Are you going skiing for Spring Break?

Hi, JoJami here  and this week I’m in Aspen, Colorado! Are any of you going skiing for Spring Break? What are you going to be packing?

It’s been a long winter and I’m getting sick of pants. I’m a skirt girl  most of the year and until  winter when I’m stuck with stuffing my legs into trousers. Skirts make me feel feminine and if you had to guess what I would show up in any given day…you could safely bet it would be a skirt.

Last year a client of mine told me about a new twist for staying warm, a snow skirt.  It’s a simple idea, basically it is just a nice warm wrap skirt that has Velcro and is super easy to put on and off.

I'm going to wear this to the grocery store and exercise class!

It turns out that two young gals from Canada are whipping up these warm and fuzy wraps~

I went to their ETSY site and ordered one right away!

This gal is young who is modeling it, but I think they are totally age-appropriate for anyone!

It just came in the mail today and there just so happened to be a nice coating of snow to try it out in! I can imagine wearing it super casual or even dressing it up a bit if I want! (and it was so well made and cozy too!!!) Read more

Maxi Dresses- Appropriate for an afternoon wedding?

I have an afternoon wedding on the 25th of this month, and love the look of the Maxi dress, but have no idea what kind to choose. Also, I’m 5’3 and wonder if this style would even work for me?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Melissa

Hi Melissa,

Yes, A maxi dress is a wonderful choice for an afternoon wedding, but here’s the catch. You have to be careful you don’t pick a maxi that is too casual for the affair.  Some of the maxis out there look like they belong lounging by the pool. You are best to choose a maxi in soft fabrics like silk, jersey or chiffon, rather than cotton or linen. Also solid colors are more formal than prints- not to say you can’t wear prints, but be mindful the pattern is not too funky or  beachy.

Also, since you are only 5’3″  avoid maxis with little or no shape because they will drown you. Petite women need to choose maxis that sit closer to the body  and have a defined waist. The defined waist can even be a higher one – i.e. empire waist.

Here’s a few maxis we found that illustrate these points and reveal some other Do’s and Dont’s …

DO wear Dresses with a bit of Bling This beaded jersey dress has a bit of sparkle up top which makes it appropriate for a fancy occasion like  wedding. Some skin is revealed up top, but  not too much. Still, for the church part of the ceremony we’d recommend a pashmina wrap for your shoulders to be respectful. (Nordstrom)
DON’T wear Plunging Necklines All eyes should be on the bride, so don’t try to upstage her by wearing a dress as low cut and revealing as this sexy, red halter,no matter what your age or how good it looks on you. (Nordstrom)
DO wear Feminine dresses that move We talked about soft flowing fabrics. This pretty Shelly Laundry empire maxi dress is chiffon will make you look like you are floating on air. The vibrant painterly print pattern is so in vogue at the moment. $385 (Nordstrom)
DON’T wear Animal Prints This leopard Rachel Zoe maxi is great for a Saturday evening out with friends, but too edgy for a family event like a wedding ceremony. (Nordstrom)
DO wear Florals Florals are always appropriate for a wedding and this Donna Morgan Chiffon maxi is  pretty and appropriate. This is a big busted gal, but her dress covers her well while still revealing her figure.$142 (Nordstrom)
DO wear Caftans This Rachel Pally caftan with butterfly sleeves  is elegant, appropriate and perfect if you have a few pounds to cover up.  Solid purple is elegant, a busy patterned can also work, (Remember Hillary Clinton) or sometimes it can be too much.  Keep in mind that smaller women need smaller patterns and full figured women need bigger patterns to balance them out. $131 (Nordstrom)

DON’T wear Casual Maxis! Don’t wear maxis that are so casual, there is nothing you can do to dress them up. Some Maxis like this sporty striped Donna Karan maxi were meant for the beach! $59( Nordstrom)
DO wear Black and White White by itself is a no-no for weddings, black can work for a formal or evening wedding. For a summer afternoon wedding we prefer the combination of black and white in a graphic print to look modern and chic.( Saks)
DO choose a dress that sits close to the body if you are Petite We talked about this earlier and here’s a good example. If you are tiny a big flowing maxi can overwhelm. This dress has a defined waist and sits close to the body so it won’t overwhelm you. The ethnic print gives it a more casual vibe, and would work best at a more relaxed wedding.(Nordstrom)
DON’T wear flats unless… A flat sandal, preferably metallic,  is fine for a backyard or outdoor wedding , but for an indoor wedding we’d suggest that you wear some pretty heels or wedges to kick the look up a notch.  photo look too Don’t forget a pretty necklace or earrings to also raise the elegance level. (Nordstrom)
DO embrace Color Don’t be afraid of color no matter what your size. The right colors will make you look wow! This Donna Morgan chiffon maxi with empire waist looks fab! Notice the sexy heels too. Dress is $142 (Nordstrom)

Travel Wardrobe…going from plain to plane to just plain hot!!!

Howdy, JoJami here and today I am in sunny Los Angeles, where the weather has been actually on the cool side around 70 ish!

Many of you have met my mother JoBee since we like to feature her as our inspirational Glam Gal, clocking in at age 75!  I really don’t like to mention her age because she is just so darn amazing looking but its more just for shock value!  Ha!!

Anyway, she and my gorgeous sister Janeen Damian were heading off to the airport this morning on their way to New Orleans to celebrate Janeen’s birthday (the big 5-0)!

They both looked so fantastic that I snapped a few shots of them as they were dashing out the door!

Problem: What to wear on a plane that can feel like an ice locker and then arriving in really hot and humid weather?

Here is what they had on:

JoBee ready for the plane!

Janeen has layered with cream and then added a pop of color!

Lets break it down:

JoBee:

Don't forget to bring a scarf when you travel, you never know when it might come in handy!

~Simple 2 piece suit is made of a cotton/poly fabric so it does not wrinkle.
~Nice fitted smooth tank top that can be worn without a jacket if needed.

~Chunky necklace to draw attention toward the face and fill up the low-cut tank top.

~Colorful pashmina scarf to wrap up in if the plane is cold.

~Oversized handbag. Can carry all your jewelry, books, food that you will need.

Chunky necklace...great to wear so it does not take up space in your suitcase!

This oversized, leopard handbag brings some fun to this simple brown suit.

Janeen:

Layering a light weight sweater around her neck and thin cotton scarf for extra warmth

Here is what she did right:

~Pants are slim at the thigh and flair at the bottom.

~Has on a lightweight tank top and layered with a thin long sleeve t-shirt.

~Wrapped a thin long-sleeved sweater around her neck.

~Added a sheer thin cotton scarf for a pop of color!

~Carried on her lightweight trench raincoat.

~Comfortable flat tennis shoes will be easy on and off, yet are so stylish.

This bag is updated and will go with everything in her suitcase!

This Etro Bag is a gorgeous way to carry on your laptop!

These are the newest from Ugg. We are all for stylish comfort and these bronze tennis shoes are all the rage in LA!

Dressing for Your High School Reunion

JoJami: I like  your photo#5 with the long grey sweater because it shows off your adorable figure and is the most youthful looking, but I also think you look stunning in the gold jacket and it would make you stand out in a crowd. If you did go with the gold jacket I think it needs a different shoe. The rounded toe seems a little too casual so maybe one with a little heel and more of a pointy toe.

Deborah:I agree. The long grey sweater looks chic, but the gold jacket is pure Glam! Either would look great. I also love the smart olive green jacket with the cuffs but I wouldn’t wear it for the reunion – not enough color. As for the long black skirt in # 1, I suggest you retire that, as it is matronly compared to these other cute outfits. The white jacket #6 – yes I agree too much. Also the jacket seems to make your arms look rather short and makes you look heavy up top, at least in this photo. Leslie, you are beautiful and a real inspiration. Have fun and we hope we’ve helped. What does everyone think Leslie should wear?

photo #1 casual look

photo #2 gold jacket

photo # 3 Green jacket

photo#5 long grey sweater

photo #6 white jacket

Swimsuit Season! How to look hot even with a meno-pot!

 

A suit like this can be flattering and hide that tummy!

What have you bought so far this Spring?

Yippee… the sun is starting to shine again…and we can finally crawl out from under our bulky coats and turtlenecks!

Need an inspiration for transitioning a blah grey dress into Spring? Here it is! Just add a colorful cropped jacket!

So have you started to get the shopping itch yet?  We have and we know that every season it’s time to find those few new pieces to perk up our wardrobe especially items that are age appropriate (you know, not too young, too old, but just right!)

This Spring 2011 is all about color…and we ADORE color!!!

Here are a few shopping tips to follow before you start out:

Comment below and let us know what you are thinking of buying or have found that you love!

	Know  brands. This blouse is by Leifsdottir, a high-end brand known for great quality and style. Is it worth the splurge? YES, since it was at T.J. Max for a steal!
	Don’t be afraid to add color!  Key pieces like a pair of colorful jeans will perk up any wardrobe! Wear it with a white t-shirt or try color blocking (purple or green shirt). This can be a versatile piece if you think out of the box! (Zara)
	The pencil skirt.  A staple and looks great on most body types! (Zara)
	The Nude Wedge  This one from Bettye Mueller is comfy and casual. (Zappos)
	White Handbag   A white handbag can be a dangerous purchase, because if they are not good quality you can tell. This one from Cole Haan is gorgeous with the woven leather. (Sacs)

Dressing West Coast “hip” when you are over 40 or 50

We got a great question the other day from a gal named  Anne we wanted to share.

Showing her legs off in a skirt she can totally pull off

My single most important question for looking fabulous after 40 (or 50, to be more accurate) is how to retain that certain “edge” in the way I dress and present myself to the world while not looking like I’m trying too hard to be hip.  Actually, this has always been a challenge, but it’s becoming more so as I get older.  Thanks!

The Glam Gals have been out in LA checking out the West Coast vibe and super charged to see so many women out here dressing hip, not too young, too old but just right and looking Age-mazing (our term for dressing amazing for their age)
With the new release of Red Riding Hood coming out today we thought we would feature Director Catherine Hardwicke (age 55) as a great example of dressing updated, yet age appropriate as she navigates the Hollywood scene. Catherine shows her hip edge through her:

• choice of clothing with edgy details

• use of  dramatic high contrast color combos such as white and black, and yellow and black
• Updated Ray Ban sunglasses

• & her cool accents like cage shoes and azure blue clutch.

She stays age appropriate by knowing that sexy is not about letting it all hang out after 40; it is about being selective and showing off her “good bits” one at a time. For example, the short black skirt shows off her great legs and looks youthful, but if she if wore it this skirt with a LOW cut yellow top, this would have been too much!

Way to wear bangs and long hair after 40! (Catherine is over 50!)

Taking black and white and making it playful!

It’s a balancing act to look classic with the latest trends…

How to dress classic or classy but still trying to look age appropriate is a common question we get. (see below)

Here is my single most important question:  How to balance classic looks with latest trends without looking frumpy or too young?

~Teresa Daniel

Here is a good example of how to look updated with classic pieces when adding a few updated ones!

Here is how to get the look:

• Start with a classic shirt (make sure to keep it tucked out, it will hide any belly rolls!
• Depending on your body type pair it with jeans that look good on your body type (try white or a color)
• Update your sunglasses so that they are nice and big!
• Use a pop of color in a soft, casual bag
• Cute flats like these are much better than a pair of tennis shoes!

This look is from Tory Burch, but you could easily re-create it with pieces from other stores like J.Crew or T.J. Max.