KEllis's blog

Hot Beach Accessories

2008-06-17T06:31:36-05:00

When you head to the beach or pool this summer, you still want to be stylish. The best way to do that is with fabulous accessories.

Start out with a hot tote bag.
Big tote bags in bold prints are in right now. Choose one that is big enough to carry all your essentials - sunscreen, a magazine, your towel, cell phone and more.

Add a pair of glamourous sunglasses.
Choose aviators or big round sunglasses for a touch of glamour. You don't need to spend a fortune on sunglasses but look for those that offer 100% UV protection.

Throw on a cool cover up.
A towel isn't the best cover-up at the beach. Instead, wear a wrap-around sarong.

Don't forget a big hat.
A big sun hat is both functional and chic. Choose a wide brim hat to shade your face from the sun's rays, but don't forget your sunscreen.

Finish with a pair of embellished sandals.
Thong sandals with the rhinestones, crystals and other adornments are perfect for summer time. Skip the rubber flip flops and choose stylish sandals instead.

Read more about hot beach accessories in my article at About.com.

Photo credit: Nordstrom

Hot Dress Trends - The Maxi Dress

2008-06-17T06:06:32-05:00

One of the hottest dress trends of the summer is the maxi dress. This long summer dress is perfect for those women who may be a little body conscious.

While you might not normally think of a floor length gown as an everyday look, the maxi dress has changed all that. You can wear these dresses just about everywhere - from a house party to a outdoor wedding to a shopping trip to a date.

The flowing skirt of a maxi dress is very forgiving to most body types. So if you aren't thrilled with your stomach, hips or thighs, don't worry.

Though maxi dresses are popular in bold, colorful prints, solid colors are very nice too. Choose a maxi dress that falls to ankle length and doesn't drag on the floor so that you can show off your summer sandals.

Maxi dresses come in every price range from designer favorites to bargain buys. If you aren't sure about the look, don't spend a bundle. Opt for a more affordable dress until you figure out how often you are going to wear it.

Here are a few of my personal favorites under $100 each.

Calvin Klein Smocked Maxi Dress - This cute purple dress is solid on the top and has a print on the bottom portion of the dress. It's available at Dilliard's.
Miss Me Collection Tribal Printed Maxi Dress - This gorgeous tribal print dress (pictured here) features a sexy top and an amazing print. Get it at Revolve Clothing.
Ruched Bust Maxi Halter Dress - For a huge bargain, turn to Wet Seal where you will find this dress for under thirty bucks. The red and black geometric pattern and halter neckline make this dress a great choice.

Photo credit: RevolveClothing.com

Wedding Makeup - The Smokey Eye

2008-06-12T00:57:18-05:00

Wedding makeup is traditionally kept simple - a light eye shadow with rosy cheeks and a lip color of your choice. Many people believe that too much eye makeup looks bad in wedding photos. However, recently more and more brides are leaning toward smokey eyes.

This season, smokey eyes in jewel tones, particular purples, are extremely popular for brides. To create the perfect smokey eye, flawless blending is essential.

Here are the basic steps for creating smokey eyes:

Use a primer.
To keep eyeshadow from fading or melting on you wedding day, use an eye shadow primer. Cover the entire lid with a light coat of the primer product.

Line the upper lid.
Apply eye liner to the upper lash line. The line should be thicker in the middle of eye, thinning out toward the edges. Choose a purple, grey or black liner. Take your time and be very precise.

Line the lower lid.
Using a slightly lighter liner, line your bottom lashes. Instead of actual eyeliner, you can apply a line of eyeshadow and smudge it outward.

Apply the base color.
For a purple smokey eye, choose a base color such as gold or cream shimmer. Sweep the shadow over the lid and extend all the way to the browbone.

Add the darker color.
This is where the smoke comes in. Using your deep purple shadow and an eyeshadow brush, start applying the deep color at the lash line and blend upward. Blending the color into your lash line completely, so that your eyeliner disappears. Take your time and use sweeping strokes to cover the entire lid, stopping when your readh the crease. The dark color should never extend into or beyond the crease for the smokey eye.

Finish with mascara.
Choose a volumizing or lengthening formula of black waterproof mascara. Curl your lashes with an eyelash curler, then apply one coat of mascara. Curl the lashes again and apply a second coat. Use an eyelash come to separate the lashes and make your eyes really pop. Clean up any mistakes with a dab of makeup remover on a cotton swab.

Keep the rest of your makeup neutral.
With a smokey eye, you should keep the rest of your wedding day makeup very simple. A peach or rose colored blush applied to the apples of the cheeks and a light lip color are ideal.

Check out the Truly Wedding Blog for more wedding tips.

Hot Shoe Trends for Summer

2008-05-27T02:32:24-05:00

This summer, whether you are wearing short shorts or pretty summer dresses, you can follow some the latest shoe trends to look fabulous all summer long. Here are some of the hottest sandal styles for the summer.

Gladiator Sandals
In years past, many gladiator-style sandals were thick and clunky, while others were just drab - only available in browns and other neutral colors. This summer you can dress up your wardrobe with gladiator sandals featuring more feminine lines, thinner straps and funkier colors. Here are a few of my favorites gladiator sandals of the summer.

Cheap Choice:
Sam Edelman Gilda Gladiator Sandal
These orange gladiator sandals will definitely garner some attention this season. The strappy style and fabulous color are perfect for summer. Get these at Zappos for $89.

Mid-Range Option:
Via Spiga Bitten Gladiator Sandal
These white gladiator sandals will brighten up any outfit. They feature shiny goldtone hardware and a nice high heel. You can get these shoes from Nordstrom for $198.

Luxury Buy:
Sigerson Morrison Metallic Gladiator Sandals
These silver metallic gladiator sandals will add some shine to your footwear collection. These shoes have lots of beautiful details. Get them at Neiman Marcus for $425.

Jeweled Thong Sandals
Add a little glitz with jeweled thong sandals. Flat and low-heeled thong sandals offer simple silhouettes. However they can be played up with jewels, beads and crystals. Here are some of fabulous choices in jeweled thong sandals.

Cheap Choice:
White Jewel Thong Sling Back
Amiclubwear offers these very inexpensive white thong sandals with big colorful jewels on the T-strap. These sandals are only $19.99.

Mid-Range Option:
Stuart Weitzman Artclass Sandal
This sandals features square-shaped Swarovski crystals all over the top. They come in black or dark gold and are priced at $285 from Nordstrom.

Luxury Buy:
Michael Kors Breakers Chain Patent Thong Sandal
These white patent leather sandals feature a crystal chain embellishment. The kitten heel makes them very feminine. You can get these at Bergdorf Goodman for $535. Some sizes are available straight from Michael Kors website at a discount - only $375.

Photo credit: Zappos & Nordstrom

Yellow Summer Fashions

2008-05-18T15:06:58-05:00

This summer, yellow fashions are very trendy, from bright yellow handbags to pale yellow summer dresses. I used to steer clear of wearing yellow. The bold yellows always seemed to bright, while the pale colors made my skin seemed washed out. However, this season I'm embracing the yellow trend with yellow fashion accessories.

Though, a bright yellow dress or top might be "too much," you can add a splash of color to your summer wardrobe with yellow handbags, shoes and other accessories. If you have a light, sallow complexion, steer clear of light yellow and wear brights instead. Those with an olive complexion look great in mustard yellow, while skin with pink undertones looks terrific in both pale and bright yellow.

Add a pair of yellow patent sandals to your wardrobe. These Franco Sarto sandals pictured here offer a simple silhouette but lots of style. You can wear them with just about everything from a summer dress to jeans. Patent leather slides are also popular and perfect to wear with shorts this summer.

Yellow bangle bracelets can take your outfit from drab to fab. Whether you choose a thick enamel bracelet or a stack of thin bangles, it's up to you. But make them colorful!

I have a huge collection of handbags, but until recently had no yellow bags. Yellow patent bags from clutches to tote bags are popular right now. I have found that bright yellow handbags look great with everything, but particularly with an all black or all white outfit. With black, the contrast is very dramatic.

If you are headed to the beach or pool, a yellow sun hat or cover-up is just perfect. Protecting your skin from the sun is vital. A wide-brimmed hat can protect your face from the sun's harmful UV rays while still looking stylish.

Apply sunscreen often if you are spending an length of time outdoors. May is National Skin Cancer Awareness Month. According to the National Cancer Institute, over a million cases of non-melanoma skin cancer will be diagnosed in 2008. Those numbers are staggering. While looking stylish this summer, keep skin protection in mind. In addition to sunscreen, hats, sunglasses and other protective clothing should be worn.

Photo credit: Nordstrom.com