into the fashion garden!

1.  Accessories.  Flower accessories are a great way to ease your way into florals.  You can always do the now classic Carrie Bradshaw flower pin or even a flower in your hair if you’re feeling flirty.  If you don’t want to pin a flower on your chest or in your hair, go for a flower ring or a necklace with a floral theme.  It will be a great way to add some “cuteness” to your outfit without going overboard.

2.  Shoes.  A pair of all black pumps with a flower print on it is a very sexy and edgy way to add some floral to your wardrobe.  As a shoe maniac, I have been looking for some hot black, floral pumps.  If you’re not into the edgy pumps, you can go with shoes that have a flower detail like a rose bud on the front or maybe a smaller flower pattern.

3.  Dresses.  As I mentioned in my Sex and the City blog, dresses are a great way to spice up your wardrobe.  Want more spice? Go for a cute dress with a floral pattern!  If you’re not a big flower person, go for the dresses with a large pattern.  If you love flowers, you can go for all types of patterns: big or small.

4.  Purses.  Bright, colorful purses are a great way to add a splash of color to an outfit, especially if you prefer to wear more basic solid colors.  Look for a cute bag with a floral design or detail.  Toss it over your shoulder and go!

So there you go.  A few ways you can add some flowers to your day without having to stop by a garden or flower shop.  If you have any suggestions or tips on ways you’ve introduced flowers to your wardrobe, send me a comment.  Oh and as promised, here is a picture of my floor length mirror.  Still waiting on yours!

Jeans, Jeans, Jeans

I am a jean lover.  I have always been the quintessential t-shirt and jeans girl.  As I got older, I figured out other ways to maintain my t-shirt and jean status while looking cuter and sexier (more about that later).  I will talk about jeans a lot here so get ready.

Today I was checking my email and looked at one of the many fashion related newsletters that I receive weekly.  Stylebakery is a wonderful resource for the fashion minded person.  Their articles are always very straight forward and easy to understand.  Here is an article that I got from them about jeans.  It’s a great guide to the different types of jeans and which ones look good on which type of person.  (Hint: skinny jeans are NOT for everyone)  Check it out.  If you have any questions or need additional guidance, feel free to comment and I will find the answers that you seek.

http://www.stylebakery.com/style-recipes/the_ultimate_guide_to_this_seasons_hottest_jeans.html

How do I wear that trend…bright colors

As we slowly melt through the dog days of summer, bright colors are much more comfortable to wear than dark blues, blacks and browns.  You can keep those in the closet and dresser drawers.  The bright colors that were so popular this summer are still great to wear into the fall.  I know some of you may be a bit wary about wearing bright colors because they tend to draw attention to you.  So for those of you who are hesitant to break out the bright blues, oranges, yellows and reds, here are a few ways to incorporate them into your wardrobe and ease your way into bright color land.

1.  Accessories-You can safely add a pop of color to any outfit with a bright colored bracelet, earrings or necklace.  If you tend to lean more toward the neutral side of things with a lot of khaki, brown and off white, you can throw in a bright orange bracelet or earrings and add some dimension to your look.  If you lean more towards basic black (while it is a classic, it can become boring at times), you can toss any bright color in and it will work.

2.  Shoes-As a shoe lover, I am always excited at the prospect of putting on some fierce bright colored shoes and strutting my stuff all over the place.  However, I can understand that not everyone is like me so it’s ok if you take it slow.  Start with one pair of bright colored pumps and toss them in when you can.  Remember shoes don’t always have to “match”.  They just have to “go” with your outfit.  Your purse and shoes don’t have to match either so go all out.  But don’t be afraid to throw on some bright colored shoes to add some pop to your outfit.

3.  Hair pieces-A pop of color in your hair is a great way to ease into wearing bright colors.  You can start off really small and get a pack of headbands in a variety of colors and then go from them.  Be daring though.  Fashion is all about stepping outside of your comfort zone.  Put a brightly colored flower in your hair!

4.  Purses-Along with shoes, I also love purses.  However, I haven’t been as adventurous with my purses as I have been with my shoes.  I’m working on changing that.  Since your shoes and purse don’t have to match, this is a great way to add some bright color to your outfit.  If you don’t want to spend a lot on a brightly colored purse that you may not carry as often as your standard black purse, check out my favorite store, Target.  You can also check out Walmart, Kmart and Burlington Coat Factory for some cute but inexpensive purses.

I know some of you may be afraid that bright colors make you look washed out or as if you trying too hard.  If you sprinkle the bright colors in other places, they will compliment you and your outfit.  Don’t be shy! Give it a try! Share your bright color stories with us here.

Quality is key-Five Tips to Ensure Your Clothes are of Good Quality

As I work toward improving the quality of my wardrobe, I am becoming more and more aware of the quality of my clothes. Quality is a big reason why people tend to buy more expensive brand name clothing. But don’t fret. You don’t have to spend $200 on a pair of jeans to get good quality. You just have to be diligent in doing quality checks when you are out shopping.  Here are five things you can do to ensure that you are getting a good quality of clothing, regardless of where you shop.
1.  Do the stretch test.  Make sure your clothes don’t feel like you can rip them with your bare hands…unless you’re a body builder with abnormally high levels of strength.  Fabric should stand up well to being stretched.

2.  Check the fabric for any small holes or weakened areas.  You want to make sure that the clothes you buy aren’t already damaged.  Unfortunately sometimes other people may unknowingly or knowingly snag or rip clothes in stores.  You should check for this damage before you take the item home.

3.  Make sure any buttons are secure and won’t pop off at the slightest stress.  I have been a victim of poorly sewn on buttons that came off after only a couple of washes.  I, too, should be more aware.

4.  Try it on!  You should always try on any clothing that you want to purchase.  I am a firm believer that clothes that look good on the rack don’t always look good on your body.  Since you are already in the store, try it on.  There’s no need to make a wasted trip to return an item you shouldn’t have bought in the first place.  Besides, some fabrics aren’t good for everyone to wear and you won’t know until you actually put it on your body.

5.  Check the seams.  Make sure the sewing is secure and doesn’t look like it will unravel after one or two washings.  Sometimes mass produced clothing can have variations in how each item is sewn.  Take a moment to check the seams in that piece you plan to buy.  You may be able to avoid a wardrobe malfunction by choosing the one with the strongest seams.

If you follow these five steps every time you shop, you will start to notice an increase in the quality and longevity of your clothes.  I don’t know about you, but I am unable to do a complete wardrobe overhaul every season so I need clothes that will last at least a couple of years if not more.  Plus, once you start doing these quality checks you will notice that the quality of an item isn’t always directly related to the price.  This should make you smile.  I love getting a great fitting, high quality pair of jeans for under $50.  It makes me feel like I have found a way to beat the system.  And we all love to beat the system, even if it’s just by buying a cute and well made dress.