Christian Fashion News

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I am so excited because I absolutely love the month of April! As I mentioned in a recent blog post, I think I suffer from S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder) in the winter and I turn into a new person come the first signs of spring! To me April is a month of new beginnings.  I guess to start with because I was born in April, it was definitely a new beginning for my parents and for me! I love seeing the flowers and trees come to life again after the long, cold, dreary winter.  Even though they certainly affect my allergies living here in East TN, I just try to ignore the sneezing and watery eyes to be able to enjoy spring blossoming all around me! My two favorite holidays are in April – Easter and My Birthday!!  (Yes, in that order and yes, my birthday is a holiday as far as I am concerned)  Here are a few of my favorite things about April:

First of all, I love to laugh and I have pulled off some pretty good April Fool’s pranks in my time so I like kicking off the month with April Fool’s Day!

 I love how the birthstone for the month of April is Diamond!  After all it is a “Girl’s Best Friend” and how convenient is that!

April is when my favorite season comes into all the stores and I’m not talking clothes just yet.  It is PEEP’s season! Sometimes I can just go up and down the aisles of Walmart and just gaze into all the colorful little Peeps eyes and drool over all those delicious marshmallow treats!

It’s the month that the flowers and trees start to bloom again and come to life after a long winter’s sleep. I love how God just  paints everything in all the beautiful colors in what seems to happen overnight!

I know you might think I’m crazy but I actually like spring cleaning.  Well, I guess it is more the spring organizing that I like! I love cleaning out my closet and bringing the spring clothes to the front.  I do love having the house nice and clean and smelling spring fresh too.

Speaking of spring clothes….I DO love to go shopping and see what all is blooming inside the stores!

On a more serious note…I love it when Easter is in April!  It truly is my favorite holiday!  I love Good Friday because it reminds me of the sacrifice made on that day for my sins and because of that sacrifice I am going to be able to enjoy eternal life in heaven some day.

And then on Easter Sunday, I have no greater JOY!  The thought that Jesus rose from the grave and will be waiting on my arrival in heaven with open arms is just incomprehensible sometimes.  Easter is such a beautiful and emotional day and it just makes me smile and want to shout from the rooftop – “He Lives”!

And then,of course, there are the April Showers….  I must admit this isn’t my favorite thing about April but I have learned that if it wasn’t for some of the showers in my life there certainly wouldn’t be some of the happiness I have either.  Through the showers we all tend to grow in one way or another.

And then, at the end of the month, there is my 2nd favorite holiday! I have always loved my birthday!! It’s not too hot, not too cold, not too close to Christmas… Just the perfect month to celebrate another year of life!

I wish you a season of new beginnings and I hope your month of April brings you as much joy and happiness as it does me!!

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More fun Spring/Summer styles to love this season! The fourth Style Statement I want to share with you is called “Sport Chic” 

This trend is borrowed from the gym. We saw a lot of this style in the fall and it is carrying over into spring. Performance fabrics like jersey, double knits, nylon mesh and scuba are complemented by innovative color blocking and contrast zippers. Athletic-inspired hoodies, bombers, halters and jog pants are paired with more polished items. Stylish sneakers as well as sneaker-influenced sandals and sport-style booties with new-age backpacks and totes go right along with this sporty chic style.

This fun casual dress is a striped midi from Cynthia Rowley.

 

This cute crop top and skirt is from the Kiind Of brand.

 

This fun casual look goes easily from the gym to running errands with the kids.  It is a Marc New York Performance pullover and leggings.

 

These sneaker-influenced style sandals are by Steve Madden.

This is another casual dress from Marc New York Performance.

 

This is a cute, casual and sporty dress from Marc by Marc Jacobs.

 

Check out the colorful tennis shoes from Nike!  The more colorful the better this season.

 

This matching set of jacket and pants is from Jones Sport.  Great for the gym or running out to the store.

 

 

The skinny jeans are still the rage this season and these are from Calvin Klein as well as the colorful tee and matching denim jacket.

 

Make sure you have clicked on the “follow” button so that my blog posts will come directly to your email as soon as I post them and you won’t miss a thing! There is always more to come!

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I am excited to share with you the “Most Wanted List” for Spring 2015 compiled by Arlene Goldstein, Vice President of Trend Merchandising and Fashion Direction for Belk, Inc. I have listed below 5 of the top 10 items on the Women’s Most Wanted List this spring.

First off are these Glitzy Sandals from Vince Camuto.  I am loving all the colorful and bedazzled looks of bling on the sandals this year.  It adds some “pop” to a very simple shoe statement and they can be worn with just about everything!

 

 

The “Soft Pant” is in trend again this season.  However, the length for spring has gotten shorter.  Culottes are making a comeback in a powerful way.  These are from 1.State Culottes

 

I am seeing a lot of “Matched Sets” this season in tops and bottoms in various prints.  This matching top and skirt is from Kiind Of. Buying in separates is always nice because you can purchase a different size in the top and bottom if your body style needs it.

 

 

Not only should your clothes change with the seasons but also your make-up colors can change.  Check out these “Look at me Lips” from Laura Mercier Creme Smooth Lip Colour.

 

I love this Longer Skirt from Fever which is very trendy this season. Just remember to make sure the length is right for you and falls within the diamond openings of your legs to be the most flattering look for you.  It looks great paired with this chambray top for a refreshing springtime look.

 

Stay tuned for the other top 5 must-have items for your wardrobe coming soon!

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As promised, here are the remaining Women’s top 5 Most Wanted items for Spring 2015 according to Arlene Goldstein, Vice President of Trend Merchandising and Fashion Direction for Belk, Inc.

The Kimono is very trendy this season and makes for a nice cover-up.  This one is from Jessica Simpson.

 

The Jumpsuit is oh so trendy right now!  I am seeing them everywhere. You can certainly do a lot with them by adding belts, scarves or statement jewelry to jazz them up!  You can make them casual or formal. This one is from Karen Kane.

 

For a fun and casual look, an Easy-Fit Top makes perfect sense and can be paired with your favorite pair of jeans.  This striped one is from Kensie.

 

Flowers are not only popping up in your yard this season, they are popping up in clothes everywhere.  I think this is the hottest pattern of the season!  I am seeing floral prints everywhere and on everything from dresses to jewelry to shoes. This Floral Dress is from Vince Camuto.

 

Ever so popular this season is the statement jewelry and I LOVE it! Not only is it the statement necklace that we have seen the previous couple of seasons but now it is the Statement Earring more than ever.  These add a great “pop” to any outfit!  These pictured are from Vince Camuto.

 

I hope you have been making your list of the most wanted items you must have for your spring and summer wardrobe this year!

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Since I am sharing the Most Wanted items for Spring and Summer 2015 for the Women, I thought it is only fair I share the top 10 Most Wanted items for the Men too!  Whether you dress your man in the clothes you find for him or you know of a man who has a style all his own, these items are sure to make an impression on the most fashionable man you know! According to Arlene Goldstein, Vice President of Trend Merchandising and Fashion Direction for Belk, Inc. these are the top must-have items for the men this season.

Women aren’t the only ones who can accessorize with style.  These Fashion Add-Ons are a great way for a man to express his personal style.  The colorful socks are from Hot Sox, the belt is from Bosca and the bag is from Fossil.

 

The gym-inspired trend is really hot for men this season too.  This Athletic Inspired Knit is from Buffalo David Bitton and looks great with jeans.

 

As much as I am seeing Bold Prints for women this season I am also seeing them for men.  Check out this great shirt from Tommy Bahama to pair with shorts for that spring-time BBQ!

 

Another inspiration from the gym this season are the Jog Shorts.  These are from CK Jeans.  These are great with his favorite pair of tennis shoes.

 

Gingham and plaids are everywhere right now!  And in all kinds of colors!  This bold Plaid Sport Coat is a style statement all it’s own.

 

Keep watching for the other top 5 Most Wanted items for you man for this season coming soon!

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Here are the other top 5 Most Wanted items for the man in your life for Spring and Summer 2015 according to Arlene Goldstein, Vice President of Trend Merchandising and Fashion Direction for Belk, Inc.  Who doesn’t like a well-dressed man?!

This season the Shorter Shorts are in trend.  Check these out from Ralph Lauren paired with a button down shirt and a bow-tie!  (I love a bow-tie!)

 

We women aren’t the only ones who think a good-looking comfortable shoe is important.  These Sneaker Style Slip-Ons are from Sperry and are perfect for that tropical vacation he is going to take you on this year!

 

Perfect for going to your friend’s wedding this year is the Spring Suit!  This Seersucker coat and pants are from Nautica.

 

Color is everywhere and why not on your man?  Check out this Updated Colorblocked Polo from Calvin Klein.

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White Pants are a great staple for men this season and can be dressed up or down.  These are from MADE by Camp Newton.

 

I hope this has helped you make your list for when you go shopping for the man in your life this season to keep him right on trend!

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Did you know that your eyebrows frame your face and it is most important to keep them in perfect shape for a dramatic difference in how you look? We worry about our clothes, our hair, and our make-up but we shouldn’t forget how important it is that we take proper care of our eyebrows.  I have seen it make such a huge difference in a client after I took her to get hers shaped and waxed!  Filling in your eyebrows with a little color is a must and is one of the best anti-aging tricks you can do!

Here is a link to my pinterest board on the best eyebrow shapes for your face shape.

My eyebrows are very fine and blonde but they get what I call “scraggly” so I get them waxed to shape them up. I use “gimme BROW” by Benefit cosmetics every day as part of my make-up routine. It is a brow-volumizing fiber gel.  Using the brush the fiber gel adheres to the hair for fuller-looking brows.  I just stroke it on to define the shape I want.  It comes in 2 shades – light/medium and medium/deep.

Recently I went to the grand opening of the newest Ulta store in Knoxville.  Ulta is like a toy store for women!  They carry all types of make-up, hair and nail products and offer various beauty services as well.  The first 100 to enter the store received a gift card so I had to be there!  They even had the Tennessee Volunteers mascot, Smokey, at the door to greet us.

I decided to try out their Benefit Brow Bar.  They have licensed professionals on staff to help you get the shape that is perfect for your face.  They are highly trained in the art of brow-shaping! Allison took her time with me and shaped my brows to where they needed to be and then waxed them. I didn’t feel a thing and it didn’t take very long either. You can see in my pictures below of the process and how they turned out.

 

I encourage you to check with your hair stylist, go to your local spa or step into an Ulta store near you and get your eyebrows taken care of right away to most flatter your eyes and face and complete your fabulous look!  It really does make a BIG difference!

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In case you just can’t get enough of the Spring and Summer 2015 Trends, I have more!! Here are some things I have noticed being in the stores that are really trending this season and I am loving them!

First of all are the beautiful colors of spring this year.  Here are Pantone’s colors for Spring 2015. I am really loving the blue greens and mint greens as well as the strawberry ice and, of course, anything pink!

 

Gingham print is very popular this season for men and women!  The most important things to remember with this trend is to not go too much (or you might end up looking like a Sunday afternoon picnic!).  Also remember to keep the checks in proportion to your frame size.  If you are 5′ 2″ or under – make sure the checks are small in size.  If you are 5′ 3″ – 5′ 7″ – the checks need to be medium to large in size.  If you are 5′ 8″ or taller, you can go big and bold with your gingham checks.

 

Another trend this season is fringe and tassels!  Seen on everything from handbags, shoes, dresses to bathing suits!

 

I am also seeing suede and leather (real and f aux), which is normally only seen in the fall and winter, all over the place for spring and summer.  It is a much lighter weight of course.

 

I love shoes and I love “bling” so I am enjoying seeing all the cute sandals with the metal and the bling on them! A great way to dress up an outfit with a cute little sandal!

These are just a few of the fun trends I have seen in a lot of the stores already this season.  So many choices!! I hope you are finding your favorite items to match your fashion personality.  Remember, if you need help, just contact me for your very own Personal Styling & Shopping session! I would love to help you!!

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It is that time of year again!  Cooler weather is fast approaching. I recommend going through your closet twice a year (in the early spring and early fall) and re-evaluating what you have in there.  You should only keep the things that make you look and feel your very best! I have posted this before but I thought you might need a refresher or a reason to get encouraged to tackle that closet again.

Your closet is one of the fastest places to get cluttered but it should be one of the most valued spaces in your home because it contains all the clothes that make you look and feel fabulous!

Here are some steps to help you get started on getting your closet ready for the new season:

Step One:

• Set aside plenty of time to organize your closet.  If you don't have time to do it all at once, take a section at a time.

Step Two:

• Remove everything from your closet so that you are starting with a clean slate

Step Three:

• Try on everything and make sure it still fits, it is still in style, it is still in good shape, it is your best color and fits your body type, you have things to go with it and it is something you would buy today. Make piles for "Keep", "Mend", "Donate" and "Toss". Don't forget to do the same thing with your underwear, bras, shoes, purses, belts, scarves and other accessories.

Step Four:

• Clean and Laundry everything that needs it before putting back in the closet. If things need to be mended, make sure you do this as quickly as possible. Take the things to be donated to your car so you can drop them off the next time you are out. Get rid of the items in the "Toss" pile immediately.

Step Five:

• Put all "Keep" items back in your closet. You can decide how to place the items back in the closet based on what will suit your needs best.  Separate by season and then you can separate by purpose, type, length, style or color or a combination of these.  Hang as much of your clothing as possible where you can see each garment easily.  If it is in a drawer out of sight, it is out of mind and will seldom get worn.

Step Six:

• Be proud of your accomplishment!
• Remember if you bring in something new, something old needs to go out.

Other Helpful Tips:

• Use the same type of hangers and make sure all items are hanging in the same direction.
• Stuff boots with rolled up magazines or boot trees so they retain their shape.
• Stuff handbags with tissue paper and store on a shelf.
• Leave breathing room in between items so they aren't jammed in to prevent wrinkles.
• Store small, loose items like socks, lingerie, bathing suits, pantyhose, etc. in drawer systems, baskets or clear plastic containers.
• Hang accessories on hooks in your closet.
• Take shoes out of their original boxes and store on some type of shoe rack.
• Keep a basket in the closet to place items to take to dry cleaners.
• Keep a small wastebasket in the closet.
• Fill a small basket with last minute fix-up items: lint brush or roller, pin-cushion, small scissors, etc.

Before and After

       Before and After

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You surely didn’t think I was going to talk about cooking did you?!  If you know me, you know I'm not exactly known for my cooking.  I guess that's why I get asked to bring the Sister Schuberts rolls every Thanksgiving!

But I do know a thing or two about Dressing!  So whatever your plans are for this Thanksgiving, I hope you plan on looking your very best.  While stretch pants with a good elastic waistband may seem to be the most practical, there are certainly some better options.

I was able to find some cute outfits (thanks to Pinterest) to go along with your Thanksgiving Menu.

What's Thanksgiving without Cranberry Sauce!  Here are some beautiful outfit variations for whatever your plans are on this special day in a beautiful cranberry color that looks good on just about everyone.

Even after you have eaten all the turkey and dressing, you still always have room for dessert!  Check out these baked goods! These are some great outfits in a beautiful neutral color paired with jeans that can be dressed up or down.

You can't forget the Pumpkin Pie! Check out these beautiful shades of pumpkin.  Pick a shade that goes best with your Dominant Color Characteristic and pair it with a pair of jeans or a cute skirt.

I hope these "Dressing Recipes" help you choose a perfect outfit for your Thanksgiving Dinner!

I would like to also share that I am very THANKFUL for all of my family and friends that are such a special part of my life!!  You have all BLESSED me beyond measure!

I am humbled, honored and feel so blessed that God has chosen me to do what I do and I get to help you look your very best and see yourself the way God sees you – as a beautiful woman!  I have been very fortunate this year to travel and meet so many of you at various events.  I hope I get to meet each and every one of you some day!  Thank you for following me and my adventures and allowing me to be a part of your lives.

I wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving!

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