Tweed It!

Now that it seems Winter is here to stay, it's time to break out all of the heavier sweaters and jackets. And, tweed seems to go simultaneously with winter. When most of us think of tweed, we think of classic Chanel suits and Jackie O. However, most of our budgets can't swing Chanel. But, that doesn't mean we can't take part in this traditional look.

One problem with tweed is that it can sometimes look a little old lady. To spice it up, don't wear a full tweed suit. Try wearing just the skirt with a trendy top and shoes. Or, try wearing just the coat over a solid colored dress. If you are going to wear head-to-toe tweed, try breaking up the dress with a great belt. Another way to spice up tweed is to get a pattern with a bright color in it. Even though it's winter, it doesn't mean you have to wear all dull colors. Pinks and reds make great tweed prints.

Another way to take part in the tweed look is to wear tweed accessories. Tweed bangles will certainly add elegance to any plain outfit. And, one of my favorite finds are these tweed shoes from Banana Republic - so cute with skinny jeans.

So, channel your inner Jackie O and CoCo Chanel and wear some tweed this Winter!

Shear Bliss!

Now that we have a blast of cold air, it's time to take advantage of some Winter trends. Louisiana might not be the best location to sport this trend, but none-the-less soft shearling is being seen all over coats, sweaters, boots, and hats.

This cozy material might be a bit heavy but try pairing it with a light weight top and skinny jeans to really balance out your figure and make a statement that you are ready for Winter.

If you don't want to invest in a leather jacket, try a sweater with a shearling trim or a great boot that is lined in shearling. Trust me, your feet will thank you for the shear bliss!

Make this snuggle-worthy material a part of your trends this Winter!

Bows on Toes

I don't think I've ever met a woman who doesn't like looking like a lady. There are a few key looks to help this happen; however, some looks leave people looking like they are trying too hard.

One thing that always helps a look appear more ladylike is a bow. Bows can be placed on shirts or dresses and always give a flirty, ladylike feel. However, most of us feel a bit ridiculous wearing a bow. Great news, this Fall and Winter, bows are showing up all over shoes. It's the perfect way to embrace a bow without going over the top.

Louis Vuitton has had these heels all over their recent ad campaigns. And, I just can't get enough of them. Absolute perfection!!! However, not all of us can splurge on LVs. Don't worry, we are in luck. There are plenty of bow options out there - bows on heels and flats - bows on the fronts and bows on the back.

Be a lady today and wear some bows on your toes!

Online Shopping

Lately, I've had a few people ask me about my favorite online shopping websites. Well, that's sort of an overwhelming question for me because I spend so much time researching fashions and websites. But, here are a few that I would recommend to anyone...

http://www.shopbop.com/ - This website has just about everything and has a great range of items from reasonably priced to really expensive. The stuff on the website is really on trend and is a great way to look at outfits and mirror your own outfits after them.

http://www.ruelala.com/, http://www.giltgroup.com/, and http://www.beyondtherack.com/ are all great websites that have great sales. You have to sign up to be a member to the website, but all that does is send you a daily reminder of the daily deals going on. You can get some really great designer pieces at a much lower price from this website.

http://www.piperlime.com/ - This is another great website that has so many options in accessories, handbags and shoes. One of the best stylist in Hollywood, Rachel Zoe, gives her recommendations for trendy items. This is always great to look at for ideas.

http://www.shopthelook.net/ - This website has some really trendy and really inexpensive jewelry and accessory options.

http://www.net-a-porter.com/ - This is such an outrageous website. The beautiful things on this site are super expensive but it's always my go to website because I love looking at the designer things. It's always fun to see the new trends and them mirror similar outfits after them.

There are plenty of more great websites out there. These are just a few that I love going to. Hope you enjoy.

Riding Boots

Boots are definitely a key piece that everyone should have in their wardrobe. Boots come in all shapes and sizes...pointy toe, rounded toe, high heels, flats, and wedges. I personally think everyone should have a pointy toe, high heel black and brown pair of boots as well as a flat riding boot. These boots can be worn in so many ways.

Today we are going to focus on Riding boots - because they are everywhere this Fall and Winter. Just because it's a Riding boot doesn't mean you have to have an equestrian look. For a preppy look, wear a white button down with a cardigan or vest over it and tuck your jeans into the boots. For a trendier look, wear a long cardi wrap over a turtleneck or t-shirt with leggings or wear a dress with tights.

The biggest bonus of Riding boots are that they are flat - which means oh so much comfort your feet!!

The Shade of Grey

Along with camel, another hot color for this Fall and Winter is grey. Some people think grey is hard to wear. However, it actually looks softer on most skin tones than black and navy. Grey pieces will come in all shades and tints this Fall - from a light creamy grey to a dark heathered grey to a shimmery silver grey.

For a chic look, layer grey pieces upon different shades of grey. Or, mix it up with layering grey with the obvious colors of black or white. If you want to be different and daring, pair grey with brown - grey and brown look shocking good together. For a night out on the town, pair grey with red or with silver sequins.

Grey will come in all shapes too this season - from timeless blazers and dresses to more playful and trendy cardigans, sweaters and fur vests. So, if you are looking for a quick update to your wardrobe that you want to last more than one season, buy a grey piece of clothing.

The great thing to realize is that with the comeback of grey and camel, we know that fashion is back to basics with classic looks. Hooray!

All Wrapped Up

Everyone loves the Fall season - beautiful, sunny weather with just the right amount of cool air before the bitter Winter hits. However, so many of us, don't know how to dress for the changing temperatures - Is it cool outside today? Is it going to get hot by the afternoon?

Well, the solution is easy - wear a scarf. It's such an easy way to look trendy and an easy way to deal with the changing weather. Layer a scarf on in the morning whenever it's colder and take it off by the hotter afternoon. It folds easily into your handbag, and you and just layer it back on again to go out to dinner.

Scarves come in all lengths, colors, textures, and most importantly prices! If you want to get into the trendy look, wear an animal print scarf since animal prints are so huge for the Fall. Because this is a trendier look, you might not want to splurge too much on this one. Try looking at the Gap, Banana Republic or Old Navy.

If you want to splurge more of an investment piece for your wardrobe with a scarf, you should buy either a Pucci, Gucci, Burberry, or Louis Vuitton scarf. These brands definitely are more expensive, but the scarves are classic and will never go out of style. If you are going to invest in a more expensive scarf, try getting one that has both black and brown in it. That way you can wear it with plenty of things in your closet. Or, for a really chic look, get a monochromatic scarf and wear it with the same color for a full monochromatic look.

Whether you spend $5 or $500, get all wrapped up in a scarf for the Fall!

Fashion Icon: Tory Burch

Compared to the other fashion icons that we've looked at, Tory Burch is very different. The company only started in 2004 - which would cause some to argue that it is too early to be considered an icon. However, Tory has begun to revolutionize the luxury line of fashion by making pieces that are much more affordable than Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Tiffany's - which is one of the reasons why I'm so in love with Tory Burch clothing, shoes and handbags.

This ready-to-wear line is sophisticated and classic yet always has a stylish and somewhat trendy feel to it. The Tory Burch line was first known for it's tunics - in bright colors and jeweled necklines. But, it also has fun cardigans in all colors and great-fitting dresses. These are pieces that will never go out of style, and you can have for a lifetime.













In 2006, Tory Burch introduced the Reva ballet flat in honor of one of the most inspirational people in her life, her mother. This signature ballet flat has since been made in tons of colors, metallics, and animal prints but always remains true to the signature rounded toe with the Tory Burch logo on it. Women of all generations love this shoe because of it's comfort. Celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and Cameron Diaz have been seen all over town wearing them. I personally have 3 pairs of the Reva flats and swear by them. They are so chic and comfortable. Her other shoes include great wedges, sandals and boots. Tory Burch is definitely a line to keep your eye on and if you do invest in one of her pieces, be sure to hold onto it because in about 10 years you will still look chic in the vintage look!

October - National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Most of us know that October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It's hard not to talk to anyone these days who hasn't in some way been affected by cancer, breast or not - whether that be themselves, a parent, grandparent, sibling or friend. I personally have had my father, both grandmothers, grandfather, and several aunts who have had the disease - some of them passing away from it. And, very recently have had a dear friend who is only in her 40s been diagnosed with cancer and who will start chemotherapy in the coming weeks. Even though her diagnosis is not breast cancer, all cancer can be honored this month.

Some of us wonder what we can do? Well, you can actually buy certain items and some designers are donating a portion of the sale to Breast Cancer Foundations. This is by no means me pushing you to buy these items, but if you are going to buy certain things anyway, just check to see if the designer is contributing.

Here are some examples. First is a scarf from BCBG. It's a two-toned striped pink and grey scarf and is only $48. I've already ordered mine. I figured that I love wearing scarves and usually buy one or two a season. So, why not help the cause. BCBG has pledged to donate twenty-five percent of retail sales from each scarf to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation.

Another example is the rose-gold studded earrings by Anita Ko. This month 20% of proceeds from sales of all Anita Ko spike stud earrings on ArcadeBoutique.com will go to Susan G. Komen for the CureFoundation. They are a little pricey, but if you are looking to mix in some rose-gold to your collection, here's the way.

These are just two examples, but there are tons out there this month. Let's make a difference. Make sure you're buying items that will help the cancer cause this month.

Hoop Dreams

Hoop earrings are definitely one thing every woman should have in her jewelry box. Both gold and silver hoops are staples - just like pearls. Hoop earrings always make an outfit look more trendy or usually make your face look slimmer. So, if you don't have some, you should get some basic hoop earrings.

But, if you are like me, you've been wearing hoops for years and need a little change. Well, don't worry because there are plenty of options out there. Hoops come in all shapes, sizes, and colors.

If you want to make a small change, wear hoops that are misshapen in some way - whether that be stretched, twisted or elongated. If you want to add a little glitz, wear hoops that have crystal details - whether those crystal be clear or colored. Just be careful not to go to big on the hoop - you don't want to look like you belong in the circus.

However, the great news is that you don't have to jump through hoops to look great!

Back in Black

Like me, you might be excited about the trends I wrote about yesterday - menswear and minimalism, but you might not know how to make them work for you. Well, I'll give you a tip - a black blazer!

If you want to buy one really great piece for your wardrobe this Fall that you know will never go out of style, make it a black blazer. Celebrities have been sporting this trend all over town and so can you. So, here's how...

For a casual look, pair the blazer with a white t-shirt and jeans. Accent it with a great pair of ballet flats or spice it up with a great pair of black pumps. If you want to add a bit more pizazz, wear a long gold or silver necklace and hoop earrings.

For a dressier look, wear the blazer over a dress - whether that be a solid or a floral. This is a nice twist of mixing the masculine and the feminine. You can also wear it with a skirt for a suit look - just be careful not to look too business-like. To counter the business-like look, wear a sequin top or bright bold colored top under the blazer. Always jazz up the dressier looks with great jewelry and heels.

So get back in black and sport a blazer around town!

M & Ms

Everyone loves M & Ms, right? Well I certainly do. But, I'm not talking about plain or peanut - more importantly I'm referring to Menswear and Minimalism - two huge trends for the Fall.

I'm not sure you can call this look a trend because it's so classic, but the over the past few years they have been lost to crazy 70s and 80s fashions. Well, thank goodness you can't keep a good thing down for long.

This back-to-basics classic beauty is all the rage this Fall. Menswear inspired suits, white button up tops, classic pencil skirts, and wide-leg trousers are all part of this less-is-more look. And, quite honestly, I can't get enough of it.

Tailoring, structure and restraint are all keys words you should think of when trying to make such minimal looking outfits. You can also carry this to your accessories with structured handbags, pointy toe shoes and sophisticated jewelry.

Let's celebrate being a LADY!

Trend Alert: Chunky Knits

Chunky isn't usually a word we women like to hear...except when it is referring to KNITS! Chunky knits are all the rage this Fall.

Different necklines, lengths, and sleeves make this an easy trend to get into - even in the South. If you are scared about being too hot, wear a lighter long sleeve t-shirt under the sweater so you can take it off if the weather turns on you.

For those women scared to try leggings, tights, or pencil jeans, longer versions of a chunky sweater are great for this look because they will cover your problem area. It's actually better to go with a skinny leg on the bottom so the chunky knit is balanced.

These made-to-look-handknitted styles are cozy and comfortable and will surely get someone snuggling with you in no time.

Fashion Icon: Tiffany's

Is there any color that is more iconic than Tiffany's blue. I don't think so. Most girls would squeal in delight just at the sight of a Tiffany's blue box with beautiful white bow. Well, at least I know I do.

I fell in love the first time I saw the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's and heard Holly Golightly utter the words, "What I've found does the most good for me is just to get into a taxi and go to Tiffany's. It calms me down right away, the quietness and the proud look of it; nothing very bad could happen to you there." And, to be honest, every time I've ever walked into a Tiffany's, I've felt that way!

The original Tiffany's was opened in New York in 1837 as a stationary and fancy goods emporium. By 1886, Tiffany's was a famous high-end jewelry store that introduced the world to the 6-prong Tiffany solitaire diamond engagement ring. In 1963, Tiffany stores began opening outside of New York...first in San Francisco. Today, there are 83 locations in the United States alone.

Tiffany's has long specialized in diamonds, jewelry, watches, silverware, china, and crystal. As if that's not enough, this month they added leather goods to their empire. And, can I say...Oh...La...La! These leather goods are fancy. The clutch handbags are the most beautiful clutches I've seen. They are like little pieces of jewelry to carry as a handbag.

Since we can't all be like Holly Golightly and jump into a taxi to go to Tiffany's, treat yourself and look through their website today.

Feeling Like An Animal?

Another big trend this Fall is animal prints. If you are anything like me, you are a little cautious around them - no one wants to look like a Cougar. However, if done tastefully, this can be a really fun trend.

If you are brave enough, wear an animal print top. If you want to tame the animal a bit, layer a cardigan or blazer over the top. Or, wear an animal print that is black or white because they visually don't scream "Wild Jungle."

If this trend is too much for you, try adding small animal print pieces into your wardrobe. Layer an animal print scarf over a monochromatic outfit. Or, wear some great animal print shoes with jeans.

Everyone has a little bit of an animal inside. Unleash her and get ready for the Fall.