Funk Off!

I’ve been in a full-on fashion funk lately. I think it has something to do with the weather. It’s been a really loooooong winter and as anyone who knows me will tell you, I’m definitely more of a warm weather sort of girl. I love sundresses and swimsuits, slouchy bags and beachy hair. But it is high time I snap out of it. So here’s what I did to shake it off and come out smiling and more fashion forward then ever. Or at least I hope I am.

1. I organized my closet. It was amazing what a breath of fresh air this was. I remembered clothes I had forgotten, reinvented ways to wear old favorites and just in general got back in touch with the clothes I already own. Plus, moving things around helped me pull some items to the forefront that I otherwise might overlook. And just the act of touching my clothes inspired a few outfit ideas that I was dying to try.
2. I found some new places to shop and rediscovered old ones. I’ve always loved Nordstrom. With their great customer service, excellent return policy and quality clothing, they are a real go-to. However, I hadn’t been in awhile. But lo and behold I got a catalog in the mail touting a new department they just opened called Savvy. And folks, I’m here to tell you the department is fantastic! The clothes are cute, spot-on trend wise and reasonably priced. Not inexpensive, mind you, but reasonable. Prices start around $58; slightly lower for jewelry and accessories. Most dresses I saw were around $88. It was just the change of pace I needed to kick-start my fashion imagination.And then Macy’s went and made a Marilyn Monroe collection. MARILYN MONROE. She is only one of my favorite go-to style icons ever. The woman is a legend…and there’s a cherry print trench coat involved. I die. And matching cherry shorts. And a t-shirt bearing my favorite Marilyn quote. Who could ever be in funk surrounded by cherry print? I mean really!
   

   Cherry Print Trench, Macy’s, 89.50

   

   Marilyn Monroe Quote Tee, Macy’s, $29.50

   

   Marilyn Monroe Cherry Shorts, Macy’s, $44.50

   Even just window shopping these places was enough to reinvigorate my passion for fashion.

3. I purchased one key, fabulous piece. I found a dress, the most beautiful dress and it has had me dreaming for weeks. I’m going to wear it on Easter. It’s floaty, ethereal, delicate and oh, so sexy in just the right way. This one dress had me inventing an edgy way to wear it, a classic way to wear it and a simple way to wear it and I’m just getting started. Dress pictured below.
   

   ASTR Lace Maxi Dress, Nordstrom, $88

4. My mom came for a visit bearing cuteness. She always comes with a “suitcase gift,” which is a little bag of goodness she pulls out of her suitcase and presents me with. This one features some killer pair of jeans, an AMAZING cream sleeveless t-shirt with a lace skull on the front and an awesome bronze jacket. I’m a lucky girl.
5. Mom and I went shopping. A favorite comment from the event came from a salesperson at Nordstrom, “Oooooh, that’s so you…totally girly-girl with an edge.” It helps to know that someone else is getting the vibe you’re sending. Comments don’t always happen so fortuitously or spontaneously so if you need one, ask a friend how they’d define your style. Sometimes all it takes to snap out of a funk or a rut is someone else reminding you what you are all about in the first place.
6. I went back to basics. Black and white are always fresh, classic and in-style. Always. I paired black and white tuxedo jeans with a white blouse with studded pockets and some killer black booties with gold studs all over them and never felt chicer. See below for items similar to what I wore.
   

   Express Studded Portofino Shirt, on sale for $35.94!

   

   Express Tuxedo Jeans, on sale right now for $47.94

7. I perused magazines and blogs for outfit ideas. There is something to inspire in every outfit if you look hard enough and figure out what YOU think is working and what YOU feel is not working. Sometimes the right inspiration is all it takes to get you off and running. Some go-to blogs of mine include: Cupcakes & Cashmere, and Fash Boulevard. Glamour online and at newsstands is always worth a look as well.
8. While the weather was cold I fell back in love with my coat collection. I reminded myself of all the fun items that you can only wear when it’s cold outside. That gorgeous black lace trench coat I have with the luscious faux fur collar? Only for winter so I better enjoy it while I can.
9. I re-purposed some of my favorite sundresses for colder weather. It’s surprising how wearable a sundress can be with a blazer, tights and boots. Stick to earth tones or wintery colors and there is no reason for my sundresses to stay hidden until Spring. Even my Grecian-inspired knife pleat number became appropriate with a matching cardi and heels.
10. Find something hard to style and let it inspire you in new directions. This might not work for everyone but it sure helped me. I saw this pair of Steve Madden wedge sneakers and fell in love with them…but they are not the easiest things to style. I haven’t actually purchased them yet but I did mentally create all sorts of ways I could wear them. Just the act of working them into outfits I already own freshened my outlook and had me exploring fashion tangents I might not otherwise have considered. For the record, I think a white pair of jeans, cobalt blue t-shirt, my polka-dot jean jacket and these sneakers would rock together.
    

    Steve Madden Wedge Sneakers, $149.94, Nordstrom

I guess the bottom line is never let a funk steal your inspiration. It’s up to you to find it again. You can only wallow so long. So get out there and work it ladies!

And never forget….

Be Fierce. Be Fashionable. Be Yourself.

XOXO

H

P.S. All the photos are clickable and will take you to the items featured.

Elevating the Ordinary

I love when the ordinary is dressed up, or something is used for a purpose other than intended.

-Margi Smith, my mom

My mom and I like to send emails back and forth about cute fashion finds we’ve seen lately. Most recently, this has included a lot of jewelry from MARC by Marc Jacobs. And I had been pondering over why I like it so much. And then my mom said the above and a light went on. That was it exactly. He’s taken the ordinary and made it extraordinary. He’s taken objects we see every day and given them new purpose. MARC by Marc Jacobs has taken items like bolts and made them, dare I say, classic pieces.  Love it! It reminds me to look at the items around me in new and fresh ways. It reminds me to always be creative and be creating something. And it reminds me that even the smallest minutia of daily life can be beautiful…if you just look at them with new eyes. Some of my favorites from the collection are featured below (the photos are clickable to take you right to purchasing them if you wish) plus some great bangles from Fossil that follow the same principles. I haven’t actually purchased any of them yet but I bet at least one of them will make it’s way to my jewelry drawer. And honey, if you’re reading this…my birthday IS just around the corner.

Keyhole Bangle, Fossil, $68

Key Bangle, Fossil, $68

Turnlock Station Necklace, MARC by Marc Jacobs, $108

Zipper Stud Earrings, MARC by Marc Jacobs, $58

Bolts Station Necklace, MARC by Marc Jacobs, $98

“Petal to the Metal” collar necklace, MARC by Marc Jacobs, $228

MARC by Marc Jacobs Turnlock Katie Bracelet, $128, Available in Many finishes

MARC by Marc Jacobs Turnlock Ring, $58, comes in many finishes

So what are you loving now? What’s on your fashion radar? And what everyday items will YOU look at with new eyes? Get out there and be inspired!

Tell me below in the comments!

And never forget….

Be Fierce. Be Fashionable. Be Yourself.

XOXO

H

Cooking with Fash!

So it’s not so much that I can’t cook, it’s just never been a passion of mine. However, I love nothing more than to throw a party or get-together. I’m great at setting a table, picking out décor and pulling together a party-worthy ensemble. In fact, I usually have these things all worked out before I even consider the menu. But a party is nothing without good food and I’m always super happy when I find some easy to make recipes that are both tasty and impressive. The best is when they seem all posh and fancy but you didn’t actually have to work too hard at them. This year for Christmas, I made my first ham and paired it with some make-ahead mashed potatoes. I’ve always had a knack for making the perfect deviled egg as well…thanks to my Grandma Clegg’s cookbook. She typed up ON A TYPEWRITER all her recipes for me and put them in a book that I can use. It was a terrific way to pass along family traditions. I thought I’d pass on some of the tips and tricks of these recipes. That way we can all be fashionable AND festive.

First up though…what to wear when baking? I mean this IS a fashion blog. I find a cute apron puts me in the right mood. Mine is emblazoned with “Will cook for shoes.” LOL It looks like this:

A lovely wedding gift from my friend Jessica…fashionable and practical!

Also, an apron will keep any ham bits or potatoes or what not that might go a flyin’ off your clothes. I am also not the neatest and tidiest of chefs. Now, let’s get to it!

 

Step 1: Make-Ahead Bake Potatoes

10-12 large potatoes-peeled/not

1 tsp. onion flakes or 1 sml onion

1 (8 0z.) pkg. cream cheese

1 (8oz.) carton sour cream

salt/pepper to taste

garlic powder to taste

1/4 c. butter

paprika (optional)

milk if needed

Boil potatoes till done.  They are done when you can stick a fork through them easily. Pull off skins if you left them on. Mash them and salt/pepper/garlic powder them.  Whip in cream cheese, sour cream and onion flakes/onion.  Add milk if necessary to make potatoes fluffy.  Spread into buttered 9X13 in. pan.  Cover and refrigerate or freeze till ready to use.  Bake at 350 for 40 minutes covered and another 20 minutes uncovered until heated through. When ready to serve drizzle with melted butter over top and sprinkle with paprika if desired.

I will warn you that you need A BIG pot to do this (I actually had to do the boiling in two pots) and whipping in the cream cheese and sour cream takes some elbow grease but other than that, it’s a piece of cake. We just won’t talk about the covert clean up I did of potato clumps that were all over the kitchen. My husband luckily did not see the disaster I made of the kitchen.

 

Step 2: Perfect Deviled Eggs

Ingredients:

6-8 eggs

1 teaspoon white vinegar

¼ cup mayonnaise

1 teaspoon prepared mustard

salt and pepper to taste

paprika

Directions:

Place eggs in a pot of salted water (I usually put some white vinegar in the water as well to keep any potentially cracked eggs from running). Bring the water to a boil, and let eggs cook in boiling water until they are hard boiled, approximately 10 to 15 minutes. An egg timer as mentioned on Vanessa’s blog is also useful. Drain eggs, and let cool. I usually hard-boil the eggs the night before and leave them in the fridge overnight to cool. Once cool, remove the shell. I find it easiest to tap first the pointy end and then the fat end and peel from there. Run under water to get the last of the shell off the egg and your fingers. Pat dry.  Cut the eggs in half lengthwise and gently scoop out the yolks. Place the yolks in a medium-size mixing bowl and mash them with a fork. Blend in vinegar, mayonnaise, mustard, salt and pepper. With a spoon, carefully put the egg yolk mixture back into the egg white “bowls”  but do NOT tamp it down. There will be enough mixture so the whites are overfilled. Sprinkle with paprika before serving. You can also top with a small shrimp or crumbled bacon if that is more your thing.

Step 3: Delicious and Savory Ham.

Ingredients:

1 ham bone-in or not (5-7 lb.) NOT spiral cut.

1 ½ cups red wine (sweet wine is best but any red wine will do)

½ cup light brown sugar

½ cup prepared mustard (I used Dijon)

Enough heavy-duty foil to line bottom and cover top and seal. You’ll also need a large baking pan.

Directions: Score top of ham, make paste of sugar and mustard.  Pour wine over ham and then put paste all over ham. Make a tent of foil and seal completely. Bake at 325 degrees for three hours. Ham should be about 160 degrees in the center when done. Let sit for a little while and then serve. And that’s it.

My friend Jessica contributed carrots with a honey glaze and herbs from her garden, crème brule, spicy shrimp aapetizers and yummy rolls. Then we feasted like kings and queens. And I don’t think either of us stressed over it too much. For the record, she wore a very cute Mets apron.

I wore my new black sequined jeans, a red and white striped v-neck sweater, red boots and cozy burgandy fur coat. I served dinner in a cute Mrs. Claus apron. All fashions similar to the ones shown below:

Cute flat red boots, Macy’s, Style and Co., $45.99

Sequin jeans from Mom. Merry Christmas! Macy’s, $49.50

Red striped sweater, this one is from Shoebuy,

Mrs. Claus Apron, Pier 1, $12.38 on sale right now!

Rest assured there were several calls to mom and advice given by my Aunt Carol. I sometimes think I couldn’t cook without them available for emergency calls. Who knew potatoes take so long to boil? But in the end, everyone had a delicious time. The recipes even got the approval of my notoriously picky husband. In fact, it went over so well I didn’t even manage to get photos of the finished products. Hope this helps other women like me out there who’d rather decorate the table than slave over an oven. All the photos have clickable links to where you can purchase the clothing and aprons. Stay warm and whatever you do remember:

Be Fierce. Be Fashionable. Be Yourself.

XOXO

H

Mint Green With Envy and New’s Resolution 1: Solid Gold Success

I’ve noticed an interesting color trend popping up and am wondering if I’m the only one seeing it. Minty green. It’s gorgeous. I’ve seen it paired most often with gold accessories. But it would also be great with it’s darker cousin, emerald green. It’s so chic and elegant and such a nice surprise pop of color. The color is soft enough to not be all up in your face and chic enough to make you feel super posh. Below are some of my favorite pieces I’ve seen the color on. What do you think? Are you going to try wearing it? I myself have a handbag and a peplum dress that I’m going to rock in this fresh shade. Some sparkly gold heels and I’m all set.

Fierce mint green spike bracelet, Nordstrom, $12

Sequin tank, Nordstrom, $30

I own this one. So pretty. Steve Madden Fringe handbag, Nordstrom, $88

Minty chain link necklace, Nordstrom, $18!

American Rag Lace Blouse, Macy’s, $49

American Rag Lace Sweatshirt, Macy’s, $24.99

American Rag blouse, Macy’s, $29.99

Mint Skinny Jeans, Express, $79.90

Mint Lipstick print slub tee, Express, $39.90

Mint green hi-lo dress from Express $69.90

Mint green slouchy handbag from Express, $49.90

In other news, I’m really feeling a black and gold ensemble for my New Years party look. And I think I’m going to go with some killer pants, rather than my traditional dress. I can’t decide between black and gold brocade pants, gold pants or black leather leggings though .Weigh in below! Below are the pieces in the running for my New Year’s look. What are you going to rock in the New Year wearing?

Gold jeans by American Rag, Macy’s, $69.99

Tuxedo Jacket, Macy’s, Only $19.99 on sale!

Brocade pants, ASOS, $56.29

Gold sequin bustier, Bebe, $59.99

Laser-cut clutch, Aldo, $40

Hope everyone had an amazing, restful holiday! I’m looking forward to lots of creative, fun fashion in 2013!

Be safe out there on New Year’s Eve…well safe in everything but fashion. In that, it’s good to take a few risks.

And as always….

Be Fierce. Be Fashionable. Be Yourself.

XOXO

H

Trend Report: 2013

Since we didn’t all end with a bang like the Mayans predicted and with the new year fast approaching (where did 2012 go?), it’s time to talk trends.  These are the top trends I see happening now and in the coming year.

1. The peplum. It’s been here for a little while now and it shows now signs of going away anytime soon. I think the longevity of the trend can be attributed to how wearable, comfortable and flattering the peplum can be. Make sure any shirt or dress with a peplum is snug to your natural waist (or a little below) and flares out from there. Then how large or small of a peplum you want to wear is up to you and how daring you feel. The dress below is from Express and shows a modest peplum.

A minty peplum dress from http://www.express.com

2. Oxblood. Don’t worry this isn’t an ingredient for some sort of Satanic ritual. This is a color; a dark, purplish red to be exact. I always picture an oxblood riding jacket, jodpurs and riding boots when I hear the color oxblood. One of the most wearable and surprising places this color has shown up is as lipstick. Just remember, if you go with such a dramatic deep lip color, keep the rest of your makeup either natural or very slightly gilded.

Rooney Mara working the oxblood lip to perfection

3. Speaking of gilded…metallic is huge this coming year. Everything from space age silver to gilded gold and rose gold are making an appearance. Pair it with chunky knits to keep it from being too space age. If you are really daring, pair with a bright contrasting color like the neon craze that is still going strong. Poison green and space age silver…YES! This is one of those trends that demands you stand out, so don’t be a wallflower.

Silver jeans from Victoria’s Secret online. Also available in red metallic.

Chinese Laundry heels in gilded gold from http://www.zappos.com

Michael Kors rose gold watch from Nordstrom.com

4. Jade/Emerald Green. Give credit to Princess Katherine for this one. Regal, rich and gorgeous, jade green has been making an appearance everywhere. Pantone just named a version of this lovely hue as their color of the year. Whether you choose to wear it in a dress or as an accent with a terrific pair of emerald earrings, you’re sure to stand out in this vibrant color.

Bar III emerald drop earrings from Macys.com

Gweneth Paltrow in regal jade sequins.

Kate Middleton working it like the royal she is.

5. Equestrian. This often mixes with the oxblood trend as mentioned above. Think posh country clubs and polo riders and you get the vibe of this trend. The simplest way to dip your toe in is find a lush pair of riding boots to work with your favorite pair of skinny jeans. Or throw on a riding jacket this winter to keep warm.

Enzo Angiolini riding boots from Nordstrom.com, $129.90

Tommy Hilfiger’s Fall 2012 Ad Campaign

6. And last but not least: leather. Whether it’s faux or real, head to toe or strategically placed, leather is fierce and here to stay for the foreseeable future. My favorite pieces are laser cut and/or embellished with grommets and studs. This dress calls to me…I mean I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Heather and leather rhyme, do you? Grab some leather in oxblood to really up the cool factor or snag it in white to keep things icy. Whatever the hue, leather will be front and center this season.

Bebe grommet embellished white leather dress

Other trends that show no sign of slacking off are neons and leopard print. See some of my previous posts on ways to wear those.  Fashion is meant to be fun, so get out there and experiment with some of these new styles.

Please tell me what trends you want to try this year or if there are any I missed on the list. Hope everyone has a fashionable, fun and safe holiday.

And whatever you do dolls, Be Fierce. Be Fashionable. Be Yourself.

XOXO

H

Spooktacular Tips for a Fabooolous Halloween

Halloween is one of my very favorite holidays. So much so that I start planning for next Halloween starting on November 1^st. I love the frivolity, the candy, and most especially the excuse to dress up as one of my favorite characters. My motto has always been to go big or go home. I like to get all the little details right.

With that in mind here are some of my tips for making the most of your Halloween costume.

Whenever possible, rather than purchase a costume, I make it myself. Etsy has many great patterns for sale that are really helpful. When I do purchase my costume, I give it some modifications to make it my own. If the costume requires an item like a dress or pants, I try to purchase ones I can wear AFTER Halloween. I’d rather spend $60 on pants I’ll wear again, than $20 on some bad, scratchy super thin pair that will go in the costume drawer after the 31^st.

Also, if your costume requires makeup effects of some sort, I always consult YouTube. There are videos of how to do makeup for everything from Anime – Zombies. Even if you don’t want to copy exactly what the makeup artist is doing, it’s usually a great jumping off point and a great way to learn.

If you’re like me, you want to have a costume that is cute and authentic but also still probably need a coat and a handbag. I usually go with something that I feel my character would wear for the coat and/or stick with the color scheme. Try to work one of the props in for the handbag. I was Harley Quinn (Joker’s girlfriend) some years ago and I made a handgun handbag with a POW! Coin purse, pictured below in the fourth photo. I found the pattern and idea online as well. Research is always useful. My mom created the shell handbag you see with the mermaid costume. It even had a pearl! She also made me the bee hive handbag you see below. She used a pattern she found at JoAnn’s Fabrics. Isn’t she super talented?!

Try not to leave things until the last minute. You don’t want to be exhausted on Halloween because you stayed up until the wee hours of the morning the night before putting the finishing touches on your costume.

And finally it’s the details that really make the costume memorable so don’t forget ‘em. Whether that means, claws, fangs, a wig or just the right necklace, for Halloween it really is all about the accessories. J

And finally, be safe out there. Even though we are all grown up, it’s a good idea to travel in pairs and never leave a drunken vampire or Sarah Palin behind.

Happy Halloween! Stay spooky my friends! I’ve included some of my favorite Halloween costumes below. I wish I could find one from the year I went as a peacock with full tail plumage but alas, the pics have disappeared. I’m blaming ghosts!

I’ll post pics of this years costume tomorrow along with the makeup tutorial I watched to perfect my look.

Next year I really feel I need to go as an updated version of this. Though I think I’ll wear something other than the dress. And I’m thinking a white or pink wig for the mane. We shall see!

Wa ha ha…wait’ll they get a load of me!

The Joker’s gonna get ya, Bats!

Bang! Pow! Halloween fun with two of my favorite ladies!

Miss Honey Mimosa. Sweet as honey but she’s got a sting…technically not worn on Halloween but it shoes my bee hive hand bag and use of tank tops.

Clearly the props were a hit! Here’s my husband wielding the swatter!

Mermaid out of water!

Such a pretty dress!

A better look at the shell handbag.

Even my dog gets in on the fun! Buzz!

Here comes the bride…all dressed in…pink.

I had to take a leave of absence from blogging. I found I couldn’t plan and execute a wedding, work a forty-hour a week graphic design job, sneak in some freelance and blog. But….I. Am. Back. And to kick off my return, I decided to bring you all the glamour, fun and lusciousness of my wedding. I’ll get into all the details but I figured first and foremost we should talk about the dress.

I started looking for my dress before I even found my venue. I knew I wanted to feel like a princess and I knew I wanted to be somewhat traditional but also was drawn to something in blush or pink. In short, I had a definite vision. I’m quite petite and my new husband/then fiancé is around 5’6”, strong but wiry…just like I like ‘em.  I was drawn to the ball gown style but did not want something that would overwhelm my small stature or make it impossible to get close to my love. Ever since princess Diana walked down the aisle with her mile-long train I have dreamed of a train of my own. My mom took a vacation and flew in to help me find my dream dress. Four bridal shops later, I hadn’t found anything that I liked that was also in my budget. I had twirled around in a gorgeous Monique Lhuillier that turned out to be the blush pink version of the one Vanessa Lachey wore when she married Nick Lachey. It was perfect but about $2000 beyond my budget before we even got to the fitting costs.

So what was a bride to do? With that dress in the back of my mind I started looking for something similar. That dress was actually made up of a bustier and a full skirt. I liked the versatility and options that created. I combed all the online sites, searched everywhere. At the very moment, I was about to pull my hair out and give up, I stumbled on the Watters website. And lo and behold, under their Wtoo line was the doppelganger of the Monique Lhuillier dress…but in white.

I still wanted pink. I was determined.

I noticed some of their dresses came in a blush color. I contacted Watters and they said I could work with one of their retailers on getting the dress in pink. I found a store in Burlingame, CA close to my apartment that carried the brand and had the dress I could try on.  I put on the dress and it was The One. I talked to the owner of the store about getting it in pink. She contacted Watters and couldn’t find who had given me the go ahead to make my dream dress in pink. Now what? I had my heart set on this dress in pink. This was my wedding and I didn’t want to compromise on something so special that you only get to do once.

Luckily I had started shopping way ahead and she offered to order me the bustier and custom make me the skirt in the color of my choice. Several back and forth color options later, I had chosen a pink that made me swoon.

I waited anxiously to see the finished product. And waited. And waited. I started to get nervous. My wedding was only two months away and I hadn’t seen my dress, let alone tried in on again or had the fitting. My mom got involved by calling and prompting the proprietor. Finally, they called me and I was able to go in for the fitting. Photo from the fitting below.

Feeling pretty in pink at my fiting.

It took my breath away. The seamstress was an artist. I was so excited. Unfortunately the bill took my mom’s breath away too. Ahem, permit me to give you a tip. We had set down a budget, we had made the proprietor aware of our budget, we had been assured of staying within the budget and we had trusted that our needs would be met. The budget was blown by more than a little but when you’re already standing in the dream dress, that’s been custom made for you, there isn’t a whole lot you can do. I would strongly advise, calling often and requesting updates and being appraised all along the way on what’s going on, how much the various options will cost, and your options in general.

That aside I had my dream dress to marry my dream guy. And in the end…that’s the thing isn’t it?

I hope everyone feels like I did on my wedding day. I felt surrounded by love, surrounded by support and generosity. My wedding went above and beyond my wildest expectations. I truly can’t remember ever being happier or more in the moment. I just soaked it all in. I can’t wait to share all the little details that made it all possible…including a second dress for the reception. Stay tuned for more wedding loveliness. I’ll cover everything from bridesmaids, to flower girls, to tuxes, to flowers, catering and more! In my next post, I’ll put a link to all the various venders and services I used to pull off this wedding. Hopefully, it will help future brides and mothers of brides. All photos by Royce Fordyce with the exception of the kiss by David Miller and the third photo by my groom’s aunt, Nora Johnson. If you have any comments or questions, I’d love to hear them.

The new Mr. and Mrs.

Feeling bubbly

And they lived happily ever after

You may now kiss the bride

We met on the softball field and now we are teammates for life.

Attitude Sickness or How Bunions Forced Me To Re-evaluate

My toes!

What’s the worst thing you can tell a high heel diva, shoe fanatic who worships the ground Christian Louboutin walks on? You have a bunion. You need to take a break from your heels. Ugh. So I did. For about 2 months, I wore wedges and gasp….even flats.  I learned a few things along the way; about fashion, about proportion and about myself. I thought I’d share with you some of what I know. I should add a caveat: I am not a doctor; this is just what was suggested to me and what worked for me. Please, if you are having foot pain/problems consult a licensed medical professional (not just Web M.D.). Also, it should be noted, my bunion is not all that bad of one. Many of the things that worked for me, may not work for someone with a more severe case.

After I found out I needed to give my feet a break before they broke, I went around in a funk for the first couple of days. I didn’t feel like myself. I felt dowdy and uninteresting and unnoticeable. I’m 5’2” and petite and I felt like I was disappearing without my heels on. Not a feeling I liked very much. I’m a ham normally; the first one to jump in front of the camera or voice her opinion and suddenly I just felt off my game. I had written entire blog posts about what to wear if you don’t wear heels. But I was having trouble taking my own advice.

Then I did what I always do, I got proactive. I decided, if I was going to wear flats, then gosh darn it, they were going to be the prettiest, sparkliest flats I could find. See photo below. I made sure to put my orthotics in and also made sure my high heel orthotics were visible on my dresser so I knew that this little hiatus wasn’t forever. I also spent some time trying on my heels at home and figuring out which ones put the least amount of pressure on the balls of my feet so when I was ready to strut my stuff in my heels again, I could start out slow and smart.

Sparkly flats from Nine West. Thanks Mom!

Then, like any smart, 21^st century woman, I googled. By the way, google bunion with caution, some seriously gnarly photos pop up ranging from actual bunion photos (not too bad) to foot binding (worse) to nasty foot fungus (disgusting).

The good news is that there are an incredible amount of techniques, devices and shoe companies out there making and recommending products for bunion sufferers. Toe spreaders, the previously mentioned orthotics, and specialized shoes are just three I can name. The toe spreaders I found to be especially useful. Another friend said that rather than buy spreaders, she used her pedicure separators and wore them to bed. I haven’t tried that yet but it seemed like a good idea and it worked for her. She said it felt weird the first couple of nights but now she doesn’t even notice. Additionally, I found these little gel spacers at Walgreens that are comfortable and work by keeping your big toe from smashing into the toe next to it. Pads that cushion the ball of your foot or padded insoles seem to help as well. Furthermore, yoga did wonders.

Another surprising discovery was that a total flat shoe was actually LESS comfortable then a small wedge or kitten heel. I still can’t explain that but talking to other people with foot pain, I hear the same thing. I think it is they way the foot is balanced but again I’m no expert.

And comfortable shoes are starting to get more and more fashionable. Earthies, Born and Naturalizer all had models I’d actually put on my feet. I also noticed, when I started wearing heels again that Jessica Simpson makes extremely well balanced shoes in every height range.

The doctor told me that when I did start wearing heels again to just wear them sparingly. I used to do all my errands, walk to and from the car and even walk the dog in my heels. Now I wear them at work and for special events. I have a cute pair of flats I keep in my handbag for everything else.

One of the most surprising and hardest things for me however was dressing for my reduced proportions. I wasn’t used to planning my clothes that way. I found it was helpful to try a few things on the night before and in most cases I planned around the shoes I was going to wear. I found rompers were particularly cute with flats and wedges and I could go a little shorter on the skirts to balance out the reduction in height. I’m slender but definitely not shaped like a boy; there are some curves there. I discovered that without my heels I had to be more wary of anything overly billowy. The more streamlined the look, the less dumpy and frumpy I looked.

And I reminded myself that height does not the person make. I was still the same fabulous, vivacious woman I’d been with the heels on. I reminded myself of all the good things that came with being a little shorter: I tucked perfectly under my fiancé’s chin and it was easier to hold his hand too. I fit in small spaces, am never cramped on an airplane, fit in a standard size bed and can sleep on a loveseat. Short can be convenient. Short can be sexy. Short can be fierce. And my height had nothing to do with my reach, my ability to lead, my ability to captivate. That all comes down in the end to chutzpah.

And finally, there are worse problems in the world. People go hungry; people get cancer…I just had a bunion. I might be starving for heels but I wasn’t starving for food. Perspective can do wonders.  So maybe my change in altitude is just what I needed to give myself a new attitude.

So it was with a laugh, that I read a story, not long after I started wearing heels again, written by a woman who was complaining about how TALL she stands. Apparently things go both ways. So now a days, whether I wear my heels or not, I think I’ll just be happy I have shoes to wear and places to walk to in them.

And I found the most perfect pair of Cinderella shoes for my wedding. Gorgeous. Fairy tale heels. And that reminded me that you don’t have to own the art to appreciate the view. Still, I got ‘em anyway. ‘wink’ You only live once and this was for my special day. I think even my doctor would agree that one’s wedding qualifies as a special event. Don’t you?

Cinderella eat your heart out.

Please share any questions, comments or anything else you’d like below or email me at princessheathab@gmail.com.

Future blog topics include:

• How to Dress Appropriately for Any Occasion
• How to Get Down in Black and Brown
• Trends To Buy Right Now

Be Fierce. Be Fashionable. Be Yourself.

XOXO

H

Colored Jeans: A Rainbow of Possibilities

Just some of the many color possibilities. All available at http://www.Express.com.

What with wedding planning, a vacation to see Mom, and a huge project at work, I’ve fallen behind on my fashion blogging. I do heartily apologize. Taking advantage of a break in the action, I thought I’d take the opportunity to tell you about one of my favorite and easiest to wear trends: colored jeans.

When I do it, I go all out. Me, sporting my fierce, yellow skinny jeans. How can that color not make you happy?

My outfit's so bright I gotta wear shades! LOL Me in my lovely green pair of skinnies.

I wrote a whole blog on how to wear brights, and colored jeans are one of the simplest ways to embrace that trend  You don’t have to stick with just electric shades when it comes to jeans; there are a whole range of hues to spark your creativity. In just the red color family there is everything from salmon to brick to burgundy to fire engine red and all the shades in between. With colored denim shorts and capris debuting in an array of colors for spring and summer, this trend shows no signs of tapering off.

Don’t be scared. If you are a little nervous about all that color, start out with something still in the “blue” jeans category. There is every option out there from turquoise to powder blue to periwinkle to navy to cobalt. Because they are in the same color family as your typical blue jeans, they are less shocking than say, my favorite canary yellow pair (above). It’s easy to match any of the above blue shades with pretty much whatever you’d normally wear your regular blue jeans with, so it will be effortless to work them into your current wardrobe. My favorites are the Zelda Jeans from Express (see photo below). They fit like a dream, have just the right about of stretch, and are priced reasonably. Most of the time Express offers a buy one, get one half price on their denim, so if you want to start with the blue and get another bolder color, you can do so for a fairly reasonable amount.

A whole different kind of blue jean, Express, $79.90

Also, I know many of you aren’t skinny jeans fans. While I maintain that ANY body type CAN wear skinny jeans, I understand if they aren’t your thing. Never fear! Every style of jean is debuting in some sort of fabulous hue. Just find the color that speaks to you in the style that works on you and go for it. Victoria’s Secret is even showing flairs in the pretty pink shown below. And Walmart, yes WALMART, has this cute bootcut pair in yellow. At $18, you can’t beat the price.

Pretty Pink Flares, Victoria's Secret (online and catalog only), $49.50, many more great colors available as well

The key to the brighter shades of colored denim is keeping the rest of the outfit more subtle. You want the focus of the outfit on your pants. You can wear them just like you would wear the same color of shirt, just reverse whatever color you’d normally put on the bottom and put it on top. See my color block post for some other more daring color combinations. Just don’t OD on color. The goal is to look fresh and chic, not like someone dumped an entire Crayola paint set on you.  This is one trend that knows no age. No matter what your birth certificate says, you can look age appropriate. Hunter green jeans, a crisp white shirt, and a navy blazer would look fabulous on everyone from a coed to a society matron.

In general, the darker the hue, the easier it is to wear. Brick red, the aforementioned hunter green, and navy are all more conservative and straightforward color options. Pairing any colored jean with a neutral is another great way to work in some bright colors without going overboard. Black, white, khaki, and gray are all nice options for setting off whatever shade you choose. The darker hues and anything in the blue color family are also going to be the easiest to continue to wear later if you are worried about the longevity of this trend.

So go out there and give it a try. Nothing brightens up a dreary day or welcomes the warmth of a sunny one like a happy pop of color, and there is no more elementary or comfortable way to do it than to slip on a favorite pair of jeans in a tint of your choosing.

If you want more tips on where to find the best pairs, options for your body type, or have any other fashion questions, feel free to email me at princessheathab@gmail.com. Comment below. I try to answer each and every one.

Future blog topics include:

• How to Dress Appropriately for Any Occasion
• How to Get Down in Black and Brown
• Trends To Buy Right Now
• How To Wear Ssssnake Print

Be Fierce. Be Fashionable. Be Yourself.

XOXO

 H

Wear It BRIGHT Now!

I’m so happy bright colors are back. It’s not that I don’t love basic black, but nothing perks up the spirits or an outfit like a hot hit of screaming color. Not since the 80s have colors been this eye-searing. However, this time around the combinations have gotten a bit more refined. Popular color choices for this trend include turquoise, hot pink, neon yellow, cobalt blue, Kelly green, neon green, and tangerine.

This much color can be a bit intimidating. But never fear, Heatha Be is here to give you four ways to style the new brights that will have you feeling like a movie-star style diva in no time.

1. Pair it with neutrals. One of the freshest and easiest ways to wear bright colors is to pair them with a neutral. Think khaki, dove gray, black, white or charcoal. Wearing it this way calls for shots of bright color instead of whole swaths of it. This is also the way to wear it if you aren’t sure about the trend and want to just try it out slowly first. See the outfit below for a better idea of what I’m talking about.

2. Brights on brights.Eye-popping and electric. Don’t wear this look if you’re trying to blend in. This is the one to stand out in. If you wear it this way, it’s simplest to pair a solid bright with a multi-colored bright that has the solid in it somewhere. The outfit from the Victoria’s Secret catalog shows exactly what I’m talking about. The shirt picks up the the blue from the shorts and then adds in some other fun colors, and then the hat band picks up another color in the shirt. Everything is in brilliant colors, but they all complement and play off each other.
   

   Victoria’s Secret Midi Denim Short, $49.50

3. Tone on tone.Just mix different tints of the same color. So if you have bright coral jeans on, you’d match it with a soft pastel peach top and maybe a coral cardigan. See the outfit I styled below for one way to mix shades.
   

   Shades of coral look positively radiant together. Other colors that work well for this type of look include cobalt, kelly green & red

4. Colorblocking! I did an entire post on colorblockinga while back. Same rules apply to mixing brights. Just mix complementary colors to your heart’s content and tie it together with some killer accessories. There are a ton of cute colorblocked dresses out there that will do all the work for you if you’re not feeling quite confident enough to put it together yourself. The one below is a great example.
   

   Bebe Colorblocked dress, $119, Pleated, Twirly Fun!

Whatever way you wear it, you’re sure to get noticed. Everybody from Target to Kate Spade is getting in on this trend, so whether you have a small budget or a large one, you’ll be able to find something to fit your needs. Clearly the future’s so bright we’ll have to wear shades (sorry, I couldn’t resist).

If you know of more ways to wear brights, please share them with us. I’m always looking for new ways. If you’d like help styling a particular neon item you own, I’d love to help you with that too! Just comment below or email me at princessheathab@gmail.com. And please subscribe to my blog!

Future blog topics include:

• How to Dress Appropriately for Any Occasion
• How to Get Down in Black and Brown
• Colored Jeans, A Rainbow of Possibilities
• Trends To Buy Right Now

Be Fierce. Be Fashionable. Be Yourself.

XOXO

H