Maureen’s Blab & Blog

Does the prospect of holiday shopping leave you in a cold sweat?  Do the crowds in Union Square have you running for cover in the corner of the nearest café?  Is your mantra for the season more “Bah Humbug” than “Deck the Halls”?  If you have answered yes to any of the above questions, you can count yourself among the large group called “shopping phobics” or “shop-phoebes”.

For those of you who prefer to go shopping from the comfort of your own home, this one’s for you!  I understand your plight, especially since I make my living shopping for other people.  If you are not a natural shopper, the holidays only turn up the heat on an activity that is already up there with having a root canal.  If you prefer more “green” gifts, and want to save the environment, read on.  I have come up with the ultimate list of gifts; you never have to circle a crowded parking lot to purchase.

Personally, I love memberships.  Zoos, museums and science center memberships, all make wonderful gifts.  This is an especially valuable gift for families with children, or for the art lover.  They get to use it all year long, and each time, they will think of your generosity.  There are so many right here in our backyard:  The Oakland Zoo, Chabot Space and Science Center, and the Lawrence Hall of Science to name a few.  All can be purchased on-line with minimal effort!

Another favorite gift is tickets to the theater, symphony or ballet.  What is better than the gift of your time to take in a performance with an old friend, sibling, partner or grand child?   If there is a Broadway show coming to the area, getting tickets ahead gives the recipient something to look forward to.  Again, Berkeley Repertory Theater, Oakland Symphony and California Shakespeare Theater are good local options.

Magazine subscriptions are a fun gift to receive, for any age.  Does your friend love gardening, flower arranging or knitting?  There are many choices for hobbies or interests of all kinds.  For children, Ranger Rick, Highlights or American Girl is great magazines to give.  For the armchair quarterback, Sports Illustrated is a touchdown.  Log on to your favorite, and check one more name off your gift list.

Speaking of sports, tickets to a sporting event is a home run.  If professional is out of your budget, why not the Cal Bears, Stanford Cardinals, U.S.F. Dons or any other local college team?  We love taking our children to the Cal soccer games, both women’s and men’s.  It cost a total of $16, adults are $8 and children are free.  Shattuck Ave. is close to the stadium for lunch or dinner before/ after the game.

As a parent, there is no better gift for my children, than books.  I love to read, and so far, my children do too.  One of their favorite gifts is when their Aunt Sally sends them a gift card from Borders.  We put it away for a few months, and take it out when they are looking for good books, or I need a rainy day activity.  We pick the date and make an outing of it.  The kids really look forward to it.  We all come out of the store excited to get started on the books we chose.   Again, if done on-line, the recipient gets and e-mail notification.

For the teenagers on your list, the gift of music will always be appreciated.  An iTunes gift certificate is a sure fire hit with the younger set.  I could use some new music for my iPod.  Anyone who owns an MP3 player can appreciate this kind of gift.  Podcasts are also an option, and can be purchased the very same way.

If budget is your biggest issue, vouchers or coupons for services are the way to go.  What parent wouldn’t appreciate a night of free babysitting?  What busy professional wouldn’t love a prepared meal delivered to their home, or a dry-cleaning pick-up or lawn mowing or grocery run or….you get the idea.  This gift cost nothing, but really means a lot.

In the end, if you find yourself with a few missing gifts, shop your local stores!  Montclair Village, Piedmont Ave. and College Ave. all have wonderful eclectic and independently owned businesses that need our patronage.  Most have complimentary gift wrapping, personal service and a lot of good cheer.  Before you know it, “Bah Humbug” just might turn into “Deck the Halls”

AS A PERSONAL SHOPPER, one of the most widely asked questions I get is “Where do you start?” I explain that I start in the same place my clients start each and every morning … their closet.

I come to every first appointment with my trusty rolling rack and a total absence of judgment.

Even I have fallen victim to the last-minute “I need a dress for that wedding tomorrow.” or the “I need one more outfit for vacation” syndrome. Being in the business does not insulate me from the same problems all of you face. It is this compassion and identification I take with me to see every client, both male and female.

I read once that we wear 10 percent to 20 percent of what we have 80 percent to 90 percent of the time. Now, I’m not sure if that statistic is completely true, but it’s probably not too far off. What that means to me is that we’re not wearing the majority of what we have. So, how do we wear what we have, all of the time?

Before I come to a client’s house, I give them some homework: to go through their closet with a critical eye. When is the last time you wore a miniskirt? If the answer is 10 years ago, get rid of it. Does anything in your closet have shoulder pads bigger than a house? Get rid of it, and fast; they’re not coming back in style. Leisure suits, don’t even think about it! By weeding out your closet first, we don’t waste time on things that should have already been gone. The only caveat I have for this step, if something is of great quality or vintage grade, keep it. These treasures are meant to be kept and possibly handed down. I find that men have as hard a time as women getting rid of things. As in Bruce Springsteen’s song, “Glory Days,” they just can’t let go of the past.

The best way to organize your closet is to have an upper and lower hanging rod. Tops, shirts and/or blouses go on top, and pants and/or skirts go on the bottom. Visually, it is much easier to see what you have if your closet is set up this way. Some people prefer to have outfits hung together. The only issue I have with this system is that you limit yourself. It doesn’t allow you to think out of the box, and put things together in a new and different way. If you can fit it, a long hanging rod is ideal for longer jacket dresses and anything that doesn’t fit on the other rods.

Once you have the two rods, I suggest sorting by weight and color. If you have extra closet space in another part of your house, it’s even better if you can limit your closet to fall/winter clothes and then spring/summer clothes. Start with dark colors and go toward light, long sleeve to sleeveless, long pants to skirts. By doing this, you instill order and reason, so that you are not searching for that favorite camel cashmere sweater you love. It’s right where you put it along with the other like-colored garments.

You should strive for a ratio of two to three tops for every bottom. People tend to notice what is on the top half of your body, because that is what’s at eye level. Don’t buy something you have no match for. Think in terms of “families” of clothing, where several pieces work together.

Another hard and fast rule is to get rid of what doesn’t fit or is soiled or stained. Again, it is taking up physical space as well as giving you more to process each morning when you get dressed. I also have clients try some of their clothes on for me so that I can gauge their fit and functionality. Sometimes it takes an outsider to deliver the truth, and maybe an outfit you think looks good doesn’t really enhance your figure. As we experience life, our style changes and our clothes are a reflection of that. Wear what fits and looks good.

Once I am gone, it is up to the client to keep up the good work. Organizing and editing your closet is an ongoing process. Each season is an opportunity to donate, dispose of, collect and consign what isn’t working. This way, it gives you the opportunity to add a few great pieces that you can’t wait to put on in the morning!

Take a look at any fashion magazine this month, and you’re bound to utter a resounding HUH??? After viewing all of the couture shows on DVD this June, I had the very same reaction. Sitting there with a seasoned colleague, we both thought “how are we going to dress women when THIS is what the designers are showing?” Well, with the summer behind us, I have made peace with the current trends, and can even give you some suggestions on how the ‘real woman’ can incorporate them into her wardrobe.

The biggest trend of the season is clearly leggings and footless tights. They started to emerge this spring, and continue be the season’s most popular. For the uninitiated, leggings (and tights) were what we all wore in the 80’s. Remember Madonna in her footless tights during her “Like a Virgin” period? The difference between leggings and tights are the weight of the fabric. Leggings are usually made of cotton with lycra for stretch. Tights are a type of hosiery, and should be worn as such. The good news for most of us is that heavier tights (with foot in tact) in dark colors and subtle patterns are the rage, and are much more age appropriate for those of us who remember the 80’s. Under a dress or bubble skirt, leggings or tights can look fun, as long as the length of the skirt or dress is what you would wear without tights or leggings.

Another continuing trend is dresses. They are everywhere! Spring 2006 showed many dresses and thankfully, they are continuing to be big with no signs of slowing for spring 2007. The good news here is there are many different styles to choose from: The trapeze dress, the empire waist, the wrap dress, the list goes on. There are enough styles to suit most figures and tastes. Dresses are easy to wear, and look great for casual outings or dressed up with a pair of heels or boots.

Like it or not, the skinny or stovepipe jean is huge! This is very bad news for most of us that have a womanly figure, and not a shape that could be confused with a pre-pubescent boy. Don’t despair, if you feel like you want to try the trend there are a few options that would work. First, wear them under a dress. This is a forgiving look with the top part of the jean totally obscured by said dress!

Longer tunic tops are also a great look with this season’s skinny jean. Like a dress, it camouflages the area you want covered up. Tunics can also be worn with capri length pants and the gaucho pant as well. If you’re feeling confident you can go with a more form fitting style or a more A-line style for more coverage. Tunic tops can also be belted to give them a more refined look.

Plaids and tweeds seem to be making an appearance this fall. As a transplanted easterner, this was the quintessential autumn look. A lot of designers showed this on the runways. As long as the fabric is a lighter weight to match our Bay area climate, I think this looks great on a lot of women and men as well. Keep in mind that one plaid or tweed piece is enough at one time. Less is more in this instant.

Layering was a popular look at the fall shows. Although designers take it to the extreme, we don’t have to. Again, keep the layers light for our climate, and you’re halfway there. This can be done with sweaters, vests and tunics. The somber color palette this season makes layering a good opportunity to add a splash of color! A sweater over a dress is another way to wear this style.

Oversize and slouchy handbags are a good compliment to the skinny jean. It seems that we have come back to the handbag that holds everything but the kitchen sink. For those who really have to carry a lot of items, this trend is the way to do that. Be careful not to overstuff so that contents are spilling out. Your handbag shouldn’t be your home office, gym bag, and makeup bag combined. A well edited handbag is the way to go.

If all of this is still a bit confusing, come to Saks Fifth Avenue in Union Square on September 19th from 5-7 p.m. for a fashion show and program called “Mixed-up Glamour”. I am one of the 6 featured stylists that will help you interpret the fall fashions, and make sense of it all. Tickets are $60 (including hors d’oeuvres and refreshments) and can be purchased by calling (650)949-3170 or at the door, the evening of the event.

If you can’t make it to Saks, I am going to be the celebrity bartender at the Montclair Bistro on Thursday, October 5th starting at 5:30 p.m. Come have a pomegranate martini made by moi and ask any fashion/style question you’ve been dying to know! All proceeds go to Wardrobe for Opportunity, an Oakland based organization that assists men and women in putting together appropriate business attire for job interviews and employment (www.wfo.org).

As a personal shopper and wardrobe stylist, I always get asked the same question; “Where do YOU shop?”.  This question is harder to answer than you think, not because I don’t have a multitude of really great places to shop.  It is more about finding a great place and slowly discovering all of the gems held within.  So here is my first installment of “Maureen’s Merchants”. Utopia, 6466 Moraga Ave. in Montclair village.  (510)339-1002, www.utopiamontclair.com  Utopia is the relative newcomer to Montclair village.  Mother and daughter team, Nancy Ekstrom and Melissa Munyer opened Utopia just a little over a year ago.  Nancy is a Montclair resident and Melissa hails from Sausalito with a PhD. in psychology to boot.  Nancy and Melissa make a great team with style to burn.  They try to carry lines that you won’t see in every other store or boutique.

Considering they have only been open a year, Utopia is really creating a ‘buzz’.  They get a lot of their customers from word-of-mouth marketing and have built a lot of local loyalty.  Utopia’s target market is definitely the Montclair and Piedmont woman.  Melissa and Nancy carry a lot of local designer’s lines, and insist they try on every piece they sell.  That way, they can comment on a wide array of fit issues.  Utopia carries shoes from Italy and Brazil, handbags, hats and some one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry.  They carry singer Beyonces mother’s line called House of Dereon, and a line of great fitting jeans called Pure Color that were featured on Oprah.

Tootsie’s, 5525 College Ave. in Rockridge. (510)595-7272.  Carrie Bradshaws take note, if your opinion of the perfect day includes buying several pairs of cute shoes, then Tootsies is your place!  Tootsies carries over 200 styles of shoes, and at this time of year, that means SANDALS!  This is a veritable playground for the shoe-aholic.  Walk in and you are immediately transported into a kind of shoe high.  You’re not sure of what to try on first….your mouth is a little dry…you’re eyes looked a little glazed over…..you take a deep breath and start trying on.

Tootsies has also been open just over a year, and already has gained the reputation of being the place for sandals.  Tootsies also offers amazing spa pedicures.  Owner Liz Taylor also will schedule pedicure parties on Thursday and Friday nights or by appointment.  This is a great idea for a bachelorette party or shower. Once the polish is dry, you can pick out a trendy pair of sandals, most with a price tag less than a dinner out!

Serrahna, 5303 College Ave. in Rockridge, (510)654-2332, www.serrahna.com  Immediately upon entering Serrahna, you feel as if you have been transported to a far away place.  The colors are saturated and rich, and are candy for the eyes.  For owner and designer Andrea Serrahn, that’s exactly the way she wants you to feel.  She visits India several times a year to scout fabrics and check on the hand cut and hand sewn production..   Serrahna is that rare boutique where time seems to fly by.  After shopping there for what seems like a long time, as you head for the door your eye settles on something that sucks you right back in!

Serrahnas clothing is flowing and ethnic, but also fitted and stylish. Serrahn has taken the spirit of India’s native dress, and reinterpret it to fit today’s woman.  Serrahn and her staff are very skilled at putting their pieces together in a way that might not have occurred to you.  Whether you are looking for a top to go with jeans or an entire outfit, they are up to the task.  Serrahna is designed for the “real” woman, with “real” figures.

Serrahna also holds several fashion shows during the year so be sure to get on their mailing list.  Serrahna’s website is great, and you can order directly from it.  It also offers information on the craftsmen and women that are such an integral part of Serrahna’s look.  Andrea feels a real responsibility and has embarked on numerous goodwill projects, including raising money to buy a community sewing machine.

I will continue to highlight some of what I think are interesting and eclectic boutiques in our neighborhoods.  I’d love to hear about reader’s favorites as well.  E-mail me at maureen@maureenfrench.com with your suggestions!

Have you ever been on a train or plane and looked admiringly at those people that can get by with a small carry-on bag?  Haven’t you wondered how they could manage with just that small little bag for a 3 week trip to Europe?  Did you ever puzzle over why it takes a Sherpa to transport your luggage?  You’re probably asking yourself…. “what am I doing wrong?”.

I have never been someone that could severely limit my luggage (just ask my husband/Sherpa).  I guess one could say it’s an occupational hazard.  I would always think about all those beautiful outfits at home, languishing alone in my closet.  I have also fallen victim to dressing in the perfect ensemble, only to be shattered by the realization that the perfect bag for this outfit was left out.

Although I will never be part of the “carry-on elite”, I do have many tried and true tips for the packing -challenged.

Think in terms of “outfits”.  Do not throw in a lot of “orphans”.  What I mean by this, is pack things that go together.  Do not include pieces that do not relate to the rest of your choices.  Some people choose to keep their clothing in either the brown (earth tones) or black (cool tones) families.

Along these same lines, make sure every bottom has 2-3 tops.  Bottoms are generally less memorable than tops.  By including a few different tops for a denim skirt or cute capris, you have created 2-3 outfits instead of one.

Choose pieces that can perform “double duty”.  An ethnic inspired tunic can be worn as a bathing suit cover up or over jeans for a city tour.  Zip off pants are also a good choice, as they can start out on a cool day and end up at the beach with the quick slip of the zipper.

Lightweight and wrinkle-free fabrics are a godsend for travelers.  These new fabrications are great for the little space they take up, as well as their good looks after spending hours rolled up in a suitcase.  Scala makes a great line of packable hats for keeping the sun off your face.  Remember to hang up garments upon arrival so they have time to breathe before wearing.  A good steam in the bathroom while you shower, also does wonders for all fabrics.

Don’t underestimate the power of Denim.  Although this is no-no for a lot of power packers, I think it is a must have for most people.  A nice pair of jeans can be dressed up or down for both men and women.  They can be rolled up to a capri for daytime, and jeans are understood everywhere.  Denim almost never shows dirt, and can be in the lightest and stretchiest fabrication.   Denim is also one of the few pieces you will own that goes with almost everything.

T-shirt dressing is the way to go.  the basic tee is such a versatile piece, that more of them can only be better.  Layering them makes for a fashionable look, and they can be worn in many different combinations.  They also satisfy the “double duty” criteria, as they can be daytime/nighttime appropriate and worn over beachwear.  Get a little creative with the colors and you’re there!

Flip-flops are a travelers best friend.  Footwear can be a very mystifying part of the packing process.  A good quality, nice looking pair of flip flops can be used in many different environments, and they’re comfortable!  Again, they meet the “double duty” criteria on many levels.  A fashionable trainer, like those by diesel or sketchers, can be a good shoe for travel.  They are lightweight, and can be worn for many hours of sightseeing.  Remember to pack one pair of dressy sandals/shoes for a fancy night out at that 4- star restaurant.

A neutral colored cardigan can save the day (or night).  Lots of destinations can be chilly at night despite being hot and muggy during the day.  Plan for this to happen.  Again, layering can be a good strategy for cool evenings, and a cardigan or neutral colored wrap can solve the problem.  I also use a wrap on long plane rides, as they are nicer that the airline blankets.  Pashminas work well for this.  If you are going to bring a heavier weight jacket, wear it rather than packing it.

Think before you carry on.  Make sure whatever you bring as your carry on luggage, can be carried everywhere else.  If you like a backpack, bring that.  If you’re headed to the beach use a lightweight, waterproof mesh bag to carry on.  Once you get to your destination, this bag will get lots of use.

Lastly, leave a little “wiggle” room.  Most of us come back from vacation with something new, even if they’re souvenirs for loved ones.  Make sure you leave a little extra room to accommodate these.  You’d hate to pass up those gorgeous Tony Llama cowboy boots from the dude ranch, just because they don’t fit in your luggage!

Now that you are such an expert packer, I hope to see you rolling your not-too-large roller bag through some exotic airport.  Look for me, I’ll be the one with the Sherpa…

If you ask Abi McCannon and Alix Hadley where the fashion capitol of the world is they might answer… Oakland.  It’s their capitol anyway, and it’s where their live/work studio is located.  Both Alix (24) and Abi (25) are graduating seniors at The Academy of Art University, and their collections hit the runway on Wednesday night amid flashbulbs, paparazzi and rolling video cameras.

Abi McCannon hails from Iowa originally.  She transferred to The Academy from the University of Iowa, and she realizes she’s a long way from home.  Abi’s inspiration for her collection was Jazz from the 20’s through the 50’s.  Abi loves to work with the contradictions between feminine and masculine looks.  She used vintage handbags and shoes on the catwalk to enhance the period quality of her clothing.

Alix Hadley was born in Florida but has lived in both Virginia and Georgia.  She transferred from SCAD (the Savannah College of Art and Design), because Savannah didn’t have the benefits of a big city like San Francisco.  The concept for Alix’s collection was “Freedom Culture”.  She tried to incorporate elements of many different cultures into her creations.  Alix used antique kimono fabrics for linings, she attached sleeves with intricate beads, and used cashmere from 1940’s France.  She likes to use old and new, and finds her treasures at flea markets, auctions, estate sales and second hand shops.

Alix and Abi met their second year at the Academy, and have been friends and collaborators ever since.  Both women share a live/ work space in Oakland.  Their studio is one of the largest rooms in the space.  It is covered with fabric, a drafting table, sketches, irons, dress forms, and an industrial sewing machine.  It is a jumble of creative energy, and it’s where Abi and Alix do their best work.  Alix says “commuting time is sewing time, so a home studio really works for us”.  They both agree that having their own work space makes the process a little easier, although you would never characterize this process as ‘easy’.

In order to have your collection shown at the graduation show, you have to commit to a year of intensity and sometimes, heartbreak.  Being in the show starts with a concept rendered as sketches and honed to reflect the highest detail and workmanship.  After the sketches, patterns have to be drafted for each piece.  Draping comes next where you work all of the kinks out of your patterns and a prototype of sorts, made out of muslin (a thin unbleached cotton fabric), is crafted.  Every detail has to work before you are able to cut and sew the collection out of your chosen fabrics.  This process takes time and sheer determination, all for the glory of seeing your first official collection on the runway.  After visiting Alix and Abi’s studio and seeing some of their pieces, I have no doubt they both have a promising career in fashion design.  These are talented students, ready to take the leap into the uncertain world of fashion.

To further increase the stress level of these students, for the Wednesday night show, the men of Fashion were honored and given honorary doctorates by Elisa Stephens, the University’s president.  The honorees included the bad boy of fashion, British designer Alexander McQueen, CEO of Macy’s West, Robert Mettler, Wilkes Bashford, purveyor of fine menswear, and Christophe Girard, the Deputy Mayor of Paris and Director of Fashion Strategy of the LVMH Fashion Group. With this list of luminaries, no wonder the students were a bundle of nerves!

One of the many highlights of the evening was when it was announced that Abi’s collection was chosen to be shown in the windows of the Wilkes Bashford store in San Francisco.  This was a great honor for her, and a good start on her design career!  The show was held at Morgan Auditorium, 491 Post Street (at Mason) in San Francisco.  This is as close as many of us get to a true haute couture fashion show.

Another fashion note:  As mentioned last month, fans of the Swedish cheap chic retailer, H & M are in for a treat as their first east bay location opened 2 weeks ago in the Sun Valley Mall in Concord.  For those of you not wanting to make the pilgrimage into the city for a quick fashion fix, this is very good news indeed!

This question may appear to be a simple one, but ask any woman this, and you might get a glazed over look followed by a blank stare.  If you are like most of us, you might be a size 10 or 12 in a jean, a size 6 or 8 in a skirt, and perhaps even a 12 or 14 in a bathing suit.  What IS the deal? Why do we have so much trouble answering such a seemingly simple question?

Let me try and explain why this is such a mystery to most of us. In the world of women’s clothing, each and every manufacturer has it’s own version of what constitutes a size range.  In most cases this is a very arbitrary exercise.  As the line is being developed, a fit model is used in order to draft the pattern.  Generally the fit model is a size 8, and all other sizes are based on this scale.  As you might imagine, each fit model is slightly different in her measurements, as each and every woman has slightly different proportions.  One season a manufacturer might have a fit model that is long waisted or short waisted, smaller through the hips or fuller in the thighs…well, you get the picture.  With different fit models each season, the fit varies from one season to the next.  You may fit into a 6 one season, and an 8 the next.  It’s totally confounding, and certainly difficult to navigate, especially when trying to figure it all out under the glare of fluorescent lights in an overheated fitting room!

You also may have noticed that despite the fact that we are getting older and the population is getting larger, your size may not be that different from 10 or 15 years ago.  How is this possible, you may wonder?  Another dirty little secret of the clothing industry is what is referred to as ‘vanity sizing’.  This is where the line is designed larger and fuller than a traditional Missy size scale.  Why?  So that we feel better about ourselves for still fitting into that size 10 or 12 and not a 14!  Some manufacturers prey on our fragile self esteem and desire to be smaller than we truly are.  Are you starting to get the picture?

Now, let’s take a trip across the pond to Europe.   Much like our obsession with large portions compared to our European neighbors, our sizing is much different also.  European sizing is much closer to a traditional sizing scale.  Although you may see numbers in the 30’s and 40’s on a European garment, there is an American counterpart.  The issue comes to light when you try to translate your American size into another language.  Go into any boutique that carries Italian, French or English designers, and you will no doubt be surprised at what you see.

European sizing is MUCH smaller that we are accustomed to.  If you fit into an 10 here, you will definitely be in a 12 or 14 in a French designer line.  Retailer H&M, (due to open in Walnut Creek this May…more on that next time) fits much smaller than it’s American cheap/chic counterparts.  I always warn clients not to be too shocked when they are not getting into what they feel is their true size in a store like H&M.

It’s an understatement to say they every line fits differently.  What sometimes is hard to understand is why the Men’s clothing lines have such a seamless sizing structure.  Men’s clothes sizes are all based on measurements.  Your waist measures either a 34, 36, 38, etc.  You will never fit in a 34 if you are really a 38.  The inseam or pant length is measured also, so you are a 32, 33, 34, etc.  A man with a 32”inseam will never look good in a pant with a 30” inseam.  It will look ridiculously short and people will wonder how he could have left the house.  Men’s dress shirts are also subject to these measurements; the neck and the sleeve length.  It all sounds so civilized, doesn’t it?  There are times that a male client doesn’t even have to be with me in order for me shop for their clothes.  The real difference is that 90-100% of my choices fit!!!  Shopping for men can be very quick and easy compared with women.

Why do I tell you all of this???  Should we just throw up our hands and decide that we will no longer strive to look good and stick with our old outdated clothes?  Certainly NOT!  What I am about to suggest may be shocking at first, but I really think you will get used to it in the long run.

What I tell all my clients is……YOUR SIZE IS WHAT FITS YOU!  Get it out of your head that you SHOULD be a certain size. You are what you are, and that’s the perfect size for you.  If it makes you feel better, take a scissor to all of the little size tags at the back of your garments.  Cut them off, throw them out and never think about them again!  Size, like age, is just a number, it’s a starting point.  If a size 12 doesn’t fit, try a size 14 for goodness sake!

Refuse to be categorized, and put into a box.  Be happy in the body you’re in, and the confidence you project will more than make-up for the extra 5 lbs. you think you need to ditch.  Once you’re wiped that look of pure shock off your face, give it some thought …it does make sense.

Despite the cold temperatures and recent rain, step into any store and you’d swear May flowers are already in bloom. Spring is in full swing, at least from a retail perspective. Remember, spring fashions were shown on the runways last fall. Retailers are chomping at the bit to push us forward despite the weather.

It’s an exciting season, and one loaded with possibilities. White is THE color of the season. Shirtdresses, tees, tunics, you name it, and it’s out there in white. Nude is also an important color this season. Paired with black, it’s elegant and understated. If you love all things blue, this is the year for you. Varied shades of blue are in; think navy, royal, sky and turquoise. If you can recall the color of your mid 70’s kitchen appliances, you’ll either rejoice or recoil when you see avocado, burnt orange or chocolate on the racks. Metallics continue to be a good investment, even if it’s just a piece or two. You’ll see some softer pastels, and brights like magenta, cranberry and acid yellow. Desert khaki and brown will continue to be a great substitute for black.

If I had to choose the most important piece this season, hands down, it’s the DRESS. You will see them all over in prints, florals, geometrics, polka dots and don’t forget vintage. It is the single most prevalent trend this season. Dresses are versatile and vibrant, practical and pretty. Paired with flats and a denim jacket they’re appropriate for day, with platforms and a cropped jacket or cardigan they’re ready to go out at night.

For most of us, flattering shorts are hard to find. They’re either too short, too high waisted or way too low. Meet the “city” short. It’s longer than a Bermuda, and shorter than a pedal pusher. City shorts can be worn with heels for a sophisticated work- appropriate outfit, and with a flat trainer and a t-shirt for the weekend. It’s a good substitute for capris and khakis.

The trench is making a big statement this season. They come in all lengths and colors, and, worn belted, they make an impression. A trench over city shorts or a fun skirt makes a definite splash.

Did someone mention skirts? No big surprise- they continue to be a staple this season. The A-line, dropped pleat and dirndl are all over the fashion magazines. They’re embellished and emblazoned with everything from embroidery to sequins. The good news for those of us with “real” figures is that the styles are flattering, fun and they FIT!

Sailor- inspired separates continue to impress. Pea coats, navy stripes and sailor pants are continuing their run as a dependable yet stylish look. A boyish vest is also a quick update to a pair of jeans or skirt.

Rounding out the fashion forecast are wedge and platform heels, flat and Grecian style sandals and handbags that are large and slouchy or softly structured. The “it” accessory is definitely the belt. It’s no longer worn low around the hips, but higher on the waist.

And lastly, ruby red lips are taking center stage in makeup. The rest of the face stays understated, letting the mouth do all the talking. With all of these fun trends on the horizon, my step has more spring in it already!