SheWants

As summer style gives way to fall fashion, women everywhere are gearing up for new looks and exciting trends.  Here are the top fall trends:         

           Military Inspired Looks:   Utilitarian touches toughen up neutral outfits and make them California casual but cool.

            Faux Fur Jackets and Vests:   Super luxe layered over just jeans and a t-shirt or with a cute little skirt and boots. 

            Boots:   THE most popular footwear for fall.  Styles range from booties with peep toe cut outs to high heeled over the knee boots.  Boots add a serious edge that makes any outfit stand out.

            Cross Body Bags:  The latest gotta-have handbag style.  Chain straps make them the perfect accessory for any outfit. These bags not only add a fresh touch to any outfit, they’re much easier on the shoulders than the oversized bags that have dominated in recent years.

            Classic Tailored Suits:  Sleek jackets with skirts or trousers were shown by most major designers’ fall collections.  Add a killer high heel and a silky top for a sophisticated look that redefines power dressing.

            Denim:  Key item in every girl’s wardrobe.  This season, the skinny jean still reigns but equally trendy are boyfriend styles featuring a relaxed fit. Denim shirts are making a showing this season and tailored chambray ones look fantastic with camel or khaki pants and skirts.  In addition, jean jackets are still a classic wardrobe staple-they never seem to go out of style.

            Camel Color:  Coats, skirts and pants in this color are making a huge comeback.  This universally flattering neutral looks equally gorgeous with everything from denim to silk.

            Stylish Sweat Suits:   Perfect for the active life style.  Every fashionista should own at least 2! Accessorizing with great jewelry will polish this relaxed look and make it chic.

            Lady Like Looks:   Brought to the forefront of fall fashion single-handedly by AMC’s “Mad Men”.  Retro inspired dresses and separates create curves for the coveted hour glass figure.  Feminine touches add appealing softness to these sweet looks.

With graduations and weddings on the horizon it may be time to get a crash course in considerate etiquette regarding such events!

First, if you are invited to either the celebration or the ceremony – RSVP immediately! Your friend or relative thought enough to invite you to a very special part of their lives and in some cases the tickets or seats they reserve are limited so it would be much appreciated if you helped them get an accurate head count in a timely fashion. This also translates into consideration for HOW the invitation is addressed. If it says Mr. Smith and guest, then it means you can bring a guest and the same rule applies for children. If your children are not listed in the invite or they did not receive their own invitation, don’t bring them! Also, it would be in poor taste for you to call and ask for an exception.

Regarding gifts for such occasions, yes, send or bring a gift before or on the day of the event. There is a little leeway in regards to a wedding gift. Myth says, you have up to a year AFTER the ceremony to send a present but in these busy times, why not send a gift right away and save yourself from possibly forgetting?

The part that continually confuses most people is if you are sent an announcement and not an actual invitation. In this case, it is not necessary to send a gift but a gift is always appreciated and a card is always thoughtful.

Here are a few things to remember when attending either event:

1. Always remember to be on your best behavior and dress appropriately.

2. Greet the guest of honor(s) and their family and make an effort to mingle with the other invited guests.

3. Wear clothes that are comfortable yet stylish and appropriate for the time of day.

4. Always remember that being invited to a special event is an honor and if you treat is as such – you won’t go wrong!

Of course, it makes it much easier when the graduate or the bride is registered at SheWants.com because you’ll know exactly what they want!

Is green the new black?  It seems everywhere we turn lately, there are trendy companies offering eco-friendly clothing, accessories and make-up.  How exciting is it to be able to go green and care for the environment in style?  There is a hotbed of eco-chic organic lifestyles online and now it’s easier than ever to be green AND fashionable.  Doing your part to save the environment can start with simple steps like:

1. carrying a reusable water bottle

2. walking to places instead of driving

3. keeping a cute canvas bag handy for purchases that would normally go in a plastic or paper bag

4. purchasing eco-friendly products

To launch a “green” journey into full speed ahead mode, plan on reading a few fashionable green books like Green Chic Book: Saving the Earth in Style by Christie Matheson, Eco-Babe’s Guide to Greening It by Stephanie Byng or The Green Book:  The Everyday Guide to Saving the Planet One Simple Step at a Time by Elizabeth Rogers and Thomas M. Kostigen.  The authors of The Green Book enlisted the help of some high profile friends, including Cameron Diaz, Robert Redford, Jennifer Aniston, Tyra Banks, Tiki Barber and more, to tell how they make a difference in regard to the environment.  The book focuses on how little things can make a big impact, for example not asking for ATM receipts:  if everyone in the U.S. refused their receipts, it would save a roll of paper more than two billion feet long-enough to circle the equator fifteen times!

Consider this:  if one out of every five Americans purchased a 100% organic t-shirt instead of one made from conventionally grown U. S. cotton, nearly fifty thousand tons of agrochemicals would be prevented from polluting American ecosystems.  Also, the process of dyeing fabric generates the largest proportion of wastewater produced by the textile industry.  So, even though 2010 is a big year for color in the fashion industry, fashionistas should be buying clothes with “natural” colors to complement them.  If most Americans bought just one pair of pants that weren’t dyed, it would save enough dye to cover the city of San Diego with an inch of colorful liquid.