I am not a country music kind of gal, but I don’t mind checking out the fashions worn by some of the industry’s brightest stars and making my comments on their choices of course! 

The days of atrocious and excessive fringes and sequins are pretty much long gone and instead, the country stars of today are donning glam and tasteful frocks that exude stylish confidence and appeal.  While there were some misses, the majority of the ladies looked great – even though the styling could have been tweaked a bit with a few…

Taylor Swift was very prim and fem in a frothy and tastefully sequins gown in glittering gold and champagne.  Experts say that nominees who pretty much think that they have it in the bag usually don a more conservative “pretty” look as opposed to selecting an edgy/fashion-forward piece.  I’d say that Taylor definitely planned ahead with this one.  I am also loving her retro-romantic hair that falls softly around her face and prettily finishes the look. 

STYLE TIP: when donning sequins keep accessories at bay.  The sparkle of the dress is first and foremost.  Bling isn’t necessary nor apropos with a look such as this.

Pretty girl Carrie Underwood did another metallic just right choosing an icey platinum rather than glittering gold like Swift.  The form fitting gown perfectly accentuated the singer’s petite  frame and the intricate and unique beading was quite current and a change from standard sequins.  Underwood too got her hair dead-on – full bouncy curls and easy upswept sides break up the severity of the structured embellishment and enhance the overall look.

STYLE TIP: Over-the-top dresses with excesive bling or exaggerated anything are best suited with a more fem approach to hair and make-up, while a more conservative frock lends a plain canvas for artisic cosmetics and coifs.

Gunmetal was the shade of choice for Kellie Pickler who donned this season’s popular one-shoulder look for the evening.   While I like the shape of the gown and the interesting color, I find it to be utterly unflattering on Pickler who recently changed her more complimenary blonde locks for a blah auburn that does nothing for her.  While I agree that an asymetrical look is best with an updo this one was a tad messy and did nothing to perk up the look… ALSO, Pickler’s jewelry is all wrong too.  A better choice when wearing a non-traditional neckline would be oversized chandelier earrings.  NOT a short collar necklace that competes with the single strap.

Kim Williams-Paisely in one word looked AWFUL.  The autumnal colors that made up her chiffon frock did little to make Kimmy a standout and the simple design was a snoozefest.  HAIR?  Terrible too.  The half-up, half-down look is sophisticated when done right, but in a case like this appears more juvenille than jazzy.  Quite honestly, a dress like this is entirely too casual for a red-carpet event and certainly not suitable for an actress in the public eye.  Kim has a great figure and she could have really done it up!

STYLE TIP: Short dresses can be just as elegant, if not more, than a long droopy look like Williams-Paisley’s.  An abbreviated style with a fitted bodice and full circle skirt would have been far more festive AND flattering.

Tsk!  Tsk!  What a bad blogger I am!  I will not provide excuses… Even though I have some good ones… and will instead cut to the chase and chat about my favorite subject – CLOTHES! 

If  following the fashion trends isn’t your “thing” you may not realize that fur is a big-time must have this season.  Never fear though, you don’t have to worry about spending $1000’s on the real McCoy – faux pieces are wonderful alternatives and when choosen with a discriminating eye look quite good and add just the right oomph to your fall skinnies or black legging staples.

There are BAD faux fur pieces out there though – in fact, stylist to the stars Rachel Zoe designed her own line for QVC which in one word can be described as “awful”.  Rachel is known for her love of fur – if you watch her show, you’ll see her swinging around the studio of fashion great J. Mendel in some fab-o coat or jacket that she just “dies” over.  However her line does not reflect the fine craftmanship nor the stylish structure of any new or vintage fuzzie she dons on the show.

So where can you find a more natural looking fur vest that won’t leave you in the poor house?!  Hop on over to Summit Mall or the nearest Express to you!  This brown zip up is super cute and will be cozy too and costs a mere $98.00.  Wear your’s with a black cashmere turtleneck, leggings, and to-the-knee equestrian boots or try with a boho paisley dress and thick brown tights.  Need some extra warmth  and a stylish new layer to your favorite coat?  Don the vest

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3034061?cm_cat=datafeed&cm_pla=outerwear:women:vest&cm_ite=damselle_faux_lynx_fur_vest:264289&cm_ven=Linkshare&siteId=J84DHJLQkR4-RdE8tXH5Hfa_EFAnfrTmFQ

Who is Taylor Jacobson?  Why she’s the tough as nails, nay sayin’, style-saavy gal who is an integral addition to the cast on “The Rachel Zoe Project” on Bravo  TV.  Yes, “Tay” could use a bang trim, however her eclectic mix of vintage prints and woodcutter plaids  mixed with toughened up leather has me head over heels!  “Tay” has a knack for choosing the perfect shoe to complete a red carpet look and dare I say, looks better in skin tight leggings and drapy blouson tops than her emaciated boss, Rachel who basically gets swallowed up by whatever outfit she thows on over her bones… Hmmph!

So what have I dug on Taylor after the first two episodes?  Well, I can hardly ignore the FABULOSITY of the leopard Dior sheath she poured herself into on episode 2 -  LOVE!  The spunk and spice of the animal print paired with Taylor’s smokey eyes and tousled tresses was perfection and was the perfect outfit to don for a fash bash at Marquee in NYC! While this grrr-eat printed frock featured right isn’t Dior nor is it a sheath – it IS a fabulous way to incorporate animal into your reportoire.  You can find this pretty piece by Diane Von Furstenberg at Dianiboutique.com.  Wear this wrap in the fall with black leggings and over-the-knee boots or booties.

leather leggings

STYLE TIP:  It’s ok to spend a little more on an “investment” piece – in other words something that you will cherish and wear a lot during the season and that will be a closet staple for years to come… Do leather leggings fit that description for you?!  If not skip ‘em and instead spend more on some fabulous over-the-knee boots – another BIG time trend this fall that will mimick the look above nicely.

I know that all of my dear Ohio.com readers have wondered where I have wondered off to for the past week.  While I am not into excuses, I have a good one…I have launched yet another style post on the Cleveland Examiner that went live for the first time last week.  I am fastidiously attempting to boost my page views, so I ask all of you loyal SJS’ers to please check it out.  As with See Jane, you’ll get lots of advice, shopping ideas, plus slideshows of fun fashion! http://www.examiner.com/x-13166-Cleveland-Style-and-Fashion-Examiner is the link – please subscribe!!!! And don’t worry once I get all of this down pat, I will continue to update SJS!

Megan Fox looked smokin’ hot at the MTV music awards in her thigh skimming frock and towering platforms and she nailed her accessories right on too – not shying away from gold even though her dress was adorned with silver.  So how can you replicate this fabulous look for less?  Quite easily actually.  I found this full skirted shortie on asos.com for a mere $53.00 and came across these uber high heels at Bebe again at an easy to swallow price of only $128.00.  Why does this look work?  Typically one should shy away from a short dress and chunky simply because the proportion is a bit too sex-pot and not chic.  This however is ok, because the dress has a definitely feminine vibe as it is adorned with beautiful (girly) flowers and has a dainty full circle skirt.  The prettiness of the dress perfectly offsets the trannie-like vibe of the platform and creates an eye-catching balance.  Yes, Megan looks sexy, however she still looks pretty and current.  STYLE NOTE: NEVER WEAR sexy stripper-like shoes with a tight bandage style dress – WAY TOO OVER THE TOP!

Who else gets a style star after waltzing the MTV red carpet?  I was quite partial to the easy breezy appeal of Vanessa Hudgens (Photo courtesy of MTV.com) melon-hued satin frock and totally dig the boho vibe that her uber long gold necklaces lend to the entire look.  What else is a style surprise here?  The subtle peek we get of her black sturdy sandals and deeper hued clutch – both dark colors contrast nicely with her sorbet colored frock and give her a nice MTV style edge.  While this charmeuse gown is harder to come by, Hudgen’s fab shoes were not.  I found a similar pair on stevemadden.com for about $189.00 and scoured the web for some cool long necklaces too and found these gems at asos.com.  The long pendant style necklace is a cheap thrill at only $15.00 while the shorter disk style necklace comes in at $30.00.  Just think about how much use you’ll get out of all this stuff!

Ah, what a relief!  The sun is finally making an appearance today, and while the temps aren’t soaring, it still reminds me that summer is pretty much here and that bathing suit season has officially arrived.  Before dread washes over don’t fear, there are oodles of options out there that will compliment various body types, and I am also including some secret tips so help you look long, lean, and luscious while lounging poolside.

My first BIG time tip is to buy your bathing suits in a larger size than you would normally wear.  Why?  Because you don’t want to pinch and squeeze the fat of course.  We all have an area on our bodies that we would like to minimize, for many of us women out there with extra-fleshy hips buying a bigger suit (bottom – if a two piece) definitely comes in handy.  The best style to don when scaling down the hips is the tie up bottom.  If you wear a size 4 normally buy an 8 instead and tie the bows toward the front instead of the middle so that the focal point is the girly bow and not the area you’d rather forget. 

If you’re not super well-endowed, while it may seem opposite to buy larger, you should still do it… especially if you’re planning to don a triangle style.  Why?  When you go smaller, you’re drawing attention to a small bustline, however, if you go a little bigger it will cover more surface area creating the illusion of a fuller upper half.  Other good options for small chested lassies are bandeau styles adorned with ruffles again to create the illusion of more fullness

Bikinis aren’t the only swimsuits on the market… One pieces are actually making a big comeback with retro-styles taking a lead and monokinis making a definite mark.  I love the 1950’s Esther Williams styles that are done in halter styles, that almost look like ultra-mini dresses.  These styles are not only fun and flirty but also super flattering and would look good on a stick thin figure or someone with a little meat on her bones.  Monokinis on the other hand, aren’t for the shy and reserved.  These one pieces with strategically cut-out sections showing off whatever… These styles are NOT easy to wear and guarantee a second glance or two, however if you have the nerve monokinis are a great alternative to the standard bikini – but be warned, will cause strange tan lines.

What styles should you avoid altogether?!  I say a resounding “NO” to any athletic style one pieces.  (Picture the high school swim team.)  These bathing suits really don’t look good on ANYONE – they automatically take away all curves and flatten out the chest instantly!  If you want to look like a boy this is the suit for you.

I am also not partial to bikini bottoms that don’t have the ability to be adjusted – again because of the fat pinching – however if you are blessed with bones and no pudge then give it a try.

Another thing to remember, is always rinse out your suit after a day in the sun.  It’s important to get the sunscreen, chlorine, or salt water off your suit as soon as possible as these things will wear away at the elastic in the suit and make it unwearable.

So what about all the ladies out there who just can’t stand the thought of a bathing suit PERIOD?!  Beach cover ups are chic and fun to wear, and look absolutely beautiful on the sidelines.   I love caftan and tunic styles in whisper thin chiffon-like fabrics that offer a peek of what’s beneath but keep areas you want to keep a secret hidden.  If your comfortable showing some skin, mini ruffly skirts are super cute to throw on and keep your bum covered up while you make your way to the snack bar or restroom. 

Besides cover ups it’s also great to accessorize your suit with jewelry and pretty/fun hats.  1970’s inspired floppy straw hats are in right now and will shade your pretty face from the harmful rays, while straw fedoras are a trendier alternative.  Hate the hats?  Try tying on a beautiful printed silk scarf to cover up your newly highlighted or colored hair – scarves are super chic and look fabulous paired with solid hued suits.  And finally, don’t forget to throw on some colorful bracelets, a cool drape-y necklace, some hoop earrings, and of course your supersize shades for that incognito effect.

There aren’t too many things in this world that make a fat day disipate – however I have found that on a major water retention day I head for the nearest make-up counter where I am never too chunks-ville for a pretty new lip lacquer, shimmery shadow, or better yet a brand-spankin’ new nail color.  This season there’s lots to choose from… from chalky-white to aluminum-like silver and even in-you-face NEON you can be super stylish with a quick sweep of the polish brush. 

So, you want to skip the French Mani/Pedi and instead use the white polish all over – well then, my friends you are heading into fashion/make-up super stardom.  White is all the rage these days and looks best on skin tones that are blessed with a darker hue.  Fair skinned dolls may have trouble making this new trend look just right however with a tinge of a tan (like Scarlett) may be able to pull it off. Where to buy?  Head to your favorite pharmacy and try E.L.F’s for a mere $1.00

Hate white?  Try a glow in the dark neon in a cool shade like effulgent pink, orange, yellow, green, blue etc… Scared to try?  Don’t be.  THe best way to break yourself in is to do the tootsies first.  The best part?  These shades will shake it up no matter how pale or naturally dark skinned you are – Where to find the perfect 80’s-esque neon?  I think the BEST brand is China Glaze found at many Sally Beauty Supply stores, Essie also is featuring a neon line (shown here) but they aren’t as in-your-face).

Sorry for the delay in this particular posting, but I just couldn’t bear to ignore it all together since providing pics of some of the most fashionable people at the prestigiously attended Met Gala in New York is downright important.  In many ways the Met Gala brings out more fabulous fashion finery than the Grammys, Emmy’s, SAG’s, etc… Fashion elite attend this yearly event as do models, actors, and just the creme de la creme of high society so it goes without saying that no expense was spared when choosing one’s grand attire for the soiree. 

Those who know me, know my love for the reality series “The Real Housewives” on Bravo TV.  The New York City crowd didn’t disappoint this season with loads of drama, cat fights, and of course gossip.  Many times I find the fashions on these shows to be a bit garish at best.  Anyone familiar with this series knows that the Atlanta group (Nene specifically) wore in your face, nipple baring dresses, while the Orange County ladies donned couger-esque, second-skin Cache head-to-toe… Quite simply, many of the ladies look cheap, and not like well-to-do “housewives” with distinguished zip codes. 

So, moving on to NYC…  I find Alex and Simon’s fashion sense that they call “Adventurous”, “Utterly ridiculous” and the Countess LuAnn’s classic style “non-descript” , however, many of the items worn by Bethenny and Jill, the notorious best buddy twosome, were pretty, stylish, feminine and very NYC.  Bethenny is actually my favorite and she hit a home run with me on last night’s finale when she donned a very Audrey Hepburn-like dress, pearls, and black full-length leather gloves.  LOVELY!  Steal her pretty look below and you’ll look not only like her but also the fabulous actress who inspired her look.

I thought we were past the ankle bracelet, but apparently not.  In the past couple of weeks,  I have seen some sparkly jing-a-lings around some very unattractive ankles.  I must confess, I have a solid aversion to any grown woman who thinks it’s sexy to don a stringy metallic number on the ankle.  The epitomy of getting this look to get so bad that it hurts though  is when a sexpot babe throws on a pair of shiney hose, either over or under, the horrific accessory and punctuating the mistake with… I know, you don’t want me to say it… Black closed toe mules.  Frightening.  Horrific. Downright un-fashionable and bordering on illegal.  This look is truly an eye bleeder.

 Or worse (if there is a worse)… The trend from a couple of years ago that was inspired by the delinquencies of the infamous celebutants …. The house arrest-style ankle purses.   Shame on you Chanel, I never thought it would come to this. 

I mean really – who’s going to bend over to retrieve thier money or ID?!

Happy Friday everyone!

Everyone has their favorite pair of jeans.  You know, the ones that look just right all the time… The ones that make your legs look longer and your behind a little perkier.  I also know that most women have their favorite pair of skinny-jeans.  No, I am not talking about skin-tight spandex that hug the curves.  Instead, I am referring to those that fit best on a non-bloat day – or better, after a serious bout with the stomach flu.  Ah, jeans, love ‘em or hate ‘em they will always be around and will be a part of our wardrobes whatever time of year.  As of late, we have seen lots of different denim styles come into our style consciousness, and technically there is a pair for just about everyone.   

“The Boyfriend Jean” is one style that has become popular due to a casually clad image of Katie Holmes walking down the streets of NYC.  This look  is characterized by being worn slung low on the hips and baggy fit.  In short, the jeans your male comrade might have stowed in his closet.  To get this look just right, roll the bottoms, don flat round toed shoes, and finish with a loose v-neck tee or tank, and over-sized cardigan.

Ultra-light bleached jeans and stonewashed styles are pretty doggone hip right now too.  This rock n’ roll nod to the 80’s look is best worn second skin tight with a graphic tee or off-the-shoulder top, and black studded belt for an extra hard edge appeal.

Colored denim has made a comeback too… Don’t be afraid to throw on an effulgent green pair that will help you mimic the popular NEON trend right now.  Tone down the in-your-face color by pairing with black, or when it gets warmer a simple white top and metallic flat sandals.

Skinny denim  isn’t the only way to look like a fashionista these days.  1970’s inspired high-waist wide legs are ultra-flattering especially if you hate your lower half.  RULE OF THUMB:  Make sure your wide-legs are long enough.  The hem should be just hovering the floor when you wear your platforms.  If you are a tall gal, and won’t be doing your wide legs with heels, be certain they are perfectly hemmed to not have an excessive break, but not too short where we can see your ankles while standing.