STYLEnosh

BOOT CAMP 4-WEEK UPDATE

Well, I finished my first boot camp!!! And I feel great! I'm a little bruised (rolling around on concrete will do that), but overall I feel pretty energized.

I've seen a little movement in the weight loss department. I lost a whole inch off of my hips! Everything is pretty much the same.

I'm learning that the secret formula for purging weight, and stored fat in particular, is all about what you eat. Please don't think you can workout 4 hours a day and lose weight if you continue to consume a high sugar, high sodium, high fat, and high processed food diet. I'm just saying...

Just in case you forgot what I looked like four weeks ago, here's the 'before' post.

And of course, I'll be monitoring my progress and posting another update at the beginning of September. The next boot camp starts August 10th. So if you'll excuse me, I have to go workout so I'll be ready for the fun!

SMART TRAVEL TIPS: PACKING FOR A LONG WEEKEND

Ah, a long weekend is definitely in order. Between boot camp and work, I'm due for a break. If you've been following this blog for a while, you are well aware of my commitment to packing lite. Not backpack light. I just don't like taking multiple bags and I absolutely despise checking luggage when I fly. I typically drive for my trips, which gives me a lot of flexibility. But I still work hard to keep my packing to one piece of luggage. Here's my packing plan for my upcoming 5-day trip.
                                                                                                                                  The break down looks like this:

• 1 pair of skinny jeans
• 3 pairs of shorts
  
  • white shorts (can be dressed up or down)
  • brown shorts (to wear when driving)
  • denim shorts
• 5 tank tops
• 4 shirts (incl. 2 tank tops that can be dressed up)
• 3 dresses (1 to dress up and 2 casual)
• 2 sweaters
• 1 scarf
• 1 pair of flats
• 1 pair of wedges
• 1 pair of kitten heels
• 1 pair of flat sandals   
• workout clothes
• 3 bathing suits
• 2 handbags
• a bunch of undies

And it all fits in this bag. Well except for the yellow handbag, which I will be carrying. But other than that, everything you see above is in this bag.

Do I need all of this stuff for 5 days? Of course not. But I believe in having options. I just like to have those options fit into 1 one piece of luggage instead of 4. Having too many choices usually causes you to spend too much time on your trip figuring out what to wear.

If you're looking for specific tips on how to pack smart for your next trip, check out this post I did a while back. It looks pretty generic but it has a lot of good tips to help you pack smart and enjoy your trip.

WHAT I'M WEARING - SIMPLE, BLACK DRESS CHIC

I love this dress. Well actually, it's a skirt that I choose to wear as a dress.  The ruching at the top makes it the perfect candidate to sport as a dress instead of its original intention.  And its simple, flowy style is the epitome of summer.

Paired with black white polka dot shoes and my new favorite Kate Spade clutch/tote, this easy look goes from shopping to dinner with very little effort. Oh, and it's the perfect piece of apparel to beat the summer heat.

 

SASS, STYLE & SUBSTANCE BEST POSTS OF THE WEEK!

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Eat Smart Age Smart Martha Stewart's Perfect Summer Picnic Recipes.

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My Women Stuff My Women Stuff asks you whats your favourite undereye concealer?

A Touch of Blusher A Touch of Blusher reviews SUQQU's Loose Powder in Natural.

Raging Rouge Raging Rouge explains how one pair of flip flops can magically turn into dozens... talk about a budget-saver!

STYLEnosh How to wear a maxi dress if you're on the short(er) side.

Splendicity Accessories Stock up on hot trends for Fall 2009 with Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale!

image: Stock.xchg

MAXI DRESS ON A SHORTER FRAME

A few weeks ago, I wrote a post on the ease and simplicity of wearing a maxi dress. And one of my faithful nosh readers asked my opinion on shorter women wearing these long frocks. I answered saying that I, with my 5'3" stature, had recently purchased a maxi dress and I would post some pics of me in it. I finally wore the dress and here are those promised pics!

First let me start with the particulars. I found this dress at Ross for $20. I actually balked when I saw the price tag because I had gotten used to spending only $12.99 on dresses at Ross. I almost left it there! lol But the color was too delicious to leave behind and the Grecian detailing was pretty nice for the price. So I said, "What the hey? Why not?" And I'm glad I did.

I'm not a proponent of dresses (or pants for that matter) that hit between the knee and ankle on most people. They usually end of cutting off the line of the leg, making you look shorter. But after wearing this maxi dress, I'd have to say it looks pretty good on my short-ish size. A reader also asked if I think short women should add a belt to the maxi dress look. And after doing that very thing myself, I'd have to say definitely add the belt. The belt creates a waist and displays your truer size. Without it, the dress may just balloon out and make you look pregnant (not cool if you're not with child) or just bigger than you really are (which is never cool).

If you're a short woman considering a longer dress, here are some tips for picking out something that works for your body:

* Accentuate your best features - I don't know if my arms and back are my best features but I think they look pretty sweet in this dress. Also, the ocean blue color pops on my skin. I got two compliments on the color alone!

* Wear heels - If you need a little boost to aid in the presentation of this particular style, just add a strappy heel. (Note: I've been nursing an injury for the last month so I'm wearing flats [some slight wedges] until my foot is back to normal.) The pointy toe and neutral color also work to extend the line of my legs, making me look longer and leaner.

* Make a small investment - It's summer time and who doesn't want to wear a fun summer look. If you're not sure about this style or you're not sure how long you'll keep the dress, don't spend a lot of money on it. I found my dress at Ross but there's also TJ Maxx, Marshall's, Forever 21, and Target if you're looking for trendy stuff on the cheap.

NOW WE'RE READY FOR A MORATORIUM ON MOM JEANS!

I totally missed this one and boy is it funny. You may haven seen the President throwing out the first pitch at the All-Star game last week. If not, here's the clip from CNN:

Now most of you know I'm no fan of mom jeans. I even got into an argument once with an old boyfriend that included the topic (because his friends accused me of not wearing undies since my low-rise jeans were really low and I yelled, "What do you want me to wear, mom jeans!). Yeah, that's a whole 'nother blog post.

Anyhoo, while President Obama's jeans do look a little dated (bland wash and fit) I don't think I'll classify them squarely in the mom jeans category. This lovely post shows my idea of mom jeans. Or check out this pic that shows me wearing a pair of old jeans from 15 years ago. At the time they were in style, but they just don't play very well in 2009.

If you're like the Prez and you think your mom jeans are "comfortable" and therefore justifiable, please know that you can get comfortable jeans that are affordable AND stylish. You don't have to compromise one factor for the other. For a good selection of jeans, go to a department store like Macys or JCPenney. And don't forget about stores like Gap and Lucky Brand. They always have a ton of jeans in various styles and washes to choose from.

So maybe now, after years of battling this bad fashion statement, we can finally banish the mom jean forever. This means YOU!

WHAT I'M WEARING - PLAIN AND SIMPLE

You all know I'm a proponent of dressing up and embellishing most outfits. Exhibit A and B should prove that point. Scarves, belts, and pearls. There really is no limit to my desire to accessorize a look. But on this particular day, I deviated from my typical stylized look.

A plain black tank and a simple blazer appear relaxed with these trouser jeans. Okay, I did add the black and white striped flats. But I know you didn't expect me to wear plain, black shoes. I was relaxed, not bored.

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Steeping Beauty Steeping Beauty has some thoughts on glamorous camping.

image: Stock.xchg

THIS WEEK'S SALES!!!

Liz Claiborne - Take 30% off all purchases over $75. And take 40% off all purchases over $125. Today is the last day for this sale. Sorry about that peeps. I totally snoozed on this one. Also note that the shipping at Liz is a flat $5 rate.

The Limited - It's friends and family time. Take 30% off of everything you buy online today. Then take 30% off in-store and online purchases Friday, July 17th through Sunday, July 19th. Click here for the coupon. Use code 335 for online purchases.

Lord & Taylor - Take 20% off almost everything. Check here for details. Use promo code TWENTY for online shopping.

Banana Republic - Another Final Sale with up to 70% off (meaning no returns or exchanges). There looks like there may be a deal or two to be found. Note that this sale is online only.

Urban Outfitters - Now this is my idea of a sale. UO has a $9.99 and under sale section. (Note to self: Must resist urge to buy cheap frocks I don't need.)

Bloomingdale's - You all know how much I love Bloomies but this sale sounds completely unappealing to me. Take $25 off of every $200 you spend. So if you spend $400, you'll save $50. Yeah, that makes me want to move expeditiously to their website.

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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