What’s new with jeans this year?  Lycra!  Jeggings are currently taking over the denim section in department stores.  Jeggings are leggings which are styled to look like super-tight, skinny leg denim jeans.  Considered the comfy approach to the 80′s look skinny leg that has taken root again with masses.  Love it or hate it?

The colder weather means breaking your scarves out of archives.  One of the best things about the cooler temperatures is that it allows you to wear so many more styles…from boots, to jackets, to jeans to pashmina scarves.   You have a lot more options with a Fall/Winter wardrobe because you can layer with multiple pieces to accessorize your outfit. 

Pashmina scarves are super trendy and super sexy.  For more ways on how to tie a Pashmina scarf, see this post.   For additional ideas, keep your eyes on celebs like Jessica Alba, Blake Lively, Halle Berry, and Jennifer Aniston….celebs notorious for wearing Pashmina scarves.

It turns out that men are finding out what women knew all along…designers are lying to us.  We’ve always known that sizes will vary between different designers, which explains why you can comfortably fit into a size zero jean with some brands, and barely squeeze into a size 2 in another brand.  As it turns out, designers are playing with the minds of men, too. 

Did you know that men’s Old Navy 36 inch waist jeans are 41 inches in actuality?  And that a 36 inch waist in Gap jeans is actually 39 inches? 

Okay, so if it makes you feel better, go ahead and buy that “smaller” waisted jean….just stay centered in reality and know the only true way to measure your waist size is to actually measure it with a tape measure.  Don’t buy into the illusion that your waist is 5 inches smaller than it really is.  It’s all trickery in an effort to make you feel svelte, sexy, and without a reason to watch your caloric intake.  It’s all smoke and mirrors, boys.  And yes, we girls have been privy to this information for years. 

   “I have one pair of skinny jeans that I keep trying to wear, but they last all of seven minutes on me.  I feel like a pork sausage.”  Michelle Pfeiffer on skinny jeans. 

Express deserves some love for the sexy jeans they make.  meow!  Their jeans are always so consistently great looking.  They also make your legs look a mile long.  Slimming and sexy…what’s not to love?  …And in case you are reading, Express, I’ll have a Stella, low rise, fit and flare in a 2 please!  xoxo

Levi’s…they’re still the sexiest, most classic jean around for guys and girls.  And now, Levi’s has gone Green!  Levi’s new Eco line of jeans are made with 100% organic and recycled cotton, grown without synthetic chemical fertilizers or pesticides.  Lots of great styles to choose from for you or your man, with that classic Levi’s fit.  Always perfect.  I’ve never had a pair of Levi’s I didn’t like.  I’ve even belted on some of the Irishman’s 28 inch, super-broke-in jeans back in the day when boyfriend jeans were all the rage.   (okay, well I said it was back in the day, as in early to mid 90s.)  Let me tell you, when you start exploring on his side of the closet, it opens up far more wardrobe possibilities. 

Levi Strauss is another great company that recognizes our impact to our fragile eco-system.  Way to be Green, Levi’s.  Love that eco line!

Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, better known as the late Mrs. JFK, Jr., is immortalized, at least in my mind, as a supreme style icon.  I’ve always adored her gorgeous style and mysterious allure.  I’d love to see what Carolyn would be doing today.  I miss Carolyn.  I miss JFK, Jr., too.  I loved the fact that they were Kennedy’s, but were grounded somehow. They never took themselves too seriously.  They always seemed overtly approachable.  I liked the fact they lived in TriBeCa.  I liked the fact that John-John would ride his bike to work.  I liked that they would play football in Central Park. 

 I love this….     

John had incredible style in his own right.  Carolyn’s style was clean, minimalistic, polished, and tailored.  Her style was monotone, mainly consisting of black, tan, and white pieces, which stands the test of time over the years….classics! 

Your look can be on the money every time, but it requires thought and planning. 

Purchasing smart clothing choices, applying the minimalistic combined with the monotone, you are purchasing pieces that are, and will forever be, classics.  Carolyn’s style stands the test of time, without a doubt.   I have pages and pages of Carolyn’s style in my fashion files that I constantly refer to.  I’ve often given pieces I’m considering purchasing the “Carolyn Test.”  Is this piece something that Carolyn would wear?  You’d be surprised how easy it is to construct a beautiful wardrobe when you are putting thought behind the purchase…when you have a plan.   Don’t buy on impulse.  Know what will be an acceptable purchase for your wardrobe plan.  Think before you buy.   

Being a New Yorker, as Carolyn was, she had a bit of an urban edge.  But she continued to stay true to classic, tailored looks.  Whether she was wearing a long camel  coat with dark boot cut jeans and high heeled boots, or a stunning little black dress, she did it all with such grace and style.  To this day, I continue to refer to my fashion files and to my favorite style icon, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy.  Her style and grace is truly missed.

Get the Look:  Stay monotone, consisting of black, white, and tan.   Purchase good basic pieces such as a black turtleneck sweaters, black fitted jackets, tailored black dresses, tan-colored body-slimming skirts that hit just below the knee to give a long and lean look, crisp white shirts, boot-cut jeans that have appropriate length to wear a heel or boot with, sexy heels in black or tan, boots in black or tan, winter coats in black or tan (you can use scarves and hats for a punch of color.) 

You can develop your own personal style if you have a plan.  Give yourself guidlines, a game plan, so to speak.  Be cognizant of your purchases and be true to form.  Be a style icon!