Oscar Style 2015

I hope everyone watched the Academy Awards on Sunday to see some of the incredible gowns, here are a few that were a standout in the sea of celebs:

Why do these dresses work? First, they are all pretty dresses, but the color, cut and fabric compliment each body type and skin tone.  

A few winning makeup and hair styles:

Example of perfect makeup on Margot Robbie. The straight hairstyle is modern, if she had a lot of curls or heavy waves, it would have been a retro look. Only try the vivid mouth and bright hair color if you have flawless skin and want to highlight your perfect mouth.

Neutral makeup colors and expert hair highlights make Jamie Chung shine at the Oscars.

Are you a redhead? Copy this look from Jessica Chastain, soft red/auburn hair color, not too vivid, neutral makeup, and a gorgeous yet simple diamond necklace that looks good on everyone.

I hope everyone was a winner on Sunday as you continue to follow this Style Blog that continues to encourage you to develop your own style.

Easy Sunday Lunch

I know, I know, you've just gotten up and wonder what's in the kitchen after you've just fired the maid and you are at your wits' end. Well, I've got an easy meal you can prepare yourself to give you energy as you plan your week of activities, what with your lunches with the girls and your nights of snuggling by your fireplace watching a classic movie and thinking about the future that is so bright within yourself. Oh, perfect time of year to enjoy crisp nights and pleasant days as you plan your summer spot with that special someone or off on your own retreat to enrich your horizons and you just might meet that special person in between browsing those antique shop windows.

Nope, no chopping or getting your hands dirty, simply mix together the following ingredients, all pre-packaged from your local grocery store that you should keep on hand in the frig for last minute meals:

1. Chopped onions and tomatoes
2. Chopped celery
3. 3 small cans of tuna in water
4. Mix together and place in a bowl [for storage in the frig]
5. Put chopped lettuce or spinach in a bowl
6. Throw a small portion of the tuna mixture on top
7. Add Vegan dressing of your choice, I prefer Blue Cheese
8. Add chopped almonds
9. Enjoy

Always keep all ingredients separate until you are ready to eat the salad otherwise it will get soggy and disgusting. I rarely save leftovers, but some cold dishes can be stored for a week, but never store old salad as the lettuce turns brown and it will be soggy if you used salad dressing. Hot leftovers equal germs and bacteria, aside from the fact the food gets soggy and gross after sitting in the frig and you try to reheat it, so I never keep warm food leftovers.

 Now, get out there and enjoy the day.

Lesson In Shoes

We need to get personal here and talk about shoes. How many times do I see some great outfits trashed by the shoes someone is wearing, in this case, women. You have to decide what you want that particular shoe for, is it for a date? Work? Shopping? Everyday? Exercise?

Think about texture, a heavy shoe or boot needs to be worn with jeans or heavy cotton pants or wool skirts, a strappy shoe calls for very lightweight fabrics. Color? As a general rule, the very last color on your hem [pants or dresses] should match the shoe. Exceptions are for advanced users. Look to the fashion pages for examples and inspiration.

Here are a few examples you can use as a guideline, all photos here are shoes from NeimanMarcus.com.

Great everyday shoe; walk around the neighborhood, run errands, or to the grocery store. Pair w/jeans, yoga pants, or shorts.

Great shoe with jeans; however, be careful, as the slant in the heel sends your weight backward and can be very uncomfortable for shopping trips with a lot of walking involved. Keep it for short distances; car trips where you are mostly in the car and get out for short breaks. Great for office wear if you work in a very casual office where jeans are okay or heavy cotton white or tan pants.

Nice shoe for shopping, strolling or on vacation and don't want to look sloppy. Pair w/nice lightweight cotton pants or shorts, this classic style works with anything except denim.

A casual shoe that can be paired with light cotton roll-up cuff pants or any lightweight pants; I don't like a high heel with shorts. This shoe is  obviously not for long walks but okay for the casual office for everyday wear when you want a sleeker leg and tower over that snooty boss of yours; heels are intimidating. If you work in a law office, stick with the strappy heels or pumps with your skirts or pantsuits.

Great shoe that can go from the office to a dinner date. Pair with nice sleek lightweight pants. For a more casual look you can wear them to a cafe for lunch with the girls, roll-up white cotton pants or pants just to the ankle would work, shorts don't work with this shoe, heel is too high and buckle too thick. One word of caution, the thicker and higher the heel, the more pain you will be in due to the extremely flat sole. To be more comfortable you need a slight platform under the toe bed to even out your posture and weight as this shoe will throw your weight forward.

Awesome shoe for that special date with your partner. With this shoe, you need to show it off with a body hugging dress just below the knee, and you definitely need someone to hang on to, which is the point of wearing this type of shoe.

Remember, the fancier the shoe, the more you need to show it off, so don't hide it under long pants. Pants to the ankle or a sleek tailored dress to the knee would work. If the shoe is the focus, lighten up on any other accessories and go with a neutral dress tone and classic styles.

Go ahead, fill that closet with shoes, you won't regret it.