Conference Wear

NOOO I don't have a naturally smiley face as you can tell. I do feel better after yesterday's ppt and video fiasco though!!! I did also get alot of compliments even today for the great presentation I pulled off so its all good after all!!  Fitted clothes are my friend even on "I feel fat" days.  And don't you just love it when you find a blazer to match pants/skirt that just happens to be almost the exact same material?  Just dandy!!

Yes. Thats right. Red. Fitted. And a green computer. Not to mention animal print shoes. A good day all in all.

Professional Attire

Okay, so lately we have been working on a project with alot of high-powered 'consultants' as they have been referred to as <roll eyes>.  They are all men and are all wearing dark business suits.  The nature of the work I do is business casual, however, it has been hinted that we 'step it up' a notch for this particular job we are working on.

All I can imagine is all the creativity stripped from me and being reduced to dressing in this kind of outfit.  Please spare me!! Don't get me wrong, some ladies enjoy wearing this kind of outfit but personally I find it very dull and unimaginative.

I am finding it hard to have to believe that to accomplish results you sometime have to 'play the game' and dress the part.  I don't even own these kind of black and white suit-type items and collared shirts don't suit me either. Now I have to come up with some kind of 'power suit' to move forward with this project and work with some of the players involved.

I'm curious about your opinions and experiences with this kind of thing.  And forgive me if this sounds like a rant.. I guess it is though :)

Hope you are enjoying your weekend!! xox J

Thailand Travel- packing LIGHT

Hello!!! I have missed you all!  Well, I just got home from my 6 week trip to celebrate my 10year anniversary! We went to Thailand and since there was a stopover in Beijing along the way we spent some time in China at the beginning of our trip.  We both traveled with a 35 litre backpack, which you can see here if you click on the link... its small, yes, indeed. SO as you can imagine, I had to pack very efficiently. This was a fun challenge.  We mainly wanted to be able to move around easily and not  be smacking people on the bus with big overloaded backpacks and such!!!

  We wore old ugly clothes to Beijing since it was -20 and colder for the week we were there. Then once we left Beijing we ditched the ugly winter clothes and got into our clothes for 34 degree weather!!  Woo hooo bring on the heat!  We spent 5 days in Beijing and the remainder of the 5.5 weeks in Thailand both in the north and south.
 Basically all I packed was: 2 pairs of shorts, 3 tank tops, 1 skirt, 1 dress, 1 longsleeve, 1 tshirt, 1 pair of pants and a bikini.  It made coming up with outfits really easy.  And if I ever get up in the morning now that I am home and say " I have nothing to wear"- you have full freedom to pinch me and tell me to smarten up!!!  I can not believe I have the gall to say things like that with the amount of clothing I have in my closet!!  A big bar of soap for handwashing clothing and a natural air dryer (the sun) is all you need!! :)  Less clothing really does make life much much easier!!!

 I also wore no makeup and the only jewelry I had were a paid of silver hoops and my favorite turquoise earrings.

 I often wore a scarf since I  could use it to wear around my shoulders in case I needed to cover up if we came across a temple to visit (which there were many).  It also doubled as a face cloth when I was all sweaty :)  GROSS, I know, but hey- I never said I was a lady :P  And of course theres graceful me dripping pad thai sauce and tom yum curry all over it all the time!!

Thailand was exceptional. We like remote secluded places and we found many great places to explore from remote local villages to small islands with no electricity or internet.  We spent the first part of our trip on an island in the mid south, then traveled north and did a trek for 3 days over xmas. I must say, it was one of the most memorable xmas holidays I have ever had.  The people were so joyous and friendly and so generous and happy.  We also explored along the Myanmar and Laos border areas which was really interesting, as well as toured a coffee and tea plantation.  Then after taking a night train (now that was an adventure!!) we headed to some small southern islands where we basically lived in luxury in thatched huts on the beach with white sandy beaches and the sound of waves all around us. CAN YOU SAY HEAVEN???    We ate tons of amazing thai food and lots and lots of fruit (food there is awesome!! and we even did a cooking course!).

 I am now home feeling fully rested and rejuvenated and even a few pounds thinner!!   Let me tell you--- plans for next years trip are in full force all ready :)

I look forward to catching up with all of you and really hope you all had a super xmas and new year holiday season.  I also wish you all the absolute best for this upcoming year-- yes- a most fabulously stylish year at that, right ladies???

Back soon, MWAH, xoxo J

25 Ways to Wear a Scarf (in 4.5 minutes)- WendysLookBook

This is totally fun. Cinderita sent this to me this morning. As you know, I love scarves so this is awesome!!

Wardrobe Ideas -- I need help!

Blogger Friends!!  Can you help me?  I am looking for new wardrobe ideas.  Yes, it seems I am in a fashion rut and need to shake things up abit.  If you can think of other fashion bloggers who have a similar (curvaceous) figure like myself I would love it if you would pass on a link to their blog.  The best way to get ideas is to learn from others!!!

I am looking for other bloggers who:

• are tall
• defined waist
• curves
• suit fitted style clothing
• have FANTABULOUS  style :)

Thanks tons!! I knew I could count on you!!   xoxo Jodi

Your wardrobe ideas/suggestions for things to try are also welcomed if you are so inclined!!!

Boots and Hemlines (from YouLookFab)

I find YouLookFab's website a very good resource.  A recent article on boots (YOU KNOW I LOVE BOOTS!!) you may like if you haven't already seen it:

Boots and Hemlines: Mind the Gap
Style guidelines often suggest leaving a gap of leg, skin or hosiery, between the top of tall boots and the hemline of your dress or skirt because the visual effect is more flattering. Of course, with on-trend longer hemlines, “the gap” is not achievable with tall boots. So what are we to do? 
Read more at YouLookFab...

30 for 30 Challenge

Okay, I am nervous about this but I am diving in.  I am joining Kendi Everyday's 30 for 30 Closet Remix starting on Monday, November 8, 2010!!  See her beautiful invitation above?  Well YOU could join also :)  Wouldn't that be fun... then we could do it together!!

Here's what Kendi says you need to do:

What is the 30 for 30? 

The 30 for 30 is something I came up with in April to help me learn my way through my closet by remixing my clothes. So here is the basic premise, I take 30 items from my closet (shoes included) and mix them into 30 different outfits over about a month period.

So you want to try it out? Good for you. Here is how to do it.

1. Pick out 30 items from your closet. Shoes are included in the count, coats and accessories (i.e. tights,  jewelry, hats, gloves, and so on are not.) I won't use a coat yet here in Texas, but you might in say Chicago so I don't want to penalize you for Mother Nature's wily ways.

2. Remix the 30 items into 30 or more outfits.

And that's it! Ok -- not totally.

3. No shopping for 30 days. 


To find out how to join in on this, click on the pink invitation above or visit Kendi Everyday.  If you want her to add you to the list make sure you email her!!!


Oh boy.. are you going to join us???


8 days left to enter our BETHANY JANE DESIGNS EARRING GIVEAWAY


Don't forget or you will be mad at yourself :P

Co-ordinating Jewelry to Necklines (from insideoutstyleblog.com)

This has always been a challenge for me so I found this post simple and good.

Co-ordinating Jewelry to necklines
by Imogen Lamport, AICI CIP

If the face is the 'communication centre' it's really important to think about how to draw attention there. Finishing off getting dressed so that you look 'put together' and stylish is helped immensely by what happens above the bust as it is close to the face.

Using a piece of jewellery in this area or some sort of embellishment helps create a strong focal point up high, drawing the eye up to your gorgeous visage.

Co-ordinating jewellery to necklines by imogenl featuring stamped jewelry


To ensure that elements of design work well together here are some easy to remember points.

1. If the neckline is embellished, then avoid adding another necklace, instead opt for some earrings that relate to the embellishment.

2. If the neckline is high choose a longer necklace, one that goes at least to your first balance point, or even double that length if want a longer necklace.

3. If it's a V (angular) neckline, look for necklaces with angularly shaped beads rather than curved, or a pendant that has an angular shape.

4. If it's a Curved (scoop) neckline, choose necklaces with curved detail rather than sharp angularity. 

What to Wear Ideas: Booties

I love the booties and skirts look.  And I have told myself that I can't wear them because I have thick ankles (supposedly a fashion no-no for me- SIGH).  However, yes, thank goodness somewhere, anywhere, there is a HOWEVER (I am saved!!!) I am reminded of an excellent post by Angie of YouLookFab that has made me determined to find a cute little pair of booties to keep my skirts company. 

For those of you who may have not considered getting on the bootie train, you may want to read: "Wearing booties with skirts and dresses".

What to Wear Ideas -September

Am sitting here drinking my tea and getting ready to head out for the long Saturday bike ride. Here's a few What to Wear ideas that I've seen over the past weeks on all those amazing blogs.
Thanks to all the new readers of my blog, its been really fun getting to know you as well as getting new ideas from you.  In fact, I have had several people comment on how much my wardrobe and style has changed over the past months, so mission accomplished!!  (Well, its an ongoing process actually but I guess I am on track!!)

Here's some goodies:

• Beautiful and simple fall outfit (Glamourai)
• What to Wear Early Fall (Wardrobe 911)
• How to wear: 15 items, 20+ Outfits (Wardrobe) Series
• How to take an outfit from Day to Night (Statements in Fashion)
• Fab and not so Fab of 90's Fashion (YouLookFab)
• Evolution of an Outfit (Already Pretty)

6 Wardrobe Items Your Style Can’t Live Without (YouLookFab)

Great post from Angie over at YouLookFab

6 Wardrobe Items Your Style Can't Live Without

Fabulous Colour Expert and Designer Maria Killam from Colour Me Happy inspired this train of thought with her recent newsletter article on 5 Accessories Everyone Should Have in Their Home. I tried to come up with an equivalent list, but outfit accessories are such a personal choice that I found it impossible to suggest the 5 accessories everyone should have in their wardrobe.

Instead I’m doing the 6 wardrobe items your style can’t live without. I don’t usually generalize about this sort of thing, because age, lifestyle and fashion persona play such a crucial role in determining what wardrobe items are best for you. But just for fun I gave it a bash! So here they are:

1. A jaw-dropping pair of jeans: Any silhouette, any wash, as long as you feel KILLER when you wear one of fashions most extraordinary clothing inventions.
2. A beautiful pair of boots: Luscious handbags aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, but boots evoke lots of positive emotion. Any style, any colour, as long as you feel powerful when they grace your feet.
3. A delectable dress: A women is ultra-feminine when she wears a dress and it’s as simple as that.
4. A jazzy jacket: To quote Kendall Farr from her new book, Style Evolution, “a jacket that fits well defines the body and is the most essential wardrobe miracle worker for women of every shape and size”. I wholeheartedly agree that a superb jacket does incomparable things for one’s style.
5. A happening hairstyle: Your hair can make or break your look. Our outfits feel most fab when our hair feels fab. Not so?
6. A spectacular smile: This isn’t exactly a wardrobe item but you do wear a smile. When I catch a glimpse of warm and genuine smile, I don’t even notice the outfit the person is wearing. Instead, I’m totally captivated by their face. You don’t need to have perfect teeth or luscious lips to have a spectacular smile. A brilliant grin straight from the heart does the trick.

Does this list resonate with you? How would you change the list? How many of the items do you have covered?

How to Wear Leggings (by Already Pretty)

You must go over and check out the comprehensive post on leggings.  A reader request, Sal outlines many different ways to wear leggings.  My favorite are her black animal print ones with the ankle boots!! Oh Yeah!!

• How to Wear Leggings (Already Pretty)

Fall 2010 Colors

I just met with a friend who does color consulting and she listed a bunch of the colors that are the trend for Fall 2010 and I just saw them listed on Inside Out Style.  Here they are:

Image from: Inside Out Style: Colours to Look out For

For me, I am better in rich, darker colors and my best ones include: Living Coral, Lipstick Red, Purple Orchid, Chocolate Truffle and can wear Rose Dust.  It makes shopping so much easier and more fun knowing what colors look good on you, AND you get to look good in everything you wear- how cool is that!!

Fashion 101 Tutorials from Academic

Happy Sunday from San Francisco!
If you happen to have some internet surfing time this weekend, here's a really good resource from Academichic.  Its a Fashion Tutorial with 15 different segments.

• Fashion 101

Also, if you have any clothing in your closet that you don't wear, but would like to- perhaps you just need some ideas for what you could wear it with, you have to get Collette from Statements in Fashion to do a revamp for you.  If you send her some pictures she will put together some outfit ideas for you.  She has awesome ideas and especially rocks the jewelry!!

• Statements in Fashion: Re-Style

What to Wear Ideas

Starting with cleaning out your closet, then making room for the upcoming season:

• Guidelines for Cleaning out your closet
• What shoes to wear with casual skirts
• Downtime on a business trip
• Plus Size: Weekend Casual
• Score the summer dress

25 Fall (Autumn) trends for 2010

Some great tips here from YouLookFab 

25 Fall (Autumn) trends for 2010
by Angie

I know, I know. In the northern hemisphere temperatures are soaring and the last thing you want to wrap your head around is Autumn merchandise. But that’s the way the crazy retail cycle works. So without further ado here are the trends for the next six months of fashion. Some of it is already in stores:

1. Boots, boots, boots and more boots: From flat heels to towering sky scrapers, skinny stilettos to the chunkiest of wedges, ankle booties to over the knee lengths, super feminine styles to tough masculine looks, casual to dressy, black to cream, and everything in between. Start getting your collection up to scratch because your cold weather wardrobe will be incomplete without a great pair of boots and booties.
2. Pants, jeans and leggings: This is not much of a skirt or dress season because it’s all about pants, jeans and leggings. That’s okay. Last season’s skirts and frocks will do just fine and I’ll continue wearing them and hope you will too.
3. Longer and roomer skirts: I’ll believe that when I see it.
4. Masculine shoes: Like flat oxfords and rugged boots to tone down feminine pieces. Love that.
5. Leather or pleather jackets: A must have in my book. And it’s not only about cropped biker styles but rather any type of leather of pleather cover-up that tickles your fancy. Edgy, retro, classic or avant-garde so take your pick.
6. Drapey long sleeved blouses: Love this silhouette tucked into skirts or worn loosely over sleek bottoms.
7. Floppy drapey tunic shirts: Just as fab as drapey blouses. Have many and wear them frequently.
8. Military influences: My all time favourite jacket and shirt look. Think rolled tab sleeves, double breasted buttoning, cargo pockets, strict tailoring and camouflage.
9. Strong extended shoulders: Both on jackets, dresses and blouses. Another trend I adore and have been sporting for a year.
10. Tuxedo jackets: I just bought a cropped tuxedo jacket and I’m going to wear it with just about everything.
11. Green: Strong military influences make olive green a no brainer. But there’s also chartreuse, forest green and teal.
12. Blue: In all its hues from the lightest of baby blue, to the richest of cobalt and the deepest of navy.
13. Red and purple combinations: This is how I like purple best. Rock on, red and purple.
14. Lace leggings, gloves and handbags: Expect to see lace trim on everything, not just dresses, tops or skirts.
15. Fur: Both real and faux.
16. Tweed Chanel-esque jackets: Fabulous. The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale was full of them and that’s just the start.
17. Sequins: Daytime sequined tops and skirts show up every season, but I see few people actually wearing the look outside evening occasions.
18. Feathers: Expect to see bags, shoes, hats, dresses and skirts with feather trim. How do you wash an item with feather trim? I guess you don’t.
19. Moto jeans: A fringe trend for the more daring among us.
20. Capes: Cute when they are cropped but I will pass on huge overwhelming styles. You need to be tall to pull off a long, voluminous and dramatic cape.
21. Muted tonal coloured tights: This is still not my thing but can appreciate the look on others. I’m sticking to black and grey hosiery and letting my boots and scarves do the talking .
22. Structured handbags: Retro and very lady-like. Move over slouchy styles.
23. Silver mixed with gold: I am a recent convert and enjoying the versatility. Can’t believe it took me 20 years to feel comfortable mixing metals.
24. Waist-bags: As a bag lady I feel compelled to find the perfect one.
25. Pearls: YES! The best trend of them all. Not just plain classic strands but as a standalone bead mixed into all sorts of new combinations on rings, earrings, bracelets and necklaces. Clusters and layered pearl necklaces are big too.

Pick out the trends that tickle your fancy and add your personal style stamp to the look. Remember that fashion unites us but style sets us apart. So make these trends your own. I sound like a broken record but at the end of the day it’s HOW you wear something that makes the difference.
I blossom in Autumn rather than Spring, so I’m always excited about Autumn trends. How does the list grab you?

What to Wear Ideas

I love Wardrobe 911.  People write in and ask for ideas on what to wear for ie. a first date, formal dinner party, etc.  Here are some good ones I like:

• What to wear on a plane
• What to wear for a bike ride and picnic
• How to wear a black sundress
• What to wear when its hot and humid at work
• How to wear boyfriend shorts