Photo: Mars Infomage, flickr.com/marstheinfomage

The stock market has crashed, a world-wide recession is said to be starting — and cheap chic is the topic du jour:

• The Rocky Mountains News asked can cheap be chic?, but delivered an article on whether cheap shoes are comfortable. Disappointing, but then the article to match the headline can be written in a word: “Yes.”
• Forget the stock market, invest in a coat says The Telegraph (UK). (Via The Thoughtful Dresser.) I’ve justified more than a…

When this month’s Elle arrived with a gorgeous black and white cover, it had to be read immediately. I’m glad it didn’t go into my pile of unread mags because when I read it, I spotted something interesting: a story very like a post I wrote last year.

The Elle story reports that fashion designers wear the same look for years, while they push a new look onto us every single season — much like my post that…

Yep, it’s fashion week again and there are a lot of…um… interesting designs being paraded up and down those New York runways. Don’t get me wrong, I love the thrill of seeing new fashion unveiled as much as the next gal, but I also love wearing clothes that are figure-flattering on me, a woman who can’t remember ever wearing a size 0.

Fortunately, there are still plenty of options for us curvy gals. Even as the…

Casual clothes don’t have to be frumpy. Show a little shoulder in this peasant top from Metrostyle. It’s a great combination of comfy and flirty — without having to wear sweat pants that say “princess” across the butt.

The top is $16.99 and comes in three colors: geranium, white, and hot coral.

Since I’ve been a Floridian all my life, I know a thing or two about dressing for even triple-digit temperatures.

Fortunately, those temps are still a ways off even here — but with spring just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about warm-weather purchases that will keep on working as the temperatures rise.

First impressions are important. As I stress on my blog All About Appearances, what you wear sends strong signals to others before you even say, “Hi!”

It’s no wonder then that figuring out what to wear for a first date is enough to bring some women to tears. I know, I used to be one.

Don’t worry, though. I’ve got some great ideas for outfits that will send the right messages.

My mom recently asked me why so many clothes have horizontal stripes and not vertical ones, since supposedly the former has a widening effect and the latter is slimming.

After all, all the fashion magazines and style shows keep repeating the same mantra, “Create vertical lines.”

Well, here’s the answer and how you can make it work for you.

According to Angie at YouLookFab, the hottest color of the season is going to be green, followed by orange.

Wearing more green was actually one of my New Year’s resolutions, because it’s a lovely color that is underused in my wardrobe and many others’.

Fortunately, green is generally an easy color to wear. While yellow greens like lime green can make some people look sallow, dark greens like hunter green don’t have the same effect. If you’re…

Looking for a handbag that’s easy to coordinate with your everyday wardrobe?

While bags in black and brown might come to mind, camel is lovely alternative that will work just as well — if not better. Just imagine this Via Spiga goat leather bag on your shoulder. It’ll work whether you pair it with gym clothes or a purple jersey dress!

And with a name like Via Spiga, this bag will hold up to all the use you can…

If you’re like most people, one of your New Year’s resolutions was to exercise more. It’s a worthy goal, but finding the motivation can be tough, especially if you don’t feel so fabulous in your workout gear.

While it might be tempting to just pull on some old, faded sweats, it’s important to remember that a fabulous workout outfit can be powerful motivation. Therefore, shop for gym clothes like you would your other clothes, paying close…