Burgundy, wine, dark rose, claret and almost any other shade of red imaginable showed up as a big hit at the Fall 2011 runway shows. Of these hues, burgundy will be especially popular, and for good reason. Burgundy, in all of its shades, both warm or cool, is an easy color for most women to wear. The industry is even saying “Burgundy is the new black.” To this I say, “Yeah!” I absolutely love burgundy! And I particularly love the mini trend, color scheme of burgundy, black and white/ivory. According to Lucky Magazine, it’s “crisp, sophisticated, and ultra-lush.” Because most of us have plenty of black and white in our summer wardrobes, this combination will be easy to do for that “it’s still hot outside, but I’m sick of my summer colors,” time of year. Simply add in a couple of lightweight burgundy pieces, and you’ll be set!

Just within the last week, I've heard the comment, "I'm not a teenager anymore, but I don't want to dress like my grandmother, either--I can't find any clothes," several times. I can understand how women don't think there's anything out there for them between the ages of 23 and 97, but really you have the largest number of chic, wardrobe options. Here are a few tips to follow for finding stylish clothing that feels appropriate for your image.

• Extremes in styles tend to be the trendiest. You may feel more comfortable in classic styles in modern shapes.
• If you prefer to look a touch trendy, choose one trendy piece to be the star of the outfit, and then the rest of the garments should be more basic, supporting the star.
• Fit is more important than ever. No matter what your body type or size, it's important to show your shape. Covering everything up from head to toes in baggy clothing only makes you look larger than you are, and ultimately matronly. And that's not a flattering description even if you're 97!
• Go for quality, luxurious fabrics in modern or even trendy styles.

Where to shop? Almost anywhere, avoiding the Junior department and departments clearly for elderly (Read more...)

In just a few mere days, all of the Fall Fashion Preview issues of the fashion magazines will be hitting the newsstands! Admittedly, it's a pretty exciting time of year for me. Although the magazines have been giving small glimpses of fall for most of the summer, September is when the big, thick, "bibles" hit. You may be wondering why I'm talking about this. It's simple, one word, okay well two: Wardrobe Planning! By seeing the new trends and designer offerings, you can begin to get a good feel for what you need to update and complete your wardrobe. (Read more...)