STYLEnosh

HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU'RE OVER ACCESSORIZED?

What a tricky question!

Here's my litmus test for determining if I have on too many accessories: if my earrings, necklace, rings or bracelet overshadow the actual outfit, then I've put on too many pieces. Take this picture for instance. At the time, I thought the earrings were a nice complement to the mandarin style jacket. Now reflecting back, I think they actual clash. Oh, and I have a necklace on too!

Big jewelry makes a big statement. And typically I'm all for making a big fashion statement. But I think too many large pieces can look like you're trying too hard.

A very stylish friend once told me to always remove one accessory after getting dressed. I think she got the notion from Coco Chanel. But who ever created it, it's great advice. My recommendation is: lose the earrings. 

What do you think? Are the accessories chic or cheeky?

HAVE MONEY, SHOULD YOU SPEND IT?

Say you have a wad of disposable income available at the end of each month. Your bills are paid and there's no lingering credit card debt. What do you do with that extra cash? Are you comfortable spending it on what you want instead of what you need?

I remember when the economy started making that slow, ugly turn and it was reported that many wealthy people didn't feel right shopping when the rest of the country was struggling financially. So the rich, like most other people, didn't spend much on non-essentials.  Now that things are looking better, people are ready to crack open their wallets. And people are spending some money. 

I'm glad that everyone's not putting a moratorium on shopping. (Like me!) That means the people who provide goods and services are making money and in turn, keeping their jobs. 

Not in the position to spend Saturday afternoon shopping and lunching? Do you feel resentment for those individuals that do? Check out this article in the New York Times on execs spending their bonus money. And read this clip from the Wall Street Journal on 2010 spending forecasts. One thing is clear, someone's buying something!

SASS, STYLE & SUBSTANCE BEST POSTS OF THE WEEK!

For this week’s best in beauty and fashion, check out these bloggers from Sass, Style and Substance!

Beauty Match Marion Cotillard’s hair at the 2010 Golden Globe Awards.

A Touch of Blusher A Touch of Blusher reviews two moisturizers from Pond's.

STYLEnosh Yes, you still don't need a bigger closet.

Splendicity Accessories Animal print accessories are a fun trend - here are a few picks from birds to zebras, to add a little "wild" to your life.

Have a stylish weekend!

image: Stock.xchg

YOU DON'T NEED A BIGGER CLOSET! Part 2

Image by ronnieb on morguefile.com

Last week I suggested that you don't need a bigger a closet. You really need a good closet purge. And now you've skillfully eliminated everything in your closet that doesn't work for your body or your lifestyle. You've dropped off or scheduled a pick up for your donations. (Well, at least you've got them boxed up and ready to go, right?) So what do you do with the clothing that remains?

All of the items left in your closet should be either a) things you can wear now, as is, or b) things that require some type of repair or alteration in order for you to successfully wear them. Let's tackle the latter of the two.

STEP 2 Make necessary repairs  This particular step is the toughest for me because I manage to put off doing any repairs until the day before I'm planning to wear the pants/shirt/skirt. By handling your repair items now, you'll not only eliminate unnecessary clutter, you'll also be adding more options to your wardrobe.

Do small repairs yourself like sewing on buttons and fixing simple ripped seams. Take bigger alterations to a tailor. If you don't have a tailor, ask your friends for recommendations. If you don't receive any recommendations, take a small repair job like hemming a pair of pants to a new tailor to see what type of work they do. If you like what you see, you just found a new tailor.

ARE THESE BOOTS REALLY PRACTICAL?

I'm scratching my head on this one. I was reading Lucky magazine online when I came across this link for flattering knee-hi boots. Intrigued, I clicked the link and I was really surprised by the options they provided. With the tag line of completely walkable, I figured they must be walking in places that don't have snow and ice. Cause I can assure you that walking in these heels in tricky conditions is not a wise idea. Maybe they're talking about doing the old switch a roo. Wear you switch into your sleek winter footwear after you reach your destination. But I'll put this question to the people: Are 4 to 5 inch boots a practical option for winter wear?

DON'T BE AFRAID TO ADD COLOR TO THOSE DRAB WINTER DAYS

I am a purveyor of color. I love working pops of it into most of the clothes I wear. And when the temps get cold, wet, and dreary, I make it a point to add some color. Just because the weather is blah, doesn't mean you have to be too.

Don't feel compelled to be super bold with color. Wearing colorful shoes or grabbing a bright hued handbag instead of a black one is all you need to make a sunny statement.

Here's what the outfit looks like when it was just a mere fashion notion.

 

POTENTIAL SHOPPING TRIP: WINTER COATS

If you're in the market for a winter coat, check out these picks for under $150 at Bluefly.com. These looks are simple and can easily be  carried into the next cold weather season.

At $139, this checkered swing coat by Hilary Radley makes a incredible statement in black and white. The eye-catching checks pair nicely with winter basics like jeans and black pants.

Latte By Coffeeshop offers this plaid military style for $144.  It's a trendier option but if you're the type of person who likes to have plenty of coat choices, consider adding this one to your repertoire. 

And if you happen to live in the frozen tundra, I've got a coat for you too! This Marc New York down coat is $149. It only comes in chocolate brown but it's definitely a wonderful combination of keeping warm and fashion-focused.

SASS, STYLE & SUBSTANCE BEST POSTS OF THE WEEK!

For this week’s best in beauty and fashion, check out these bloggers from Sass, Style and Substance.

Beauty Match Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Radiant Touch Highlighter.

A Touch of Blusher A Touch of Blusher looks at SUQQU's spring 2010 makeup collection.

Raging Rouge Raging Rouge is loving this OPI Exclusive-- match your manicure to your laptop!

Bags, Bling & Beauty Bags, Bling & Beauty officially loves vibrating mascara!

Splendicity Accessories A guy's guide to buying jewelry for your wife or girlfriend for Valentine's Day.

STYLEnosh STYLEnosh insists that you don't need a bigger closet.

Have a stylish weekend!

image: Stock.xchg

THIS WEEK'S SALES!!!

Image by wallyir on morguefile.com

This weekend is the King holiday so many stores will be promoting sales. Here are a few you may want to check out. And if you have an extra $5 or $10 to spare, consider donating it to Haiti relief efforts. Click here for ways to give. 

Bloomingdale's  Take 30-50% off select merchandise. There are some good deals to be sussed out. Grab your salad/sandwich combo and settle in for a nice hour of lunchtime shopping.

DSW   Take 50% off clearance prices.

Express  Take an extra 30% off clearance for men and women.

The Limited  Take 40% off all sale items. Prices online reflect sale price.

Tory Burch  The sale section is up to 60% off. And the shoe selection is really making me reconsider my no shopping resolution.

The Outnet.com  This weekend take an extra 40% off coats. The Outnet offers high-end designers at discounted prices. An extra 40% off makes the deal a little more sweet!

Barney's New York Outlets Take an additional 40% off select sale items. Click here for outlet locations.

YOU DON'T NEED A BIGGER CLOSET!

And you don't need an extra room to house your vast wardrobe. You need less stuff! I will never understand why people keep buying bigger spaces, just to fill up those beautiful closets with ill-fitting, outdated clothes. The only logical explanation I can come up with is that they must not realize that all that stuff they're lugging around is worthless. (Do you really need an extra clothing rack to keep all those cheap t-shirts?) The one thing I realized when I unpacked my clothes and loaded up my huge, walk-in closet is that I have entirely too much stuff. And since this time of year tends to motivate us to clean and get organized, I say it's the perfect time to purge those bulging closets!Let's tackle this process in moderately manageable steps. (I will be reviewing each of these steps in the next few weeks.)

STEP 1 Sort Your Wardrobe   Toss anything you haven't worn in the last year. By toss I mean either donate it to a charity or give it to a friend. For those of you with packed wardrobes or multiple closets, dispose of any items you haven't worn in two years. Now toss any items that don't look good on you. If you're not sure, ask a friend who will provide you with an honest answer. Please don't ask the person who looks absolutely dreadful in her own clothes. Rely on someone who has a good sense of style. 

Image: This is my new, way bigger closet.

Step one is easy for a lot of people. Until you get to the point where it's time to actually pack up all those tossed items and remove them from your home. I bet they stay in your house for at least another 3 weeks. (Note: My donation box has been sitting in my bedroom for 6 weeks!)

WAYS TO DRESS AROUND THE COLD TEMPS

"Welcome to Vermont!" That's what my neighbor told me yesterday. We live in southwest Florida but you'd never know with the near freezing temperatures we've experienced recently. When the thermometer dips and you add rain or snow to the mix, most people don't care about what they're wearing as long as they can stay warm. I think the trick to being warm and chic is layering.

So pull out those long johns (it's okay to admit you have them). And find those thick, cable knit tights. Add a shirt under your sweater. Trust me, that extra layer will be crucial to warding off some of that cool air.

If you live in the South, hold on. It won't be much longer before the warm weather returns. And if you live anywhere that won't see truly warm weather until about May, keep these extra layers in heavy rotation.

In this pic, I'm wearing a sweater from the beginning of the last decade. I knew it would come back to fashion relevance. Well, at least it's back to warmth, which makes it relevant. 

SASS, STYLE & SUBSTANCE BEST POSTS OF THE WEEK!

For this week’s best in beauty and fashion check out these bloggers from Sass, Style and Substance!

Raging Rouge Raging Rouge wonders: what are the best bangs for your face shape?

Bags, Bling & Beauty B,B&B profusely thanks Nine West for solving her shopping conundrum!

Beauty Match Sexy Celebs over 35 with short hair.

New York Spender NY Spender is giving away a Large Tote and a Cosmetic Bag from Saltbox Accessories! Hurry giveaway ends this Sunday!

Splendicity Accessories It's cold and snowy out there, but we need to have some fun, so let's go shopping for spring shoes!

STYLEnosh Re-think your approach to getting dressed this year.

A Touch of Blusher A Touch of Blusher reviews StellaNude by Stella McCartney.

Have a stylish weekend!

image: Stock.xchg