lipstick or not...

Thought I would interrupt our beach adventures with some fall fashion conversation. Does it really matter what we look like on the outside? Yes. Isn't it more important to be beautiful on the inside? And yes. Both are yes. Being Christ-like on the inside is more important. The way we look on the outside...well... it matters,too.

Ok. So, I'm home all day, teaching our children, wiping counters and sometimes bottoms. After 5PM, we are on the go...out and about. On any given evening, I might be wearing an Old N*vy t-shirt and jeans at the soccer field or at the dance school...with my Premier Jewelry. It doesn't take long to apply a little makeup (5 minutes) and add a pair of earrings and a necklace (1 minute) ...which makes all the difference in the world.

On a night I do a jewelry show or on Sunday mornings at church, I do love to dress up. It's my time to wear something dressier than what I normally wear at home. One thing is consistent though: make-up and jewelry.

And what about our hubbies? Do we look our best for our husbands? Why should we look like we just got out of the bed when he comes home? Just because we have been doing laundry, sweeping, schooling, wiping noses,etc, why should we look like it? Trust me, I have my days {many days..most days}. I'm convicted. It's important. Many Christian marriage books on romance say so. :)

Every month or so I get tips from Mary Lou Andre Editor, dressingwell.com, President & Founder Organization By Design, Inc.

I'm not sure if her tips fit most of our lives but we can take it and apply it to fit our life styles, right? :) Some of us work out of the home everyday and maybe these tips can be used often. Some of us, work at home and a suit would be totally impractical. :) But...there are many that I'm excited about trying.

Anyway, here's the list. Let me know what you think. Are you up for trying something new?

Top Ten Fashion Picks: Fall 2010

#1 Shades of Gray. Always a fall favorite. Pair your grays with chocolate brown, camel and navy for a fresh twist this season.

#2 The Broken Suit.Pairing a business jacket with professional slacks and skirts is always less formal than traditional suiting yet still authoritative and polished.

#3 Military Inspired Jackets.They work as well with jeans as they do with simple skirts and dresses. Don't over-accessorize these statement pieces. Let their signature buttons and other embellishments take center stage.

#4 Colorful Tees and Scarves. Basic tees in a rainbow of colors serve as the perfect backdrop for equally colorful oblong scarves that you wrap and drape over your silhouette. Corduroy and jean jackets compliment this casual look well.

#5 Textured Hosiery. Legs go to new heights with patterned tights, leggings and socks that complement the day of the week, outfit and occasion.

#6 Boots. Ground your fall/winter looks with boots in all shapes, sizes and heel heights. From peep-toe stiletto booties to over the knee, flatter styles, boots are a force to be reckoned with this season!

#7 Big, Bold Belt. Cinch your waist while instantly upping your style quotient. Fall sweaters, dresses, jackets and coats work particularly well with the weight of heavier leather belts.

#8 Signature Coats. Overcoats in a variety of lengths, patterns, colors and textures are a great way to add style to basic neutral clothing. Think animal prints, embellishments such as fur trim and interesting top stitching and pocket placements to add just the right punch.

#9 Lady-like Satchels. Polished and pretty, they are more structured than last season's hobo-inspired looks. The primary way to carry them is with their clutch handle. Many also sport a longer strap so you can wear over your shoulder or across your body messenger style.

#10 Layered Necklaces. Visit your jewelry box and go crazy! Layer long necklaces with short necklaces and mix pearl strands with chain links until you land on just the right combination to complement the neckline you are working to fill!

Fashion Tips...

I've never had a "real job outside the home" that requires dressing up everyday....but I totally enjoy "looking pretty" during my time away as a Premier Jeweler a few times a month (and on Sundays for church). Believe me, I'm not the Queen of Fashion and it wasn't until I became a Premier Jeweler that I became a little more knowledgeable. I'm still learning.

I'm curious what each of you wear in the day.

Tell me when you get dressed....

And do you have those days that you wear your PJs some of the day? I know some days, we say we are having "spirit week" and we have Pajama Day...all day! Homeschoolers got to have Pajama Day, too (that's our excuse if someone comes to the door and sees all of us in our PJs, anyway..LOL).

It's proven that the sooner you get dressed, put on your shoes...and get ready for the day....you feel better about your day. You get way more accomplished and have a different out look on life. This is true for the kids,too. If they are dressed, they have more motivation to get their school work done. The days we sleep in and don't take time to get out of our PJs, the kids act very differently.

Normally at home, I wear very comfortable/ casual clothes and no makeup most of the day. My kids don't mind if their "teacher/mom" is pretty or not and honestly, it just takes too long to get all pretty. But, I normally hurry up while the babies are sleeping and get ready for "my man" to come home....even the lipstick. (wink!)

Now in the evenings when we do our running around from dance school to soccer field, I wear casual clothes but dress it up with Jewelry. People compliment me all the time saying that I can take an Old Navy t-shirt and make it dressy with my jewelry. It's true. Simple, comfortable clothes can look dressy when you add accessories....(and a little makeup won't hurt).

Once a month or so, I get a newsletter that shares fashion tips and thought I would pass it along. Some of the tips are really funny and some don't fit into my lifestyle but they are fun to read. If you have some great fashion tips to share, let me know!

Enjoy the newsletter from Dressing Well!

"Today, everyone is looking for tips to make things last longer. Clothes and accessories are no exception. Here are seven common sense tips to make your clothes and accessories go the extra mile for you:

#1 Keep knee-high boots in upstanding condition. Plastic boot shapers specifically designed to support boots will protect your boots from loosing their shape. On a tight budget? You can also use rolled up magazines to get the job done.

#2 Don't leave belts in the belt loops of pants, skirts, and dresses when hanging these items in your closet. The weight of the belt in the loops of hanging items can cause unnecessary wear and tear of your garments. The belt can also become distorted and permanently disfigured. Instead, hang belts on belt rings (i.e., circular hanger with an opening for easy access and storage of belts) alongside your clothes.

#3 Belts can also be rolled for protection. For belts with untraditional buckles that prevent them from being hung in your closet, neatly roll them up and secure them with an elastic band so that that they are protected and easy to store in drawers, shoe boxes, and other storage compartments.

#4 To cut down on stains, get dressed in the right order. If you use make-up, hairspray, perfume, or cologne, put these on first before getting dressed. Let these products dry for at least 5 minutes before putting on your clothes. This really works!

#5 Use scarves for more than a fashionable flair. Scarves can also prevent oil and makeup from transferring to your blouses and jackets. Scarves that are dark in color and/or have a pattern will hide stains best. Scarves tend not to have to be cleaned quite as often as shirts, blouses, and jackets, making them a cost-effective shield in both the warm and cooler months.

#6 Stock up on disposable underarm shields. If perspiration is a problem, disposable underarm shields can be a lifesaver. Not only do underarm shields protect your shirts and other tops, but they also help protect your self-esteem as you won't spend your time worrying about embarrassing underarm stains.

#7 Make sure pants are properly hemmed. Hems can become soiled and torn quickly when pants are too long. Pants should fall between 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch off the floor at the back of the heel. The front part of the hem should cover your entire upper foot. If you find you like to wear certain styles of pants with more than one heel height, buy two pairs and hem them accordingly!
* * * * * * *

Retail Therapy in Your Closet. If you can afford only one shopping trip this season, make it to your own closet with one of our expert consultants. The goal of shopping in your own closet is to organize it in a way that you can see all the possible combinations and then make new outfits from what you already own. We have made this process into an art form, often allowing women who swore they had nothing to wear to eliminate a trip to the mall all together. To learn more about our in-home, private client services, call us at 800-578-3770 or visit the individual services pages of our website. We welcome the opportunity to work with you this season!

Money For Your Used Clothes. Turning clothes and accessories that are no longer useful to you into a legitimate tax deduction is one way smart consumers save on their annual tax bill. We are pleased to announce that we are once again selling "Money for Your Used Clothing." Written by a certified public accountant, it lists what clothes in various conditions are worth and estimates that the average consumer can save at least $500 on their tax bill. Order one before midnight, this Saturday, November 15th and we will waive the shipping and handling charges — a $4.50 value. These also make great holiday gifts, especially if you are buying gifts for family and friends that have a positive financial impact.

Give the Gift of Confidence this Holiday Season. A survey this fall by CareerBuilder.com reported that 41% of 2,765 employers surveyed said that workers who dress well tend to be promoted more than others. Are there people on your gift giving list caught in an overly casual dress rut that could be costing them upward mobility and/or credibility on their job? If so, consider purchasing one of our gift certificate packages. We have special packages for men, women and soon-to-be graduating college students who need help developing an appropriate professional wardrobe for interviews and beyond. Our gift certificate offerings have been completely updated for the season ahead and can be ordered directly online. We also offer virtual gift certificates if your loved ones live outside our normal service area.

Until next time, here's to Dressing Well!

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