A Gilty Pleasure

With a few exceptions, you need to live in New York (or travel there often) to take advantage of the best sample sales. Thanks to the founders of Gilt Groupe, you can now attend equally fantastic sample sales from the comfort of home. Gilt Groupe is an invitation-only, online shopping experience. Visit their Web site for details on how to join their waiting list. You can find deals for women, men and children as well as luxury home goods … up to 70% off retail.




Gilt Groupe also has a division called Jetsetter, which offers travel discounts at luxury resorts around the world.

Whether you’re interested in browsing designer clothing or just looking for great deals, I recommend signing up to become a member of Gilt Groupe.

Time to Lash Out?

In the past few years it seems like more women are focusing their attention (and money) on their eyelashes.  There are now a multitude of options to quickly add dramatic length to your lashes. Eyelash extensions are a fun and easy way to finish your look.

The simplest method is going to the nearest drug store and purchasing a widely available brand, like Andrea. You simply add a little eyelash adhesive and apply with your finger or tweezers.  The next step up is an eyelash strip, which adds slightly more drama and is great for formal occasions where you’d like to stand out.  Strips are trickier to apply, so I’d recommend stopping by a makeup counter, like Mac, where they have a great assortment of strips and can either apply them or show you how to do it yourself.  The trick with the strip is that it usually needs to be cut down to fit your eye.  My personal favorite is Mac's Half Lash.

Eyelash extensions are the most time consuming option, but last several months and typically look very natural.  And then there’s the newest option on the market, an eye drop called Latisse which has been proven to grow eyelashes.  Time will tell if this becomes a popular alternative.   For now, I'm sticking to individual lashes or strips so I can remove them at night and rest my eyes.  And there are the rare occasions where you don’t want to stand out, right?  Maybe not.

A Pioneering Fashion Company

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When my parents would get ready to go out for an evening my dad would get ready as quickly as possible and then watch TV while my mom primped until it was time to leave. Like many dads, mine didn't give much consideration to his wardrobe and wore pretty much whatever my mom selected for him (which worked out well for him).

For many men today (including dads) that scenario has changed. Men now generally spend a lot more time and money on their look ... searching for a balance of style and comfort. Bonobos is a perfect example of the positive trends in men's fashion: their clothes are stylish, designed for the physiques of real guys, and affordable. Your significant other no longer needs to save his one pair of nice trousers for special occasions. He can look stylish every day in a variety of styles from this great new clothing company.

A New Source of Inspiration?

I recently ran across an article discussing an interesting shift in where women look for fashion inspiration.  Traditionally, magazines like Vogue and W introduced (and often dictated) the latest trends in women’s fashion.  Fashion magazines are now experiencing the pain felt by most print media, but there is another shift occurring as well.  Today, many women are looking first to the pages and websites of magazines like People and US to learn about the latest trends and labels.

While runway fashions are still governed by the major design houses, many women now receive their inspiration from paparazzi photos of Sienna Miller, Nicole Richie, Jennifer Aniston and other pop icons. Celebrities have undeniably always influenced fashion but, even so, fashion magazines are losing their position as the go-to resource.

In addition to looking to new sources of inspiration, today’s fashionable women are more interested in wearing what looks flattering on them rather than solely making a high-end fashion statement.  The most popular designers are often rewarded for finding the intersection of high-end looks and designs women are actually comfortable wearing.

Strapless Statutes

One of my favorite trends in fashion right now is the return of the classic strapless dress. Strapless dresses are no longer reserved only for formal events, but are now appropriate for a cocktail with friends or even a semi-casual lunch. What’s most fun about the new stance on strapless designs is the freedom you have to dress them up or down, depending on your plans.

When choosing a strapless outfit, there are some helpful guidelines that can make you more comfortable. For starters, if you decide to wear a strapless dress during the daytime, it’s a good idea to select a shoe that’s a bit more muted than you might choose for the evening. You can absolutely still wear cute heels, but it’s best to avoid anything too strappy or wild. You can wear heels that are low or high, depending on your preference, but nothing with a platform or anything that wraps around the ankle, e.g. too strappy. You should reserve your more pronounced shoes for the evening. (In full disclosure, I wear a 3-4 inch heel for most occasions). Shoes are primarily what transform the strapless dress from day to evening, with some persuasion from belts and jewelry as well.

When it comes to jewelry, the daytime-strapless look is best pulled off with simple (and few) pieces. Chandelier earrings are a great addition to the evening-strapless look and a necklace always tops off a more formal look. Finally, it’s advisable to avoid designs that are too clingy/tight for the daytime-strapless look as well. Those designs can definitely be saved for the evening.

So while summer is still here dress it up for a night, or for a day, and go strapless.

The Anti-Trend

Keeping pace with women's fashion is challenging. Some years it is wide-legged pants, tight to the knee and flared at the ankle. Other years it is straight leg, painted-on jeans. There are the colorful tops and (increasingly vintage) sunglasses, earrings and bracelets - all constantly evolving to the point you begin to feel that your wardrobe and accessories require an annual overhaul. While it's fun to experiment with new looks to see what feels best, you know that most of this year's coveted pieces will not see the light of next year.

There is one major exception to this rule: the classic dress. This is the wardrobe staple in which basic rules always apply, regardless of the year or season. The most beautiful dresses are timeless ... elements of your wardrobe that you can wear year after year. You have the option of adding a new belt or necklace, but the structure of a great dress never goes out of style. You can select a classic dress based on its clean lines, which flatter your figure and inspire you to look beautiful. A dress can be the easiest part of your wardrobe; an item you can turn to at the last minute - dressed up or down depending on the occasion.

While pondering the latest trends, remember that a dress is the only item in your wardrobe that can be considered an investment. As you stand in your favorite store, deciding which of the latest fashions to adopt, follow your instincts to the dress that caught your eye. Chances are, there will be opportunities to wear it five years from now and it will still make you feel great.