Pajama jeans...really??

I have seen it all now.  I just saw this ad on T.V.- "look great and be comfortable in pajama jeans."  I know we are becoming more and more casual in our lives and it is possible to look put together and not sacrifice comfort, but I think this is taking it too far!  There is something uplifting about a beauty ritual that makes you feel renewed, refreshed and ready to face the day.  It does not have to be complex and take forever (tell that to my mountains of hair that cannot be blown out in under 20 minutes) but you should at least take the time to plan an outfit, jump in the shower, throw on some mascara and lip gloss and a FRESH PAIR OF PANTS!!  Maybe denim leggings (dubbed jeggings by many) are in the same vain as pajama jeans with the whole "comfortably stylish thing" but there is one major difference:  the word pajama implies that you will be sleeping in them.  And rolling out the next day?  Really?? Eeww, this is just gross!

Oh the places I would go....

Like many of you busy Divas, I am pulled in too many directions to get away as much as I would like these days.  I was lying in bed this morning looking at the blue sky and listening to the birds and I decided to drift off into a "where would I go and why" day dream.  Here is what I came up with:
1.    The "I must visit this place just out of curiosity" category includes a yachting trip to Monte Carlo and a stay at one of the opulent palaces of Instanbul.  These trips are unlikely, but on the list nonetheless.
2.   The humanitarian side of me wants to visit poor countries around the globe and bring food, clean water and clothing to orphans.  Not because Angelina made it "en vogue" but because we truly don't have enough modern day Mother Teresa's and the world needs to care all the time, not just when Wyclef Jean hosts a telethon.  Why no telethon for Chile??
3.  For a red carpet in the Carribean experience, I would head for St. Barths.
4.  For reasons unknown to me, I would be intrigued by a trip to the Black Forest of Germany.  Maybe because of a Victoria Holt novel I read when I was young...
5.  For an exotic island get away, my top choice would be the Canary Islands off the coast of Africa.
6.  For a history lesson I would head to the Pyramids in Egypt and then pop over to the Great Wall of China.  It would be a Seven Wonders kind of thing.
7.  France - wine country, the Riviera and then cap it off in Paris....preferably during Fashion Week.
8.  The Almafi Coast of Italy and then to visit my family in Genoa and Portofino.
9.  The night owl in me wants to take an Alaskan Cruise. I have heard it is light out until 10 pm during certain times of year!
10. The Alps at Christmas...saw this on the travel channel...so cozy!!!
Where would you go??

Pedicure on our toes,toes. Tryin' on all our clothes, clothes...

Sorry to start your day with a quote from the crazy Lady Gaga wannabe, Ke$ha, but this weather makes me sooooo excited for spring clothes and all that goes with them!  Get to the strip center salons ladies and clean up your tootsies because when the weather is this nice out, it is perfectly acceptable to wear an open toed shoe with bare legs, assuming you have taken a few crucial steps to prepare:
1.  The pedicure and shave (duh)
2.  Some sort of bronzer on the legs (Jergens Daily Glow takes away the chalky white and won't make you orange)
3.  Stick to spring ensembles, this is not quite an all out summer situation just yet so grab a light blazer or cardi for when the sun goes down and skip the flip flops for now.
4.  A, light fragrance (leila lou at Diva with hint of pear is to die for!!)
5.  Wear bright color or soft neutrals and put the black, charcoal and brown back in the closet for a bit.
6.  Remember, denim is a year round commodity.  Wear a light weight fabrication if you want, but it is all about what you pair it with.  Try your skinny jean with a cropped nubuck ankle boot, hooded sandal or peep toe.
7.  You must have a cute, embellished top this season.  When done properly, this is not gaudy but glam!!
8.  Every diva needs at least one ladylike dress for daytime spring occasions (think graduations, baptisms and garden parties)
9.  Nude heels - cannot stress this enough!!  I know I repeat this every spring but you may need a couple pairs so you don't trash them, that is how much you will wear them.  They go with everything and will elongate your legs. Try them with your little black dress for a fresh take.
10.  Fashionable watch...if you are like me and you are resolving to be punctual then you must have a stylish watch to keep you arriving at all your events on time.  I am still looking for one...any suggestions?

Get Inspired!

Okay fellow bloggers...please don't feel the need to post everyday.  It is dreadfully apparent that you are writing simply to avoid having one absence from the blogosphere as though some catastrophy would ensue if you skipped a day or so until something actually inspired you to write.  We are all busy creatures and I would dare say no one is so interested in our daily thoughts that we need to be contrived in our writing.  People who blog and treat it as a job (except of course those of you collecting a paycheck) may be better served by taking a few days off to get inspired.  I may not always be terribly original, but I promise not to post something unless I felt I just had to convey my thoughts.  If I become too cookie cutter...somebody please stop me!

You can judge a book by its cover

They say "you can't judge a book by it's cover" but have you been to the book store lately?  I have to admit, on many occasions I have made a bee-line straight for those books with bright colored covers and adorable graphics.  I am immediately attracted to them and tell myself this must be good, after all, it's bright yellow with a cartoon of a slender fashionista walking her designer dog.  The book does not always deliver on the promise, but the cover does serve a purpose - it beckons you to come check it out.  How about that punk rocker chick with multiple piercings, covered in body art and pink spikey hair?  She wants you to make a judgement that she is a rebel who defies convention.   In fact, she would be insulted if you didn't.  Of course you can't determine simply by her dress that she is a good or bad person and unfortunatley, many people will jump to those conclusions.  But she is making a statement about herself and she wants you to to hear it.  You need to keep this in mind when you dress.  What do you want to say about yourself?  Even if you are simply running to the grocery store, pull a scarf around your neck, upgrade your running shoe to a flat boot and throw on a pair of over oversized shades and you can make a style statement in a pair of yoga pants. You've heard the saying, "dress for the job you want."  All that means is that you need to put the effort into your appearance to convey the message to the world that you care.  This is not vanity. Vanity is placing your physical appearance above all else, including others.  No self respecting diva would do that because she is too busy changing the world.  But you need to care about what image you project into the world.   No one knows this better than the marketing execs at Apple.  Put it in an adorable sleek package and you can sell anything.  Apple has the substance to back it up, but you know it's what draws you to those ipod nanos, they are just so darn cute!  It is all about marketing, so get out there and sell it divas!

Come on People! (Style Watch that is)

Sorry for my temporary absence divas...I am channeling Kate Beckinsale in White Out since we are covered in almost 4 feet of snow!! It's the perfect time to peruse the latest issue of People Style Watch and of course, I have issues with some of their advice on what's hot and what's not. Let me start by saying Tim Gunn and Stacy London are always on the money and that is why they have their own shows.  What I do have a prolem with, however, is some of People's "what's hot or not" advice.  Every time I flip to this section I brace myself for the rediculous list of "not hot".  What in the world are "long trips" doing on the "not hot" list?  Sometimes, if the planets allign correctly and you work hard, a long trip is just what the doctor ordered.  I often find myself feeling sorry for the perveyors of these banished goods and services until I realize that maybe no one else takes this list seriously either.  To be fair, they usually get the "whats hot" part correct.  But then, some of the "whats hot" advice out in the fashion world is a bit out of touch with the mainstream fashionistas.  For instance, space age shoulder pads and super shredded jeans landed on the "not hot" list.  I decided last fall when they first showed up on the scene that they should already be on that list and never bought into it.  I have a simple rule: if you think that an outfit will look utterly rediculous within six months to a year, chances are it looks utterly rediculous right now.  On a posiive note, if People Style Watch continues to feature fabulous merchandise that is affordable (they take the cake in this department) and advice sections from Tim and Stacy, I will stay a loyal subscriber.  I will probably lash out at the "not hot" list again, but they are just asking for that.

Keeping up with the Jones'

     Ok, so we all know that girl that asks, "where did you get that?" and the next week she comes to the office sporting the same thing she envied on you just a few days before.  You find yourself feeling annoyed and if you are like me you have to stop and take a minute to remind yourself what your mother would say; imitation is the highest form of flattery.  You take a big gulp and try to digest it.  She is right you know.
     I find myself in that predicament all the time being a boutique owner here in Annapolis.  There is a shop up the street that has copied us on so many levels (or attempted to I should say) since they opened.  In fact, they are probably reading this right now.  Anyway, the point is, you need to be you and express your individuality any way you choose.  When you are a strong person with great taste and have a passion for what you do, there will always be copycats.  Laugh it off and take pride knowing that although they would never admit it in public, anytime they copy you they are admitting that you are the best.  Pat yourself on the back and get on with your day knowing that as long as you are you and they are them, they will always be playing catch up.  You are a diva after all!!!