The current fashion magazines always offer a list of "must haves" for the season. They are wonderful for information. Just be careful on how close you follow them. There are lots of things to choose from out there. After much review, here are my choices:

1. A short, colorful trench. Most fashion gurus say that this is THE piece to buy if you can't buy anything else.

2. A print dress that can be worn with a suit jacket. This is the office to evening look.

3. 2 pants, one wide leg and one skinny

4. 1 Spring jacket, cropped and either fitted or boxy in addition to the short trench

5. 1 fitted cardigan

6. An over-sized hand bag

7. 2 pairs of flats

8. 6 tops in various necklines, sleeve lengths, patterns and colors

9. 2 necklaces, 1 with crystals & beads and one with large links.

As you can see from the list, I think in 'wardrobes' not just pieces. Remember the mantra, "what will it go with AND where will I wear it?" Every item has to go with something either existing or new. How many inexpensive, must have, orphans do you have in your closet?

It's also a good idea to visualize where you'll wear this fabulous piece. For instance, I love suits, but I hardly wear them any more. Even when I'm speaking or training, I usually wear co-ordinates, to look either more colorful or less formal. With the suits I have, I wear them as separates.

And, of course, the 1st place to shop is in your own closet!

Oh, almost forgot to give you the trend COLORS!
There are more, but these are the predominate ones:

• Yellow
• Marine Blue
• Bright Red
• Orange
• Hot Pink
• Cameo Pink
• Pale Gray

Not sure which pieces and colors work for you?Contact me!

The Spring sales are in full force! There are lots of great markdowns to be had. (don't forget your shopping list!) There are also coupons galore!

Most of the major stores have printable coupons on their web sites. Just Google your favorite and look under 'promotions' or 'specials' if you have to look for it at all.

But, I think it's getting out of hand! Even I'm challenged with all the % or dollars off coupons from stores like Macy's. So, be patient with the sales staff because they're overwhelmed, too!

FYI, the newest Nordstrom's is now open at the Burlington Mall. I haven't been there yet, but when I do, I'll let you know what's exciting or new.

Happy shopping!

According to Amy Swift, Editor-in-Chief of Ladies Who Launch: www.ladiesw holaunch.com

"Appearance counts! In our society, women who don't look good are just invisible. We don't even look at them. We don't count them. Looking good is power. I also am on a mission to prove that taking care of yourself and caring about fashion and beauty are not superficial and shallow.

It's really vital to your career longevity, because nobody wants to hire somebody who looks outdated. If you look outdated, if you look like you don't know what's going on, people will think that your ideas are outdated, too."

There's also great advice for dressing from the author, Charla Krupp Author, How Not to Look Old
www.hownotto lookold.com

Also useful advice on what to wear to work comes from Harper's Bazaar http: //www.harpersbazaar.com/magazine/
Feb 08 OFFICE ELEGANCE
A certain level of refinement should be maintained:
1. Never show your midriff.
2. Avoid showing too much cleavage (and keep straps under wraps).
3. Keep hemlines in check -- and don't go too tight.
4. Save flip-flops for the beach.

And don't get too wacky. Express your personal style, but you don't want to seem too eccentric."

*****

Around this time of year, I take a look at my winter clothes to see what I've worn and what I haven't. There are always a few favorites that haven't been worn. Why? Partly because there was no occasion to wear them. But, more often, those "old favorites" had been replaced.

So, why didn't I move the old ones along when the new ones came in? Because I really thought I'd wear them!

In an effort to improve this for Spring, I'm assessing the pieces I've worn. How many tops, jackets, pants and skirts did I wear? How often did I wear them in the last 3 months, December, January and February? Did I love what I wore?

Just for fun, let's do the math. The premise is that a season is 3 months with approximatly 93 days. Here's the breakdown on just the pants:

Out of 9 pairs of pants, 4 pairs were worn about 17 times each. The other 5 pairs were hardly worn at all, on average, about twice each. If you're doing the math, there are 13 unaccounted for days. I either wore a skirt or sweat clothes. I'm sure I wore something!

So why am I telling you this? Because we wear the clothes we love, and not much else! I want to look great ALL the time and if that means fewer clothes, I'm willing to give it a try. How about you?

*****

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Copyright 2001-2008 Julie Foley. All rights reserved.