Despite having traveled for years both for business and pleasure, I still manage to occasionally pack the wrong things. With the odd hard lesson learned, my packing skills have improved greatly over time – here are a few things that work for me:  

• Layer for the plane trip – it might be hot at home and even hotter at your destination; but it’s always cold on that aeroplane. Smaller planes rarely carry blankets, so be sure take a piece of knitwear or jacket when you board.
• Condense your toiletries – glass is heavy, which makes popping your cosmetics into smaller plastic containers a super idea (you can get these at any travel shop). It’s also practical to have a filled toiletry bag on standby ready to pack at anytime. Keeping two of every cosmetic might be costly at the beginning, but extremely useful when you travel frequently and pack last minute. Consider doing the same for a first aid kit.
• Bring two pairs of shoes – you’ll need to pack a pair you can walk well in (see blog entry comfortable holiday feet) and a dressier pair for other occasions. Travel in your walking shoes.
• Plan your outfits – there is no way of getting around the “planning part” of what you need to pack. You need to prepare an outfit for every day and mix and match the pieces that you have selected accordingly. If your agenda is different at night, you’ll need to plan for that as well.
• Come up with a uniform – walk shorts, longer length tee’s and sandals is one example. Skirts, knit tops and thongs is another. You might want to combine the two and add a few layering garments to change your look.
• Remember your accessories – accessories articulate your sense of style and personality. Remember to pack the correct items for your clothing selection.
• Bring two bags – traveling with a large tote that zips up is best (pick pockets are always a concern). You’ll be able to keep so much in it. Bring a smaller bag along as well and make sure that that’s the one you pack.
• Take the kitchen sink if you travel by car – there is no need to pack lightly if you are traveling on the road. Pack 5 pairs of shoes and 3 extra outfits if you feel the need – it can all stay in the car anyway!

Lightweight crease resistant fabrics are key. Don’t forget to pack your sunscreen and hat – you are a tourist so it won’t matter if you look like one. Feel free to share any other traveling tips for warm weather holidays – I’m always keen to improve my packing skills.

What would we do without our jeans? Denim must be one of the best things that happened to textiles and fashion (the fact that Coco Chanel made it acceptable for women to wear slacks comes a close second). Denim dates back to 16th century Europe when Genovese sailors wore the fabric as everyday work wear trousers. The fabric now fuels the multi billion dollar fashion industry and there isn’t a catwalk designer that excludes this incredibly versatile fabric from their collections. It’s possibly the only item of clothing that defies age and lifestyle.

If you are a woman – it’s probably also one of the most impossible things to shop for! Jeans and Accessories can help. It is an excellent denim-focused website. It’s thoroughly researched, informative and easy to understand. Of particular interest on the side bar are topics such as:

• Denim and body type
• Jeans Styles
• Cut and fit
• Sizing
• Petite jeans
• Tall jeans
• Maternity jeans

With variations in fit, leg style, waist treatment and wash type – who wouldn’t welcome all the help that they can get when buying that perfect pair of jeans. Have fun perusing this site and look good in denim today.

Most stores are on sale and it’s your last chance to get summer merchandise for you and the family. Autumn collections will start hitting stores in a week or two. Pickings are already slim as sizes and colours become depleted. Remember that you won’t find summer merchandise in stores in August and September – this is how the crazy retail cycle works. If you need beachwear for a trip to Hawaii in October – now is the time to get it.

• Macy’s July 4th Sale – starts today. There is nothing more summery then a dress – go to this department if you fancy the idea of that. Sandals are also a good option here.
• Banana Republic Summer Sale – has been on sale for a week (both men and women). They haven’t been looking their best this season, but still worth a look for the “modern classics” among us.
• Nordstrom Anniversary Sale (14 July) – mark your calendars! Nordstrom previews their new season merchandise and offer it at crazy prices for two weeks only. Prices are marked up again after the sale period. This is when we can start shopping for autumn and winter. Stay tuned for Fall 2006/2007 tidbits so that we can make some savvy shopping decisions for this occasion.  

My top summer picks for all remain: walk shorts (dressy and casual), cropped jacket, knitted dress, longer length t-shirts and knitted tops, layering camisoles and tanks, metallic shoes, metallic belt, metallic bag.

When packing for travel, I always plan my footwear carefully. This is especially true for trips that require a great deal of walking. My days of being uncomfortable for the sake of being on the cutting edge of fashion are over. I am now, forever more, kind to my feet. But, we need to be kind to our feet with style.

Wearing socks and athletic shoes with jeans is unsightly and it’s even worse with shorts!  Is there such a thing as a comfortable yet stylish walking shoe? Absolutely. There are many fashionable and practical alternatives to the work-out sneaker:

• For jeans and casual pants, wear a “fashion sneaker”. Don’t wear thick colourful socks with these – opt for discreet ankle socks instead. If your pants are at the correct length (see perfect pant lengths please), you shouldn’t be revealing your socks – even when you sit or cross your legs.
• For walk shorts and skirts, wear a “dainty fashion sneaker”. It’s best to keep your sneaker looking more like a ballet shoe when you expose your legs. There are some super retro options at PF Flyers; otherwise any department store will stock what you are looking for.
• Pop in an insole. I like to get air foam insoles for extra comfort. They are available at any drugstore for a couple of dollars.
• Find a comfortable thong sandal. If you can wear thong sandals, try a cushioned version for walking if you don’t require arch support. I am more comfortable in these than in walking sandals with ankle straps. Ankle straps eventually chafe – throngs somehow seem more forgiving.

Fabulous feet deserve to fashionable and comfortable. Have a look at the dainty fashion sneaker options below – perfect for when you need to be light and quick on your feet.

PF Flyers has the nice dainty Lo Fi (and an online store).

Fashion sneakers from Nordstrom.

The word “petite” in French means “small”. Quite understandably, people therefore assume that petite clothing is for slender and smaller framed women. This is a misconception – petite clothing is for shorter women irrespective of their size. If you are 5’3” or below, chances are high that you should be shopping in the petites department.

However, this is not always the case – especially if you are on the cusp with your height. This is something that surprises me every single time I dress a lady between 5”2 and 5”4. Women may be petites for the top half of their body, but not for the bottom half, and vice versa. Whether you are a petite will depend on:

• The length of your limbs
• The width of your shoulders
• The size of your bust
• How short-waisted you are 

Ideally, if your height is around the 5’3” mark it’s best to try on both petite and regular size ranges. As annoying as this might be, the correct fit is crucial. A 5’3” person that I took shopping recently had always assumed that she was a petite because of her height. Clothing for her top half was for most part uncomfortable. We changed her size from a 4P to a size 2R and, hallelujah, the fit was perfect! Her long arms and shapely bust called for another set of proportions despite her height.

The biggest trap that women fall into with petite clothing is with the length of skirts and bottoms. While regular sized clothing will certainly be too long – petite proportions can be too short (see “perfect pant lengths please”).  In this case, shop in the regular department and have your bottoms altered. If you buy your bottoms at Nordstrom – they will hem for free!

Pretty petite options at Nordstrom.

My experience with Tilex yesterday is well worth a blog posting. A few days ago, I wore a bright red t-shirt which turned out to be far from colour-fast. By the end of the day, it had stained the top half of my body. After 2 showers and futile attempts with nail polish remover – I was still pink. I proceeded to wear a white collared shirt the next day, only to find that by lunchtime, my crisp white shirt was also pink! My shirt had absorbed the remainder of red dye from my body. I popped the white shirt into the wash with loads of detergent and “triple action” stain remover - but this was useless. I then thought of using Tilex (mildew remover for the bathroom). Not knowing how the fabric would react, I was prepared to take the risk seeing as my shirt was ruined already. I sprayed Tilex over the pink stains, left it for an hour and popped it back into the wash. This was brilliant- my shirt is now whiter then when I purchased it!

NOTE: I’m not recommending this practice (and neither are the Tilex people). If you do consider the use of Tilex, be mindful of the fabric composition you will be affecting. It won’t work for a 100% natural fibre. The results are good for white polyester cotton spandex combinations. I have also found it effective at removing yellow armpit soiling caused by deodorant.

Do not risk your designer wear – but have a bash if you feel that you have nothing left to lose.

I would like to introduce you to a fantastic blog: “Cute little Clothes” is also an online children’s boutique. Not only are the clothes and accessories absolutely adorable, but the shopping experience is easy to navigate. If you are looking for something exclusive for your infant, toddler or pre-schooler – this site has a lot to offer.

The blog also offers links to other sites which are well worth a look:

• Mommies with Style
• Mom Finds
• Daddy Drama

Enjoy perusing and happy shopping!

We have babies, gain or lose weight and get older. All of these things cause our body to change. When our body changes, we either need new clothes or we need to alter the clothes that we have.

What do you do about your new clothing requirement when your body transforms? Do you hold off shopping while you loose the 30 pounds your dietician recommended? Do you wait 6-12 months to get your body back after pregnancy? The answer to these questions is “no”.

Dress for the body that you’re in today.

Shopping for clothing and accessories is one of those rare opportunities in life where a quick fix can have long term effects. The gratification is instant, and the positive reinforcement will help you to avoid internalizing bad feelings about your body.

It’s never a good idea to wait for what may, or may not change about your body in the future. You are perfect right now – go shopping!

It’s a watershed moment in fashion – waistlines are traveling north again. For almost a decade we’ve embraced low slung belts and low rise pants (and still are), but silhouettes are changing. This is not to say that pants and skirts will be high-rise for ever more. It means that you will have a choice. Low slung jeans and pants will move on to becoming “new classics”, and the new trend will be towards belting your natural waist line.

Bear the following in mind when cinching your waistline:

• Be careful if you are short waisted – it’s best to stay away from this look if you are very petite as this will make you look shorter.
• The size of your bust counts – if you have an ample bosom and tiny waist, opt for a narrow waist belt instead of a wide one.
• Your bottoms need to fit well – you can’t wear a waist belt over a top if your pants/skirt are big around your waist. Excess bulging fabric is unsightly. You’ll need to have them altered (which will still be cheaper than trying to find another pair of pants that fit you perfectly). The cost of this type of alteration varies ($20 -$35), but is very worthwhile.

How do we wear the new belted look:

• Over a shirt, girly top or long t-shirt
• Over a fitted jacket
• Over a pullover  

Have a look at the pictures below to get a better idea. It’s a cinch if you know what to do!

An assortment of belts (from Arden B. and Bebe) cinched at the waist over tops, blouses and dresses. I have found elasticized belts to be particularly comfortable.

What is a trend really?

• Trend: Current style; vogue
• Trendy: Of or in accord with the latest fad or fashion
• Trendsetter: Someone who popularizes a new fashion

A fashion season is always influenced by trends. Trends are sometimes a one-season phenomena, but more often evolve through the seasons over a period of 2-3 years. They then either disappear, or become their own fashion category. The longevity of a trend is inextricably linked to consumer acceptance. Trends can start out as “the look of a season”, continue to reappear because of abundant consumer demand, and then ultimately become a long term force that we call a new classic. “New” because the look is kept current by changes to silhouette, color or fabrication, despite being based on a traditional, or “classic”, concept.

Good examples of new classics: heeled pointy toe shoes, low slung boot leg pants and jeans, collared stretch shirts, trench coats, animal printed accessories and trims.

You do not need to follow the latest fashion trend to be stylish. Filter through new trends and select only the ones that work best for your body type, age and lifestyle.