Your new outfit

Shibori top in purple, $98, anthropologie

Cream cords, $79.50, www.bananarepublic.com

Okay ladies, here is your new uniform.  A beautifully colored top paired with light colored cords.  So chic!  This top at Anthropologie by Guinevere is my latest find that I adore.  What a stunning eggplant color!  I can't imagine a complexion that wouldn't be highlighted in this top.  The deep v-neck is begging for a statement necklace.  The front knot is a great tummy minimizer...it will just skim over those trouble spots (back fat anyone???  Or is that just me?)!  Pair it with these bootcut cream colored cords from Banana Republic and you've got a unique & show-stopping outfit.  Happy shopping!

P.S.  Banana Republic online carries the cream color.  Stores do not carry this color.  As another option, Banana Republic stocks skinny cream cords in their Heritage line.

New British purse line

Radley London "Cambridge" satchel, $278, www.nordstrom.com

I've seen Radley London bags in fashion magazines for years and have always thought they look amazing.  I've looked online for them, and could only find them sold in the UK.  I was walking through my neighborhood Nordstrom and absolutely stopped in my tracks when I saw this bag.  I am so excited they are now carrying this line!  The leather is sumptuous, the stitching is perfect, the color is exquisite (it is called regal (very fitting), but also comes in tan and black).  The only thing I would remove is the little scottie that is hanging on the left (it is removable...it's the company's logo).  This bag is so classically beautiful that you could carry it for years on end, and it would still look fashionable.  I am in love with this bag!

A poncho that flatters...

I love the poncho trend, but I hate how it envelopes me and make me look like I've recently gained serious amounts of weight!  I was searching and searching for a poncho that was a bit more fitted and found this Ella Moss "Stockholm" poncho from www.nordstrom.com ($278).  I love that it is a bit cropped so that you can show off your waist and has a cowl neck (have I mentioned how much I love a cowl neck??).  These details equal a SLIMMING PONCHO!  Yes, it exists!  It is pricey, but ponchos aren't going out of style anytime soon.  It's going on my Christmas wish list.  Maybe it will even go on sale!

Edward or Jacob?

Okay, are you as big of a fan of Twilight as I am?  I tell you truthfully, when I read these books, I could not put them down.  My house suffered, my son was not fed, and I completely ignored my husband.  He was thankful when I was finished reading the series!  We all looked a little wild!

Breaking Dawn is coming out in about a month and I found these notepads for all you diehard fans out there.  So adorable!  Love the "Dream" and "Do" section.  Notice the silhouette of Edward!  At www.lobotome.com

Christmas dishtowel

I feel like a broken record about dishtowels, but I just can't get enough of them!  Although it is only October, and Halloween hasn't even occurred, I am ga-ga over Crate and Barrel's new holiday Wreath dishtowel.  It has the most beautiful gold accents.  Again, think inexpensive, but classic gift for a gift-exchange or office friend, OR just for yourself!  $5.95 at Crate and Barrel.

Bobbi Brown Holiday

Yes, I am a certified Bobbi Brown junkie.  I love everything about her makeup, but mostly I love how it gives the skin and eyes a beautiful glow.  Truly, even men notice it!  I also adore the "no-budge" quality of her gel eyeliner and cream shadows.

Bobbi Brown usually comes out with beautiful holiday palettes and this season is no exception.  There isn't a bad one in the bunch!  If you are looking for an inexpensive but "WOW" gift for a girlfriend, her small classic and party palettes are only $25!  For three eye shadows, two lipstick pots and a gloss, that is an absolute steal!  I've listed all my favorites below.  Available at Nordstrom and www.bobbibrown.com.  Enjoy!

Classic palette $25

Party Palette, $25

Mini Brush set, $60

Neutral eye palette, $60

Adorn yourself!

When I was in Rosemary Beach, Florida, my friend and I went into an art gallery and discovered the most amazing jewelry line.  This jewelry line, called Adorn by Samouce, features handcrafted contemporary jewelry using antique and vintage finds.  It is fabulous and unique...no two pieces are alike.  Just like beautiful you!  Please visit www.adornbysamouce.com to check out her beautiful wearable art.  I've shown just two of Mary Kay Samouce's pieces, but there are so many more online.  I was pleased to see that two stores in Colorado (listed on her website) carry her line as well!

You can Tucan

I love clever home items that are as unique as they are functional, but I especially love them if they involve our fine feathered friends!  The Container Store carries the Umbra line, of which I am a huge fan.  Check out these adorable home goods...the Tucan paper towel holder, the Penguin soap pump and the Birdseye overdoor rack.

Tucan Paper towel holder, $19.99, Container Store

Penguin soap pump, $14.99, Container Store

10 hook Birdseye Overdoor Rack, $24.99, Container Store

Thanksgiving decor

It seems like we are flying through fall and Thanksgiving will be here before you know it!  I just bought my turkey gravy base from William Sonoma today, trying to get a jump on it before they sell out!  To me, decorating for Thanksgiving is more fun than cooking for Thanksgiving, probably because my cooking skills leave much to leave desired.  I love the Finnish designer Marimekko & her Kumina Neutral tablecloths and napkins are GORGEOUS for Thanksgiving.  I encourage you to check them out on Crate and Barrel online, although the online colors do not even remotely do it justice!  Stunning blue, olive green, brown, mustard and gold.  The tablecloths come in all sizes and shapes.

Marimekko tablecoths and napkin squares, Crate and Barrel.

Cutest dishtowels EVER!

Okay, I'll admit it.  I am a dishtowel fanatic.  Isn't that a weird thing to love?  I have dishtowels for almost every occasion, except Arbor Day.  Problem solved!  This is the cutest dishtowel on the market right now (in my humble opinion) and it just so happens to showcase trees.  (You know I'm kidding about the Arbor Day quip...right?!?)  I love the orange/green combination.  Spoiler alert -- I may give this dishtowel as gifts to everyone I know.  It is $5.95 at Crate and Barrel.  I've listed one other that is also adorable called the Autumn Squash dishtowel ($4.95, Crate and Barrel).

Sweet hair ties

One of the benefits of longish hair is that you can put it up in a ponytail, and the most stylish way to do so is with Emi-Jay hair ties.  I absolutely adore these ponytail holders!  They come in terrific colors and are stretchy and soft, so they don't pull out gobs of hair when you remove them.  They are also secure enough to weather a work out.  I have given these as gifts to girls and women alike, and they have become addicted to these!  You can wear them on your arm as a sort of bracelet, just in case you need them.  It's super cute!  My favorite colors are shown below.

emi-jay.com, metallic collection, $10.99 for set of 5

emi-jay.com, pearl collection, $10.99 for set of 5

Sinful nail polish

I saw my friend, Yvette, yesterday and she had a beautiful nail color on that I would have SWORN was Chanel's Particuliere.  Of course I inquired!  She said, "Nope, it is Sinful Nail color in Nirvana.  $1.69 at Walgreens!"  WHAT!?!?  This color is gorgeous and come to find out the Sinful brand makes all sorts of fashion colors.  At that price you can definitely experiment with the trends without breaking the bank.  The truly best part is that this nail polish does not use all the yucky ingredients you want to avoid.  Thanks Yvette!!!

Stunning eye shadow

I have discovered the most beautiful eye shadow from Burberry beauty, and I just had to share it with you! Midnight Brown, #21 is a beautiful, neutral brown with subtle flecks of shimmer.  It goes on sheer, but add layers for a more intense color.  It is perfectly wearable for day or night, and gives the eye a gorgeous glow.  This is a luxury item ladies!  Check it out at  Nordstorm online, $29 (Park Meadows Nordstrom does not carry the Burberry beauty line)

I'm back!!!

Ladies, I am so sorry I have been gone for so long but I am back and ready to start dishing out fall fashion advice!  Life got busy and the blog fell by the wayside, but enough of you have roused me out of my haze and said to get back to writing!  Thanks so much for your support and encouragement!  I hope what I write helps you in some small way.

The past couple of days have been about 60 degrees and it makes me want to put those boots on and pull out the fall clothes.  But what to wear???  Here are a few of my fall picks.

1)  Red pants -- You've probably seen these all over the fashion magazines (if you have a spare moment to read them!), but they really are very current and wearable.  They are appropriate for work, and appropriate for any moment you want to make a real fashion statement (dinner with the girls?).  I'd wear them with a white button down shirt, a skinny leopard print belt and a statement necklace.  White, black, navy and animal prints are perfect partner to red pants.  Dixie pants, anthropologie.com, $98

2)  Killer shoes -- No, I don't mean shoes that kill your feet...rather shoes that make people stop and stare.  I will only wear shoes that are comfortable, so my pick is one in which you can actually walk!  Naya shoes from Nordstrom are actually a comfort shoe disguised as a fashion shoe.  This comes in the brown combo and black.  Both are stunning!  Perfect with jeans or dressy cropped pants.  Naya "Kasha Pump", nordstrom.com, $159.95

3)  The dress -- I love this faux wrap dress from Cabi.  I have several Cabi dresses and they have never let me down.  They are wash and wear, extremely hard to wrinkle and a good price for such a useful dress.  Pair this dress with black tights and platform pumps, booties or knee-high boots, and you are set!  Cabionline.com, $108

4)  Statement necklace -- Oh how I love a statement necklace.  You can wear an inexpensive sweater from Target, but when you pair it with a statement necklace it is automatically elevated!  This is high - low dressing at its best.  The one shown is $68 at Nordstrom (Torsade necklace), but I also love the Sunset necklace from Ann Taylor (geodes! $88) and the Marchesa necklace from Stella and Dot ($178).  The statement necklace should be super cool, very fun and you should LOVE wearing it.

Terrific outfit

While perusing the internet, I stumbled upon a few things I loved, and think would be such a statement when worn together.  This Taken Aback pullover, by Eloise, looks relaxed and cozy.  But when I saw the back and I was smitten.  Could that be cuter?  A casual pullover is elevated to a chic sweatshirt...that is special!

At $88, the Holding Horses cropped jeans seems like a real steal.  Why do jeans now cost $200?  Somewhere in the past five years my expectations have changed and I feel like an $88 pair of jeans is a bargain.  I digress!  A good quality, nice fitting pair of cropped jeans is a wardrobe essential, particularly for spring.  

Now, you could pair this outfit with a pair of Chuck Taylors and look adorable.  But why not add something completely unexpected?  These platform wedges by Dolce Vita are just plain awesome.  I am in love!  Paired with the cropped jeans and almost any top, you would look over-the-top chic.  Just GO FOR IT!

Taken Aback pullover, $78, anthropologie.com

Taken Aback / back view!, anthropologie.com

Holding Horses cropped jeans, $88, anthropologie.com

Dolce Vita Jade shoe, $179.95, nordstrom.com

Bottoms up

Shorts can, at times, be super boring.  Don't we all have a closet full of khaki shorts?  Please don't get me wrong, I love my Jcrew chino shorts, but I usually let my tops do the talking.  These shorts from (where else?) Anthropologie are anything but boring, and make a statement all on their own.

Tribal prints are huge for spring/summer and the two patterns of "Karisimbi shorts" perfectly embody that trend.  They are five inches long...not too short, not too long for most legs!  Paired with a grey, white or black t-shirt, these shorts would elevate any old day at the zoo!

The "Compass Point" shorts capture that nautical vibe which is ALWAYS in style.  I love white shorts, but the cute buttons really sold me...and what doesn't go with white???

Karisimbi shorts, $78, anthropologie.com 

Karisimbi shorts, $78, anthropologie.com

Compass point shorts, $78, anthropologie.com

Don't skirt the issue!

One of my favorite things about warm weather?  Skirts.  They are just as easy to thrown on as shorts, and are perfect when you want to catch a breeze!  Skirts can be casual or dressy, depending on your mood.

If money were no object, I would buy the "Tribal Stained Glass" skirt at anthropologie.  At $328 it is too pricey for me to buy, but I am going to keep any eye on this one...I am predicting it will go on sale!  The colors and pattern are perfection.  I think pairing it with a black tank top, long necklace and black wedges would be stunning.

The "Go Anywhere" skirt reminds me of my friend Stacey.  She loves easy, jersey skirts and looks great in royal blue.  That's a smart match!  Since she sends me money to buy clothes for her, this is one is going in the shopping cart.

I think hot pink is a happy, perky color.  Bright colors are huge for spring and summer, and this "Drawing Parallels" skirt fits the bill.  Since it is slightly voluminous, it would look best with a fitted top, tucked-in tight.  Pair it with metallic flat sandals!

Since I am on a big Anthropologie kick, you know where you can find these!

Tribal Stained Glass skirt, $328, anthropologie.com

Go Anywhere skirt, $78, anthropologie.com

Drawing Parallels skirt, $68, anthropologie.com

Dress up your spring!

I have given up shopping for lent, but that doesn't mean I can't look for fashionable finds for you, correct?  Well, I have been looking at Anthropologie lately and right now they are ON FIRE with amazingly cute clothing.

Every woman needs a nice spring/summer dress.  You never know when you will need one, and now is the time to look.  Don't wait until you absolutely need a dress to shop for one.  Doing so usually results in a dress you only half like, and is only half flattering on you.  It is better to spend $200 on a dress you LOVE and will wear every chance you get, than spend $75 on a so-so dress you'll only wear once.  That's called "cost-per-wear" math!

Here are my favorite dresses from Anthro, and a beautiful accessory that I just HAD to include.  The Isabel Faux Wrap dress is made of jersey, therefore it is super comfortable and will pack well.  You can throw a jean jacket over it for a casual look, or a cardigan and heels for a dressier look.  This dress is extremely versatile and a great price.

The Kingston Road dress is just fun with its' stripes and candy colors.  It makes me smile!  Wear it with wedges and you are good to go!

The Panther's Play dress is pricey, but wow what a dress!  If you look good in strapless dresses, consider trying this one on.  Animals prints are always in style when done correctly.  This dress has a subtle animal print, mixed with yellows and soft pink.  It is sublime, and the fact that it is made by Leifsdottir, one of my favorite designers, is just icing on the cake!

The On the Rocks bracelet is just GORGEOUS.  Every woman needs one statement piece in their jewelry collection and this bracelet will enhance and elevate any dress.  Hey, mother's day is coming!  Hint, hint to your man!!!

Isabel faux wrap dress, $128, anthropologie.com

Kingston Road dress, $228, anthropologie.com

Panther's Play dress by Leifsdottir, $348, anthropologie.com

On the Rocks bangle, $168, anthropologie.com

Yippee! New Fit Flops!

As I have mentioned before, I am a Fit Flop JUNKIE, a veritable "flop-aholic"!  I just love these shoes and could sing their praises all day long. They feel like nothing I've ever put on my feet...even more comfortable than walking barefoot.  I like them so much,  I use them as my house shoes.  The fact that they have toning properties...well, so much the better!

The founder of Bliss Spas actually introduced the Fit Flop and so when new styles are released, you will find them at www.blissworld.com first.  I adore a buckle, and so I have my eyes on the new Hooper Fit Flop in Buff ($79).  Perfectly neutral!  If a bit of "bling" is your thing, the new Rokkit Fit Flop ($99) is the one for you.  I like the Bronze Dore color.

I think this new Earth "Earthies Bonaire" ($139) shoe is ADORABLE in grey!  Although I have not worn this brand, I hear it is a brand that makes very comfortable shoes.  That it is fashionable is an extra bonus.  All shoes available at blissworld.com.  Enter code MARCH20 by 4/30/11 and receive $20 off your order of $100 or more.

Summer clothes for your man

My husband said I should include a few finds for guys on my blog.  Drawing inspiration from Brian, I selected a few things from Patagonia.  Guys can relate to this outdoorsy store.  Brian loves Patagonia board shorts for summer swimming.  They have the fun, colorful prints and hold up well in chlorine.  Why not surprise your man with a stylin' pair of swim trunks!  If swim trunks aren't "the thing" for your guy, check out the durable and fashionable "All - Wear Cargo Shorts" and pair it with the "Squeaky Clean Polo".  Aren't you so sweet to think of him?!?

Wavefarer board shorts $59 - $65, patagonia.com

Wavefarer board shorts, $59 - $65, patagonia.com

Squeaky Clean Polo, $49 patagonia.com

All Wear Cargo Shorts, $69, patagonia.com

 

 

Nars spring makeup

The line of makeup called Nars is one of my favorites.  They make very finely milled powders, blushes and eye shadows that go on the face perfectly.  The finer the mill, the better the makeup application...this is what makes Nars so special.  I personally love their blush called Orgasm / Laguna duo.  Orgasm is a peachy / pink blush that just glows and Laguna is a beautiful bronze...combined they make quite a team! This blush duo consistently wins awards in magazines for looking nice on every complexion!

What I am currently fawning over is the Nars Spring line of makeup.  Stunning and natural are the two words I would use to describe the spring line...two words that don't seem to go together, but with this makeup, it just works!

The eye shadow trio, called "Calanque", is all you need for your spring summer eye shadow.  The darker shade can be applied wet as an eyeliner.  Love it!  The lipstick is called Tzigane and will give you a lovely, neutral lip.  Perfection!  Feeling a little sassy?  Add one of the three gorgeous lipglosses over the top, and you are set to go.  You can't go wrong with this makeup ladies!  All available at www.shop.nordstrom.com

Nars gloss in Super Orgasm, $24

Nars lipstick in Tzigane, $24

Nars spring trio eyeshadow in Calanque,  $45

Nars blush duo Orgasm/Laguna, $40, sephora.com