Cleaning your jacket

Happy New Year's Eve!! Hope everyone is doing something great to countdown the New Year! Whether it's dancing the night away at a club or it's relaxing at home and watching the ball drop, enjoy! With it being cold out, you are naturally going to be wearing a coat. If this coat is wool, and you happen to get a little something on it (which is bound to happen in a crowd full of people), don't panic! Here are a few ways to care for your wool coat. My coat will be leather because I just got an A-MAZING leather jacket yesterday, so here are tips for that too!


WOOL
1. Don't wash it! First things first, check the tag. Some wool you are allowed to launder, others not. If you are, just wash it like that. If it says to spot or dry clean, do NOT throw it in the washer! It will come out looking like a coat for a 2 year old. You can try using the dry cleaning kits, such as Dryel.
2. Spot clean. If the entire coat does not need to be cleaned, just spot clean it. Use cold water or stain remover to clean the spot. If the stain is food related, try rubbing the stain with carbonated water.

LEATHER
1. Surface clean. Wipe of any dirt on the surface using a soft cloth.
2. Soap and water. Dampen a soft cloth with some water and a small amount of hand soap. Work into a lather and apply to the leather coat.
3. Wipe off. Wipe the soap off with a slightly damp cloth. Follow with a swipe from a dry cloth.
4. Olive oil. Moisten a piece of cloth with some olive oil. Gently buff the leather with the cloth. You may use a leather conditioner instead.

DIY glitter

Merry Christmas Eve!! Hope everyone is doing something wonderful with family for the holidays! It's been a busy week, but I will not deny you another post, especially when it's Fashion Forward Friday!

I love glitter for the holidays! Nothing says Christmas spirit like some eye catching shimmer. Here are some GREAT ideas for DIY Glitter, just in time for the big day!

1. OPI Burlesque Glitter Nail Polish. I got the purple one called "Show it and Glow it!" and I absolutely love it! My fingers look like a disco ball right now! I also just bought a Burlesque color that isn't as glittery as the ones on the left. It's called "Teasy Does It" which I also really love.

2. Hair Spray. Add a little glitter to our hair spray to add some shine! So easy!

3. Shoes. If you have some old shoes that you want to vamp up, put some rubber cement on the toes and add some sequins or glitter!

4. Nails. Another good nail tip that's a bit cheaper than new nail polish would be craft glitter. Put a coat of clear (or whatever) nail polish on your nails, sprinkle glitter, and put a top coat or 2 over it!

5. Applique. Add some crystal tattoos to your tights for a cool look.




Happy Glittering! And a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all!!!

Holiday party wear

Wanting to look hot for that holiday party you are going to?? This season is glimming with glamour!! There are so many fun things you can do to spice up your outfit for that perfect occasion. Here's a few ideas for some parties you may be attending.

Cocktail party - Wear a little black dress with fun! Try one with feathers to spice it up, or just dress up one you own with a little bling of accessories. Sparkly heels or a great necklace work wonders.

House party - Here, you want to be casual, but want to stand out. Sweater dress with over sized sequins, a cute fedora hat, leggings and heels or boots.

Dinner party - Here, you want to look a little more polished and refined. Try a black tight turtleneck with a bright red skirt. Add some black tights and booties or heels.

Work party - You want something that transitions from day to evening well. Try trousers and a faux fur vest. Add sparkle with a sparkly hat and/or clutch.

New Years Eve party - your one time that you can wear sequins and shine! Add a little bling on the shoes and add some chandelier earrings. Keep the accessories in the same color scheme, such as silver or gold.

Christmas aprons

'Tis the season for baking!! As you know, I love baking recently. I'm probably going to be baking a couple more types of cookies this weekend AND 2 different kinds of fudge! I can't wait! Here are a few cute holiday aprons to help you make those cookies (and maybe fudge) with style!

I love this hostess apron. It is so simple and cute! Find it on amazon.

This apron is cute too! Find this one at Target.

Who doesn't love an apron with a sweetheart neckline? So cute! Find this one on Etsy.

Happy Baking and Happy Fashion Forward Friday! Enjoy your weekends!

Warm up in style!

Happy Fashion Forward Friday! Better late than never, right?

A couple weeks ago I talked about coats. If you missed it, click here! There, I talked about the guidelines in what to look for in a coat. This week, I going to discuss the perfect coat for your body type. Being cold doesn't mean that you have to throw on a sweatshirt! Find the coat that works the best for your body type and look hot during the winter!

1. If you're busty. I know the feeling, and it's definitely a challenge when looking for the perfect coat. First of all, if it doesn't button or if it does button and looks like it's going to pop...it's not the coat for you. If you're busty, go for coats that have a fitted, sleek line. And keep it short so that the focus isn't on your bust, but on your smokin' legs. Also, don't buy anything double breasted, as the double buttons add width. Make sure the shoulders aren't too big as a tailored top flatters best. This coat pictured is by Tulle and can be found at lulus.com for $74.

2. If you're petite. Petite is described as being 5'4" and under. You don't necessarily have to be super thin to fit into this category. For this body shape, look for coats that are tailored above the knee so that you appear taller. Cool shrunken toppers are your winter staple. Also, choose patterns and details that lend style but don't overwhelm your short frame. This coat pictured is by Decree and can be found at JCPenney for $90.

3. If you're plus size. A-line all the way! This will skim your curves and make you look beautiful. Clean lines and minimal details are the key to a sexy silhouette. This adorable coat can be found at Torrid for $128.

4. If you're pear shaped. This means that you have wider hips than shoulders. If this is your body, stick to coats that have a belted option as this will make your waist look tiny. Accenting your waist is your main priority, so look for belts or coats that are tapered in the middle. *I have more of an athletic build, as I don't really have many curves in the waist and hip area. I find this style of coat to be complimentary to my figure, even though I'm not technically pear shaped. This coat is by Mac&Jac and can be found on amazon.com for $119.

Shopping boots

So today is the greatest shopping days of the year...Black Friday!! I'm sure several of you fought the crowds this morning. I went out around 8 and it was pretty packed in the stores. I got some great finds and am pretty much done with my Christmas shopping! One of the most important things to wear during a fun filled day of shopping are great, comfortable shoes. Here are a pair of boots I purchased a few weeks ago and I couldn't be happier with them! You can find them at Payless and were incredibly comfortable during my day of shopping.

Hire a stylist

There are some celebrities that obviously don't own a mirror. Taste is definitely something that money just can't buy. Here are some celebrities that need to either hire or fire their stylists. Happy Fashion Forward Friday and Harry Potter movie release day!!

Blake Lively usually has great fashion sense. This outfit is just too much.

I just don't understand Katy Perry's style. Tight latex dresses are not cute and her shoes definitely are horrible.

Leighton Meester needs to take some cues from her character on Gossip Girl.

Not terrible, but come on. You have access to all the clothes in the world and you show up in this.

Coats for you

It's almost that time of year again...when the weather is crisp and there's a chill in the air. Oh I can't wait! I know it has reached that time in some parts of the country, especially Colorado right now, and in Florida we've even had a couple cold fronts already. Well, this brings us to this weeks Fashion Forward topic, the best coats for your body type. Just because a coat is adorable doesn't mean that it's the right cut for you. Follow these guidelines and you will look great!


1. Go with classics. A knee-length wool topper with a tailored fit is a true classic that will not quickly (if ever) go out of style. The specific shape is up to you: double-breasted, belted or robe styles are all great picks.

2. Think investment. It's likely your biggest purchase of the season, so budget accordingly. And be willing to go on a few shopping trips to find the perfect one - a coat is the rare garment from which you can demand perfection.

3. Make it a close fit. You want the closest fit possible, but one that gives you no difficulty in getting into or buttoning.

4. Look behind. Check your rear view. Some shape to a coat is good, but you should never see an outline of any junk in the trunk. The coat should glide over any problem areas and have movement in back.

5. Watch for drape. A coat should not only button easily across your chest, but it should fall in a straight line from the lowest button to the bottom hem, a sign that it's a well cut and has ample fabric to suit your hips.

6. Check the hem. Take into account if you wear skirts and dresses and how they will look with the length of the coat. Also, check proportion and shape of the coat.

7. Factor in layers. Consider the clothes you will be wearing under the coat. If you need the coat to cover a suit jacket, bring one with you when you shop.

8. Take a seat. Your coat should "sit" well. Button it up and sit down in the dressing room. If the closures pull or if you have 2 laps, that coat is not for you.

Personalizing your LBD

So you hear all the time that a little black dress is a staple item for every woman in her closet. Finding the perfect fit is half the battle. You can't just grab any black dress and call it "the one," thought has to go into it. Just because that dress looks terrific on someone you saw wearing it, does not mean that it will be the one for you. Ask yourself: Will it look good on me? Is my shape being flattered? What is my body shape? Does this dress hit me in all the right places? Understanding your body type is important not only on your quest of your LBD, but in wearing other garments as well. Here are great examples of how to personalize your little black dress according to your body shape.

Pear Shape. Full skirts disguise heavy hips and show off your tiny waist. A fitted halter or strapless silhouette is very flattering, as it shows off your small top half.

Leg Conscious. If you don't want to show off your legs, but still want to look sexy, try to find a longer skirt that hits midcalf or longer. Be careful not to go too long, especially if you are short.

Wide Shoulders. You don't need to hide your shoulders, show them off with an asymmetrical neckline, which will balance out your body. Avoid puffy sleeves, they will make your shoulders appear wider.

Full Bust. V-neck, square neck, sweetheart, and wrap dresses are perfect for you. Look for fabrics that skim, but aren't too clingy or too stiff. Avoid over embellishment tops.

Small Bust. To add more volume, look for embellishment or fullness on the bust.

Hourglass Figure. Mid to large breasts, small waist (about 10in in difference), and curvy hips. Wear dresses with V neck tops with panels or darts and an A-line skirt.

Apple Shape. Larger shoulder than hips. Concentrate on accentuating your waist line with a fitted or pencil skirt.

Straight/Athletic. Very small difference between bust and hips (4-5in). Accentuate hips with an empire waist dress, belts, and some stitched lines 3 inches under your bust.

Happy shopping!! And Happy Fashion Forward Friday!! Have a great weekend :)

Popular Costumes

Halloween is 2 days away! Do you have your costumes yet? Well, if you're planning on running out last minute for your costume and don't want to have a twin at the party, don't get these costumes. These are the most popular adult costumes/ideas for 2010. If you already have the idea  of doing one of these, rock it!

1. Witches. Still number 1 for obvious reasons, it's timeless.
2. Vampires. Oh Edward Cullen and Count Dracula.
3. Pirates. Captain Jack Sparrow!!
4. Nurses. So cliche. Please don't choose this one unless you decide to make it kinda creepy, then by all means. At Halloween Horror Nights, they had a nurse who was selling shots in a blood bag. It was pretty cool.
5. Lady Gaga is a huge costume this year. The costume, the hair, the accessories. The cool thing about being Gaga is that you can still be original by wearing the most outrageous things you can find.
6. Snooki/The Situation/Any other people from Jersey Shore.
7. Harry Potter. Expelliarmus!!
8. Characters from Alice in Wonderland. Specifically the Mad Hatter (I've seen some pretty sweet hats for this one)
9. Avatar. Yea, this one is going to be weird.
10. Ke$ha. I don't really know how you could be this one. Throw some garbage (literally) on you and call it an outfit? Oh, and don't forget the bottle of Jack so you can look like P. Diddy.

What are you dressing as for Halloween? Is it on this list?

Appropriate wedding attire

In one of my speech classes in college, I presented the class with "Appropriate Wedding Attire." I get asked a lot, "what should I wear to a wedding?" So, for Fashion Forward Friday, I wanted to give you the information that was in my presentation. I broke the slide show down in seasons, so for this post I will give you the Fall and Winter rules. Note: these are the rules for women; if you are a guy and want rules, feel free to email me.

First of all, you need to look at the invitation. The invitation sets the tone of the wedding. If it's colorful and fun, you don't need to dress so seriously. If it's fancy, rest assured that the wedding will be someone of an elegant event. Second, you need to know what time the wedding is, as there are specific rules. If it's an afternoon wedding (before 6pm) you should wear lighter colors, if it's an evening wedding (after 6pm) you can wear black, darker colors, and sequins. Third, you need to know which type of wedding it is so you can dress appropriately.

Basic Don'ts:
- Don't wear white or ivory
- Don't wear black or sequins during the day
- Don't wear anything club appropriate
- Don't wear denim
- Don't wear anything too short, low cut, or too revealing

Fall Wedding
- Wear heavier fabrics and darker colors, such as burgundy, dark green and navy
- Always wear stockings or hosiery (unless you live in Florida...too hot for that!)
- If Black Tie fall wedding, floor length formal gowns are the most appropriate
- Dressy cocktail dresses (shown right) and evening suits are also appropriate

Winter Wedding
- Wear necessary outerwear, such as a long, classic coat, or faux fur
- Fabrics and colors should be similar to fall - heavy and dark
- Always wear stockings and hosiery
- Shawls and scarves are a a great way to mix accessory with function

Spook-tacular jewelry

Happy Fashion Forward Friday!!
I'm all for tacky Halloween inspired jewelry and such. If I worked in an office or something, I would totally be sporting a pin or necklace to be festive. Here's a few finds I found that I thought were tacky, fun, and spook-tacular.

Have a good weekend!!

Beauty is pain

When it comes to being a fashionista, heels are the key to looking great! Nothing beats a gorgeous pair of shoes, that is except for pain. If you wear heels for a long period of time, you know exactly what I mean. While the American Podiatric Medical Association suggests that you toss any shoes that cause you discomfort, I'm sure that the stylish person you are deems this an impossibility. Here are some tips that will hopefully help your feet feel a little bit more comfortable.

1. Buy the right size. A no brainer right? But seriously, when is the last time you've been measured for a shoe? I probably haven't been since I was a kid! Podiatrists say that our feet can grow larger as we age, as it can during pregnancy. So, it is pretty important to know what size shoe you are. Tip: make sure that there's a thumbs-width between your longest toe and the shoe tip to give your toes room to move. For heels, this means you may need to go up a size for a more comfortable fit.

2. Stick to round toes. As opposed to pointy-toed shoes which makes your toes crunch up, the rounded toe allows for your toes to lie flat and spread out naturally.

3. Watch the width. Some of the time, the toes aren't the problem, it's the width. Many fashion shoes come in a standard medium width. If you have wide feet, this simply will not do. If you find a pair of shoes that is to die for, ask if they come in a wide width. They probably won't, so you can usually take them to a shoemaker and they can stretch the shoes to widen the toe box, enhancing comfort.

4. Cushion! While most heels don't come with adequate cushioning on the balls of the foot, add an insert. They are available everywhere and WILL help!

5. Switch them up. Don't wear the same shoes everyday, alternate. Switch between heels and flats to maintain comfort. Although heels elongate your legs when you're wearing a skirt, they are less important when you are wearing trousers, so give feet a rest on those days.

6. Wider heel. Stilettos are gorgeous, but try wearing heels with a larger heel, or wedges.

7. Injections. I was watching on The Doctors the other day, and they were addressing this problem. In a day visit, they extracted fat from a woman's stomach and injected it into the balls of her feet, right under the toes. The natural fat provided the feet with the cushioning it needed. Watch the video below.

Foot Tuck Fat Pad Augmentation for High Heel Pain

Tips for aching feet:
1. Soak your feet is Epson salt
2. Get a pedicure! What an excellent excuse, right??
3. Place a full water bottle on the ground and roll your foot back and forth

Hopefully this will help your feet to look and feet great!!

What not to wear

Happy October and Fashion Forward Friday!!

Trends come and go, but there are some that I just don't understand. Some are so repulsive to me that I go against the grain and refuse to wear them. Fashion always comes back around, but you never see me in these items. I don't care how "in" they are at the moment, they will never be on me. These are at the top of my opinion of "what not to wear."

1. Camouflage. If you're not hunting, don't wear it. You don't need to blend in with trees in everyday life. Unless you're a spy. In that case, you would be probably be wearing something totally cool, black, and spy-like.

2. Crocs. I don't care how comfortable those things are, they are so ugly and look like you just don't care. On of the episodes of What Not To Wear, Clinton Kelly said, "Crocs are one of the signs of the apocalypse." Such a valid statement.

3. Ugg Boots. The name says it all. And no, they don't look cute with shorts or a skirt. This is strictly for the classic ones. "But I saw celebrities wearing them!" you may say. I don't care...it still doesn't make it okay. Though, I will state that the new ones with the buttons are actually quite cute. So, be selective with your Ugg choices!

4. Booty Shorts/Shorts with words on the butt. Come on, get some shorts that fit! Grasp the fact that you may have to go up a size...gasp! I know. Try this first: walk around your house for a few minutes. If you feel the need to yank them out of your butt, they are too short. Also, do you really need words on your butt? I think it gets enough attention on its own. You don't need to decorate it with the words "Juicy," which is gross in and of itself.

5. Pajamas or T-shirts in public. I can safely say that I never ever wore PJs to class when I was in college, and I'm proud of that fact. It just seems like you're not trying. It's just as easy to put on a fitted T as it is a T-shirt, so opt for the better of the two!

If you're guilty of any of these, I encourage you to become free of it! Give your items to Good-Will or the equivalent. Your trash (literally) can become someone else's ugly treasure!

Get ruffled up

A new collage for the week! I think this one may be my favorite thus far. I saw the skirt and fell in love. It was definitely the inspiration for this set. I love the peacock accessories (the necklace and fabulous ring) and the blue shoes. I wish I could take home all of this! I challenge you to make a collage on Polyvore to get your creative juices flowing! Try it, you'll love it! Happy Fashion Forward Friday!

Fashion Week

This week has been a huge one for fashion, it was New York Fashion Week 2010! There were so many amazing collections and very interesting ideas for Spring. If you aren't aware of how the fashion world works, when they have Fashion Week in the Fall they are showing their designs for the following Spring. When you go into the stores now, you see what is popular now. Fashion Week gives you a sneak peak of what's to come (also known as Fashion Forecasting). Thus, Spring 2011 collections were shown this week.

The similar trend/theme of most of the shows for Spring was very relaxed. The silhouetttes were simple, fresh, flowy, and neutral. But, Fashion Week isn't necessarily just about clothes. The shows also give you a peak into accessories, make up, and hair. Simple will be the style for faces, with pops of color on the lips. Eyebrows will be fuller and the over all look is "ease". Hair is lose, flowy, and loose waves, without product.

All of the collections were posted on the Fashion Week website, http://newyork.mbfashionweek.com/, so you're able to view photos from the runway and view your favorite designers. Here are a few of my favorite designers from the week and a couple of their designs:

Michael Kors. One of my favorite designers. His designs were classy and neutral and the coat below is beyond fabulous. He had some great male designs too.

Vivienne Tam. Her designs are for the everyday girl, and I really liked that. They were casual, yet fabulous. I had never heard of her before, but really enjoyed her collection. I'd can't wait to see some of her designs in the future!

Diane Von Furstenberg. I loved how chic her designs were! I also liked how she incorporated a lot of geometric designs. So bold! And how gorgeous is that red suit below?

Vera Wang. When does she ever really go wrong? Her designs are always so beautiful!

Diesel Black Gold. If I had to guess, I'd say the designer was going for dirty/chic. All of the models looks quite disheveled! I liked what they were going for, it was edgy and I like the touches of leather.

DKNY. I liked the neutrals with the pops of color in the scarves and shoes. I pretty much loved it all!

These are just a few of my favorite designers from the week. What were some of your favorites?

A kiss with a fist is better than none

Happy Fashion Forward Friday!!

I was trying to brainstorm of things I could post about pertaining to fashion. I can only "10 Tips" so many times before you never want to read my blog again. Then, I remembered this really cool website that I saw which allows you to make a collage of clothing and accessories, interior design too if you'd rather do that.

I decided to make an account on polyvore.com, and have added a badge under by About Me section that takes you straight to my page (I will post the collages anyways). It was a lot of fun mixing and matching, putting together outfits that I could never afford. Plus, my true aspiration is to become a stylist, so this site will give me lots of practice.

This website is great! It allows you to get creative and is very user friendly. I know I'm going to have a lot of fun on this website and can't wait to show you some of the designs/collages I come up with!

The first one I did is titled "A Kiss With A Fist Is Better Than None." I chose this title because I felt like the vibe I was going for was rocker chic. Once I added the lips, I just knew what the title was, like a voice of inspiration. The song, if you haven't heard it is from Florence + The Machine, one of my favorite singers. Here is my first collage, I hope you enjoy!!

If you have a Polyvore account, post your link as a comment! I'd LOVE to look at your designs too!

Fall/Winter 2010 Trends

Happy Fashion Forward Friday! 
As I posted yesterday, I am picking themes throughout the week for various days to get the creative juices flowing. Friday is now designated as Fashion Forward Friday. I will discuss all things fashion...after all, it is my passion!

Your input is greatly appreciated! See a trend or something I post about that you like? Let me know and I'll post more like it :)

With it already being September (the summer flew right on by didn't it??), cooler weather is fastly approaching. That means that Fall/Winter fashion trends are very close at hand. I must say, I looooove great jackets, boots, and accessorizing with amazing scarves and CAN NOT wait to be wearing them! I did some research and have found some of the main trends that we will be seeing our near future.

1. Velvet and Velour. Yep, it's back. There are several different ways to wear it. You can go grunge, modern, classy, or feminine. It wasn't my cup of tea when I first saw it, but I can't doubt that I will probably own something that is velvet in the near future. Please note, this trend does not mean you can now wear velour tracksuits (I know you want to dress like Julie Cooper from the OC, but don't).

2. Capes. They sort of add a new swing to your average coat, and I think I like them. Sleeves are overrated anyways. Also in the mix are wraps, shawls, and stoles.

I absolutely love the model's outfit on the left. So chic by Ralph Lauren.

An assortment of capes. Note that animal print is also very big.

3. Camel Coat. In general, neutrals will be a big hit, but I've seen a lot of the camel coat. Its classic touch is what makes it an instant winner. No more stark black and grey coats, bring in the camel. I want one now!

4. Leather Clothing. Apparently you name it, and it will be made out of leather. Leather pants, shorts, skirts, leggings, etc. I guess I'll have to see it to believe it.

5. Lace. This was seen a lot in the Spring, but it will be revamped for Fall/Winter using more vintage style fabrics.

6. Late 50s/ early 60s. The silhouette of the housewife, cinched waist, full skirt, fur, leopard print, and red.

7. 70s. Woodstock with a twist. For day - high waisted pants, neat bow blouses (particularly silk or satin), roll neck sweaters tucked into pants or skirts. Layered with a beaded necklace or vest. For night - shimmery fabrics that tightly hug or drape over the body. Basically, long slinky metallic gowns with a low neckline.

8. Shoes. Knee high boots are already becoming popular, as are kitten heels. Socks will be worn under socks (WTF?) and clogs are making a comeback (God help us all).

Well, there you have it. Happy shopping and Happy Fashion Forward Friday!