Are you too OLD to model?

One of my viewers wrote in to ask if she’s too old to model. She’s over 40. I took some time to record a video to answer her question – WATCH THE VIDEO ON MY NEW BLOG HERE and let me know YOUR thoughts!

How to Fix your Cankles!

So I have been inundated with emails about this and I really want to address this! CANKLES! Many women who age overtime start to retain water more and forget that this leads to swelling all over and our ankles and wrists are the first places it shows. BUT, there is an easy fix to this problem if you tend to swell 24/7 around your ankles:

•Wear pants. Do opt for pants whenever possible and make sure they aren’t tapered (leggings and skinny jeans are difficult to pull off with cankles.) A pant that falls in a straight line from the hip (not too fitted, not too wide) is the most flattering.

•Skip cropped pants. Avoid cropped pants that end at the ankle; it’s a difficult look to pull off with cankles because it highlights the problem area.  Capris and Bermuda shorts can work if they end at or right below the knee.

•Find the narrowest part of your leg. Skirts and dresses should have a hemline that ends at the narrowest part of your leg; for most women that’s in the knee area (either right above or below the knee.) Avoid ruffled or embellished hems that draw the eye downward.

•Love some tall boots! Tall boots were made for women with cankles. If you want to look long and lean, opt for leggings or slim jeans with a tunic, tucked in to tall boots. Many stores – like Zappos.com – -have boots made especially for wide calves if traditional boots don’t work.

 •Avoid ankle straps. Skip shoes that have lacing or straps that go around the ankle. The most flattering shoes have a heel or wedge that elongate the foot and gives your leg a slimmer look.

•Go chunky. Chunky-heeled shoes are especially flattering because they balance out heavy cankles.

•Decorate it. Of course, there’s always the fashion theory that says “If you can’t hide it, decorate it.” Wear an ankle bracelet or tattoo your cankles and show them off with pride.

How to Get Rid of your Buddha Belly!

I know every woman out there feels as though your body isn’t where you want it to be. As we age, everything seems to fall, sag, or sway in most unattractive ways. We start to notice the under arm flab, the thicker calves and thighs, the wider hips, and yes, the TUMMY! This is probably the worst area to gain weight and I know for most women, it’s the area we are most self conscious about. I know it sounds terrible but, at our age, it happens and there really is nothing you can do to counteract it. I have researched and studied a lot on this topic and I have found that while there are some remedies that are short term, there is nothing long lasting we can do to change this problem area. But, we can hide it!!!

Many of you find that it is a bit harder, as you age, to find clothing that meets all of your needs as an individual. Some women worry about hips, some thighs, some tummy’s, some legs. Well it doesn’t matter what part of your body you are shopping for, one thing will always stand true. You must pay attention to YOUR body type and YOUR needs but most of all WHAT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU.

As a younger girl, I always wanted to wear the latest fashions but I found that not all of the latest looks flattered my body. Now that didn’t mean I couldn’t have changed the look and made it more customized for my body but some looks just didn’t work on me. The same is true now. So I have come up with a few solutions for you ladies on how to camoflauge that tummy and make you feel confident in your clothes.

SWITCH ALL YOUR UNDERWEAR TO SHAPEWEAR

If you don’t already own super-control bike shorts, one-piece shapers, footless panty hose, and opaque stockings, YOU NEED TO STOCK UP! These are what I call, “plastic surgery in a pinch”. Every woman should own something like this because it holds everything in place and sucks and tucks in all the right places. Granted, thrashing around trying to get these suckers on is not a pretty sight, but the ability to lose 10 pounds in one minute is well worth the struggle! I have friends who wear them with everything and only remove them for bed, bathing, or intimacy. They are that life changing! There are amazing brands out there such as SPANX (which I am a firm believer in), Lipo in a Box, TC, Wacoal, or Donna Karan. These brands have the best quality items and they last the longest.

MANAGE YOUR MIDDLE

Your waist is so front and center that you want to avoid making it an attention-getting target. Some fashion trends, no matter how tempting they look on celebs, will only make YOU look fat. I know you ladies FEEL like Jessica Alba or Cameron Diaz but let’s face it, we have not the gym time nor the youthfulness that these ladies have in order to get and maintain the bodies they have! Avoid any materials or textiles that draw attention to the stomach. On the short list: tight knits, drawstring pants, pleated skirts, shiny materials that catch any light.

BUY A DRESS

Because there is no break at the center to attract your eye, a dress will immediately give your shape a sleeker line through the middle. A key strategy going forward is to buy dresses, not seperates. There really is nothing easier to slip on than a dress. You don’t have to do much accessorizing or worry about what matches with what and whether or not to tuck. BUT, you must remember, not all dresses are created equal. Go bold. Pick solid colors and…

EMBRACE THE EMPIRE WAIST

This trendy silhouette creates a higher waistline under your bust, which is most likely thinner than your tummy, which it skims and hides. Because it is a fuller top, you want to keep your bottom half narrow in lean jeans, slim pants, or a pencil skirt. Find a top that is not super voluminous, as you don’t want to appear pregnant.

TWEAK TRENDS

As I stated earlier, when I was younger I would see so many gorgeous celebs and think, “I want to be just like _____, she is my style icon.” While having a style icon celeb to look toward and gain inspiration from is great, you do not want to follow them off a cliff to fashion disaster. SOME LOOKS JUST DO NOT WORK FOR EVERYONE. A perfect example is LADY GAGA. I am in love with this woman. She is a great fashion icon, music icon, and even political icon but, I cannot go around wearing a one piece hot pant jumper with asymmetrical sunglasses on. However, I can take INSPIRATION from her gorgeous menswear styles and wear a sexy suit with a menswear flare to it.

I know aging is not the best thing in the world but IT HAPPENS TO EVERYONE. Embrace who you are and find your style niche and recognize that you are unique and gorgeous!

How to Host a Party

So I know the holidays are over (thank goodness) and we are headed towards spring and summer, but along with spring and summer come more and more outdoor festivities. Now these activities can be cookouts, barbeques, pool parties, or even drinks on the deck. Whatever event you are planning, it is important to know how to plan and execute a party so everything goes smoothly and everyone enjoys it. I know in most cases you think that when you host a party the only people really enjoying it are the guests but I hope after you read this that changes. With the right organizational skills you can really enjoy your own party and be stress free!

PLAN IT OUT: The biggest mistake most people make when it comes to party planning is they are missing one key component…the planning part. Yes you sent out invitations, yes you bought food and drinks, but often times you invite too many people and you don’t have enough food and drink to accommodate the room. THIS IS A PROBLEM! I cannot tell you how many times I leave frustrated when someone does not plan out a party correctly because it really is an easy fix you just have to think smart.

During a cocktail party, people need typically 4-5 feet of personal space. So if you’re hosting in your living room of about 400 square feet, you can accommodate 80-100 people. In general, 80% of the invited guests will RSVP in the affirmative and of those, 5% will flake out or have something come up last minute. So for a general rule of thumb, for every 100 people you invite, expect 75 to show up.

If this is a small intimate party, it will most likely be a lot easier to plan out because not that much thought is involved. But, if you are hosting a party of 30 or more people, HIRE A BARTENDER (TRUST ME!) or you will be serving drinks the entire night and you won’t be able to enjoy your own party.

Now for food. If you are not serving a meal, expect each guest to consume about 10 appetizers over the course of the evening. You always want to have more than less when it comes to food. What is not eaten you can save for a snack in your fridge for the upcoming week!

Remember that when you plan a party, you are considering what is easiest for the guests so always be prepared for anything and everything!

These steps will help you when it comes to party planning and will ensure that you have a great evening with close friends!

How to Get Younger Looking Eyes with Makeup

I think that my favorite part of the human body is the eyes. They say the eyes are the windows to the soul and I absolutely believe that. If you want to catch someone’s attention, you do it with eye contact. So for this entry I really wanted to focus on applying makeup to the eyes. I think this is a topic that for older women isn’t talked about enough. We see plenty of products and tutorials geared towards the younger generations but I sit back and wonder, what about us? I have experimented and tried many different makeup brands and techniques and I found some that I think will really help women bring out not only natural beauty but also keep your eyes healthy and skin firm.

First let’s think about all of the latest trends out there….

You have the smokey eye, the cat eye, the natural eye, the sunkissed eye, the dramatic eye, yadda yadda yadda.

Jennifer Anniston

These looks are fabulous but the trend in makeup is really shifting towards a healthier, natural look. Now if you are like me you are into more coverage. I love the natural appearance, but I don’t want to feel like I have no makeup on what so ever.  Whatever your preference, you always want to start with a great foundation that is long lasting, you don’t want to get through half the day and have to reapply your makeup. Now that we are focusing on the eyes, you want to use a subtle blush that has a light pink tone to it. Something that shows up but isn’t going to overpower the eyes.

Next, you are going to start on your eyes. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART.

EYEBROWS: Make sure you have waxed, plucked, or trimmed eyebrows to the shape that you want. The eyebrows frame the face so go with a natural arch.

EYE SHADOW: Now you want to pick a very subtle brown shade and place in the crease of your eye. Blend the color in so it starts to fade to a lighter, more natural tone.

EYELINER: Use either a brown or black eyeliner but remember to use lightly.

The most important step in your eyes is the mascara. You want to use lengthening, NOT PLUMPING, mascara. Apply 2-3 coats of mascara and allow each coat to dry halfway before starting a new coat.

Finish off this look with either a nude or soft pink lip and you are natural and fabulous!

How to Wear the Maxi-Dress

So as Spring 2012 quickly approaches, we are seeing more and more skirts and dresses and very flowy, sexy material. I think one of the greatest styles that is really going to hit this Spring is the maxi dress. Now I know most of the models that you see wearing these dresses appear younger, but you can really utilize them for trips you may be taking or even dates you will have!

To dress up the Maxi Dress: you want to look for a simple print maxi dress for this. Nothing too paisley or crazy, something simple. The most popular and effective ones I have seen are the basic color maxi dresses or the striped maxi dresses. Then pair your dress with a structured blazer, wedge shoes or heels, and a statement necklace that compliments (but DOES NOT take away from) the outfit.

To dress down the Maxi Dress: find any maxi dress that you like. This can be a printed maxi, tribal, striped, racer-back, etc. Then add a cute pair of sandals and you can wear this look pretty much anywhere.

What I love about the maxi dress is how effortless it is and how simple it is to create a very fashion-forward look in seconds. Have fun with this look and try all different styles of dresses to see what hits you!

Wrap THIS around your neck…

STATEMENT NECKLACES

We all have those days when we want to put minimal effort into getting dressed but look like we put forth a lot of effort. Often times we are getting ready for work or going out with friends and running late or taking care of a million things at once and taking 2 hours to get ready like we did when we were teenagers just isn’t ideal anymore.

Well I have the trick to take a simple outfit from “almost there” to “THERE!” Add a statement necklace! Take any simple outfit and put on a large, chunky, bold necklace. Make sure you are complementing the outfit and not overpowering it and keep the colors in the same range.  Here are some examples of how to wear a statement necklace:

Statement necklaces should add to the outfit, not take away from it. Remember, it’s all about bringing life to the outfit!

Menswear – for Women?!

This is my favorite look for Fall and Spring!!!! I know many of you have seen the Menswear looks that are out there right now and you are thinking, “I could never wear that.” Well you can!!! Follow these guidelines and you will be sure to pull off this look!

• It’s all about the lines: When shopping to create this look, make sure you try on everything and pay close attention to the tailoring of the item.  The blazer should have a nice princess cut that accentuates your waist and has broad shoulders to give you the appearance of a slender sillohuette.
• Pants: When shopping for the bottoms to this look, you want to find a high waisted wide leg pant or a straight leg pant.
• Details, ladies: Pairing both the tailored jacket and pants with a stiff collared top will create a gorgeous look that is sure to bring looks. Add a simple necklace and flats or a heel and you will knock em dead ladies!

If you need any more help with this look, Diane Keaton is a fashion icon for the menswear look.

Over The Knee… Oh My!

Ladies, we all know and love the movie Pretty Woman. Like me, I am sure that many of you would love to have the body that Julia Roberts spent months molding for this movie. There is one part though that every woman wants to re-create. THOSE DANG BOOTS!!!

After the movie, those boots were sold out for almost 4 years straight because they received so much hype. Now I know you all are thinking that you are too mature to pull off this look, (after all she was a gentleman caller!) But you can! Maybe not in the exact same way but you can pull off an over the knee boot.

Today there are many styles of over the knee boots. We have flat ones, round-toe, embellished, heeled, and even platform! Pair your over the knee boots with a skinny jean, leggings, or jeggings and add a simple cami with a cardigan, or for a fierce look add a leather jacket!  The boots should stand as the focal point for the outfit so keep everything else simple!

WARNING: DO NOT wear over the knee boots with a skirt or dress…it gives off the wrong impression and can leave others thinking that you and Julia worked the same block (if you know what I mean).

Here are some great styles I found that I think you ladies will love. Remember, you want these boots to be a reflection of your style so find that special pair and WORK IT!

How to Get Rid of a Double Chin – with Makeup!

This is one of my most-requested tips, so I thought I’d do a video and show you exactly how to get rid of your double-chin with makeup alone!  The wonders of cosmetics, ladies – enjoy!