Warriors Wear Pink MoBo

Last week I was honored to be a part of the 2^nd Warriors Wear Pink MoBo, where shopping was not only fun, but went to a great cause.  Attendees shopped through a great selection of designer denim, fun accessories, and great spring wardrobe updates to benefit local “warriors” fighting breast cancer. I had the privilege of helping shoppers find and put together great spring outfits.

The MoBo was a great way to add fun spring wardrobe updates on any budget. I always teach my clients to keep an open mind when shopping because you never know what you are going to find, and the MoBo was the place to find so many great deals. Shopping here was a fun way to add new pieces to your wardrobe while benefitting an amazing cause.  Pictured here are a few of the many MoBo racks.

I’m so honored to have had the opportunity to become involved with the Warriors Wear Pink organization. After speaking for only a few minutes with Leslie Moore, the organization’s founder, I had chills and knew I wanted to help however I could. Leslie is a breast cancer survivor and founded Warriors Wear Pink to give other pink warriors inspiration, hope, advice, and a community to reach out to.

For more information about Warriors Wear Pink visit www.warriorswearpinkpromise.blogspot.com or get involved with them on Facebook.  I hope to see you at the next Warriors Wear Pink MoBo!

The dressing room is a fascinating place for me. I promise I really am minding my own business but it’s hard not to listen to the questions women ask as they look for validation in their shopping choices. Most often these questions put a shopping buddy in the most awkward of positions. So, when shopping with a friend, do you tell the truth or sugarcoat the situation?
Today the question I heard was “Be honest, on a scale of 1 to 10 can I pull off this bathing suit bottom?” The friend waits a few too many seconds and responds, “Well you can and you can’t.”
 I didn’t see the alleged suit bottom but let’s be honest—it is difficult to be completely honest with a friend about an article of clothing you just don’t think is right for them.
What do you say when a friend looks to you to validate something that just doesn’t look that great?

• Let your friend know that you aren’t a style expert and aren’t sure about it. This is a great opportunity to involve a trusted sales person who may be able to suggest a more flattering alternative.  

• Tell her that it isn’t your favorite dress on her. Compliment something about it like the color or the print and then ask her what in particular she likes about it. Often this will give you great information to help you find a different option that encompasses what she likes.  

• Remind your friend to calculate the cost per wear. How many times does she think she can wear the dress? Divide the number of times into the price of the dress to help her determine if it a good wardrobe addition for her.  This makes a buying decision rational instead of emotional.

• If you notice your friend continues to make choices that are wrong for her body shape bring up a conversation about how great it would be to hire a style coach. A style coach can teach you the tricks to dressing your body so that you always love what you wear.  

• Remember that everyone’s personal style is unique and different. When offering advice, put your personal style opinions aside and think about it from your friend’s style perspective.

 
Have you ever been put on the spot in the dressing room? Leave a comment and let us know your advice on how to handle a sticky style situation.

	Must Have Accessory This season a neutral shoe is a must have. It is the perfect complement to the bold colors and patterns of spring. Choose a shoe in a neutral color that matches your skin tone. This will elongate and highlight your legs in your favorite new spring dress.
	Hot Spring Color Coral is everywhere this spring. It is super chic paired with the neutrals of the season—white, camel, and navy.  Not sure coral is for you? Remember that every color comes in many different shades so find the one most complimentary to you. Also, experiment with color in your jewelry, shoe, or handbag for a more subtle take on this color trend.
	A Snakeskin Accessory is a wardrobe must for spring. Remember that even though it has a pattern it is still a neutral, therefore it goes with everything in your wardrobe. It is a fun way to wear a neutral while making a style statement at the same time.
	Bold Pattern is a great way to have a little fun with your wardrobe this spring. Look for pattern that is in proportion with your size. If you are petite stay away from oversized and big pattern. For a fuller figure, skip small patterns.
	Black and white is back again this season. It’s a great way to feel more comfortable wearing some of the brighter colors for spring. Pair your favorite black and white cardigan with a beautiful teal blouse. Have a favorite black and white top? Wear it with a red pencil skirt for a chic casual Friday look.

It is official—spring has arrived. Goodbye winter blues, hello spring fashion!
This season fashion excites with so many bold looks to choose from. It’s a great time to have a little more fun with your style. Join me next week for a fun webinar and discover how to refresh your look for spring.
100% of proceeds from this one-time event will be donated to the American Red Cross to aid disaster relief in Japan.

“Refresh Your Wardrobe and Rejuvenate Your Style”

Wednesday, March 30th at 7:30 pm ET

$15

(All proceeds will be donated to the American Red Cross)

Rejuvenate your style with this 45-minute webinar and discover:

• What’s in and what’s out for spring.
• What three spring trends give you an instant update.
• Why spring is the easiest time to have more fun with your style.
• Where to spend and where to save on new spring styles.

This web workshop is for you if you:

• Are ready to look and feel great this spring.
• Want to know easy ways to wear the latest looks.
• Desire an effortlessly stylish look.
• Want to give back to people in need.

Why purchase this web workshop?

1. It will be fun and super informative.

2. You will get great style tips to make immediate style updates.

3. You are helping people who are in desperate need.

For only $15 discover how to have some fun with your style this spring while giving back to those in need. This webinar will be recorded so you can add it to your style resource library and reference it over and over again.

Dear Closet Guilt Monster,
For too long now you have cluttered my closet with clothes that make me feel very bad. Every time I try to rid my closet of these things you rear your ugly head and coerce me into keeping what I do not need. Today I am releasing you along with:
-The sweater Grandma knitted me. It served its purpose and even Grandma thinks it’s time for it to go.
-The weird blouse my mother-in-law  bought and said it “looked like me.” Away it goes along with my wonderment of what in the world she could have possibly meant by that.
-The pair of shoes I spent way too much money on and have kept in order to pay my penance—as if being completely uncomfortable wasn’t payment enough.
-The size six pants I haven’t worn in years. I accept that I am a different person now—which includes a different size. When and if I visit size six again I will buy new pants to celebrate my accomplishment.
-The dress I bought on sale. Turns out I liked the price more than the dress. Ughh!
To all of these things I bid adieu.  I consign you, I donate you, and I never welcome you into my closet again. Closet Guilt Monster I am trading you and my style woes in for a closet full of things I actually want to wear. I have learned from my mistakes and no longer need you or your pangs of guilt to hold me back.
Without you I feel so stylish and free!
Sincerely,
Me

At some point in my early adolescence I read that redheads were supposed to steer clear of wearing the colors red and pink. I was told that fall colors were always a better choice for me. Yes, fall colors were very flattering but I felt disadvantaged at having the option of wearing red or pink taken away from me. My friends could wear red—why not me?
What I didn’t know then, and feel the need to shout from the treetops now, is that you can wear any color you want. How? Every color exists in many different shades. If pastel pink washes you out then look for a more saturated pink that is more flattering for your skin tone. I know now that certain shades of pink and red can look great. I have to be willing to hold them up to my face and see how they look. I encourage you to do the same.
With so much bold color everywhere you turn for spring, it’s time to feel confident wearing color! Take a chance and experiment with color.

Make Your Wardrobe Bloom with Color
With each new season comes an opportunity to refresh your wardrobe—and one of the easiest ways to do this is with color. This Spring you will find colorful hues such as coral, berry, turquoise, lilac, and red everywhere you turn.  Have some fun and experiment with these easy ways to incorporate new colors into your wardrobe this Spring.

Play with color in a print. Have some fun and step out in a dress with both color and pattern. This is an instantly put together look and all you have to do is put it on.

Use Black & White to tone down a bold color. If you have a dress or skirt in a bold color that you want to seem less bright, pair it with a black and white top or cardigan. This can also give your dress a completely different look.

Add color and pizazz with your jewelry. You can take a plain white t-shirt from drab to fab simply by adding a bright colored necklace. Jewelry with bold color is an easy way to participate in your favorite color trend of the season.

Slip it on. Every color shoe is flattering to your feet. Forget worrying about what colors you can and cannot wear and rock a shoe in a color you love. Choose a shoe in a color like red or turquoise and you’ll be able to wear it with practically everything in your wardrobe.

Ready for more tips on how to wear more color this Spring? Join me on Wednesday, March 9^th, for the first Fashion Feminar of 2011, “Spring Trends: Make Your Wardrobe Bloom.” It’s only $20 to attend and you get to bring a friend for free. Sign up at http://www.fashionfeminar.com. See you there!

Deciding what to wear before speaking in front of a group can leave you wondering what to wear. I enlisted the help of Rochelle Togo-Figa, The Breakthrough Strategist, to weigh in on how to strategically use your image to help you get your point across.
Q. I always tell my clients that before you can sell anything, you have to use your image to sell yourself. In your expert opinion, what role does image play in closing a sale?
People buy based on the “Know-Like-Trust” factor.  How you come across is a key ingredient to getting the business.  Studies have shown that how you look and sound has a 93% impact on people.  People want to work with “winners.”  So when you’re meeting with the prospect, you want to walk like a winner and look like a winner.
Q. Whether in a sales meeting, or at a networking event or conference, what is the best way to dress so that people perceive you as an expert, but aren’t distracted by what you are wearing?

Wear bright solid colors that look well with your coloring.  You want to stand out from the audience.  If you’re speaking to a group, wearing a fabric with a busy design is distracting and takes the attention away from you.
Q.  Are there any power colors you recommend wearing when you are speaking?

Deep teal blue for camera.  I have brown hair and the best colors for me are deep teal    blue, rich rust and purple.
Q. Do you have any examples of how your body language can help you succeed as a speaker? Or prevent you from coming across as an expert?

When I’m speaking to a group I connect eye-to-eye (for about 4 seconds) with several people in the audience.  The advantages of doing this are you come across with confidence, the people you’re connecting with will pay attention, and as the speaker, you’re connecting with the audience.  I remember listening to a speaker who was an author.  I could barely hear what he was saying because he was talking so softly.  He came across boring with low energy.  I couldn’t wait to leave.
Q. Is there anything else you would like to add?
If you’re interested in becoming a powerful speaker, I have launched the “Speak Like a Pro and Make Money Doing It” 4-Week Home Study Program.  You can learn more at http://tinyurl.com/speaklikeapro.
About Rochelle: Rochelle Togo-Figa, The Sales Breakthrough Expert, is the creator of the Sales Breakthrough System™, a proven step-by-step sales process that will help you close more sales, sign on more clients and make more money with ease and velocity. To sign up for her free sales articles and teleclasses on closing more sales, visit http://www.salesbreakthroughs.com/ or connect with her on Facebook.

I am a big fan of the cupcake. I’m such a big fan that a couple of years ago when I turned 30 I had my birthday party at our local cupcake store. Have you ever thought about how you choose the perfect cupcake? They all look delicious, but the ones with sprinkles or a candy topper look extra special. Why? They’ve been accessorized! Would you pick yourself out of a bakery store lineup? No—then it’s time to accessorize!
Experimenting with accessories is a great way to add pizzazz to your wardrobe—and the easiest accessory to use is jewelry.  Just by throwing on a necklace you can take an outfit from blah to hoorah!

3 Ways to Have Fun with Your Jewelry

Your jewelry can make a huge impact on how you feel about your wardrobe. Check out these easy ways to have a little fun with your jewelry.



Tie it Up Just like with your clothes, there isn’t just one way to wear a piece of jewelry. If you think outside the box you can completely change the look of something. Take your favorite long necklace and use a ribbon so that it now looks like a shorter doubled necklace. Now you’ve got two necklaces in one! This is a simple trick that can be changed up even more depending on the color and type of ribbon you use.

Play with Color If your jewelry box is filled with nothing but gold and silver it’s time to add some color. Using jewelry in fun colors adds an unexpected pop and looks effortlessly put together. Adding color to your jewelry arsenal can be very versatile. Turquoise is a big trend for spring but also a color that can be paired with literally anything in your wardrobe.

Pile it On Don’t let the famous Coco Chanel quote about always taking one thing off stop you from having fun with your jewelry. If you feel like you’ve gone overboard then absolutely take something off. However piling on your jewelry can make an interesting style statement. Instead of wearing just one bracelet, when you want to go for a bolder look put three together that complement each other.

Unless you are my five month old daughter you do not have a muffin top—you can only create one with your clothes. This is great news because it means you can rid yourself of the dreaded muffin top for good with a few simple clothing tips.
Mind Your Rise
You can thank low-rise pants for the annoyance of the muffin top. Low-rise pants were inspired by menswear. Men typically have longer torsos therefore their pants have a lower rise. A low-rise pant makes a woman’s torso look longer by making her legs look as if they start lower on the body (if you already have a long torso low-rise pants may not be for you). For many women the waistband on a low-rise pants hits right below the widest part of you, pushing any extra imperfections up. And voila—a muffin top! By wearing pants that have a flattering rise for your height and shape you avoid the dreaded muffin top.  If you are skeptical that your muffin top comes from the pants you wear take a minute to stand in front of the mirror naked. When you are naked there is nothing trying to conform your shape, therefore you have no muffin top. Look for pants that work for your shape.
Consider Some Stretch
Pants, in particular jeans, are more flattering in a fabric with a little stretch. A fabric with a touch of stretch allows the garment to conform to your shape instead of the other way around. The waistband of your jeans must be tight to stay up, but with a little bit of stretch the fabric will flatter the natural curve of your waist keeping the muffin top at bay. Look for jeans that contain a small percentage of spandex or elastan. For tips on finding the right jeans you can reference Denimology to get the latest scoop on the world of denim and try out their jeans finder.
Find the Right Fit
Different brands of pants are cut and sewn to fit a variety of shapes and sizes. This is why you will love the way one pant fits and hate another. Remember that most brands carry different fits in order to flatter the million different shapes and sizes we are. If you get discouraged easily trying on pants remind yourself that you haven’t found the fit for you. For example if you are a gal with some curves and find that your waistband always gaps in the back, a great fit for you would be the Jackson fit from Banana Republic. Experiment with different brands and fits until you find the most flattering one for you. Also remember that you must fit the widest part of you when buying pants. If this makes the rest of the pant too big it can always be altered.
If you’re ready to have a closet full of clothes that fit you perfectly contact Charleston Style Concierge for style help today!

How many times have you found yourself trying to cram things into your suitcase just hours or minutes before you head to the airport?  Have you ever stood there anxiously waiting to see if your suitcase goes over the weight limit?  Vacations are supposed to be fun, but many of us spend our time worrying about what to pack when we should be getting into vacation mode early with a relaxing pedicure.  If you’re thinking of escaping somewhere warm and sunny to shake the winter blues, avoid the last minute frenzied packing and airport luggage weigh-in stress with the following tips for packing like a pro.

1. Friend or Foe: Shoes are not your friend.  They take up a lot of valuable real estate in your suitcase, and as hard as it may be to leave behind those fabulous stilettos, you only need a couple of pairs that you can wear multiple times.  Resorts in sunny locales tend to be pretty casual—another good reason to leave the extra heels behind.  Flats or sandals with gems, bows, or straps are dressy yet lightweight and take up less room in your bag.
2. Don’t Delay:  Don’t procrastinate when it comes to packing.  It is infinitely harder to practice restraint when you only have an hour left until you have to catch your flight.  Pack a few days before your trip, and then take a hard look at what you’ve packed the night before you leave.  Most likely you will find that you overpacked on the first go around and can remove a few things to help lighten your load.  If you need more incentive to avoid expensive airport fees, remember you’ll need the extra room for all of your souvenirs and vacation shopping.
3. Reduce, reuse, recycle: Make this your motto when you travel.  Bring floaty summer dresses that look chic with flats or sandals during the day but that can be paired with a belt, clutch and great heels (the only pair you brought!) for dinner out.  Stick with one color palette so that you can cut back on shoes.  Bring one skirt and one pair of shorts and change up the look with different tops.  Or bring a tunic that can be a cover up/short dress during the day and dressed up with white pants at night.
4. Downsize: Put your bath & body products (don’t forget sunscreen!) in small, reuseable travel-size bottles.  Cut down on the amount of makeup you bring—your tan will give you great color!  Plan to use the hairdryer at the resort or let your hair air dry and use some product to create beachy waves.
5. Carry On: Always keep one outfit in your carry on.  A sundress, swimsuit, bra & panties should stay with you at all times.  Make sure the shoes you are traveling in and the cardigan you are wearing on the plane match in case your luggage goes missing.  This will ensure you head straight to the pool bar for a much needed drink when you arrive rather than that overpriced hotel boutique full of clothes you wouldn’t dream of wearing.