ASK. It’s that simple!
Recently, I was reminded of this tried-and-true approach. I was standing in line to make a purchase and a woman in front of me was wearing this amazing shade of nail polish. It was the exact color I had been hoping to find in stores…a bright, bold fuchsia tone. I decided to ask her all of the details and she blushingly gave me answers. The brand was OPI, but she couldn’t remember the specific color name. To my surprise and delight, she graciously accompanied me to the beauty supply store next door. We both got a rush of excitement when we found it. It was the very last bottle of OPI’s Pink Flamenco. My beauty challenge was quickly solved through teamwork. I felt grateful and she felt flattered. Together, we felt instantly connected.
Asking others is a guaranteed way to find answers to many of our beauty and fashion questions. Love a gal’s haircut? Approach her and find out who cuts her hair. Admire a co-workers style? Inquire about her favorite places to shop. Lusting over a party-goer’s gorgeous eye makeup? Find out her application tricks.
I wish I had gotten my new nail polish buddy’s name, but I am sending her good vibes by sharing her generosity and reminding us all we need to do is simply ask.
Top image credit: Backstage at Diane von Furstenberg, Spring 2011 via Style.com/Luca Cannonieri GoRunway.com
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We’ve gone mad for STRIPES! Sure we already have a few classic striped tees in our closet, but this season we want to try something new and add a few more pieces to our growing collection. Why? Stripes instantly add a sense of fun to an outfit. A striped pattern is a nice blend between chic and quirky. And who couldn’t afford to add more fun to daily life?!
Over the last few years, designers have provided us with more and more striped goods. This Spring season is no exception. The popular trend continues. In fact, if you’ve gone as mad for stripes as we have, it is possible to wear stripes morning, noon, and night.
Wide stripes, narrow stripes, pinstripes, horizontal and vertical stripes…they’re online and in stores everywhere! You’ll even find a plethora of diagonal and chevron stripes. The variety of designs proves there is a flattering stripe for every body. The trick is to pay close attention to the overall fit of the garment and the placement of each stripe. Striped goods come in so many cheerful colors this season too! We can still wear the traditional nautical colors of navy/white or red/white, but with so many new colors available, it will be fun to experiment.
From the boardroom…to the ballroom…to the beach…to the bedroom, we’ve got you covered. Stripes are welcomed to most every event imaginable. Check out our ‘madness’ and see for yourselves! Which striped good do you find irresistible?
Above, clockwise from top left: Diane von Furstenberg Lytton Striped Snake-Print Minaudiere Clutch $450, available at Bergdorf Goodman; Pieces Tara Stripe Straw Clutch $39.45, available at Asos; River Island Stripe Duffle $71.72, available at Asos; Rebecca Minkoff Striped Tess Bucket Bag $395, available at Endless; Marc by Marc Jacobs Saddlery Striped Lou Lou Stachel $538, available at Shopbop.
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Top left to right: JCrew Belmarin Chambray Pant $75, available at JCrew; Joe’s Jeans Visionaire High Rise Wide Leg Jeans $141, available at Shopbop.
Are you addicted to wearing jeans? Aren’t we all! I know…jeans go with most everything in your closet. Not wearing hot, uncomfortable jeans equals no cool looks for those summer weekends. Well, here’s good news! Jeans just got a whole lot cooler and more comfortable to wear during the hot and sweaty summer months. The solution is to get ourselves a great pair of chambray pants this season. Chambray is a lightweight cotton fabric with a denim look. Now, we can still look hot and stay cool at the same time! There are a variety of designs in stores. Check out JCrew’s trouser style and Joe’s Jeans classic jean style.
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We all want our presentations to have the best visual impact, right? Physical proportion gives us that edge. The ideal is the hourglass body shape. Why? Because an hourglass creates visual balance with a defined waist directly at its center. “So what?” you ask. Science tells us that proportion creates symmetry and symmetry is fundamentally attractive to us (see philosopher Elaine Scarry, On Beauty).
Only a few of us were born with this ideal body type; most of us were not. Good news! There are quick and easy ways to give an illusion of an hourglass shape. One of the best ways to do this is to find pieces that are specifically designed to instantly define our waist. This style trick absolutely works for all body types!
Here are 10 modern blouse styles that get the job done in a jiffy:
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Top left to right: Alice + Olivia Bianca Ruffle Sleeve Silk Blouse $260, available at Nordstrom; Quotation: Plenty by Tracy Reese Surplice Poplin Blouse $198, available by Bloomingdales.
The Elastic Band Waist: A blouse with an elastic band waist instantly creates a waist whether we have a clearly defined one or not. To ensure a flattering and comfortable fit, make sure the elastic band is not overstretched. Those tops with narrow elastic bands are designed to be hidden by the top of the blouse draping over it as demonstrated above and those tops with wide elastic bands are designed to be visible.
The Empire Tie Waist: This top style works best for two different body types. It clearly defines a waist for those of us with full and, otherwise, undefined waists. The cloth tie rests underneath the bust line at the most narrow region of our torso making us appear as if we have a waist even when nature hasn’t provided us with one. Those of us with long waists benefit from this top style too. The empire tie waist top redefines the location of our natural waist making our upper body appear proportional with our lower half.
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