fashion advice for real people
There is no better time than the summertime to have fun and play around with your wardrobe. There are so many fun, flirty fashions to choose from, and is definitely my favorite time of year.
There are always those occasions during summer that you want a special outfit, and here are some great - and inexpensive - ensemble ideas.
We all love heading to those summer concerts, but what to wear? You want something that is going to be trendy and chic but comfortable at the same time, especially if you are going to a concert that is outdoors where you will be doing a lot of standing or walking.
This outfit is perfect because it will work whether it is hot or cool outside, and the boots are sexy but will not be doing a number on your feet. The bag adds a splash of color and you are definitely going to be the highlight of the party.

Ah, a lazy, relaxing day at the beach. Comfort is key, but you still want to look sexy and stylish. I love this bikini by Victoria’s Secret because it is cute and fun, and I simply can’t get enough of the denim cut-off shorts that everyone is wearing this season.
Pair that with a cute beach tote that will hold all your goodies from tanning oil to a picnic lunch, and cute espadrille-like wedges and you’re all set.

What better way to spend a date than under the stars on a warm summer night? Now the only thing is finding something to wear, well here is something I think is perfect for date night.
The dress is definitely sexy but still casual, and the strappy silver sandals add a touch of pizazz. I adore this white clutch purse from Bella Nova, and the pearls make this look classic and more mature.

This sexy fitted polka dot pencil skirt with high waist and buttons lined down the back matches to perfection with this modern blouse and coordinating handbag.
I love this sassy but classy workwear ensemble, in particular the snazzy Jessica Simpson cut-out wedge anklestrap pumps which are sexy but reformed enough for the office.

I love the summer. There is nothing better than waking up and getting to dig into your summer wardrobe. The clothes are simple and adorable, and there are so many fun options.
A girl can never have too many cute shirts, at least that is my philosophy, and here are a few that you should look for on your next run to the mall.

If there is one woman who has been able to stand the test of time in Hollywood and continue to wow us with her trendy, sexy style, it is Sharon Stone.
Ever since we first spotted this stunning blonde in some of her earliest movies - Tears in the Rain, Total Recall, Basic Instinct, Last Action Hero, The Specialist, and Casino, just to name a few - we have not been able to take our eyes off her, and really, who would want to?
A serious idol for women of all ages, Sharon really shows us how to dress great at all stages of life.
At fifty, she is still just as magnificent as she was in her twenties, which is not something that most women can brag about.
She looks perfect in just about everything she throws on but seems to favor names like Calvin Klein and Versace in particular.
Both men and women love her, and it is really no surprise. Sharon Stone has a certain flair to her style, and she is certainly no slave to the latest fads yet always manages to look modern and pretty.
Many people try to emulate her style but none can compare, because there is only one Sharon Stone and she certainly holds her own.
Sharon Stone is a true style icon from head to toe and we know that she is only going to continue taking our breath away and grabbing our attention, and we’re sure that she can handle it.

One of the hottest summer fashions this year is the chunky necklace. Done in a variety of forms, these big, bold necklaces always make a statement, and you can use them to bring a splash of color to any ensemble.
From feathers and chains to beads and baubles, there is such a vast and varied selection to choose from that you are sure to find pieces you love.
Just be careful to keep other jewelry to a minimum when you are wearing one of these oversized chains, because you do not want to overdo it.
One of my favorite looks featuring this hot new accessory is a plain white t-shirt or tank top and simple skirt, especially when you do the necklace in a bright color like orange or hot pink, because it adds flair to the simplicity of the outfit and the color by your face will brighten you up.
Perfect for summer, these necklaces range in design and price, so take a bit of time to browse through the selection and find a few that you adore.
Here are a few of my favorites that you may want to add to your jewelry collection just in time for the upcoming summer season.

Turquoise Pendant Necklace, by Spiegel, Spiegel, $34.99; Silver Necklace with Silver Polygon Charms by Pistachio Jewellery, Makoosh, £209.99; Chunky Tiger’s Eye Stone Necklace by Roberta Chiarella, Blueluxe, $70.50; Three-Color Necklace by Ben Amun, Saks Fifth Avenue, $200; Sea Monster Necklace by Vivienne Westwood Red Label, Netaporter, $645.

Although Garage, a Canadian-based clothing and accessory retailer, may feature a lot of teen wear, they have some great - and cheap - styles for summer.
I’m 24 myself and still love the place. They have some adorable sundresses, jeans that fit and offer length to us tall ladies, and super cute accessories.
Of course I love to splurge when I find that great bag, pair of heels, and don’t even get me started on the Betsey Johnson line, but if I have just a bit of money here and there and want to get a bag full of bargain - but still quality - stuff, I can always find what I’m looking for at Garage.
For even a hundred bucks you can get a super cute outfit or two, some accessories to match, and they even have a fun little candy rack set up at the front of the store…why I’m not quite sure but heck, I’ll take it.
They don’t have the most vast or varied selection but there are definitely some sweet pieces I have picked up this year already that are definitely going to be staples in my wardrobe for the summer season to come, and beyond.
You can check them out for yourself online via their website, or visit one of their many retail stores, which you can find in every province as well as across the U.S.

We are always worried about what we are wearing, what is in fashion for us, but what about our furry little friends? If a dog really is man’s best friend, shouldn’t they get to dress in style too?
Okay, some people think dressing up dogs is a little strange, some find it pointless, but I think it’s pretty cute. There are some terrific retailers out there offering some adorable and super stylish doggie fashions, so if you are like me and would like to get your hands on some of these, here are a few places you will want to check out.
A Canadian-based company, Glamour Dog is a company well worth checking out if you are looking for sweaters, coats, shirts, even dresses and Halloween costumes for your dog.
They ensure that each and every one of their dog outfits is not only fashionable but functional as well, and the specially tailored clothing lines featured on their sites are designed specifically with your dog in mind.
Your dog will not only look super cute but be comfortable, which is very important and also keep them from getting disturbed with you for dressing them up like Batman.
Another retailer you will want to check out is The Little Windup Pup. They not only feature a vast selection of clothing for your dog but as well dog beds, dog bowls, dog carriers, dog collars, dog pajamas, dog tees, and even jewelry for your dog.
Their mission is to bring customers the most unique and ever-evolving collection of designer dog apparel and accessories, and their staff is committed to providing customers with the best service possible so if you have any questions or need help shopping online they will be more than willing and able to help you out.
They even have a collection of unique items for your dog which are a lot of fun, such as the poochie polish and pink dog visor.
If you are looking for a more high-end store for dressing your dog, there is At The Dog Shoppe.
Their online boutique is vast and easy to navigate through. It offers the best in dog tees, dog polos, dog fleeces, dog coats and much more.
They have a ton of adorable and modern t-shirts and mom and dog matching outfits which are really sweet. Their prices a bit more expensive than some of the smaller retailers but well worth it for the quality you receive.
Whether you are a fan of doggie fashions or not you have to admit that some of these products are pretty darn cute, and if you have pets they are worth at least checking out.
We have all been there - we head to the salon thinking we know exactly what we want and looking forward to leaving looking like a star, until…
It has probably happened at least once to you. On your way out of the salon you are wishing to yourself that you could just invent that time machine and go back a couple hours, maybe rethink your decision.
To avoid this from happening again, there are a few tips that I would like to offer to help you choose the right hairstylist, one that you can trust and feel safe with, so you no longer have to clench your nails into the side of the chair when you see them reaching for the scissors.
One of the first and most important steps is going to involve you taking a bit of time to look around and see what is out there. Finding a good hairstylist is going to take some searching, but it will be more than worth it in the end.
You may even want to make a list of all the available hairstylists in your immediate area, and make sure that you stick pretty close to home because after all, you are not going to want to have to travel for hours every time you need to get your hair done.
Once you have made your list, you should start narrowing the selection down by crossing any off that are too cheap or too expensive. Sure there may be some fantastic hairstylists in both categories but trust me, you can find affordable hairstylists that are very reputable and very good at what they do.
You are going to want to do some background research on the stylists left on your list. Check to see how long they have been in the business, how much total experience they have, how many salons they have worked in, and find out what their clients have to say to them.
Any reputable, qualified hairstylist will be more than willing to offer you a few names on their list of clientele, and you may even know someone who already goes to them which would be fantastic because then you could get a firsthand opinion on the stylist and on what they have to offer that keeps their clients coming back.
One of the most crucial things to do is check the salon the stylist works in. It may be anything from a fancy upscale salon or a basement in their home, but either way it is important for you to have a look at their work area and how well they take care of it.
While you are there, check out the products and tools they use and sell, and if you can, pick a stylist who specializes in your type of hair because they will offer specific products and tools that are going to work best with your hair type and leave you with the best results each and every time.
The best salons are those that are kept very neat and tidy, because they will want to make sure they are giving a good impression and want to make their clients feel welcome.
Okay, so a few hairs here and there doesn’t mean you should kick them to the curb, but there is a standard that you should have in terms of cleanliness and ensuring this is a salon you are going to look forward to coming back to time and time again.
Once you have dropped your list down to a few respectable names, it is going to be time for you to get up close and personal.
Consultation appointments are going to be incredibly helpful, and will allow you to speak one-on-one with the different stylists, see what they have to offer, what their opinion on your hair is and what they would advise to do with it, and what they expect you to pay for them styling your hair.
If you are a risk taker you may even want to ask them to give you a haircut right then and there, so you can see what their style is, what they have to offer and whether you would be interested in returning to them in the future.
The best hairstylist is going to be one that understands and meets your needs, someone who transforms your hair as you want it but only if they know it is going to look good, and who is going to listen to what you like and dislike about your hair and always make sure you are happy before you leave the salon.
Choosing a hairstylist is a very important and often lengthy process, but this is someone you will be able to rely on for all hair dilemmas and dos for the rest of your life, so you will be more than glad that you did it.
There must be something in the LA water, because it seems as though one female celeb after another is coming forth and announcing the big news of their preganncy.
Oh well, pregnancy is a wonderful thing and one thing that is lots of fun with any pregancy is maternity clothes shopping. These days there are so many fun and funky maternity styles available, a far cry from the limited wardrobe selection that our mothers had.
Let’s take a look at how some of the most famous women in Hollywood are staying in style during their nine months of pre-motherhood.
You knew that she was going to be on the list, and I decided to put her right at the top. Not only is Jessica Alba one of the most stunning women you will ever set your eyes on, but she seems to have a pretty decent head on her shoulders as well.
She is sexy yet sophisticated, and has definitely carried that style over into her pregnancy.
Of course she dressed up for this pic to hit the red carpet, but even on the day to day through her pregnancy Jess has managed to stay in style, choosing high-end maternity fashions that suit her sexy-chic persona.
If anyone knows how to show off an oversized chest from pregnancy and do it classy, it is Halle Berry. She was already drop dead gorgeous to begin with, but pregnancy has definitely treated her well.
Halle is literally glowing, and her months of maternity have only added to her voluptuous curves, in all the right ways.
Halle has dressed often in bright colors throughout her pregnancy, but always in hues that flatter her skin tone and hair. This jewel-toned royal blue color for instance does wonders for her.
You really can’t be mean to a woman when she’s pregnant can you, kinda like don’t hit a man with glasses?
Well, Jamie-Lynn is adorable, but I have to say her maternity style is pretty boring…Then again, she is just a teenager so I’m sure fashion is the last thing on her mind right now.
Jamie-Lynn has a very casual, almost preppy fashion sense, and so although she is somewhat trendy and definitely covers up more than her sis Brit did during her two pregnancies, she could definitely use a little spicing up.
Here is a real sweetheart mama to be. Although Minnie Driver continues to keep quiet on the father of her baby, it is obvious that she is in fact pregnant.
She has always had a casual, sort of bohemian-chic style, and I think she almost always looks great. Here she is dressed sweetly in a simple black dress and violet cardigan, with stunning slingback peep-toe pumps.
We may not know who the baby daddy is, but one thing we do know for sure - Minnie Driver is a beautiful, stylish Hollywood mama to be.
There are sure to be more mamas to be added on to this list in the near future, because if it’s not something in the water, then it is sure some sort of Hollywood fad.
Who do you think is the most stylish pregnant celeb in Hollywood today?
There are some terrific fashions out for this spring and summer, and if you are anything like me, you are simply dying to take a look at the hot new shoe trends of the season. For all you footwear fashionistas, here are a few of the top picks and information on where you can get a pair for yourself.

Simple and affordable, these strappy sandals make a great addition to any wardrobe.
They are embellished and very modern, and one of the things I love best about these sandals is that they are so versatile - dressy enough to wear for a night out on the town, and yet casual enough to wear on a day to day basis.
They would look supremely elegant with a cute wrap skirt and skirt or that little black dress, but pair it with a pair of khaki capris or an olive green sundress and you have an adorable summer day ensemble, available from Nina Shoes for $89.95.

I absolutely love these shoes from Celine. They have a sort of retro feel, and I adore the bright colors of the straps.
They scream hot weather, and I can already imagine wearing them with a million different outfits. They are funky and fun, and definitely intense.
Bold colors are all the rage this season, and there are no shoes bolder than these platforms intensified by pops of multi-colored patent.
This is one pair of shoes that you do not want to miss out on, well worth adding to your collection.

If you want fun and femininity, look no further than these gorgeous platforms by John Galliano.
They remind me of a Mary Jane, retro-styled and yet modernized at the same time.
Galliano always puts so much detail into his shoes, and here has used yellow which is the hot hue of the season.
The best part about these shoes is the fascinating girly details which are accented, and which really help put this shoe over the edge.
Winter is behind us, and let’s start off summer with a bang with these hot, fashionable, gorgeous spring and summer shoes.
Does anyone else notice that Paris Hilton’s style seems to change as often as she changes boyfriends?
Now that she has been with boyfriend Benji Madden for a few months, she seems to have taken on his wardrobe as well.
The inseparable couple are almost hard to tell apart, both in dark ensembles of hoodies and tees, with sneaks to match.
Although it is cute and sort of sweet in a way…it seems that Paris changes her wardrobe every time there is a new love in her life.
At least these days she is covering herself up a bit - sorry A LOT - more, and they sort of remind me of a young teenage couple in puppy love, what with the holding hands, shades and all.