STYLEnosh

RETIREMENT CEREMONY: BLUE DRESS

A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned in a post that I was starting a new fitness boot camp and back to eating at least 70% raw foods. Well, it's the half-way point of the 4-week boot camp and this picture accurately displays the impact of my actions. This dress looks like it's hanging on me.

So it is with a wee bit of sadness and a lot of excitement that I retire this lovely blue dress. Due to its roomy capacity and paper bag-esque quality, I can no longer wear this dress and feel confident that I look good. (Even tying a scarf around the waist didn't the situation.) Its future home shall be with a dear friend or a charitable organization.

The bad news is I love this dress and I hate that I can no longer wear it. (And the silk material doesn't make it the best candidate for alterations.) The good news is it only cost around $8 and some change from Target. I got about 4 wears out of it. That means it cost a little over $2 per wear. I'd say that's not a bad deal. Oh, and the even better news is someone else will benefit from me losing some extra fat. Sounds like a win-win to me!

WhatWentWrong - WE WEAR NO SHORTS?

Okay, seriously. What the heck is this? I tried to figure out what this "bathing suit" was doing or supposed to do, but I got nothing. Is the bottom missing? Or is the top too small? And more importantly, why would anyone think that this type of swimwear would be a good idea for anyplace other than the privacy of her own home? It's not the best pic but trust me, you do NOT want to see the details.

As a general rule, you don't want to show your bum on a family beach on a Saturday afternoon. I feel bad for her preteen daughter (not shown) who was with her. You know she had to be embarrassed. Reminds me of the times my mom would wear a clear blouse and a white bra. The horror! And that was in the last 10 years.

Has your mom (or dad) ever worn anything in public that made you cringe? I'm sure the girl from this sad scene and I can't be the only ones.

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GILT GROUPE FINAL SALE!!!

I mentioned Gilt Groupe back in April when I talked about sites worth signing up for. Well, today they're having a fantastic final sale. You know I'm not a fan of final sales because it translates into no exchanges or refunds. But these sale prices are being slashed up to 90% off! If you're not offering your customers the option to return items, at least give them one heck of a deal. (The Limited and J Crew please take note.) If you're not familiar with Gilt Groupe, definitely check them out. You do have to be a member to participate in their sales. If you need an invitation, you can obtain one here:

http://www.giltgroupe.com/invite/stylenosh

Once you become a member, you can invite your friends and receive a $25 credit after each one of them makes a purchase. Now you know that's sweet!

The Deals

Here are some of the deals you'll find today:

• Twenty8Twelve shorts for $28, marked down from $185.

• Ali Ro silk dress for $88, marked down from $374. 

And don't forget, they also have stuff for men and kids too.

Oh, I almost forgot the most important thing you need to know about Gilt Groupe sales. The deals are usually so delicious that the merchandise goes quickly. If you see it and you want it, buy it. I promise you the top designers go extremely fast.

CREATING PERSONAL STYLE: TAKING CUES FROM MJ

I don't know about you but I have been reeling since Michael Jackson's death. Actually the unbelievability started the next day. I know people die, so that's not the thing that's got me all twisted. I guess I've been looking at his life holistically trying to understand how he got to the point where he passed too soon. And the thing that hit me was how much of an impact this entertainer had on my childhood. I can't see the Thriller or Beat It videos without getting up and mimicing his smooth moves. I swear it's like Pavlov's dogs!

That is the one thing that's been wonderful during this tragic time. Watching all of his dynamic videos. And while watching those videos, you can't help but notice Michael's unique sense of style. So what can we learn from the greatest.of.all.time? Here's my take on taking MJ's style and creating your own.

Kick Fear in the Butt!  This first comment is the foundation for inventing your own signature look. If you're afraid of what your friends will say or if your co-workers will approve, you will always be confined to dress the way other people think you should. (Note: This notion applies to where you live, the type of work you do, and your hobbies and interests.) If you want to wear polka dots and stripes, go for it! Some people will love it. Others will surely deplore it. The question is how does wearing it make you feel. When Michael wore one sparkly glove, the comedians had a field day cracking jokes. But I guarantee you there were more people donning one glove than laughing at it.

Try Different Looks   Keep trying different looks until you get the one (or ones) that look good on you. Your personal style is not like math. 1 +1 may not equal 2. Please don't be surprised if you pick out the perfect thing in the morning only to discover that it looks a hot mess when you put it on. Michael Jackson reinvented himself with every album. If you're still wearing the same clothes or hairstyle from 15 years ago, I assure you it's time for a change. Refer back to point one if you find yourself afraid to make a change.

Find the Leader in You  It never ceases to amaze me how many people are the same followers they were when they were in junior high school. Okay, back then it was important to appear cool. But now that you're in your 20s, 30s, 40s, and beyond, why are you waiting on someone else to provide you with validation before you proceed with anything. If your friends only shop at Bloomingdale's, it's okay if you want to see what's going on at H&M. Make a commitment to listen to that inner voice that knows what you like or what you're newly interested in. And follow accordingly.

Yes he was gifted and talented. But I honestly believe that one of the reasons Michael Jackson become such an iconic entertainer was his ability to be a leader. He could have never reached the pinnacle of success without trusting his instincts about what worked for him. Now I commission all of us to go out and do the same.

Final Thoughts  Today is the memorial or "going home" service for Michael Jackson. If you're at work, you can follow coverage on a ton of websites. I've been checking out AOL Music and MTV. CNN and HLN are doing all day coverage of the memorial service if you're near a television.

Goodbye Michael J. You're impact travels well beyond its global significance. It's been profoundly personal.

May you now have peace.

SINCE YOU KEEP ASKING: GOOD SITES FOR MATERNITY CLOTHES

I was at a bbq recently and one of my friends was there with a swollen belly. I didn't even know she was pregnant! After we got through the excitement of her pending baby, she asked me the question that all my pregnant friends ask me, "When are you going to write about maternity clothes." I usually laugh and say you know that's not my thing.

But today I feel like I should provide a little assistance to those mommies to be. So here are some places that you may want to check out if you're in the midst of hunting down maternity clothes that look good and don't require a second mortgage to afford. I intentionally stayed away from the usual places like Gap Maternity and A Pea in the Pod because if you're pregnant, you already know about them. Oh, and please keep in mind that these recommendations are coming from research and not personal experience. I don't have any kids, okay.

KiKi's Fashions Maternity   I found this site after doing a search for maternity clothes on Google, I stumbled across this cute little store. When I think of what I would want in maternity clothes, KiKi has it. Cheap and chic are the words that come to mind. The categories are color-coded, which makes it easy to find that purple top you've been searching for. Looks like $50 takes you a long way at KiKi's.

9 Months to Grow   There are plenty of lovely things to choose from at 9 Months to Grow. Cute name, huh? The items are this site cost a bit more than my previous recommendation but I think the clothes found here are perfect for those moms-to-be who are working in corporate settings.

Babies N Bellies  I like this site because they offer some diversity of thought when it comes to maternity clothes. From the lingerie section to the rock/urban picks, I can definitely dig it. I'm not big on skull and cross bone looks but the Bob Marley tank looks pretty cool.

Bella Blu Maternity  This site not only had cute clothes for mom and baby, they offer gifts for siblings too! Finally someone is thinking about those fantastic first borns!

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image: Stock.xchg

THIS WEEK'S SALES!!!

Anyone planning on shopping this weekend? Of course you are! It's the Fourth of July holiday weekend and it would be unamerican to not shop! Okay, that may be a bit of an exaggeration but you know the stores will be tempting you with tons of great specials all weekend. Here are a few you may want to check out.

The Limited - I perused the sale section and there are some good deals to be found. Skirts for $19.99 and plenty of tops for $9.99. I notice that they added a final sale section. Hmm...I really don't like this concept. Besides, final sale in my mind insinuates a fabulous deal. I don't think a dress that was originally $89 and is now marked down to $69 can be considered a good deal. If you're not giving me the option to return or exchange an item, at least make it worth my while. That's just me. Oh, and they're also throwing in free shipping this weekend. Use promo code 293.

Macy's - It wouldn't be Macy's if they weren't having a sale! Click here for all of the weekend specials. And click here for a shopping pass that will yield you another 15% off your purchases.

Bloomingdale's - Take 40% off a selection of summer items for men, women, and kids.

Old Navy - Take up to 50% off summer styles. It's Old Navy so you know the clearance rack is probably jammed with many gems waiting to be discovered.

Have a great weekend! Don't forget to share the wealth (i.e. let us know) if you find some phenomenal deals.

WHAT TO WEAR WHILE YOU'RE LOSING WEIGHT

Losing weight is fantastic! But when you can't fit into the clothes you just purchased 4 weeks ago, it can be a bit annoying. Trust me, I realize this is a good problem to have. But how do you manage it so that you're not investing in a new wardrobe every few weeks?

Since I'm experiencing this dilemma now, I thought I'd share my plan of action for looking good while losing weight without a huge financial commitment.

Dresses  I've been on the hunt for dresses for the last 3 months and that's before I realized that I'd be losing weight from working out and eating raw food. I have purchased the majority of my dresses lately from Ross because the price ($20 or less) is right and they are actually things I can continue to wear when I go down a size. (Note: I've found that strapless dresses with the ruching around the chest area is the best option because the top of the dress still fits as I get smaller. And the bottom of the dress just looks better as my lower half shrinks.)

Disposable pieces  Shorts from inexpensive stores like Old Navy or New York & Co.are a great way to get new items that fit now but may not fit when you lose more poundage in a month or two. The trick here is to buy things that don't cost a lot of money so you won't care if they no longer fit.

Alterations  I will do a few alterations on those timeless pieces that I know I'll want to continue to wear. Take the skirt pictured here. I just bought it at the end of May for $35 at the Michael Kors outlet. As I cut the tags and slipped it on, I quickly realized that it was a little bigger than when I first purchased it. Since it was a final sale, I can't take it back. This item will be making a trip to the tailor. (Note: I realize I look like I'm wearing a paper sack in this picture. The natural baggy style of this skirt required a fitted top so that the voluminous skirt was properly balanced. See, even I make a fashion faux paus every now and again.)

Why Even Bother Why is it important to wear clothes that look good on you while you're losing weight? Because walking around in baggy clothing all day does a number on your self- esteem. I know it seems like you should be ecstatic cause you're losing pounds, but mostly you just end up feeling like a slovenly slouch. Let the picture above represent exhibit A. So no, you don't have to buy a new wardrobe for each new size. But at least get a few pieces you can rotate so that you see the new you in all of its glory.

MAXI DRESSES: AN EASY SOLUTION FOR LOOKING GREAT!

Here's an example of how to wear a maxi dress and make it look sexy.

Being tall and lean makes this easy to pull off, but don't shy away from this style of dress if you don't have that exact body type. I have a long dress that looks pretty good on my 5'3'', athletic frame. (I'll be sure to snap a few pics of it to show you.)

This dress is fun, simple, and sassy! When looking good is this easy, please don't even think about suggesting that you don't have time to worry about what you're wearing.

The dress is the star of this look so rightfully, the accessories are kept minimal. And please note: Red lipstick and a beaming smile are the perfect accoutrement to just about anything you put on.