Is your skin warm or cool?

Being able to determine your skin tone will help you to make informed decisions about color selections for hair, makeup and clothing. There are several simple observations you can make to help you figure out what your tone is.

You’re COOL if…
1. Silver jewelry stands out more than gold jewelry when placed on your skin
2. In direct sunlight, you see glints of blue, purple or green in your natural hair color
3. Your skin color in porcelain, rosy-beige, rosy-pink, dark olive, dark brown or ebony
4. You may burn easily in the sun
5. Your eye color is light blue, gray-blue, gray-green, blue-green, deep blue, deep green, brown or black

You will look beset in Silver, Platinum or white gold jewelry. Pearls and diamonds have cool undertones so often they compliment your skin.

You’re WARM if…
1. Gold jewelry stands out more than silver jewelry when placed on your skin
2. In direct sunlight, you see glints of red, orange, gold or yellow in your natural hair color
3. Your skin color is golden brown, warm peach, pale or yellow with freckles
4. You tan easily in the sun
5. Your eye color is blue, blue-green hazel, green, topaz, amber, cinnamon, coffee bean

You will look best gold, brass and copper jewelry.

If you are still puzzled try this technique:
Pull your hair off of your face. Wash your face and then place a white towel around your neck and shoulders. The pure white cloth will reflect skin undertones. If your face looks yellow next to the white towel you have a warm skin tone and if it looks more blue then you have a cool skin tone.

Check out the Modesty Carnival over at the ET blog!

Modesty Carnival launches tomorrow!

If you didn’t think they could get any longer…think again. A big trend last fall, knee-length and thigh-high socks are making a huge comeback. Versatile and affordable they are an easy way to add spice and a bit of collegiate charm to your fall accessories. Also a significant trend is patterned hose or tights.

Do:

Wear them with your favorite knee length skirt. Depending on the sock you can pair them with a blue jean skirt , wool skirt or a plaid pleated skirt for that school girl look.

With regular length skirts. Even if you have a skirt that come down below your over the knee socks, you can still wear them. They’ll look somewhat like tights, but they won’t add bulk to your upper legs or bottom. Also, if you sit down you’ve got some extra length on your socks to prevent you from accidentally flashing some skin.

Wear them with boots. Having some socks showing at the top has a relaxed appeal.

Wear them over opaque tights. In especially cold climates (like Michigan or Alaska) you will need to layer!

Wear a patterned hose with your favorite classy capris.

Have moderation: A preference for patterned socks requires a sense of humor or a sense of moderation.

Don’t:

wear socks with shorts. Tacky and reminiscent of the pin-up girls.

Be afraid to wear mismatching colors: tan or black socks with a grey skirt. It’s a fun look and isn’t meant to be perfectly matching.

Best described as a season of change, fall ’08 is defined by
rich, elegant hues that offer a vibrant selection. New York’s
fashion designers emphasize cooler blues, greens and purples
in the top five tones used in their collections, followed by
variations of warm red, orange and yellow.
“Fall is traditionally a time for subdued, quiet colors, but this
season we are seeing a shift toward cool hues with bright,
exciting undertones,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director
of the Pantone Color Institute®. “Conventional tones such as
warm autumn hues, chocolate browns and steel grays are
also among the fall color choices. Blue and purple tones have
become staples, as illustrated by Blue Iris, one of the top 10
colors chosen by designers this season, and Pantone’s Color
of the Year for 2008.”

More in depth color exploration coming soon!

Just because fall is coming doesn’t mean we have to start over with a completely new wardrobe. We are going to look at a few pieces in your wardrobe right now that can transition beautifully into fall staples.

Cotton Sweater:
Summer:
A simple pull over or button up, most likely you all have one. It was perfect for cool evenings in the summer or maybe even as your bathing suit coverup.

Fall:
While your sweater is thin enough for Summer, it’s substantial enough to wear into fall. Pair your sweater with a pair of jeans or skirt and high boots Snag your favorite kint scarf and cap and your ready for the fall chillies.

Black Capris:
Summer:
A cotton Capri in any color is a year-round staple in any closet. Most people don’t realize how versatile a length it can be. A shorter pant is associated with summer. Add a great blouse and some cool sneakers and you’ve got a great weekend look

Fall:
But add a sweater vest, jacket and some heels and the same pant has a polished and professional look. A patterned pair of tights in contrasting texture (opaque trousers, sheer tights) gives a whole new life to your capris while keeping you cozy. A round toe heel has a modern retro feeling that is prominent this fall.

The Summer Dress:
Summer:

Every woman should have a range of day to evening summer dresses. Microfiber (i.e. Jersey) and cotton dresses made a big splash this summer, but you’re going to see them continue into fall. Part of the reason is that the weight of the material is so versatile for different temperatures.

Fall:
While it may have been a fashion faux pas in seasons past to mix lighter weight materials with much heavier ones, it is a big trend for fall. Mixing a lighter weight dress with a colored, patterned stocking and boots or layer a dress over a thin turtleneck. It’s about mixing opposite elements into the same outfit to exaggerate their effect. Do pair it with a bit heavier jewelry to balance the look.

You’ll see a Christa-Taylor dress that fits this description perfectly very soon. Keep your eyes peeled!

To get a visual watch this clip from NBC: HERE

When did pouty become beautiful? Girls, it’s time to bring back the smile. I don’t care how many models portray a “sultry-cool” disinterested stare. In real life, it’s the smiles that win the hearts.

Some interesting stats:
-The average woman smiles about 62 times a day!
-A man? Only 8!
-30 minutes of a hearty laugh, your white blood cell count shoots up by 25%, strengthening your disease fighting powers.
- The first thing we notice about people is their eyes, the second thing we notice is their smile.
-people seldom notice old clothes if you wear a big smile
-it happens in a flash but can be remembered for a lifetime
-88% of people (surveyed) said they always remember someone with an especially attractive smile
-guys go crazy over a girls smile
Do:

-Relax- a real smile reveals facial muscles all pointing upward from your jaw right up to your eyebrows, mouth is often open and your eyes are crinkly

-Brighten your teeth in seconds-try a lipstick in true reds, avoid coral or orangey shades…they bring out the yellow.
Don’t:

Trace the outside of your lip-line with pencil. Lay off the lip pencil, it looks fake. Just trace a clear, shimmer highlighter pencil above the cupid’s bow on your upper lip, the reflection makes it look fuller. Well-hydrated lips look fuller.

If you’re hosting a dinner party, and your usual t-shirt and jeans is not exactly what you had in mind to wear, how do you pull together a lovely ensemble without going extreme?  A little planning goes a long way. When you have so many other important details on your mind, last minute dressing can be a nightmare.

Plan ahead, have your outfit pressed and ready.

Keep it simple, a knit wrap dress is universally flattering and paired with a nude or beige heel can keep it relaxed, yet classy. Or maybe your in the mood for a sundress? A white blouse or tunic can be dressed up or down easily and is always appropriate for the summertime. Add a colorful pair of hoops and your ready for the hor d’ oeuvres!

Freshen your face right before the guests arrive. Make sure your hair is where it is supposed to be and touch up with some lip gloss.

DO wear an apron, there is no limit to the fabulous aprons available on the market, here are some of my favorites.

DON’T be the center of attention with you choice of dress. You want your guests to shine, not the converse. I made this mistake once, and once only when I was hosting a formal event. I chose a full-length red gown. Though lovely, it was too formal for the event and I ended up as the most extravagantly dressed female in attendance. Needless to say, I felt rather awkward the entire evening.

Remember your guests, they’re who really matter! Offer them a refreshing drink upon their arrival, make sure music is playing to set the mood and have a subject picked for great conversations.

Have you hosted any parties recently? Tell us about it! Any tricks you’d like to share?

While I can’t argue that white pants and skirts aren’t always practical, they’re stylish regardless of your size. The important factors are the fit and the ensemble. Here are guidelines for choosing a perfect pair of white pants:
* Keep the front plain, no pleats. Flatter fronts keep your fit smooth and streamlined underneath your tops.

* Side entry pockets or any type of patch pocket tends to show through the front of light pants.

* Make sure that white pants made of softer fabrications like viscose, silk, rayon and linen-blends are lined.

* Consider denim and thick cotton twills in white. These fabrics don’t need to be lined and the classic “5-pocket styling” works well.

* Stick to boot cut leg openings as the most versatile and flattering option.

All women can look incredible in the right pair of white bottoms. Striking contrast is key to creating a stylish ensemble with white pants. Match them up with a dark top and shoes and your look will pop.

DON’T wear white to a wedding

DO wear nude colored underclothes with white, so others don’t see more than they want to!

Remember, white is a modern update on black, and it doesn’t make you look fat.

Now that we know how to choose a neckline for ourselves, how are we supposed to accessorize that particular neckline? Here are just a few tips to help you out! Let us know how they work for you!

V, Sweetheart or Boat necklines are beautifully accented with a drop pearl necklace, solitaire pendant or a single gem that matches the color of your top.

Jewel, Scoop or Boat necklines can be adorned with a long string of colorful beads. Precious stones work well with a thicker day look, while crystals bring a little glamour to an evening ensemble.

Square necklines should be topped with a pendant that dangles from a long chain. Consider lengths that fall between the collarbones.