The Underpinnings of Summer

We are enjoying beautiful weather. The kind of weather that reminds a person what summer must be like. The kind of weather that makes a person want to break out the white pants ... until said person takes a peek in to the underwear drawer.

I have oodles of underpants and bras for jeans, sweaters, tights, and the necessary layers of winter. But red underwear is a really bad choice under white pants. My vintage "festival skirt" - sheer and hippy-girl chic - desperately requires a simple boy short. And my 40+ year-old boobs need a bit of a lift in summer's strappy dresses ... no matter what the French say.

A few key purchases will make spring/summer dressing a breeze. Here's a shopping list:

1) Nude, Seamless Underwear
Hanky Panky is my go-to seamless underwear. Dubbed the "training thong" by a friend, these are comfortable, machine washable (tag says hand wash, don't believe it), totally seamless, and come in 3 shades of nude. Absolutely invisible under white! Big news: they now come in petite and plus sizes, and they have a higher-rise model too. So worth the price, I swear. 

2) Nude, Convertible Bra
I think a little pop of color in the bra department is awesome. I admire the ladies who wear a violet bra with a white tank and rock it. Personally, I can't pull off this look. This bra from Natori has been a lifesaver and the criss-cross and halter strap option is great for tricky summer dresses and tops.

Look at how happy she is in this bra!

3) Strapless Bra
The holy grail for bras: a strapless that stays up. I've had good luck with a simple "bra-lette" model (below) however, it's not recommended if you're larger than a C-cup (if you are, I'm jealous).

Another Hanky Panky pick. Comfortable fabric, no uni-boob, and comes in nice colors (including nude).

For my more endowed readers, I've heard good things about the model below. Removable straps, super-simple silhouette, and myriad sizes. Looks like it might stay put too!

Fantasie Smoothing Strapless Bra.

Summer lingerie can be vexing. Going without is positively frightening. It's SO worth the harrowing experience in the intimates dressing room (with terrible lighting and 50-way mirrors) to find the right underpinnings for sheer, strappy clothes. A good base-layer will let your summer ensembles shine!

ISO Fabulous, Go-Anywhere Spring/Summer Dresses

I've jumped through the spring wardrobe hoops. Closet clean-out? Check. Save a little money? Check. Wait patiently for stores to turn over their merchandise? Check. I'm ready for some new acquisitions, and since summer is around the corner (optimistically), I only have eyes for dresses.

Dresses that gain admittance to my closet are easy-care and versatile. I like something that will look entirely new with a change of shoes, addition of a belt, or a different bag. I've hunted down a bevy of frocks online (most with local, brick n' mortar stores) that fit the bill.

1) Uniqlo Celia Birtwell Dress

This will look so cute with cowgirl boots, wedge sandals, and t-strap flats. Cami underneath and a belt? Yes please.  Transformer dress! 

2) Urban Outfitters Midi Dress

I adore this color! The length is tricky, but will look great with a high platform or wedge shoe ... or boots!

3) Veronica M Striped Maxi Dress

I'm not typically a maxi girl and find the look pretty tough to pull off. This one though, wowza. The angled stripes are genius and seriously figure flattering. Cute with a high wedge or a slinky metallic sandal.

4) Gingham Tie-Waist Shirtdress

Lots of talk about shirtdresses this spring. These can be either fab or drab. Look for: lightweight fabric, exceptional fit through shoulders and torso, and simple lines. And for goodness sake, change out the belt! That said, this one from The Gap has some serious potential ...

5) J-Crew Lightweight Washed Chambray Dress

There's a lot to love about this dress: cool seam details, exposed back zipper, great color, and so cute with sneakers. Or a cardigan. Or a wide belt. Or a leather jacket.

Drug Store Bonanza

The drug store in my small hometown has a magnetic field. In elementary school, my friends and I were enchanted by the place and would linger there after school with allowances burning holes in our pockets. Candy, eye shadow, lotions, potions and Bonnie Bell Lip Smackers - the glue stick size on a string - were beacons of teenage cool.

I still love the drug store. Frankly, I like it more than the make-up counters at department stores ... and Sephora scares the pants off of me. I'm much more in to clothes than beauty products, so I'm doggedly loyal to my old stand-bys - more out of fear than fidelity.

That said, my drugstore staples are good. Really, really good. A couple are even heartily endorsed by my dermatologist! Here are the products that I lean on year after year. (All links are through Drugstore.com - a site I've never used, but has a nice consolidation of my favorite products.)


1) Neutrogena Healthy Defense Daily Moisturizer - SPF 50

Feels like a true moisturizer rather than a pasty, white-faced high SPF sunscreen. My dermatologist loves this product, so do I.

2) Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream - Fragrance Free

I slather this on my hands, chest and neck every night before bed, it's super-hydrating.

3) Maybelline Great Lash Washable Mascara

This stuff really works on my lashes. The waterproof is a good option for weddings and funerals, but it's so flippin' waterproof I hate to wear it everyday ... it's a big pain to remove.

4) John Frieda Color Captivating Daily Shampoo

Back in the day, I was a redhead and I still long for that day. Since I don't dye my hair (yet), this adds just a slight enhancement to my otherwise meh locks. Also comes in blond and brunette formulas.

5) St. Ives Body Lotion, Intensive Healing

In my search of a super-hydrating, clean-feel lotion, I've tried 100's of brands. This one from St. Ives - must have the red cap! - is spot-on. And I love the light scent that fades away to nothing.

 

 

6) Apricot Intensive Night Cream

It is tough these days to find a night cream that just cream without fancy anti-wrinkle additives. I use a prescription retinoid, which is pretty drying. The last thing I want to layer on the 'script cream is more retinoid product. This is just the thing: lovely consistency and hydrating even when I'm using my retinoid cream.

7) Haribo Gummy Bears

Yeah, you read that right: THREE POUNDS!

What are your drugstore staples? Do tell!

Printed Pants - A Cautionary Tale

Pants have taken center stage for a few seasons now. We've seen harem pants, brightly colored pants, high-waisted, low-waisted, flared, pegged ... even pajama pants made a brief trip on the trend wagon. Contrary to all reason, many of these styles also come in prints.

Why?

After helping countless women with their clothing acquisitions, I'm here to tell you, no one has said, "I'd like to look like MC Hammer." Nor have I heard, "Let's focus some attention on my ample hips." Crazy-print pants look best on the very old or the very young. For the majority of a woman's life, I propose a more subdued approach.

That said, there is a place for prints in a woman's wardrobe. Small prints on a petite frame are fabulous and a large floral on a tall woman can be stunning. A wildly printed skirt is a totally different beast than pants. And mixing prints can look modern and interesting when executed with confidence.

But back to the matter at hand: crazy pants. If you're looking to explore this trend, there's a way to do it without looking like a stay-at-home-clown.

Tone-on-Tone
Think damask, shadow stripe, and brocades for subtle print options that look timeless, not trendy.

Love these with a chunky sweater and a suede ankle boot for a daytime look. Equally lovely with a black cashmere turtleneck and a foxy black pump for evening. Find these at Nordstrom.

Shop for Shape
If prints are calling you with their siren song, then be extra sensitive to cut. A structured silhouette and well-crafted print match can make or break certain pants. Here's a side by side of a similar print, executed in much different ways.

This trim cut, and slight crop, is modern and sexy.

Extra-frumpy, even if it was paired with a hot shoe.

Go for the Old Standby
Classic prints like houndstooth, herringbone, polka-dots, plaids and stripes in subtle colors and trim cuts will never go out of style. Dark options of these prints will work on many, many figures too.

Super-dark herringbone from J Brand.

Top Ten Super-Budget-Friendly Fall Tips

Fall is officially upon us. For me, that nip to the air inspires a flurry of new purchases and plans for cozy, layered outfits throughout the winter.

However, a flurry of purchases doesn't need to blow the whole family budget. Some fall updates don't cost a thing. These ten tips are my favorite, tried-and-true, low-cost and no-cost additions to a woman's Fall/Winter wardrobe.

10. A Colorful Carry-All

I schlepp around a lot more stuff in the winter. A big, colorful tote adds panache to some of my most mundane, parka-clad, errand-running outfits. This bag, from Forever 21, fits the bill nicely - $33!

9. Fun Socks

Whether you see 'em or not, socks add a secret sauce to winter outfits. Portland's own Sock it to Me has oodles to choose from. Starting around $8

8. Shave Your Legs

• It's pretty easy to get lazy about this hygiene habit in the cooler months. Sometimes, a well-timed shave can change the way you feel in clothes ... especially tights. And this little day-changer is free!

7. Restock the Tights Drawer

 Patterned tights add interest to last year's sweater dress ... Forever 21 has a bevy of styles (over 100!) 

starting around $6 each.

6. De-pill Beloved Sweaters

The old stand-by. I grew up using the d-fuzz-it and swear by its results for stripping pills from favorite sweaters. A bargain priced sweater fountain of youth, $3.

5. An Obi Belt

This belt is a instant outfit-changer. A ho-hum ensemble becomes super-fashionable with the addition of an obi belt ... and they're surprisingly flattering on almost every figure. Sarah Bibb has designed the perfect obi in loads of patterns and colors. Find them at her shop Folly - $40.

4. Get Out and Exercise

• It's advice that no one wants to hear, but is undeniably true. Nothing helps clothes feel better than a body that's working on all cylinders. You can spend a lot or a little, price doesn't matter, effort does. I like Pil-oga-robic in NE Portland, it's a great workout and a fabulous team of trainers. And nothing clears the cobwebs like a good run! I just joined Oregon Road Runners' Club to get my butt in gear.

3. A Cute Hat

For bad-hair days or bad-weather days, a flattering hat is essential and adds a ton of interest to winter outfits. This one from Bonnet is adorable. I also like the hats Goorin Bros., they have a vast selection and a decent price point.

2. New Make-up

• Fall is the perfect time to update the make-up bag. A lighter foundation or powder, a new lipstick or two, and maybe a little sparkle for upcoming holiday shin-digs. 
• Take a little time for a makeover and shake things up a bit. Pop by a Bobbie Brown counter (my personal favorite) for real-life make-up tips and a fresh take on your cosmetics routine.

1. Scarves, Scarves, Scarves

 

• If you can only afford one Fall purchase, make it a scarf (or two, or three). Scarves are a worthy addition to practically every cold-weather outfit and they're an exceptional value. The make a great gift too! 
• Check out this fab video on how to tie a scarf - so many options!
• My picks below above are all from Old Navy. More low-cost, high-impact options can be found at Forever 21, Sloan, and Charmed.