Bottoms
2014/02/17
Here are all the characteristics that make a boot both a “dress boot” and a useful piece of cold-weather gear: Insulation from the ground (thick, multilayered soles) Inner insulation (warm lining, padding, etc.) – think moisture-wicking, traps heat in, and consider the thickness of the lining Waterproofing Wind/air resistance (non-porous material) Sole traction – leather soles are nice but rubber outsoles are the only answer Upper-ankle height or greater – ankle-height is more common; laced boots are generally considered dressiest,
It’s out. It’s here. It’s funny! It’s informative! It’s refreshing. It’s accurate. It’s on-the-money. It’s what every woman needs to hear and Monica does all of the heavy lifting so you don’t have to. Grab your copy of Without Saying A Word: The Silent Power of Style on Amazon.com (e-book version to follow soon). Or come to one of her book tour events around the country…. Hit social media and follow hashtag #WSAWstyle to see what’s going on where!
Refinery29 featured five women over 40 who are beauty-ful and rockin’ it – Blueprint for Style was one!
How many pairs of gloves do you think you’ve lost across the last 10 years? Or just the last year? I’ve stopped keeping the glove because I never find the mate…. I can say, without reservation, that I’ve gone through at least 15 pairs ranging from cheapies to handmade leather ones. So the idea of of glove clips, not to mention by Hermes, makes me smile. Such a small little novelty [available in 4 varieties: gold plated, permabrass, ruthenium, and
Valentine’s is a manmade holiday but it’s all about the idea of love and that includes loving yourself. This Valentine’s take a pledge to love yourself enough to buy a beautiful bra….that supports you, shows off your assets, covers you where you need it, and works to show the real you. Lingerie are the unsung heroes of our fabulous outfits – the girders that literally support our ‘red carpet’ looks, power Mondays, and I-feel-fab Fridays. Head to Nordstrom, or True
My sister is getting married, so I headed down to Atlanta for her bridal shower and a quick 24 hours of fun and laughs. To make the trip happen though, I had to plan for a big climate change (again) going from DC (30s) to Atlanta (high 50s), and I also wanted to make sure I was ready to hang out! The answer was in my fabulously stylish and comfy Tieks (thanks Tieks for sending me “caliente” which is what
The brand is We Are Owls. The printed cashmere and silk scarf is on sale at The Outnet now (through Sunday). The colors are bright but not overpowering or gaudy. The weight is just right to wear now or as you hit the travels for spring (which I hope is coming like yesterday). And the length means you can wrap it around and do a few cool things with it. Other fabulous scarf options are available but this is probably
Weekend shoe porn….! All of these lovely, sexy, ogle-worthy shoes are by designer Jean Michel Cazabat, and all are under $200 – now at The Outnet. You don’t need any of these shoes likely but, at this price, the quality and styling make them a “winning” proposition. They compliment the leg by creating a a longer, leaner line, and the textures/colors employed are special enough to stand out but fabulously basic enough to wear with just about anything in your closet.
I held out on my approval of crossbody bags but they are growing on me especially when they’re as versatile as one like this Rebecca Minkoff mini box two-tone bag. You can wear it on your shoulder, sling it across your front (which makes it very travel-friendly), and detach the shoulder strap and just clutch it. Added bonus is the two-tone color combo ~ cream and black make this wearable year round! The Outnet has lots of other handbags on sale
Pampadour is this super cool site that is for beauty enthusiasts and while I’m much more of a style enthusiast, beauty runs in the same circle! Pampadour asked me if I’d celebrate the release of my style book, Without Saying A Word, by hosting a Pamp Party to talk about all of my fun skincare secrets (from page 90 of my book), and I said, “Yes!”. Join me online February 12 to ask all of your beauty questions focused on
Ok it’s a bit of a lie since I have several “wishes” for Valentine’s Day but if I had just one wish for St. Valentine’s Day, it would be to have a navy blue jumpsuit. Take a peek at my 2014 goals and resolutions if you must but this is perfectly aligned with my 2014 strategy. This sateen, wide-leg jumpsuit from ONE by COREY is ideal for dressing up for dinner dates, an evening at the museum, or doing an
Are you familiar with Jenni Kayne? If not, she’s the West Coast wunderkind who launched her line of shoes in 2003 (at age 19!) and she’s been on everyone’s must-have list since. Her most famous shoe, the d’Orsay flat starts at $400 and just goes up — a fabulous flat but bit pricey for some. You can still channel the style of the d’Orsay flat by heading to Old Navy (quickly) and scooping their version of the d’Orsay flat which
Navy blue chinos are a must-have for men. They work for casual Fridays, dress up nicely with a sportscoat, and are ideal to travel from season to season. Everything you need to know to wear them more often than you should….
I headed to Violet Boutique in Dupont Circle to celebrate the kick-off of Fashion Law Week (FLW) plus it meant a chance to check out the new items at Violet, a fashion boutique that does trendy, modern and affordable well! It was cold last week so I was bundled up….in my new winter must-have Norma Kamali shawl collar coat. A nice opportunity to socialize and shop.
As an entrepreneur and being in the midst of entrepreneurs regularly and often, I’m always looking for technology that will make life easier. When Square came out with that handy-dandy card reader, it was like sunshine came and parked itself outside my front door. I could accept payments everywhere….as long as I had my card reader (unless I wanted to pay a higher percentage for keying in the card number). I even found myself “lending” my card reader to other
The Brown Girls Lead Academy (BGLA) workshop was held on Saturday, January 24th at Macy’s Pentagon City. The BGLA is an engaging, seven month program that focuses on three core leadership development components: Personal Empowerment, Professional Enrichment and Public Engagement. The session was aimed at helping the ladies shape the identity of their professional and personal style through learning about wardrobe management, including updates of seasonal wardrobe; identify the differences between fads and trends including building a wardrobe that will
Every Monday in 2014 (less a few time-sensitive posts and in-the-moment expressions) will be dedicated to the men in my life! Manly Mondays is back! This week we’re taking a glimpse at Mr. Johnny Hodges, a jazz musician. Born in Cambridge, MA in 1906 He blew the alto saxophone Considered one of the definitive alto saxophones players of the Big Band Era He’s most famous for his time with the Duke Ellington band His first instruments were the drums and piano
You know ASOS, right? It’s a global online fashion and beauty retailer for men and women. Their target market is the 20s and early 30s so it may not resonate immediately with some of you but it’s always worth a peek. Style note: as it is based in the UK and given it’s target market, my recommendation will always be to size up one to two sizes depending on the give of the garment and the styling!! That said, they
I love sharing fashion and style insights, so when The Grio asked me to give some advice to FLOTUS (aka Michelle Obama) as she hits the BIG 5-0, I was honored! She’s already quite fashionable therefore, what I shared were a few key pointers that any professional woman can adhere to and it all came from my book, Without Saying A Word! A few highlights include: In this somewhat transitional period, the focused should be on fashion and function, and
Do you ever have trouble keepin’ it in your pants (or skirt)? Well Bradamant has solved that problem for us! Bradamant understands that part of being a professional woman is looking and being put together literally and when your shirt tails are running rampant outside of your bottom, you lose a little something. [Enter stage left] Beautiful tops that stay put – because they are blouses with a bodysuit bottom! I saw the Warrior (loved the name!), and immediately decided
Gents- there are only four ways to keep your head warm for winter. We’ve chosen the best options whether you’re heading to the mountain for a weekend retreat, running to the metro to head to work, jumping in your car to scoop your ‘lovely’ for a night on the town, or in need of a weekend drink with the fellas. You can’t escape the cold (ahem…the polar vortex) so just look good while you’re in it. Chose one or some!
The title is somewhat of an oxymoron, right? But these Cheap Monday painted earrings (at Shopbop) can set off your look. Perfect for everyday but with enough swagger to frame your face for date night too. WINNING? Yes- they’re $30!
Other than my book (shameless plug), I couldn’t think of a better way to start a new year than by reading a book like Happier at Home by Gretchen Rubin. If you take a peek at my 2014 goals and intentions, you’ll see that Gretchen and I were likely co-conspirators on more clearly defining happiness and the ways in which you can find it. As I read the book and the areas of growth or focus that Gretchen ventured to
My word for 2014 is VALUE! Whether that means to value what I have, to not take something for granted, to increase the value of my relationships or experiences by being present, or to appreciate my opportunities and the corresponding revenue that results from them, I want to spend the year valuing what’s around me. I don’t do “resolutions” because it’s so 1999 plus it loses something in translation, if you will. I choose words like goals and intentions because
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