What's In Your Closet? 5 Must Haves

As many begin looking for what to purchase for the upcoming season, this will give you a guide to know the 5 essential items for your wardrobe. These 5 essential will allow you to go from day to night or shopping with the girls.

The 5 essential pieces are a tailored black jacket, black pants, a patterned top, tunic and a tank top.


For work: Take the black jacket pair it with the pants and top it off with your tank top. The black pants and jacket are conservative for work, but the tank allows you to express your uniqueness. It can be topped off with some nice pearls; a tasteful, but colorful handbag and your briefcase.



For evening: Keep on the black pants. Change into the patterened blouse. This is where you completely express who you are.



For weekend: Yes, keep the pants. This time dress them down with the tunic top. Give your feet a break and put on some comfortable flats.

Shecky's Anyone?

Okay, so you have probably have no clue what a Shecky is, but maybe you should pay attention.

To stay up-to-date to the fashion world, I have begun subscribing to different blogs and newspaper fashion newsletters. I received a newsletter today from the Washington Post. The style section offers a newsletter called the DC Scout, it sends out information about what's happening in fashion in the District of Columbia.

Today's installment talks about Shecky's Girls Night Out. This is the place to be, if you are looking for new stlye for the fall season. It promises to be a blast. It provides shopping, cocktails and refreshments for a very low admission price.

The admission prices are $10 each or $25 for two. The $25 tickets make sure that you get the coveted goodie bag. It is taking place everywhere from Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, DC and every major city in the US. These event are even venturing into less known fashion cities, like Charlotte. Click on the city nearest you to get up-to-date information about the events. To see a complete list of cities click on Shecky's Girls Night Out.

The current list of fashion participants range from Ally Kat to Selma Karaca. Ines Collection will be on hand to cater to the sizeable woman. The clothing is said to be on sale for 10 to 75% off of cost.

Shecky's is a New York fashion mecca. for the internet. It provides information about after-work parties, the best places to shop, and sample sales. It is geared mainly to New York, but has a few things that apply to other cities.

CREATE A SHOPPING BUDGET NOW!!!
So don't miss the event.

The Year of Enlightment

The love of fashion snuck up on Cole M. when she was 30. Unsure of what worked best on her in her 20s, she sometimes went without the lastest fashion.

Now at 33, Cole M. has welcomed the label trendsetter. She believes that she has become a trendsetter because she has come to grips with her body. "There were times when I didn't like the canvas, so there was no need to decorate."

She now embraces clothing. As an administrative assistant, she doesn't get much flexibility on the kinds of clothing that she wears to work, but when she goes out she likes to go all out. "I like to mix it up" she says. To hang out with friends, her favorite places to shop are Deb's Shop and consignment shops. Her recent buy at Deb's Shop was this bandana shirt. "I like that it covers all of my problem areas, but doesn't make me look bigger."

Her favorite consigment shop, My Girlfriend's Closet, is not even located in her area or state. "I only get there once a year, but I always find great clothing." She likes to sew, so she will find items at consigment shops and find ways to give it her own touch.

For work, she is an avid Macy's shopper. At Macy's, she can live out her shoe fantasies. "In the office, my clothing colors are subdued, but the shoes are a different story." She has already scheduled a weekend retreat at Macy's for some shoes. "I can easily spend $500 on a pair of shoes. It is my only vice."

Is he Dandy?

Are you Dandy? Do you believe that your man is a dandy? Do you even know what a dandy is?

Before one can known whether or not they are dandy or their man is dandy, dandy must be defined and looked at from a historical perspective. A dandy is considered a man who takes pride in their physical appearance. They take time to prefect everything about themselves. They are known for their refined language, leisurely hobbies and for looking to advance their social standings.

The first mentions of dandy is associated with George Bryan Brummell, but the word can be traced back as early as the 1770s with the song Yankee Doodle Dandy. The song was written to describe what the American troops looked during the French and Indian War. During the War, a Yankee Doodle Dandy was hodgepodge brigade. The troops were dressed in the clothes that they wore when the left their homes. There were no uniforms.

The word made its way to English history because of the separation of classes. The royal class appreciated the dandy because of the attention paid to appearance and to nothing else.

Anatomy of a Dandy

If you added 2 cups of charm, a half a cup of smooth, and a quarter cup of suave, you would have yourself a dandy. Dandy is a term used by many to describe a man who oozes style, and grace. He has the “it” factor. You can’t describe what “it” is, but you know “it” when you see it. Dandies are tall, thin, handsome men who are so smooth they seem to glide when they walk. They never have a hair out of place, their faces are cleanly shaven, the placket of ruffles on their shirts cascade down to finely starched linen pants, which leads your eye to a pair of silk stockings, which are guarded by freshly polished shoes, accompanied by nothing other than large gold buckles. They are financially independent, in the sense that they feel they do not have to work. Not only are they handsome, but they have the wit and the brains to match. Their charm can’t be ignored, nor can their cynical and nonchalant attitudes. They are the men that we hate to love, and the ones men unlike their kind love to hate.

Historical Dandies

The very model of the dandy in British society was George Bryan "Beau" Brummell. Even though born to middle-class, he was attracted the lifestyle of the upper class. While in school, he became friends with the Prince of Wales, the future George IV. Because of this relationship and his dress, he began to regard in the circles around the Prince as a virtual oracle on matters related to dress and etiquette virtually a court fashion arbiter.

Dandies were no prissy class of gentlemen, or mincing walkers as their elegant forebears, the Macaroni's, had been. They were the well dressed, witty and elegant men of a new generation. Brummell abandoned a wig and cut his hair in a Roman fashion. Brummell also led the move from breeches to snugly-tailored dark "pantaloons," which led directly to the trousers that have been mainstay of men's wear in the Western world for two centuries. George "Beau" Brummell invented what was to become the modern necktie. The feminist Germaine Greer once declaimed that it was foolishness to allow men to rule the world when they begin the day by tying a rope around their necks. Ironically, today he would be called a "metrosexual".

Brummell took great strides to make sure that his clothing was cleaned. If clothes were clean, he reasoned, the body under them must also be. Unlike other males who drenched themselves in perfume to hide body odors, he washed his entire body with hot water every day. As with everything else he did, this too became a fad.

Another well-known dandy is Prince Albert. Albert Francis Charles Augustus Emmanuel of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha was born on August 26. 1819 at Schloss Rosenau, in Bavaria, the younger son of the Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. When he was seven, his father divorced his mother on grounds of adultery, and she was sent to live in Switzerland and forbidden to see her children. Albert was educated at Bonn University. In 1840, he married his cousin, Queen Victoria. The marriage was unpopular in some quarters, and parliament resisted granting Albert what his wife regarded as a suitable allowance. Prince Albert was also known for designing his wife wedding dress, and now days designers still look up to Prince Albert and design their bridal wear of his creations.

Modern Dandies

Dandy is not a word that is commonly used in today fashion industry, but many designers and fashion leaders are influenced by the 19th century look. One such designer is Alexis Mabille. Mabille is a self-taught couturier. The Spring 2009 collection presented "an imaginary mixed school, a fun, unconventional gang of students, teacher and parents”. He takes influences from college, military uniforms and formal attire. The silhouette is narrow, tight with short and fitted jackets and coats worn with wide-leg pants or slim-fitting trousers.
This style of dress has already been adapted by celebrities, such as: Andre 3000

To know if you fit the description of a dandy or your man is dandy, take the quiz. The quiz is called How Dandy are You? The quiz is comprised of 40 questions to determine your level of dandy. Or become a dandy by checking out Modern Dandies. It provides extensive information on everything a modern dandy needs from clothing tips to the books to read.

Animal Prints. Wear With Caution!

Did you buy your tickets for the safari? If you haven't yet, please make sure to check out your local Torrid store to be in fashion.

Do you believe that you can't wear the latest trends because of your size? Well, listen to the sizeable perspective on how to wear animal prints. As a SIZEABLE woman, you must know what works for your body style.

• Buy the item, if the print is comparable to your size.
• In other words, small patterns are meant for small bodies.
• Next, please do not over accessories. You really don't need to put on the animal print shoes to make the statement.

You are the statement not the clothes.

Be proud of your curves.

Until next time....