It happens to the best of us. Midnight strikes, and you’re sitting on the edge of your bed, staring at your feet. A voice whispers savagely in your ear, “What the hell are you wearing?! You look like Sarah Jessica Parker’s closet threw up on you. Are those, leg warmers? Oh for godsake.” You turn and nobody is there. Yeah, it’s one of those nights.

No matter what anyone tells you (even if you tell it to yourself), never believe that a “style icon” is anything but a woman with bad (BAD) style who oozes confidence. That confidence has the power to transform even that puerile pink tutu into something chic and cosmopolitan. Alas, genuine confidence like that is so rare that, more often than not, it is misinterpreted as a blood-curdling scream for attention, when in fact it is a bold determination to play “dress up” well into adulthood.

In New York, there’s simply too many fashion “statements” going on that it hardly leaves an impression on anyone, except perhaps on the fashionista themselves…in the form of a wedgie (American Apparel leotards, anyone?).

So when that moment comes when the clock is ticking and the city beckons…and you are trying to adopt New York style (even though you can’t get rid of those Birkenstocks or Girbaud jeans) there is but one piece of advice I will pass along to you. From the wise words of Coco Chanel, “A style does not go out of style as long as it adapts itself to its period.” Read More »

As a person who wore uniforms up until 11th grade, I can tell you that matching clothing is NOT one of my strong points in life. I have a tendency to put together colors that don’t go together well at all. And yet somehow, even with my limited training, I still manage to see women dress like they picked their wardrobe while blindfolded. And it makes me want to cry (usually out of pain).

Matching clothing is NOT as difficult as people make it seem. In fact, one of your best friends when it comes to matching clothing is someone you met way back in fourth grade: the color wheel.

Take a good look at this guy. He wants to be your friend. He wants to make you look nice. He wants to help you score that date or nail that job interview, he really does. Now all you need to do is listen to him.

Colors right next to each other on the color wheel are always a sure bet. I like to wear the slightly darker color on the bottom and the lighter color on top, but that’s totally up to you. Black and white will also readily hook-up with any color you throw at them (and wearing black makes you look slimmer, so it’s a double-win).

Remember complimentary colors? Those are colors that are directly across from each other on the color wheel. Note that this does NOT mean that your dayglo orange shirt would go perfectly with your dark blue pants. Really, you’ll just make yourself look like a Mets fan. Use your eyes and your common sense when matching complimentary colors, and keep the brighter color muted. Sometimes for brighter colors, it’s best to use the complimentary color as an accent, like wearing a purple headband with your yellow shirt and orange skirt. Read More »