Spring is that incredible time of year where fashion is always fabulous. Here is a list of what I love for Spring 2010:

1. Platform Shoes – Not only are they more comfortable than a regular heel, they are also usually a bit higher. Higher is sexier!

2. Caged Heels – They were around last Spring but they are everywhere this Spring and they are hot.

3. Nude Color Shoes – Again, you saw dribs and drabs this year and you had to have one pair. Now you need a few different styles Or I do anyway…

4. Nautical – Ok, don’t go over the top crazy and be corny about it but subtle nautical inspired looks are fresh and fun.

5. Navy Blue – Navy blue or deep shades of a marine color (goes along with the Nautical trend) are replacing black. I love it and can’t get enough.

6. Neons – I really didn’t think I would see the day where I was loving neon again but the way designers are integrating just a touch of neon with neutrals is fun. I wouldn’t spend a lot of money on this trend however as I think it will be gone next year.

7. Red Accessories – Hot red shoes, an resin Apple piece of jewelry, red clutch. I love them all as a netural thrown in with anything.

8. Skinny Jeans – These are the newly discovered love of my life. You get them hemmed and can wear any heigh heel with them!

The least expensive way to update your holiday wardrobe is to stay
focused. If you don’t have one, pick a chic dress that you can wear
for a multitude of occasions and that can be transformed with
accessories to create new looks. Solid colors are best but don’t think
it has to be black.  A beautiful blue, purple, red, or teal can all be
striking and still work back with a variety of shoes etc.

If you do have a great dress, then focus on accessorizing. I suggest
2 items to spice up your holiday wardrobe on a dime: a statement
necklace and a knockout pair of shoes. This year, my key accessory is
a multi-chain necklace with pearls and a few charms on a patent
leather strap. My shoes are a sexy pair of black sequined peep-toe
heels with black patent leather trim. These items are edgy, make a
statement, and can easily be paired with a party dress or jeans and a
tee.

So I thought I was done with my sequin laundry list if you will, however I forgot a few key items!

1. Black Sequin Mini – Need I say more? It’s simple and fabulous. I love it paired with a white plain tank or dressed up with a white sleeveless tuxedo style blouse.

2. Belts – One of my favorite designers had a GREAT sequin belt. So fabulous in fact, I had to have it in Pewter and Bronze. It’s great to pair with jeans. Adds just a little bit of glam to a basic outfit.

3. Clutch – Ok this clutch is a funky statment piece. It’s a black microsuede with the front flap composed of gold beading and sequins. Perfect with jeans and tee!

I think that sums up my sequin wardrobe. Please note, I am very interested in purchasing a black sequined boyfriend blazer.

As I removed my new sequined high-heeled sandals this evening and looked around my closet, I became keenly aware of my total obsession with sequins. What started out as a few items has turned into literally a whole wardrobe filled with sequins. It’s total sequin insanity! I guess this is what happens when a trend lasts for 2 years. So before I get into the list of the myriad of sequined items I have in my enormous close, I want to offer up a few tips on how to wear (or not wear) sequins.

First of all, be careful of sequins in patterns. Two colors of sequins or tonal variations can work well but prints made of sequins (like zebra or mixes of bright colors) can be tacky or even scary. Limit your outfit to one sequined item. You don’t want to overdo the sequin thing. So if you are doing sequin shoes, leave the sequin top or bag in the closet. Last, consider age appropriateness and placement. Sequin pants work well when you are 20 or 30 but not very well when you are 50 or 60. Most importantly, sequins no longer have to be limited to “dressing up”. They can be incorporated into a simple outfit for a night at the movies to add a little fun to your look.

So what are all the sequined items I have in my closet and how am I wearing them?

1. Shoes – I just happen to stumble upon a FABULOUS pair of black sequin Elie Tahari peep toe sling-back heels. How could I resist? These are incredibly versatile and super sexy. While you can obviously pair them with dressy dress, you can also dress them down with a more casual dress or rock them out with jeans and a tee. After acquiring these show stopping heels, I then ran into a great pair of sequin high-heeled sandals with thing ankle straps. They were SO hot and on sale, I had to get them in two colors. Again, they can be dressed up or down.

2. Dresses – Well, the Nannette Lepore gray merino wool mini-dress with wide bands of sequins from two years ago is still smokin’ hot. It’s definitely for evening and cool weather and not as versatile as some of the other sequined items I own. I am not sure if I count the two black Summer dresses that are mildly embellished with sequins but we will put them on the list.

3. Jackets – I have two and they are both show stoppers. The first one is shiney silver sequins all over and comes right below the waist. It’s all sequins with no visibility of the fabric underneath. The other one is, yes you guessed it, black. This one is a slight wider shape and the sequins are less dense. Both work equally to go over a cocktail dress or thrown on with jeans and tee.

4. Camis & Tanks – Ok, so there are truly more camis and tanks than I can talk about individually but I believe we are somewhere in the neighborhood of 12. I generally like to wear these with jeans but a few of them look great with a black skirt for a more dressed up look. There are a few black ones that work equally well on their own as they do layered underneath a sweater or jacket.

5. Clutch – The clutch speaks for itself. It’s a chocolate brown satin with yellowish lime and metallic gold sequins on the front. It’s perfect with a simple brown or gold dress or denim. Not very versatile but fun.

6. Tube Top – This piece deserves it’s own space. My Mom had this in her drawer from the 80’s and it’s truly awesome. It’s a simple black shiney sequin tube top perfectly constructed with room for your bust. It’s a reminder that great garments stand the test of time. I love it paired under my funky gray cotton cami top dress but the options are endless.

7. Skinny Jeans – I feel like I am saving the best for last. We have all seen lots of sequin leggings out this year and I definitely dig them but I am in LOVE with my black sequin skinny jeans. They work almost identically to leggings but giving you a better look at the waist. My favorite way to wear these is with a simple white ribbed cotton tank and my black suede shoes with the sexy red heel.

While I am not suggesting everyone go sequin crazy like I have, I think it’s just great to understand that add a sequin item to a simple outfit gives you a very chic yet effortless style.

So what are the foundations of a wardrobe? Below I have listed the MUST HAVES for every woman’s wardrobe. These are building blocks. With these, you can mix in new fashion items to create a individual style.

1.  A great cami to be paired with jeans or a skirt for a dressier look. You can really choose from a wide variety of colors, shapes or fabrics. A print or a solid can be easily paired with with your favorite pair of jeans and a stunning pair of heels for evening. Or a great or pair of trousers for work. Change the look up by adding a cardigan or blazer.

2. A HOT dress for night time. A unique or funky piece can be worn over and over again! Whatever dress you choose should be something that when you slip it on you feel great! If you are truly limiting your wardrobe to ONE dress I suggest something fairly simple that you can wear with an array of jewelry, shoes, and bags to change the look up. You could also throw a great sequin jacket over top of a simple dress to create more of a cocktail look. Don’t think that your evening dress can never work for day. Depending on the dress, you can throw on a constructed blazer to go to the office.

3. Every woman must have a versatile day time dress. The more simple the dress the easier it will to change the look. You definitely want to stick with a solid here.

4. Great under pinnings are the basis for every wardrobe. They create a smooth silhouette so you will want to avoid overly thick or lumpy fabrics. Think quality, not quantity. You will want basic tanks and a few v-neck and crew neck tees in neutral colors.

5. Pair your basic tops back with a versatile skirt for work or weekend. If you go with a simple skirt you can shake it up with a printed top as well.

6. No wardrobe is complete without jeans and a denim skirt. Again, if you are limited yourself to one of each you will want to opt for a darker wash. It’s more sophisticated and versatile. The denim skirt should be just above the knee. This is appropriate for all ages. The jeans should be straight leg and simple. Denim matches EVERYTHING.

These are your wardrobe basics but ever great wardrobe should include some key accessories like a hot pair of fun heels, a great pair of earrings, a gorgeous clutch, and stunning cuff. You can mix and match these with your wardrobe basics to create new looks.

If you had to get a way with just these items in your wardrobe, it can be done. When adding to this, I suggest thinking about versatility, function, and timelessness. So before you buy ask yourself these three questions:

1. How many of the items in my current wardrobe can I pair this new piece with? If the answer is just one or two, you might look to finding an item that is more versatile. If the piece is a real bargain and you love it, then go for it but make sure your investment pieces are extremely versatile.

2. How functional is this piece? I.E. How often will you be able to wear it.

3. Is this item timeless? Will you be able to wear it for just one season or until the end of time? Save your big investments for pieces you will be able to wear a lifetime. Spend less on items that are “trendy” and will only be in style for a season or two.

I have had a long standing belief in making my fashion budget go as far as possible, but today it’s more important than ever. Great items that are also high-quality do not necessarily need to break the bank.

So one way to stretch your fashion budget is to pick pieces that serve as many functions as possible. So although it sounds trite, the little black dress is crucial. Change your shoes, change your bag, change your jewelry, and you can completely reinvent the LBD. Not to mention, there are many pieces you can take from work to play.

With a little searching, you can find great pieces that are not only well made and beautiful, but also reasonably priced. We love the LTB Jeans brand out of Spain. Every single piece of theirs retails for under $100.00 and is fashion forward. Their designers have come from couture fashion houses all over Europe to design amazing fashions at great prices. They use great quality textiles and incorporate amazing details. Take for example, the Mora Halter, it’s a great simple black top with subtle details for $53.00. It can be layered with a blazer in the Fall/Winter and paired with a little skirt in the Summer. This is technically from their “couture” line Goldencut.

Another great way to stretch your budget is to go for convertible pieces. Von Vonni, an Armenian designer out of New York, has created the most amazing dress we have ever seen. Retailing for $118, this dress works for day or night and can be worn countless different ways. We can’t think of a better buy in fashion right now. It is available in short and long versions both draped and not draped. This is the draped short version.

When consider what items to splurge on, think about things that will stand the test of time. So, you can spend more money on the LBD, black pumps,  or the absolutely perfect blazer as these are timeless. However, be more conservative on spending with more trend driven items like harem pants.

It’s hard to even think about Spring fashion when most of us are just beginning to break out our Fall wardrobe. However, the fashion industry is always 6 months ahead so I thought I would share what’s hot for Spring 2010.

1. Neon – Yes, it’s true neon is back. You thought neon would stay in the early 80’s but like all other trends it came back. The good news is we are not looking at head to toe neon. We are looking at small splashes of neon details mixed with softer tones. So think of an ivory dress with a neon yellow small belt. Or a great pair of black suede heels with a neon coral heel.

2. Fringe – Fringe is adorning many items in the fashion industry this coming Spring. Again though, it’s not the fringe you saw in the 80’s or in cowboy movies. You will see more looped fabric to give the fringe effect. These details are being shown on a lot of necklines. Many jewelry designers like Chan Luu are creating necklaces that look like layers of fringe.

3. Plaid - Small amounts of plaid have found there way into most designers Spring fashion lines. Of course they are more modern and funky than your school girl type of plaid. Look for interesting color combinations or unique fabrics.

4. Metallics – Metallics are just not going anywhere. Muted metallics are still everywhere for Spring so keep all the stuff you had and get more!

5. Booties – In the footwear industry, booties are still completely on trend. Most of the booties we are seeing are slouchy with a heel and a peep toe. We can tell you this, Spring footwear looks great.

Rainey Day is the hottest new jewelry designer in NYC and I am so excited to be featuring her gorgeous collection at Artfulwears.com! I was bestowed upon me the exquisite Dripping In Chains Necklace. It is an intricately woven series of copper chains with a suede tie. It’s chic, funky, and rock n’ roll all in one.

What I Love: I am all about unique. This season we are seeing a multitude of layered chain necklaces, however Rainey’s technique of weaving the chains together gives them a bold style that is truly unique. The Dripping In Chains Necklace makes a statement, yet it is very versatile. We love the copper since most other designers are doing gold, silver, or oxidized silver. The suede tie is also a bit of twist. Not only is it pretty and a bit rock ‘n roll, it allows you to adjust the necklace to the perfect length.

What I Am Wearing It With: I happen to have the perfect rock n’ roll inspired dress by Salvage, but truly the Dripping In Chains Necklace can be paired with a great variety of clothing. I paired it with a simple white top and jeans to let the necklace by the center of attention. I love the concept of this necklace being the focal point of an outfit. It’s the perfect accessory to funk up clean basics. It really pops against white but looks great with black as well.

About Rainey Day: In Rainey’s words “Creations originally mine, now uniquely yours…accessories that reinvent creative fashion statements. I have been called the REINVENTION DESIGNER. I create fearless accessories that inspire women to confidently reinvent their own unique fashion statement. I design elegant, sculptural, high-end, limited edition artisan jewelry inspired by exquisite semi-precious stones and unique scarves of the finest silks.”
How To Get Yours: Artfulwears will be featuring a small collection of Rainey Day’s necklaces and bracelets that are inspired by Rock N’ Roll from September 20-27, 2009. Each piece is handmade by Rainey herself and they are truly special.

Yes, you read that correctly, MEMBERS ONLY! They have relaunched their infamously 80’s brand with modern style and a slightly retro feel. Their Fall 2009 boot collection is completely fashion forward and VERY Rock N’ Roll. Since September is all about Rock N’ Roll inspired fashion we are very excited about this collection.

First, I have to say I loved the boots when I first saw them, but when my own pair arrived I was quite simply head over heels! The Biker Babe Boots are beautiful, well constructed, and ultimately fabulous.
What I Love: My first attraction to this boot was the angled full length zipper, which gives them their Rock N’ Roll style. Available in both black and chocolate, I chose the chocolate Biker Babe’s since one can never have too many pairs of brown boots because all browns are slightly different colors. The dark chocolate is very rich and give the boots a very sophisticated modern look. The leather is an exquisite and luxurious pebble grain that really can not be truly appreciated until you have them on. Let us not forget my favorite part, the zipper. The gold zipper with the Members Only logo on the pull really packs a style punch.

In terms of function, the zipper actually provides an easy way to get the boots on an off. It’s really nice not to have to pry your boots off. Simply unzip! Add to this great zipper feature that they are a flat stye with a slim line and you realized you have found your way to boot heaven. Many times flat boots appear clunky but these are very streamlined and slimming on the leg thanks to a slightly pointy toe. Next the shaft is accommodating for slightly larger calves. Last but not least, I love that they hit just below the knee.

What I Am Wearing Them With: This boots truly can be worn with ANYTHING. However, I hate to cover up the zipper so I have avoided my jeans. That being said, they do look great with denim.

My very favorite look for these boots is a dark denim skirt above the knee and a white top with an open neckline. Pair this with some heavy brass or gold chain necklaces and I think you have a completely trendy yet timeless style. I loved letting the boots be the center of attention. They paired equally well with my winter white sweater dress that hits right above the knee. In fact, I love them with dresses in general. As I said before though, they certainly work well with jeans, I just didn’t want to cover up the zipper.

For Those More Adventurous Spirits: I am completely mesmerized but both the ZIppette Bootie and the Chain Gang Boots, however they have a 4 1/4″ heel and well, that’s above my legal limit!

The Zippette Bootie is available in black suede with a gold zipper or grey with a silver zipper. The exposed zippers are fun, sexy, edgy and of course entirely Rock N’ Roll. I love these paired with a short skirt.

The Chain Gang is also smokin’ hot. With the chain detailing near the bottom, they work equally well with dresses, skirts or pants.

How To Get Yours: Artfulwears is featuring 6 styles of Members Only footwear for one week only starting Sunday September 13, 2009 at 7 p.m EST and ending on September 20, 2009. These new styles are 15% ONLY at Artfulwears.com!

Set II of Artfulwears month long Rock N’ Roll trunk shows is featuring one of my personal favorite jewelry designers, Annie Hammer. Her pieces are unique, beautiful, edgy, and adorn my body on a very regular basis. From Sunday September 6 to September 13, Artfulwears is featuring an exclusive Rock N’ Roll inspired collection from Annie Hammer.

Annie’s jewelry combines a variety of metals, leather, skins, precious and semi-precious stones, and Swarvoski crystals. Each beautiful detail is well thought out and proportioned. She has a gift for creating fashion forward pieces that are still timeless. By envisioning things in a sculptural form, Annie then translates them into gorgeous pieces of jewelry.

My favorite piece from the trunk show has to be the Heavy Metal Necklace. This multi-chained, layered necklace is truly a statement piece. It can be worn with a great white shirt and jeans or put on with your favorite little black dress. It’s truly a work of art.

Don’t miss out on this great one week even!