Special Event Dresses. In Search of THE ONE.

Too excited to find a scissor, I ripped open the little brown box with a kitchen fork.  Poor fork.  I could barely wait to see the Versace Collection dress I ordered online. It was for a client, currently seeking sizzle for a spring soiree.

Said client has a svelte little silhouette, so she could make any dress sing.  But what I loved about this particular dress was that it combined sizzle and sophistication.  So HER!   Paired with a sensational heel…it had tons of potential.

Guess what?   It was the LAST size six and it WAS ON SALE!

YAY!  I couldn’t believe me luck!:)

I threw off the packing paper and  GASP!! I  really couldn’t believe me luck…:(

The box did not contain Versace sizzle!

It contained a pair of flip-flops. Fizzle.

Grey flip-flops, no less.  It was heartbreak-in-a-box.

Customer service consoled me for the mistake (and actually tried to help me locate the dress in other stores!)   Unfortunately,  it wasn’t meant to be.

But before I write it off, I’m going to write about it. The dress-that-got-away is an excellent blog example of a glam dress with all the right elements:

• The clean lines elongate for long, lean look.
• The two tones (black on the sides) are super slimming.
• The draped neck is not only flattering, but easy to wear.
• The unique Y-back adds interest.
• The length is ideal.  One never has to worry about being “age apprpriate” with this hemline.

A dress like this might not initially catch your eye on the hanger.   Details like these, however, will make it an eye-catching dress ON the person.  The take-away:  While shopping for dresses it’s a good idea to search FIRST for a flattering cut.  Then for the color, style etc.

There. lemonade out of lemons.  Closure via keyboard.    It  was silly to fall in love (on-line) with a dress I’ve never met in person.   It probably had baggage, right?

I’m over you Versace dress.  SO excited to move on and find THE ONE!     

Dramatic Holiday Stroll at 50th and France Edina.

Camba Collection Kristin Krull Three weeks before Thanksgiving, my evergreens were already accessorized.  Their tiny lights were ready to twinkle, but I made them wait until late November to shine.  (It was hard to resist!) Now that the trees are all decked out, it’s time to accessorize ourselves for the holidays.Come get your glam on at Drama, a Boutique 11am-4pm on Saturday December 10th. Drama is known for its selection of beautiful, handmade, local jewelry is hosting a Holiday Jewelry Bazaar.  Five of the boutique’s hottest local designers will be on site showing extensive collections while boutique owners, Courtney & Brynn, offer complimentary gift wrapping, cider and sweet treats.  The event coincides with 50th & France’s Holiday Stroll event, so the area will feature traditional carollers and of course, the best Christmas accessory ever…lots and lots of little lights!  (confession: my backyard lights were lit EARLY November.) Featured designers include: ROX by Robin Robinson:  http://www.roxmpls.com/ CAMBA by Kristin Krull:  http://cambajewelry.com/ Engels by Design: http://www.engelsbydesign.com/ Feather Mamas: https://www.facebook.com/hotmamasfireandfeathers m.bridgetdesigns:https://www.facebook.com/pages/mbridget-designs/140112580389 Dramas does so much more than accesories. Peruse my Patch Article and then browse the boutique in person for beautiful baubles, blazers, bags and more.  DRAMA as featured in Patch.

Lush Ocean Salt Review

If your computer screen had a scratch and sniff feature, you’d be very happy right now.  Breathe in and at least pretend.

Ahhhh….It smells like beach.

The Ocean Salt Facial Scrub from LUSH was a luxurious little gift from Macy’s.  The retailer recently hosted a bloggers event at their Southdale store.

Ocean Salt was my favorite thing in the swag bag, not only because of the scent, but because it feels sensational.  The little salty scrubbers make your skin say, “HELLO? What  was THAT?”  Then you dig in and scoop out MORE!

The Lush line is all about fresh.  Ocean Salt’s ingredients read like a juice bar menu; lemon, lime, coconut, grapefruit, to name a few.   Next time you notice the LUSH logo beaming brightly in Macy’s cosmetics department, bop by and buy up some beach for your bathroom.  Love It.

Photo credit: Lush 

Edina Events… and Luscious Lotion!

As long as too many worms don’t suprise me, I  really like digging in my flower gardens.  My hands, however, don’t .  We’re getting along better now (my hand and I) since I’ve stumbled upon Aveda Hand Relief.  It feels amazing.

This luscious lotion was part of a gift bag I recevied from JUUT at their Fall Make Up Event.  There’s another one coming up September 22nd.  Check out my experience and Patch article at this link: Fall Fashion Events.

Short post!   Heading off to Fashion’s Night Out at Galleria!  Maybe I’ll see you  there! (BTW… also in the Patch link)

Neck Ties to Tie Dyes, Moms offer Back-to-School Shopping Tips.

My friend Meg let her little boy pack his own bag for their weekend road trip to Nebraska.  He packed a tie.  Adorable.

Also excited about neck ties is this future first grader, Shepard.  The dashing 6-year-old is trying on his new back-to-school uniform for mom, Kimberly, who couldn’t be happier about the required navy blue blazer and khaki pants. “No drama in the morning,” she explained.  The uniform “makes the routine quick and easy.”

Available at Land’s End, elements of this ensemble are brilliant for back-to-school, whether your child wears a school uniform or not.  According to Kimberly, the knees on the Land’s End pants are reinforced “for all the wear and tear little boys subject their pants to.”   Gotta love Land’s End. They offer easy-care clothing options that are ready-to-wear from the dryer and a Lost Mitten Club to boot.

Making back-to-school shopping EASIER is the essence of an article I recently wrote for Patch.  Meg, back from Nebraska, is among  the many moms that offer advice.  For tips, tricks, ideas and more here’s the link: Back- to-School Shopping Beckons  But before you click,  please note I’ve added a Facebook icon to page for you to share the story with others.  You may also subscribe to this blog at RIGHT.   Style posts come via email twice a month:)

Shepard shows mom, Kimberly, his back-to-school uniform as brother Jackson looks on. Kimberly comments, "The neutral combination of navy blue and khaki allows for a neck tie with pops of color and pattern...something Shepard is excited about. The boys can customize their look by choosing their own shirts and ties."

Flexibilty and Family First for Busy Moms that Want to Work. Social Selling Offers Opportunities.

Yesterday I worked really hard delegating, decorating, downloading and making quick decisions.  Today, the only decision I want to make is “Pedicure?” Or “Deluxe Pedicure?”   To me, flexibity is the best part of owning a small business like Angel Toes Inc. or being self-employed as wardrobe stylist and Patch writer.      This week, meet two busy moms that feel fortunate to have that sort of flexibility. Both in the bobble biz, Kris Paul and Nikki Weber share their insights with me.  PATCH ARTICLE LINK

BTW, I did the “Deluxe,”  (had a coupon)  The second decision of the day was an easy one;   OPI’s pinky-orange color named,  “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.”  Tuffy inspected and approved.

I’d like to write a Patch Article on BACK TO SCHOOL SHOPPING and would love some input and feedback from those of you who do it.   Please email me if you’d be willing to be included. beputtogether@comcast.net

Great, very timely article! I am an Edina mom, home with 2 small boys, and have been a rep for Stella & Dot for the last 2 years. They are reinventing the idea of ‘home parties’ and are confident that the combination of e-commerce  and social selling will change how we shop in the future. Liz Couchman- Edina.    www.stelladot.com/lizcouchman

Summer Dresses! featuring Hot Mama

Every Tuesday morning I attend an absolutely awesome cardio blast, dancy-dance style class at Lifetime Fitness. (fun music, fun choreography and fun  teacher –Marybeth- if you want to check it out!)  Anyway, on a recent Tuesday morning two regulars stood chatting outside the studio- One of them visibly giddy. She was describing a little tank dress she picked up at Hot Mama. She was excited that this comfy, cotton, dress with ruffles was absolutely flattering.  It hid the areas we we’re trying to work off while accentuating any attributes. “Go check it out,”  she said– so I did.

I couldn’t imagine a tank dress with full-on ruffles. Sounded sporty, yet feminine.   I described it to Abby, my Hot Mama sales associate.  She knew it instantly and said it flew off the racks in a matter of days. Apparently it looked good on a lot of people!  (Sundresses tend to do that— that’s why we love them!)  I resorted to looking at a photo and indeed this heather gray tank dress was sporty, yet girly too.   It was called the Cha Cha Dress- how appropriate to learn about it in my dancy-dance style class.

Summer dresses are so fun and easy to wear!    They are, by far, the most flattering garment to grab, get ready and go.  Buy them in bright colors or florals.  Feminine details like flowers, ruffles,  etc are fresh for spring and can be worn by all ages. (in moderation)   Check out my article for Edina.patch featuring Hot Mama styles and advice regarding wearing girly styles without looking girlish. Click here for link     (article posted on Patch earlier this Spring)

Winter to Spring Fashion

Lighter Weight "Ripped Sweater" from Bluebird Boutique

 My red, peep-toe pumps were begging to be worn to the Blogger’s Event at Spalon Montage earlier this week.  Well-intentioned, the shoes wanted to strut some color into  my worn-out, winter wardrobe.

 But it’s too early for peeps.  I’d  been thrown off  by my recent beach vacation. (Five days of flip flops.)  I put away the shoes, even though my tall boots were bugging me. 

If your boots are bugging you, or your sweaters are smothering you, you’re not alone.  It’s time to resuscitate our wardrobes and breathe  new LIFE into our closets.

However, doing so can be difficult.  March is too cold for  many spring styles.  Because it is a tricky time to dress,  I wrote some transition tips for The Fashion Files at edina.patch.com. 

Here’s the link, I hope you “like.”              

http://patch.com/A-dF5v

How to Find a Functional, Fashionable, Flattering Bathing Suit.

Once upon a poolside, I noticed a young gaggle of goggle-wearing guys that were very happy to be in Hawaii.  The waterlogged lads seem to spring to the pool’s surface with a shout, high-five each other and submerge for more.   In a chlorinated pool, void of sea life, I wondered what could be exciting enough to warrant an underwater camera?

 You may have already guessed:  Bikini malfunctions at the waterslide landing.  I returned my attention to the sunscreen stained pages of my paperback… A refreshing ride down the slide was no longer on my docket that day.

 I remembered that silly scenario when the owner of Nani Nalu Swimwear Boutique asked my friend  if she wanted her new suit to work at a  water park  (among other things– a resort, hotel pool etc. )              And with that, a functional, fashionable, flattering fit was found.  Find yours too…   Read on:  Tricks not Trends when Trying on Swimwear  

Wall Decor at Nani Nalu Swimwear Boutique

Clothes Shopping Tips.

Shopping for clothes CAN be overwhelming.  Where do you start?  What do you need?  Following a few tips can make a big difference in your shopping experience.  I joined Jennifer Jeanne Patterson from Unplanned Cooking at Hot Mama on 50th & France in Edina to put an end to unplanned shopping.  

NOTE: I went straight to the hair salon after seeing this video.           What on earth?