Studs and spikes, spikes and studs. There is so much going on with this trend, I had to make it a two-parter. Check out my article, “Couture Allure,” in Wearing Ink Digital Magazine (www.wearingink.com), to read more on how to incorporate this trend into your wardrobe.

An easy way to ad a little edge to a t-shirt, sweater or jean jacket, is to pair it with a studded bra or leggings. This will take any outfit up a notch…or several.

Headgear: shades and hats. The beauty of a good pair of sunnies and a hat is that you can be dressed and ready in minutes. Light makeup and a red lip looks great with these bold spiked shades. And if you put on a hat you don’t have to spend the time on your hair. Put in a little tease or a cool braid and you’re set.

Fabulous nails are on trend right now. Every shade, shape, pattern, texture…the more intricate the better. So why not spike them out? Go to a top salon or press them on. They say you can always tell a lady by her hands. Let your hands do all the talking with these great studded designs!

If you have seen an actress or pop star recently, Christina Aguilera, Katy Perry or even Kelly Osbourne, you may have noticed there is a trend among celebrities and their hair. They have donned purple hair, blue hair, blonde with pink bangs or black with red tips.  Even Joan Rivers was not above clipping in some color!

Unlike many trends of today, this one was not born of the celebrities or their stylists.  I dare say, it did not even begin on the runways of fashion week.  If you pick up any tattoo magazine or “alternative” fashion magazine, you will find many of the models inside with locks every color of the rainbow. These gorgeous ladies have been doing it for years.

You could say it all started decades ago with the punk rockers, and you would be right. But the difference between then and now is, this is quality work. Most people are not running out and getting Kool-Aid or box color and doing this themselves. The hair styling industry has evolved and women are now paying top dollar to their salons to get their hair done in the most unique colors. With the trend’s increasing popularity, you see more intricate color options, ombre effects, and even extensions.  No longer just for the rebels or the rock & rollers. Couture coiffure has gone mainstream!

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There are some people who choose to have a very defined style. I, on the other hand, prefer to be more eclectic. I always want to look great wherever I go, and where I am going usually dictates my style. It’s especially interesting when I am traveling. I always try to pack to prepare for the weather,  but I also love taking in the local culture and trends and incorporating them into my outfits.

Think of this as your “Traveler’s Guide to Great Style.”  When in Rome…or, wherever.

I recently spent time in Crete, Greece. I came equipped with sun dresses and casual pants, but my style really evolved once I spent a few days in the country.

Below I am wearing a vintage-inspired halter blouse/dress, worn with shorts. I brought this dress with me and since I was going out at night, I paired it with black Halston heels. It is very hot in Crete in the summer, so I am wearing my hair up with minimal makeup.

This was a beach day, so I wanted to wear something easy, yet stylish. This is a vintage knit dress from Vintage by Misty (Phoenix) and sunglasses (Burberry).

Trip to Santorini! I wanted to be as comfortable as possible. It was a day-trip, which means boat travel, walking and shopping.  I chose to wear all white: linen pants (Anthropologie) and a white tank. By this time I had acquired some jewelry, new comfortable sandals and a small shoulder bag, so I incorporated them into my look. It was a relief not carrying around a large purse, with all the walking we did in Greece. This bag was truly a life-saver.  I still haven’t converted back to my big purse since I’ve been home!

Towards the end of the trip, I had gone native. I was tan, so even less makeup was required. I had given up on blowdrying and curling my hair, so I just wore it with it’s natural wave and pinned it out of my face. The shirt was purchased in Crete, a beautiful knit/lace crop top. The skirt is a sheer wrap-style that was perfectly light. No heels, flats all the way. The earrings are gold hoops and the bracelet is a beaded cuff, both of which I picked up in Greece.

So, now you have seen my summer-suited travel fashion, let’s move on to a cooler climate. A few years ago I traveled to France. I brought all of best party clothes and heels. Boy, was THAT a mistake.  In crisp weather, layering is key.

Below is a photo taken in Nice. I wore black skinny jeans, a striped dress, a purple leather jacket (Bebe) and purse (Guess). It was windy by the ocean, so I threw on a hat and some sunnies (Versace). I wore the red heals (BCBG Maxazria) for a pop of color, and I think this was the ONLY time I wore anything other than boots.

For a day of serious shopping in Paris – in the rain – I didn’t want to be weighed down by a heavy coat, so I opted for black pants, boots, and a cable-knit sweater over a long sleeve shirt. Topped off with a hat, I was comfortable and able to navigate the streets and shops (ahem, Chanel).

Paris is ALL about the scarves. Fortunately, I came prepared. In this last photo, I am wearing my Paris go-to attire: my black wool coat (Banana Republic), a scarf, boots (Nordstrom), leather gloves (Banana Republic) and sunnies. Since I was forced to dress warm, I decided to mix it up by wearing hot pink leggings.

Traveling really gives you a chance to be creative and show some ingenuity with your style. You will almost always have wonderful photos of your experiences, and it’s a great opportunity to take notes from the local people and culture.  You can also incorporate what you learned into your regular circulation at home.

If you ever need help to shop, pack and prepare for your trip…call me!

It’s summer! And nothing makes your wardrobe stand out in the sizzling summer heat than a pop of color – on your lips! So, while you might be inclined to just throw on some cutoffs and sunblock, try soaking up the sun in style with these great ideas.

Pink and red are the stand out colors for summer.  Since the colors themselves are statement colors, you would want to pair them with a more neutral eye for the daytime.

Transition to night by adding a bit more drama:  dramatic or colorful eyes, shown below.

Two of my favorite looks are the pale lip and the really dark lip.  With these looks, the eye makeup really makes all the difference when it comes to the impact of the color.

With the pale or nude lip, when you pair it with a neutral eye, it makes for a more feminine, day look. When you pair it with a smoky eye, it becomes a very dramatic look.

The dark lip is dramatic regardless of the rest of the makeup on your face. The more pale the eye makeup, the more the dark lips pop – making for a very fashion forward look.  With colorful eye makeup you have to be careful not to look clownish. But, if done correctly, you end up with a very rich, luxurious look.

Remember, there are no rules. You no longer HAVE to have minimal eye makeup to make a dramatic lip appropriate or fashionable. Feel free to be daring. As long as your face is working WITH your clothing and not AGAINST it, you will always look great.

I love it when the weather changes, because this is when I feel I get the most use out of my clothes.  Especially the transition from summer to fall, because I can still wear all of my favorite summer looks, but I get to mix them up with scarves, jackets and hats! So ladies, don’t put away all of your fabulous summer apparel just because you feel a chill in the air. Here are some examples of how you can incorporate your summer staples into your fall wardrobe…

H&M Fall 2011 Collection

H&M Fall 2011 Collection

Wear your summer dresses well into fall! Just add leggings and boots or booties, throw on a cool leather jacket and bag and you are ready to go. An alternate option would be to layer with an intricate tank or shirt underneath the dress, or even a great blouse on top and make the dress into a skirt.  And a colored stocking with a plain white or black heel is always a great way to bring your outfit into fall.

Dior Fall 2011 Collection

Gucci Fall 2011 Collection

Keep the color alive! Color made a big statement on the runways this fall season. So feel free to rock your colors this fall

Chanel Couture Fall 2011 Collection

Michael Kors Fall 2011 Collection

By all means, wear white after Labor Day! All rules are out the window. White is always in season. When worn appropriately, it adds class to any look, and when paired with black, ahem, can we say Chanel?

Hopefully these tips have helped you get a little more use out of your favorite summer pieces. Remember, fortune favors the bold and fashion should be fun!

I love a good hat…

I know there are many people out there who are afraid of hats. Literally – afraid of them. And I have to say, I kind of see where they are coming from. There have been many a hat faux paus throughout history. But there are two rules when it comes to wearing hair apparel:

1. Wear the hat, don’t let it wear you
2. Keep the rest of your ensemble simple, so your hat doesn’t resemble the topper on party cake.

That being said, I love hats, headscarves and the like, and I always encourage ladies (and gentlemen) to brave the initial shell shock and sprinkle their wardrobe with some great toppers.

Philip Treacy Hat

Vintage Hat

I tend to lean towards vintage or handmade – one of a kind pieces, just so they really make a statement.

Another favorite of mine is the head scarf, simply because of its versatility. It can be used as a headband or you can pull all of your hair up in it like a turban.  It’s great for any season too!

Don’t worry boys, I haven’t forgotten about you! I love a man in a hat as well, and there are so many options out there for you.

I truly believe that the more accessories you have, the more interesting your wardrobe is and the more adventurous you feel when you walk out the door. So adding hats and headscarves to your closet helps to give your wardrobe a little more personality! Remember, fortune favors the bold and fashion should be fun!