Joan & David Boot
This is a guest post, by Lisa McLatchie of the Practical Fashionista. Lisa is a personal stylist whose focus is on helping you to develop your individual style in a functional, realistic and cost effective way.
It’s almost like its part of our DNA. When it comes to footwear, as women, we are obsessed! From stilettos to sandals, we just can’t seem to get enough. But as a Personal Stylist who has worked with women from all walks of life, I can’t help but notice that even the savviest of shoe stylistas can make mistakes when it comes to boots. Whether it’s wearing the wrong ones for your body, or the right ones with the wrong outfit, it happens. So to prevent any future foot faux pas, the Practical Fashionista’s Boot Basics…
- A pair of tall boots with the highest heel you can handle will be the most versatile and flattering; wear them to work with skirts, dresses, and trousers, or on the weekend with your favourite pair of jeans.
- When it comes to ankle boots, they are best worn under a pair of pants. If you want to wear them with a skirt, choose a pair that dips lower in the front underneath the ankle bone. If they cut straight across the ankle, they will make your legs look shorter.
- Tall, flat boots look best with either a mini or maxi skirt. A skirt length in between these two extremes can look matronly.
- If you have thicker calves, avoid the mid-calf boot. Hitting your leg at the widest part will only emphasize the size.
- A boot that stops just above the widest part of your calf is the most flattering for everyone. It should be snug, but not too tight or too loose.
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by Kena Paranjape on February 21, 2010
in Your Life
Birthday Card from Paper E. Clips
It was my birthday yesterday (Happy Birthday to ME!) and a friend suggested I write a post about celebrating in style. Good idea! I love my birthday. Its not that I expect everyone else to love it too, but ever since I was a child, I have woken up on my birthday feeling good and that feeling has never gone away. It is the one day a year to celebrate YOU. Why should you downplay that? You are SO worth it! Here are my tips for making the most of your birthday. (you will notice my suggestions are really quite simple, but feel free to go all out!)
1. Eat what you want. Don't hold back. Pain au chocolat, french bread, manchego cheese and crabcakes. Whatever your heart desires!
2. Spend time with people you love. It doesn't need to be a party or a big to-do. Don't wait for others to plan it either - book time with those you want to see.
3. Wear something nice. Wear a dress if you feel like it or way too much jewelry. Go for the non-sensible shoes.
4. Buy a birthday dress. Remember when you were young and your mom would buy you a new dress to wear to your birthday party? What a wonderful memory. Why not treat yourself to a dress every birthday?
5. Take time to think about what you are grateful for. Consider it a birthday indulgence. Sit for a few minutes and reflect on all the wonderful things you are thankful for at this point in your life.
6. Tell people it is your birthday. I never understood why people hide their birthdays. Why not tell everyone! Let them wish you happy birthday. You deserve to hear it!
7. Make plans for your new year. Why share new years day with everyone else? This new years day is just for you! Make plans for what you would like to do or be in this year of your life.
8. Tell the people you love that you love them. You can do this any day really, but isn't today such a nice day for them to hear it?
9. Write down one thing you've learned for every year of your life. Then revel in how wise you are. :) To read the one I wrote last year click here then here.
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by Kena Paranjape on February 14, 2010
in Your Life
Rosemary Walnut Shortbread Cookies courtesy of Marth Stewart
Happy Valentine's Day lovely friends! Take time today to send love, hugs and kisses to all the special people in your life. I shared the love with friends yesterday via these melt in your mouth Rosemary Walnut Shortbread Cookies courtesy of Martha. Make the heart-shaped ones today or simple round ones another time. Most importantly share them with those you love. 
Wrap them in cello, some purple ribbon and a sprig of rosemary for a finishing touch. xoxo
Click here for the recipe.
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For more on how to celebrate Valentine's Day, click here or here.
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The great Alexander McQueen passed away today. The world has lost a creative genius. I will let his art known as fashion speak for itself.
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by Kena Paranjape on February 11, 2010
in Your Life
We all have those days where we just feel bad. Sad, angry, confused, frustrated, pitiful, pathetic and/or just plain pissed off. Sometimes it is set off by a specific situation and other times it is just life catching up with you. Here is why its good: feeling bad is a wake up call to take care of yourself. It is a whack on the head that you aren't getting what you need and you better do something about it. So it is best not to resist the bad feelings because they are trying to tell you something. Instead, just sit with them for a little while. Don't try to force them away right away with a trip to the mall or a drink. Give yourself time to just feel bad. Think about what it is that is causing you to feel this way. Are you overwhelmed, do things feel out of your control, is there a relationship that is causing you stress, are you restless? Sometimes identifying where the feeling is coming from is half the battle. It can actually be comforting to put a finger on the source of your bad feelings. From there you can eventually move on to finding creative solutions or asking for help.
But the trick to feeling bad (atleast for me), is not to give yourself too much time. Tell yourself you are going to wallow in it today and feel it fully, but tomorrow you will wake up and feel better. It is funny how easy this is to do. The next day, do something good just for you. Go for a walk outside, have a workout, meet a friend, watch a favourite funny movie. If you feel up to it, start working on the problem you identified. But let yourself have that time to feel bad first. Consider it your incubation period....you are just about to figure something out that will make you feel good.
PS. Mom, don't worry I am not feeling bad. I have been wanting to write this post for a while.
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You might also like When Life Gives you Lemons or 12 Ways to Live Each Day to the Fullest.
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by Kena Paranjape on February 7, 2010
in Your Life
Last year I wrote a post about taking back Valentine's Day, the idea being that we should celebrate Valentine's Day as a day of love of all kinds (love for your family and friends and for your significant other) rather than an "over-priced prix-fix dinner and roses" day. Here are more ideas on how to spend a lovely Valentine's Day sans fromage.
- Send old-school Valentine's cards to all of your friends (see above).
- Read a great love story. Try Wuthering Heights, Pride and Predjudice or Anna Karenina.
- Make something sweet and delicious and share with a special someone. (I recently made this delicious coconut chocolate chunk coffee cake...mmm)
- Watch a classic romantic movie. Gone with the Wind, Casablanca, Breakfast at Tiffany's and Love Story are some of my favourites.
- Book a massage for yourself. You deserve it.
For more ideas on how to celebrate love day, click here.
If you liked this post, please share it on facebook or twitter. Thanks
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Technorati Tags: Anna Karenina, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Casablanca, Gone with the Wind, Love Story, Pride and Prejudice, Valentine's Day, Wuthering Heights
This is a guest post by Lisa McLatchie of the Practical Fashionista. Lisa is personal stylist whose focus is on helping you to develop your individual style in a functional, realistic and cost effective way.
Oprah has dedicated entire “interventions” to it. WNTW’s Stacy and Clinton are always talking about it. And I can’t tell you how many times I have had to have “the chat” with my clients. I’m talking about undergarments. More specifically, I’m talking about wearing the wrong ones. Often underrated and over looked, the undergarments you choose to wear will not only have an effect on how your clothes look, but on your confidence as well.
When what you are wearing underneath your clothes fits well, is in good shape, and matches your personality style, you can’t help but look and feel great! So, how do you achieve that? Here, my top tips…
1. This tip is number one for a reason…it makes the most impact. Go get a bra fitting! I can’t tell you how many clients I have worked with who finally went to get fitted for a bra and were shocked to find out they have been wearing the wrong size for years. And when you see what wearing the right size can do for your body, you’ll be even more shocked.
2. Going up a size in underwear isn’t always a bad thing. Often, it is the key to avoiding VPL’s and will actually make you look thinner in your clothing.
3. For extremely form fitting outfits and clingy fabrics, it is vital that you invest in some lightly supportive, seamless shapewear. Make sure you buy the best quality you can afford though as it will make a world of difference in comfort. Shocking as it may seem, shapewear doesn’t have to be painful to be effective.
4. Lastly, pay attention to your personality style when shopping for undergarments. Are you more playful, sporty, sexy, or simple? Sure, you may be the only one who sees it, but if it is “not you” you won’t feel comfortable in it no matter how well it fits.
You can reach Lisa at: lisa@practicalfashionista.com
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Photograph by Peter Turnley/Corbis via National Geographic
Photograph by Joanna Van Mulder via Travel + Leisure
Photograph by Peter Turnley/Corbis via National Geographic
Last week I visited Paris to attend the Maison et Objets show for work and to sneak in a few days in a city I love with the guy I love. As we wandered the streets with no particular destination in mind (we'd seen all the major sights on a previous trip), I reflected on the reasons why I heart Paris:
- beautiful food and antique markets that seem to pop up everywhere even on the coldest days
- patisseries on every corner where I can indulge in my beloved pain au chocolat
- stylish parisian women and men in their dark coats, chunky knit scarves and slick boots
- the quaint maze of narrow streets on the left bank in Saint Germain des Près
- the friendly bouquinistes - the book sellers that line the banks of the Seine
- the multi cultural streets of the Marais
- the cafés where it is perfectly acceptable to sit alone for hours on end and only order a café crème in an actual cup and saucer
I'm sure I could list 100 reasons why I love Paris. What about you? Can't get enough of the city of lights? Here are some suggestions.
READ:
SEE:
- Paris, Je T'Aime
- Amelie (obviously!!)
- Paris
- La Vie en Rose
- Chocolat (ok it is not based in Paris but it is so good!)
- Cousin/Cousine
- Blue (starring Juliette Binoche)
- La Double Vie de Veronique
Any other ideas?
You might also like Six Ways to Dress Like a Parisian & 9 Questions with Mireille Guiliano (of French Women Don't Get Fat)
PS. Have you read my interview on Dress, Design and Decor? Check it out here.
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I am sitting in a cafe on Blvd Saint Germain in Paris right now simultaneously catching up on work and personal emails (and sipping on a cafe creme). I was so delighted to find that my "Make a Most-Coveted List" post was selected this week for Links à la Mode by Dramatis Personae!
Check out the links below for meaty posts covering ethical topics like the sustainability of bamboo at Awakened Aesthetic while Bonne-Vie covers the the implications of buying items made in China. We’ve got not 1–not 2, but 3 AMAZING Interviews this week at Alice in Stilettos, kaKofonie Of si(gh)lenS, and White Rabbit. Even Gala Darling’s post on her 2010 Style Direction could serve as a paperweight, it’s so chock full of inspiring images, details, and notations.
- Alice in Stilettos: – Interviewed brilliant 18 year old designer, Nathan Gerard!
- Awakened Aesthetic: – How Green is Your Bamboo?
- Bonne Vie: – At Bonne Vie, we talked about the impact of conscious spending on your wardrobe (and one girl’s journey to not buy “Made In China”)
- Cafe Fashionista: – Style Secrets: Stormy Sophistication. A comprehensive guide for the girl who wants to remain fashionable even in the midst of a monsoon!
- DailyDivaDish: – Vintage Broaches: 8 Unique ways to wear these treasures & more — includes many pics of different broaches & a DIY idea for reusing those with broken clasps.
- dramatis personae: – Following Your Instincts…When Meeting New People, When Shopping, When at Work, and When in Love
- Fashion Pulse Daily: – Ponders the significance of the C. Finley Wallpapered Dumpster Project
- For Those About to Shop: – nternational runway sensation Stacey McKenzie inspires aspiring models to be themselves.
- Gala Darling: – 2010 Style Direction: Psychadelic Ladies Who Lunch
- girl friday : – DIY Ribbon Necklace & Bracelet. tutoirial on how to make your own ribbon necklace.
- hello beauty! – In my post on Hello Beauty, I wrote about the new Bobbi Brown campaign. She’s using friends – not models.
- Idee Fixe: – Fashion and the arts charities supporting Haitian Relief on Idee Fixe
- In Life & In Fashion: – Make a “Most Coveted List” to avoid silly impulse spending! Includes tip on how to create your own list and what is currently on mine!
- Independent Fashion Bloggers: – How to Create Your Media Kit
- kaKofonie Of si(gh)lenS: – My exclusive interview with Inbar Spector, an Israeli London-based designer whose renowned avant garde Bjork-inspired designs have been worn by celebrities such as Rihanna.
- Model Max: – A special report on the history of male modeling – from the 1980s to the present time, with short profiles of selected male models who remain successful even after modeling.
- Oranges and Apples: – Top tips for organising your wardrobe
- Retro Chick – The 4 things I’ve always wanted but never owned
- THE COVETED – Marion Cotillard and Franz Ferdinand team up for Dior
- the fashionate traveller: – the rock/burlesque/voodoo vibe that is alternative Sydney label Baroque & Roll.
- White Rabbit: – Introducing Sorcha Gillet, the Irish born textile designer and blogger.
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Silk Top, J Crew
After I began the "new way to clean your closet" exercise, I started thinking about my shopping habits in general. What if, instead of spending impulsively, I made a list of my most coveted pieces and pulled it out whenever I am about to buy a cheap and cheerful something? Might that make me put down another black top in favour of saving up (remember when we used to do that?) for something I really want? Why don't you try it with me?
1. Make a list of the style pieces you most covet.
2. Don't force yourself to a certain number, but be very choosy about the pieces you put on the list. They should be something that would add significantly to your wardrobe, or you would consider an investment piece or that you just dream about!
3. If you are having trouble coming up with a list, pretend you are being interviewed and the interviewer asks you to list the favourite items in your wardrobe. What would you want to say?
4. If during the year you encounter something you feel you must have, ask yourself if you would rather the item in front of you or the one on your list. The answer to that
Here is my most coveted list. What is on yours?
1. A Surplus or Utility Jacket
Smythe Utility Jacket (wish they would make a cotton version for spring!)
2. A pair of Frye Boots
Frye Cindy Piping Boot
3. A Long, Chunky Cotton Cardigan
Cotton Cardi, J Crew
4. A comfortable bootie (I am all about comfort!)
Rag and Bone bootie, Shopbop
5. A leather jacket that I will keep forever
Veda Leather Jacket, Shopbop
6. A Pretty Printed Dress
Printed Dress by Anna Sui for Anthropologie
8. Jewel-tone Tops to brighten up all my neutrals (including the J. Crew blouse, at top)
Top, Joie, Shopbop
Silk Chiffon Tiered Tee, Banana Republic
I'm also looking for a great pair of wedge-platform sandals for summer but have not found the right ones to add to my list just yet. What is on your list?
If you liked this post, please share it with a friend. Thank you
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Technorati Tags: anna sui, Anthropologie, Banana Republic, booties, frye, J Crew, ragandbone, shopbop.com, smythe, style strategies
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