The sheath dress...

There's one item of clothing that is very difficult to get wrong, and that's the sheath dress!  This style is great for a number of reasons.  It's just one item of clothing so you don't have to worry about what to wear or match with it (especially if you're one of those people who isn't good at putting separates together!); it's great for work as there are a multitude of work sheath dresses to choose from that are chic and professional; perfect for an evening event, you can just choose one that's a littler dressier, maybe with a ruffle or unusual neckline detail or just get one in a great color like red or turquoise and add a string of pearls!; with grauduations and summer events coming up a lot of people have been asking me about what would be appropriate and easy to wear.  A sheath dress is the perfect answer.  It can be as simple or as dressy as you want it to be, and will stay crisp and comfortable all day.  A lot of sheath dresses are sleeveless, so if like me you don't like to show off your arms, just add a little shrug or a nice wrap! 

You can wear the sheath with any type of heel, it really depends on the event and comfort level you need. For the day you can wear a nice summer sandal, and if you want height and comfort, go for a wedge heel.  For the evening I would choose a great nude pump, you can't go wrong with that as it will add height and the nude color elongates the leg! 

There are so many different sheath dresses to choose from these days, you can really find some unusual and great looking ones.  You can go with a solid color, color blocking which is very on-trend right now, or you can choose a print dress if you don't like the idea of a solid color! One of my favorite places to buy sheath dresses is Macys.  They have a huge selection to choose from and some great designers too.  I love the Calvin Klein dresses as they are simple and elegant with flattering detail, and they are well made.  I have a couple of them that will never go out of style. 

So if you're concerned about what to wear for that special summer event this season, make your life easier and go with a sheath dress!

Here are a number of different looks for you to get some ideas of how to make this look work....

How to build the ultimate wardrobe...

Today I'm going to continue my piece on building the ultimate wardrobe.  Last week I spoke about the key pieces every woman should have in her closet, and the pieces that women should invest in.  Today I'm going to focus on the pieces you can save on, and let's face it ladies, we all like to save, right?

Luckily, when building your ultimate wardrobe, there are items you can skimp on.  It's not about low quality, but about knowing you can be easy on the budget with specific pieces.  So read on to find out more....

1.  Jeans - hands down, people get more wear out of their jeans than any other article of clothing.  But there's no need to spend big bucks on this item.  Chances are you've got more than one pair of jeans, right?  At least a couple of different cuts, including a pair to wear with heels and a pair to wear with flats.  You won't think twice about throwing a pair of jeans in the washer and dryer if you haven't spent a fortune on them. 



2.  Pants - here's the reality.  No-one sees your bottoms when you're sitting at a table, or behind a desk, so why spend a fortune on this item that gets so little attention?  Concentrate on your top half with an exquisite top to keep all eyes up!



3.  Skirts - following the same logic as pants, skirts are the second half of your outfit and are a support for your top, therefore they don't always have to be as pricey.  But, unlike the pant, they have the potential to define you - so choose a shape wisely, whether it be a pencil skirt, a thigh-high, or a more demure look.




4.  Button-ups - these no frill tops aren't meant to last a lifetime.  White is the color of choice which means it needs to be laundered a lot.  And it requires ironing to keep it neat.  Therefore, the shirt gets worn out fast.  Since it is best sharp and crisp, you'll want to restock often, so bear this in mind when shelling out for this item.



5.  Lightweight knits - thin sweaters are ideal for layering, so it's advisable to have several.  You'll use these over anything, under some things, and thrown over your shoulders when there's a chill in the air at night.  Therefore you won't need heavy knits, so stick to lightweight fabrics - wool or cotton works best.



6.  Tees & Tanks - this is the most obvious area where you can save money.  There are plenty of brands out there offering well made tees with appropriate price tags.  Look for longer styles with more layering versatility.  So, when you find the best fit and fabric, stock up!



How many .....here's a breakdown of fundamentals of a well-stocked closet.  This is the bare minimum, so of course there is nothing wrong with having more!

4 sweaters (2 work-worthy & 2 for weekends)

7 tees (short & long sleeves, tanks & turtlenecks)

4 coats & jackets (1 elegant coat, 1 sporty outerwear jacket, 1 classic trench & 1 day-to-night jacket)

2 tops for every skirt & pant (1 dressed up & 1 casual style)

4 pants, 4 skirts (2 office and evening appropriate & 2 informal)

1 suit (for every season, that you can wear together or apart)

5 dresses (2 for day, 1 short for cocktails, 1 long for formal, & 1 special knock-'em-dead frock!)

4 jeans (1 slim cut for a cleaner look, 1 relaxed fit fot laid-back days, 1 ankle length for flats, and 1 longer pair for higher heels).

5 fashion basics to build the ultimate wardrobe...

I love giving fashion advice!  Not only is it my job - and I love my job - it's also a personal mission to give fashion advice to anyone who wants a little help.  After all, if we have nothing to fear but fear itself, then the only way to be a fashion victim is to fear fashion!

I firmly believe that fashion should be fun.  Can you think of anything else that instantly makes you look and feel like a million dollars?  But what works at 25 can look not so hot after 40!  Luckily there are hundreds of ways to to be fabulous at every age, and I've got them all right here for you!

Being chic is about dressing appropriately for all occasions but also about standing out from the crowd.  Whether you want to learn to build the perfect wardrobe, what to wear and when, ways to dress to flatter your figure, or when to splurge and when to save, over the next few weeks I will be covering all of these issues - so check in every day to read my practical advice for making your personal style work for your lifestyle!

To kick off I'm going to talk about 'The Basics - building the ultimate wardrobe'

Closet essentials should be as follows:

1.  A dark - preferably black - lean suit. (The jacket and trousers can be worn separately for more options)

2.  A pencil skirt -this can be A-line if it's more flattering for your body type but should be simple & refined.

3.  A crisp white shirt - dressed up or down, it will always be chic.



4.  A great pair of jeans - a straight cut in a darker wash is more versatile and flattering.



5.  A little black dress - also called the LBD, it will never let you down!



So now that you know what the 5 basics are for your closet, I will follow up tomorrow by talking about what I like to call the 'Ultimate Classics - the timeless staples'.....

And remember ladies, in the words of the famous Coco Chanel.....'a girl should be two things: classy & fabulous'....

Beach cover ups!

I am a huge fan of beach cover-ups and I wear them all the time, not just at the beach!  You can get a lot of wear out of these sheer tops when you're not at the beach so I think it's definitely worth investing in a few different ones.  I have worn them with camis underneath with leggings, skinny jeans or flowy linen pants, and I love them!

Now I know a lot of ladies aren't comfortable laying around in their swimwear when they're not in the sea swimming or in the pool, and I totally get that!  If you're not confident with your curves or just a little self-conscious, throw on a fabulous cover up and I promise you, you will feel great!

There are so many different types to choose from these days, and they don't have to cost a fortune.  Most major department stores have them and you can shop online for them too.  I like ones with bright colors and some embellishment like a little beading or sequins around the neckline, but you can also find simple mono-tone ones too if you're a little more conservative.

Only want to cover up your bottom half?  Get a sarong and drape it around your hips!  This can look great!  Or if you have great legs but don't like your arms or upper body, buy a short tunic that will disguise your upper half and show off your lovely legs! 

There are so many ways you can disguise the bits you don't like and show off the bits you do that there's no reason to dread going to the beach anymore ladies.  Buy the right cover up and you'll still look fabulous in the sun!

So take a look at some of these to get some inspiration...