High Heel Heights

This is a fun segment I did for Mirror Mirror, on the Live Well HD network, on high heels and the proper height.
Enjoy!
www.livewellhd.com/video?id=7289751

How To Choose the Right Jean for Your Body

One question I get asked quite a bit is: What is the most important piece of clothing in one's wardrobe?

The answer to that question has changed a bit over the years but these days I would have to say that jeans are definitely at the top of the list. These days, as dress codes are easing up everywhere from work to evening parties, jeans are acceptable almost everywhere.

Jeans are easily the most versatile piece of clothing in your closet. They can go from casual to dressy with the change of a top. Jeans have become such a staple that now, it's easy to have a whole jeans wardrobe. Light, medium and dark colored, skinny, straight, boot cut and wide leg, jeans for flats and jeans for heels; I, personally, find all of these to be important!

Here are some guidelines for fitting and buying.

Price:

Just go ahead and get over the cost of premium denim already! Jeans last for years and as I have already said, they are the most versatile thing in your closet. INVEST in at least 2 great fitting pairs of jeans, one for high heels and one for flats.

Fit:

1. Consider your needs. Dressy or casual? Boot cut or skinny (to tuck into boots)? If you want a dressy denim go dark, for casual go light. For something in between dressy and casual choose a good medium to dark blue.

2. When heading out to try on jeans, panties make a big difference in the way your jeans look on your rear end. No granny panties please. Thongs are best. (I highly recommend Hanky Panky's)

3. Great fitting jeans now come in a variety of rises; low, mid and high. Choose the one that you feel the most comfortable in.
*Ultra low isn't a good choice for anyone. No one wants to see your panties...ever!

4. Buy your jeans as snug as you can comfortably wear them. Trust me! They WILL stretch, I promise! They will stretch the least in the waist band and the most in the rear and thighs.

5. Check out your rear end, it is one of the most important things to consider when buying jeans. You want your jeans to give you a cute "bubble" not "pancake".

6. Length is VERY important. Consider the shoe you are going to wear, the hem of the jeans should be dragging the floor just a bit. Again, trust me! Jeans shrink in length over time. If your are shopping for a skinny, below the ankle is a good length.

7. Jeans should not gap in the waist. If it gaps, there is a better fit out there for you.

8. Not too loose behind the knee.

9. Choose a jean with a little stretch in them. This won't be difficult as most premium denim is about 2% Lycra or spandex. This helps the jeans hold their shape. 100% cotton will loose it's shape after a few hours of wear.

Alterations:

1. Don't let the long length of jeans scare you away! You can always shorten them but you can't make them longer!

2. Before having your jeans altered, wash them first. Most jeans shrink (in length only) about a quarter of an inch the first time you wash them.

3. Take the highest heel you are going to wear with your jeans and have your alterations person leave them dragging the floor just a bit. They will shrink in length again after alteration (as well as a little more over time).

4. The proper length for your jeans is almost touching the floor.

5. Many alterations places can now put the original hem back on the jeans. Find a tailor in your area who can do this. It's not much more expensive and it's completely worth it.

Care:

1. Jeans are meant to be washed and dried. Drying your jeans shrinks them back to their original size. If you don't dry them they just continue to stretch and grow.

2. Do not dry clean. It ruins the stretch.

3. Wash new jeans separately a few times. The dyes they use on jeans can wash off on other items in the wash.

Faux Pas:

1. A bad fit: flat rear, gaping waist, too big, too small, etc.

2. Muffin top. If the jeans are squeezing your "fluff" over the sides of the waist band, it's not a good fit.

3. Too short. Jeans should be almost touching the floor. Anything else just doesn't look polished.

4. No peek-a-boo panties.

5. Don't buy a jean that doesn't fit you right just because of the brand. There are so many good brands available you should be able to find a good one for your body type.

Tricks :

1. The darker the denim, the slimmer you look.

2. If your jean is the proper length, long, it will make you look taller. An ironed crease and/or seams stitched in another color running down the leg also makes you look taller.

3. For an instant butt lift, look for a jean with a curved yoking. The yoking is the thick seam in between the waist band and the pockets.

4. Pocket placement is important. Pockets that sit too far apart on the rear can make your rear look wide. Consider that some larger pockets can make your rear look smaller.

*Bonus Info*

Here are a few brands I recommend for certain body types.

Boyish figure- Paige , Rock and Republic

Normal to a little curvy- Citizens of Humanity, Hudson, Red Engine (mid rise)

Super curvy (most jeans gap in your waist)- Joe's Honey, Cookie Johnson/ CJ Denim (for mid rise)

Apple shape (if you gain your weight in your tummy and have thinner legs)- Paige

Tall- Rock and Republic, Hudson, Paige

Ask and Ye Shall Receive!

Have a fashion question? Ask me under a comments section!

How To Wear Boots and Booties

My favorite thing about fall is getting a new pair of boots and this year the selection was outstanding! From the high end brands to the low end brands EVERYONE made beautiful boots! Over the knee, riding, mid-calf, ankle, high heel, flat, open toe and jewel toned; I was like a kid in a candy store, I wanted them all!

With all the new styles to choose from, you may be wondering how to wear them. Here are a few helpful tips and a boots and booties segment I did on Live Well HD Network's Mirror Mirror.

http://www.livewellhd.com/mirrormirror/story?id=7103478

Over the knee boots:

Over the knee boots, in a high heel or flat, can be worn with leggings, skinny jeans or a short dress or skirt with tights. Keep the colors similar. Too many colors will break up the look, not to mention your body. Be sure to choose your boot carefully. The over the knee boot is meant to be luxe so choose one in a luxe fabric like suede or a supple leather. Watch out for a platform that is too high or ostentatious and stay away from patent leather. As I said before, the look should be luxe not "Pretty Woman".

Question: Can petite women wear over the knee boots?

Answer: Yes! If you are petite, choose a boot with a high heel . A boot with a small platform will elongate the leg and also give room for a longer heel making you look taller. Make sure you choose a boot that doesn't come up too high over the knee. If you are wearing a dress or skirt make sure that the hem comes slightly above the top of boot.

Stuart Weitzman made beautiful over the knee boots this year. (shown above)

Tall and Riding Boots:

Tall/high heel boots and riding/flat boots can be worn the same ways as the over the knee boot. They look great with short dresses and skirts (with or without tights), leggings and jeans.

Great boots by Kelsi Dagger.

Mid-Calf Boot:

The mid-calf boot is great back to skinny jeans or leggings with a jacket or tunic. If you have really great legs, try a short dress with tights! Keep the colors similar as this is a tricky look to pull off. You don't want to cut yourself off at the calves. If you have thick or athletic legs you may want to stay away from this boot height. Try an ankle boot instead.

Love this Jessica Simpson boot!

Ankle Boot:

The ankle boot is soooo versatile this year! Dresses, skirts, jeans (skinny and boot cut), leggings, jumpers, the ankle boot goes with everything. They come in fun colors, with hardware, cut outs and closed and open toes. So just enjoy them!

Question: Is it okay to wear tights with an open toe boot?

Answer: Yes!

Can't go wrong with this classic black Louboutin. I love this rich royal blue Marc by Marc Jacobs!

How To Tie A Long Scarf

Long scarves are one of the best trendy accessories out there! You can wear them all year long! They are great with coats and jackets of course but try jazzing up a pain tee shirt or dress . Here are a few super simple ways to wear a long scarf!
The Slip Knot:



1. Fold your scarf in half
2. Wrap the scarf around the back of your neck
3. Pull the two loose ends of the scarf through the looped end
4. Adjust to comfort...not to tight, it's meant to be a little loose
Styling tip: This look is good for wearing with jackets.


The Wrap Around: (My personal favorite)



1. Begin with the scarf at full length
2. Place the center of the scarf in the front
3. Cross the ends in the back and bring them back around to the front
Styling tips: The ends of the scarf don't have to be even in the front. Adjust them to make them a little off for an effortless cute look. This look is good for wearing with tees and tanks.

Variation on the Wrap Around:


Keep wrapping the scarf around until the ends are as short as you want them to be.

Over the Shoulder:


1. Place scarf around your neck
2. Take one end and toss it over your shoulder

The Hang:



1. Place the scarf around your neck and let hang
Styling tip: This look is great for jackets and tees.

The Twist:



1. Place the scarf around your neck
2. Hold both ends and twist one end until the whole scarf begins to coil up
3. Wrap the scarf around your neck one more time and knot
Styling tip: Another great look for a jacket!




Don't be afraid to play and get creative, that's what makes scarves a great accessory!

How To Take Your Summer Wardrobe To Fall

Living in the Houston heat often means that when September rolls around we are not quite ready to put away our cool summer clothes. On a recent Mirror Mirror segment I give a few tips on how to transition those pieces from summer to fall.

http://livewellhd.com/video?id=7012176

Cool Tools

Nothing will ruin the polish of a great outfit like not having the right tools to combat common fashion faux pas. Here are some of my favorite products that make being a well-put-together woman easier!

The Bra Clip: Ladies, bra straps are ugly and they look trashy hanging out of a sleeveless top.

DIMRS: DIMRS work great for days when you can't wear a bra. They are heat activated and stick to you. I swear by these. They are great under backless dresses or tight fitting tees.

Cup Inserts: These are great for tops that have the triangle boob. The triangle boob can be really unflattering no matter what size your bust is. You can just insert these into the bust part of your top for instant shape and support. This is also great for the women who needs a little more support than DIMRS.

Body Shapers and Slips: Whether you need to conceal an inch or two or just smooth your silhouette, body shapers are a must! They are great for fabrics that are see-through or clingy. I love the maxi dress trend like everyone else but I don't love the dress wedgies I see walking around with them!

Popper Stoppers: I found this product while shopping for one of my prego clients. You just put it over your belly button for a smooth line. A must if you are pregnant!

Hanky Panky Thongs: I am absolutely convinced that these are the worlds most perfect panties! They are comfortable, pretty and they lay completely flat. Even if you do not like thongs (which, by the way, is an absolute must in your wardrobe) I think you won't mind these.

*Side note confession: I have have on occasion accidentally worn them backwards and inside out and not noticed until later in the day.

Hollywood Tape: Never leave home without it! This tape sticks well to fabric and skin! This tape is perfect for holding a low cut top in place, a quick fix on a hem and about anything else you can imagine when you are in a jam.

Miss Opps: I love this product also! This little sponge will remove deodorant, dirt, some make-up and other random spots from your garments in seconds! No water needed and easily fits in a make-up bag.

Tide Stain Pen: For the stains that are a little more serious. This also fits right into your make-up bag.

Dr. Scholls High Heel Inserts: These are tremendously helpful for those long high heel wearing days. They are made for strappy so you don't have to worry about them showing.








Band-Aid Friction Block: How great is this product?! Roll it on before you put on a new pair of shoes and it will protect you from blisters!