Naturalizer.com

Color – Brighten and lighten the color for Spring/Summer and deepen and darken the color for Fall/Winter.  And most important – make sure it is a color that is in your color palette so it will be flattering next to you.

Size - It should be roomy enough to fit your essentials, but within your size comfort range, and proportionate to your body.  If you are not comfortable with the current assortment of large bags, stick with a medium size.  Don’t ever feel pressured to follow all the trends.  If you love a big, bold style – go for it!  But beware – don’t let it overwhelm you if you have a small frame.

Straps – Comfort is key here.  Do you like handles, totes, clutches or a shoulder strap?  Stick with whatever feels most comfortable on your body.

Details – Some bags are heavy on the hardware or have flashy details.  If you have a more subdued personality, a simple exterior will be more your style.

Extras – There is a huge variety when it comes to the interior design of purses.  And this is one area you’ll want to make sure you get what you want, because if you buy a bag that doesn’t have what you need for load-ability, it will sit on your shelf.  Think of what works for you.  How many zip pockets do you need, where is the cell phone pocket located, is there a convenient place for your wallet and keys?  How about external pockets?

Use - How do you spend most of your day?  Buy a bag that will fit into your daily routine, whether it is work, errands, or socializing.  You can change bags for special events, but your “perfect” bag must work with what you spend most of your hours doing.

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Cynthia Dress at Fossil.com

Is there anything better than a brunch date on a beautiful summer morning?  I think not!  So what should you wear?  A playful sundress of course.  Find one in cotton for comfort and in one of your colors.  Then accessorize it with a woven belt for a casual edge.  Top it off with your favorite wedges and you have a ready to go ensemble.  How easy was that?

Sephora.com

Someone recently asked how I did my “perfect” ponytail.  It’s not that hard I told her, just keep these tips in mind.  Do not put it above the crown, you’ll look like a cheerleader if you do.  The perfect placement is found by following the line of your cheekbones to the back of your head.  You only need a little volume at the crown, and an easy way to achieve just the right “oomph”  is by first placing your pony low at the neckline then divide it into two sections and pull it up to where it belongs.  That will give you volume on top and nice tight sides.  One of my favorite looks is to use a plastic clear band and then wrap a section of my hair around the band and secure it with a bobby pin.  It’s gives it a finishing touch that is a little more formal.

Michael Kors Java Circle Top at Zappos

These pretty tops are flowy and comfortable plus best of all the hide any tummy or hip troubles we may have.  They come in a multitude of pretty prints, another great camouflage trick, and are in all the stores right now.  The printed blouse includes the peasant blouse, but some of the designs and cuts go beyond that description.  And they are so versatile you can wear them alone or under a suit jacket.  They look the best paired with jeans, but also good with a straight skirt or trouser.  Just make sure not to wear something with a lot of volume on the bottom, with the volume on the top it would be too overwhelming.

I have a very specific skin care routine that I will swear by.  It involves some key products that protect my skin and improve the signs of aging.  One of the most important is one I use every day.  Sunscreen.  If only I had begun using this on my face when I was a teenager, I may look five years younger right now.  Instead like most teens, I baked in the sun and was convinced the only way I looked good was with a dark tan.  Now, I am so much the wiser and wouldn’t think of stepping out of my house in the morning without it.  I hope you do too, because believe me, the damaging effect of the sun will rear its ugly head someday!  My sunscreen of choice is by Neutrogena.  Really, you can’t go wrong with any of their products and this particular one has Helioplex, a super sunblocker of UVA and UVB rays.  So please make sure this product becomes one of the must do steps in your morning routine

Stretch Ring

As everyone knows I am a diehard scarf lover.  Since I strongly believe accessories are key to creating an outfit, scarves have become my go to styling tool.  I want to share one of my newest ideas for wearing my summertime scarves.  Have you seen the fashion rings out there with the elastic band?  They not only look great on your finger but look amazingly cool on a scarf too!  Just select a lightweight scarf and place around your neck.  Grab your oversized elastic banded cocktail ring and pull both ends of the scarf through the ring.  Either place to the side of your neck or in front.  Cool, right?  It’s just another great option to put a kick into your summertime look.

VO5 Conditioner

I wanted to post this as soon as I could.  Last night as I stopped at Walgreens to pick up a product used for one of my absolute favorite beauty tricks, I thought to myself, I must tell my girlfriends about this on our blog.  Two reasons I love this so much – it works great and is VERY economical.  So what is it?  Use hair conditioner instead of shaving cream.  It works brilliantly, makes your legs very soft, smells good and is super duper cheap.  My Walgreens purchase was for a couple bottles of Vo5 conditioner for 69 cents.  Can’t beat that with a stick!  And I believe it works better than any shaving cream out there.  And use the really cheap stuff, it won’t matter on your legs.  So when you see it on sale, go out and stock up.  Let me know how you like it!

Banana Republic.com

the ignorant side.  So let’s discuss where you trouser hemline should fall.  They can be as low as almost (I said almost) grazing the floor, to about 1″ off the floor.  So now that you know how to wear your trousers here is a great trouser pant in a classic style you can’t go wrong with at Banana Republic.