Straighten Up and Get Organized

Black Friday was the biggest shopping day of the year. And after raiding outlet stores and hitting up malls, you end up with more clothes, more shoes and more accessories!

While finding fashionable duds is always a must, big shopping excursions should prompt a careful closet evaluation–more apparel means less space.

Here are some helpful tips to keep your fashion room neat, clutter-free and  up-to-date:

If you didn’t know you had it, throw it out!

• clothes you haven’t seen or worn in years should be donated. Chances are you won’t wear them in the future.

Arrange by similarities

• for quick searching and maintaining tidiness, organize items by clothing type, length and color. Shoes and purses can be organized by type and occasion.

The right tools

• velvet hangers keep thin straps hanging and reduce shoulder impressions. Removable hooks display belts and scarves easily. Shoe racks and shelves keep your closet floor impeccable!

Let your new threads shine in your perfectly polished fashion vault!

Photo Credits: rzeznikj.blogspot.com, apartmenttherapy.com, Womansday.com, decorpad.com

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Tackle Dry Skin with Powerful Players

Days get shorter, nights get colder and skin gets dryer this time of year. Don’t let flaky or tight skin ruin your beauty regimen. Eliminate signs of dryness with the help of a powerful offense. These skin-saving competitors will help you win victory over dry skin all season long. Check them out:

1.  H2O

Dry skin can occur when the body is dehydrated. Drinking plenty of water after workouts or visits to the sauna will reduce itchy patches and brighten dull complexions.

2.   Accessories

Hats and scarves don’t just complete an outfit. These fashionable items protect the body against skin drying culprits–low temperature and harsh wind. Your skin will appreciate a closet full of cold weather accessories.

3.   Humidifier

Low humidity accompanies dry weather and can increase skin irritation. Use a home humidifier to regulate moisture in the air and maintain healthy skin.

In addition to the three all-stars listed above, other remedies to alleviate seasonal dry skin include taking shorter showers, opting for an alcohol-free moisturizer and exfoliating regularly. Stay warm, stay hydrated and stay beautiful!

Photo Credits: chem1.com, venerastore.com, Target

Colder Weather Means Hotter Coats

Fall’s winds are definitely blowing, so make sure to stay warm with a seasonally stylish coat. Form fitting and unique shapes are top trends to look for when choosing the heavy coverage. Look below for great pieces to add to your wardrobe:

Chocolate in a classic shape:

TopShop’s wool and alpaca coat is a cold weather must-have. $310

Puffer coat in a not-so-ordinary shape:

Angled edges and straight lines make Hyden Yoo’s jacket a head-turning piece for the season. $359

American sportswear gets edgy:

Michael Kors mixes black patent leather with shiny gold accents to create a fashionable coat. $599

A little fun in the cold weather:

A bold pattern, big buttons and plush fur all scream seasonal stand-out from Betsy Johnson. $398

Looking dramatic and graceful in gray:

Tahari played with shapes and textures when designing the unique charcoal number.  $198

Photo Credits: TopShop, Akira, Ideeli, Nordstrom.com

Fashion Round Up: October 2010

Check out some of my fashion favorites from October!

Enjoy:Photo Credits: Akira, Express, Ideeli, TopShop

Jewel Tones and Powerful Pouts Create Stylish Looks for Fall

Not only is fall fashion a big deal for 2010, but the makeup looks for this season rock out the year. Check out a few of the hottest trends that have starring roles.

Powerful lips that are full of color and shine take over summer’s pink pouts and glossed kisses. Pick from an assortment of stunning shades in Make Up For Ever’s newest lipstick line, Rouge Artist Intense. Dark shades from the line, like number 47 (satin dark brown) and number 49 (satin blueberry), complement the season’s edgier look. For a bolder, riskier lip, try number 50. Make Up For Ever’s satin black lipstick makes a sensational statement by itself, but worn under deep reds and purples, this black adds depth and vigor to create a sought-after kisser.

Bold nails and fearless eyes are still vital for fall. Trade bright colors from the sunny season for jewel tones and heavy metals. Shadows in royal blue and emerald green will add playful color to brown eyes. Use dark purple to make blue and green eyes pop. Lining the eye with kohl, like Guerlain’s new glide-on kohl stick ,plus adding a smoky touch to your jewel-tone lids with a black matte, like Stila’s Ebony, create a daring look for any evening ensemble! To maintain an all-over chic effect, mix and match polishes from Sephora’s Rocker Chic collection. The nail colors included are sure to support your sexy chain bracelets and candy-shaped, bauble rings.

For head-turning looks all season-long, include these makeup items in your beauty booty!

Photo Credit: Sephora

Lace, Pale Colors and Girly Ruffles are Essentials for the Cool Weather Season

Although I love fashion all year round, I get really excited when the summer heat dies down and leaves start falling from trees. Fall fashion is my favorite because rich fabrics, bold accessories and BOOTS (my number one fashion addiction) make their comeback. My fashion forecast sees plenty occurrences of  the following trends for fall 2010:

Scarf weather is returning, so make sure your wardrobe includes plenty. Neck candy made of delicate fabrics, like lace, or have unique details, like Ginger Pinks pom-pom scarf, refresh tired outfits. Try wearing them at the waist over dresses  or tying them on hobo bags to create head-turning looks.

Brides and makeup artists aren’t the only ones blushing for fall, many brands are using flesh-toned colors in their latest designs. Nude colors paired with contrasting colors, including charcoal gray and black, work on all skin tones. Check out Express’ At First Blush looks to see the trend in action.

No fall season is complete without a new pair of boots, and boots with embellishments make perfect additions to anyone’s shoe collection. Siren’s Embroidered Patch boots work over skinny jeans or underneath dressy tunics. For a do-it-yourself update, accessories plain boots with broaches or anklets to recreate this fall trend.

I’ve been obsessing with multi-strand necklaces since I discovered this wallet-friendly piece from Target. These chunky accessories are effortless statement pieces that look great with plain t-shits and little black dresses. Make sure to grab a few for your jewelry box.

For the next three months, look out for ruffles and bows. These frilly decorations instantly create a girly touch to any outfit. From jewelry, like Target’s glittering necklace, and shoes, like Akira’s Black Label pumps, ruffles and bows add prettiness to any fashion item.

Stock up your closet with the latest fall must-haves to create stylish outfits before all the leaves change colors!

Photo Credits: Express.com, Target.com, ShopAkira.com, Gingerpinks.com

Glistening Summer Trend Lasts Through Fall

Glitter nail polish is one hot weather look that isn’t leaving when the leaves change colors. Bold chunks, little flakes and shiny specks add instant glam to your fingers and toes. Layer a coat of sparkles over solid polish already in your beauty booty to maximize home manicure efforts. Out of season polish immediately turns relevant when shimmer is combined.

Don’t be afraid to mix and match colors and textures because nails are the perfect risk-taking accessories. Gold and silver flecks, such as Trixie from Zoya, over bare or painted nails create chic party looks. Try pink or purple glitter like Strobe Light from Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear for spunky, playful nails.

While unique designs and patterns are encouraged on these small canvases, remember that bright and dark colors on long nails can appear fake and sometimes tacky—harsh, but true!  Be sure to file down to a natural length, round or square, to get major compliments.

Dazzle your nails with one of my favorite looks—a twist on the classic manicure— I call it Frenchy’s Revenge. A nude shade like I Need Space by Sephora by OPI and a chunky glitter polish like Only Gold for Me Top Coat from the same collection are essentials to achieving this look. Follow these steps for sparkling digits:

1. After shaping nails and applying a base coat, put two coats of the nude polish on nails
2. Once the nude polish is dry, apply the glitter polish to the top of nails–similar to french tips. Run the brush horizontally to create a defined line of glitter. To create a compacted glitter effect, apply multiple layers.
3. Apply top coat when nails are dry and voila–Frenchy’s  Revenge is Glistening!