Spanx...Summer's best friend!

We all know that summer is a great time to wear bright colors & prints and make the most of the flowy summery dresses.  But summer also means that it's the time of year where more skin is shown and we're usually more self-conscious about our bodies.  As much as I love the summer months, it can also be stressful too!

But it doesn't have to be stressful ladies.  There are ways to disguise the body parts we're not overly confident about, and ways to look smooth and svelte under those bodycon dresses!

If you're self-conscious about showing your arms, there are a multitude of shrugs & cardigans out there to slip on and they come in every color imaginable!  Or you can wear a lightweight fitted jacket with your jeans and tee!  There are some great summer jackets out there right now in lightweight fabrics and bright colors, and I've bought several this season and wear them all the time.  The jacket is also flattering on your shape so make sure that it nips in at the waist to emphasize your figure.

Now my best friend in the summer are SPANX!!!  That's right ladies, I'm not ashamed to say it!  When you're wearing that body skimming dress and you're concerned about the VPL (visible panty line) or have a little extra in the mid-section that you want to disguise, just slip on a pair of spanx and no-one will ever know!  I'm also a huge fan of Assets by Sara Blakely - they are affordable and come in many different variations for whatever you may need.  I promise you that if you try these you will look smooth and sleek under anything!  And don't worry about being too hot in these undergarments, they are made in comfortable and breathable materials.

You can also find these undergarments for the top half of your body too, available as cami's to wear underneath tops that show off your torso as well as waist cinchers for those who need a little more support in that area.

Most major department stores have a wide range of all these undergarments, so next time you're out shopping make sure you stop by and check out the underwear dept and get ready for those fabulous summer clothes!!!

Look & feel cool this Summer...

Today I'm going to give you my tips to help keep your summer fun, fab & easy-breezy! And that's what we all want, right?  We want to keep cool, look great, and feel fab!  So here are some of my tips to help do just that.

• Sundresses that keep you cool....the best thing about summer is that you can just throw on a sundress, a pair of cute sandals, and voila - you're good to go!  I have a multitude of sundresses and I love them.  There's no fuss here ladies, and no stressing about putting separates together.  Perfect!

• Day-to-night sandals...embellished sandals make any outfit more glam, and more importantly, you stay comfy!  Whether you go for beaded, metallics, studs, or brightly colored stones, this will vamp up any outfit.

• Wear your hair in an updo that's fun and flirty to stay cool....if you have long, curly hair like me, then summer can be a nightmare!  I tend to keep my hair up during the summer months to try to stay cool, but I try to be creative and change up my look.  Use hair accessories and adornments to keep it interesting, like headbands, flowers and even ponytail extensions if your hair isn't quite long enough.  Or alternatively, try a bun which is very hip right now - a low or high bun will look great, and the 'undone bun' is particularly on trend right now! My personal favorite is the side bun or braid - looks fab!

• Don't have time to fix your hair?  No problem - there are a multitude of great summer hats out there.  I love hats and wear them a lot, but not everyone is comfortable wearing them.  But there is a hat for everyone, whether it be small and simple or big statement ones that I favor!  They are fun and will keep you cool this season...

Mad Men Style...

As the journey of the wonderful show Mad Men draws to a close in the next couple of weeks, I am looking forward to seeing what will happen with some of my favorite characters, including Don, Betty & Joan!  But another thing I'm waiting for is the fashions they will be showcasing.  I love the clothes the characters wear from this era and love how they make them look fresh and chic.  The show has inspired a comeback of fashion from that time, and it's great to see the feminine silhouettes back in fashion again (for me they never stopped being in fashion!).

The show was a huge hit when it first aired a few years ago, and not just because of the amazing storylines!  The fashion became a huge hit too, and before we knew it Mad Men inspired fashions were everywhere!  As you know I am a big fan of the show and the incredible fashions they have unveiled that are reminisent of that exciting era!  I love the beautiful hour glass shape of Joan and the clothes she wears to show off her curves.  Betty Draper is the epitomy of class in her stylish and retro outfits.  She proves that you can even look chic when horseriding, which is no easy feat!!  And Peggy is cute in her flirty and almost prim buttoned up work outfits!  I love the fact that these fashions show that it's okay to look feminine, and for those of us with Joan's bodytype, that it's okay to wear figure hugging clothes and show off those beautiful curves instead of keeping them hidden under baggy, shapeless clothes!  This is what women are supposed to look like ladies, so don't try to hide it!  Be proud of your inner sex goddess and show it off!!!  Take a look at these gorgeous looks inspired by the stars of this great show...