BEST OF THE WEEK

Revamping T-Shirts

There are a ton of things you can do to revive old tees - cut off the neckline to give it an '80s feel, cut an upside down V-shape from the top of the collar to each armpit to make a halter, or chop off the sleeves for a tank. If you want to get more creative, take the sleeves that you've just cut and snip them along the seam. Sew along the raw side (the cut side) of the sleeve, but let the fabric gather so it ruffles to make a puffed sleeve. Then sew them back onto your shirt. You can also cut a T-shirt from armpit to armpit to make a tube top. Sew on a band of fabric from another shirt to the top of your new tube top to add some extra color and flair!

Is It Good to Rinse Hair in Cold Water?

The jury is no longer out on rinsing hair with cold water. According to much of my research, rinsing hair with cold water at the end of a shower closes the cuticle. This creates a healthy, shiny appearance, apparently. Many experts believe blasting hair with cold air also works by smoothing hair. This is why most dryers come with a cool air button.

Cant go wrong with jeans+top+heals!

Simple Trick to De-frizz Hair (Fast)

I love this tip I read in Glamour magazine. To quickly defrizz hair, rub a pea-sized amount of Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Creambetween your hands and then palm them over curls to the ends.

BEST OF THE WEEK

Revamping Jeans

If you're like most peeps, you own a gazillion pairs of jeans but only wear a few of them. Instead of donating them to charity, cut them into capris or skirts! To make a skirt, cut the legs off where they meet, but don't worry about cutting in a straight line. You're making adeconstructed denim mini, which means it's supposed to look unfinished. To add vintage flair, chop off the waistband, remove one of the back pockets, slit the hems or wear them down with a cheese grater. Then decorate it with costume jewelry, sequins or flower patches to give it a '70s hippie look.

Packing Tips - Pack Your Suitcase to Thwart Wrinkled Clothes

Roll 'em! Rolling your clothes will help reduce wrinkling.

Here's how I packs, and I'm darn good at making the clothes wrinkle resistant. Take a shirt, in this case a fairly heavy long sleeve shirt, and lay a tee shirt over it. Then roll them both up together in a fairly tight roll.

The principle here is simple: by rolling our clothes we're creasing them less right from the start. We're creating a radius bend and we expect the fabric to recover from such gentle handling with just a bit of shaking out. It works. Try it.

Michael Jackson Lives

Michael Jackson may not be still with us but he will live with us through fashion

Vintage Fashion Shopping Tips

Vintage clothes and accessories are a fun and inexpensive way to spice up your wardrobe. Keep these shopping tips in mind before buying cool retro vintage threads.

Vintage clothes and accessories can be a fun, inexpensive, and eco-friendly way to spice up your wardrobe. Even though vintage clothes and accessories tend to be made better than current fashions, some vintage clothes may be hard to alter, repair, or clean. Be sure to keep these tips in mind while shopping for those cool vintage threads.

Pass up Stained Clothes Many shoppers think that a stain on a vintage garment can just be removed with a stain removal stick or by dry cleaning. But, the previous owner probably tried to get rid of the stain before they sold or donated it. Avoid stained clothing and be sure to check the underarm area of vintage clothes for stains caused by perspiration.

Only Buy Clothes That Fit or Can be Altered Vintage clothes tend to run small and shoppers are sometimes drawn to clothes that do not fit. Be realistic about which clothes actually flatter your figure and do not fill your closet with clothes you may be able to wear one day if you just dropped 10 extra pounds. Alterations may be expensive and it is generally easier to take clothes in than it is to let them out.

Consider the Cost of Cleaning Cotton, polyester, lycra, and nylon fabrics can be machine washed and are generally more durable. Silk, rayon, and lace can be hand washed with a mild detergent. However, suede, wool, acetate velvet, and any vintage garment that has a decorative embellishment should be dry cleaned. When a care tag says “dry clean only,” is it not a recommendation.

Test Accessories and Zippers on Clothes When buying purses, be sure to check zippers, snaps and fasteners to make sure they are in good working order. Inspect the clasps on jewelry to make sure they are secure. Try on all vintage clothes to make sure the zipper stays up and does not get stuck.

Check Leather Products for Wear and Flaking Leather products such as belts, handbags, and shoes should be checked for wear and flaking. Cracked and flaking leather cannot be restored.

Beware of Beads Vintage beaded sweaters and purses are popular and beautiful. A vintage sweater that is missing a few beads might seem like a bargain but missing antique beads may be hard to find and match.

Avoid Vintage Fur Both faux and real fur has become popular over the past few years, especially with so many celebrities sporting it to red carpet events. But the care of a fur jacket can be expensive. Fur should be cleaned and repaired by a professional furrier, not a dry cleaner or a tailor.

Vintage shopping should be a fun experience. But keep in mind that dry cleaning costs and expensive repairs may drive the cost of a vintage bargain up. So, remember these tips next time you are out vintage shopping.

Revamping Pants & Shorts

Turn a pair of pants into shorts by simply chopping them off at the knee to make Bermuda shorts, or higher up to make short shorts. Wear it alone while the weather is still warm, but when it gets chilly, layer it with leggings or tights.

BEST OF THE WEEK

Shorting out that wardrobe - top tips

Closets are sometimes the most cluttered part of the home. If you’re at the point where you can’t match up a simple outfit, find your left sneaker or have the same sweaters you wore in junior high, it’s time to reorganize and simplify your closet. Here’s how:

• Try On All Of Your Clothes - Yes, everything. Look in a mirror and scrutinize. Does it really look good on you? If it doesn’t, then try one of the following tips:
• Sell Unwanted Clothes On eBay Or Consignment - These are best left to popular pieces of clothing: designer, what’s in season or “forever” pieces like business suits and peacoats. Make sure your clothing is in the best condition possible to get the highest price.
• Toss Away Clothes Beyond Repair - This means your holey socks, underwear with the no-longer-elastic waistband and shirt that has stains on its stains. Recycle them by using them as rags or extra fabric.
• Donate To Charity - You can also donate clothing in good condition to charities
• Tag What Clothing Is Left - Put little tags or stickers on the clothing you have left. When you wear the item, take the tag or sticker off. After six months, see which clothes still have tags or stickers and re-evaluate them for eBay, consignment or donation. You haven’t worn the clothes in half a year!
• Use Stackable Plastic Boxes - Plastic boxes, especially transparent ones, allow you to utilize space you wouldn’t normally have in your closet. Since they stack flush against each other, you’re able to pile them while clearly seeing what’s inside. These are especially good for shoes, accessories, ties and hats.
• Install Wall Hooks - Whether cup hooks or another type of hook, these allow you to utilize bare walls to hang belts, scarves, necklaces, pocketbooks and more.
• Store Seasonal Clothing Separately - To free up space in your closet, store seasonal clothes in plastic bins or other appropriate storage measures.
• Reinvent And Simplify Your Wardrobe - If you have the means, reinvent your wardrobe and simplify your life with basic wardobe planning. However, don’t bring in more clothing unless you get donate or sell clothing you already have.

Revamping Old Sweaters

Does your dad have a big sweater hanging in his closet? If he no longer wears it, then put it to good use by chopping it off at mid-thigh level and cinching a wide belt around your waist. Now you have one of this season's trendiest outfits - a sweater dress! You can also cut the sleeves from one of his old dress shirts and sew them onto a sleeveless sweater to give it a cute but funky look!

Tip: Don't Shave Your Bikini Area

Bathing suit season is almost here so do yourself a favor & keep your razor away from your bikini line. Why? Shaving causes red bumps & ingrown hairs. The best hair removal method for the bikini area is waxing, laser or pulsed light. If you choose waxing, go to a pro. If you use a cream depilatory, restrict it to the bikini line. What can you wax? Your legs & your underarms. Check out my hair removal section for all the info you need for summer (including exactly what happens when you opt for the 'Brazilian').

BEST OF THE WEEK

Top 10 tips for saving money on clothes

With the economy in tough times, more people are watching their spending. Clothing is a necessary purchase, so here are some easy ways to save:

• Turn Your Old Clothes Into New - If you are crafty and have clothes that are ripped, stained or even just tired, you can renew them by adding embellishments like ribbon, lace or flowers, cutting off sleeves and legs, or even combining two different pieces into one. You can come up with many unique pieces this way, and for almost nothing.
• Swap With Friends Or Family - If you have friends or family that wear the same-sized clothing as you, swap clothes that you don’t want anymore.
• Buy Lots Off Of - Many people who outgrow their clothing will sell lots of same-sized clothes on eBay or Craigslist, and allow you to purchase multiple items at an affordable price. These are great places to look if you need a certain sized wardrobe and don’t have the money to buy a lot of new clothes.
• Shop Online - Shopping online can offer significant savings, because you can price shop using sites like Froogle or My Simon, use cash-back sites likeEbates, and apply coupons from sites like eDealInfo.
• Go Shopping At Thrift Stores - Thrift stores are a great place to find clothes - you can even find designer and brand new pieces! Many thrift stores also have “bag” sales, which allow you to stuff one bag at a fixed price. This is also a great place to find children’s clothing, as kids outgrow their clothes fast and the clothes are donated often. Make sure to wash your clothes before wearing; you don’t know if they were washed prior to donation.
• Shop At Off-Price Apparel Stores - There are many stores that sell brand-name or designer clothes at cheaper prices. Many times, the clothes are right out of the season, and are sent over by larger department stores that can no longer sell them. Stores include Marshall’s, TJ Maxx, Daffy’s andCentury 21.
• Check Out Garage Sales - Garage sales are another cheap way of finding clothes - most are sold for a few dollars or less.
• Hit The Clearance Racks - Most clothing stores have a clearance rack, which usually holds merchandise that the store has trouble selling or needs to sell to make room for other merchandise. And the clothes in these racks are usually not out of season. Remember that seasonal clothing is usually sold before the season starts, so by the time the season rolls around, they’re on sale, yet everyone’s still wearing them.
• Try Outlet Stores - Outlet stores are good places to find clothes in bulk (think t-shirts and socks), store overstock, imperfect pieces and even mass-produced outlet lines. The clothes are usually cheaper than buying them in a regular retail store.
• Don’t Buy What You Don’t Need - The easiest way of saving money is not buying what you don’t need. Do you really need another pair of shoes when you already have 30? Do you need yet another black t-shirt, when you already have another hiding in your laundry basket? Make a mental inventory of your clothing before you go shopping, so you don’t wind up buying multiples.

Structured

Why We Love It
The exaggerated details of this season's tailored pieces are sculptural more than menswear-inspired.

How to Wear It
You want to look impressive but not confrontational, so aim for balance. A sharp-shoulder coat over slim flannel trousers or a wide-lapel jacket with a straight pencil skirt comes off strong but approachable. Complete the silhouette with a framed bag or a grounded closed-toe pump and you're in business.

Photos: left, Michael Kors; right, Lanvin

Click through to shop the look!

BEST OF THE WEEK

Adding Vintage Fashion to Your Work Wardrobe

Update Your Career Wear with Unique Retro Clothes and Accessories

It doesn't take much to add a bit of vintage to your work wardrobe. Here are some tips to incorporate vintage fashion into your business attire.

Over the years, business casual has become the norm in many companies. This has given workers more leeway to incorporate unique clothes and accessories into their business attire. Additionally, you may have more flexibility to wear different fashions depending on your occupation and company. For instance, an interior designer might be able to experiment with more “edgy” fashion than a corporate attorney. Here are some simple ways to incorporate vintage fashion into your business attire.

Purchase foundational pieces such as slacks, skirts, dresses and jackets. Foundation pieces in solid or neutral colors work the best since a great pair of brown slacks or a black A-line skirt can be worn several times a week.

Invest in classic clothing and accessories. Certain clothes and accessories never go out of style. Classic clothing such as boxy Chanel style jacket or black slacks will last season after season and will always be in style. Think about investing in a great leather handbag in a neutral tone, a cameo necklace, or a black wool suit.

Consider the color and fabric of your garments. In the 1960’s and 1970’s, polyester was a very popular fabric for clothes. In the 1980s, rayon was king. Unfortunately, these fabrics come across as looking dated and unprofessional. Consider natural fabrics such as cotton, silk, or wool. Also, save vibrant colors and patterns for accessories. A pink suit might look fun in the store, but you would probably get more wear out of a neutral colored one.

Don’t wear vintage from head to toe. Unless you work at an indie record shop or a funky vintage clothing store, your supervisor may not appreciate it if you come to work all decked out in your finest vintage. Instead, try combining current clothes and accessories with vintage to avoid looking like you are wearing a costume. For instance, try pinning a few rhinestone flower brooches to a neutral colored jacket or wear a vintage silk flower scarf with a plain, crisp white shirt.

How to Even Out Your Skin Tone

The key to a flawless face is an even skin tone. Even the most beautiful women in the world need a bit of help now and then (check out Heidi Klum sans makeup, pictured below)

Getting your skin tone right, is more important than any other part of your makeup routine. The trick is make it appear as if you aren't wearing any makeup at all. Here are a few steps to even-ing out your skin tone.

Rule #1: Exfoliate

Chances are if you don't exfoliate daily or weekly, your skin is covered in dead skin cells that are mucking up the surface of your skin and causing your skin to not only look dull, but older as well. Without proper exfoliation, foundation won't smooth over your skin cleanly and moisturizer won't properly soak in.

Exfoliate with face scrubs, microdermabrasion, chemical peels, beta alpha hydroxy pads or any Vitamin A product like Retin-A.

Rule #2: Prep the Face

Foundations and tinted moisturizers glide over a moisturized, plumped face so much better than a dry one. Plump up skin with a primer with SPF (primers have been The New Thing now for more than a oouple years). If you don't have a primer, moisturizers with SPF will do. Make sure the SPF is at least 15.

Rule #3: Even Out Skin Tone

The next step is to apply foundation or tinted moisturizer (tinted moisturizer tends to be more sheer). Make sure the foundation or TM blends perfectly into skin. If it's too light or too dark it will be noticeable. Apply only on the areas that need it most: Usually along the nose and on the cheeks and chin.

Rule #4: Cover Up Under-Eye Circles, Blemishes and Red Spots

A few dots of a creamy concealer under the eyes and on any blemishes helps remove the "veiny" or "bluish" appearance under the eyes many women have. Remember to pat, don't rub, concealer in.

Rule #5: Prep the Lids

Even if you aren't going to be applying eyeshadow, you'll want to apply a lid base to lids to even out skin there. Most people's lids have blue veins. Concealing them with a base or primer created for the lids helps even out your overall skin tone.

Rule #6: Bring Back Some Color

Once skin tone is evened out, you'll notice your skin lacks color. Bring it back in withbronzer, a creamy blush or both. Apply bronzing powder with a big fluffy brush on all the spots the sun naturally hits: Forehead, cheeks and nose. Follow with a creamy blush on the apple of your cheeks. (Cream blushes create a "dewy" complexion better than powder blushes, and help plump up skin).

Rule #7: Set the Face

Your last step to a perfect complexion is setting the face with a powder. This is a step I often avoid because I love how dewy my complexion is without powder. Plus, at this point, I'm lazy. But many makeup artists insist on this step.

Now that your face is "on" you'll notice you don't even have to apply much eye makeup to look fresh and spectacular. Even just a bit of mascara and a hint of gloss is enough for most women to look fantastic.