http://www.more.com/dgroups/persona.jsp?userId=a782d5e74bf4c3a32be21e318fee8768&plckPersonaPage=PersonaBlog ]]> Wed, 01 Apr 2009 15:12:00 GMT http://www.more.com/dgroups/persona.jsp?userId=a782d5e74bf4c3a32be21e318fee8768&plckController=PersonaBlog&plckScript=personaScript&plckElementId=personaDest&plckPersonaPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3aa782d5e74bf4c3a32be21e318fee8768Post%3a90aeab30-563b-4e24-9706-27fbbcacae62 Wed, 01 Apr 2009 15:12:00 GMT Don’t wait until June to look for a swimsuit -- all the good styles will be gone, not to mention all the popular sizes (think you’re the only 8/10??). If you’re like me, you want choices, and choices do not come to those who wait until the last minute. Also, there’s nothing like an hour spent in front of a three-way mirror (with fluorescent lights!) trying on swimwear to inspire you to get to the gym a little more frequently. But because we at MORE get to see all the styles before they hit the racks at your favorite store, we can give you a heads-up on what to expect: great technology, lots of graphic prints; metallics, and cobalt blue (THE color for summer).

Technology. Lots of makers are using hi-tech fabrics that slim and tighten lumps and bumps, without giving up comfort (no, you won’t feel like you’re wearing a girdle. Trust me, when you need a little more help, this is what you want to use. We love Miraclesuit. They claim their suits will make you look 10 pound slimmer in minutes, and we loved what we saw. Go to miraclesuit.com. Lands’ End also has a collection (landsend.com) that we like (look for earth tone prints), and the solids at Kenneth Cole (kennethcole.com) are winners.

Prints. If you feel safe in a solid, here’s news: prints may be more camouflaging. We love all the graphic motifs on the market, but there’s a lot to choose from. Our advice? Go for smaller prints, and avoid horizontal lines. Ones we love: tons of styles to choose from at Jansen (at major department stores), great colors and leaf prints at Tommy Bahama (tommybahama.com).

Blue. This is THE color of the summer season, and it comes in a myriad of hues. No matter what your hair color or skin tone, trust me when I tell you there’s a great, flattering shade out there for you. Our fashion team was wowed by the suits at Anne Cole (the Santorini collection especially, sold at macys.com) and Vix (available at vixswimwear.com).

The Skirtini. If you’ve ever longed for a bikini bottom with a bit more...coverage...help has arrived. Just as you’d think, these bottoms have skirt overlays incorporated into the design, so you get the sex-appeal of a two-piece with the security that comes from additional fabric. Best of all, since companies offer suits sold as separates, you can choose your favorite (most flattering) top to go with! My advice? Buy your bottom in a solid color (simple, sleek, slimming), and have fun (prints, stripes) with what’s on top. We recommend Lauren By Ralph Lauren (macys.com), Eres (eresparis.com) and Aerin Rose (aerinrose.com).]]> http://www.more.com/dgroups/persona.jsp?userId=a782d5e74bf4c3a32be21e318fee8768&plckController=PersonaBlog&plckScript=personaScript&plckElementId=personaDest&plckPersonaPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3aa782d5e74bf4c3a32be21e318fee8768Post%3a90aeab30-563b-4e24-9706-27fbbcacae62 http://www.more.com/dgroups/persona.jsp?userId=a782d5e74bf4c3a32be21e318fee8768&plckController=PersonaBlog&plckScript=personaScript&plckElementId=personaDest&plckPersonaPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3aa782d5e74bf4c3a32be21e318fee8768Post%3a561291c8-d92e-4771-8545-0572b2f7cb2f Thu, 26 Mar 2009 14:19:00 GMT As temperatures are rising across the country, and I’m sure you can hear the audible sigh of relief from those of us who live in the Northeast, it means the near-end to stuffing feet into boots. Free your feet, I say! Not ready for sandals? Worried that you have to give up comfort? Relax. There are loads of warm-weather shoe options that will keep you in happy feet.
 
1. Look for comfort technology. Kenneth Cole has a line called Reaction that makes great use of shock absorbers built right into the foot bed. There are lots of flat styles to choose from (in a myriad of colors), that will keep you comfy all day long. Cole Haan uses Nike Air technology to the same great effect. Designer Taryn Rose, a former podiatrist, has built a company on putting comfort first. Rose uses Poron, a foam developed by NASA, to soften her foot beds.

2. The classic driving shoe. J.P. Tod’s has been making a driving shoe for ages, and it feels like a slipper. It comes in a bunch of different colors and I promise you, your feet will thank you. Not up for that price tag? Look for similar versions from other manufacturers, like Geox and Via Spiga. Best advice? Choose a pop of color (the brighter the better) and wear them with one of spring’s best trends, the cigarette pant.
 
3. Ballet flats. They’ve been around for ages (Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn loved them) and they are and will always be a chic, comfortable alternative. This season look for touches of hardware and embellishment. Where to buy? Delman, French Sole.

4. Flat riding boots. I KNOW, I said no more boots, but this is my one exception. A flat riding boot in a light color (tan is best) is a great transitional choice. Cute over jeans or paired with tights and a dress, it looks young and very chic. The boots at Lauren Ralph Lauren are great.

5. Espadrilles. The French created this style long ago (for walking over pebbled beaches, I think), and it’s still a great idea. Look for versions in bright colors, with rope details, and in chunky stripes, and if heels are kept low you’ll have all the comfort of a flat with the added bonus of a little height. Best bets for where to shop: Nine West, MICHAEL Michael Kors, and Vera Wang Lavender Label.

]]> http://www.more.com/dgroups/persona.jsp?userId=a782d5e74bf4c3a32be21e318fee8768&plckController=PersonaBlog&plckScript=personaScript&plckElementId=personaDest&plckPersonaPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3aa782d5e74bf4c3a32be21e318fee8768Post%3a561291c8-d92e-4771-8545-0572b2f7cb2f http://www.more.com/dgroups/persona.jsp?userId=a782d5e74bf4c3a32be21e318fee8768&plckController=PersonaBlog&plckScript=personaScript&plckElementId=personaDest&plckPersonaPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3aa782d5e74bf4c3a32be21e318fee8768Post%3a0791eaec-f2cb-44aa-97c0-dda56a8b4168 Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:13:00 GMT My mother had a friend who collected brooches -- all faux and all fabulous. She had hundreds of them, stored in Plexiglas boxes and stacked neatly in her closet. I used to go through them from time to time, and one day she gave me a few of my favorites. I was young, and had no idea what to do with them, but I saved them in my jewelry box for years. And then one day I pulled one out and pinned it to the satin waist sash of a cobalt blue skirt I had. Turns out it was a good idea. I liked the look so much that I went to a local trimming shop and bought a couple of yards of satin ribbon in different colors. I started pinning brooches right and left, cinching skirts, cardigan sweaters, dresses, and once even a light-weight coat. Now don’t get me wrong, this isn’t an idea I invented...but rather discovered (after all, J. Crew is showing the trend, and to my knowledge no one from that company has been in my closet lately). You say you haven’t got a windfall of pretty brooches from a friend or relative? Nothing to worry about. Costume jewelers Carolee and R.J. Graziano, both sold in major department stores, make wonderful things.]]> http://www.more.com/dgroups/persona.jsp?userId=a782d5e74bf4c3a32be21e318fee8768&plckController=PersonaBlog&plckScript=personaScript&plckElementId=personaDest&plckPersonaPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3aa782d5e74bf4c3a32be21e318fee8768Post%3a0791eaec-f2cb-44aa-97c0-dda56a8b4168 http://www.more.com/dgroups/persona.jsp?userId=a782d5e74bf4c3a32be21e318fee8768&plckController=PersonaBlog&plckScript=personaScript&plckElementId=personaDest&plckPersonaPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3aa782d5e74bf4c3a32be21e318fee8768Post%3a20857796-6d39-40fa-a271-5440767e1129 Thu, 26 Feb 2009 21:56:00 GMT It was fashion week in New York last week, and I’d be remiss not to give you a glimpse at what you can expect come fall. Fashion, it seems, is teetering on two different sensibilities: the excess of the 1980’s versus the sobriety of the 1990s. Let’s face it, the 80’s and 90’s were opposite decades in terms of fashion. The colorful exuberance of the 80’s (think Studio 54) was quickly stomped on the dressing room floor by the sleek austerity of the 90’s stylings. This fall, designers will offer renditions of the clothes from both decades: Donna Karan and Vera Wang both presented somber shows, choosing to scale back the embellishment and luxury of the last two years. The look: Lots of black, and more black. But Marc Jacobs, Isaac Mizrahi and Michael Kors are ready for amusement: bring back the neon, the fur, the fun! This fall you will see lots of different looks, and, depending on your mood (and, possibly, the economy), the choice is yours.]]> http://www.more.com/dgroups/persona.jsp?userId=a782d5e74bf4c3a32be21e318fee8768&plckController=PersonaBlog&plckScript=personaScript&plckElementId=personaDest&plckPersonaPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3aa782d5e74bf4c3a32be21e318fee8768Post%3a20857796-6d39-40fa-a271-5440767e1129 http://www.more.com/dgroups/persona.jsp?userId=a782d5e74bf4c3a32be21e318fee8768&plckController=PersonaBlog&plckScript=personaScript&plckElementId=personaDest&plckPersonaPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3aa782d5e74bf4c3a32be21e318fee8768Post%3a697ef7b1-e7d0-4768-91c3-6f1818f0ba55 Mon, 23 Feb 2009 05:59:00 GMT American Eagle’s older, more sophisticated sister has arrived in the form of a new line called Martin + Osa. The clothes could be described as sportswear essentials -- jeans, sweaters, shirts -- that are on-trend and priced right. I was amazed at the styling and the selection. Some of my favorites: long cashmere cardigans in a host of colors (they look great belted), denim in every cut and wash imaginable (priced well under $100 a pair), chic swimsuits designed by Madison Avenue boutique owner Malia Mills, fantastic jewelry (I love the heavy chain necklaces and hammered gold earrings). Want to check it out? Go to martinandosa.com.]]> http://www.more.com/dgroups/persona.jsp?userId=a782d5e74bf4c3a32be21e318fee8768&plckController=PersonaBlog&plckScript=personaScript&plckElementId=personaDest&plckPersonaPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3aa782d5e74bf4c3a32be21e318fee8768Post%3a697ef7b1-e7d0-4768-91c3-6f1818f0ba55