Accessories…a girl’s best friend!

I found these tips from Atlantic-Pacific…which has quickly become one of my very favorite blogs!  I love her style and the unabashed risks she takes in combining items one would Never think would go together… but, alas, they do!

Her Top Five Rules for Accessorizing:

1. Accessories don’t always have to complete or compliment the outfit, they can often be the outfit.  Think Black slacks, White blouse, and Great piece of Jewelry!  Or white jacket, black leggings, and Pop the outfit with a colorful handbag.

2. Play with proportions;  mix a statement necklace with multiple delicate necklaces or one large, chunky bangles with a handful of thin ones to create depth.

3. To build a collection that is well-rounded, accumulate pieces, don’t simply buy out of need. Also remember that accessories can be more versatile than you think; your favorite brooch may become your favorite necklace or your staple necklace could become your new accent bracelet.

4. Invest in the classics. Even if you are an of-the-moment trend dresser, invest in a few key accessories that can be the base to many looks in your closet.

5.   Have fun and create your own fabulous style!

And speaking of accessories…and necklaces…This is a handy little chart to give you an idea as to where necklaces actually lay on your chest:

And here are some “can’t-miss” accessories, sure to Pop any outfit!

I think I could Kill for this Prada number

And how about the handbag with this fabulous gown?  Too much to wear to Target or a Bears game?

I’m sure there will be a ball or other festive and fabulous event in which I can wear the 2 above items…and of course will adjust the length accordingly.

Remember the Fashion Formula:

Be Happy!  And a very Happy, Happy Birthday to my dear sister-in-law, Beth!!

xoxo,

T.

Next Week:  The Duchess Effect…all about Kate Middleton, just in time for Kate and Williams one-year anniversary!

Next MANic Monday…Dressing for the “not slender” male.  Any suggestions for a better title are welcome, btw.

“Beautiful…Trendy…Fierce”…the Faux Fur Circle Scarf!!

When I receive an email and suggestion from my daughter, I listen.  I received this email from Meredith:

oh my goodness, i bought this scarf with my boots, and i am obsessed!

it’s soo beautiful! goes with everything! trendy…fierce…only 18 dollars! 

..something to consider blogging about maybe;)

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/lulu-lush-faux-fur-circle-scarf/3210903?origin=category&resultback=1940

Ok Mer, Mer…I totally agree…and for the terrific price point of $18, it would make a great gift for any woman!  I’m not sure I know many men who could pull this off, but if you do, then Rock On!  With the holiday’s coming up (and way too quickly, btw), my suggestion is to run, not walk, to the internet and order this from Nordstrom (www.nordstrom.com).  Truly for $18, you cannot beat this!   And thanks for the suggestion on blogging about it, Mer Mer…I think that’s a great idea, so Voila!

The Lulu Faux Fur Circle Scarf…Beautiful…Trendy…Fierce…just like Meredith….unlike me, and my “too-poofy” hair!

xoxo,

T.

“A little bit of fawning is like a little bit of wine…why bother?”.  (Terry O’Brien)

Top 10 Pleasure Buys (Get your mind out of the gutter…this is a Family-Friendly blog) :)

Women get more pleasure from buying a handbag than any other item, new research has revealed. Shocking revelation.

According to a recent survey, buying the perfect handbag was considered to be a sure sign of a successful shopping excursion and nearly a quarter of women surveyed said that buying a new handbag meant they felt happier than if they were to shop for any other item. I must say I totally acquiesce to this!! High heeled shoes, a nice summer dress and a well-fitting pair of jeans were among the other shopping items that gave women a sense of excitement. (We needed a survey for that? Doesn’t that fall under the term, “Duh”? )

Beauty products and underwear were also highlighted as items that leave women on a “high”, with three-quarters of women admitting to trying out new makeup within an hour of buying it. (Please avoid applying in the  car, and you may refer to my previous blog about driving being costly and dangerous).  Women say they are more likely to feel a deep sense of satisfaction when they do buy something new. Out of everything they buy the most thought goes into buying a winter coat and underwear is the item that women are most likely to buy on a whim. Little black dresses also got women excited with most admitting to showing off a new dress to at least three different friends and family members. I love that, btw!

The survey of 2,000 women and their shopping habits was commissioned by Saveme4later.com to mark the launch of their new shopping app and website which stores magazine advertisements and populates all the information for you in your very own personal account. (Source www.saveme4later.com)

Top 10 Items which bring Women Happiness when Buying them:

1. Handbags – This is such a given, I have nothing else to add.

2. Shoes - As my friend Jody says “She with the most shoes wins”!   These flats, by Attilio Giusti Leombruni (AGL), are hand-made from Italy. They feel like slippers! My friend Donna turned me onto them, and I’m a believer!  You can find these shoes at www.nordstrom.com.

3. Summer dresses – Truly who doesn’t love buying a great summer dress…and not only because they’re more affordable in their cotton fabrics, than their woolen counterparts for Fall, but it means warm summer weather is upon us!

4. Concert tickets – Nothing makes me happier than great music (hence the 47 mentions of Build me Up Buttercup in previous blogs)…I think Kevin and I have seen U2 at least 10 times…that and the Rolling Stones!

5. Jeans – And whenever I discuss jeans, I always mention this…if you find a pair that fits, and you absolutely love them, buy 2!  Because chances are they may be discontinued, or rip, and you wanna have a spare pair!

6. Jewelery – I received this bracelet from my friend Colleen, and absolutely Love it!  The necklace below that is from Tiffany, and since it’s a purse charm, I though it needed to be shared…(Meredith, please share with Dad).

7. Little black dress – I featured a picture above, but here’s another one, because it is, after all, a wardrobe staple! And there is no reason your LBD needs to be sleeveless…I love this long-sleeved wrap LBD!  Though I’d put a fabulous necklace with it, and still keep the chunkier bracelet.

8. Chocolates – I received this for Sweetest Day!  And truly, who even celebrates Sweetest Day?

9. Underwear – shall not post a picture of this.   Some things are best left to the imagination.

10. Beauty products – I love them all!!  Make-up; skin care; cologne; spa robes and slippers, etc…

And while I’m attempting  to feather in more male-oriented features, when I googled the Top Men’s Pleasure Buys…well, you can see where this is going…All raunchy!  So I will come up with my own version of what Men’s Pleasure Buys should be, and feature a mini blog next week…for MANic Monday!  And it’s a truly Magnificent Monday coming up, as our Bears take on the Eagles!  Go Bears!!  And, according to an interview on NBC-5, Jay Cutler is “officially off the market”.  Hmmm..Hoping he’s not seen prancing about again in those salmon-colored pants!

So there you have it…when you are down in the dumps, try some Retail Therapy…and shop off this Top 10 Pleasure Buying list (again, Family Friendly)!

xoxo,

T.

My new favorite song: Mr. Know it All, by Kelly Clarkson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0C_oNMH0GTk

Overpacking at its’ Worst…Guilty as Charged

I fancy myself a savvy traveler, and an even savvier packer.  I can color-coordinate with the best of  ’em, and thought I was a Master of packing for a trip.  Well, not so much.  My luggage weighed in at a whopping 85 Pounds  for a  recent trip to Vegas from Sat –  Wed.  I’m not a total buffoon, as this was spread out amongst 2 bags, but it’s still “weigh too excessive” (pun intended).    Not sure where I went so horribly wrong, but I became the poster child for Over Packing.  And just because I know you can get more in a suitcase by rolling your clothes, doesn’t mean you need to roll an entire wardrobe into one suitcase.

My main roller bagged weighed it just below the heavyweight division at 47.5 pounds.  My smaller bag, which I also check, tipped the scales at 33 pounds.  What in the world was I thinking?  The larger roller bag holds my clothes, workout shoes, 2 pair of boots, and additional work materials if needed.  The small bag is supposed to hold my shoes, more boots, handbags, hairbrushes, chargers and toiletry bag.  Something went terribly awry, and my sore back, shoulders and hips, from dragging the luggage from only the luggage carousel to my limo was a tell-tale sign that I need a packing intervention.  Have I mentioned that I have an additional “laptop” bag, which in and of itself, probably weighs 10 LBs.  Ugh!

I know better and was negligent in taking my own packing advice.  Here are some great tips, though I caution reading these or taking these tips, as I clearly didn’t follow them myself, but shall on my next trip!  And thank you to my friend Mickey with Doncaster, for sharing some of these helpful tips!

1.  Go over your itinerary carefully and determine the different types of event you need clothes for

2.  Plan to wear the same outfit on travel days.  I always wear my heavier clothes as well, and always have my shawl and jacket with me on the plane.

3.  Check the weather forecast before you pack.  I remember going to FL, thinking I was good with skirts, t-shirts and sandals, only to arrive and find out it was a “breezy” 40 degrees… Should have checked the forecast.  I also keep a small umbrella in my luggage, which stays put.  And hopefully, stays put in the luggage during the entire trip!

4.  Plan a color scheme and stick to it…I stick with black (I know shocking)…that way my boots, shoes and handbags go with everything.  You can mix things up with accessories, scarves and jewelery.

5.  Wear the clothes that make your feel best…If you don’t wear it at home, you will Not wear it when you are away. And if you don’t fit into it at home, trust me, you will NOT fit into it when you are away.

6.  Use a packing system or “packing “…small bags that are for undergarments, shoes, toiletries.  It keeps everything clean and organized.  This also minimizes the need to unpack if moving from place to place, and lessens disruption if your bag is opened and searched at the airport.

7.  I always keep my toiletry bag stocked at all times.  When I return from a trip, I ensure I have everything I need, so that bag is always ready to go, and the small bottles are filled.  I also have an extra phone chargers, which I keep in my toiletry bag, so never to be on the road, and unable to charge my phone(s).

Happy Travels…and may you travel safely and lightly!

xoxo,

T.

Accessories…Don’t leave home without them!

I adore accessories!  They can take an outfit from boring or bland, and give it pizzazz and style.   They are y life line.  And,  like shoes, you never have a fat day with accessories.   And I must say, I’m getting a lot of mileage out of that quote!

Fashion accessories are ”decorative items that supplement and complement clothes, such as jewelry, gloves, handbags, hats, belts, scarves, watches, sunglasses, pins, stockings, bow ties, leg warmers, leggings , neckties, suspenders, and tights”.  (Thanks Wikipedia).  And horror of all horrors, Fanny Packs are making a comeback.  Yup, that’s right…and I’ll save that for a future blog!

Accessories can add color, style and class to an outfit, and create a certain look, but they can also have a practical function: handbags can be used to carry small items such as cash, lipstick and your cellphone, hats are stylish, yet  protect the face in bad weather (but a hat can be an all day decision, so make it wisely), and gloves and mittens keep hands warm.  Long gone are the days where women wore long leather gloves that were part of an outfit.  Think Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany.  Accessories,  thankfully, can be both fashionable and functional.    Jewelry of course is all about fashion!  Of course , you could argue a tip clip could be both, but let’s not argue with me.

Handbags - along with shoes, are a girl’s best friend.  I change my handbag daily to match my outfit.  Truly.  It takes all of 2 minutes, and it makes me happy.  I’ve been collecting handbags for years, and now angle towards more unique handbags, so I don’t carry the same pocketbooks (as my friend Kathy calls them) as everyone else.  And this Burberry number is not mine, but I liked it so wanted to post a picture of it.   Check out eBay (www.ebay.com) for gently used high-end designer handbags.  Make sure they are authentic, but this is a great way to add a fabulous designer handbag to your collection.  And for a change, I am Not featuring a black handbag!

 

Shoes!  Women have a love affair with shoes.  It’s funny, the older I get, the higher my heel gets.   I’m sure this personal trend will soon come to a crashing halt, when I take a major fall.  Not that I haven’t already!

Jewelry – I wear jewelry every single day.  I don’t feel dressed without wearing  earrings, my rings, and at least one bracelet.  I also love vintage jewelry, and have found some truly fantastic pieces at the Flea Market.   Jewelry, can be elegant, personal or simply statement pieces, and can include:

Necklaces – Dainty, or chunky.  It changes the look.  It took me forever to realize it was necklace (neck/lace),  Decoration for the neck!  This Tiffany shoe necklace decorates my neck almost everyday, and while I’m sure Mer Mer helped Kevin pick it out, pretty much was a perfect gift for me.    Again, he didn’t have to break the bank with this one.

Earrings -  Stud, Chandelier, hoops, funky pair … If  you only own 4 pair of earrings, these would be 4 good choices.  And the stud earrings are cubic zirconia, and about $20.  No need to break the bank.  Actually each of these is less than $70.  www.nordstrom.com.

Bangles - $49 Nordstrom.  These come in silver, gold, or a combo of the two.  You can wear all 30 at the same time, or divide them up.  Brings sparkle, snap and fun to any outfit.  I received a set of these from my friend Donna, and I wear them all the time.

Bracelets - Kevin gave me a gold Tiffany charm bracelet in 1996, before the silver one became all the rage.  This bracelet works for young and the not so young.  I also have a silver one, as does Meredith.  This is a timeless piece of jewelry.  I also appears every young woman under the age of 25 has one as well.  Accessory staple!

This tennis bracelet is real (it’s a picture from the web), but you can get wonderful swarovski crystal bracelets for less than $100, and no one can tell the difference.  Brings a lovely amount of bling to your day.

Rings – these are the statement, aka cocktail rings, that we spoke of in the spring trends blog.  Cocktail rings, are not just for cocktail parties anymore!  And all of these are costume jewelry.  Check out  www.abernook.com for some great snappy cocktail rings!

Accessories…don’t leave home without them!

xoxo,

T.

Good Manners are Always in Style!

 

OK – I have a bee in my bonnet.  What is wrong with some people?  Why have good manners gone the way of the covered wagon…I think I’m polite…People even comment on it.  Both my children are polite, and I always receive compliments on how polite they are.   But that is the way it’s supposed to be…We are All supposed to be polite.

Remember Barney the Purple Dinosaur?  How could you forget?  Barney sang a song about saying please and thank you, and I truly think some adults need to listen to that song, and act like little sponges.   I don’t think I could stand to listen to it again, as Meredith’s favorite TV show was Barney, but I’m polite, and do not feel I need this refresher.

Pardon me is one of my favorite sayings.  Instead of saying “excuse me”.  I say pardon me.  I like the words so much, that I enjoy saying them.  Plus, it’s really good manners when you bump into someone, cough, sneeze, pass by someone, interrupt, burp or perhaps let go of other bodily functions. 

I always hold a door open for people coming in after me…Always.  and I sometimes hold it waiting for someone to come in, who is quite a bit away from the door.  More often than not, Women…yes, Women, will saunter in, and not even say thank you.  Hey…I’m a woman too…and I am holding open the door, and you do not bother to say thank you?  Most men insist on taking the door, and always say thank you.  Ladies…put forth the correct example,and when someone holds a door for you, say thank you.

This is a gentle reminder for all of us… but try to return emails and phone calls.  I admit, at times, I am so overwhelmed by phone calls, that I cannot always return a phone call in a prompt manner.  But I really try.  Plus, if I cannot call someone back, I do try to email them to let them know when I can speak to them.  Some of my favorite people in the world don’t always return my call or email as promptly as I would like, and I find it shocking.   I always think, who wouldn’t want to speak to me, or engage in a little email banter? It’s not easy, and everyone is busy, but please try and make an effort.  It’s good manners.  It’s good business. 

Other examples of rudeness that rile us me and my sister Megan (who was kind enough to provide these examples)…People who pull all the way to the front of the line in backed up traffic and then cut in front of everyone else who has been waiting… People who don’t give you “the wave” when you’ve let them in front of you in traffic; people who spill their coffee, creamer, sugar, etc on the communal kitchen counter at work places and don’t clean up after themselves;  We could go on and on and on.

Remember your manners, and you’ll be remembered, fondly.  Watch your words, as they can come back to haunt you.  Be nice to others, and they will be nice to you.  Gosh…I do believe my mother told me all these oh so long ago!  and as usual, she was right.   Mothers usually are.  Just ask Mer Mer and Paddy.

xoxo

T.

It’s all in the Bag!

Handbags…Pocketbooks…Purses.  Love them all.  One may say I’m “obsessed”.   I’d prefer not to have the same pocketbook as everyone else.  I think the purse is the perfect fashion accessory.  It doesn’t matter if you are bloated, gained  or lost (god-willing) a few pounds…purses always fit!

I take great pride in finding just the right purse to go with my outfits.  And, yes, I have been known to change my purse every day.  It truly takes minutes, because this is what I carry:  small wallet, lipstick, pen, business cards, iPhone, Blackberry (yes, I carry both, and that’s a future blog), and that’s about it.  so, it doesn’t take long at all to switch them.  Purses make me happy, so why shouldn’t I change them to fit my mood, or fit my outfit.

I’ve already blogged about my new favorite, the Tiffany Bracelet purse, but I think it’s worthy of another mention.  Plus, I think it’s important to share that this is a small handbag.  Very Small.  My friend Kim thought it was Huge, based on this picture.  It is not.  It’s about 5×3 – like a  note card , but holds both of my cell phones, lipstick, credit cards, cash, and a small pen.   This is the Red handbag…mine is the black.  I didn’t want to repeat my same photo.

Glenda Gies…hands down, my favorite handbag designer.  Her motto..Bringing old hollywood style and glamour to a whole new generation.  It’s hard to find them, because they stopped carrying them at Von Maur.  I used to buy mine at Angelina’s in Barrington, but that boutique no longer carries them.  You can buy them on eBay, or google Glenda Gies, and find the stores that carry them.

Though I’m thinking this one should lose the bow…

I love the new cross body purses.  They are great to carry to a sporting event, shopping, and they keep your hands free!  Coach and Marc Jacobs have some great ones…and you can get some terrific ones at Target!

And since I am asked about purses and handbags, more than anything else…I thought I would share my Handbag Tips:

1.  If you cannot find the perfect color to match an outfit, go with a contrasting color.  With a red dress (and it’s really hard to match reds), go with a yellow, black, or turquoise bag.   With brown, go with a Tiffany blue.  With white, pop it with red, black, or metallic.

2.  Metallic handbags go with Everything.  I have a small shoulder bag in Gold, and another in Silver.  I match my jewelry to the handbag, so don’t  need to worry about matching the outfit.

3.  You can go with No Jewelry, and use your fabulous handbag as your only accessory…and it can be a show stopper!

4.  Go through your Mom’s or Grandmother’s closets, and see if you can borrow a vintage number.  I have many that were my Mom’s, and think of her every time I carry one.  They work great as little evening bags.

5.  Shop around.  Go to stores like TJ Maxx, Target, Nordstrom Rack, and small boutiques.   There is no need to have to spend a fortune on a great handbag.  I love sales, and find Nordstrom.com always has great handbags on sale!

This little number is available at Target for $26.99.  I love it!  (Sorry, the handbag is actually quite large, but this is as large as I could get the picture).

 

 

Have a fantastic weekend!

xo

T.

“T” Tips

Everyone is busy.  And I, like everyone else I know am always looking for ways to build on efficiencies, so I thought I’d share a few of my “time savers” and “style helpers” with my blogging friends. 

It is very difficult to narrow these down, and I’ve tried to narrow these down to my Top 10.  I’d like to reserve the right to expand upon this in the future, if you will all indulge me. 

So, here it goes.  These are my favorite  Tips…T’s Tips, if you will:

1.  Pin your socks together when washing and drying.  You never have to search and spend time matching them, and this will eliminate mismatched socks!

2.  Sunglasses!  I wear them All the Time.  Helps alleviate squinting, which wards off wrinkles!  It also helps keep my hair off my face, and out of my eyes.  But the real reason I always wear sunglasses, is I burned my eyes in 1988, and cannot be outside , even when it’s overcast, without sunglasses…otherwise my eyes swell like a creature from the black lagoon.  So, I’ve decided to turn it into a fashion statement. 

I posted the above picture to let everyone know, do NOT take pictures wearing your sunglasses.  I don’t know what I was thinking.  But I have to say, I have more pictures wearing sunglasses then not wearing sunglasses.  From this point onward, I shall make a concerted effort to remove the eyewear!

3.  To stop blisters on your feet, or hands, rub gel deodorant on the spot that sports blisters, and Voila…I love high heels.  Love boots.  Love cute flats…love shoes and footwear in general.  Nothing takes the bounce out of a step, more than blisters!  I have a Fabulous pair of Kate Spade high heel sling back sandals.

The shoes look terrific (if I may say so myself), however,  the shoes feel downright Painful.  The tops of my toes, and my heels tend to attract the worst blisters.  I have googled and researched for any remedy.  I’ve  used band aids, Dr. Scholl’s moleskin pads, kleenex, lotion, and nothing helps…until now.  Enter…the miracle blister cure…Rub Gel Deodorant on the area of your toes and heels that form blisters, and VOILA!  Success.  No blisters.  The gel and deodorant help stop wetness, rubbing, friction, and No blisters.  I wore those heels, in downtown Chicago, for 4 hours, walking all about, and my feet felt great!  In the past, those shoes lasted 4 minutes, before the blisters started. 

4.  When washing your clothes, using liquid detergent, fill the cup, and throw the cup in to the washer, with the clothes.  when the clothes are done being washed, take out the little plastic cup.  It’s clean, and not sticky!

5.  In my car, I always have handy, hairspray, lip gloss, band aids,  and tweezers!  That natural light is terrific!

6.  Log your outfits – I touched upon this briefly in an earlier blog.  This ensures you aren’t always wearing the same outfit with the same group of people.  I mention this again, because visiting my daughter for her birthday weekend at college, I ended up wearing the same outfit I wore back in July , when meeting her roommate.  I also need to follow some of my own tips.

6-B.  I drive a lot, and at times, am wearing high heels.  I put scotch tape on the back of my heels to stop the scuffing.  You can also put a small hand towel on the floor of the driver’s side, to help stop the scuffing on those heels.  When you arrive at your destination, pull the tape off.  Voila!  No scuff marks.  Warning…be careful doing this with suede. 

7.  Use baby wipes to remove deodorant stains from your dark clothes!    And I learned these from my sister, Megan. 
Did you know with most fabrics that you get deodorant on, you can simply rub the fabric together (against itself) and that takes off the deodorants too!  Also, you can use baby wipes to quickly remove dirt and other debris from clothes you are wearing.  

7-B.  When bringing in your seasonal clothes, and they smell musty, spritz VODKA on them, and that must smell dissipates!  And no, you shouldn’t spritz it in your mouth either…but according to my friend, Louise, she says it can eliminate bad breath…so, yes, a Win-Win…spritz on your clothes and spritz in your mouth.   I stand corrected.

8.  Match books double as nail files.  That little “swiper” part, can be used to tame a snagged nail.

9.  I cannot tell you how often I get asked “what color purse should I wear with this outfit”.  Unless it’s black, matching blues, reds, browns, etc..can be difficult.  Go with a metallic purse.  Gold or Silver.  Match your jewelry with the handbag, and it pulls the entire outfit together, and it will give it more of a “snap”.

10.  This is a hard one for me, but my “tip” does help me.  Reduce the stress in your life…and how does one do that you ask?  Have a “go-to” song, that cheers you up, makes you happy, and makes you smile.  Use it as your ringtone, put it on your iPod, play it in your house and car.  There’s nothing like your favorite song, to put you in a great mood, make you forget your problems, and put that Much-Needed bounce in your step.  Mine…Build me up Buttercup.

11.  Bonus extra – when your hem comes apart, or there is a rip in your pants, or jacket, use “Tear Mender”…it works as glue on the fabric to hold it.  No sewing required…and after 10 minutes, you can launder, and it will forever stay mended.   You can buy it on Amazon.com, JoAnn Fabrics, Ace Hardware, or any fabric or hardware store.  Costs about $6 for 2 oz.

xoxo

T.

Men like cars, women like clothes.  Women only like cars because they take them to the clothes. – Rita Rudner

Frugal is the new Black

Recessionista:  A person who is able to stick to a tight budget while still managing to dress stylishly.

There are many ways to look Fabulous on a Budget and I’d like to touch upon the ones that I use or ones that have been passed onto me. 

1.  E-clip coupons.   Great big discounts can be found online.  Coolsavings.com offers coupons on everything from clothes to groceries.  Simply print out the coupons you want and use them as you would the kind you used to clip.  Other great savings sites include (I put *** next to the sites that I use):

ideeli.com ***

giltgroup.com ***

ruelala.com ***

retailmenot.com ***

Froogle.com

Zappos.com

Smartbargains.com

Overstock.com ***

Coupon.com

Couponcabin.com ***

bluefly.com

Coolsavings.com

Samplesale.com

Thebudgetfashionista.com

Dailycandy.com

couponmom.com ***

2.  Eating out has never been so Stylish and Affordable.  Restaurant.com offers $25 restaurant certificates for $10.  But, wait, it gets getter.   Go to couponmom.com, and there is a code for savings from 40% – 90% off the $10…so, you can get a $25 restaurant gift card for $2-$6.  The “fine print” is usually no Saturdays, and you must spend $35.

3.  When I do online shopping, I go to ebates.com first.  I do a lot of online shopping at nordstrom.com, and by going to ebates.com first,  I earn  can get 3% – 6% Cash Back.  I literally get a check back from them.  Since 2006 I have received over $400 cash back, from using ebates.com as my portal.   Bloomingdale’s, Barnes and Noble, Sephora, Home Depot… many, many stores participate in this.  All you need to do is sign up.  You do not receive any Spam, any unwanted email, you just go to ebates.com first, and receive quarterly checks.  It’s that easy.  And no one is the wiser…except your pocketbook, which has more cash.

4.  Hit up sales.  Sign up for shopittome.com’s salemail.  They email you when brands you have chosen go on sale in your size and area.  it’s like your own personal shopper.  Dailycandy.com regularly lists designer sales in selected cities.

5.  Wear what you have.  Shop in your own closet.  I’ve been doing it for years.  Honestly, you probably have gems hiding in there that you haven’t seen in years, and they deserve to see the light of day!  You know that sparkly piece you wore on New Year’s Eve?  Give it everyday life by pairing it with a pair of jeans and great shoes.  Dress down a dress with a long boyfriend cardigan and tights, and pair a black dress with a jean jacket…like I did here on a night out with Mer Mer.  (Warning…this is a pic previously used, but it works for this blog).

6.  Before you start shopping, clean out your closet so you know what you have and what you need…and I mean Need, not Want.  Dont get sucked into impulse spending sprees…they just add to the clutter.  Or, you can shop in these gal’s closets.

and one last parting comment:

Not all men are irritating…some sell us new shoes.

xoxo

T.

Finding your Style

Ok, so I may have fibbed…I’m going to turn a comment on my blog, yet again, into a post. 

“OK Terry, here would be my question. I imagine you have friends that fall across the fashion spectrum…super trendy to sort of frumpy. We both know where I fall (bottom half). How do I slowly make progress to the other side? I don’t think it has as much to do with budget as it has to do with effort and commitment. I would like to be more fashionable (with the least amount of effort,  HA!)”

This is my response:

Hi  Carol – I would suggest looking through magazines and pulling pictures of “looks” that you like. Find out if you are classic (which I think you are), trendy, preppy (yes, it’s coming back), or a combination of both. I am a combination. I take classic items, and match them with trendy items. It’s important for you to develop your own sense of style. Wear what you like, what’s comfortable for you, and what makes you feel Fabulous.”

No matter how old you are, it’s never too late to develop your own sense of style.  I  did this for myself, by emulating “looks” I liked in magazines.  Not from runways (because those models do NOT look normal, and I have never in my life seen something on a runway that I would actually wear), but ads in magazines, or pictures of celebs that I thought looked great,  happy, and appeared to be comfortable with who they are. 

This runway model is not a look I choose to emulate…

Jennifer Aniston, regardless of what you think about her, always looks great.  She has developed her own sense of “style”.  I’ve never seen a picture of her where she looks bad, or disheveled… Even out running errands, as the above picture may indicate, she looks great, put together, and confident in her own skin…of course, who wouldn’t feel confident in her skin?  Well, maybe Angelina Jolie, but I’m not a fan of hers, and don’t care for her style, nor her tattoos,  so no need to delve further into that!

With the exception of the occasional high heel shoe or  boot, I rarely wear something that is not comfortable.  I do not wear tight jeans, because I enjoy breathing.  I  like one favorite brand of jeans, and buy 5 of the same pair. They are Ralph Lauren, and I get them at Nordstrom (or nordstrom.com to be exact).   I don’t have cleavage, so that’s a non-issue, so no need to flaunt what I don’t have.  I love skirts and dresses.  Love high heels, love boots.  I wear a lot of black…not because it’s slimming, but because it goes with everything,  and is easy to mix and match with.  Plus, I’m really clumsy.  I trip, spill, and get things dirty.  The black doesn’t show so much of my “mishaps”.   I always throw a cardigan over a blouse or t-shirt.  I wear scarves and shawls from Sept – May.  I rarely go out without earrings, my rings, and a watch.  and I like to funk things up with vintage jewelery. 

I found this little tidbit in an article, and it is so right on.  I will elaborate on this in a future blog:

Ensure that your wardrobe is built around some style staples which will take you from season to season and can be dressed up or down. A good coat, a little black dress, a wrap dress, well cut denim, a classic pair of black pants, cashmere cardigan and a stylish crisp white shirt. Update these looks every season with some fab accessories.

Truly, it’s like I wrote it myself. 

That is me in a nutshell…that is my “fashion style”.  Wear what is comfortable and doesn’t show as many stains, and fake an air of confidence that cannot be bought in any bottle.  Love what you wear, and you will be loved in it.   All of us can pull off appearing smart and stylish…every day of the week.  and you can take that to the bank…of course, you will not receive a deposit slip, but I think it’s a great line!

Happy Friday!

xoxo,

T.