Today......the latest shape scoop!!  I've said it before and I'll say it again that my secret weapon is shapewear!  I'm not ashamed to say it, and I know a lot of women who wear shapewear too and find that on the day's when they're not feeling 100%, a little help goes a long way!

When you're going out for the evening and have a fitted dress to get into that is unforgiving, then a little something to smooth you out will just give you that little extra bit of confidence.  Wearing a slim-fitting pair
of pants but not feeling great about your derriere or your thighs?  No problem, there's an abundance of shapewear garments out there that are available to solve the problem and make you feel better!

You may think that the summer is way too hot to be squeezing into shapewear, right?  Wrong!  Shapewear has come such a long way since your mother's strapped themselves into their girdles unable to breathe!  Now there are breathable fabrics and different levels of strength for whatever your needs are.  Trust me when I tell you there are times when I forget I'm wearing shapewear!

So today I want you to check out the latest in shapewear, plus get suggestions for finding your very best fit and more!

A new line has come out from Bethenny Frankel.  She has developed her 'Skinnygirl Solutions' line of shapewear, including a 'Show Don't Tell Lace Shaping Cami' in nylon-spandex, and 'Purrfection Lace Shaping Brief', also in Nylon-Spandex.  The line also includes lacy bustiers, boy shorts and more that are pretty to look at and flattering.  Her line is available at Macy's and is reasonably priced.



Wacoal has developed two new styles specifically constructed for either pear or apple figures.  Well-placed panels will lift and tuck your lower half exactly where you need it (hips & thighs, or tummy).  





Three new figure-boosting pieces....

Contouring slip - the smoothing strapless style from this high-end brand is curve-enhancing and beautifully made.  (ResultWear.com "Grace").




Shapeez - it's bra goes up to an F, and the stretchy fabric gives your back and stomach a bulge-free look.  ("Silkee Unbelievabra" tank).  Go to Shapeez.com to see more of their range.




Slimming Slip - the lightweight fabric is soft and comfy but still holds you in.  (Assets Red Hot Label by Spanx "Tank Slip).

Every month I'm going to talk about the latest color trend.  Last month was the beautiful color watermelon which has been everywhere this summer and is fresh and fun.  This month's color is the color Jade.  I LOVE this color! This blue-tinged hue looks gorgeous against every skin tone so no need to worry about whether this shade will work for you.  It's also great because you can wear it year round as it can work well in the cooler months as well as for summer.

Not sure whether you can pull off a Jade colored outfit?  No problem, just add an accessory like a  purse or shoe, or a pop of jade color in jewelry.

Why I love it.....Vibrant and fresh, this color makes the perfect transition between spring's flora-inspired pastels and fall's more opulent, jewel-like shades.

How to wear it.....In her current collection, designer Maria Cornejo combined a jade dress with dark sandals, but she also likes jade with brights, like cobalt. This color also plays well with cool neutrals such as navy and chalk.  Earthy eggplant is another great match.  But truly daring dressers might try jade with bluish-green teal for that sophisticated "clash" effect.  So don't be afraid ladies, be adventurous when putting your jade outfit together and rock this look!

As I've already mentioned this week, we are in the midst of vacation season, and I've talked before about swimwear and beach cover-ups.  But today I want to focus specifically on one of my favorite things to wear at the beach or pool, and that is the sarong.

Sarongs have been around for as long as I can remember, and they come in many beautiful colors and prints.  They are an ideal way of covering up at the beach when you want to grab a quick lunch after being at the pool or beach all morning but don't want to get fully dressed to go, or for taking a long leisurely walk along the shore.  Whatever your reason for wearing a sarong, you really can't go wrong with this old classic.

What's great about this piece is that there are a number of ways to wear it.  You can have it tied loosely at your waist, at the side or at the front; you can tie it above your chest so that it is like a strapless cover-up dress, or you can twist it around your neck for another dress cover-up look. And if you don't want to wear it as a cover up, that's fine - you can wear it as a scarf to dress up an evening look!  Whichever way you choose to wear it, I love the fact that you can get so many different looks from one piece!

Take a look at these different looks and ways to wear a sarong....and remember ladies, if you're heading to the beach - don't forget your sunscreen!

Today was a landmark day for me!  I attended my very first American bridal shower!!  It's hard to believe that I've lived here for just over 14 years and haven't attended one, but that was indeed the case.  This is mainly because most of my peers are already married being that I am a few (well, several actually) year's older than today's bride-to-be.

Anyhow.....my dear friend Alicia is the lucky lady.  I have known Alicia for around 10 years (possibly a little longer), and when I first met her she was in her early 20s.  Over the years I've seen her evolve into an amazing young woman, and I couldn't be happier that she found the love of her life.  Seeing her so happy today truly warmed my heart.  She deserves this happiness.

As for the bridal shower, it didn't disappoint.  It was a lovely, joyful occasion, and Alicia obviously has a lot of people, both friends and family, whom love her dearly.  It was held at Bravo's restaurant which was a superb choice, and we were served a lovely lunch, following which Alicia opened some fabulous gifts.  Her lovely fiancee Randy arrived later in the day armed with a beautiful bouquet of flowers for his equally beautiful bride-to-be.

I also got the chance to meet some of the friends Alicia has spoken about over the years.  The 'girls', included Carrie, and the two Jens, and I can totally see why Alicia has bonded with these ladies.  They were all absolutely lovely and she is lucky to have these girls in her life.  Seeing them interact today made me reminiscent of me and my girlfriends back home.  Also in attendance was Alicia's lovely mum Lynn who looked beautiful and proud of her daughter.

Of course I can't write a post without mentioning fashion!  I have to say that Alicia looked gorgeous, as always, as did her girlfriends.  So please enjoy the photos of today's joyous occasion.  And to the lovely Alicia - thank you for including me in this special occasion!  I can't wait to attend the wedding.....xxx