Shopping-Adviser

Sunglass Statement

Probably the best way to be mistaken for a celebrity is to have a wonderful selection of fabulous sunglasses at your disposal.  They can hit just the right balance between being incognito and calling attention to yourself.  How can something so small change an entire look or mood of an outfit.

People are using sunglasses to make a fashion statement.  They are a way to individualize an outfit that might not consist of more than a t-shirt and a pair of shorts or blue jeans.  Eyewear has become the hottest new accessory.  People are building a wardrobe of sunglasses much like they would with shoes or handbags and matching them to their outfits. 

“They are jewelry for the face,” says fashion designer James Mischka, who, with his partner Mark Badgley, has introduced their first Badgley Mischka sunglasses collection.  They are known for they ornate line of evening wear and are now applying those same principles to the frames by adding Swarovski crystals, laser-cut inlays and pearls onto the frames. 

Lining on the inside of the arms has also become very chic as well as eye catching.  Stripes, polka dots and leopard prints are just a few that you will see on such brands as Donna Karan, Ray-Ban, Kate Spade and Dolce & Gabbana.

Sunglasses do represent more than just a fashion statement.  Polarization, which is a filter that absorbs the reflective glare, can now be injected into the lens instead of simply being added to it and that makes for a high quality, clearer lens.

In the early 1970’s my mother had very large sunglasses with white frames.  I wish she still had them.

Clothing Rules For Wedding Guests

Finding an appropriate outfit for a summer wedding can be much more of a challenge that one might think. There are so many things to consider.  What time of day is the wedding?  Obviously you would not wear the same thing to an 11:00 am wedding as you would a 7:00 pm affair.  Is it an indoor or outdoor wedding?  Is the ceremony taking place in a church or synagogue where dressing more conservatively might be called for?  And a destination wedding brings on a whole week end of outfits to plan for. 

Women:
It seems silly to state this but women should shy away from white or off white attire.  A mix of color with white is fine buy not a solid color.  Don’t  wear something that will outshine the wedding party.  No matter what time of day or what the setting select a sophisticated outfit that does not scream “LOOK AT ME”

If it is a destination wedding try to get into the theme.  A wispy tropical outfit for the islands or a wonderful turtleneck dress with a beautiful broach or beaded necklace for a winter wonderland destination is nice and shows that you are going along with the theme.  Don’t forget to inquire about plans for the day so you bring everything you need to make the most out of the weekend. 

You can be a bit bolder for a black tie event but again, not anything too flashy with a lot of sequins and glitter.  Leave that for the mother of the bride. 

Men:
You can never go wrong with a wonderful pair of linen or fine gauge cotton trousers and a navy blue blazer for a more casual wedding.  High quality shoes and a knock out tie can make a big impact especially in the summer.  Unless it is ultra casual or on the beach please don’t take your blazer off to reveal a short sleeve shirt or a polo type shirt under your jacket. 

A classic dark suit is the most appropriate way to go for a late afternoon wedding.  It does not have to be black and in fact gray is perfectly acceptable.  Pinstripes can add a sophisticated touch and with a colored shirt and coordinating tie it can make the outfit not appear too business like. 

A classic black tux is the way to go for a formal wedding but you can add some unexpected fun with a colored or patterned bowtie and cummerbund.  A dark suite will suffice if you don’t own a tux and renting is always an option.

For more advice on dressing for a wedding go to: http://fashion.about.com/cs/tipsadvice/a/weddingguest.htm

Memories

I think we all have memories, sometimes tender, sometimes not, of a particular piece of clothing or accessory that evokes strong feelings and attachments.  Like an old song, when you come across a photograph or are cleaning out a closest and come upon the item certain feelings come to light.  I have a few that I would like to share.

We had gone to my grand parent’s house in Manitowoc, Wisconsin one summer when I was maybe 12 years old and somehow encouraged my grandmother to go in the attic and bring down my mothers wedding dress.  Both she and my two aunts had worn the dress and I wanted to see it in person.  The minute the box was opened I fell in love.  It was the most beautiful dress I had ever seen and swore that I too would wear the dress. 

Years later I was living in Washington, DC and became engaged.  My mom encouraged me to go take a look at dresses as the selection was much better there versus in Madison.  My best friend Gina and I shopped for two straight days and found nothing.  There was not a single dress that compared to my mother’s.  The dress was cleaned and altered and just perfect.  I have it all preserved in my attic now and who knows, one of my girls may end up wearing it one day.

My first big high school dance was freshman year.  I found a darling red dress that had spaghetti straps, was some sort of heavy nylon fabric and had three or four tiers of material giving it that 1920s flapper look.  It was so comfortable and I just loved it.  So on the night of the big dance I did my hair and makeup and was so excited about the dress.  I made my big entrance down stairs before my date arrived and my parents and brother were in the den.  Now keep in mind that my brother and I were very close.  He is three years older than me and was very popular in school.  I walked into the den feeling great and Mike turned to me and said, “My god, you look like a hooker”.  I do not know whether it was the bright red color or all of the layers but I was devastated. 

My next strong memory was a beautiful navy short dress I purchased in the early 1990’s.  Ok, I know you have an image of it already and you are right.  Big puffy sleeves, a tight bodice and then crinoline at the bottom just above my knees that went out like a hoop skirt.  I wore it with high navy pumps and it was quite a dress.  This past year our oldest daughter who was a sophomore at the University of Georgia and in a sorority asked to see some of my old clothes.  They have many theme “date nights” and she wanted to see if there was anything she could take back with her.  Now I am not a sentimental person and I love to pitch things that I no longer use but I really liked that dress and have kept it. 

Once she could compose herself and stop laughing she asked if she could take the dress back to school with her.  I was annoyed by her reaction but let her take the dress.  It continued to get a lot of laughs the night she went to wear it to a “90’s” date night but I did get my revenge when she went to get into her car and sat down only to find the entire bottom half of the skirt in her face and crinoline all around her.  Driving was definitely a challenge that evening.

My last apparel memory involves a sequined number I also bought in the “90’s” ( I promise I do have pretty good taste in clothes, it was just the ‘90’s”).  Leopard prints had just become popular and I found this great dress at Neiman Marcus.  It was short and quite form fitting.  The woman who helped me also found a pair of dangly leopard crystal earrings that matched the dress to perfection.  We had a formal business weekend at the Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Virginia and it was going to be just right. 

I did not eat for weeks before hand, well not really, to make sure that the dress would fit just right.  My husband had not seen the dress before and I think was a bit taken back.  It was a little loud.  As we walked into the main ball room one of our very good friends took a look at me and said, “That is not a dress that is a weapon”.  It was a fun outfit to wear and brought about quite a lot of comments. 

We all make mistakes when it comes to buying what works for us, what fits properly and what is trendy at the time but some things, even though we wouldn’t ever be caught dead in them again, where appropriate at the time and some things like my wedding dress will always be in style and elegant. 

Building A Jewelry Wardrobe

Building A Jewelry Wardrobe

It is my opinion that jewelry is no longer viewed as an indulgence.  Whether you are buying an investment piece or something fun, faux and trendy it makes a statement about your personal style as well as your mood.  You do not have to be stuck wearing the same pieces everyday and changing your jewelry does not have to cost you a fortune.  There are some wonderful pieces out there that look just like the real thing at a fraction of the cost. 

Building a jewelry wardrode is a process and reflects not only your style but can be characterized by the times.  Here are some tips and suggestions to creating your own stash of goodies.

Every woman should have at least two watches.  One for everyday that is durable and large enough to read that can be worn with a suit or with jeans.  Leather straps, which now come is a bevy of  fun colors are always classic but keep in mind that they will need to be replaced in time with wear.  Metal bands will last longer and can get slightly wet if necessary.  A simple dress watch is also a nice piece to own.  Something elegant for evening, possibly with some diamonds around the face to dress it up further. 

Diamonds are no longer reserved just for evening wear.  Everyone should own a pair of diamond stud earrings and enjoy them during the day no matter what you are wearing or your age.  If the real thing is not an option most fine department stores sell wonderful fakes in all shapes and sizes.  Stick to the realistic one to one and a half carat range set in white gold.  No one, I promise, will ever know the difference unless you tell them they are not real. 

Diamond chandelier earrings are also still popular for the evening.  Not too big though, just long enough to catch the light and shimmer in a flattering way.

Brooches go in and out of style but to own one or two can really make for a versatile piece of jewelry and can dress up any suite or outer wear.  You can also get creative and wear them in your hair, clipped to a multiple strand of pearls or pin one on your plain handbag to dress it up. 

Do not wear too much jewelry at one time.  It is ok to layer on the bracelets or wear multiple long necklaces at once but please don’t do them at the same time.  You will look as though you are six years old again and are again playing dress up. 

If you have been given a piece of heirloom jewelry from a family member or good friend, enjoy it, wear it.  Don’t keep it hidden away in a safe place.  Everything is in right now so you can’t go wrong with the style and hopefully it will bring back fond memories. 

While classic fine jewelry is always a good investment and will remain timeless today’s retailers offer a wide variety of choices at every price point.  Experiment, enjoy and let go of your creative side.  Shop On!!!!!