I want to make sure you mark your calendar for an exciting free telecall that will get you out of your fashion rut and into a put-together and fabulous style.
DATE: Wednesday, January, 27, 2010 at 12 pm Eastern
TOPIC: “Get Out of Your Fashion Rut: 5 Simple Ways to Jump Out”
(In a hurry? Click here and sign up.)
It’s so easy to fall into the habit of walking into your closet and emerging wearing the same boring outfit you always wear. It’s safe, and much easier than dwelling over your lack of other options.
Let’s face it. It’s easy to find yourself in a fashion rut.
Spice up your wardrobe and love what you wear by joining me for this free telecall “Get Out of Your Fashion Rut: 5 Simple Ways to Jump Out.” On this call you will discover:

• What style secrets can constantly refresh your wardrobe.
• How to never fall into a fashion rut again.
• What three simple things can change up an old favorite.
• How to make your wardrobe feel fun and new without spending a lot of money.
• What three rules every piece of your clothing must follow.

This call will be recorded. Just sign up and the recording will automatically be emailed to you after the call.

Reserve your space today!

See you there!

I love when the sale alerts from Shop It to Me hit my inbox each day. You never know what kind of deals will be delivered straight to you. Today as I scrolled through my selections I was struck by this Nanette Lepore top. At first glance I was surprised to see a pluz-size model, but then I realized it was actually the top making this model look larger than she really is. Nanette Lepore is a beautiful designer and so is this top. However, I point it out as an illustration that your body is not the enemy; often it is your clothes that are doing you a disservice.

This top gives our model friend zero shape making her look top heavy and shapeless. You can see from the picture of her in the more structured dress that she has a beautiful shape that is completely different from what we see in the red top.

No matter what you typically spend on clothes, they are an investment. When you invest your money you expect a return, and you should expect nothing less from your clothes. Your clothes should work hard to make you feel happy and look your best. A good investment is clothing that fits like a glove, makes you feel great, and that you can wear over and over again.

The next time you try on something new ask yourself what it can do for you. If the answer isn’t “This makes me feel great and I look fabulous” put it back and move on.

Written by Kelly Tick

Great clothes with visible panty lines are like makeup on neglected skin. That’s right, skincare is like your make up’s undies. You probably wouldn’t go out of the house without a bra on, try to think of your skincare routine in the same way.

Our skin changes all through our lives; hormones, stress, weather, climate, all have an effect on our skin. Proper cleansing, and moisturization are crucial to making our skin look it’s best. Finding a good dermatologist is also essential. They can help with correcting damage (I just had two post baby sun-spots frozen off in the office for $20!) and they can recommend treatments such as Obagi or Retin-A to smooth and soften the skin. 

Regardless of what kind of skin you inherited, many problems can be corrected or controlled. Sometimes in a simple, straight-forward way, sometimes in a counter-intuitive way. Take for example oily skin: you hate it because you break out and make-up slides off. Well, for one thing take heart, you ain’t gonna wrinkle easily. Finding the right products for your skin and following the routine will be essential.

Maybe you deal with dry skin. Dry skin is lucky because it doesn’t usually suffer breakouts like our non-wrinkling oily peers. Dry skin sometimes requires several levels of help. You’ll want to make sure you’re cleansing gently and moisturizing well; I love Laura Mercier’s Emu oil cream.

For all of us eye cream is a must. The skin around the eyes is very delicate and prone to showing and telling. When we  sleep poorly, drink too much, cry into our pillow all night- our under-eye area tells the tale. Using an eye cream everyday will help to lessen the look of fine lines and wrinkles and the pressure you use to apply the cream helps to reduce puffiness.

Here’s wishing you gorgeous, glowing skin!

Kelly Tick is a freelance makeup artist in Charleston, South Carolina. She worked for years as a makeup artist at Saks Fifth Avenue and is specifically trained by Yves Saint Laurent Cosmetics and Clarins of Paris. She believes that simple techniques and excellent products can transform a person.

In the January issue of Cover 2 Cover Magazine Lee Heyward gives us 10 New Year’s Resolutions for the Perfect Wardrobe.

Visit page 33 to view the full article.

Click here to open Cover 2 Cover Magazine.

1.         No matter where you are going or what you may do, create an appearance each morning that makes you feel confident and happy.

2.         Kick laziness to the curb. 

3.         Organize your closet so it works for you. 

4.         Stay consistent with the image you want to portray. 

5.         Take care of your wardrobe. 

6.         Edit your closet. 

7.         When in doubt, make it work. (Thanks Tim Gunn!)

8.         Get in the habit of tailoring your clothes.

9.         Don’t settle when buying wardrobe pieces. 

10.   Make an effort. Small steps have a big impact.

Guest Blog written by Maggie Winterfeldt

Growing up I learned from my mother that clothes can be a mutually beneficial present; when she gave my dad—who will never shop for himself—fabulous clothes at Christmas, we got a fabulously dressed dad for the entire New Year. It can, however, be a challenge to find properly fitting clothes that are affordable, fashionable, and—above all—that the men in your life will actually wear.

As a women’s fashion professional, I figured that shopping for men would be an easy transition. A few Christmases ago I realized how wrong I was while picking up last minute gifts in Bloomingdales. Entering the men’s department was like crossing into a foreign country. Somewhere in the narrow space between evening gowns and trousers I stopped understanding the dialect completely. Overwhelmed by the nuances of countless measurements, pleats, and cuffs, I quickly grabbed a lavender striped button down shirt and checked out. The next June, I stumbled across the present–still in its original packaging–in the back of a closet. The embarrassed recipient explained that he finds tab collars uncomfortable and only wears straight point or spread collars. In my haste, I had erroneously assumed that all collars were the same.

Determined never again to be caught in the slacks aisle with my pants down, I studied up on men’s apparel. With Christmas rapidly approaching I’ve abbreviated my acquired knowledge into a helpful directory of fundamental jargon, sizing, and gift ideas that will suit every man on your list.

Understand men’s sizing

Unlike the even number 0-20 scale used for women’s sizes, men’s sizes are generally defined simply in inches. Before heading to the store, it is important to peak at the tags on his current clothes and gather his measurements:

• Pants require waist and inseam measurement.
• Jackets require a chest measurement and a judgment call of short, regular, or long length.
• Dress shirts require a sleeve and neck measurement. Tip: checkout the comprehensive Men’s Dress Shirt Buying Guide on Overstock.com.

• Belts are bought two inches bigger than the actual waist measurement, so if you are buying him 32” pants, accessorize with a 34” belt.

Finding the Right Style

When shopping for a man whose only new clothes this decade will be the ones he finds under the tree, think of the holidays as a time for new beginnings. Lay a foundation for long-term good dressing by purchasing basics such as denim, chinos, sweaters, and button down shirts. J.Crew and Banana Republic are great one-stop-shops for complete men’s dressing solutions.

• The high quality, low priced cashmere sweaters from J.Crew can’t be beat. Half-zip and v-neck styles look sharp and flatter most frames:
• A classic dark denim jean is casual cool and can be easily dressed up with a button down or sweater. Banana Republic offers a contemporary straight legged version, and their online store offers a large selection sizes:

Shopping for a stylish guy is the most fun, but also the most stressful; you have the added pressure of finding a gift worthy of someone with distinctive taste. For these people I skip the hyper trendy Ed Hardy and Christian Audigier and search out the unique.

• You can’t go wrong with hip, high quality tees. J.Newbury’s products feature original hand drawn and hand screened artwork in classic American motifs against soft vintage and organic cotton.
• If you know he wears dress shirts with French cuffs, consider giving cufflinks. Uncommon Goods sells unique sets created from authentic antique subway tokens from New York, San Francisco, Boston, Chicago and Las Angeles.

When in doubt…

Shopping for a manly man requires tact; you want to give clothes that will refine his look while still appealing to his masculine sensibilities. Practical items in tailored cuts will balance out both of these objectives.

• The iron-free button downs at Banana Republic provide low maintenance style in contemporary color palettes.
• The On The Road Travel Pack from Jack Black provides everything from Beard Lube to Industrial Strength Hand Healer within a convenient black travel case. The products’ no-fuss navy blue packaging and masculine, cologne scent will convert even the most rugged man into a grooming enthusiast.

Now you have the major purchases taken care of, but what about all the miscellaneous gifts required for stocking stuffing, Yankee swaps, and sending to your nephews in Maryland? For this, I have the perfect, one-size-fits-all solution. . .

Oberon Socks, is a line of luxury men’s dress socks with a kick that I run out of Charleston. Our designs feature classic argyle prints updated with novel embroidery that appeals to men of all ages.

You are now prepared to enter the men’s department. Happy holidays and best wishes for a fashionable new year!

About Maggie:

Maggie Winterfeldt grew up in a suburb of Boston, Massachusetts. She moved down South to study political science and art history at Vanderbilt University. After graduating in 2008, she followed her love of fashion to New York City for a job in marketing and PR at a women’s bridgewear label. She now resides in Charleston, South Carolina where she co-runs the men’s dress sock label, Oberon Socks and shares fashion musings on the her blog, StyleUnzipped.com.

The gift of an experience

Create memories: Present requires your presence

Can your shoes make you look thinner? Yes!
If you have two pair of shoes that are the same height can one of them make you look taller than the other?  Yes!
Shoes can make or break an outfit, but they can also make or break your body shape. Look at the pictures below. Study how each leg looks with its different shoe. The clunky clog shortens the leg and makes it look wider. The pointy-toe shoe makes the leg look longer and thinner.
The lesson here is not to go out and invest in only pointy-toe heels. Become aware of the linear line you create with your pants and shoe. If you want to look taller and thinner steer clear of bulky heavy shoes that stop the eye at your ankle. Instead, choose a slimmer and lighter looking shoe that leads the eye from your leg to your toe. Ta-dah! You look taller and thinner.